Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 46

The Surprise Proposal
Clearwater Bay School, Studholme - Wilson, Minnie - 10
Mika’s pale white hands trembled from the gust of icy wind that blew swiftly through her fingers. Icicles
started to form under her cold, sensitive nose. Her tears slowly started to form into ice, then quickly falling
and shattering into a million shards.
Suddenly a large wooden boat appeared in the distance and seemed to be floating towards her “ This is my
way out”, Mika thought. Then she shouted “Excuse me I’m lost, can you help me navigate my way home?”
A small boy around the age of 12 poked his head out, he glanced at her, then at her surroundings and then
back at Mika. “Where's your companions?” he asked. She shrugged and took a step forward to take a
proper look at the child. He turned and walked away, then a lady wearing a captains hat emerged from
below deck; the Captain rolled her eyes and announced “Tell me how to get China and we’ll find you a
way out of this horribly cold place”. Mika thought for a moment then warily said “OK, but remember you
have to keep your end of the deal”. The Captain ferociously nodded, smiled and had a small laugh. She
scrambled onto the deck, the pirates saluted her and said their names. Mika learnt their names were Ella,
George, Hung, Meng, Hannah and Sophie and thought she would be a sailor now, so the new addition to
the team would be Mika.
The Captain walked over to her and said “Greetings I’m Mary, Mary Shallow”.
The boat sailed across the perilous Caribbean seas, making many stops along the way trading their finest silks
for shining gems. Some tribes were aggressive, some welcoming and passive; we passed many countries and
next was a capitalist country, my homeland America”Why are we trading lots of valuables?” Mika asked
“To transport,trade and share different things also so we can get things that we don't have”Mary replied .
They made their last stop before reaching China, but the traders were heavily armed, they had weapons
more dangerous than lions, hyenas and all those dangerous animals combined in one, it was called a ‘gun’.
Mika walked in on the trade, she sensed it was going brutally wrong, you could hear gunshots from miles
away, the weapons blocked out all the screams and cries of terror of the sweet, innocent citizens. Mary
realized that she didn't tell America they were coming to trade not war, the guns just came out of the blue
nobody was expecting it, America thought they were intruders. The crew escaped before anyone could get
even more hurt, sighs of relief came from almost everyone on board. Next stop China.
It has been four months since they barely escaped America. The crew was starving and couldn’t see anything
resembling China, except the terracotta warrior sitting on the small round table. All hope was lost but Mary
wouldn't give up no matter how much the crew complains that they have been on the sea for months she
just blocked all the sound out of her mind. Days passed Mary kept on dreaming but was starting to lose
hope, “Land!”Hung screamed, all of the crew woke, startled by all the screaming and ran to the edge of the
boat. The captain Jumped out of the boat and Mika steered the ship to the docks. The crew stayed aboard
while Mika and Mary went to the powerful Emperor’s beautiful palace; every step they took the more
nervous they became. Emperor ‘Khang Lee’ would be tough sale, there were rumors that you would be
lucky just to make a simple trade with him but Mary wanted to trade for sparkling pieces of gold for a life
size terracotta warrior.
Approaching the emperors place the guards stopped Mika and Mary at the entrance
“names and why are you here?”The guard asked
“Mary Shallow and she is Mika- …”
“Mika Hardenna”
“We are here to make a trade with the emperor,” Mary continued The guard moved out the way and they
entered the emperors palace. The sight was breathtaking, jewels and art covered the silver walls, Morning
light shone through the glass roof, Mary and Mika couldn't take their eyes off the fragile furniture and the
giant terracotta warriors. The emperor approached Mary “Ni Hao” The emperor said “ sorry I meant hello
long time no see Mary”
Mika giggled like a 8 year old girl even though she was 17 then she stopped because everyone in the room
was looking at her. “ Another trade? You know I Personally like the gold you brung last time”The Emperor
laughed
“Yes, this time I need a life size terracotta warrior” Mary Replied “And I’m trading four of my shiniest
pieces of gold”