Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 -1 2019 | Page 95

The Ming Treasure Voyages
Dulwich College Beijing, Jacob, Manav - 11
Darkness crept onboard and the crew grew silent.
It was our 64th day at sea and it was one of our worst so far. Thunder rumbled near us as lightning struck
the water, causing it to shriek in pain. We would have been petrified, of it, if it wasn’t for the man who led
us-Captain Zheng He, Commander of the Ming treasure fleet and amongst one of the boldest people I’ve
ever encountered.
Cambodia, you’d better be worth it.
The weather didn’t budge; and neither did the captain. “Keep going,” he’d grumble each time we requested
a change in route. The nights were cold and pretty soon day was too. It wasn’t exactly the most joyful thing
to do.
At last the words were said, “We’re here!” Zhang Wei, the second-in-command yelled. Cheers erupted
around me as brooms were thrown to the air. “Calm down, calm down,” the captain ushered, though even
he couldn’t hide his smile.
We were denied entry. If there’s one thing about the captain, it’s that he doesn’t take no for an answer.
Ever. Things got nasty very quickly. The PLA (People’s Liberation Army) were taking over the Junk and
we were forced to go below deck. 360 soldiers covered our ship. War was dawning.
The sounds of gunshot, rage, and death echoed around us. Each time we thought we were safe; another
explosion would erupt overhead.
At last, it was over. Not a sound was heard from the upper-deck. We were safe. Suddenly, the top of the
staircase creaked. We froze. Not a soul dared breathe. Footsteps. We exchanged glances, the footsteps were
descending towards us. We huddled together. It slowed, then changed. Something or someone had begun
rolling down the stairs with a “humph” on each step. Finally, it was in our room.
His hand was sliced off; his face was covered with cuts. Broken armor rested on his chest revealing a
wounded stomach. Broken armor, yet Chinese armor. It was Zhang Wei, the second-in-command. A
scream reverberated through the lower deck from one of the other crew members but was quickly silenced
with the trembling hand of another one of us, as we watched the lips of Zhang Wei move.
“Sangkram nih min chb te yeung nung thveukaudakamm vinh.” We gasped in astonishment, he was
speaking Khmer, the language of the Cambodians. We looked towards Hang Ruo, the junks translator, for
help. “The war is not over; we shall strike soon.” He translated with a cold stare upon the ground. We
followed his gaze to a small portrait of Zheng He lying next to a peeling wall. “The captain!” Hang Roa
exclaimed, “You four, go look for the captain. We three will stay back and ensure Zhang Wei’s wellbeing.”
Hang Roa then got up, and walked towards the painting. He picked it up, peered down whilst running his
finger along the soft creases of the picture. He began to place it back down when he noticed a small,
spherical shaped ball with light which flashed at each sound. Hang Roa bent down, then started reaching
out to it. “Hang Roa, No!” Meifan exclaimed, but it was too late.
It started with his hand. Small specks of dust falling off. Then the arm. Then the body. Then he was gone.
One second he was here standing next to us, and the next he was removed. After everything he had done
for us, for China. The commitment, the effort; All to be taken from the face of our world without
hesitation. To the universe's disposal. To a place no living man has been before. Alone. Afraid. Yet still
gone.
“Give him water. That should wake him.” Hang Ruo directed. I woke up to find both Mei fan, Li Wei and
surprisingly, Hang Roa, all looking down to me. “Where am I? What happened? How on Earth did I get
here and Hang Roa! You are...you’re...dead.”
“Dead!” Hang Roa laughed, “What do you mean dead? According to what I know I’m very well alive!”
and with that he started pinching himself which made all of us roll on the floor laughing. “Why are you
laughing?” I asked quizzically as he looked around, then realized where we were. “How are we, outside?” I
exclaimed, getting up. “Uh, because you were sleeping for so long that the captain himself said he wanted
his best patrolling officer on field and not busy sleeping.”
“You are one tough sleeper man!” Li Wei chuckled,
“Ya, we tried waking you up but no matter what we did you didn’t wake up!” Hang Roa said,
“So we took you outside and splashed that water on your face.” Mei fan finished. It was at that moment that
I realized that I was soaking wet from head to toe. “Well okay then,” I said, “So then where are we going
next?”