Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 125

Wall
Diocesan Girls' School, Chan, Sonia - 12
'G
eneral Seido, Unit 4 Patrol 1, stationed at the Eastern Water Gate has been caught just as the firing signal was
issued. Statistics have recorded 160 dead from using Strategy 107a, currently leaving us with 1,500 men,'
Captain Akihiro reported gravely.
'What?! What happened this time? Caught? What do you mean caught?! Well, tell them to be careful! Just stop
coming back reporting bad news, just stop.' My dad sighed in frustration and helplessness. He paced around the
room with anger, then squealed in delight as a sudden idea emerged.
'Kazuki Seido! Come at once!' My father roared. I quickly scurried to him, not even daring to look at him.
'Yes, Father,' I answered, staring down at his exceptionally large feet.
'Go, go to the Chinese City, spy for me, be back when you can. Find the weakest link into the Shanghai City Wall.
Do not come back empty handed. You should have mastered your Chinese by now,' he commanded.
'Yes, Father,' I replied, and promptly scurried away.
When I went back the corner a the crowded bedroom I shared with five others, I moaned and cried on my bed. I
was sure my father was the worst dad there could ever be. Isn't asking an eleven-year-old to spy on a dangerous city,
just like sentencing me to death? But there was nothing I could do, so I packed my bag, preparing for a long and
harsh journey, grabbed my binoculars and was ready to go.
Off I went. It seemed as if days had passed, but I was still in the middle of nowhere. Just as I was about to wear out,
starving and out of breath, a sudden glimpse of a town caught my eye. As I got near, I saw a huge wall circling the
city inside of it. That must be the Chinese City of Shanghai! Relief brought a slow smile to my lips, and it worked
its way across my face and into my eyes.
When I finally reached the gate, my palms were sweaty, i was beaten up by the long journey, yet I knew my guard
should be up as I crossed the gate, hoping that there would be no questioning, and luckily, there wasn't. I was both
so relieved and tired that while walking through the gate I tripped over some rough rocks, lost my balance, and
tripped. I felt a sudden shake like an earthquake, then, blankness.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a comfortably warm bed, I tried to sit up, but my head started
throbbing so bad that all I could do was lie back down. When a middle-aged man, presumably the owner of the
house, saw that I was awake, he immediately called for a girl named 'Mei' to come assist me.
'Thanks, but where am I?' I asked Mei as she helped me up. She frowned and shook her head. I asked again, but Mei
just replied in very complicated Chinese, I couldn't catch her words, they were swirling around me and I had no
time to process them.
'I was walking home from a tailor delivery when I heard a piercing shriek, I immediately looked to see you lying
near the Old Western Gate Laoximen on some sharp rocks, moaning in great pain. I took you to my father's tailor
shop where I lived. You were unconscious for a day or two, and I was extremely worried about you. For some time,
I thought you had gotten into a coma, thank goodness you're alright!' Mei explained briefly and in simple Chinese.
I felt a surge of warmth work its way through my body - that was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.
As we chatted and got to know each other more, Mei came across the question I had long dreaded. 'Kuzuki, don't
mind me asking, but why are you in the City alone? Where are your parents?' Mei wondered.
I paused for a moment, and I felt my heartbeat rising. 'Well, my dad does business around the world and I tag along
to every city he goes,' I lied. 'He just tells m