Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 1 | Page 55

The Strangest Person in the World
Shrewsbury International School, Sham, Pius - 8
‘Mission impossible!’ Admiral Zheng sighed, showing me the parchment with the royal seal.
‘Bring me the strangest person in the world,’ I recited, ‘or your head. OOPS!’
‘Alright, squire,’ Admiral Zheng gazed at me, ‘This will be our eighth voyage and I swear there won’t be a
ninth. But where shall we go?’
‘Wait, I’ve heard of the yeti when we travelled to Calicut. He has long wool and big feet. Go ask the
sultan!’ I suggested.
And there we sailed…
‘I am so sorry!’ the sultan said, ‘The yeti is so elusive that all we have got is his wool!’
‘Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!’ his minister joined in.
‘Wait, I’ve heard of the zombie when I travelled to Africa. He will do whatever you tell him to after you
cast a spell. Go ask the wizard!’ the sultan quipped.
And there we sailed…
‘I’m so sorry!’ the wizard said, ‘The zombie lives in Africa West but here is Africa East!’
‘Yes sir, yes sir, why don’t you buy some of these spotted camels or striped horses instead? They’ll make
excellent souvenirs!’ his wife joined in. Honestly, we thought they painted the brown spots and black stripes
to try to make a fortune.
‘Wait, I’ve heard of the hole-in-chest guy when I travelled to Champa. He puts poles in the hole in his
chest when he travels. Go ask the guy!’ the wizard remarked.
And there we sailed…
‘I’m so sorry!’ the guy said, ‘I travel in a sedan chair that makes it look like I’ve poles in my chest, but I’ve
no holes in my chest!’
‘Yes sir, yes sir, the writer of the Curious Journal who interviewed him twisted his words to boost sales!’ his
friend joined in.
‘Wait, I’ve heard of the short people when I travelled to Palembang. They hunt giant rats and dwarf
elephants in a nearby island. Go ask the hunter!’ the guy pleaded.
And there we sailed…
‘I’m so sorry!’ the hunter said, ‘We haven’t traded ivory with them since my great-great-great-grandfather!
Maybe they moved away.’
‘Yes sir, yes sir, we call them Orang Pendek!’ his companion joined in.
‘Wait, I’ve heard of the forest people when I travelled to Borneo. They have arms much longer than yours
but legs much shorter than yours. They have hairy skin but bald head. They make funny face and noisy
speech. Go ask the locals!’ the hunter recounted.
And there we sailed…
‘I’m so sorry I missed that scene!’ Admiral Zheng exclaimed. ‘The Emperor must be fond of them!’
‘Yes sir, yes sir, they followed us on board just for a bunch of bananas!’ I joined in.
Months later in Beijing…
‘The Emperor is fond of them! He spends hours babbling with them! We made a fortune!’ Admiral Zheng
told me. ‘Wait. What did the locals call them, squire?’
‘Orang utan, sir!’ I answered.
(The End)