Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 236

The Adventure with Pirates
Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, Tsui, Eunice - 10
A long, long time ago in the Ming dynasty, I was once a young voyager on a fleet of ships that belonged to
the emperor. We sailed the seven seas, carrying cargo filled with gold, silk and other precious treasures to
give away as gifts to the people of the new lands we discovered during our journey. It was all good until
one day an unforeseeable thunderstorm sank all our ships in the middle of the ocean. I was the sole
survivor, adrift on the wreckage of the ship for few days, until one hopeless and foggy day, through the
thick fog came a humongous ship. It was not just any other ship. It was the ship of the almighty and most
feared pirates of the seas, the Sharks. They were a band of pirates sailing the seven seas with the sole
purpose of finding land and loot. Some said they had even been to the end of the world in the mission to
find treasures. Everyone feared them for they had attacked every village or city they ever visited. The
military forces tried everything to eradicate the pirates, but it was useless because the pirates were too strong.
Each of them was highly armed with cutlasses and swords and all new types of gizmos that were highly
dangerous.
The pirates were notorious for their cold-blooded killing wherever they went. That was why they were
called the Sharks. I didn’t expect they would save me at all. To my surprise, they threw me a lifeline and
lowered a rope ladder on the side of their ship. But I was unsure whether I should get on board the pirate
ship. I was not sure what would happen to me on that ship. If I were to be enslaved to the pirates, I would
rather drown and die in the big ocean. I could not make up my mind and I was losing my strength, but just
as I was about to sink into the depths of the ocean, a strong pair of arms pulled me up onto a boat. The
man who saved me took me back to their ship. I was petrified, and my legs were shaking with fear. I tried
to run but my legs were glued to the deck. Who wouldn’t be scared if he was surrounded by a band of
pirates? Not to mention they were the Sharks! Suddenly, I was pushed towards a pole. As my back hit the
hard wood, I felt a knife pressed against my throat. I screamed, “What do you want? Leave me alone!” Just
then the captain of the ship spoke up, “Oui madame vous allez voyager avec nous maintenant, s'il vous plait
soyez tranquille.” I was so confused. It seemed, they were from somewhere far away from China and did
not speak our language.
From that day onwards, all my days were spent on the pirate ship with them. I didn’t know why but the
pirates did not treat me badly. Rather they were very kind to me. They taught me their language, which I
later found out was French. As time went by, I adapted to their lifestyle and treated them like family. I
soon became fluent in French so that we could communicate. I started training to be like them. I learnt to
be brave and ruthless, strong and ferocious. Before I knew it, I was fighting alongside with them to claim
loot and land. They taught me the tricks of the trade. I also learnt how to sail and keep the ship in mint
condition. They always said, “You only live once, so cherish it and live your life to the fullest!” and so I
did. Those were the best moments of my life. Gradually, I forgot about my family and warm cosy home.
Some years later, however, when we were attacking a village, I saw a family huddled close together
whimpering. Suddenly, the sweet memories of my family and loved ones came flooding back to me. Oh,
how I missed them so much. I desperately wanted to go home but I knew that they wouldn’t let me. The
pirates had grown quite fond of me. If I left, they would definitely think that I was a traitor! I was stuck.
But one day I gathered up my courage and asked for my freedom. They were shocked at first, but in the
end they agreed to let me go. I was ashamed because I owed them my life, yet I was relieved that I could
finally get back home. I said a loving farewell to the pirates, and that was the end of my fabulous adventure
with them. Though I never saw them again, they will always be in my heart and I will never forget the
adventures that we had together. Adieu mes amis pirates!