Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 85

“His highness did mention a certain sailor fetching treasures for him but he later thought that he
needed somebody more trustworthy and with more men,” Zhenghe, the great explorer, began. “I really
should get going, I’m due back in a week. This second voyage was exhausting.” Pausing for a moment, he
looked down at the crippled figure laying on the ground, “Also, you might want to know. The beast was
only guarding her egg.”
And with a wave of his sleeve, Zhenghe and his men disappeared into the jungle.
Beaten and exhausted, Hong rested against a large, sandstone boulder, watching the sun set on the
desolate island, contemplating the worthwhileness of the expedition.