by Pepe O'Neill
Relieved at the sight of land again, Chamly got undressed and returned his clothes to the monkey soldiers.
‘Going under,’ White Turtle warned before sinking below the surface.
The trio floated off her back and swam to the shore.
Shivering on the beach, Chamly quickly redressed.
Celeste swooped down and called out to the turtle. ‘Thank you! You’ve been a great help.’
‘That’s alright. It wasn’t exactly out of my way. Goodbye and good luck.’ She sank below the water and swam further down the shoreline.
Celeste circled around Chamly. ‘I’ve been keeping an eye on the she demon while you were crossing the lake. She has transformed herself into a large shark and is not far behind you. Keep heading east as fast as you can, while I keep an eye on her.’
Chamly and Monkey quickly remounted Jade and headed east. It was late afternoon when the scenery changed dramatically from barren salt marsh to green and fertile hills. They stopped to rest by a wide river, which Monkey identified as the Yellow River. This long river flowed all the way to the Eastern Oceans, collecting yellow silt from the land either side of it as it made its way through the vast lands of China.
Jumping off Jade, Monkey knelt down by the riverbank. Putting his mouth close to the water he shouted, ‘HELLOoooooo. Sssandy! Do you hear me?’ His voice expanded on the ripples and echoed down the river.
Sliding off Jade’s back, Chamly asked curiously, ‘What are you doing, Monkey?
‘You’ll see!’ Monkey replied.
Chapter 23
CHAMLY MEETS SANDY
Chamly jumped when a loud bellow resounded from deep beneath the water. It was not long before the head of a large golden dragon appeared. A well-aimed spray of water from its nostrils covered Monkey in a powerful shower.
‘I didn’t know I smelt that bad,’ Monkey said with a laugh. ‘Long time no see, Sandy!’
‘What are you doing here?’ Sandy asked, surprised to see Monkey standing beside his river. ‘I thought you were indulging in all the luxuries of life in the palace of the Jade Emperor? Oh no! Don’t tell me you’ve stolen something again?’
Monkey roared with laughter. ‘Oh Sandy, you know me so well.’
Sandy noticed a movement behind the large donkey standing beside his friend. ‘I see a donkey, that’s not a donkey and what’s that behind it?’ he asked in surprise. ‘There seems to be a small boy hiding behind it, Monkey?’ Sandy lengthened his neck to look over the top of the donkey’s back. ‘Really Monkey! You should have warned your friend about me before I came up. Look at him, he’s positively petrified.’ Sandy smiled winningly and tried to look as sweet as possible. ‘Come out from your hiding place. I’m not going to gobble you up. I’m strictly vegetarian!’
The dragon sounded so nice that, with a nervous little laugh, Chamly stepped around Jade.
Monkey introduced them to each other. ‘Chamly, this is Sandy, a good friend of mine from way back.’
‘Hello Chamly,’ Sandy said gently.
‘Hello,’ said Chamly shyly back.
Sandy returned to questioning Monkey. ‘So tell me Monkey, what brings you to the Yellow River?’
Monkey’s voice sobered as he replied. ‘Since my incarceration in the Mountain of Five Elements, no wine had passed my lips for a thousand of years. Things were going really well until I was summoned by the Empress to the palace to settle a dispute between the Cook and the Housekeeper. Happening to pass the Royal Distillery on my way, how could my nose not wriggle in delight at the smells coming from within? I could resist it no longer. The fairies were all so busy brewing that they didn’t notice me creeping into the room and taking a few crates of wine. I quickly concealed them in a broom cupboard and hurried to the kitchens to deal with the dispute. When I’d finished dealing with the Cook and Housekeeper, I hurried back to the broom cupboard only to find the Jade Emperor standing beside it.’ Monkey chuckled and turned to Chamly. ‘I had under-estimated the emperor yet again. He’s not one to be fooled easily.’
Sandy nodded in agreement.
Monkey puffed out his chest. ‘Ignore Sandy.’
‘You are a fool Monkey! Remember when you were looking after the Royal Peach Garden. You had such a great fondness for juicy ripe peaches you didn’t think anyone would notice if you started eating the peaches from the middle of the orchard. Unfortunately you ate your way through the whole lot. The emperor was furious with you because no wine could be brewed that year.’ Sandy sighed, ‘It wasn’t eating peaches or stealing wine that got you entombed in the Mountain of Five Elements though, was it? It was stealing the Elixir of Life.’
‘What is the Mountain of Five Elements, Monkey?’ Chamly asked curious to know how a mountain could be a prison.
Monkey shuddered at being reminded of his past. ‘The five elements of life are metal, wood, water, fire and earth. They came crashing down around me like stone pillars. I was imprisoned behind them for a thousand years.’
‘Well, you obviously didn’t learn a thing!’ Sandy said with contempt.
Monkey sighed and said. ‘Let’s forget about the past now and think of the present Sandy. Let me continue to tell you both why I am here.’ Monkey did not want to be reminded of his past mistakes. ‘The Jade Emperor stood beside the open cupboard door and pointed a long nailed finger at me and shouted, ‘You haven’t learnt your lesson have you? It’s fortunate you haven’t yet had time to drink the wine you have stolen. It seems the punishment of incarcerating you in the Mountain of Five Elements has not worked. Instead, I am going to punish you another way. I’m taking away your powers Monkey and confiscating your weapon.’
I was horrified to lose my magic iron bar, but handed it over to him in case he changed his mind and stuck me back into the Mountain of Five Elements. I was kow-towing my way backwards towards the Great Hall doors when the Mother of the Western Skies entered. She made me stay and approached the emperor herself.
The emperor smiled down at her and said something like, ‘Welcome Mother of the Western Skies. Did the boy manage to reach you with the peach?’
Now that told me a lot. I know you’re not going to like this Chamly, but I happen to know that three thousand years ago the she demon gobbled up the last Chosen One before he even made it to the orchard. You’re lucky to have got this far! Fortunately for you, the Mother of the Western Skies asked the emperor to send me down to earth to help you in your quest. I was not in a position to argue as you can imagine. Before I could ask for my iron bar back, a cloud mobile appeared and the emperor ordered me to get into it.
Floating out of the palace, I was fortunate to pass a flagon of wine and, well what the heck, I grabbed it. The cloud mobile dumped me where Chamly found me.’
Changing the subject, Monkey asked Sandy if he still had his rolling pin.
Sandy sighed with regret. ‘I’m afraid not, Monkey. I gave my weapon back to the gods.’
‘Why did you do a stupid thing like that?’ Monkey asked appalled.
Sandy bent his golden head to hide his blush and cleared his throat before replying. ‘First I’ll have to tell you why I’m in this river and not in the heavens as a “Golden Bodied Arhat”. I haven’t got my rolling pin because I fell in love.’
Chapter 24
SANDY IN LOVE
‘Fell in love!’ Monkey cried out in disbelief. ‘Who with?’
‘Oh it happened a long time ago when I was banished from the heavens for some silly misdemeanour. I was furious with the gods for such pettiness. When I reached this river, I changed my diet from vegetarian to meat and devoured any human or animal that came close to me. One day a huge turtle came to the waters edge and, fancying a snack, I leapt out of the water with the firm intention of biting her head off. I was stopped in midflight by her eyes. It was love at first sight. We lived here together for a long time before you came along and asked me to help you protect Lao Tsu. I was going to refuse, but a Bodhisattva stood beside you offering to give me a weapon of
such magnitude that I could hardly refuse. As you know Monkey, this rolling pin has come from the most secret recesses of the moon and can shatter anything at a single blow. The turtle had changed many of my harsh ways, but I still wanted that weapon. When the Bodhisattva handed it to me I became mesmerized and agreed to go with you. I was rewarded for keeping Lao Tsu safe by being made a “Golden Bodied Arhat”. Life was luxurious, but oh so boring! I started to miss the love of my life and decided another punishment was my best chance of getting back to earth. At the next celestial banquet, I had a tantrum and threw all the plates to the floor. The noise was incredible. Unfortunately, everyone in the Great Hall are friends of mine and were reluctant to punish me. It took me a long time to persuade them that I needed to leave home and do penance for my misdeed. They finally agreed to let me go, thinking that I’d never stay away for long.
As I headed towards the door, the Father Buddha stopped me. It was as if he knew the real reason for my leaving. He held out his hand, ‘You won’t be needing your rolling pin while you pray and do penance in the river, will you Sandy?’
I was quite happy to hand over the rolling pin and flew away with joy in my heart. Unfortunately, I’ve spent many years looking up and down this murky yellow river, and have yet to find my true love!’
Monkey rubbed his cheek and tweaked his ear in thought. ‘What did your turtle look like, Sandy?’
‘Enormous, but so beautiful and graceful!’ Sandy sighed wistfully. ‘Her skin and shell are the colour of a white lotus petal. You couldn’t forget her once you saw her. Why do you ask?’
‘Sandy, you dumb fool. She has just given us a lift across the lake west of here.’
Sandy looked at him disbelievingly. ‘You can’t be serious? Are you sure?’
Monkey nodded and told him he would find a message from her on a rock beside the lake. Sandy bellowed with joy and waded out of the water.
Chamly gasped in wonder at the dragons glittering scales. Primarily of gold they were edged and dappled with all the colours of the rainbow.
Shaking off the last drops of water, Sandy said. ‘What on earth made me think she would be in the river? I forgot she had family living in a lake. How silly of me! Sorry I couldn’t help you with the rolling pin Monkey, but I must rush.’
Opening his rainbow coloured wings, he began to run. Rising from the ground, he soared gracefully into the sky and flew west to his love.
Celeste glided down. ‘Did you see that? I almost got run over by a dragon.’
‘Love is blind Celeste. Forgive him, he meant you no harm.’
Rattled by her near death experience, she retorted, ‘Being in love is no excuse. He needs to take flying lessons or stay on the ground.’
Chapter 25
THE MONKS OF
LABRANG MONASTERY
That night they crossed the Yellow River, using an old stone bridge close by, and continued their journey east over a windswept plateau of lifeless dunes and pebble plains. Here, they were buffeted by bitter cold winds and racing sand grains that made the journey difficult and slow. By sunrise, they were all relieved to find that they’d left the wind and plateau behind them and entered a vast prairie of grassland.
In the distance, Chamly could see the golden spires and roofs of a monastery rising up above the grass and they made their way towards it.
On nearing the monastery’s high white walls, Chamly could see young monks dressed in robes of deepest red, playing football. The game came to an abrupt end when the young monks spotted them. Yelling excitedly, they ran across the grass towards their strange visitors. As they panted to a standstill in front of them, a tall gangling monk stepped forward. His amusement was clear as he first took in Chamly and then Monkey and Jade. He burst out laughing. It took a few moments for him to get his laughter under control before he could say, ‘Your monkey looks ridiculous!’
Monkey could not contain his anger and springing towards the monk’s chest, he knocked the monk backwards. While the monk lay there in shock, Monkey quickly untied the yellow belt from around the monk’s waist and gathered up the hem of his robe. Yanking the robe over the monk’s head, he ran off holding it aloft like a flag. The monk lay naked on the grass quickly crossing his hands over his privates. The other monks, at first stunned by Monkey’s action, soon burst out laughing at their naked friend.
‘Very funny!’ the monk yelled angrily and stood up. ‘Enough of this tomfoolery! Do you mind telling your monkey to give me back my robe? It’s cold.’
‘Give him back his robe Monkey,’ Chamly ordered. ‘He’ll think twice about insulting you again.’
Monkey came back reluctantly, dropping the robe at the monk’s feet before jumping back up in front of Chamly.
As the monk got dressed he asked, ‘Why did you come this way? We have a new road from Lixia that brings all the pilgrims and tourists from Lanzhou.’
Chamly was trying to think of an answer when a horn blew from inside the monastery.
‘Never mind, never mind!’ the monk said impatiently. ‘You’re here now, and as a good monk, I will offer you hospitality in our monastery. We were just having a break from our work. Come, you look as if you could do with a wash and some hot food inside you.’
‘Thank you.’ Chamly muttered and slipped down off Jade. ‘I’ll walk with you.’
Leaving the others to go back to their chores in the fields, the monk led the three past the outer walls of the monastery. Hundreds of giant decorated Prayer Wheels lined the walls and Chamly asked, ‘Why so many Prayer Wheels?’
‘This is nothing! We have over twelve hundred Prayer Wheels here. Pilgrims come from all over China and beyond to turn these wheels and pray. It’s great watching the wheels spinning into kaleidoscopes of colour.’
They reached a path leading directly towards the golden roofs and spires of the temple. On one side of the path was a high white wall dotted with dark wooden doors along its length. As they passed one of the doors, the monk pointed at it. ‘This is my room. I have a spare bed for you to sleep in. But first, I better introduce you to our teacher. By the way what’s your name? I’m Chi Ti.’
As Chamly told him his name, they entered a large square dominated by an impressive Prayer Hall. Opposite the PrayerHall was a small wooden house with a sign saying “Ticket Office” attached to its front.
‘Tie your donkey up here,’ Chi Ti ordered, pointing to a pole outside the wooden house. ‘The classroom is around the back.’
‘What’s the ticket office for?’ Chamly asked, curious as to why a monastery would need such a thing.
‘It’s for the tourists. We are taught several languages here and if they want a guide to take them round the monastery explaining the history of the place, they have to pay us. The money is put towards the upkeep of this place. Stay here while I go inside and talk to the teacher.’
Chamly tied Jade to the pole.
‘I’m not a dog. Is this really necessary?’ Jade whispered to Chamly.
‘SSHHhhhh! It’s normal to tie a donkey up! Now shut up!’ Chamly whispered back. ‘I’ll get you something to eat and drink later. Monkey, you had better come with me. Here, give me your hand and try to look like a pet!’
Monkey raised his eyebrows in disgust, but did as directed.
Chapter 26
THE LEOPARD
Chi Ti reappeared and waved to Chamly to follow him. He ushered Chamly through a door and into a tiny classroom. The room was full of steam and smoke due to a lit potbelly stove in the middle of the room with a blackened boiling kettle sitting on top of it. Squinting through the clouds of smoke and steam, Chamly could see young student monks, some as young as six, sitting behind wooden desks covered in books. They were all eyeing him enviously. An old monk rose shakily from his desk and came hobbling towards Chamly with a welcoming smile. ‘Hello Chamly, I am Dijou, the Head Teacher. Chi Ti says you came in from the west instead of the road from Lanzhou. What on earth made you come that way? I remember it being very difficult terrain to
cross in the old days.’ He raised and eyebrow and looked at Monkey questioningly. ‘An unusual route and an unusual companion my child.’
There was a giggle from one of the students.
‘I’m sorry,’ Dijou apologised. ‘It’s just that you are so young to be travelling on your own. Before you tell us all about your adventures, I’ll get someone to find you and the monkey some food. You must be starving.’ He turned to one of the students, ‘Chiantang, go to the kitchens and find something for Chamly. There’s still some noodle soup in the pan and there’s fruit for the monkey on the table.’
Turning to the desk under the window, Dijou cleared all the papers from its surface. ‘Get your monkey to sit up here so that everyone can see him. He’s not nervous is he?’
Chamly turned to Monkey, ‘Sit on the table, Monkey.’
Monkey raised his eyebrows at being ordered about by a twelve year old but did as he was told. As soon as he had jumped on the desk, a young monk got up off his bench and went over to have a closer look at him. He poked his finger into Monkey’s ribs, ‘Does your pet do any tricks?’ he asked Chamly and poked Monkey again.
Monkey’s temper blew. He swiped the young monk across the head.
‘Monkey, behave yourself!’ Chamly shouted, helping the monk off the floor. ‘I’m afraid he doesn’t like being touched. Go and sit down. Don’t worry, I’ll make him do some tricks for you.’
Monkey looked at him disgustedly.
Chamly said the first thing that came into his head. ‘Do a hand-stand for the monks, Monkey.’
Monkey looked at him as if he was mad.
Chamly nodded at him to proceed.
With a huge sigh of irritation, Monkey shrugged his shoulders and bent over to do a handstand. The monks clapped in appreciation. Over the applause, a monk sitting at the back of the room called out. ‘Monkey, do a somersau……’