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29 The Spider Cave

After they had gone some distance they saw a Daoist temple before them. Coming nearer, they saw a stone tablet set into the temple gate, with three words cut upon it: the Yellow Flower Temple. The Tang Monk dismounted and said, "The Yellow Flower Temple is the house of a Daoist. Though his dress differs from ours, his devotion is the same; it would be well for us to go in and greet him." Bajie chimed in, "Just as you say, Master. And when it is convenient we might ask for a vegetarian meal as well." So master and disciples stepped into the temple. When they had passed through the second gate, they saw a Daoist come out of the main hall, a golden crown on his head and a black robe upon his back, descending the steps to welcome them. "I am remiss in greeting you, reverend father," he said. "Pray come in and be seated." Pleased by such courtesy, the Tang Monk went gladly into the hall. When they had taken their seats, the Daoist called his boy to bring tea. The seven she-demons were cutting out clothes in the back court. Seeing the boy carry tea, they asked curiously, "Boy, what guests have come?" The boy said, "Four monks have come." Then one of the women charged the boy, "Call your master in; I have something urgent to say to him." The boy did as he was told: he carried the tea into the hall and gave the Daoist a telling glance. The Daoist then rose slightly and said, "Pray sit at your ease, reverend sirs; I shall return presently." The Daoist went into the inner hall, where the women all fell to their knees, crying, "Brother, hear your humble sisters one word!" He raised them up with his hand, saying, "Good sisters, let me see the guests off first, and then I shall hear you out. We must not let people laugh at us for want of courtesy." The women caught hold of the Daoist and said, "Brother, you do not know: that fair, plump monk is the Tang Monk, and whoever eats his flesh shall live forever. We had him in our power, but the long-snouted, big-eared monk came to our door and tormented us in every way, and so we fled to your temple. Brother, be our champion!" The Daoist flew into a great rage and his face changed colour. "How insolent these monks are! Let me deal with them!" he said. The women thanked him. "If you resort to force, brother, we will all help you." "Force ill befits my dignity as a Daoist lord," said the Daoist. "Follow me, all of you!" The Daoist went into a room and brought out a small leather case, some eight inches high and a foot long. From it he took a packet of powder and said, "If a mortal takes this drug, it kills him the moment it enters his belly. These monks have some measure of holiness, so put in rather more for them." The Daoist took twelve red dates, pinched them open and pressed the drug inside, then divided them among four teacups. He also took two black dates and dropped them into one cup. Only then did he say to the women, "I shall go and ask the monks: if they are not from the Tang, then well and good; but if they are from the Tang, I shall serve them the poisoned tea." The seven women could not thank him enough. The Daoist came back to the front and asked the Tang Monk, "I have kept you waiting long; may I ask from where you come?" The Tang Monk said, "This poor monk comes from the Great Tang in the eastern lands, and is bound for the western heaven to seek the scriptures." At this the Daoist's face broke into smiles. "So you are a noble monk of the Great Tang. My apologies, my apologies!" And he called, "Boy, bring fresh tea!" The boy then brought out the poisoned tea, and the Daoist held the cups in both hands and passed them one by one to the Tang Monk and his disciples. Wukong was sharp-eyed and saw that the Daoist's own cup held black dates. "Reverend Daoist," he said, "let me exchange cups with you." The Daoist said with a smile, "To tell you truly, reverend sir, these black dates are old stock and cannot match the red dates in your cup for fragrance and sweetness." "Old Sun has a fondness for black dates," said Wukong. "Let us exchange." The Tang Monk stopped him. "Wukong, this Daoist means to honour his guests. You must not make trouble." Wukong could do nothing but hold his cup, yet he would not drink, keeping both eyes fixed upon the Daoist. Bajie, both hungry and thirsty, saw three red dates in his cup, fished them out and swallowed them down. The Tang Monk and Sandy, unable to bear their hunger and thirst, ate the red dates too.

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