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39 The Prefecture of Tongtai

The thieves rushed at Wukong. He spoke the binding spell, and pointed a finger; at once the thieves stood rooted to the spot, unable to stir, glaring and grinding their teeth, knives and clubs still raised in mid-air, a most ridiculous sight. Wukong plucked a few more hairs, breathed on them, and turned them into ropes. With Bajie and Sandy's help, he bound the thieves hand and foot. Wukong bade the Master sit in the place of honour, and, pointing his golden-hooped rod at the thieves, said, "Quick! Tell me where you stole all this loot, or I'll pound you into meat-cakes." The terrified thieves confessed the whole affair of the robbery at the Kou house. The Tang Monk, on hearing that the squire's house had been robbed, was greatly shocked. He turned quickly to Wukong. "Squire Kou loved the good and honoured the Buddha, and we have stayed at his house for many days without any way to repay him. Let us take this loot back to his family; it would at least count as one good deed." Wukong did as the Master bade. He and Bajie and Sandy gathered the stolen goods, loaded them on the horse, and made Bajie shoulder an extra pannier of gold and silver into the bargain. Wukong would have liked to slay the thieves on the spot, but, fearing the Master's reproach for taking life, he gave his body a shake and recalled the hairs. The thieves, feeling their limbs free, scrambled up at once and fled helter-skelter. The Tang Monk and his disciples turned east to return the loot. They had not gone far when they met the soldiers sent out by the prefect. The soldiers rushed upon them, dragged the Tang Monk from his horse, and bound him and Wukong and the rest together. The soldiers brought the prisoners back to the prefectural court. The prefect took his seat to try the case, and thundered, "You monks! Your mouths say you have come from the East, from Tang, to fetch the scriptures from the Western Heaven; yet in truth you have been robbing houses and taking lives — a most hateful crew!" The Tang Monk pleaded his case at length, recounting how the Kou family had fed the monks, and how they had met and bound the thieves on the road. The prefect did not believe him. "If, as you say, you caught the thieves, where are they now?" The Master could only answer truthfully, "We let them go." The prefect was furious. "You monk! How dare you use pretty words to befool this official! The Kou brothers have lodged a charge against you, and now we have both the criminals and the stolen goods — what have you to say for yourself?" The Tang Monk was terrified out of his life, and turned hurriedly to Wukong. "Why do you not speak in our defence?" "The stolen goods are on the horse," said Wukong. "What good would words do?" The prefect ordered a head-band to be fitted on the Tang Monk. Wukong, fearing his Master would suffer, stepped forward boldly and said, "Your honour, I alone committed the robbery of the Kou house last night. They had no part in it. If a band must be fitted, fit it on me." The prefect ordered the soldiers to fit the band on Wukong first. But no sooner was it drawn tight than the iron band snapped. They tried band after band, and band after band snapped in turn, yet not the faintest mark was left on Wukong's head. Just then a messenger came in to say that the superior, Chen Shaobao, had arrived and begged the prefect to go out of the city to meet him. The prefect ordered the Tang Monk and his disciples to be locked up in the prison, and hurried out himself with his retinue. The pilgrims spent a quiet night in the cell. Near the fifth watch, Wukong shook himself, changed into a small grasshopper, slipped out of the window, and flew through the starlight and the moon, off to the Kou house.

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