Home > Journey to the West > 29-spider-cave

29 The Spider Cave

The Tang Monk set out with long strides toward the wooded retreat. He crossed a stone bridge and saw several thatched huts ahead of him. Peering through door and window, he saw four women inside, sitting there with all their minds bent upon their embroidery. When the Tang Monk saw there was no man in the house he could not help but halt. He thought of turning back, yet feared his disciples would laugh at his helplessness. He paused a while and then, having no choice, steeled himself and walked over the stone bridge. He went a few steps further and saw a pavilion, beneath which three women were kicking a ball. Not wishing to delay any longer, the Tang Monk called out, "Good ladies, this poor monk would beg a little vegetarian food." When the women heard him they were all joy itself; they flung aside their needlework and their ball and came out smiling to greet him, saying, "Pray come in quickly and be seated, reverend sir." The Tang Monk was deeply touched, and thought to himself: The west is worthy indeed to be the land of Buddha, where even women treat a monk so kindly. The Tang Monk followed the women into the manor yard, but there was no house at all, only the mouth of a cave. One of the women pushed open a pair of stone doors and invited him to enter. He went in and looked about; the cave was furnished with nothing but stone tables and stone benches, and his heart misgave him. "This place is cold and gloomy," he said. "I fear more ill than good is in store." Just then the women said gaily, "Be seated, reverend sir!" The Tang Monk shivered, but sat down as best he might. One of the women asked, "What business brings you here, reverend sir?" The Tang Monk said, "This poor monk is a scripture-seeking monk from the eastern lands; passing through your fair domain and being hungry, he begs one meal to stay his hunger." The woman said with a smile, "As the saying goes, the monk who comes from afar reads the scriptures best. Sisters, we must not be remiss; prepare a meal at once!" At this four of the women rolled up their sleeves and went to the kitchen to make ready. Before long the women brought out two platters of dark and whitish food, set them on the stone table and said to the Tang Monk, "In our haste there is nothing fine to offer. This is gluten made of human flesh and cakes of bean curd fried from human brains. Eat as you please, reverend sir; and if it is not enough, there is more behind." The Tang Monk sniffed at it; a raw fishy stench assailed his nostrils, and in his fright he pressed his palms together. "Good benefactress," he said, "this poor monk eats only vegetarian fare." The woman laughed. "Reverend sir, a man of the cloth should not be so choosy." "I dare not, I dare not!" said the Tang Monk hastily. "I only fear breaking my vows. I thank you for your kind intent, benefactress; this poor monk will take his leave now." With that he rose to go. But the women would not let him; they blocked the door and cried out all together, "Trade that comes knocking at the door is not to be refused! Where do you think you are going?" The women seized him with many hands, bound him fast with rope and strung him high from the beam. Bearing the pain and holding back his tears, the Tang Monk rued in his heart: How bitter is my fate, that even begging a meal should cast me into a pit of fire. Disciples, come quickly and save me! Then he saw the women loosen their silk gowns and bare their navels; from the small of each back a silk cord spurted out, as thick as a goose egg, bubbling and gushing, and before long the gate of the manor was wound about with silk. Meanwhile Wukong and the other two waited by the roadside, and when their master did not return for a long while, they knew full well that things had gone ill. Wukong told Bajie and Sandy to guard the baggage and set off running for the manor himself.

 2/8   Home Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Last