As an exercise on perspective, the students have written first person testimonies to the murder of Edward Ratchett. Based on the Agatha Christie novel Murder on the Orient Express, we have asked the students to choose a passenger and write a personal account of the event.

Here are 3 students’ stories:

Murder on the Train
by Anna Choy P4A

“Helena, do you know the murderer that killed Daisy is on this train?” said Princess Dragomiroff in a stern voice.
“Really?” I said.
“Hey! Are you going to take revenge on him?” asked Dragomiroff.
“Yeah!I think so….” I replied.
“So we are going to kill him at 12 p.m. tonight. Alright?” she asked.
I just nodded and walked away gently to my room. How can I murder someone on purpose? I thought. Suddenly I bumped into Hildegarde, the cook.
“Watch your way.” She muttered in a low voice as I got back to my room. I changed to my favorite kimono and started planning.
(Continued below)

Dong dong dong! My clock struck the twelfth time. I got my dagger and went out of bed. Then I saw Mary.

She walked past me and said, “ Good luck to you!” and slid away. How weird I thought, oh no I am late!

“You’re late,” said Dragomiroff.

“Sorry” I said.

“Now I will go out from the window and you will go from the front,” she said.

Then we went into Rachett’s room. Next Dragomiroff kicked Ratchet with her foot, and in a second Ratchett was lying on his bed.

“Now!!” shouted Dragomiroff.

I stabbed him with my dagger seven times and Dragomiroff stabbed five. Just then we heard footsteps coming toward us. Dragomiroff jumped out of the window and climbed to her room.

I, on the other hand, ran out of the room for my life. I ran to my room and shut the door and thought phew, that was close!

Murder on the Orient Express
by Hailey Myra Leung P4G

11p.m. I sat down on my bed, burst into tears. I thought, “Why! Why did he do that? I still couldn’t believe Ratchett killed Daisy! Even though she isn't my daughter, she is my beloved niece. I love her very much!”
“Ring! Ring!”
(Continued below)

I looked at the telephone, I quickly wiped my tears. I picked up the call and heard my mother say, “I’ve got a plan, my dear. Do you want to hear it? I told everyone about it. They said it was brilliant!”

I replied calmly, “Sure! If they said it was brilliant.”

Mother whispered, “I read a book, called Revenge on Someone You Hate, and I found something very, very, interesting,”

I cried, “Mother! Why did you buy and bring this book to the train? How dare you!” Mother giggled, “Okay, okay, calm down my dear. I have something I want to share with you, but I don’t dare to say it through the call. Come and meet me at Room 5. It’s the largest room in the carriage we met this evening. We will have a ‘Private meeting’. Be quick!”

I murmured, “Sure. Meet you in five minutes.”

I put down the telephone and changed into the most beautiful kimono, in red and with golden dragons because Daisy’s godmother, Dragomiroff, would be there. She was the royal princess.

I quickly ran out my door and went to Room 5. I opened the door and saw many people except my sister Sonia and her husband John. They all smiled and asked me to sit beside my mother. My mother sat up and looked in her book.

She started, “So, I found something very interesting in this book. It’s about revenge.”

When she said the word ‘revenge’, she said it cruelly.

Dragomiroff asked, “On Ratchett? If I didn’t guess it wrong?”

My mother giggled loudly and said excitedly, “Yes, it’s on Ratchett. He killed my granddaughter four months ago. We all remember it clearly, right? I heard the news of Ratchett escaping from prison.” she stopped and looked at everyone, she continued, “I…I saw him on the train”

Everyone gasped and shocked. “How could it be?” asked Mary, Daisy’s governess. Mother sighed and took out a black plastic box. The box looked very shiny and special.

Pilar, Daisy's nurse, asked curiously, “What is that?” Mother opened the black shiny box. There was a knife in it. I was shocked. I trembled for twenty seconds and cried, “Mother! Why did you bring a knife?”

Mother smiled and said, “That’s our weapon, dear. Prepare yourselves; I prepared some outfits in black for all of us. At midnight, I don’t think anyone can easily see us.”

After changing my clothes, my mother asked me to hold the knife because I was the first one to finish changing. My sweat dripped down on my eyebrow. I felt my heart pounding. I waited for everyone to change their clothes.

“We’re all set, please open the door quietly, Helena.” said Dragomiroff. I tipped and opened the door slowly. I heard everyone’s heartbeats pounding.

When we arrived at Ratchett's room, we stood outside.

I whispered, “Mum! The door is locked!” I said while trying to open Ratchett’s door. Mary asked to try after me and she tried to break the door with a short knife.

She failed and asked, “Maybe we can climb out the window and open it from outside to inside? I’ve got a rope to tie him up.”

Mary grabbed a rope from her rucksack. My mother walked to the door and put her ear besides.

“I heard him snoring. He’s probably in a deep sleep.” Mother said. We moved back to the next carriage and planned to get through by the window at Ratchett’s room.

“It’s so windy!” cried Pilar, “We’re now on top of the train, what if we fall? There are 13 of us here!”

Biniamino, the chauffeur of John’s family tripped, “I’m so clumsy! Can someone help me? Gah!” He accidentally fell down from the train. We tried to hold his hands but he dropped on the rail. We felt sorry for Biniamino.

After a while, we heard the announcement, “Ladies and Gentleman, The train has some problems. We will operate as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.” said the operator.

The train stopped gradually. We all knew that was the opportunity to get into Ratchett’s room. The train stopped, and we jumped down to the Ratchett’s room balcony. Mary tossed me a rope. I held the rope tight and made an ‘ok’ hand pose. They all jumped down and smiled evilly. Hector broke the window and we quickly went inside the room.

“What are you all doing here? Get out, get out! Or I’m going to call the cops!” cried Ratchett. Ratchett woke up suddenly.

Hector laughed and said, “You should not escape from the prison.” I grabbed a chair from his room and asked him to sit on it. He sat down and Hector grabbed tape and some pills.

He asked, “Any last words?”

Ratchett was shocked, “No, I thought you were my best assistant, I was treating you like my brother!”

Hector smiled then put some blue and red pills into his mouth and taped Ratchett.

“Mm…” Ratchett was making some noises to wake other people. My mother tapped my shoulder and told me it’s time to do it. I felt sorry but he deserved it.

“Mum, I stabbed him already, it’s time for you. His blood was so smelly.” Mother gave me a handkerchief to wipe off the blood on my hands.

“Three cheers for Helena!” said Mother, she held the knife and looked at Dragomiroff, “You first, your majesty?” asked my mother.

Dragomiroff was very excited and laughed; she stabbed him in the face. “Ha-ha!” laughed Dragomiroff. She wiped off the blood of her hands and let Mother do it. Mother closed her eyes and stabbed him on his chest, so he would not have a choice to live. Everyone stabbed him all over his body. Nobody felt regret or sorry.

“Knock! Knock!” a noise came from the door, we knew Ratchett was dead and we all quietly moved back to Room 5. We sat down and tried to clear our minds. We pretended nothing happened. We read, we chatted, and we were relieved.

Murder on the Orient Express: A First Person Perspective