Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 1 | Page 95

The Ming Treasure Bottle
Victoria Shanghai Academy, Sze, Kristen - 8
“Ugh.” Stephanie was at the beach with her mom cleaning up rubbish from Typhoon Mangkhut.
“I hate volunteering! Why don’t we just throw the rubbish back in the water? ” Stephanie complained.
Dragging herself along the beach, her foot hit something hard. She picked it up. It was a glass
bottle containing a Chinese model ship. She was fascinated, and unknowingly stroked the bottle several
times. She felt dizzy, and it seemed as if the world was fading.
Stephanie was woken up by the sounds of fighting and water splashing. The first thing she saw
when she opened her eyes was a flag with the word “Ming” printed on it. She got up and looked around.
Stephanie was on the deck of a Chinese sailing ship!
“Stop the pirates!” The ship captain shouted while his men scurried around the pirates trying to
stop them stealing the gold the ship was carrying.
“Take all the gold! Chuck everything else OFF THE BOAT!” The pirate leader screamed.
Whoa! I have to do something! Stephanie thought.
The pirate leader was standing close to Stephanie, and she found that the pirate was standing on a
sheet of silk. Being smart, she grabbed the sheet and pulled with all her might.
The pirate leader stumbled and tripped and he fell overboard.
Realising what happened, one of the pirates made a face and cried “Cap’s down! RETREAT,
RETREAT, RETREAAAAAAT!!!!!!”. The ship’s captain and his men chased off the remaining pirates
until they were all gone.
The ship captain recognized Stephanie’s heroic deed and praised her. “You are a true hero. If the
pirates were not stopped, they would have ‘chucked everything OFF THE BOAT!’” The captain chuckled
and Stephanie joined in on the laughter. “That would have been quite catastrophic, and would definitely
end the beautiful beach and most sea life around here.” Turning towards the horizon, the captain said “We
need to respect the sea.”
Stephanie pondered at what the captain said, and suddenly came back to her senses about her own
situation.
“Wait… where am I? And who are you?”
“Why, I am Admiral Zheng He and you are onboard my great expedition of course.”
Stephanie was in disbelief and held out the glass bottle. It shone a great blinding light and everyone
closed their eyes.
When Zheng He opened his eyes. Stephanie was gone, leaving behind in her place the glass bottle.
Shocked, he picked up the bottle wondering if Stephanie was a spirit sent to help him.
“Bury this bottle on the beach.” He ordered his men.
Approximately six hundred years later…
“Stephanie! Stephanie! Are you okay?” Stephanie’s mom yelled as Stephanie sat up, still clinging
onto the bottle with the Chinese model ship.
“I’m alright, mom. Let’s continue with the beach clean up!” Stephanie said, blinking but
enthusiastic as her mom looked at her puzzled.
Stephanie placed the bottle carefully into her backpack. For a moment, she thought she saw little
figures running around on the model ship inside the bottle.