Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 48

The Diary of Zheng Lian
Shanghai Singapore International School, Kao, Yung Wai Candace - 11
Oh, the sea, the endless sea, when will our journey end?
My friend Li An Xi assisted me in scrubbing the deck as my daily job while ‘Oh-I-am-above-your-level’
Ma Zhu and my brother Zheng Zi stood around scoffing. I really wanted to smack them in the face! While
Li and I were busy cleaning, Ma Zhu mocked us viciously. “You are so stupid. We already finished our
chores! Oh, and little maid Li An Xi, would you do me a favor and lick my shoes clean?” I knew that Ma
only did that because Li is his step brother, the child of the woman Li’s father married after he was
widowed. I saw Li trembling with rage, and before I could stop him, he rushed at Ma and landed a heavy
blow on his jaw. Ma’s jaw was dislocated, but my brother fixed it back again with a sharp click. As payback,
we stood outside our brothers’ cabin yelling abuse at them, accidentally waking up father. I am currently in
hot water……
Goodnight, fair diary!
Zheng Lian
Mother, I miss you so much! I wish you could see this, but sadly, my diary is not magical. Yes, believe it or
not, your 17-year-old son actually wrote in a diary that he misses you. Today, we are sailing across the sea
to visit the leader of Indonesia. Zheng Zi, Ma Zhu, and father have thrown up more than 20 times in the
past 5 hours, as Li and I just sit here getting nauseous while watching countless crew members vomit in the
water. How entertaining. I am being sarcastic, of course! How fun would it be? I have asked my fellow crew
members for the date, and all they say is that they do not know as well. This journey feels like it is lasting for
thousands and thousands of years. Who knows if we will make it off this boat alive?
Goodnight, diary!
Zheng Lian
I wish we could now go and sail off to visit other countries instead of waiting for the night to pass (hopefully
leaving Zheng Zi here). Speaking of that, I think it is his turn to keep watch—I need to get a rest to get
ready to help the crew tomorrow. Who knows if we will run into Chen Zu Yi and his pirates? Oh well, I
better go get some sleep and stop fretting, eh? I think I can see the dawn light approaching in the distance!
Goodnight, fair diary!
Zheng Lian
Today we are setting off to another country! Is it just me, or do I hear thumping? Is it another ship arriving?
I will go check and see if there is any need to go and sound the alarm. Oh, dear god, I can hear them
coming! I need to go sound the alarm! Please, save us, ancestors watching up above! This can’t be our
destiny to die!
*****
Father is lying on the brink of death, and Zheng Zi is dead! The merciless Chen Zu Yi boarded our ship a
few minutes after dawn, taking us by surprise. His cruel pirates brandished blunt shards of metals, swords,
and some fired cannons on us. One of his leading pirates had set fire on our boat, burning Ma and Li badly.
Ma is fighting against his looming death, expelling high pitched wails of, “I don’t want to die! Who will
take care of mother?” Chen Zu Yi’s crew killed around a quarter of our crew, injured most of them, and
stole some treasure. If brother hadn’t leapt onto the other boat and stolen some of the weapons, we would
be dead by now. Please let him live! Our crew…all of us have lost something. We are all grieving. I think I
should elaborate on how the pirates attacked?
Everyone was sleeping. The pirates attacked seconds after I sounded the alarm. Our people woke up and
drowsily entered their defense positions. The Admiral challenged Chen, asking him why he was doing this.
After that, I felt woozy. The pirates shot a strange liquid into me, knocking me out. Then I heard Li
dragging me into the Admiral’s cabin like he had ordered him to, and I fainted. Li then poured a bucket of
icy sea water on me. I sat up immediately and whispered that someone was approaching. I grabbed the
admiral’s wine bottle and his broken sword. Li did the same, finding bits of metal and glass. As one of
Chen’s goons broke in, bruised and bleeding, we attacked without mercy. Within minutes, he fell at our