Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 162

Unexpectedly, shouting and yelling started and the once tidy room turned into a pigsty. Spears were being tossed
around and Arjun quickly rushed to the nearest wall as panic started to settle in yet again. He observed the room,
finding Zheng and the king going at each other while Li was fighting another soldier. Looking with more detail, he
found that Li was losing. The way Li was stepping and the way the other soldier was ferociously pushing Li back, Arjun
knew that he had to help in some way.
Rushing towards them, he used the butt of his spear and hit the soldier in the back of his head. The soldier
stumbled forward, tripping over Li, before turning around and growling at them. Protective heart. Arjun steadied
himself as the other soldier took a step forward. Arjun watched as the other soldier throw Li’s spear to the other side of
the room, before taking a jab at him. He dodged the attempt and jabbed back at the soldier.
Dodge. Move back. Jab. Repeat. Dodge. Move back. Jab. Again.
Arjun didn’t know how much longer he could repeat the same steps without the other soldier realizing it. Arjun
also realized that Li had left him alone to fight the soldier in front of him. Arjun instantaneously decided to jab as many
times as he could before butting his enemy with the blunt side of the spear.
A loud yell of “TING!” gave Arjun a fright. Expeditiously pointing his spear at his enemy, he came to realize
that it was Zheng in front of him. Arjun heaved in a sigh, and lowered the weapon hastily. Zheng said a few final words
before turning on his heel with a wave towards Arjun, telling him to follow.
Keeping his head low, Arjun stepped in time as the admiral pushed open the doors. Quickly boarding the ship,
he watched as soldiers began to take off their armour while servants rushed to pick them up. Whilst this was happening,
food and water was being brought up as soldiers dropped to the ground in fatigue and weariness.
Orders were sent out as they left the docks, the huge fleet following behind them as they elegantly floated away
from the island. Sumatra wasn’t a very nice place to visit, Arjun decided. He carefully stepped over the soldiers who
decided to lie down on top of the deck as a swift moment of tranquil was brought upon them.
Stepping into his room, he grabbed a piece of paper and dipped the brush into the ink.
Dear Father,
I have no clue how I’m going to get this to you, but today was probably the scariest day of my life. A fight had
broken out while we were in the king’s throne room in Sumatra. I had to fight someone today. I knocked him
unconscious but I feel extremely guilty over it.
I want to go home dad. I’m not meant to be a sailor or a solider. I don’t want to be Zheng’s personal assistant or
Li’s training buddy. I want to go home and hang out with my friends.
Dad, I don’t even know when I get to leave. No one knows how long this voyage is going to take. I haven’t
seen you in months now, and I don’t know how much longer until this voyage ends.
Sincerely,
Your son,
Arjun.
P.S Tell mom I miss her to.
Arjun folded up the piece of paper before throwing it onto the pile of other folded letters that will probably
never be sent. He sighed, resting his head on the palm of his hand. Perhaps, today wasn’t the best of days.