Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 2 - 2 | Page 93

The pirates threw us in seperate jail cells. I sat in solitude, as my comrades whimpered and
complained, fearing for their lives. I thought about escaping, but I wanted no life in danger. Outsmarting
them wouldn’t be easy, it would take time to plan and I did not intend to test their patience. What would
such mighty pirates want?
Power?
Fear?
Treasure?
A day later, with my plan in mind, I sat at a table, waiting patiently to decide the fate of my men. I
did not know how likely my plan would succeed, but it was the only way. Chen approached, her men
behind her. They bore firearms, but I showed no sign of fear. She pulled the chair away and sat, leaning on
the backrest of the chair. Dramatically, she stabbed her knife into the wooden table. Failing at threatening
me, she asks, “Tell me, Admiral. What is the real reason you asked to see me? To secure a deal? Fat
chance.”
I took a deep breath, “Why, you are certainly correct. You have something I would like, and I
have something to offer in exchange for it.”
Chen stared me down and nodded, beckoning me to proceed.
“I want my men. You have my men. You want to be feared. I can help you with that. I have a
life to spare. Mine. I do not seek the treasure you took, just the lives of the loyal and innocent. In exchange,
I will let you take my life,” I continued, my voice confident.
“Deal?”
“No tricks, Admiral,”
“Certainly not. So do we have a deal?”
“A deal it is. I’ve got my eyes on you, Admiral. No tricks. I’ve got a knife at your throat,”
My men were released, and Chen’s men handcuffed me, placing me under their control. I was
given a last chance to say my goodbyes. Even if my plan did not work, I would be honored to sacrifice my
life for these courageous men. I was dragged onto the pirates’ ship and as I silently said goodbye to my
people, a cannon boom rang in the distance. A s
ray of light came across my face. There was hope.
The Royal Naval Fleet.
Just before we were captured, I commanded my men to release an emergency flare into the sky,
hoping to attract the attention of the Naval Fleet. We had encountered such situations, but never
encountered such a close call. The Fleet came onto the pirates ship, and released me from the pirates’
captivity. Captain Chen was captured, along with her crew.
As I approached Chen, she stared me down with a deadly look in her eyes. “I’ve got my eyes on
you, Captain. No tricks,” I quoted, using her own words against her.