Jack Jacoby: Shaolin Warrior
Hanish Kamlesh Daryanani, Group 3: Fiction, HKMA David Li Kwok Po College
he sun goes down, the stars come out,
And all that counts, is here and now,
My universe, will never be the same,
I'm glad you came, i'm glad you came”
‘
Glad You Came’ by The Wanted has always had a mesmerizing effect on Jack Jacoby. He himself
doesn't understand it either, he never got tired of it, but it always energized him. A tall 5'11”, aged 23, just out of
university with a degree in physiology, Jack Jacoby is on the 11:30 a.m flight from New York to Beijing via
Hong Kong. He's on his way to Beijing, for a holiday. His first time on a 17
hour flight to Hong Kong isn't doing him much good at this point, and the turbulence isn't helping either. He
never expected to have a motion sickness problem, and all he wants to do now is sleep!
The flight lands in Hong Kong. “Finally! No more torture! I hope the flight to Beijing won't be as bad.”
thinks Jack aloud, while getting his bag out of the overhead compartment. The bald man sitting next to him
smirks and lets out a small laugh.
He rushes towards another gate for his flight to Beijing, and as he's seated, he realizes he's forgotten his
whole camera bag in the overhead compartment in the other flight! “Oh no! My camera!” he realizes. He asks
one of the air hostesses what he can do. “I'm sorry sir, you'll have to report the lost item at the Beijing airport.”
replies the air hostess. “But won't the investigation take a while?” Jack asks. “It's hard to say sir.” she says. “Oh
well, I guess I'll just have to let it go.” Jack thinks sadly to himself.
A few hours later, Jack is unpacked and settled in his cosily uncomfortable dorm room. He's staying in
a typical Chinese hostel called 'The Seven Bells', but with only six bells on its advertisement sign outside. It
takes him a good, full minute to understand the mistake!
“
I'm starving! Time for some lunch!” he thinks. So, Jack ventures out and roams around until he finds a
nice, little tea shop and decides to eat there. While eating, he notices an advertisement – in Chinese, and
surprisingly in English as well– about a Shaolin martial arts performance at the Beijing City Square in a few
days and decides to go there and watch. Jack's next three days are spent going to all the different places of
interest around Beijing. He goes to Tiananmen Square, the ancient Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the
Ming Tombs and so many other places! Be it a famous landmark, or a popular local tea shop, Jack is there. But
he enjoys the Great Wall of China the most. He had expressed his curiosity of the local Chinese culture while
asking his hostel manager about different places to visit during his stay. “I want to experience the real China, the
one you've lived in all your life.” he explains to Mr. Cheng, the hostel manager. On the fourth day, he goes to
see the Shaolin martial arts performance. “I'm so excited! I can't wait to see the Shaolin warriors!” he exclaims.
After lunch at the hostel, he goes to the Beijing City Square. When he reaches, he's amazed at what he sees.
There are people everywhere, watching the Shaolin warriors performing all sorts of unimaginable acts! There
are warriors demonstrating different aerial strikes, performing tai chi routines and many other wondrous feats!
Jack is amazed by all of this. Him being a physiology student, he really appreciates the unique performance!
Even though he is a trained Second Degree Black Belt in karate, Shaolin martial arts have always been an
intriguing, yet unknown topic for him.
Later in the afternoon, Jack approaches the Shaolin monk in charge of the whole event. The monk
looks familiar, but he can't quite put his finger on it. However, when the monk greets him with a bow and smiles
at him, it hits him! “You were the man sitting next to me on the flight to Hong Kong!” he exclaims. “Yes! I
remember you too! You certainly have a good memory!” he replies in surprisingly fluent English. They
introduce themselves. “Hi, I'm Jack”. “Greetings, My name is Shaoxi. Master Shaoxi”. “Pleasure to meet you,
Master Shaoxi!” says Jack. After chatting for a while, Master Shaoxi says “I think I have something that may
interest you, Mr. Jack”. “Please, call me Jack” he replies “What would you like to show me?”. “If you don't
mind, would you accompany me to the monastery, so that I may show you?” asks Master Shaoxi. On the inside,
Jack is jumping for joy! He had always wanted to go to a Shaolin monastery! But he doesn't completely show
his enthusiasm, in case he loses the chance to go to the monastery. “It would be my pleasure!” replies Jack.
A few hours and hundreds of steps later, Jack and Master Shaoxi reach the entrance of the monastery, right next
to and named after the Great Wall of China. “Please remove your footwear first, and then we shall enter” says
Shaoxi. “Of course” responds Jack. They enter the monastery and walk towards Master Shaoxi's personal
cottage. “All of the other monks are probably at supper right now” says Shaoxi, when he notices the confused
look on Jack's face when there aren't any other monks around. “Please wait a moment” Shaoxi tells Jack “I'll be
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