musashi no hanashi

i just dug out one of my exercise books, and inserted within were several pieces of A4 paper: short (and incomplete) stories it turned out.

this one was supposed to be the "answer" to an o level question:

5(a) "But you promised!" she cried. "I will never trust you again."

Passersby stared quizically at the lampost she was yelling at, but to Myrdith Noden, as the woman was called, she was not yelling at the unresponsive structure by the road as the others had thought.

Myrdith Noden was screaming down the ear of a man she had just met weeks ago, a man whom others could not see. He was a towering figure, clad in a crisp formal suit with a perfectly positioned tie and stiff pants, complete with a pair of polished classic leather shoes. The man had a kind, good-natured but weathered face, a little pale, where wrinkles ran across his forehead and a welcoming smile on his on his upturned lips. What Myrdith did not notice was his feet, both about a hand's length above the ground.

"You. Broke. Your. Promise!" she said through gritted teeth, emphasizing every word.

The man drifted backwards, as if her words had driving force.

"I WANT..." Myrdith cried but felt a hand over her mouth.

"Brind her in," someone said.

Her mind faintly registered the shutting of doors before darkness enveloped her thoughts.



The room smelt like the rest of the hospital - medicine, sterilising solution and latex gloves. Everything looked cheery, bright flowers in the vase, curtains imprinted with fluffy clouds even the doctor sitting behind the desk appeared merry. The only thing that was not cheerful was Myrdith. Her head spun and she had difficulty focusing her vision.

"So... you're Myrdith Noden," the doctor said with a smile.

Myrdith nodded. "Yes...," she murmured.

"Feeling ok?"

"Better...," she managed to reply.

After a moment of silence, the doctor asked, "Can you tell me if anything significant happened to you recently?"

She seemed hesitant, but nodded. "Yes. There was an old man. Simply followed me all the way home. Couldn't get rid of him, it seemed..."

The doctor's smile never left his face. "And then?"




>> it stops there, there was another "answer" to the same question.



5(a) "But you promised!" she cried. "I will never trust you again."

General Zhou Yuan clasped his cloak on, wondering what on earth his daughter was ranting about. The general had a reputation for being forgetful, so on occasions, his daughter would remind him of promises he never made. He wondered if this was one of them.

"What promise, Zhou Ling?" he asked wearily.

There was still a fair bit of time before dawn so the hall was lit with a dozen or so lanterns, their dim flickery light casting shadows in the hushed hall.

"You said you will not go to war," Zhou Ling replied.

Her father patted her head tenderly. "I'm sorry. This is the emperor's order."

"I won't allow you," the ten-year-old girl clutched his hand adamantly.

Zhou Yuan smiled wistfully, wondering if that was the last time he will set eyes on his daughter. Insolent, mischievous, rebellious: only child. He beckoned his wife, who had been standing in the shadows.

"Escort this little rascal back to her room."

"No!" she yelled her head off. "You'll be leading millions of people to their deaths..."

Zhou Ling's voice trailed off as her mother dragged her across the hall and pass the courtyard.

"Dad..."

Heaving a sigh, General Zhou Yuan picked up his sword and left the Zhou Manor.



"Would you believe it general? Your daughter followed you and your army all the way to Kuang Feng Valley."

Zhou Ling was handed over to the leader. Smirking, he continued. "I must admit that she is rather strong-willed, but of course, in seconds my able scouts had her under control."

"For heaven's sake, she's only ten," cried Zhou Yuan.

"Yes, ten only but so very useful..."

At this, Zhou Ling bit the hand that held her, her teeth clamping hard on the fingers of the person who had taken advantage of her father's love for her.

He wrenched his hand out, blood and saliva dripping, much to the horror of the audience.

"So?" he asked with amazing phlegm.

In answer, the general drew his sword.

With a smug smile, the leader did likewise.

The atmosphere became tensed as all eyes fixed upon them.

It was, however, not the general nor his opponent who broke the silence but Zhou Ling, having been momentarily forgotten.

"Stop," she asserted, positioning herself between them, her back to her father. "Don't fight."

"Move aside," the chief growled, he raised his sword till the tip pointed towards Zhou Ling's chest.

"Zhou Ling! Don't!" General Zhou cried.

She stood firmly on the ground, not budging an inch.

The sword flashed and in that fateful second, impaled the body of Zhou Ling.