Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 173

Zheng He answered with a warm smile on his face, “We went to Champa, Java Island,
Malacca, Aru, Samudera, Quilon, Kollam, Ceylon and Calicut. We travelled to nine places in the first
voyage!”
“You went to many places! I wonder if the journey was fun?” I asked curiously.
Zheng He laughed, “The journey was not fun at all. Sometimes, we needed to fight with the
horrible pirates! Sometimes, there were storms and gusts of wind. But there was a time, I gave gold, sliver,
porcelain and silk for Swahili. In return, they gave us some novelties such as ostriches, zebras, camels and
ivory.”
“So that means you had many presents in the first voyage!” I exclaimed.
Zheng He whispered to my ear, “Yes! But don’t tell the others because they may want to have
the presents themselves. Take this as your reward for giving me a good night sleep!” He placed a gold coin
in my hand.
“Thank you!” I bowed lowly and replied.
Just then, I heard mum’s voice, “Maegan, wake up! Or you will be late for school!” I opened
my eyes and felt that there was something in my hand . I opened my hand and saw the gold coin. I beamed,
“Wow! The gold coin travelled back with me in time!”