Shortlisted
Qin’s Return
Noah Law, G
rudging through horizon after horizon looking for eternal life, Qin thought to himself how he could
gain that much power. Scurrying through the wastelands digging for treasures that could help in his
quest, a shiny glint caught his eye. Digging even quicker than before, he discovered something golden
hidden in the red earth. Cicadas scurried over it and Qin had to brush them away along with the mud.
He paused to look at one of them, remembering when he built the great wall and how many of the cicadas could
be found in the trees there. One of them bit him and he shook it away before stamping on it.
roup 2: Fiction, Harrow International School Hong Kong
T
He opened up the lid to the goblet. A sweet sticky liquid was inside it. He drank it with pride. “I shall be the
most powerful man in China with this elixir,” boasted Qin. Qin had found the elixir of eternal life.
He was going to invade the Great Wall of China and was eager to regain his place on the throne. Finally,
making it to the Chinese border after sailing for miles across the ocean, Qin's second task was to find warriors.
Sprinting through Shanhaiguan he came to the nearest prison.
“
Halt. Name?” boomed the guard.
“
You don't need my name,” sneered Qin, slowly drawing a dagger from his back pocket.
“
How dare you.....” the guard could not finish his sentence for Qin had stabbed him.
Marching through the prison corridors Qin knew he would find some ruthless soldiers worthy of his greedy
quest. Demolishing the door to the cells Qin roared fiercely at the prisoners. “Which one of you knuckleheads is
going to show me the strength that I'll need to gain my place on the throne again?!!!”
“
What's in it for us?” asked a prisoner in chains.
“
Yeah, what's in it for us?” repeated another prisoner.
“
Here's the deal; I won’t kill you if you join me. Got it?” yelled Qin.
“
Yes,” mumbled the prisoners.
“
Yes, Sir!” corrected Qin.
As Qin marched his army through China he remembered his long painful journey in finding the elixir of
eternal life. After all he had been through all that he had found he was still looking for more. The more he had,
the more he wanted.
Finally, standing in front of the stone magnificence of the Wall, Qin yelled, “Attack!” His army rushed
forward, slicing and destroying everything in its path. “Today I shall be the most powerful man in China!!! No-
one can stop me!” boomed Qin.
The Chinese Army closed in on Qin's disorganised army. Out of the Chinese Army came a young soldier.
His armour was hanging off him as if it was too big and handed down. His name was Wang and he was only a
child although he had been forced to fight.
Wang brought out his sword and charged for Qin. Qin kicked Wang's sword away. “Now you shall die!”
cried Qin. He swung his sword. Clang! His sword hit the wall and became stuck.
“
You! I'll get you!” bellowed Qin.
As quick as a flash, Wang grabbed his sword and mustered up his courage. Qin tugged at his sword, still
stuck in the wall. He pulled with all his might and with that tug, he pulled his sword out of the crack!
At that moment, out of the hole in the wall from which the sword emerged, something was rumbling.
Everything was silent; the warriors were, the wind was silent and the leaders were too. Until somebody yelled,
“
Watch out! She's going to blow!” Everybody started to panic. There was screaming all around.
“
What did you....” Qin couldn't finish his sentence because erupting out of the hole, lightning shot out. It
filled the sky. Everyone stared in amazement. It circled high in the sky around them. A shape formed in the
lightning, the shape of a cicada, the same little animals that made their home amongst the vegetation by the Wall.
Something dark was getting bigger in the sky. Not bigger....but closer. It shot straight into the ground at the base
of the Great Wall. Everybody pushed forward trying to get a glimpse of this unidentified falling object.
As the mist disappeared, it revealed a dark figure slowly standing up. It was a colossal cicada. Everyone
froze in fear. A sheet of lightning lit up the sky. In that flash the cicada vanished and where Qin had stood there
was nothing but a pile of ashes in which were written these words:
“
I shall follow the balance of life and pledge loyalty to the Wall.”
* * *