Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 215

Later that night, Zheng He shouted from the first boat, “Grab your weapon and get ready to fight!
The pirates are about to attack!” We ran down the corridor and took the bows and arrows hanging off the
kitchen wall. We bolted up to the main deck. Scales cheered us on as we took our positions.
I took a deep breath and shot as far as I could, and it hit one of the scary looking men in the arm.
Then just as I was about to shoot another, an arrow flew right next to my ear! “That was close.” I mumbled
to myself.
After shooting a few men, I found that I was good at archery! We had to dodge under so many
arrows that the arrows could fill up the entire kitchen underneath the main deck where war was happening.
We fought and fought, then I started to get worried. Just then, an arrow flew between my legs and hit a
pole behind me instead. “Phew.”
Suddenly, an arrow came in my direction. Just as I thought it would be my end, Scales created a
magical shield in front of me. Scales had saved my life! We eventually managed to sink the pirates’ ships. We
won.
By the time we were to say goodbye to Scales upon leaving Malacca, Ling and I took some of
Scales’s glowing blue light which would allow the three of us to communicate with each other at all times.
At the next stop, Aru, we always talked to Scales when nobody was looking. Even now, in the
palace, I talk to Ling and Scales a lot. Time passed. It has been two years since we met; our friendship kept
growing. I wouldn’t have ever met such marvelous friends if I didn’t sneak aboard the ship.