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40 The True Scriptures

Knowing by his silence that the thing had never been asked, the turtle gave a shake of its body and sank beneath the water. Wukong sprang into the air, but the Tang Monk, Bajie, Sandy and the horse all tumbled into the river. Seeing his master fall, Wukong turned at once and bore him up to the bank, and then with his brothers dragged the packs of scriptures and the baggage out of the water. They had scarce landed and caught their breath when a fierce wind sprang up, lightning flashed and thunder rolled, sand and stones flew, and earth and sky went dark together. The Tang Monk flung his arms about the packs of scriptures, Sandy held fast to the white horse and weighted down the baggage, and Wukong whirled his golden-hooped rod, guarding them upon every side. So they endured until dawn, when the dark wind fell away and the red sun stood in the sky, and at last their hearts were at ease. They went on a little way, found a great slab of blue stone, and spread the scrolls out upon it to dry. By chance some fishermen of Chen Village came by on their way to the river, and knew them again, and asked, "Good master, are you not the scripture seekers who crossed this river for the Western Heaven two years ago?" Bajie answered, "The very same, the very same." The fishermen gathered up their nets, ran back to the village and cried to Chen Cheng, "Old sir! The holy one who took your son's place at the sacrifice two years ago has come back, and is even now drying his scriptures on the blue stone by the river!" Hearing that his benefactors were returned, Chen Cheng took some of his tenants and hurried out to greet them. Chen Cheng fell upon his knees before them and said, "All in the village are grateful to you for subduing the Great King of Inspiration; and when they heard you were come back with the scriptures, they went out beyond the village to wait for you!" The Tang Monk could not refuse, and bade his disciples gather up the scrolls and go with him. In his haste Bajie tore several of the drying scrolls, and the Tang Monk's heart ached to see it. Wukong said with a laugh, "Do not be angry, Master. Heaven and earth themselves are not perfect, and neither are the scriptures; this is the will of heaven, beyond the power of men." The Tang Monk sighed, and followed Chen Cheng toward the village. When the households of the village heard that their benefactors had come, they beat drums and blew pipes, and old and young alike, leaning on one another's arms, streamed out to greet them. Chen Qing and his whole household bowed in thanks for the saving of his daughter in former days, and led the four into their home for a meal. The brothers Chen Cheng and Chen Qing set out a table heaped with fruits and meatless dishes. Strange to tell, ever since they had eaten the rare fruits and immortal delicacies of the Spirit Mountain, the travellers had no appetite for such fare; and the brothers at last had the feast cleared away. The Tang Monk would have taken his leave, but the brothers would not hear of it. "You saved both our children," they said, "and we have built a Temple of Deliverance in your honour; we beg you to come and see it!" He could not well refuse, and went with them. At the Temple of Deliverance the incense smoked without cease and folk came in an endless stream with offerings of fruit; and in the upper hall, gilded and painted, stood images of the master and his three disciples. The Tang Monk folded his hands and said, "What have I done to deserve such love? Indeed I dare not accept it!" Seeing that evening was come, the brothers lodged them in the temple. But that night the Tang Monk, longing to be home in the east, tossed and turned and could not sleep; and softly he roused his disciples, meaning to slip away by moonlight without farewell. They had packed the baggage and the scrolls and were about to start, when the eight vajra guardians called out of the sky, "Runaways, come with us!" A gust of fragrant wind swept by, and master, disciples, horse and all were lifted into the air.

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