Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 203

Seven Seas
Western Academy Beijing, Montagnon, Ivy - 10
1
7 June 1427
Jīliè
We bowed down before the emperor, Hongxi. He was wearing a royal blue changshan, that reached his
ankles. His jet black colored beard reached to his big vast chest.
We stood up tall. I remember in my early years of training the mean old master would make me stand
straight for hours on end. I pulled my shoulders back, I clenched my hands tight. Sweat trickled down my
face I didn’t dare to wipe it away. My silver hangpao stuck to my skin like skin stuck to my body. He
paraded down the chestnut carpet, and moved his head swiftly from side to side. His wife walked behind,
her pear colored robe dancing as she followed her beloved husband. Looking swiftly from side to side,
giving a little nod here and there, Hongxi gave a little sigh as he sat down on a rich, red throne, covered on
every side with gold.
‘Now my friends, we are gathered here today for some important business, to be precise you want 15 pieces
of pure gold, to be shaped into ships?’
‘Yes sir, very well sir,’ replied Captain.
‘Do not call me sir! I have a name! Hongxi, call me Hongxi!’ he snapped
‘Yes Hongxi.’
‘Now the gold will arrive on the 22 of June,’ the emperor said as clearly as glass. He began speaking
suddenly.
‘Jilie, Xu, I would like you to meet me just outside the south gate of the Forbidden City.’
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
‘Am I being clear?’
I took one shaking step forward, ‘Yes Master Hongxi.’
‘Now I think my business here is done.’
He lifted himself from the throne and strolled through the big, vast doors. Once his footsteps echoed down
the hallway. We headed in the direction of our ship.
2
8 June 1427
Mei
The ship arrived at the dock at five. People fled the dock, mostly beggars and some who could not even buy
a home or food for themselves. People pushed, people yelled. We stayed giving out gold till our eyes were
sore and our hands were bitten with the cold.
We pushed into the dining room. We sat till the dumplings and leek soup had come. We ate without a
word. As I ate the food, warmness filled inside me.
We stood on the deck watching the stars float by. Ah, Chi, and others went swimming close to the ship. As
I was about to jump in someone shrieked, ‘Shark!’. They climbed onboard faster than a blink. I stood there
gazing as the fin darted through the water. At that very second, the ship moved into life. Once the fin was
out of sight people started to go back to their daily work, just like nothing had happened. Da went to catch
some fish, Xing played with the girls who were the Captain’s daughters. My mother had come upstairs
because the noise was so frightening, but calmly went back downstairs to make the breakfast for the
morning. Ping went to help the captain steer his boat. Sheng went to mend things for the ship. Liling and
Nuo played some games with Shu. Lastly Jilie was reading a book by herself in the corner of the ship’s deck.
Zhen (my dog) was chasing my fingers, begging for a treat.
As the sun began to set making a bright, red and yellow texture in the sky, the others started to drift back to
their rooms.