Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 177

“Thank you, Your Excellency. No, I am satisfied as long as I am warm and full.”
Frowning, Zheng He commented, “Are you one of those who only wish to live pass today?”
Stunned, Zhi was speechless.
Zheng He continued, “I used to be aimless like you too.”
“When I was serving the Yongle Emperor as a eunuch, my only purpose was to satisfy him.
Everything I did, was under his will.”
“I have been aimless too, I—”
“My aimless is more aimless than your aimless,” he cut Zhi off. “Do you understand the pain of
living for someone else? The emperor treated me well, but if he told me to die, I would have done it
without hesitation. If you think you are surviving instead of living, I was not even surviving.”
“Then he ordered me to lead his fleet on the voyages. I finally started waking up with a purpose. I’m
not doing it for myself, but without me, this whole thing can’t be done. I was leading this voyage for the
sake of our fleet, our country, our people and… my name.”
“It’s amazing, how something as simple as trying to reach land amidst endless water gives me a
purpose.”
“I’ve finished.” Said Zheng He. He gave Zhi a final glare and left.
Zhi’s gaze lingered at the horizon.
*
The next day, Zhi walked to the stern to watch the sunrise. He heard someone approaching him.
“I had a dream.”
Zhi nodded, eager to hear
“I go to Mecca in that dream,” Zheng He inhaled, “like my father and my grandfather.”
“Wait,” Zhi questioned, “aren’t you Chinese?”
“I am Chinese, I’m just from a different tribe.”
“I’m sorry,” Zhi looked down. “I shouldn’t have assumed you were Arabian.”
“I am Arabian, I just grew up in China.”
Again, Zhi was at a loss of words.
“I have never gone to Mecca on my previous voyages to Arabia, but every decent Muslim should
at least go to Mecca once in his life.”
“I thought you were a Buddhist.”
“It’s complicated. But why does it matter? What I am doesn’t define who I am.”
He walked away.
*