Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 230

New Tales of the Ming Treasure Voyages: The Treasure Voyage
Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, Li, Cheuk Lam Bryan - 10
It was late, and every single sailor was asleep. Except Ben. The large galleon was like a knife slicing
through the calm sea. The silver moon was grand and round, it was so impossibly perfect. Stars shone in the
sky. Ben and the other fifty crew members were carrying extremely important cargo. Gold, silk, jade, and
china. Despite it being a wonderful night, Ben knew this would not be a problem-free voyage…
It was morning time. Ben had just woken up. ‘Good morning, Ben,’ piped a cheerful voice. It was
the unmistakable voice of Joe. Even though he looked like a big, burly man, he was very nice and kind-
hearted. ‘Good morning,’ replied Ben. ‘Let’s have breakfast,’ said Joe.
Joe wore a striped cap, and he had a gold tooth. His beard was bristly, it stuck out like the bristles
of a nailbrush. He wore a simple sailor’s tunic and baggy pants. But Ben still liked him. He always gave Ben
some sweets and biscuits when he said he was homesick.
They went to the Dining Hall. Some sailors were playing chess, while others were sipping up
oolong tea.
Suddenly, a voice called out, ‘Pirates! Pirates!’ Everyone stopped. Then they panicked and ran,
alarmed. ‘To your stations, Bob!’ the captain called out. Bob and Joe scrambled to the deck. Three dreaded
pirate ships were moving to intercept.
Cannons fired. But the pirate ship’s hull was way too strong, the cannons only did little damage.
Then a pirate hauled a long ladder across their ship. Moving like gymnasts with incredible speed, the pirates
attempted to board the vessel. The captain and several crew members rushed to the deck. ‘Hold them off!
Others, to the lifeboats!’ Two lifeboats were lowered first. But they were like sitting ducks to the pirate
ships. The pirates fired a cannon. And one by one the lifeboats were destroyed. There was no escape…
The rest of the crew battled valiantly. Sparks could be seen when two swords clashed. The captain
was fighting the pirate’s leader, Chestbeard. Tattoos covered his body. He opened his mouth and shouted,
‘AARRGGHH!’
Ben saw that his teeth were completely black.
They were blacker than oil. They were blacker than a midnight sky. They were blacker than
black… For short, they were black.
Then, a peculiar sight filled Ben’s eyes. ‘What up?’ asked Joe. ‘Look, Joe, look! Reinforcements!’
Two magnificent ships appeared. Everyone stopped. Then the pirates ran. ‘I want my mum!’ shouted one.
The pirates retreated rapidly back to their boats. All was safe.
The ship slowly sailed back on course, while the reinforcements pulled away.
Then, another sailor cried, ‘Look! Look!’ Ben’s mind raced in thought. Was it a sea monster? But
this time it was good news. It was civilization!
A few people arrived to greet them. The remaining sailors gave them all their treasures. The gold,
silk and china. ‘Thank you. Unimaginable kindness.’ said the native people thankfully. Then Ben and Joe
watched the beautiful sunset.
The next morning, the repaired ship set off. Waves crashed along the side of the ship, as if the ship
was a puny toy. ‘Don’t worry, Ben. These storms pass really quicly,’ the captain reassured.
Unfortunately, the captain was wrong. The raging storm lasted for hours. Lightning bolts and
thunder could be seen and heard from miles away. Ben took shelter in his cabin, soaking wet. The moment
that Ben thought he was safe, disaster struck. A strong wave hit the bow of the ship, and water started to
leak in. ‘Oh no,’ said Joe, looking distressed.
Just when everything seemed that it was the end, a stroke of genius hit Ben’s mind. ‘Joe, I know!
Remember the crates at my cabin?’ said Ben, hoping that Joe would agree with his idea. ‘No, but how do
we get near that opening? The water is coming in at tremendous speed. We’d get knocked over the second
we approach it! And how do we stick it?’
‘Just come with me,’ replied Ben calmly. Joe had no other choice but to follow his faithful friend.
They carried two big chunks of wood and marched to the damaged spot. Water was flooding and
splashing in violently, like a swarm of people trying to escape a fire exit. ‘Nails?’ Asked Joe, confused. ‘Yes,’
replied Ben. ‘We need to work now.’ Ben and Joe took some nails and a hammer, and they got to work.
They tried to go near the flooding point, with Ben in front and Joe behind. After many attempts,
they fixed the nails in place. Then Joe grabbed the hammer, charged and banged vigorously. Mission
accomplished!
They returned to China. The emperor requested to see Ben and Joe in private.
‘As a reward for your bravery, you two will serve me and be known as my personal generals. You
two have made history.’ For a moment there was complete silence.
Then Ben and Joe bursted into tears of happiness.