Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 46

He spun round, eyes shining. “Oh, have I been waiting for that question,” he hummed. “Not only were they a sign of
our country’s wealth and pride, but they were also a method of colonisation…”
As he rambled on, they entered the quietest part of town. Here, the afternoon sun only glowed faintly through a layer
of heavy-set clouds, and the buildings formed a crooked line along the paved path. Only his voice broke the silence
here; the dark shops they passed showed no sign of life, and the crashing of the waves did not reach their ears.
They turned a corner. “...and that’s why, Little Cricket, I’m not looking for some pompous apothecary to join me on
my journey — just someone who cares about-“
Her eyes narrowed. Now!
Swinging her leg back, she brought it between his legs from behind. Hard.
He swore loudly. “Ow!” Whipping round, ready to snap a few strained retorts, he realized too late that in his pain he
had loosened his grip on the cord.
The girl was gone.
Gone indeed she was. Pumping her legs as fast as she could, she was zipping through the empty streets, trying to keep
her footsteps quiet and work her hands out of the cord at the same time. “Freedom!” she crowed silently. The wind in
the ribbons trailing from her hair buns and the sensation of stone slabs flying under her toes stirred the adrenaline in her
veins. The cord fell away. She was free! The dragonfly was free!
Suddenly, she noticed how dejectedly empty her arms were. The bundle! That dunce of an explorer was still holding
it!
She gritted her teeth, slowing to a reluctant halt. There was no point in escaping if she had let him get the better of
her. She would have to turn back. If only she could-
“Oi!”
Her breath caught. Half turning, she saw him running at her.
Really fast.
“Whoa!” she yelped. The memory of the bundle slipped into the depths of her mind and panic took over. Her feet
flew into action. “You’ve got your stuff already! Leave me alone!” She skidded around a corner, blood roaring.
Behind her his footsteps grew closer. Damn, he's fast!
They had turned onto a long street. The shopkeepers here were unfortunately awake and setting up shop. The girl
whizzed past their wide-eyed gazes in a flutter of green cloth, vaulting over a crate of tea leaves and ducking through
street stalls. Somersaulting lightly over an alarmed ox and its owner, she shot a glance over her shoulder. He was
nowhere to be seen.
Yes, I've lost him! Feeling triumphant, she nicked a dumpling from a tray, ignoring the outraged cry of the chef. She
popped it in her mouth. Hot, savoury soup burst across her tongue. This chase was mildly fun, she thought. Now if
only she could retrieve that bundle...
An old woman appeared on the street in front of her.
Before she could even react her body collided painfully with the old woman's. A resounding smack, and then she
found herself on the hard stone ground, head spinning. The elbow that had been under her was throbbing
mechanically. Something that felt like blood trickled down her leg. Her lungs felt deflated.
The old woman was lying on her side a few feet away. She wasn't moving.