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21 Jindou Cave

The Tang Monk and his disciples journeyed westward. It was the depths of winter, and the four of them trudged through the snow and bitter cold until they reached the foot of a great mountain. The cliffs were steep, the path narrow, the slopes dangerous and the slopes steep. The Tang Monk reined in his horse and hesitated. Wukong laughed and said, "Master, do not worry. With old Sun here, no tiger, leopard, wolf or worm shall dare come near you!" The Tang Monk let out a breath, urged his horse forward, and before long a building loomed faintly in a fold of the hills. The Tang Monk said gladly, "Disciples! There is a house ahead. It must be a household. Let us go and beg a meal!" Wukong stared hard, then turned back and said, "That house is wrapped in dark clouds, and a miasma of evil soars skyward. It must be a demon's trick. Master, dismount and rest a while. Old Sun will go elsewhere and find a meal to ease your hunger." Bajie helped the Tang Monk down from the horse. Wukong drew his golden-hooped rod and drew a circle around the master and his two junior brothers, saying, "This circle of old Sun's is like a wall of bronze and iron; no demon or monster dare come within it. Master, stay here at ease, and on no account step outside." Wukong took up the purple-gold alms bowl, repeatedly warned his brothers to look after the master, and then mounted the somersault cloud and flew south. After sitting a while, the Tang Monk grew hungry and cold and lost patience. Bajie grumbled, "This circle blocks neither wind nor cold. If a demon truly comes, won't it just let me be eaten for nothing? If Old Pig has his way, we'd better follow the road ahead!" The Tang Monk heeded Bajie's words, rose and stepped out of the circle, and trudged along the fold of the hills. Before long he stood before the gate of the very house. Seeing the gate ajar, Bajie tethered the white horse to the stone drum at the door and said to the Tang Monk, "Master, sit here a moment while Old Pig goes in to look." The Tang Monk warned him, "Be courteous on entering, and don't offend the household!" Bajie agreed, tidied his clothes, pushed open the great gate and stepped in with great gentility. Bajie entered the main hall, which was utterly empty, not a soul in sight. He passed through the central corridor and strolled to the rear building. The upstairs window was half open, and inside a yellow-silk gauze curtain hung dimly. Bajie bounded up, thought nothing of manners, and pulled the curtain aside, only to find a ghastly white skeleton lying on the bed. Caught off guard, Bajie stumbled back in fright. Bajie collected himself. He saw what seemed to be a flickering light in the next room, hurried over, and found three brocade-padded vests laid neatly on a lacquered table, gleaming with a golden light that dazzled the eye. Bajie took the vests, left the house and said cheerily to the Tang Monk, "Master, the owner of this place passed away long ago; only these three vests remain. The depths of winter are here, just right to keep us warm." The Tang Monk would hear none of it, and waved his hands again and again. "We are men of the cloth. How could we steal another's goods? Take them back at once!" Bajie hurried on, "Master! When has Old Pig ever seen such brocade vests? If you won't wear them, Old Pig will put one on to warm up, and when Brother Monkey returns we'll return it." Sandy added, "If that's so, I'll try one on as well." So the two of them took off their outer garments and slipped into the brocade vests. In an instant the vests tightened around their arms and chests, and Bajie and Sandy were bound fast to the ground. The more they struggled, the tighter the vests grew, until the Tang Monk stamped his feet in helpless complaint.

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