The Dove
Stella Preece, Group 3: Fiction, The International School of Macao
leaned over the side of Great Wall. They were right. The Wall was amazing! I knew it had been built to
protect the land from the Xiongnu tribe, but the rest was a mystery.
“
I know the truth,” a voice said behind me. I jumped and looked for the one who had spoken, but
saw nothing. I shook my head. I was just imagining, maybe. I listened hard. Nothing. I continued to walk.
Suddenly, I heard a small, soft laugh, but no one was near me. I decided to hurry back to my hotel. Maybe I was
having some kind of seizure? I stumbled down the stone steps, when suddenly the smell of cake and freshly
brewed tea filled the air. I looked over my shoulder.
A sign had appeared. It had an arrow that pointed to the right. I looked to the right and saw a small hut that I
had never noticed before. I walked towards it and was about to knock on the small door, when a man opened.
He smiled.
“
Have you come for a story?” He asked. This was the same voice I had heard before.
“
Come in!” he said and disappeared inside. I had to duck to go through the door. The hut had looked tiny
from the outside, but inside it was a mansion with golden staircases and a sparkling fountain.
“
This way,” his voice floated out of the room next to me. Inside, a fireplace stood tall, and brilliant flames
licked the incandescent logs. I sat down in one of the armchairs.
“
Cookie?” The voice startled me. Suddenly, the man was sitting across from me. I took a cookie and
nibbled at it while the man poured me some green tea.
“
Who are you?” I asked, immediately realising that I was being quite rude. “I mean...” I started, but he held
up his hand.
“
I am Master Po. Listen carefully. You have to help me with something, but first, I will tell you what
happened…” He looked so desperate that I shut my mouth and nodded. Po smiled.
“
It started long ago, when there was a king who ruled most of China. He loved gold and silver, and every
day, he would send different people to go and find more diamonds and gold for him. But there was one thing he
loved more than gold, and that was his daughter, Princess Jay. She had beautiful brown hair and an amazing
talent for she could turn into a dove, but only three times. She had already done it twice. If she did it one more
time, she would have ever-lasting life, but would stay a dove forever. Then one day, The Xiongnu tribe attacked.
Defeated they were, but swore they would return. The king ordered his people to build a wall that would protect
his daughter. It took many years, but everybody worked tirelessly and, finally, the wall was completed. The
enemy had not attacked during those years, but the kingdom knew that they were getting stronger. Then one day,
the Xiongnu came back. They simply climbed over the wall and the war began. Everything was on fire, and
hope seemed lost. The king collected a bag full of gold and ran up the spiral staircase to the third tower where
his daughter was. He burst open the door and stopped dead. Pinu, the head of the Xiongnu tribe, was standing
there facing Jay. The king called out, and Pinu turned, giving the princess time for what she had to do. She
transformed.”
“
Wait, what?” I asked. “How does this story have anything to do with what you need help with...?”
“
Hush!” Po said, before he continued. “Jay turned into a dove. She flapped her beautiful wings and flew far
away. When she returned to her kingdom, everything was ruined and her father lay dying. She glided over to
him and landed on his finger. A wound in his chest pumped out more and more blood. He bravely forced a smile
and told her to go. Pinu was dead, but his ghost had stolen the king’s heart, and hidden it inside the Great wall.
The king stroked Jay’s feathers. “I will always be in your heart. I love you,” he whispered before he closed his
eyes. And so the great king died. Sorrow filled Jay’s whole being. She knew that she needed help. And that…”
Po finished, “Is where I need your help. You must find Jay, and then retrieve the heart so that she can finally rest
in peace.” A tear rolled down his cheek. He stood up and grabbed a bag that had appeared out of nowhere. “I
have packed everything you need. Food, water, rope and hooks.”
“
Hooks?” I asked.
“
You’ll need them,” Po smiled.
“
No, why me? I can’t help you. I....”
“
You are the right person,” he whispered, and before I could blink, I was standing outside. I turned around.
The hut was gone. I shook my head. I was imagining. But then why was I holding the pack that Po had given
me? I decided to go back to my hotel. That night, I had trouble sleeping. When I finally drifted off, I had a
I
Shortlisted