Fiction: Group 2
The Pearl River Delta
Harrow International School Hong Kong, Fox, Cameron - 10, Fiction: Group 2
s the little boy carefully stepped closer to the edge of the river he spluttered and coughed. The
rubbish filled river bank was as dirty as ever and was also littered with dead and dying fish. If it
hadn’t been for the rapid urbanisation he would have been standing on a clean river bank in the
middle of Guangzhou. Suddenly, he stumbled and tripped over some metallic object half sunk in the mud.
Annoyed, he stooped low and picked up the curious object. Excited as he was, he was also scared as the
cylinder began to glow brightly. Amazingly, his feet were taken off the ground by some invisible hook and
he was suddenly, seconds later, standing within vast building works.
The only thing he could see were towering skyscrapers surrounding him. The place that he was now
standing, was Guangzhou ten years ago. It was at this time that the huge urbanisation was starting to happen.
Large lorries rumbled past carrying cement for new factories and restaurants which would serve European
and local cuisine. Rumbling planes flying overhead were carrying westerners, for this city was where East
meets West. The boy could see numerous pipes, probably for pumping hazardous chemicals into the river,
leading directly to the Pearl River Delta. This was the start of a huge environmental degradation. This
brought to mind the other cities suffering from rapid urbanisation, such as, Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen
and Zhuhai and he shuddered as he thought that this was the fate Guangzhou was heading for.
As the little boy walked worriedly around the complex fusion of European and Chinese ideas and
architecture he spotted, out the corner of his eye, a poster advertising a new, even bigger factory to be built,
producing mobile phones for export all over the world. There was going to be a speech about it at 6pm
today outside the town plaza. He then realised that he had stumbled upon the place where he had
discovered the weird metallic cylinder. Cautiously, he stepped closer to the river bank, startled about the fact
that the bank was nowhere near identical. There was rubbish in only a few spots, sticking out like the
humps on a dragons back, but apart from that the clear blue rippling water and the sandy river bank were
clean. The water was teaming with life; fish, rare pearl river dolphins, butterflies, insects and crabs. Also birds
of all different kinds were flying elegantly over the water. He couldn’t believe his eyes! By seeing this, he
thought of what it would be like if none of the pollution had infiltrated his home city. Then he was hit by
an idea about how he could change the future. It was his only chance…
He ran along the gravel path beside the river bank until he came to a local village. He did not stop then
though, he kept running and running furiously until he reached the village hall. He slowed down while he
went through a short passage way inside the hall and then he reached a small circular room. He knocked
three times and then he heard a single word, “Enter.” The word was spoken dryly, but was still clear. The
little boy entered the room and was amazed to see a small bald man, sitting behind a desk, in the centre of
the room. “What is your name and why are you here?” asked the man inquisitively. The little boy explained
about his plan and why he needed a computer. The man answered with a simple nod of the head and
showed him to where he could find all he needed.
Once logged on, he searched for his phone in his bag and took it out. Then he scrolled through his photo
roll and chose eight pictures showing the Pearl River Delta polluted, wildlife half dead, rubbish floating
amongst oil and other chemicals in the water and children with masks surrounded by brown smog, from his
time, ten years into the future. He plugged in his phone and downloaded them onto the computer. Then
dragged the photos onto the PowerPoint he was making. He transferred the PowerPoint onto the USB
provided and carefully placed it into his pocket.
As he ran towards the city plaza, he glanced at his watch. It was 5: 30 PM! He only had thirty minutes until
the grand speech. Looking around, he saw more of the colourful posters advertising the speech about the
factory. He reached the stage where the speech would be held at 5: 40 PM and found the projector. He
plugged in the USB and waited, feeling apprehensive but also strangely excited. Thousands of people
streamed into the cobbled square, the sound of murmuring rose as the mayor stepped on to the stage.
As soon as the speech began the images were shown on the vast wall behind the mayor. Gasps of disapproval
were heard and one man, who was large and bulky, shouted out trying to stop the speech. Journalists were
writing so fast their hands were a blur. All this havoc was caused by the pictures of the Pearl River Delta ten
years into the future. No one noticed then a small boy slowly walking away smiling and hoping against hope
that his plan would work.
A
