Shortlisted
A Mythical Beast and the Great Wall
Stefanie Cheun
long time ago in China in 219 BC, during the Qin Dynasty ………
ensu
and nomadic g
g, Group 3: Fiction, St. Mark's School (Secondary)
Emperor Qin Shi Huang took a long time to win many wars and unify the entirety of China. To
re its peace, harmony and stability, he was very worried about the invasion of some other tribes
roups. Moreover, he undertook a series of major economic and political reforms to achieve his
goal. He has become more neurotic, superstitious and suspicious.
A
One day, when Emperor Qin was having his dessert after dinner and looking at China's map, he dropped a
strip of tofu skin onto the map carelessly. It was dropped on the map precisely and exactly where the northern
border was. The shape of the tofu looked like a dragon. In China, the dragon symbolises nobility and fortune.
Emperor Qin wondered, "Could it be that God has blessed my land to prevent the invasion of Mongolia and
other invaders?" In fact, he was so concerned about invasions in the northern frontier; he was going to inspect
the situation at the border tomorrow. He turned in for the night, feeling cranky and wearied.
The next morning Emperor Qin arrived at the northern border. Alongside his other servants, he went to
inspect the situation at the border areas which were continuously under attack, so as to discuss the feasibility of
countermeasures. While they were discussing their military strategies, Emperor Qin saw many birds in the sky;
then he picked up a bow and an arrow and shot down an enormous bird with a strange appearance. It was as big
as a human. "What a big weird bird, I've never seen anything like it before. I wonder if it tastes good." Soon, the
retinue who had gone to pick up the bird came back, returned empty handed, "I did not dare to touch the bird,
and it seemed like epiphany!" Emperor Qin mused a while and went himself to see what had happened and the
other people followed behind him. He observed the bird flickering. The followers at his back muttered but did
not dare to say anything. In a short while the bird was restored to its original appearance, although briefly, then
melted and faded-out. Subsequently, there appeared a luminous silver cylinder. It intermittently gave out
different coloured lights, and on top of it was a pellucid jade like hemisphere. Emperor Qin suspected, "Is he the
legendary mythical beast? Will he bring me fortune? Will he blame me for shooting him?" To maintain his
dignity, he said solemnly to the others, "Don't be afraid!" Emperor Qin then respectfully bowed at the bird.
Before he raised his head, the hemisphere in front of him abruptly disappeared. In a flash it re-appeared on the
top of Emperor Qin's head. A yellow glazing light came out from the bottom of the hemisphere and beamed on
the back of Emperor Qin's head. It seemed that they were communicating with each other. The people were
frightened and some of them grasped their weapons to protect Emperor Qin, but they could not reach him. Every
time they approached, they were bounced off. When Emperor Qin raised his head, suddenly he saw a vision
before him. It was like he flied up high in the sky, below were high mountains and lofty peaks. This scene was
so familiar. On top of the mountains and peaks was a great wall built along the northern borders. In between the
peaks were beacon towers. There were also watch towers, troop barracks and garrison stations. All these
constructions were fascinating and magnificent. Emperor Qin was very much delighted to see these. The people
around saw the happiness on Emperor Qin's face, they stepped back slowly. Later, Emperor Qin worshipped the
mythical beast on bended knees. The other people did the same accordingly. The mythical beast let Emperor Qin
see the future of the Great Wall and Emperor Qin believed it had super power.
Emperor Qin strongly believed that the dragon he had seen on the map was "IT, the Great Wall". Actually,
Emperor Qin had talked over the plan of building a great wall half a year before. The reason they had not
proceeded with the plan was because this huge project was very arduous because of the dangerous steep
mountains and crags. However, after what had happened to Emperor Qin, no one could stop the plan this time.
What mythical beast? Emperor Qin trusted the mythical beast was sent by God in heaven to show him the
way to protect his land. In fact, it was an alien using a bird appearance to cover his identity. Some of its
mechanism had malfunctioned when it was shot by Emperor Qin. It had to make a deal with Emperor Qin. It let
him know that it needed a kind of rare stone. In fact, this kind of stone was the key material which could help to
fix the alien itself. In return, the alien promised to help Emperor Qin in building the Great Wall.
The alien came to source the stone because its kind just had a war with another kind. Most of its kind
needed the materials to repair their own mechanism after their loss in the war. That was why it had landed in the
wilderness in search of the rare stone.
It took ten days to find the rare stone for the alien. After Emperor Qin gave it to the alien, the alien fixed