by Pepe O'Neill
‘Enough!’ Dijou shouted. ‘Leave the poor monkey alone!
Chiantang is back with the noodles and fruit. You boys can wait for a few minutes.’ Dijou pulled a stool out from under his desk and made Chamly sit down.
The students moaned but allowed Chamly and Monkey to demolish their food in peace.
After Chiantang had removed the empty noodle bowl, Dijou asked Chamly. ‘Where have you travelled from?’
‘I’ve come from Ürümqi.’ Chamly replied.
All the monks laughed. That was absurd.
‘You couldn’t have come so far on your own!’ Chi Ti exclaimed, pointing to a large map of China on the wall. ‘Ürümqi is sixteen hundred kilometres away! You would have had to come across mountains, desert and salt marshes to get here. How could you survive all that by yourself?’
‘You don’t look brave enough to have done it either?’ Chiantang rudely pointed out.
‘Well, I’ve managed so far, haven’t I?’ Chamly replied with a hint of sarcasm.
‘Where are you travelling to?’ Chi Ti asked.
‘I am on my way to the Cave of the Ancient Dragon to meet a blind dragon called Muchilinda,’ he said casually.
Chi Ti burst out laughing. ‘A dragon! You’ve got to be making this up?’
Dijou silenced Chi Ti. ‘There is such a place at the Longmen Caves. There, the Father Buddha suffered six years of mortification before attaining the perfect wisdom of life and experiencing the joys of total freedom. It is also the place where thousands of people were converted to Buddhism by the brothers Kasyapa and their followers. I seem to remember a legend about a blind dragon called Muchilinda. By wrapping himself around the Buddha he too gained all the perfect wisdoms of life. Why are you going there, Chamly? You must have a very good reason? Look!’ he said, stabbing the top left hand corner of the map. ‘Ürümqi is over here and you say you are now planning to go east to the Longmen Caves outside Luoyang.’ Dijou ran his finger right across the map and stabbed the city of Luoyang. ‘It’s impossible for someone so young to cross so much land on his own.’
Before Chamly could answer, there was a commotion outside and all eyes went to the window. Monkeys’ nose was pressed against the windowpane from where he saw a monk trying to lead away a very resistant Jade. Screeching like the wild monkey he hadn’t been for many thousands of years, he jumped down from the desk, flung open the door and ran outside. For the second time that day a monk found himself on his backside as a result of Monkey’s displeasure.
‘What were you doing with my donkey?’ shouted Chamly who’d followed close behind.
Rubbing his bruised bottom, the monk stood up. ‘There was no need for that! I was only taking the donkey to the stables where there’s food and water for him.’
‘And I was supposed to know that,’ thought Jade snorting huffily.’
‘It’s alright, Wan. Go back to the classroom,’ Chi Ti called out as he came towards them. ‘I will lead our visitors to the stable.’
Chamly lifted Monkey on to Jade’s back and followed Chi Ti down the same path they’d come up earlier. Opening the door next to his room, Chi Ti showed them into a cosy little stable where clean straw was spread out over the floor. Chi Ti pointed to bales of hay stacked high against one of the walls. ‘Help yourself,’ he said, ‘I must go back to the classroom. When you’ve settled your animals, go next door to my room and make yourself comfortable. You will find a bedroll and duvet in the drawer under the spare bed. I’ll see you later.’
Once Chi Ti had hurried away, Chamly pulled some hay from a bale for Jade. ‘Are you both happy with the accommodation?’ he asked.
‘It will do. Leave us be and get some sleep.’ Jade muttered as he bent his head down to the fresh hay at his feet.
‘Remember, no talking,’ Chamly whispered and closed the stable door. As he did so, Celeste flew down and hovered in front of him.
‘I’ve lost the she demon!’ Celeste said hurriedly. ‘I think she knows I’m watching her. The last time I saw her she was a leopard, though not running at her usual speed. She seems to have suffered some injury to her foot because she’s limping badly. I’ll keep an eye out for her. Go and sleep while you can.’
Not far away a leopard lay crouched and panting beneath the leafy boughs of a tree, bathing her injured paw in a stream. She had trodden on some broken glass and it lay deeply embedded in the pad. She scanned the sky. The owl was coming towards her again from the direction of the distant lights. She crouched lower under the bough until the owl had passed over.
‘Now who’s the smart one,’ she thought. She had first noticed the owl above her at the caves and it had been keeping track of her movements ever since.
Speed was paramount. Keeping low in the grass, she ran to the walls of the monastery without being observed, and quickly slunk behind one of the Prayer Wheels.
Chapter 27
THE SEARCH
It was still dark when Chamly woke up to the sound of doors slamming and the patter of hundreds of sandals passing by on the path outside. Chi Ti was not in his bed. Curious, Chamly got up and opened the door. Outside, hundreds of monks were trooping past him towards the square to begin their prayers. When they had all passed, he went next door to check on Jade and Monkey. Both were fast asleep on the straw. Closing the door quietly, he decided to take another look at the Prayer Wheels and perhaps turn one or two.
A rumbling noise coming towards the she demon, disturbed her sleep. As she looked out of the shadows, she winced with pain as her weight came down on her sore foot. Her sharp ears and eyes recognised the noise as coming from the Prayer Wheels turning on their wooden cogs, and that the person turning them was just the person she was looking for. She licked her lips in anticipation and waited.
While Chamly turned the wheels, something extraordinary happened in the Prayer Hall. In the flickering light of the candles, hundreds of student monks sat on plump prayer mats, chanting and praying to three large wooden statues of the Buddhas of the Past, the Present and of the Future.
Without warning, the statue of Sakyamüni, the Buddha of the Present spoke. ‘I need everyone’s attention!’
As one, the monks’ gasped and then pandemonium broke out. The terrified monks tripped and tumbled over the prayer mats in their rush to get out the door.
‘I insist you listen to me!’ The statue bellowed.
Clinging to each other, the monks turned and looked at the talking Buddha with awe.
‘I order you to run to the end of the northern complex and to the Prayer Wheels stationed there. The boy that came last night is in great danger. He must be saved. Go!’
This direct command activated the petrified monks. Turning back towards the door they streamed out into the courtyard.
The sound of their sandals pounding down the path was quickly picked up by the sharp eared she demon. She crouched back in the shadows and watched as a river of deep red gushed out of the monastery gates and flowed in her direction. The monks came to an abrupt halt not far from her hiding place, but to her relief, they were pointing at the boy, not her. While they were occupied, she changed her disguise.
Jade and Monkey woke to the sound of many feet running past the stable door. Monkey ran to the door and opened it a crack. When the last of the monks had gone by, he ran to Chi Ti’s room and found it empty. Running back into the stables he called to Jade, ‘Quick! Chamlys’ not next-door. Something’s wrong!’
Jumping on to Jade’s back, they followed the monks. Just as they came out of the monastery, they heard Chi Ti shout, ‘Chamly?’
‘What’s the matter?’ Chamly shouted back as he came out from under the wooden canopy covering the Prayer Wheels.
‘The statue of Sakyamüni spoke to us and asked us to find you. He said you were in great danger. Do you know what he was talking about?’
‘Are you mad. How can a statue speak?’ Chamly asked while wondering how the monks had found out that he was in danger. He decided to be blunt and to the point. ‘
Well, I suppose he could mean the she demon, but I haven’t seen her around here.’
The monks were taken aback. A demon! How were they supposed to defend a boy against something like that?
Chi Ti took charge and shouted at them to get their torches and search the whole monastery from top to bottom.
A young monk called Li emerged from the shadows only to find his robe grabbed roughly by Chi Ti.
‘Ow!’ Li shrieked. ‘You’re hurting me. What’s all the fuss about?’
Chi Ti let him go. ‘Have you seen any demons around here, Li?’
‘Are you crazy, Chi Ti!’ he retorted angrily and walked away.
Chi Ti turned to Chamly muttering, ‘If I hadn’t seen that Buddha talking with my own eyes I’d think I was being made to look a fool! Come on, I’ll take you back to the Prayer Hall.’
Li held his breath while the sound of voices passed his door and the footsteps receded. Sitting on his bed, he exhaled slowly. Spotting a small cardboard box and some twine sitting on the shelf above his bed, he reached over and picked them up with one hand and placed them on his lap. With the same hand, he deftly opened the lid just wide enough to allow his other hand to get inside. This hand he held loosely closed so as not to crush his new pet. Once it was in the box, he quickly replaced the lid, tied it down with the twine and put the box back on the shelf. Picking up his torch, he hurried out the door to join the search for the demon. As he went, he noticed a spot of blood on his hand and wiped it away with his robe.
The she demon could not believe her luck. The box was cramped but probably the safest place to be while they searched the monastery. She dozed and waited for the boy to return.
Chi Ti and Chamly entered the Prayer Hall, leaving Jade and Monkey outside.
In front of the three wooden Buddhas, Chi Ti fell to the floor and banged his head three times before stretching out prone on his stomach to pay homage. Then, sitting back on his ankles, he looked up at the Buddha of the Present and waited for him to speak. The statue remained still and unresponsive. Chi Ti sighed and got up off the floor. He knocked the Buddha’s knee with his knuckles and found it to be wood not skin.
The hall doors burst open and several monks entered the Prayer Hall. One of them called out to Chi Ti, ‘We’ve found nothing! Has Sakyamüni spoken again?’
Chi Ti shook his head. ‘Chamly doesn’t believe it happened. I’m glad you’re here to back me up. I was beginning to think I was going mad.’
‘What’s going on here?’ a voice barked loudly.
Chamly turned to see a decidedly angry Dijou, hobbling towards them. ‘As a student teacher Chi Ti, I expect you to exact more control over the students. Why are they running all over the monastery like maniacs?’
Chi Ti bowed his head in respect. Dijou had lived at the monastery for most of his life. He had survived the bloody wars and cultural destruction caused by the Red Guards when Chairman Mao came to power. Three quarters of the monks had perished or fled, but Dijou had survived and stayed to rebuild the monastery. Now fifteen hundred students studied inside its walls. He was a living hero as far as the young monks were concerned. Chi Ti did not want to disappoint him. He apologised for disturbing him and told Dijou about the mornings events. Dijou looked at him incredulously before turning to the others standing nervously by the door. He asked if they had witnessed the Buddha talking.
‘Yes!’ they replied in unison.
Dijou looked up at the wooden sculpture of the Buddha. Sakyamüni was looking down at him with the same blank eyes and grin he’d worn for years. Dijou sighed, wondering whether to believe Chi Ti or not. ‘If it is true, I’m sorry to have missed such a miracle, but now that Chamly is safe, do you think we can restore order here? Look at the state of the prayer Mats. Tell the others that prayers will continue in ten minutes. Chi Ti, I think you should take Chamly back to your room until daybreak and stay with him.’
After prayers, Li entered his room and, exhausted after the search and prayers, took a quick nap.
Chapter 28
THE SHE DEMON FOOLS CHI TI
The stench of goodness and innocence oozing from the monk was beginning to make the she demon ill. Becoming claustrophobic, she decided she had had enough of the box and grew in size. The box burst and then the twine. She looked down on the boy, fancying a bite to eat. Unfortunately, she had to resign herself to the fact that if the monk went missing, it would almost certainly draw attention to her presence inside the monastery. In addition, she was almost sure that all that goodness would do her no good at all. She jumped down on to the floor, foolishly forgetting her injured paw. Grinding her teeth in agony, she shrank to the size of a door mouse and squeezed under the door. As she limped down the lane, she failed to see Celeste circling above her.
Celeste was hungry. An injured mouse was easy prey and with her great white wings beating silent and powerful, she swooped down towards her unsuspecting meal.
The she demon did not know what had hit her as her feet left the ground. There were stabbing pains all across her back while her legs were beginning to go numb. She turned her head and looked upwards. White feathers, large beak, lover of small mammals, it could only mean one thing, the owl. Panicking, she wriggled with all her might and managed to sink her teeth into the soft skin above the owl’s left talon. Taken by surprise, Celeste squawked and released her grip. As the mouse fell, Celeste managed to pluck her from the air with her beak, but the she demon wasn’t having any of it and bit hard into the owl’s cheek. Celeste let go and the mouse dropped to the ground. Then as fast as her little legs could run, the she demon skittered under the nearest door.
Because of the speed at which she was flying, Celeste was unable to turn quickly enough to see which way the mouse had gone. It was only later that she remembered that the mouse had had a limp.
As soon as the she demon heard the owl fly off, she crept down the lane and into a hole at the base of one of the Prayer Wheels. Licking the blood from her body, she shook uncontrollably. Death was something she brought to others not something she came close to experiencing herself.
Meanwhile, Li had woken to find the box destroyed and his new pet gone.
Chi Ti woke Chamly at daybreak and demanded he accompany him to the classroom. It was not until mid-day that Chamly returned and opened the door of the stables.
‘She’s about!’ Monkey said as soon as he walked in. ‘Celeste came to see us just now. She reckons that a mouse that got away from her a couple of hours ago, had a limp on the same foot as that of the leopard she’d been watching earlier.’
Chamly climbed on to Jade’s back and said, ‘Chi Ti has given me strict instructions to take you both down to the field where he and the other monks are working. We should be safe there. I’ll warn them that they should be on the look out for a mouse with a limp.’
Passing the Prayer Wheels on their way to the fields, the monks were surprised when a young woman stepped out in front of them. Assuming that she had become separated from a tour group, Chi Ti was about to ask her if he could help when he noticed that her shoe was covered in blood.
‘What’s wrong with your foot?’ he asked her.
Tears glistened on her cheeks as she whimpered. ‘I stepped on some broken glass in the road and it went straight through my shoe. It’s terribly painful.’
Chi Ti knelt on the ground and gently took off the bloody shoe. ‘That’s a deep wound. I can see the glass. There’s some tweezers and bandages in the classroom. Hold on to my shoulder. I’ll take you there and fix you up.’
Leaning on Chi Ti, the she demon began to feel sick almost immediately. If only they weren’t all so good, she thought wearily. Bile crawled into her mouth and she was forced to gulp it down. Trying to appear as if she was sobbing rather than retching, she covered her nose and mouth with her free hand. Luckily for Chamly, this meant she failed to detect the smell of him as she passed the stable door.
Chamly heard the sound of footsteps passing by and lifted his finger to his mout
h to warn the others to stay quiet. Then, opening the stable door a crack, he looked out. The path was deserted.
Celeste flew down and entered the stable. ‘I still can’t find her!’ she cried out in frustration. ‘Monkey, did you tell Chamly about the mouse?’
‘Yes!’ Monkey replied jumping on to Jade’s back. ‘Enough talk. I think it’s about time we left.’
‘Not before we’ve warned the monks that the she demon is about.’ Chamly said resolutely.
As they were once again passing the Prayer Wheels, Chamly noticed a bright patch of red on the ground and knelt down beside it. Touching it with his finger he found it wet and sticky. ‘Yuck! It’s blood!’ he cried out in disgust.
Celeste flew down and made her own examination. ‘That’s not human or animal blood. It’s demon blood and it’s fresh.’
Chamly stood up. ‘We have to warn the monks. Look what she did to that man at the caves. One gulp and he was gone!
They galloped to the fields where they found the monks hoeing a field of sweetcorn. Chamly told them that he had found fresh demon blood beside the Prayer Wheels. He warned them that whatever disguise she was in, they would recognise the she demon by her bleeding foot or limp. At that, one of the monks stepped forward and exclaimed, ‘But that woman had a bloody foot!’
Chi Ti had finished bandaging the young woman’s foot and was helping her back down the path when the sound of hooves and sandals first filled the path, and then roared down through the narrow space like an invisible train. A mob of monks, led by Chamly on Jade, charged towards them.
Chi Ti turned to protect the young woman, but found his hands grabbing air. Confused, he looked about and then shouted angrily at Chamly, ‘What’s the meaning of this?’ He tried to pull Chamly off Jade, but Monkey intervened by giving Chi Ti a blow to the head sending him reeling to the ground. Beside his crumpled body, a pile of bloody bandages lay strewn on the ground.