Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 129

Pirates
Kellett School, Hammond, Molly - 15
Shimmering silk lay around the deck in opulent mounds awash with color, in between them a smattering of
crates were also arranged. They were bountiful chests, brimming with luxurious goods: gold, pearls, silver, and jewelry,
that we were to give as gifts to the coastal civilisations that we encountered as we sailed around Asia. Our vessel was
veteran; brine had warped the boards of the hull and the wood’s coloring had transitioned to the foul green known by
all seamen. Vibrant red sails fluttered above our main deck in the energetic breeze that swooped up from the seafront,
bringing with it that salty essence which characterizes Zhuhai. Excited, it rushed and rustled between the masts and over
the pools of silk. Hanging onto the main boom, I gazed back out towards our village and managed to catch a glimpse of
the roof of my home. It would be a long time before I could lay eyes on it again.
Scattered across the hold and boardwalk below were a swarm of men, working together at a seemingly
inhuman pace, shifting crates and other paraphernalia. Seven days had already passed loading the ship and now it was
finally almost complete. Having already achieved my quota, I indulged myself in a lounge atop the bowsprit. Gazing
down at emerald sea, immersing myself in its gentle motion, I drifted in and out of consciousness before surrendering to
the blissful embrace of sleep. In my dreams I was already exploring the distance lands our adventure would take us. The
whimsical figments of my imagination displayed delicious melodies and exotic tastes. Flying sea spray caressing my
cheeks, as I stood against the foremast, basking in the friendly sun. I would be like a panther, strong and triumphant -
no longer restricted by poverty. This was the adventure of a lifetime.
I was abruptly pulled from my tender slumber by the jarring yells and exclamations from the boardwalk. Still
befuddled by the luscious cloud that is sleep but sensing something was wrong, not knowing quite what, I slithered
down the bow spirit back towards the main deck. Cautiously, I wiggled my feet about before touching the flaky board
beneath me and finally reverting back to a standing position. Curiously wondering what could have happened, I dashed
to the edge of our boat before peering down at the chaos unfolding below. I was shocked to lay my eyes upon a group
of imperial guards confronting the crew down below. Before I could fully comprehend the situation that was unfolding
in front of me, I was jostled by the rush of the crew on board and the cacophony of shouting abusing my eardrums. The
creaking of the boat loudly reverberated over the commotion of the sailors below and I tried to get my bearings.
Suddenly, our boat lurched forward and the rush of the water beneath us roared mightily. The yells from the boardwalk
escalated, becoming increasingly desperate and demanding. Briefly, I scanned the faces of my fellow crew members, it
seemed only a few were as puzzled as I was. The rest, however, were working outstandingly hard, moving the
remaining items from the deck to the hold and participating in the intricate dance of organising the ropes of our sails.
Now we were picking up speed, our pursuers were falling behind, their yells blending into the background. The quieter
they became, the more I realized that my voyage had just begun.
Shooting passionate rays of red and orange, the sun hung considerably lower in the sky than before I had gone
to sleep. The sapphire blue sky at the peripheries of the horizon was creeping closer, slowly plunging us into a world of
night. No more than an hour later were the lanterns set alight. Their flickering orange flames were like miniature suns,
dappling our boat with a delicate light. By this point, the tension had subsided and the crew was finally beginning to
settle down, some sitting on the deck, some heading to the hold, and others climbing up to the Captain’s quarters. I
myself settled into a small nook, stretching out then nestling in further as I watched the lanterns perform. Where their
light could not extend, eerie shadows were drawn out over the aged wood. Their dance mirrored that of the lanterns,
ebbing and flowing like the ocean below. In this image, I drifted off for the second time on my first adventure. My
dreams were as merry as ever, brimming with tales of great explorers and my own voyage. However, dark clouds
permeated these jubilant frames, my conscience was plagued by a question. Why were those men confronting us?
Doggedly, I ran the question through my mind over and over and over again, there shouldn’t have been a problem, our
journey was commissioned by the empire! I tossed and turned the rest of the night, unable to rest easy.
The following morning I groggily awoke to the sun quietly peering over the horizon, shifting the sky’s
pigment to a tender blue, before heading down below the deck to grab some food. New to my taste buds, the dried
meat and pickled vegetables tasted somewhat familiar but rather acidic - a world away from my mother’s steamed crab
and lotus roots. Yet, it was food and a small sacrifice for my chance on this exciting quest. I shovelled the food down as
quickly as I could, to try and avoid tasting the bitterness for much longer, earning some sidelong glances from a few of
the other crew members. After wiping my hands on my already discolored trousers I returned to the deck for want of