by Pepe O'Neill
In the car park, they found hawkers standing beside stalls full of knick-knacks and colourful woven materials. Beside them, yaks dressed up in bells and streamers for photo opportunities with paying tourists, looked on forlornly.
One of the hawkers spotted Chamly and shouted, ‘Hey boy! Have you seen any buses? There should have been at least three by now. Has there been an accident?’
Chamly shook his head and replied that the last time he’d seen the tourists they were all running to the Pearl Shoal to see a fairy.
‘Did you hear that everyone?’ the hawker cried out to the others. ‘Chang E has made everyone believe her! The interfering busy body! The tourists have gone to look at a non-existent fairy! There will be no business today that’s for sure.’
As tempers flared between the hawkers as they packed up to go home, Chamly slid down from Jade and walked to the edge of the car park. Below him was a long and deep crystal clear lake, surrounded by sheer cliffs and waterfalls that plummeted down from a great height. He saw no sign of a monastery.
His thoughts were interrupted by one of the hawkers calling out, ‘Don’t stay up here too long. You’ll freeze to death. The lake is three thousand metres above sea level and it gets very cold up here once the sun has set.
As the last bad-tempered hawker left the car park, Chamly heard a polite cough behind him.
Chapter 32
THE WARRIOR GOD DAGE AND THE
GODDESS WUNOSEMA
Wheeling around, he saw a monk, bent over with old age and rheumatism. The monk pressed his hands together and bowed his head. He told Chamly that his name was Zhaun Xu and that he had been expecting him.‘A few minutes ago the statue of Sakyamüni spoke to us. At first, we quivered and cringed in the corner of the hall because none of us had ever heard of statues talking before, but then Sakyamüni insisted we pull ourselves together and come closer to him. He had something very important to say to us and didn’t want to have to shout it across the hall. We fell to our knees in awe and shuffled towards him. He told us that a boy was in the car park accompanied by a monkey and a white horse and that they needed our help.’ He eyed Jade suspiciously, ‘Are my eyes deceiving me? Your horse looks more like mongrel than pedigree to me. Perhaps you aren’t the right boy?’
‘Surely not many boys come up here with a monkey?’ Chamly retorted, giving Jade’s neck a rub of reassurance. ‘If you look more closely at the donkey’s face you will see that he is a white stallion in disguise!’
The old monk did as he was told. ‘Oh, I see what you mean. It’s a very good disguise! How did he manage to put the skin on?’
‘Oh, it just sort of wrapped around him and stuck,’ Chamly replied.
Zhaun Xu led them down some steps to a temple that Chamly had not seen from the car park. At the doorway three monks stood eyeing them with suspicion. One of them exclaimed, ‘That’s not a white horse, Zhaun Xu?’
‘Yes it is,’ Zhaun Xu replied patiently.
‘No its not,’ the three monks said it unison.
Zhaun Xu sighed, ‘This is not the time to argue about it. He’s in disguise, that’s all. We’ll take the boy inside and see what Sakyamüni wants us to do with him.’
Leaving Jade and Monkey outside, Chamly and the monks entered the temple. They all gasped in wonder at the sight before them. Tiny little lights started to flicker in the hands of the thousand small Buddha statues that stood along the walls of the temple and enhanced the large statue of the Buddha sitting in their midst.
The eyes of the statue moved and looked directly at Chamly. Then its lips moved and a soft deep voice came from the Buddha’s mouth. ‘You have done well to make it this far Chamly. I was worried the she demon would kill you long before you managed to reach us here.’
Chamly stood rooted to the floor. A statue talking, and talking to him!! He dug his nails into his palms to check that he was not dreaming. He was not.
The Buddha sighed. ‘Twelve years ago you were chosen by me to pick the peach. The planet is facing an environmental disaster of such magnitude that the human race will become extinct if you do not succeed in the quest that has been given to you. I wish I could accompany you, but as you can see I am but a statue and cannot move. However, I do have some friends outside who will be able to assist you as you continue east. They await you on the shoreline of the lake. Good luck!’
In an instant, the lights went out and the Buddha was once again wood.
Chamly ran outside with the monks hurrying after him. He saw two white swans swimming towards him, the evening mist seeming to trail behind them. Then the mist changed; clinging to the swan’s feathers, it twirled around their necks and rose above their heads to form two huge human figures entwined in each other’s arms. Below them, the swans seemed to crumble and vanish.
The monks, petrified at the sight before them, ran screaming back into the temple urging Chamly to follow for his own safety.
Monkey ran forward, ‘Stay still Chamly, they are friends of mine. Dage? Wunosema? Great to see you! This is an unexpected pleasure.’
The misty male looked down from his great height and replied in a surprisingly raspy voice, ‘Good to see you too, Monkey. Yes, we’ve come to help. We heard a rumour that a mortal was being chased by the same she demon that caused Wunosema to drop the magic mirror that I’d given her as a token of my love. It was a beautiful mirror, crafted from the clouds and wind. When it shattered on reaching earth, it created all these beautiful lakes. We come here often disguised as swans to admire their beauty. Is this the mortal, Monkey?’
Monkey nodded.
Dage looked down at Chamly. ‘I know we’re big, but we’re harmless. We’re so pleased to meet you. I am the Warrior God Dage and this is the Goddess Wunosema. We are here to assist you over these mountains.’
‘How are you going to help us?’ Chamly asked, his neck aching as he looked up at these giant gods.
Wunosema’s beautiful wispy form stepped forward and whispered gently, ‘We are going to take you up in a cloud mobile. Would you like that?’
Chamly did not know whether he liked or not. ‘But how am I supposed to stand on a cloud?’
‘You’ll see. Don’t worry, you will be quite safe with us.’
Chamly stood by his friends as thin wisps of white cloud streamed out of the gods’ fingertips and knitted together in a fine weave. It was as if they were unrolling a carpet together.
Wunosema asked Monkey to seat his friends in the middle of the cloud mobile. Tentatively, Jade and Chamly stepped on to it.
‘Is it going to hold my weight?’ Jade asked nervously.
‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Monkey laughed. ‘This could carry a ton of bricks. Stop worrying!’
Dage looked down solemnly at the trio. ‘We have to get over those mountains at the other end of the lake. Monkey, I need you to explain a few safety rules to your companions.’
‘What is there to explain? He’s been on the Flying Horse and not fallen off.’ Looking at Chamly he said, ‘Basically, just hang on and pretend you are being taken for a ride in a very flash open top sports car!’
‘Hang on to what?’ Chamly asked tersely as he stood by Jade. He relaxed as Wunosema quickly weaved some sides to the cloud. She finished by making reins to control the mobile’s movements.
Monkey turned to Jade who was shaking with fear. ‘For such a big animal, you really can be pathetic sometimes. Just lie down, shut your eyes, and count to a thousand. It will take your mind of it!’
‘Very funny,’ Jade retorted. On the other hand, Monkey was right, he wasn’t going to like this one bit. He did as Monkey suggested and lay down shutting his eyes. He started counting.
Pulling the reins, the gods flew down the lake’s length gathering speed. Just as Chamly thought they were going to hit the mountains at the far end, the cloud mobile floated upwards and quickly gained height. Hanging on tightly, Chamly looked down on peaks that looked like ragged teeth jutting up through the glistening glaciers.
C
eleste caught up with them and landed on the cloud mobile with a bump. She looked at Jade quizzically and rolled her eyes, ‘So much for our brave stallion! Who’d believe he was the “Celestial Flying Horse”.’
Jade wished he had the nerve to reply, but resolutely kept his eyes and mouth shut. He was already well into his second thousand.
‘Leave him be Celeste,’ Chamly replied, giving Jade’s neck a consoling pat.
Jade ignored the conversation and kept his eyes shut. Had anyone asked him if he wanted to be the Flying Horse? No, they had not.
Chapter 33
EMPRESS WU'S TOMB
Soon the contours of the landscape changed becoming a patchwork blanket of fertile green.
Before long a large city loomed on the horizon silhouetted against a thick haze of beige fog. As they entered clouds no longer fluffy white, the gods and their passengers began coughing violently.
‘Don’t take us any further,’ Monkey shouted to Dage and Wunosema. ‘This air will kill you.’
‘Are you sure, Monkey?’ Wunosema asked.
‘Positive. If you two fly in this pollution much longer, you’ll soon dissolve. Drop us off in that wheat field down there and we’ll carry on travelling east by foot.’
As the cloud mobile came gently to a standstill it dispersed instantly, leaving the passengers sitting amongst the wheat, two white swans standing beside them. The swans dipped their heads in farewell and waddled towards a canal close by. Once in the canal, they started their ungainly run over the top of the water and, beating their massive wings, heaved their bodies into the air. Then, as the most graceful birds in the world, they flew westward.
Chamly stood up noticing as he did so that they were in the middle of several rows of stone soldiers, lions and winged horses some with heads and some without, all leading to a hill shaped like a pyramid. ‘Is this some sort of sacred place, Monkey?’
‘I assure you that it is not. Let’s get out of here.’
‘Why?’
‘This is not the time for questions. Quick, get on Jade.’
Just as Chamly climbed on to Jade’s back, there was a roar from one of the stone lions and all the animals and figures turned towards the trio.
‘Quick Jade, start galloping! Follow the canal towards the city,’ Monkey shouted.
Jade didn’t have to be told twice. The lions and horses had begun to move towards them. Celeste flew into the air and circled above as Jade went into fly-galloping mode and left the stone animals far behind.
‘What was all that about Monkey?’ Chamly asked later when they were sure they weren’t being pursued.
‘That was Empress Wu’s tomb. It’s an evil place.’
‘Why?’ Chamly asked.
‘Empress Wu was one of the nastiest females I’ve ever had to deal with. She ruthlessly seized power from her husband in the seventh century and ruled for forty-five years by murdering, exiling or ordering the suicides of all the royal heirs and anyone else who opposed her.’
Chamly eyed the ancient high walls of the city along the canal and asked Monkey if he knew the city.
Monkey scratched his chin thoughtfully and smiled. A side street, a bar, some fine wine, oh yes, he knew this place. ‘Maybe a little,’ he said innocently. ‘I believe it’s called Xian. Are you hungry, Chamly?’
‘Starving!’
Celeste chose that moment to reappear. ‘I heard that. I forbid you to go into the city. I’ve got Chamly this far and don’t intend to lose him now. What happens if he goes and gets run over by a bus?’
‘Well I’m sorry Celeste, but we’re not going to be dictated to by a piddly little thing like you,’ Monkey retorted. ‘We’ll meet you at the East Gate in a couple of hours.’
Knowing that yet again Chamly and Monkey were going to ignore her extremely good advice, she cocked her head to one side and gave Monkey one of her piercing withering looks. ‘Monkey, if you put Chamly in any danger, I’ll report you to the Jade Emperor, is that understood? Think of incarceration and all that. As for you, Chamly, listen to your instincts and act on them.’
With that said, she flew away without a backward glance.
Chapter 34
XIAN
Monkey and Chamly soon realised their mistake. Xian was a dusty, bustling modern metropolis of three million people where pollution hung heavy in the air. Those who walked and biked the streets were forced to wear masks over their mouths to protect their lungs.
‘I’d admit it has changed a bit since I was last here,’ muttered Monkey.
Choking on the pollution, the trio made their way down the main thoroughfare to a market place. There Jade found a shadowed quiet corner where they could discuss their next move.
‘I have a great idea,’ he whispered. ‘When I was with the princess, we often rode around markets looking at all the knick-knacks and food on display. Occasionally there would be a dancing bear or a monkey entertaining the crowds and the princess reckoned that the owners of these clever animals made more money in an hour than the stall holders did all day.’
‘Well?’ Monkey asked impatiently. ‘What’s that to do with the here and now, Jade?’
‘What I’m trying to say my friend, is that you could do a bit of dancing to raise some cash.’
Monkey looked insulted at the very idea.
‘Jade has a point,’ Chamly reasoned. ‘It’s a simple way of earning money. Come on Monkey, you wouldn’t have to do it for long. I’ll even buy you a bottle of wine if you do it,’ Chamly said thinking quickly.
Monkey’s first response was quickly stifled as what Chamly had said, sunk in. Shrugging he said, ‘I’m not sure it won’t harm my image, but if any money does come our way, I want my wine. Let’s get it over with. Where shall I perform?’
‘I suggest we stand beside that stall selling barbecued chicken. Jade, do you mind if Monkey uses your back as a stage? It will attract the crowds better.’
Jade sighed and replied, ‘Fine! As long as he remembers that he’s dancing on skin and bone and not on a wooden floor.’
Chamly led Jade over to the space beside the food stall and whispered to Monkey, ‘Get on his back and do a couple of somersaults.’
Monkey rolled his eyes, but did as he was told. This attracted quite a few people. They clapped and waited for Monkey to do something else.
‘What else can he do?’ a young woman called out.
‘He can do lots, but he won’t do anything for free,’ Chamly answered. ‘If you want him to do more tricks, he’ll need to see the inside of your purse.’
‘Here’s a yuan. Let’s see what he can do for that,’ she said, giving the money to Chamly.
‘Monkey, do a cartwheel for this woman,’ Chamly ordered.
Monkey cartwheeled back and forth down Jade’s back and then stood with his arms in the air waiting for applause. He had drawn a large crowd and he was not disappointed.
Chamly quickly spread the purple shawl on the ground to catch the money the crowd were now eager to supply. In return, Monkey did a triple somersault, really impressing the crowd. A shower of coins fell on the shawl.
Monkey signalled to Chamly that he wanted a word in his ear. The crowd roared with laughter thinking it was just another trick.
‘I’m not moving until I get a drink of wine, do I make myself clear,’ Monkey whispered through gritted teeth into Chamly’s ear.
Seeing that Monkey looked decidedly stubborn over the matter, Chamly stepped back and turned to the laughing crowd. ‘He insists on a drink before performing anymore. How much is a bottle of wine?’
The crowd thought this was very funny. Above the laughter a man called out, ‘There’s a drink stall over there. I’ll treat the monkey if he does something special for me.’
Monkey grinned at him and then, balancing on his head, lifted his hands from Jade’s back and put them out to the side. He stayed like that for a full minute before finishing his performance with a head spin followed by a backward flip.
The man was
so impressed he did as promised, and made his way to the drink stall. Returning, he uncorked a bottle of wine and passed it up to Monkey.
The crowd watched in amazement as Monkey tipped it back and glugged the whole lot down. Belching loudly, he passed the now empty bottle back to the provider.
A teenage girl holding a radio called out, ‘Can he dance?’
‘Of course! He’s a brilliant dancer,’ Chamly replied. ‘Go on Monkey, show them how you can dance.’
Monkey looked at him as if he was insane.
The young girl turned up her radio. Rock and roll music blared from its tiny speakers and Chamly nodded to Monkey to begin dancing.
Monkey burped and stood up. Swaying slightly, he raised his arms above his head and started to swing his hips from side to side. Soon, the music took a hold of him and he began to stomp his feet back and forth, in time to the beat. The crowd appreciated this so much that another fountain of coins landed on the shawl. Seeing that they now had enough money to last them a good long time, Chamly told the crowd that his pet was finished for the day.
Monkey promptly lay down, narrowly avoiding falling from Jade’s back, as the wine took effect. ‘I’m a little dizzy,’ he said to no one on particular.
As the crowd dispersed, Chamly told his friends to stay put while he went to buy food. Unfortunately, when he came back laden with supplies, he found Jade eating his way through a pile of apples, and Monkey nowhere to be seen.
Chapter 35
MONKEY IS FOUND
‘Where’s Monkey, Jade?’
‘How should I know? I’m not his nanny. Two nice men came over and gave me these apples and then persuaded Monkey to go with them by offering to get him another bottle of wine.’
‘Which way did they go?’
‘I haven’t the faintest idea. My head was down amongst these juicy apples. You’re not the only ones going hungry.’