The Retribution
Kayla Lui, Group 3: Fiction, HKUGA College
06
BC-
General Tou felt terrible.
He was always the one who got the best and the most of everything. He was always on top;
and he tried to seize anything he could grasp into his palms. But now, he felt surpassed, and
vanquished. It was all about the girl. Mei.
He loved this sylph at first sight: the girl with two long ebony plaits slapping on her pallid face, and the
girl who walked clumsily, yet had a tender, docile smile on her face. He couldn’t take his eyes off her since he
first saw her. He was speechless about her astounding beauty.
But she was engaged to one of the workers, Ming, and he couldn’t accept it: it felt like biting into an
acerbic, unripe lemon. He was exasperated at how a low class man could marry such a comely, beautiful wife—
He wanted the girl. He wanted to OWN that girl, that girl called Mei…
And every worker congratulated the dyad, with only himself sitting on a small boulder, far from the
mirthful crowd, sitting alone in the cold, misty evening…
Just then he realized the break was over. ‘Back to work, you lot.’ He grunted, feeling blue.
No one heard him.
‘
I said, back to work, you lazy lot!’ He yelled, a bit vexed. ‘The emperor demands the great wall to be
completely finished within this month!’
No one heard him, nor answered him.
‘
I SAID…’
The wind blew with its full force, covering up his strained voice. He whirled around, and found himself
glaring at the crowd, realizing that the couple was kissing…
He couldn’t take it anymore.
‘…
I SAID, GET BACK TO WORK, YOU BUNCH OF **** LAZY PIGS!’
He stormed to the couple, his face flaming with anger, and pushed Ming brutally away, making him
tumble onto the ground. Before anyone could stop Tou, he started slashing his whip mercilessly at Ming, every
strike harder than before. ‘If you don’t want to DIE, go back to work!’ He roared and snarled like a tiger, a killer
tearing at his prey.
Surprisingly, the workers lowered their heads and went back to work, hammering bulky rocks down:
everyone feared him. Yes, he loved being in this position: he enjoyed it; no one would ever oppose him. And
now, no one would ever stop him whipping from this lad to death. No one. A deceitful smile slipped across his
face, a naked smirk unable to be concealed.
Bashing at Ming, Mei seemed petrified, cinching and pulling at his arm. ‘Why, why are you l-lashing at
him? He didn’t do anything wrong!’ She tottered, like a leaf quivering in the wind. ‘Stop it…You’ll kill
Ming...AH!’
He shoved her onto the bricks, leaving her with a painfully-twisted ankle. But he didn’t stop:
Ming sprawled on the ground, staring at Tou with wide-opened eyes. ‘What now?’ Tou grinned, a triumph on
his face. ‘You’re lying in agony on the great, Great wall, I presume.’
‘…
You’re insane.’ Ming croaked, inhaling rapidly.
‘
Someone! Someone do something!’ Mei sniveled beside them, yet too far to reach Ming. ‘Please…’
No one answered nor glanced at her, but there was one worker standing the closest to them, his eyes fixed to
them.
‘
Chen…’Ming rasped, while Tou thrashed harder. ‘Well, aren’t you two best friends?’ He scoffed, ‘but
you’re right: if you save him, I promise you’ll die much slower. In pain.’
The worker did nothing, but only gazed at his friend.
‘
Chen…’ Mei whimpered. ‘Chen! Do something… I beg you, I beg you…’
‘
I’m sorry.’ Two streams of tears flowed out from Chen’s face. ‘I’m sorry…I’m sorry.’
Ming stared at him, bewildered.
‘
I’m sorry…’ His voice wavered and choked. ‘I’m sorry.’
And he ran away.
General Tou chortled aloud, and continued.
Half an hour later.
Tou breathed heavily, his arm too exhausted to lift anything, but still holding the whip, stained red. In
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