Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 247

Irony of Death
St. Paul's Convent School, Hui, Ho Sum Savina - 13
He had always loved water.
When he was little, he would wade in the shallow streams that directed water to the fields, splashing around
playfully as the water caressed his ankles.
When it rained, he would rush out and dance with the graceful raindrops, his faithful friends. He loved the
way they flowed over his body in serenity, showering him with kisses, just as his mother used to, in some
distant memory, before his father left and never came back.
Often, people would find him wallowing in the calm side of the river, peacefully staring off into space. But
isn’t it dangerous, for such a young scrawny little pea to go there, where dangerous currents and strong
undertows lie at play? Of course not, for why would his most loyal friends abandon him?
His mother never liked it, often reprimanding him for abandoning his chores and running off, but she didn’t
understand. No one ever did. The boys in the village enjoyed roughhousing and whatnot, but he believed
them to be wasteful nonsense. He preferred peace and silence, when people would not yell or cry or order
him around, just for being introverted.
The waters were his refuge. They always hummed with quiet energy, not at all loud and fearsome, like so
many of the people he knew, but kind and reassuring, the kind of family he never had. They accepted him
for who he was, protecting him from the cruelty of his reality; they were the ones he depended on in times
of need.
*
That was why he signed up to join the crew of the Ming Treasure Fleet.
“It would be wonderful, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the rest of the crew told him, “you can
broaden your horizons, explore the world, see things and meet people you’d never dream of, sitting in your
tiny hut in your tiny village!”
‘ To have that, and live a life on the water?’ It had seemed too good to be true. But it was true.
Oh, his mother hadn’t agreed; in fact, she downright yelled, screamed, even threatened to disown him, but
for once in his life, he wanted to do something for himself, instead of constantly bowing down to the will of
others. He was ready to take on the world. Besides, he wasn’t alone, for the waters would always have his
back.
*
For about two years, he lived on one of the numerous ships as a member of the crew, visiting various
countries all over the east.
He wasn’t a muscular hulk of a man like the rest of the crew, that much was obvious, but he was skimpy
and nimble, able to reach places those hunky fingers couldn’t. He made friends with some of the crew
members, his few human friends. They were loud and boisterous, but surprisingly gentle, caring for him like
big brothers, showing him the ropes, teasing him good-naturedly, and giving him space when he felt
overwhelmed.
For the first time in his life, he felt accepted. And it was all thanks to his beloved, the water.
*
But fate is cruel to those who deserve happiness the most.
*
The voyage was nearly at its end when it happened…
When the pirates attacked…
*
The soldiers had successfully set fire to the ships of that accursed pirate Chen Zuyi, but not before a handful
of his minions had managed to sneak aboard the least guarded ship –his ship! Thus the chaos began...
*
The blood-thirsty pirate had a wild, crazed gleam in his eyes and a maniacal grin. Factoring in the teeth that
did not seem to have been cleansed since that last zodiac cycle and the blood smeared on his face, the pirate
seemed more demon than human. Had he not been fighting said pirate, he wouldn't have dared to venture
into the same country as the pirate-demon.
But there he was. Barely blocking one blow after another, he was slowly pushed backwards, getting closer
and closer to the edge…