Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 61

I Saw the Light
Good Hope School, Ng, Karis - 14
The sun beat down heavily; the calm water sparkled in the reflection. Seagulls flew freely above the ship and
disappeared into specks as the Ming Treasure Fleet carried treasures and stories untold travelling to infinity and beyond,
which in reality, was actually to India.
‘Splish-Splash-Splosh’, I quietly made my way across the deck, leaving a trail of soapy water behind. I stopped
as I heard the roaring laughter grow louder. I twisted my head and saw seamen trotting along the deck, stepping on the
boards that I’ve just cleaned. Just as I was about to pick up my pail and clean the deck again, a huge shadow casted on
me, shading me from the blinding sun.
“Stand-by! All hands on deck!” that piercing voice rang in my ears. I looked up to see a silhouette standing
above everyone on the observatory deck. Confidence radiated off her as she spoke with such authority, “Captain Lee
speaking!” I sucked in a breath and stood still, knowing that father would be present, but still stood comfortably under
the shade from the person on the observatory deck.
“Me hearties, look alive and stay alive...” Father’s booming voice echoed across the sea as he delivered the
same speech he did yesterday and every day since we’ve boarded.
“My baobei”, father’s arm held snugly across the silhouette’s shoulders, “you are my pride, wear your family
name proudly, and always know that my blessing is with you.” Father turned towards me and I immediately averted my
gaze and snapped my eyes shut. “Look at me!” I forced my eyes open and peered at him, “Er-zi, why are you of such?
Can’t you see how bright your sister shines? Fighting against pirates and leading sea-men with such power, why can’t
you do that? How is it that two siblings, both born at the same time, sees the girl manlier than the boy? I tried giving
you chances, mopping the deck, cleaning the galley and tidying my papers, but your strength has never shone through.
Son, your candle is flickering, your time is ticking...” I swallowed back my tears and caught the smug look on my
sister’s face as she sashayed away.
I ran back to my room, flinging myself across the deck and curled up like a ball on the hard plank of what they
call bed. I scanned across my room - stacks of books piled to the ceiling, pen and paper scattered across the desk. It was
so different to my sister’s, filled with weapons and armor, with the rusty smell of metal flowing through the air. I never
liked my sister’s presence, or greatness, if that’s what it’s called; I never liked how she always looked down on me, just
because she possessed greater strength than I did, relentlessly teasing my intellect. The belief that every man should be a
fighter to be worthy is ridiculous. I scoffed, thinking, “My wisdom is my power.” No matter men or women, one
without knowledge only blinded by strength is the biggest fool, and my sister was the fool I always took her for.
My father’s chamber was awfully messy, I was called upon to tidy my father’s room. I scowled at the request,
such a degrading task for the son of the captain of the ship to take on, but thankful it wasn’t time to clear the lavatory.
Why couldn’t my sister share my scout work? Why am I to bear all the dirty tasks? I stacked the papers on father’s desk
aggressively with one hand, and flipped the page of my book on the table with my other hand. I felt my anger simmer
down as I stared off to the distance, “Why’s everything so unfair...” a teardrop gently rolled down my cheek, soothing
the burning sensation on my face. I closed my eyes and let out a shudder. ‘I’m not going to continue on like this.’
My mind was tugged in all directions, I had to be strong yet was I as weak as my father put me out to be? I didn’t need
others’ validation, I knew myself well enough yet I still had doubts. My mind fogged up, I had to make up my mind.
I left the chambers, unbothered.
I’ve spent not days but years imagining how things would have played out if I were to be my father’s shining
pearl, then my thirst for knowledge wouldn’t be the laughing stock of the ship. I picked up a stack of stained paper, a
worn-out pen and started to map out all my thoughts, I thought I knew how everything would lay out to be. My mind
was doing its magic, the pen glided across the paper, leaving trails of wonders behind. I was intoxicated in the glamor of
erudition as the sun shone through the gap of the window.
I held a tight grip on my paper, walking out to the deck with my thoughts still running through my head.
“Listen up,” my sister screeched, “we are going to stop by the nearest port and stock up, I want all hands on deck and
those pesky scums from the other ship may also be at the port. I need everyone to be on their A-game, I know we
certainly do not want a repeat of last year’s incident.” Murmurs flooded through the crowd, all voices agreed to my
sister’s words, including mine.
The incident from last year was that the ship Zun[Respect] attempted to raid the treasures of our ship whilst we were
stocking up on supplies. Luckily, my sister and I spotted them before they could enter the ship and steal our treasure.
But that was not important because there was no such thing as luck. By observing the previous run-ins with the
troublesome ship as named by my father’s stories about them when I was little, the ‘raid’ from Zun was predicted by
me, though no one was concerned when I put out the thought, but then they certainly were when they saw Zun