Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 199

The Thoughts of an Explorer
Sha Tin College, Wong, Nicole - 13
I was a young farmer in a small town in Northern China. Back then, we didn’t have anything to
do, we just tended to the fields and fed the animals; just like that, we made enough to live peacefully. This,
however, all changed when an unknown man came to our town on a white mare, looking as though he
came from a story, with exquisite silk robes and servants obeying his every command. A community
meeting was soon called, with every person, big or small, gathering at the heart of the town.
There was a jumble of nervous speech, meant to ease the nervousness and confusion until the
mysterious man opened his mouth.
“My name is Zheng He, and I am an explorer, who has gone to many distant lands and has found
many different treasures,” the man explains, “The emperor has sent me on a voyage, to travel around the
world, to claim what is rightfully ours. We need a task force, great as a dragon, so large that it can equal any
man or beast that we may encounter on our journey.” he continues, taking a deep breath and staring
intently towards my direction, his gaze boring through my soul and heart.
“We need ship captains, we need boatswains, we need people who can navigate our way through
the darkness. However, don’t worry! Everyone who wants to travel, can get a job. Who’s in?”
I glanced at the people around me, including my parents, my friends, and my fellow villagers. I
wanted a try at the rich life, wanted to see faraway lands, wanted to have a taste of being so far at home, but
at the same time, I was unsure of my decision. I wouldn’t see my family for a long time, and I would leave
behind everything, and everyone I had ever known. It wasn’t just me. Everyone looked wary of the
stranger, afraid that he was telling lies, or uncertain if they wanted to enlist or not. The man, who was kind
and friendly, answered every single question we threw at him - and more...it seemed like an obvious
choice! You got a cabin all to yourself, easy job, all living necessities, and you got to see what was beyond
the horizons of our country! If so, why was I not as enthusiastic as the situation called? I pushed those
thoughts aside and stood up, and exclaimed: “I want to join your ranks.”
A sea of faces stared at me, eyes widened, then looked away. I felt embarrassed and self-conscious
- why were they peering at me like I was an animal held captive? The kind explorer snapped me out of my
trance, agreeing to my proposal. I was to leave in a weeks time, to the nearest city’s large pier, where many
ships and fellow officers would be waiting for me. Since I didn’t have any valuable experience that could be
used on the journey, I would be a cabin boy, until I learnt the ropes.
The last week of my time at my homeland passed in a blur. I worked, I spent time with my family,
and I went to my favourite places, until it was time to leave. My family had specially told one of my relatives
to accompany me on my journey, so at least I wouldn’t be leaving alone, getting lost and doing who-
knows-what. As I hugged my parents and my siblings goodbye, I was filled with a sense of regret.
Everything here was so familiar: our wooden one-story house, our plots of vegetables and plants, everyone I
knew and adored - I would miss them all. My mind wandered away from it’s safe space and into the depths
of uncertainty and negativity. Would I ever come back? Would this be the last time I was ever to see this
familiar scene? I quickly chastised myself for those thoughts and said a final goodbye, wishing with all my
heart that I would return to see my hometown.
The journey passed by as I travelled across plains, muddy roads and deserts, but with each step I
thought of my family going on with their lives as normal. My heart suddenly felt a pang of pain and guilt - I
missed them a lot. However, I knew I had to go, for all my life I felt the urge to explore, the feeling of
freedom whenever I was allowed to run across the plains and discover to my heart’s content.
At last, I arrived at the pier. It was filled to the brim with people: mothers sending their children
goodbye, excited people waiting to board a ship for the first time, regal-looking people wearing robes and
jewelry. The ships stood there, proud and confident, white masts pushed back and forth by the roaring
wind. I stood there, alone and unsure of where to go. Walking around, I spotted the face of that very same
explorer that had came to recruit young sailors from the town courtyard. I went up and introduced myself,
and I was escorted onto the ship that I would be staying on for the next few months, or even years.
The cabin was drab and plain, with dark brown wood interior, a small bed, and a deskside table.
Although not grand, it felt homey after a re-decoration of small ornaments I brought made from various
plants and leaves I had at home. It was a long week, and as I slumped onto the bed, again thinking about
home, I passed out.
I woke up, unsteady and startled, floating somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Where was I? How did
I get there? Walking around in the small, drab wooden cabin, I remembered about the job post I took, how
could I ever forget?