Journey to the West
"When you travel West tomorrow, reverend sir, you will find that the road is level," the lama replied. "There
is no need to worry. There is just one thing at present that is rather awkward. I wanted to tell you about it as
soon as you came in, but I was afraid that it would offend your distinguished self. I only venture to tell you
now that the meal is over that you will be most welcome to spend the night in the young lamas' room after
your long, hard journey from the East. But it would not be right for the lady Bodhisattva to do so. I don't know
where I should invite her to sleep."
"Your suspicions are not called for, abbot," Sanzang replied, "and you should not suppose that my disciples
and I have wicked ideas. When we were coming through Black Pine Forest this morning we found this girl
tied to a tree. My disciple Sun Wukong refused to save her, but out of my enlightened heart I rescued her and
have brought her here for you to put up, abbot."
"As you have been so generous, reverend Father," the abbot replied, "we can set out a straw mattress behind
the devarajas in the Devaraja Hall for her to sleep on."
"That's splendid," Sanzang said, "splendid." After this the young lamas took the girl to sleep in the back of the
hall while in the abbot's lodgings Sanzang urged the officials of the monastery to put themselves at their ease,
whereupon they all dispersed.
"We have had a hard day," Sanzang said to Brother Monkey. "We must go to bed early and be up early in the
morning." They all slept in the same room, guarding the master and not daring to leave him. Later that night
The moon rose high and all was peaceful;
The Street of Heaven was quiet and nobody moved.
Bright was the Silver River; the stars shone clearly;
The drum in the tower hastened the changing watch.
We will say nothing more of the night. When Monkey rose at first light he told Pig and Friar Sand to get the
luggage and the horse ready then urged the master to start out. But Sanzang wanted to sleep longer and would
not wake up, so Monkey went up to him to call, "Master."
The master raised his head but still could make no reply. "What will you say, Master?" Monkey asked.
"Why is my head spinning," Sanzang replied, "why are my eyes swollen, and why an I aching all over from
my skin to my bones?"
When Pig heard this he stretched out his hand to feel the master's body. It was feverish. "Now I understand,"
said the idiot with a grin. "He had several bowls too many of last night's free rice and went to sleep
head−down. It's indigestion."
"Nonsense," shouted Monkey, "Let me ask the master what's really the matter."
"When I got up in the middle of the night to relieve myself," Sanzang replied, "I did not put my hat on. I think
I must have caught a chill in the wind."
Chapter 81 1126
