Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 200

Every day, the routines were the same. I would often be called by the Captain, who was no other
than Zheng, or senior navigators to help them run errands, whether that be passing on a message or to get
some refreshments from them. I dined throughout the day, eating some dried foods, none fresh or high in
nutrition, as there weren’t any plots to plant vegetables or fruit. Sometimes, I would take some herbs or
medicine to the sick or injured, tending to their wounds, with the best materials that we could spare at the
time.
The ship wandered aimlessly around the ocean, as there was often stormy and angry weather which
made it extremely hard to navigate. We would often work for many hours at a time, taking care to not
oversleep as every person was vital to that very operation.
More and more people got sick every day, showing signs of weakness and fatigue. They would
often complain about their arms or legs hurting, how they were constantly hungry however didn’t have an
appetite at the same time. I was appalled at the thought of being that dependent on other people, fearing
being as sick as them, however when many soldiers were getting that same illness, my hopes dropped.
One day, as I was going to fetch a cup of water for the captain, I tripped and fell. As hard as I tried,
I couldn’t get up. My throat scratchy, I grunted for help, but I was at one of the deserted quarters, taking a
shortcut, no one could help me. Soon, I was spotted by one of my fellow castmates, and helped to my bed.
Over time, some symptoms started to appear that was the same as my other crewmates. My skin started
occasionally bleeding and peeling, my gums constantly hurt and sometimes bled, and I was weak to the
point that I couldn’t get up. While all that happened to me, one thing stayed constant - I still yearned for
my parents to soothe my pain, yet I longed to tread on new lands. My heart felt like it was being split into
three - one for the illness, one for exploration, and one for my homeland.
I couldn’t sleep well, it felt like the demons were continuously stirring inside of me. I tried to
focus, but --”Land! Land!” The shouts suddenly came, and propping myself on my bed, I stumbled out of
the doorway, into the calm night sea. Indeed, there was land. Grass plantations, palm trees, beaches, all that
made a city beautiful and unique were present. The pain suddenly consumed me again.
I shut my eyes and prayed for the pain to end, gasping, I counted my shallow breaths, in, out, in,
out. I thought of exotic creatures and new cultures, thought of being with my family, thought of being
perfectly fine and healthy for the last time. I felt like I was transported to that distant land with perfect
scenery and dazzling views.
All was still in my mind.