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32 The Bottomless Cave

Bajie asked, "Grandmothers, why are you drawing water?" The women answered, "Our lady has seized the Tang Monk and shut him in the cave, and bids us carry clean water home, and prepare meatless fruits and dishes, for she is to be married to him this evening." At this Bajie ran back up the mountain in haste, crying, "That woman says master is to be married in the demon's cave; let us divide the baggage and part company!" Wukong shouted, "Silly fellow, none of your nonsense! We will follow those women, and when we come to the mouth of the cave we can strike together." The three brothers followed behind the women deeper and deeper into the mountains, until suddenly the women vanished. "They must have slipped into the cave," said Wukong. He opened his fiery eyes and swept the mountain with his gaze, and saw before a sheer cliff a memorial arch bearing six great characters: Xiankong Mountain, Bottomless Cave. Searching further, they found at the foot of the mountain an immense rock, and in the midst of it a hole the size of a vat's mouth, so deep that no bottom could be seen. Wukong charged Bajie and Sandy, "You two guard the mouth of the cave while old Sun goes down to see what lies below." With that he gave a leap and plunged into the hole. Before long Wukong reached the bottom, where the view opened out suddenly and he found himself in another world altogether: there was sunlight here, and flowers, grass and trees, and ahead of him a gateway tower. This must be the demon's dwelling, thought he; let me go and look. Wukong turned himself into a fly and lit upon the gateway, and there he saw the she-demon sitting in a thatched pavilion, her cherry lips parting in delight as she cried, "Little ones, lay out the meatless feast at once; I am to be married to the reverend brother!" Wukong laughed inwardly and flew off to the eastern corridor, where he found the Tang Monk sitting in a side room, sunk in misery. Wukong settled on his head and whispered, "Master!" The Tang Monk knew the voice and cried, "Disciple, get me out of here!" Wukong said with a laugh, "Why leave? The demon is even now laying out the wedding feast to marry you." The Tang Monk said angrily, "Disciple, we have known each other many years; when have you ever seen me harbour a crooked thought?" Wukong said, "Do not fret, master, I have a plan. When the she-demon drinks with you, pour a cup for her in return. I will slip into the cup as a mote, and once she has swallowed me into her belly, I can set to work." The Tang Monk agreed. Truly, before long the she-demon pushed open the door and came in, crying in a melting voice, "Reverend brother!" and summoning up a thousand charms and ten thousand graces. She took the Tang Monk's arm and led him by the hand out of the side room and into the thatched pavilion, where they sat down beside the meatless feast. She filled a cup with wine and handed it to him. "Reverend brother," she said, "pray drink this cup of union." The Tang Monk had no choice but to take it and drain it at a gulp. The Tang Monk then poured a cup and offered it to the she-demon in return. He poured in such haste that the wine frothed up in the cup, and Wukong seized the moment to become a tiny insect and settle beneath the foam. But the she-demon took the cup and did not drink at once; first she exchanged a few fond words with the Tang Monk. By the time she raised the cup, the foam had broken and the insect lay revealed. She picked it out with her little finger and flicked it from the cup. Seeing his plan had failed, Wukong changed into a fierce eagle, spread his talons and overturned the table, scattering the meatless fruits and dishes across the floor; then he flew out of the cave.

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