Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 101

Back to the Past
Heep Yunn School, Chan, Lok Yan - 14
~Year 2050, Hong Kong, China~
“The Great Ming Dynasty… From year 1368 to 1644… Hongwu Emperor… and the Fall of Beijing…
Now class, I want you to…” Ms Cheng, my Chinese history teacher droned on as I snored on— my
breathing matching rhythmically with her dull mechanic tone.
“Lucas! Hey man, wake up!” Tony shook me hard and I sat up groggily, rubbing the trail of saliva off my
chin.
“What is it? I didn’t sleep past lunch break did I ?”
“Didn’t you hear the robot? we’re finally doing Back to the Past project! The one where we travel back in
time to a certain dynasty in China, well the Ming Dynasty this year, see their developments first hand then
come back to write a report!”
“That’s kind of dangerous, I’m not sure I…”
“You never listen do you? With the Time Machine, when we travel back, it’ll be like seeing a movie for us,
no one will be able to see or touch or hear us, while we can!”
“That’s amazing! Let’s do it!”
“And I've got an amazing idea, the Ming Treasure Voyages!”
Both our eyes gleamed with anticipation and joy.
Soon, we were ready, packed with cameras notebooks, some weaponry and the Blazer Lazer 1000, just in
case. We switched on the Time Machine, and a brilliant swirling portal appeared, illuminating our eager
faces. And mimicking our favourite action hero Steve Rogers, we saluted, held our breaths and fell through
the portal sideways. Little did we know, we weren’t the only things that would “fall sideways and topple”.
~Year 1405, Nanjing, Ming Dynasty~
The first thing I saw after going through the portal was weirdly, a cloud. And with a sickening thought I
realized where I was.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
We fell through the sky, plummeting head first to the deck of a massive ship. Tony landed with a
forward roll, while I thudded down heavily on my bottom. Standing right beside us was a man in his
thirties.
“Prepare the battleships for war, ready the cavalries! We shall surround Chen Zuyi and the pirates when
they come in distance.” The man said in an authoritative tone.
“Yes Admiral Zheng!”
Suddenly, I heard a loud bang as a cannonball rocketed to the side of the ship, causing it to rock
violently. And the Time Machine, which I carelessly placed on the side of the hull, wobbled dangerously.
Tony leapt for it, but I stood dumbfounded in his way and he missed and the Time Machine toppled down
into the ominous Malacca Sea.
“LUCAS!” Tony wailed.
“I'm sorry! I didn't think it would fall that easy…” I whimpered.
“Never mind, I'll get us out of here, don't fret it.” Tony reassured.
We ducked down and hid as our forms shimmered and materialised. I groaned inwardly, it’s over now, the
pirates will see us and kill us! Fortunately, the rest of the sailors were busy dealing with pressing matters to
notice us. There were worried gasps and murmurs spreading around.
“Why are Chen Zuyi and his scalawags able to fire at such a long distance? That isn’t possible!” A sailor
growled in frustration.
“Oh no! If they can attack without coming close to us, how are our battleships supposed to surround the
pirate fleet?”
“Admiral Zheng’s plan isn't going to work, we're all gonna die!”
“My dear crew,” Zheng He had worry lines all over his face. “It seems that I have failed you all, let us take
cover below deck to avoid the cannons, perhaps the pirates will show mercy.” He looked grave and
defeated.
Couples held each other closer, but could give no reassurance, everyone was terrified.
Choking and tearing up from the smoke, we crawled to the back of the ship, where we found a grown
man sobbing, he looked distraught and his clothes were in tatters.
“Hey there mister, what’s the matter?” We crouched down beside him.
“Are you men of Admiral Zheng?” He sniffed
“Why yes, we’re his loyal men!”
He hung his head in shame, “Well then I guess I could confide in you. I’m Shi Jinqing from HuiZhou
China and I too am- was, a loyal man of Admiral Zheng. It all started when he entrusted me to stowaway