Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 - 2017 | Page 447

The Battle of Shanghai
Stewards Pooi Kei College, Wong, Jocast – 13
T
he clinking sound of falling bullets echoed everywhere as Chinese soldiers entered the city for the Battle of Shanghai.
Bodies were strewn all over the streets. The sound of gunfire and exploding bombs was deafening. One by one, the
Chinese soldiers hit the dust as the Japanese soldiers fired their guns and their tanks. Silent ambushes came from the
Japanese air force, whose bullets could tear a soldier into smithereens. But there was still hope for the Chinese.
Austin ducked behind a bunch of sandbags as he loaded a nd fired, scoring two Japanese soldiers in one as they were sent
flying. “Nice one, Austin!” his comrades cheered as they defended their base. “Watch out!” Austin ducked under the sandbags as a
Japanese aircraft approached, unloading its deadly ammo. After the shower of the deadly rain, Austin emerged from the sandbags,
only to find many of his soldiers dead, their bodies peppered with holes. One of the wounded stammered out “Help me!” as he
clutched his bleeding shoulder and crawled towards Austin.
Austin knelt by the soldier’s side and inspected the wound. Fortunately, the bullet had just scratched the elbow and was
bleeding uncontrollably. Knowing a bit of first aid, he pulled out a bottle of disinfection alcohol and sterilized the wound as the
soldier grimaced with pain. “Thanks.” the soldier whispered. “Glad to help!” Austin replied. “By the way, what’s your name?”
“My name is Henry.” “I’m Austin.”
“Let’s eradicate those Japanese scumbags!” Henry shouted. “Blast them!” Austin replied while shooting Japanese soldiers one
by one. “Behind you!” Henry warned. He intercepted a Japanese soldier, who had attempted to stab him. “Thanks for the
reminder!” “I’m out of ammo!” Henry cried. “Take my gun!” Austin shouted to him, while he prepared to toss his gun. But it
was too late. Austin watched with horror, as the Japanese soldiers surrounded Henry, pinning him to the ground, and dragged
him away to their base.
“What news?” The general asked an exhausted Austin. “All dead. Henry’s been taken by the Japanese.” Austin replied. “That
makes another 23 men lost. Thanks for the news. You are dismissed.”
Back in his cabin, Austin was regretting his decision to abandon Henry. “Why did I run away? I should have gone after them!”
But he couldn’t change history. Exhausted from the battle, he lay down and rested.
He woke up the next day and prepared for battle. He had thought of a decision to save Henry from the Japanese. What he
was thinking is to reunite with Henry.
Before the battle started, he made a speech for the remaining soldiers. “This battle decides the fate of Shanghai. I want you
all to avenge my captured friend Henry. He served as a rightful soldier of the Chinese. I want you all to be like him. If you are
shot, keep standing! If you are captured, use all your might to struggle for freedom. Fight for Henry! Fight for our country! TO
WAR! TO VICTORY!” He cried. The last two words echoed all around the battlefield.
“CHARGE!” He ordered. The Chinese surged towards the Japanese like advancing waves while firing their guns with
deadly precision. One by one, the Japanese soldiers were shot down, their blood spilling on the streets of Shanghai. “Wow!”
exclaimed Austin as the Chinese troops gained control of a Japanese tank which was now firing at the Japanese aircraft. He then
looked at the horizon, searching for the Japanese base. There it was, not far away. “Cover me!” He shouted, as he ran towards it.
The tank was a formidable weapon, blasting everything to dust as it rolled along, pulverizing any wounded soldier who was
unlucky enough to be in its way. “Nearly there!” he shouted. Two guards were flanking the entrance. Before they realized what
was going on, they had already been shot dead. “Now, I want-----” Before he could finish his sentence, the tank suddenly
exploded, sending his comrades to their deaths as the ground became littered with burning corpses. “I will avenge their deaths!”
Austin screamed as he blasted the door open and ventured inside.
He reloaded and fired at any Japanese soldier that was in his way, while shouting, “This is for Shanghai!” He spared no one,
even the wounded as he investigated the rooms, looking for Henry. Finally there he was! Bound with ropes and thrown in the
medical room.