Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 279

A Welcome Change of Sights
Korean International School, Srivastava, Aryan - 16
The sun’s warm rays were dancing past the light clouds onto the welcoming Ming Court on that
fateful morning. The Yongle Emperor was receiving foreign emissaries whom Admiral Zheng had brought
along with him from his most recent voyage. His globetrotting ventures had made Zheng He a local legend,
and people across the country sang praises of his courage and zealous nature. As boys will always be boys, my
friends and I would make toy boats out of reeds, then fight over which one of us was going to be Zheng He
on our imaginary voyages. We would fight terrifying ogres and slay sea monsters as we waded past their guts
into the awaiting sunset. Zheng He was no mere man in anyone’s eyes. He was made from the fabric of
legend, and everybody aspired to be spoken of in the same breath as Zheng He.
My mind drifted off as the emperor announced that Zheng He was about to set off on a new
adventure. This was to be Zheng’s fifth voyage and I could not wait to hear about his escapades. There was
no way my name was to be left out of the stories this voyage would bring with it. The destination the crew
was headed to flew past my wandering thoughts, and it could have been the moon for all who cared to
listen. All I could think of, were the clever ways through which I could sneak into Zheng’s ship undetected.
After the ship’s lawful boarders had received their instructions from the emperor, they set about the
city to take care of any unfinished business they had. I was now in the business of getting onboard the ship
undetected, and that was easier than I expected because all the attention was on the revered explorers. One
by one, they came on board as the sun was setting, and I was eagerly waiting for the ship to set sail as I hid
in the cargo bay. “This is it.” I told myself, “This time, I won’t have to hear the story from anyone else.” I
wondered what my friends would think of me once I returned. What if I did not return? A cold shiver
accompanied the thought, and the bright moon told the cold night winds which parts of my body awaited
its sharp kisses. I drifted off and had a wonderful dream of cheers from everybody awaiting us as Zheng and I
got carried in the air by the excited crowd.
The crowd suddenly got violent, and their grips tightened as their cheers turned into scolding.
“What do we have here?” they shouted. I was suddenly brought out of dreamland into the chilly night by a
thunderous voice. “Answer me boy. Who are you?” I was dangling in the air as the strong man shook my
body like a damp cloth in the wind. “My-my-my name is…” I was so scared, I had forgotten my name.
“Are you a thief? A spy?” the huge man demanded, as the rest of the crew quickly circled us. I could feel
dozens of eyes scanning my body as the man’s hot breath made the air warmer.
“This is it.” I thought. “They will throw me overboard and forget me as soon as I hit the waters.”
“Let the boy go.” A strong calm voice hit my ears as my feet touched the wooden floor. There was a silence
I could now perceive, as the steady and well thought out footsteps approached me. His silhouette was all I
could see when I looked up, but even that was unmistakable. Admiral Zheng He was now standing next to
me. Looking at me. Seeing me. It then hit me that what would happen when I got discovered had never
crossed my mind before now. What did I expect? A warm welcome? Certainly, standing next to Zheng He
was not a possibility I had in mind when I set off.
“Get back to work, all of you.” Zhen softly commanded, as the huge men scrambled off. It was
now just me and him. His eyes examined me from head to toe, and a distant look came across his gaze. It
was as if only his body was there with me, his mind far off into a time only he knew. Zheng He had a kind
and study face. His beard waved in the wind as he seemed to come back to the present. “I do not approve
how you got into my ship, but I admire your courage. You remind me of a younger me, and you have a lot
to learn.” An air of relief hit my lungs as he said that, and I knew that I was not going to be thrown off the
ship. “You are probably looking for adventure, but I cannot guarantee you will find it, or whether you will
ever see you home again.” I swallowed hard. “You are now part of my crew, and my crew has a job to do.
Head to the kitchen and make sure you find something to do there.”
“Thank you admiral.” I said, as I waddled around the ship looking for the kitchen.
The cook scoffed at my presence in his personal space, but burst out into a thunderous laughter as I flinched
at his rebuke. “It’s okay little boy.” He said. “By the time we’re back home, you will have grown into a
man.” I was relieved at his optimism. He seemed to have the notion of going back home affixed in his plans.
“Can you cook?” he asked. “Y-y-yes.” I replied uneasily. “We shall soon find out.” He boomed, as he
burst into another air of hysterical laughter.
As the days raced past, the cook and I became accustomed to each other, and my duties were now
mainly doing the dishes and serving the food since he found my cooking wanting. I had many lucky breaks,
as the cook would tell me to leave the kitchen and claim that he did not need my help. I took advantage of
this time by going above and taking in the salty sea breeze. I got to know most of the crew this way, and my
zeal for adventure was now in full thrust. I got to hear familiar stories again, but with an original take as they