Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction Group 3 | Page 91

New Tales of the Ming Treasure Voayages
Harrow International School Shanghai, Cook, Emma - 13
Dear diary,
Today is a very big day, because today I aboard the magnificent ship. I am scared, but extremely
excited. I can’t wait for the adventures ahead! However, my mother is slowly dying of a traumatic disease
called malaria. I love my mother, but my duties are more important, because we need the money. I know I
may sound mean, but I want my children to have the best in life, so this money should help them out. I will
be gone for 2 years, however It may be extended. I know I will miss a lot, but I do have my best friend
coming with me so I should not be too lonely.
I finally arrived at the port and when I first saw the boat I was amazed, I felt like royalty. The boat was
so long and tall and it had a magnificent paint job on the outside (it was a big red dragon). Never had I ever
seen something so grand before. That wasn’t even the best of It, inside the actual boat there were pots and
pots of gold. After seeing this I thought this trip was going to be a good one. That was when I began to feel
a lot better and happier about leaving my family. My family understands I have to leave don’t they?
Before I knew it we were of, I was ecstatic, but there was always regret in the back of my mind,
however I was quickly ushered to my room and told to get into my uniform. The rooms were tiny and
there were about 10 people fit into one, I felt like I had an invasion of privacy, but no one was going to
listen to a 24 year old man who was there to clean the decks.
About four days had past, and I was so tired, sleeping was so hard, because you couldn’t get comfy. I
also had hardly anything to eat, all the food I had been given made me throw up it was absolutely
repugnant. I felt like my own body was rotting inside of me and I wanted to run far and never return. Sadly,
this was starting to become a nightmare and it was something I did not especially want to experience, but I
had no choice.
We are about one month into our voyage and it has probably been the worst month of my life and
here is why… My best friend who came with me had passed away I would tell you more, but they refused
to tell me any details. I think he was malnourished, because he was so weak sometimes he told me he
couldn’t even get up. I can’t believe how horrid some people on this boat are, it shocks me.
I just can’t stop thinking about home, I miss my wife, my kids and my beloved mother. She has
probably died by now, which makes me so sad, because I wasn’t even there to say goodbye. What kind of
son does she think I am? Please forgive me mother, I am sorry.
‘The pain is unbearable’ I cried out.
‘its okay we will get some people to come check it out and that is a promise ’ the captain muttered
I waited all night for someone to come, but they never did. The captain made a promise, but he didn’t
even keep it, but worse My foot was in excruciating, agonizing and torturous pain. I was starting to feel
delirious. On top of that I started to feel really sea sick, I was vomiting all the time and it was gross, all I
wanted was to be at home with my lovely family, but sadly that was not a reality. The past year on the boat
had been horrific and this had made my life that much harder, but luckily we were ahead of schedule, so we
might be home sooner then we thought.
The next day I was told I could sit out, but I would have to work the next day, which was absolutely
bonkers, because my foot was infected. So I decided to ask captain about the work and if I could get
checked by medics, but I instantly got turned away.
It had been about 1 week since my foot incident (on accident I stepped on to about six nail's, because the
captain left them out) and it is still in so much pain, but the infection is starting to spread and I think I don’t
have much time left, because I am constantly fainting, vomiting, bleeding and my skin is slowly changing to
black. The useless captain keeps saying I am faking, but others are telling me I will die soon and I think I
believe the others.
Another day has passed and I am feeling nauseous, I think today may be the end… All I can think about is
my wife and my children. They will just think that I was a monster and that I was brought from the devils
them self, but I love my family. I just want them to have the best in life, but they will never know.