Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 265

Against the Tides
The Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Lee, Justin - 11
He struggled against the raging currents and listless winds, and spluttered.
“Sir! Sir!”
Admiral Zheng He turned around, only to see a ragged soldier limping towards him. Suddenly, he collapsed.
Zheng He rushed to his side.
“Are you alright?”
He weakly forced out three words,
“They are here.”
He fell limply onto the deck and then, they knew he was gone.
Zheng He stood up firmly, and said,
“Everyone to their stations. I have received word that there is enemies approaching us. Please stand by.”
He then swiftly turned around and walked back to his cabin. He paced in circles. What happened?
This journey was going so well. What did I forget to do? He paced and paced, until he heard a loud
CRACK and commotion up on deck. The fight had started. Luckily for Zheng He and his entourage, they
had been supplied with good troops with good equipment and the sounds of battle showed who was
winning. Piercing screams of pain and cries of horror everywhere, the pirates were killed, one by one, until
none remained.
“Take the loot and the ship. See if there are other resources to be found.”
Zheng He announced. A chorus of “Yes Sir” went around and the sailors and soldiers hurried to
do their job. This battle has been costly, just like the other ones. I must not let this happen again, if not for
good reasons, he thought. We must go to a port to pick up more men and supplies. “Set sail for Donghe
port!” “Yes Admiral!” He stared at the horizon, watching the moon fade into the sea and the sun slowly rise
from its sleep. Softly, he firmly walked down to his cabin, ready for a good night’s sleep.
Zheng He woke up with a jolt, reliving last night’s disaster in his dreams. Realizing they were fake,
he stood up, quickly changed into his daily robes and took a huge yawn. He immediately called his aid.
“How close are we to Donghe port?”
“Only two hours away, Sir.”
This was good, and we had made some progress since the night before.
“We urgently need supplies. Order the monks to pray to the wind god for more wind. We must go faster”
“They have already, Sir. They must rest before they can pray again. They have already spent all of their
energy staging the previous prayer.”
“Then just get me something to eat. After last night, I’m a little hungry.”
“Yes, Sir.”
As his aid scurried away to fetch his master some food, Zheng He thought carefully about what might
happen. Right now the fleet is in a fragile state. With so much treasure and so many goods, and with such a
weak defense, we could be open to an attack. This must not happen. Hew clenched his fists. Footsteps
startled him, and he turned around. He looked and saw his aid returned with some buns and a pot of
steaming hot herbal tea.
“Thank you.”
His aid left with no reply.
Two hours later……
Zheng He stepped of the ship, with his aids and troops behind him in formation.
“Where do we get our supplies?”, he asked.
At that moment, the governor of the state appeared with his entourage and group of guards trailing behind
him.
“We have been expecting you, Admiral.”