Fiction: Group 2
“Wait,” Silverstreak commanded. He swam in front of Yue-Si, blocking her way. “Remember,
Yue-Si. When the Pearl River Delta misses the Moon on high, silver’s death be soon too nigh.” With a
flick of his tail, he disappeared into the depths.
***
Some fifteen years later
Chan Yue-Si gazed out of the window. It was Mid-Autumn Festival, but work was more
important. The family reunion could wait. She had ordered a private limousine to drive her to the airport,
someplace near the sea. She desired to plan how to build the third airplane runway. Nodding in satisfaction,
she slammed the door shut and departed. The door bore a sign: Development Officer, Chan Yue-Si.
Thanking the chauffeur, she sauntered off to the seaside. The air smelt of salt, wafting into her
mind. It was the smell of nature, the smell that she had forgotten over all these years. Realizing what she was
thinking of, she was surprised. Why think of nature when the economy is more important? She shook her
head and walked off.
A silvery glint caught her eye. It was a Chinese White Dolphin, leaping out of the water. Startled,
she gasped, and was abruptly interrupted by her smartphone. There was a piece of breaking news.
“Tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival, but it seems that it will be a no-Moon one! Up in
Guangdong Province, the Moon never came out. Some Cantonese professional photographers climbed
Mount Danxia to take photos of the Moon as they wanted to put the scenic photos on websites. However,
as I have said before, there was no Moon for them to photograph. Then, in Macau, “The City That Never
Sleeps”, families met in famous tourist attractions like Senado Square, the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Macau
Tower for family reunions and to observe the Moon. Again, no Moon! The citizens we interviewed are
puzzled and stunned. Lastly in Hong Kong, families gathered by the Victoria Harbour, Kowloon Walled
City Park and some even on Lion Rock Hill to watch the Moon. No Moon once more. But there is a
mystery. In other parts of the world where it is nighttime, the Moon is unmistakably up in the sky! It is just
the Pearl River Delta that has no Moon though the sky is clear! Renowned meteorologist Wong Kim-
Chang claimed that…”
Yue-Si didn’t bother to listen to the rest. A memory had been haunting her for ages, and it came
back now.
When the Pearl River Delta misses the Moon on high, silver’s death be soon too nigh.
The
Chinese White Dolphins…
Yue-Si immediately jumped into the sea, still wearing her work clothes. Swimming desperately,
she tried to remember the way to the cave. She urged herself to go faster, her anxiety and regret pushing her
on.
There was just one dolphin left in the murkiness of the cave. Silverstreak. There was a fresh wound
by his side.
“Yue-Si …second chance…other dolphins in South China Sea…” All of a sudden, he shuddered,
and his eyes, once full of energy, became lifeless and dull.
Tears ran down Yue-Si’s cheeks, merging with the cloudy water. Sobbing, she began to swim
upwards. Before she left, she heard a whisper:
Nothing silver can stay.
