Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 355

The Rainbow Crystal: X-files Shanghai
St. Joseph's College, Leung, Caleb - 12
M
y name was Zack and I was a private detective from America. The year was 1935. My mission was to help Billionaire
Hu, a renowned private collector of the world’s treasures who resided in Los Angeles to trace his lost “Rainbow Crystal”.
Billionaire Hu suspected this priceless piece of crystal was craftily switched with a fake piece by a visitor to his grand
residence, Chen Xin, who was his business partner living in Shanghai. It was the only piece of its kind on earth, and
according to old Chinese legend, the crystal had miraculous healing power. I had just got off the ocean liner from New York,
and I was making my way towards Peace Hotel along Nanjing East Road in my trusty Ford model A.
As I was driving, I suddenly heard a loud bang, and the whole car swerved involuntarily off lane. I gripped on the
steering wheel tightly to prevent it from crashing. Before I had time to take the next breath, it did a barrel roll, then I blacked
out completely.
I had no idea how long I was in an unconscious state, but eventually I came around, only to find myself being strapped to
a chair and taped in the mouth. I looked around the room, and realized that my colleague Joe and the Triad men were standing
by the door. It was then that I knew what happened to me was not an accident - my car was shot in the tyre by them! I
gritted my teeth. Then Joe started to talk, “Well, my other client is also interested in the Crystal. Tell us where the Rainbow
Crystal is and we will let you go unscathed.”
“Arrgghh!” I cried out, frustrated. After a ‘nice little talk’ with the evil gang, they decided to transfer me to the rich
man’s mansion – the mansion of “the other client”. I was strapped to the back seat in a run down van, while the driver was
seated in front.
“Listen to me, you thug. I still have a mission to do. I want you not to ruin my plans, or else you will pay!”
I looked out at the Bund as the little diesel van sputtered along. I looked at the crowds of men in smart coats and women
in furs and cheongsams hurrying on their ways, and wondered if they knew that evil plans were lurking around at that very
moment.
The little van stopped abruptly, and the driver got off and opened the boot. Two coolies from Pier Number Nine pushed a
cargo of boxes each towards the van and stored the boxes in the boot. Before continuing the ride, I saw the driver ripping open
a box and putting a small piece of metal in his pistol. Ammunition. Boxes of them. ‘Oh no! I wonder how many people
will be killed! I must stop them!’ I thought.
The van continued its journey and stopped again. The Shanghai Bank came to view. ‘Aha, there he is!
driver muttered to himself.
Just in time!’ the