Guardian of China
Heily Hei Yin Ho, Group 3: Fiction, Sacred Heart Canossian College
took out the leaflet of the place I was about to visit at the airport - “The Great Wall in Beijing” and started
reading it.
“
The Great Wall was first built in 220-206 BC,” I scanned through it and thought “Wow, that means it
was built 2,232 years ago! The entire wall with all its branches is measured 21,196 km.” I read in shock.
That night, I dived into my dreams in the hotel room right away. Little did I know the excitement ahead was
not far away.
The next morning, my bus stopped at Mutianyu near Beijing where I started my journey to the ancient
architecture of China. I made my way up. Soon, my shoes were on ground with tamped earth and bricks of the
wall. Every few miles I saw watchtowers which were used to call reinforcements and warn garrisons of enemy
movements. Signal towers were built at high points along the wall for good visibility. The sun was bright. I
decided to start my work or else I’d be leaving at night with terrifying darkness. I went into the watchtower to
write more. My footsteps echoed as I walked in the quiet watchtower.
The bricks on the wall looked as if they were getting loose. I stopped to study the wall. Without noticing, a
rat was on my shoe. I was terrified and found myself screaming and kicking frantically with my leg. I flung the
rat off and kicked the wall really hard, I pressed my hand against the wall and jumped around with my swollen
leg. Suddenly, I heard a screech from the wall. I jumped in shock as the wall began to separate! I rubbed my
eyes crazily and watched in disbelief. In less than ten seconds, a deep dark hole was formed. I didn’t know what
made my curiosity grow, my legs were uncontrollably walking towards the hole.
“
No!” a voice yelled in my head. Yet, the unpalatable truth was that my legs ignored the shouting and
stepped into the hole. I gyrated wildly while falling. I stood up again after landing, walked around the dim room
and discovered a grim place. Goosebumps tickled my arms as I moved. With my careful eyes I spotted a chair
behind a working table. There sat a plump aged man wearing a yellow silk robe with his hair tied up in one
single braid. He looked like an emperor in ancient China.
He smiled and said “Ahh! Just in time my dear, just in time.” I stared straight at him with opened jaws and a
head filled with questions.
“
Why am I here?” I asked. The emperor stiffened and said, “I believe I have a lot to explain and you have
a lot to ask. So do sit down on the couch.” I didn’t really want to sit on the dusty couch but my swollen feet
needed some rest so I sat uncomfortably at the corner of the sofa. “Right Becky, you’re the one chosen to help
me.” The emperor started. I had no idea how he knew my name, it must be some power he had. “I’m the
guardian of China. My job is to protect the world from aliens. The Great Wall has always been known as the
landing spot of their spacecraft, like a runway. According to my spy in space, 500 aliens are planning to invade
the world on Christmas day. They have chosen to land on the Great Wall of China. You must gather animals to
defeat those aliens. I’ll give you power to enable them to speak the same language so please train them for the
fight. My assistant will accompany you.” He nodded his head to the creature.
“
Hello Becky. I’m Willy.” It said.
Willy was mauve in colour. It had two pairs of gigantic purple eyes and lips imbued with rich red.
“
All assistants of mine are aliens from the last war. They were left behind after the war.” The emperor
further explained. “The war is in three days, have some rest now,” added the emperor, before he disappeared
into thin air. “Ok...” I murmured as I fell into sleep.
* * *
RINGGG. I was woken by my phone from my boss. “Hello?” “Hi Becky, how’s your job going?” “Oh
gosh! I was totally into the war and forgot all about my job.” I thought “Umm, sorry I think I’m quitting.” I
mumbled. “What?? That’s a bit too sudden, is there...” My boss continued but I slapped my phone cover and cut
the line. “Is this all a dream? I couldn’t have just quit my job for a war that I didn’t even know if existed! Maybe
I should run away from this eerie place...” I thought. I rose slowly and tiptoed to the door which looked like an
exit. Just then, Willy woke. “Don’t leave, Becky.” “I need your help,” said Willy in a tiny voice. “I can’t just
leave my job for some crazy alien war here!” “We call ourselves slammers, not aliens. Slammers here are so-
called assistants but we actually miss our planet a lot. I want to use the aliens’ spaceship to return home after
this war. Becky, please help us fight the battle.” said Willy with watery eyes. I couldn’t believe that the emperor
was such a harsh person. I had been too selfish. I was actually given a mission which I needed to complete. “I
I
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