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The Spiral Bishop Hall Jubilee School, Ma, Gabriel - 13 I sauntered from the ships back to the temporary camp on a beach on Island Fiji. We were on a stopover before crossing the pacific and returning home. Taking my time to enjoy the caliginous sky dotted with sequin-silver, sparkling and shimmering stars, like scattered moon dust in the sky, I sat down, digging my fingertips in the sand. The saltiness in the soft breeze coming from the sea afar brought back some long- forgotten memories... “Arm your weapons!” A deep, coarse command blasted behind us. There we stood on the deck of the main ship, where commander Zheng He was trying to work out a plan to bring down the fast-approaching brigantine before things got worse. But it was too late. The smell of gunpowder struck our nostrils. Then, in a New York minute, there came a ginormous ball, like the one on a flail, imploding down on the deck heavily. A few of the soldiers managed to roll over and avoid it but one, who was not so fortunate, was hit on the leg and started to wince in pain. “Hold your line!” screamed Zheng He, with all his years of frustration printed on his face. We lit the ropes and three of the canons were sent on battle but would never come back. The firefight continued. My ears were aching in pain because of the ear-piercing blasts of the canons, and my hands have blisters all over the fingers frantically adjusting the main sail. I started to lose my concentration. “Boom!” The same as the one the pirates first struck. What I saw was just a dodgeball on the deck, I closed my eyes, being too afraid to look at my worst fear. I was thrown backwards, like a ping- pong. The sickening feeling of anti-gravity made my stomach hurt like someone just pulled it out of my body. I couldn’t hold it. I let out a “bleech!” I remember the medical team rushed towards me... and everything went black. I was woken by the sound of waves tumbling by the hull, as if it was about to break its wooden boards. I tried to sit up to have a better glimpse of my wounds at the mirror, but the flying ship tossed me around the cabin. I tried to help myself with some mantou, but also in vain. Hearing Zheng He’s commands to keep the ship moving, I started to wonder why I had chosen to leave the comfort of home. It would be so much better to farm and feed the pigs. I looked outside the cabin on the deck, and asked myself, “when can I go home?” I tried to roll over to sleep, but instead, I was secretly hoping that time would fly over the rough conditions. The ship started to cruise ecstatically. Hearing the bow cutting through the water makes a good piece of music to sleep! After all, go on the voyage may not be that bad, perhaps, we might discover new land and people... “Land ahoy! Land ahoy!” the watch-over crew woke me up at the point of the mast at the first sight of sighting the hazy outline of an island. I rolled out of bed and dashed to the deck. We started to slow down and threw the anchors. The crews and I were so elated and exhilarated to reach the land. However, the natives were not so happy. They welcomed us with their troops, thinking that we are invaders. Holding our hands up, we gestured, trying to explain our innocent intention. Zheng He was the last joining us. With a few crews, there he carried all large chest of gold, silver, and precious items. The natives, in return, shared their unique food, music and sports. It was the best time. Time passed by, like a non-stop train, chuffing pass you for seconds and it was gone. We boarded our ship, and the human figures slowly disappeared from our sight. “Splash!” Reality. We had faced the same battles and fun all over again for a few times. And finally, we were on our final stop back home. Although the sea could sometimes be electrifying, there’s no place like home. I was enjoying the peaceful night until the watch-over crew (again) signaled us, “Pirate concussion! Pirate concussion!” “Oh no! Here we go again.” New Tales of the Unknown Carmel School Association Elsa High School, Davidson, Hannah - 13 From the year 1405 (also known as the year of the rooster in the Chinese zodiac calendar) there were 8 voyages led by the influential eunuch: Zheng He. But the public only knew about seven. The massacre of 1424, known to only the emperor and the only survivor: Zheng He. The voyage happened in between the sixth and the final voyage. Over 10,000 sailors died and almost all ships were incinerated. After 595 years one thing has not yet been revealed: The murderer. 1420 I’m picking tomatoes in the field. The rain is pouring down, wetting my hair, drenching my clothes. I walk inside, there is a leak in the roof. My father is still farming and my mother is inside our kitchen. I walk into the small cabin with my bamboo basket and place it on a small stone block. I pick up the small stone block as the tomatoes roll onto the soil-covered ground and I swing it over my head, hitting my mother. My head is spinning. I pick up the axe on the kitchen table and swing it at the head on the ground. It rolls among the tomatoes. I run over to the rice fields. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes. I arrive and I wade through the water. It is silent. No one is here, they all left because of the rain. Except for a man with baggy brown trousers and no shirt. Filled with adrenaline, I run over to him. I grab him by the neck and thrust his head into the water. Until he drowns. That man was my father. I killed them both. Their only daughter. 1421- Ming Dynasty China I’ve heard rumours that my people are looking for me. I ran away to China, I have been charged with one of the worst crimes. Karma is coming for me, in my next life; at least that’s what they say. Two full moons ago I was taken by a group of people, they told me I was a killer and branded two words down my back: 兇 手. Murderer. If anybody finds me, I’m dead. So I have to leave China. 1423 I’ve heard of these voyages. Led by this man called Zheng He, and one is leaving in a year’s time. I have a plan. I’m going to board the ship and sail away so that I can get away from this place. I don't know where I’m going but anything is better than where I am now. Maybe to Persia, or the coast of Africa. I just need the transport. And the tools. 1424- Day Before Departure 4 years Two dead One killer I killed another man today. His name was Wang Lei. The thrill of killing excites me. He had a wife and three children. So I killed them all. I can’t have any witnesses. My hair is gone, my clothes are tattered and I am packed. It is time, time that I embark on a journey that will save or cost me my life. 1424- Day of Departure 4 years and one day Seven dead One murderer There are thirty-one ships and 10,264 people according to the records. I have to disguise myself as a man, I have to blend in. Most of all, I have a plan, I need to execute those plans and I need to get out alive. Dying is inevitable. But killing is an art. Murder is seen as a sin, a crime. But the people who really know how to end someone’s life, Know that it takes effort, planning and extreme amounts of insanity. 31 ships, 10,264 people. I am on ship number 24 with 472 other men. They don’t know that I am planning to kill them all by the end of the month. I met a man. His name is Li Qiang, he talks of his homeland in the fields. He farms rice. Just like my father did before I killed him. But I don’t tell him that. “I am Liu Wei,” I say “Oh, and what do you do?” He replies “I am a potter,” I respond. “Do you have a wife?” he keeps talking. “Yes,” he doesn’t take the hint. “Where are you from?” I hope this is the last question. “Yingtianfu.” If he says anything else I will impale him on the metal blade on my belt. He goes away. We spent hours cleaning the deck of the ships, making inventory and training. I go and collect gunpowder from the stockroom. It’s been one month and I have made my strategy. I need to isolate our ship and then blow it up. No evidence. No survivors. Except for me. 4 full moons after the departure It is a dry night, perfect conditions. Everyone is asleep and I’ve been keeping watch. I am in my sleeping quarters, getting ready. Above there is a fire crackling in the hearth. It is a wooden ship and the fire catches easily.