The Story of the Soldier
Po Leung Kuk Camoes Tan Siu Lin Primary School, Jeffrey Ho, Fiction: Group 2
If there’s anything worse than falling off your horse, it’s being stabbed with a sword.
And if there’s anything worse than being stabbed, it’s being stabbed with a poisoned sword.
That’s how Uxei felt when he lay on the battlefield after the Battle of Hexi.
He thought of helping the other wounded beside him.
Nah, we’re all dead anyway.
He crawled into a sheltered alcove. At least there’s shade here, so I can die in peace.
A few minutes passed. Uxei could feel the poison slowly creeping to his heart.
Wonder what happens when it’s over?
“Bad Uxei,’’ he told himself, “Don’t be so pessimistic.’’ Yet he knew he was going to die. He
could feel it.
Right on cue, his heart started to beat faster.
It’s starting.
His heart started fluttering like an injured bird.
I will not die a coward.
Suddenly, he could hear scuttling.
The Mongolian death worm.
He remembered the day he set off to fight. His parents had told him,’’ The death worm can be
a blessing sometimes.’’
Times like now?
It’s worth a shot.
“Here, boy,’’ he started calling. “Here, little worm.’’
It worked. The worm scuttled closer, out of curiosity. It fired an experimental shock from its tail.
Immediately, Uxei could feel his heart beating normally again. “Thanks, boy’’ He examined
the juvenile death worm.
“You need a name. I’m calling you Shocktail.’’
The death worm waggled its hindquarters, evidently pleased to be recognized.
“You want to come with me, Shocktail?’’
The death worm bobbed its head.
“It will be dangerous. Deaths are likely to happen.’’
It seemed to be saying, “Deaths are my specialty.’’
And on that happy note, they set off into the desert.
“You do realize we’ve no idea of where we’re going.’’ Uxei told Shocktail.
The death worm kept going.
“Do you?’’
As usual, it didn’t reply. But Uxei suspected it had more tricks up its sleeve, like built-in sat-
nav, for instance.
He decided to play dumb and keep going.
* * *
