Chapter 49

Tripitaka in Calamity Sinks in the Water Palace; Guanyin Rescues from Trouble and Shows the Fish Basket

Now the Great Sage Sun, with Bajie and Sha Monk, left old Chen and came to the riverside, and said: “Brothers, you two settle it: who goes into the water first?” Bajie said: “Brother, our arts are nothing much: you should go in first.” Pilgrim said: “To tell you the truth, worthy brothers: if it were demons in the mountains, I would put you to no trouble; but in the water I am helpless. To go down sea or along river I must pinch the water-averting sign, or change into the shape of fish or crab, before I can go. And pinching the sign, I could not swing the iron staff, nor use my powers, nor fight the monster. I have long known you two are old hands at water: that is why I want you two down.” Sha Monk said: “Brother, I can go — only I do not know the bottom. Let us all go. Brother, change into some shape or other; let me carry you, part the water-road, find the monster's den, and you go in first and scout. If Master is unhurt and still there, we can press the attack in earnest. If it is not this monster's trick — if he has drowned Master, or been eaten — we need not beg long: better find another road early, how is that?” Pilgrim said: “Worthy brother, you talk reason. Which of you will carry me?” Bajie, secretly delighted, thought: “This monkey has made game of me how many times — and it seems he cannot swim. Let old Pig carry him, and make game of him for once.” The Idiot called out, grinning: “Brother, I will carry you.” Pilgrim knew there was mischief in it, and turned the trick against the trickster: “So be it — you have more strength in your arms than Wujing.” Bajie took him on his back.

Sha Monk clove the water-road, and the brothers went together into Reach-Heaven River. They made a hundred li and more along the bottom, and the Idiot meant to make game of Pilgrim. Pilgrim promptly plucked a hair, made a sham body, and laid it on Bajie's back; his true body changed into a pig-louse and clung tight inside his ear. Bajie, walking along, suddenly stumbled, seized his chance to fling Pilgrim forward, and flopped flat. The sham body, being only hair, floated up and was gone without shape or trace. Sha Monk said: “Second brother — what is this? To fall in the mud for not walking properly were one thing; but where have you flung big brother?” Bajie said: “That monkey cannot bear a fall: one drop and he dissolved. Brother, never mind him dead or alive: you and I go find Master.” Sha Monk said: “No — we need him. He may not know water, but he is cleverer than we. Unless he comes, I am not going with you.” Pilgrim, in Bajie's ear, could not contain himself and called aloud: “Wujing — old Sun is here.” Sha Monk, hearing, laughed: “Done for! Idiot, the man is dead — how dared you make game of him? Now you have made him voice without face: what will you do?” Bajie, in a panic, knelt in the mud and knocked his head: “Brother, I was wrong. When Master is saved, I will make my apology ashore. Where are you calling from? You have scared me to death. Show your true form, I beg you: I will carry you, and never affront you again.” Pilgrim said: “And you would carry me again? No more tricks. Walk quick, walk quick.” The Idiot, muttering on and on, went chanting his apologies, got up, and went on with Sha Monk.

Another hundred li and more, and suddenly they looked up and saw a mansion and terrace, with four large characters above: THE MANSION OF THE WATER TURTLE. Sha Monk said: “This must be the monster's dwelling. We two do not know truth from sham: how shall we knock at his door for battle?” Pilgrim said: “Wujing — is there water within the gate or without?” Sha Monk said: “No water.” Pilgrim said: “No water, then hide to one side, and let old Sun go scout.”

The good Great Sage crawled out of Bajie's ear, shook himself, changed into a long-legged shrimp crone, and in two or three hops was inside the gate. Opening his eyes he saw the monster seated above, the water folk ranged on both sides, and the spotted mandarin-fish crone seated at his hand, all in council to eat the Tang monk. Pilgrim kept his eyes open, searched both sides, and could not find him. Suddenly he saw a big-bellied shrimp crone walking over to take her stand below the western corridor. Pilgrim hopped before her and hailed: “Auntie — the Great King and the company are in council to eat the Tang monk. Where is the Tang monk?” The shrimp crone said: “The Great King made snow and froze the ice, and yesterday took him: he lies in the stone chest behind the palace. Only wait till tomorrow: if his disciples do not come brawling, there will be music, and he will be enjoyed.”

Pilgrim, hearing, played his part a while, then went straight behind the palace to look: there truly was a stone chest, like the trough in a hog-pen of some farmhouse, or a stone coffin in the world of men — a good six feet long by measure. He lay on it and listened: inside, the Tang monk whimpering and weeping. Pilgrim said nothing, and bent his ear again; the master's teeth ground, and with a groan he said:

I curse my fate, River Float, and the flaw in my star: from birth, how many water calamities have wrapped me!Scarcely out of my mother's womb, tossed on the waves; bound for the Western Heaven to worship Buddha, and fallen in a bottomless deep.Before, at the Black River, my body met its peril; now, at the melting of the ice, my life goes back to the spring.Will my disciples come, I cannot know — shall I win the true scriptures and see my old garden again?

Pilgrim could not contain himself and called: “Master, curse not the water calamity. The scripture says: ‘Earth is the mother of the five phases, water the source of the five phases: without earth nothing is born, without water nothing grows.’ Old Sun is here.” The Tang monk, hearing, said: “Disciple — save me!” Pilgrim said: “Set your heart at rest. When we have seized the monster, I promise you out of your trouble.” The Tang monk said: “Make haste and set about it. Another day of this, and I am smothered outright.” Pilgrim said: “No matter, no matter. I am off!”

He whipped about, leapt out, showed his true form outside the gate, and called: “Bajie.” The Idiot and Sha Monk came up: “Brother — how is it?” Pilgrim said: “It is this very monster who gulled Master. Master is unhurt: the monster has clapped the stone chest over him. You two go challenge him quickly, and let old Sun get out of the water first. If you can take him, take him; if not, make as if to lose, lead him out of the water, and leave him to me.” Sha Monk said: “Go first with an easy heart, brother; we will read the signs.” This Pilgrim pinched the water-averting sign, shot out of the river, and stood waiting on the bank — no more of that.

Look at Zhu Bajie raging: he charged the gate and bawled: “Brazen monster! Hand out my master.” The little demons inside hurried in to report in a fright: “Great King — someone at the gate demanding the master.” The monster said: “That will be that brazen monk.” He called: “Quickly — my arms and weapons!” The little demons fetched them in haste. The monster armed himself, took up his weapon, gave the word to open, and came out. Bajie and Sha Monk stood opposed to left and right — and how was the monster armed? A fine monster: look at him:

A golden helmet on his head, flashing and bright; golden mail on his body, splitting the rainbow's light.At his waist a jeweled belt of clustered pearls and kingfisher; on his feet smoky-yellow boots, a wonder of a kind.Nose-ridge high and swelling, like a crag upthrust; brow broad and open, with a dragon's mien.Eyes flashing round and glaring; teeth of steel, sharp-pointed and even.Short hair in a shock, streaming like flame; long whiskers flowing free, bristling like golden awls.Between his teeth a spray of tender green weed; in his hand a nine-petaled red-copper hammer.With one hoarse cry the gates swung wide: a sound like the thunder that wakes the insects in third-month spring.Such a figure the world of men has seldom seen: fitly he calls himself the Great King Divine-Responsive in his might.

The monster came out his gate, a hundred and ten little demons behind him, whirling spears and brandishing swords, drawn up in two wings. He said to Bajie: “What temple's monk are you? Why come brawling here?” Bajie shouted: “You death-defying brazen thing! The other night you gave me back-talk, and today you feign not to know and question me? I am a disciple of the holy monk of the Great Tang in the Land of the East, going to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. You worked your trickery and played at being some Divine-Responsive Great King, preying on boys and girls at Chen Family Farm. I am that One-Weight of Gold of Chen Qing's house: do you not know me?” The monster said: “Monk, you are past all reason. You changed into One-Weight of Gold: yours is the guilt of false name and substitution. I never ate you — and you hurt the back of my hand instead. I let you off; why come hammering at my gate?” Bajie said: “You let me off! Then why raise cold winds, send down great snow, freeze the water to hard ice, and destroy my master? Hand my master out this instant, and all is well; if half the word ‘no’ passes your teeth — look only at this rake in my hand: I will not spare you.” The monster, hearing, smiled faintly and coldly: “Monk, you wag that long tongue and crow your big mouth. True: I made the cold, sent the snow, froze the river, and carried off your master. Now you bawl at my gate thinking to reclaim him — but I fear this bout is not that bout. Then I was off to a feast, and brought no weapon, and chanced to be hurt by your hand. Now do not think of running: three rounds with me. Hold me three rounds, and you shall have your master; fail, and you shall be eaten with the rest.”

Bajie said: “Good son, well said indeed. Mind the rake.” The monster said: “So you are a monk who took his vows on the road.” Bajie said: “Child, you truly have second sight: how do you know I took my vows on the road?” The monster said: “You handle a rake: hired out somewhere to garden, I suppose, and stole the nail-rake away.” Bajie said: “Child, this rake of mine is no earth-tilling rake. Look:

Great teeth cast like a dragon's claws; gold inlay beaten like a serpent's coil.Let it meet a foe, and the cold wind whips; let it lock with him, and fire springs forth.It can clear monsters from the holy monk's road, and take demons on the western way.Swing it, and smoke and cloud veil sun and moon; wield it, and rosy splendor lights the field.It fells Mount Tai and puts a thousand tigers in fear; it overturns the deep sea and startles ten thousand dragons.Spare your cunning and your art: one stroke, and I promise you nine holes.”

Would the monster believe it? He raised the copper hammer and smashed at his head. Bajie caught it on the nail-rake: “You brazen thing — so you are a demon too that made his spirit on the road.” The monster said: “How do you know I made my spirit on the road?” Bajie said: “You handle a copper hammer: hired at some silversmith's to pump the bellows, I suppose, and when your chance came, stole it out.” The monster said: “This is no hammer for beating silver. Look:

Nine petals clustered in a flower's bud; a hollow stem of the ten-thousand-year green.No common thing of the mortal world: its provenance is famed in the immortal garden.Green cell and purple kernel, grown old by the Jade Pool; white in substance, fragrant, born of the emerald marsh.I worked and smelted it to my use: hard as steel, keen, quick with spirit.Spear and knife, sword and halberd, cannot compare; axe and battle-ax, dagger-ax and pike, dare not cross it.Let his rake be never so keen an edge: let it but touch my hammer, and the nails fly splintered.”

Sha Monk, seeing the two of them at their banter, could not contain himself, came near, and called: “Monster, enough of your loud talk. The ancients said: ‘Talk is no proof: doing shows.’ Stand still, and taste my staff.” The monster parried with the hammer's shaft: “You are a monk who took his vows on the road too.” Sha Monk said: “How do you know?” The monster said: “That figure of yours: a miller by trade, I should say.” Sha Monk said: “How do you make me a miller?” The monster said: “If you were no miller, how would you handle a rolling pin?” Sha Monk cursed: “You evil thing! Have you never seen—”

Such a weapon is rare in the world of men: hence you cannot know the treasure staff's name.It comes from the shadeless courts of the Palace of the Moon, cut and polished from the immortal sha luo tree.Without, jeweled studs blaze rosy light; within, gold is driven in, and auspicious vapor gathers.In days past it attended the imperial banquets; today it holds the right and guards the Tang monk.On the western road it had no name to know; in the palaces above its fame was great.It is called the True Treasure Staff of Demon-Subduing: one blow, and I crack the spirit in your skull.”

The monster would hear no explanations: the three changed face together, and beneath the water they fell to a fine fight:

Copper hammer, treasure staff, and nail-rake: Wuneng and Wujing do battle with the monster. One is Tianpeng come down to the world; one a general descended from heaven's edge. The two of them close in on the water monster and put forth their might; this one alone withstands the holy monks, a thing to boast of. With fate and lot they press toward the great way; by birth and conquest they wield the sands of Ganga. Earth conquers water: the water dries, the bottom shows; water breeds wood: the wood waxes and flowers. Chan and the arts are cultivated into one body; the cinnabar returned and smelted subdues the three houses. Earth is the mother, and puts forth the golden bud; gold begets the spirit water, and the child is born. Water is the root, and moistens the wood's flower; the wood has its blaze of glorious fire and rose-cloud. Clustered, the five phases each stand apart; hence, faces changed, they contend, each differing. Look: the copper hammer's nine petals, glorious and fair; the treasure staff's thousand threads, embroidered in beauty. The rake numbers yin and yang, divided into nine shining orbs; its art unexplained, tangled as hemp. Body flung away, life abandoned, for the monk's calamity; death defied, life forgotten, for the sake of the Buddha. Till the copper hammer, busy, could not be grounded: left parrying the staff, right parrying the rake.

The three fought two full watches on the riverbed with no decision. Zhu Bajie, reckoning they could not beat him, shot a glance at Sha Monk; the two made as if beaten, dragged their weapons, turned, and ran. The monster called: “Lads, hold fast here: I will overtake these fellows, take them, and give you a share to eat.” Look at him: like wind driving withered leaves, like rain beating fallen petals, he chased the two of them out of the water.

The Great Sage Sun on the eastern bank, eyes never straying, watched the water's temper at the river's edge. Suddenly he saw the waves tossing and heard the roar of shouting: Bajie leapt out on the bank first, crying: “Here he comes, here he comes.” Sha Monk reached the bank too: “Here he comes, here he comes.” The monster called after: “Where away?” He had barely shown his head when Pilgrim shouted: “Mind the staff!” The monster twisted aside and parried in haste with the copper hammer. One surged the waves at the river's edge; one showed his might on the bank. They had hardly closed three rounds before the monster could no longer parry: with a splash he dove again into the water, and the wind fell and the waves were still.

Pilgrim turned back up the high bank: “Brothers, hard work!” Sha Monk said: “Brother, ashore the monster is nothing much; but at the bottom of the water he is terrible enough. Second brother and I attacked from both sides, and only fought him to a stand. What shall we do to save Master?” Pilgrim said: “No hesitation: I fear he will hurt Master.” Bajie said: “Brother, this time I will gull him out: you keep silent, only wait in mid-air. Judge when his head comes out, then strike the garlic-pounding blow, square on the crown of his skull. Even if you do not kill him, he will reel with the pain — then old Pig runs him down with the rake, and I promise you it is finished.” Pilgrim said: “Right, right: that is called ‘meeting within and closing without’ — the only way it will work.” The two went back into the water — no more of that.

Now the monster, beaten, fled for his life, back to his own house; the demons met him at the palace, and the mandarin-fish crone came up and asked: “Great King — how far did you chase those two monks?” The monster said: “Those monks had another at their side after all. The two jumped ashore, and the other swung an iron staff at me; I dodged and engaged him. I do not know how many catties that staff of his weighed, but my copper hammer could not begin to parry it: before three rounds I was beaten back.” The crone said: “Great King, do you remember what that helper looked like?” The monster said: “A monk with a hairy face, a thunder-god beak, pricked-up ears, a broken bridge of nose, fiery eyes and golden pupils.” The crone, hearing, shuddered: “Great King — it is your sharp eye that saved your life; three rounds more and you would never have lived. That monk I know.” The monster said: “You know him — who is he?” The crone said: “In the Eastern Ocean years ago I heard the old Dragon King tell his renown: the Handsome Monkey King, an immortal of the Grand Monad above, first of the Primal Breath, who wrecked the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago — the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Now he has taken refuge with the Buddha and guards the Tang monk west for scriptures, renamed the Pilgrim Sun Wukong. His powers are vast, his changes past counting: how could you provoke him, Great King? Never fight him again.”

Before the words were done a little demon came from the gate to report: “Great King — the two monks are at the gate again, calling for battle.” The monster said: “Worthy sister, your sight is long. I will not go out again: let him do as he pleases.” He hastily gave the word: “Lads, bar the gates fast. As the saying goes: ‘Call at the door as you please — the door shall not be opened.’ Let him pester a day or two, lose heart, and go home: then shall we not enjoy the Tang monk at our ease?” And the little demons together rolled stones, packed clay, and shut the door fast.

Bajie and Sha Monk called and called, and nothing came out. The Idiot's heart burned; he set the nail-rake to the gate. The gate was shut and barred too fast to hope. Seven or eight strokes of the rake broke the door panels — and inside it was all clay and stone, heaped a thousand layers high. Sha Monk, seeing, said: “Second brother, the monster is frightened stiff — barred in and will not come out. You and I go back up the bank and take counsel with big brother.” Bajie followed his word, and they went back to the eastern bank.

Pilgrim, half in cloud, half in mist, stood waiting with his staff. Seeing the two come up with no monster after, he pressed down his cloud, met them at the bank, and asked: “Brothers — why has the fellow not come up?” Sha Monk said: “The monster has barred his house fast and will not come out to meet us. Second brother broke the door panels, and when we looked, inside it was all clay and stone, packed tight and solid. So we could not come to battle, and we have come to take counsel with you: how shall we set about saving Master?” Pilgrim said: “In that case there is no art for it here. You two patrol the banks, and do not let him slip away elsewhere: I will go and be back.” Bajie said: “Brother, where are you going?” Pilgrim said: “I am going up Potalaka Rock to consult the Bodhisattva, and learn where this monster was born, what his name and surname are. Then I will find his ancestral home, take his household, seize his neighbors, and come back here to take the monster and save Master.” Bajie laughed: “Brother, done that way it is too much trouble — it will cost the hours.” Pilgrim said: “Trust me: neither trouble nor delay. I go and return.”

The good Great Sage shot his auspicious light, left the river mouth, and made straight for the Southern Sea. In less than half a watch he could see Potalaka near. He lowered his cloud and came to the cliff of Putuo. There the gods of the twenty-four quarters, the great god who keeps the mountain, the Pilgrim Muzha, the child Sudhana, and the pearl-bearing Dragon Maiden came up together, greeted him with their reverence, and said: “What brings the Great Sage?” Pilgrim said: “I have business with the Bodhisattva.” The gods said: “The Bodhisattva came out of the cave this morning and would let no one follow, and went alone into the bamboo grove to wander. Knowing the Great Sage must come today, she charged us to wait here and receive you, and not to bring you in. Sit a while before the emerald crag, and await the Bodhisattva's coming out.”

Pilgrim did as he was told; before he could sit, the child Sudhana came up and made his reverence: “Great Sage Sun: once I enjoyed your kindness, and happily the Bodhisattva disdained me not and took me in; morning and evening I am not away from her side, serving beneath the lotus seat, and I have found such goodness and mercy.” Pilgrim knew this was Red Boy, and laughed: “In those days your heart was bemused by demon mischief; today you have won your true fruit — and so you know old Sun was a good man after all.”

Pilgrim waited long and saw nothing; his heart burned: “Gentlemen, carry my report in: if we delay, I fear for my master's life.” The gods said: “We dare not report. The Bodhisattva's word was: wait till she comes out herself.” Pilgrim's temper was hasty: how could he wait? He sprang up and made to walk in. Ah!

This Handsome Monkey King, hasty, apt to peck and pounce.The gods could not hold him; in he would go, bent on it.Striding into the deep grove, he opened his eyes and peeped.Far off he saw the Comforter of Sorrows, seated cross-legged on worn bamboo leaves.Too idle, it seemed, to comb and dress; her face more lovely than ever.Her hair in one loose coil of silk, without its strings of pearls.No plain blue robe hung on her; a little jacket bound close to her body.A brocade skirt girded loosely round; both her bare feet naked.No embroidered band across her shoulders; both her white arms bare.In her jade hand a steel knife: she was paring the skin of bamboo.

Pilgrim, seeing, could not contain himself, and called at the top of his voice: “Bodhisattva — your disciple Sun Wukong bows with all his heart.” The Bodhisattva said: “Wait outside.” Pilgrim knocked his head: “Bodhisattva, my master is in trouble; I have come specially to ask the origins of the monster of Reach-Heaven River.” The Bodhisattva said: “Go out, and wait till I come.”

Pilgrim dared not press, and could only come out of the bamboo grove, and said to the gods: “The Bodhisattva is at her housekeeping again today. Why no lotus seat, no dressing, no rejoicing — and paring bamboo strips in the wood, what for?” The gods said: “We do not know. This morning she left the cave without her dress, and went straight into the grove; and she bade us wait here to receive the Great Sage: surely it is on the Great Sage's business.” Pilgrim had no choice but to wait.

Before long the Bodhisattva came out of the wood with a purple bamboo basket in her hand: “Wukong — I am coming with you to save the Tang monk.” Pilgrim hastily knelt: “Your disciple dares not hurry you: let the Bodhisattva dress and take her seat.” The Bodhisattva said: “No dressing needed — we go as we are.” She left the gods, rode her auspicious cloud up into the sky, and away; and the Great Sage Sun could only follow.

In a moment they were over the bounds of Reach-Heaven River. Bajie and Sha Monk, seeing, said: “Brother in his haste — no knowing how he bawled and shouted in the Southern Sea, to hurry an undressed Bodhisattva here.” They were at the bank. The two bowed: “Bodhisattva, we have presumed: guilt, guilt.” The Bodhisattva untied a silk sash from her jacket, knotted the basket to it, and held it by the sash; half treading the clouds, she cast the basket into the river and drew it up against the current, reciting the charm: “Dead, away; living, stay. Dead, away; living, stay!” Seven times she recited it, and lifted the basket: and in the basket, gleaming bright, one goldfish, still winking its eyes and moving its fins. The Bodhisattva said: “Wukong, down into the water quickly, and save your master.” Pilgrim said: “The monster is not yet taken: how would I save Master?” The Bodhisattva said: “Is he not here in the basket?” Bajie and Sha Monk bowed and asked: “How should a fish have such powers?” The Bodhisattva said: “He is a goldfish reared in my Lotus Pool, who rose day by day to the surface to hear the scriptures, and so cultivated his powers. That nine-petaled copper hammer was a lotus bud not yet opened, which he worked and tempered into a weapon. One day, who knows which, the tide rose, and he drifted here. This morning, leaning on the balustrade to look at the flowers, I missed him at his devotions. I counted the lines on my fingers and reckoned he had turned spirit here, harming your master: hence, with no time to dress, I wrought the magic power and wove this bamboo basket to take him.”

Pilgrim said: “Bodhisattva, if it is so, wait a little while. Let us call the faithful of Chen Family Farm to look upon the Bodhisattva's golden face: first, to leave her grace behind; second, to tell of the taking of the monster, that mortal men may believe and make offerings.” The Bodhisattva said: “So be it — call them quickly.” Bajie and Sha Monk flew at a run to the village, calling at the top of their voices: “Come see the living Bodhisattva Guanyin! Come see the living Bodhisattva Guanyin!” Old and young, men and women of the whole village came to the riverside, heedless of mud and water, kneeling within, knocking their heads in reverence. Among them were some skilled at portraiture, who took her likeness down: this was the coming of Guanyin with the Fish Basket. Then the Bodhisattva returned to the Southern Sea.

Bajie and Sha Monk parted the water-road and went straight to the Mansion of the Water Turtle to find Master. All the water monsters and fish spirits there were dead and rotting. They went into the rear palace, lifted the stone chest, hoisted the Tang monk out, and came up out of the wave-hollow to meet the company. The Chen brothers knocked their heads in thanks: “Masters, you would not listen to us and stay — and so you came to this suffering.” Pilgrim said: “No more of that. You folk of this village need keep the sacrifice no more: the Great King is rooted out, and never will harm you again. Old Chen, now indeed we must trouble you: find a boat quickly, and carry us across the river.” Chen Qing said: “There is, there is, there is.” He ordered planks sawn and a boat built. The villagers, hearing, were glad to give: one said, “I will buy the mast and sail”; another, “I will find the pole and oars”; some said, “I will give the ropes”; some said, “I will hire the boatmen.”

They were all clamoring on the bank when suddenly from mid-river came a great call: “Great Sage Sun, build no boat and spend no man's goods: I will carry you masters across.” The people, hearing, every heart quailed: the timid ran home; the bold stayed trembling, feasting their eyes. In a moment out of the water came a monster — and what a shape, do you think:

A square-headed spirit-thing, no common stock; nine-ribbed, quick with numinous life, called the water immortal.Trailing his tail he stretches a thousand ages' span; hiding his body he lies quiet in the depths of a hundred streams.He tosses the waves and leaps the billows against the river banks; he faces the sun, salutes the wind, and beds by the sea.Nourishing his breath, holding his spirit — truly a man of the Way: the many-year, scaly-headed, white-scabbed turtle.

The old turtle called again: “Great Sage, build no boat: I will carry you masters across.” Pilgrim swung the iron staff: “You evil beast! Come near, and this stroke kills you.” The old turtle said: “I feel the Great Sage's kindness, and gladly make this friendly offer to carry you masters across: why would you beat me?” Pilgrim said: “What kindness of mine do you feel?” The old turtle said: “Great Sage, you do not know: this Mansion of the Water Turtle below is my dwelling, handed down from my ancestors through the generations to me. Because I came to understand my root and nurtured a numinous breath, I practiced here, and I rebuilt the ancestral dwelling once and made it the Mansion of the Water Turtle. Nine years ago a tidal bore came surging, and the monster, chasing the crest of the tide, arrived here: in his ferocity he fought with me, killed many of my children, and carried off many of my kin. I could not stand against him, and he took my den for nothing. Now, thanks to the Great Sage's coming to rescue the Tang master, and the Bodhisattva Guanyin invited to sweep the demon air away and take the monster off, the house is given back to me. Now my old and young are gathered home, and I need never rub in mud and clay again, but dwell in my old house. This kindness is heavy as a hill, deep as the sea. And not we alone are benefited: this whole village is freed of its yearly sacrifice, and a full number of households keep their children. This is truly what they call one act with two rewards: how should I not repay it?” Pilgrim, hearing, rejoiced inwardly, put up the iron staff, and said: “Is this truly your honest feeling?” The old turtle said: “The Great Sage's kindness is deep as the flood: how should I dare be false?” Pilgrim said: “If it is honest, swear it to heaven.” The old turtle opened his red mouth and swore to the sky: “If I do not truly carry the Tang monk over this Reach-Heaven River, may my body turn to water and blood.” Pilgrim laughed: “Come up, then. Come up.”

The old turtle then swam near the bank, gave a heave, and crawled up the bank. The people came near to look: a great white shell, forty feet about. Pilgrim said: “Master, let us mount his back and be carried over.” The Tang monk said: “Disciples, the layered ice was thick and solid, and even so we met calamity: how would the back of a turtle be safe?” The old turtle said: “Master, be at ease. I am far steadier than that layered ice: let me but tilt once, and I lose my fruit.” Pilgrim said: “Master, of all living things that can speak man's words, none dares lie.” He called: “Brothers, bring the horse quickly.”

At the river the old and young of Chen Family Farm came in a body to bow them farewell. Pilgrim had the horse led onto the white turtle's shell, begged the Tang monk to stand at the horse's left neck, Sha Monk at the right, Bajie behind the horse, Pilgrim before it. Fearing the turtle might play the traitor, he untied his tiger-sinew cord, ran it through the old turtle's nose, and pulled it up like a bridle; then set one foot on the shell and one on the head, one hand gripping the iron staff and one holding the bridle, and called: “Old turtle, walk slow! Tilt but a hair, and it is a blow on the skull.” The old turtle said: “I dare not, I dare not.” He spread his four legs and trod the water's face as on level ground. On the bank the people burned incense and knocked their heads, chanting ‘Homage to Amida Buddha.’ Truly: a true Arhat come down among men; a living Bodhisattva appearing in the world. The people bowed until the shapes were out of sight, and then turned home — no more of that.

Now the master, riding the white turtle, in less than a day crossed the whole eight hundred li of Reach-Heaven River, and stepped ashore dry hand and dry foot. The Tang monk climbed the bank, put his palms together, and thanked him: “Old turtle, I have troubled you, and have nothing to give: when I have the scriptures I will come back and thank you.” The old turtle said: “No thanks are needed, master. I hear that in the Western Heaven the Buddha has neither ending nor birth, and knows the things of past and future. I have cultivated here a thousand three hundred years and more: though my life is lengthened and my body light, and I can speak man's words, still I cannot shed this shell of mine. I beg you, master, when you reach the Western Heaven, ask the Buddha one question for me: when shall I shed my shell and win a human body?” The Tang monk answered readily: “I will ask, I will ask.” Then the old turtle plunged under the water and was gone.

Pilgrim then helped the Tang monk into the saddle; Bajie shouldered the luggage, Sha Monk attended at their side, and master and disciples took the great road and made straight west. And this is it:

The holy monk bears the decree and worships Amitabha; far waters, far mountains, calamities without number.Will fixed and heart sincere, he does not fear to die: the white turtle bears him over, across the River of Heaven.

How many roads yet lay before them, and what good or ill — listen to the next chapter to find out.

Tripitaka in Trouble Sinks in the Water House; Guanyin Saves Him and Reveals the Fish Basket.

Now the Great Sage Sun, with Bajie and Sha Monk, left old Chen and came to the river. He said: "Brothers, you two settle it—which of you goes into the water first?" Bajie said: "Brother, our powers are nothing much—you should go in first." Pilgrim said: "To tell you the truth, worthy brothers: if it were demons in the mountains, I would never trouble you. But in the water I am no good. To go down to the sea or along a river, I must pinch the water-avoiding charm, or take the shape of some fish or crab, to get anywhere at all. And pinching the charm, I can neither swing the iron staff nor use my powers nor strike the demon. I have long known you two are practiced swimmers, so I want you two to go down." Sha Monk said: "Brother, I can go, but I do not know what the bottom is like. Let us all go together. You take some shape or other—let one of us carry you—and we will part the water, find the demon's lair, and you go in first and scout. If Master is unhurt and still there, we can fight hard to free him. But if this is not the demon's doing—if he has drowned Master, or the demon has eaten him—then we need not beg; we had best look for another road early. How is that?" Pilgrim said: "Worthy brother talks sense. Which of you will carry me?" Bajie was secretly glad: "This monkey has tricked me how many times. So he cannot swim after all! Let old Pig carry him and pay him back in kind." The Idiot called out grinning: "Brother, I will carry you." Pilgrim knew his intent and turned the trick to account: "Yes, good—you have more muscle than Wujing." Bajie took him on his back.

Sha Monk parted the water, and the brothers went together into the Heaven-Reaching River. They walked along the bottom some hundred li, and the Idiot meant to play his trick on Pilgrim. Pilgrim promptly plucked a hair and made a fake body to lie on Bajie's back; his true body turned into a pig louse and stuck fast inside his ear. As Bajie walked he suddenly staggered, took the excuse to pitch Pilgrim forward, and flopped flat. That fake body, being a hair, floated up and vanished, without shape or shadow. Sha Monk said: "Second brother, what is this? Not walking properly, and falling in the mud—that would be well enough. But where have you tumbled big brother to?" Bajie said: "That monkey cannot take a fall—one fall and he melted. Brother, never mind him alive or dead. You and I go find Master." Sha Monk said: "Not good. We need him. He may not know the water, but he is craftier than we. If he does not come, I will not go with you." From inside Bajie's ear Pilgrim could not help crying out: "Wujing, old Sun is here!" Sha Monk heard and laughed: "So that is it. The Idiot is dead—you dared to trick him? Now we have a voice with no face. What is to be done?" Bajie, in a panic, knelt in the mud and kowtowed: "Brother, it was my fault. When Master is saved and we are ashore, I will make my apology. Where are you talking from? You nearly frightened me to death. Show your true form and come out, I beg you; I will carry you, and never cross you again." Pilgrim said: "You are carrying me right now. I will not trick you—get going, get going." The Idiot, muttering his apology over and over, got up and pushed on with Sha Monk.

Another hundred li or so, and suddenly they looked up and saw a mansion, with four large characters over it: "The Water Turtle's Residence." Sha Monk said: "This must be the demon's home. We two do not know truth from sham—how would we go up and challenge?" Pilgrim said: "Wujing, is there water in or out of that gate?" Sha Monk said: "No water." Pilgrim said: "If there is no water, you two hide to one side while old Sun scouts."

Good Great Sage—he climbed out of Bajie's ear, shook himself, turned into a long-legged shrimp wife, and in two or three hops was inside the gate. He looked: the monster sat above, the water folk ranked on both sides, and the spotted mandarin-fish wife at his hand, all planning to eat the Tang monk. Pilgrim looked carefully, searching both sides, and saw nothing of him. Suddenly he saw a big-bellied shrimp wife walk over and stand under the west corridor. Pilgrim hopped up to her and said: "Auntie, the Great King and his council mean to eat the Tang monk—where is he?" The shrimp wife said: "The Great King brought snow and froze the river, and yesterday took him; he is in the stone case behind the palace. We wait only for tomorrow: if his disciples do not come and raise a row, the music plays and he is eaten."

Pilgrim heard and played about a while, then went straight to the back of the palace and looked: there truly was a stone case, like a pig trough in a farm steading, or a stone coffin in the world of men—a good six feet long. He lay on top and listened a while, and heard the Tripitaka sobbing inside. Pilgrim said nothing, and listened again with an ear cocked. The master ground his teeth and groaned:

I curse my fate, River Float, born under a bad star; how many water troubles have followed me from birth.Out of my mother's womb I tumbled into the waves; bound for the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha, I fall into this deep.Before, at the Black River, trouble found my body; now the ice breaks and my life goes down to the spring.Will my disciples come or not? Will the true scriptures be won, and this exile see his old garden again?

Pilgrim could not help calling: "Master, do not curse the water. The scripture says: 'Earth is the mother of the five elements, and water their source. Without earth nothing is born; without water nothing grows.' Old Sun is here!" The Tripitaka heard: "Disciples, save me!" Pilgrim said: "Set your heart at rest. When we catch the demon, you shall be free of trouble, I promise." Tripitaka said: "Make haste! Another day and you would only be smothering a corpse." Pilgrim said: "No fear, no fear. I am off!"

He whipped round, leaped out, showed his true form outside the gate, and called: "Bajie." The Idiot and Sha Monk came up: "Brother, how is it?" Pilgrim said: "It is this very monster who tricked Master away. Master is unhurt—the monster has him shut under a stone case. You two challenge him quickly, and let old Sun come up out of the water first. If you can catch him, catch him; if not, play beaten, lure him out of the water, and I will strike him." Sha Monk said: "Go ahead with an easy heart, brother. We will read his face and gauge his strength." This Pilgrim pinched the water-avoiding charm, shot up out of the river, and stood waiting on the bank. No more of that for now.

Watch Bajie work his fury: he dashed to the gate and shouted: "Foul monster! Hand my master out!" The little demons inside, in a panic, ran to report: "Great King, someone at the gate demands his master!" The demon said: "Then that foul monk has come." He gave the order: "Fetch my armor and weapons quickly." The little demons hurried them out. The demon dressed himself, took his weapon in hand, ordered the gates opened, and came marching out. Bajie and Sha Monk stood to left and right. And how was the demon dressed? A fine monster—look:

A gold helmet on his head, flashing and bright; a gold armor on his body, dragging rainbow light.A jeweled belt round his waist, wound with pearls and jade; smoke-yellow boots of a marvelous cut upon his feet.His nose rose high as a mountain peak; his brow spread broad as a dragon's crown.His eyes flashed, round and fierce; his teeth were steel-pointed, sharp and even.Short hair, bushy, flying like flame; long whiskers swinging, tipped like golden awls.In his mouth he held a sprig of fresh green weed; in his hand he carried a red copper hammer of nine petals.With one creak the gates swung wide, sounding like spring thunder at the Waking of Insects.Such a figure the world of men seldom sees—fit to bear the majesty of the Great King of Answered Prayers.

The demon came out his gate, a hundred or so little demons behind him, swinging spears and brandishing swords in two ranks. He said to Bajie: "What temple's monk are you? Why come here raising a row?" Bajie roared: "You death-proof foul thing! The other night you answered me back—and today you pretend not to know me? I am a disciple of the holy monk of the great Tang in the Land of the East, bound for the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. You played your tricks, took the false title of the Great King of Answered Prayers, and preyed on the boys and girls of Chen Family Village. I am One Weight of Gold of Chen Qing's house—don't you know me?" The monster said: "Monk, you have no sense at all. You turned into One Weight of Gold—that is the crime of stealing another's name. I never ate you, yet you wounded the back of my hand. I let you off already—why come hammering at my gate?" Bajie said: "You let me off—then why raise cold winds, snow down, freeze the river hard, and hurt my master? Hand my master out now, and it all ends there. But if half a 'no' passes your teeth, just look at this rake in my hand—I will spare you nothing." The monster heard and gave a faint cold laugh: "This monk wags his long tongue and boasts big. Yes—it was I who made the cold and snowed the river shut and carried off your master. Now you come bawling at my gate thinking to take him back—but I fear this round is not the last. That time I was off to a feast and had no weapons, and got my wound by accident. Do not run now. Let us fight three rounds. Hold me three rounds, and you get your master; fail, and I will eat you along with him."

Bajie said: "Good son, just so. Now watch the rake." The monster said: "So you are a monk who left home halfway." Bajie said: "My child, you have some inspiration indeed—how do you know I left home halfway?" The monster said: "You handle a rake. I would say you were hired to weed a garden somewhere and made off with the rake." Bajie said: "Child, this rake is no earth-digging rake. Look:

Teeth huge, cast like a dragon's claws; its gold inlay outshone, serpent-shaped.Facing a foe it whips up the cold wind; locked in battle it breeds flame.It can clear the holy monk's road of monsters; on the western road it catches demons.Swung, it dims sun and moon with smoke and cloud; wielded, it spreads rosy light for all to see.One blow fells Mount Tai, and a thousand tigers tremble; one flip overturns the sea, and ten thousand dragons quake.Boast what spirit and skill you will—one thrust punches nine holes through you."

The monster would not believe it; he raised the copper hammer and struck at his head. Bajie caught it with the nail rake: "You foul thing—so you too are a demon made halfway on the road." The monster said: "How do you know I was made halfway?" Bajie said: "You swing a copper hammer—I would say you were hired at some silversmith's to work the bellows, got your chance, and stole it out." The monster said: "This is no silversmith's hammer. Look:

Nine petals gathered into a flower bud; one hollow stem, evergreen ten thousand years.No common thing of the common world; its stock runs back to the gardens of the immortals.Green pod and purple seed, grown old by the Jade Pool; white in substance, fragrant, born in the blue marsh.I hammered and refined it long; now hard as steel, sharp, and full of spirit.Spear, sword, and halberd cannot rival it; axe, dagger-axe, and lance dare not meet it.Let your rake be ever so keen a blade—one touch of my hammer snaps it like a nail."

Sha Monk, seeing the two of them bandying words, could not help stepping up and shouting: "Monster, enough big talk. The ancients say: 'Talk proves nothing; deeds will show.' Do not run—take my staff." The monster caught the blow on his hammer shaft: "You too are a monk who left home halfway." Sha Monk said: "How do you know?" The monster said: "By your looks—a miller's man by trade." Sha Monk said: "How do you make me a miller's man?" The monster said: "If you were not a miller's man, how do you come by a rolling pin?" Sha Monk cursed: "You wretch—have you never seen this:

A weapon like this the world of men seldom holds, and so few know its name, the precious staff.It comes from the moon palace's shadowless court, carved from the immortal silk-tree wood.Without, it is set with gems that blaze like sunset; within, it is cored with gold where good air gathers.In days past it graced the imperial banquets; today it holds the right and guards the Tang monk.On the western road it is unknown; in the palaces above it bears a great name.It is called the True Precious Staff that Subdues Demons—one blow will crack your heavenly soul."

The monster would have no more talk; the three turned faces on each other, and under the water they had a fine fight:

The copper hammer, the precious staff, and the nail rake: Wuneng and Wujing battle the demon. One is Tianpeng come down into the world; one a great general fallen from the sky. Those two close in on the water monster and show their might; this one alone withstands the holy men, a strength to boast of. By fate and by karma the great Way is formed; by begetting and by conquering they hold as many worlds as there are sands. Earth conquers water, and the water dries to the bed; water breeds wood, and the wood grows strong and flowers. Chan and its methods, cultivated together, become one body; the elixir returned and fired subdues the three houses. Earth is the mother and puts out the golden bud; metal begets the spirit water, and the water bears the child. Water is the root and moistens the flower of wood, and the wood has the blaze of fire and the glow of sunset. The five elements, gathered close, are all at odds—so faces turn and each contends. See his copper hammer of nine petals, bright and fine; the precious staff of a thousand threads, embroidered in colors. The rake maps yin and yang through the nine lights; untrained in its moves, all tangles like hemp. They throw away their bodies and their lives for the monk's trouble; they fling away death and forget life for Shakya's sake. So the copper hammer has no leisure to fall—left it parries the precious staff, right it parries the rake.

The three fought on the riverbed two full watches with no win on either side. Zhu Bajie judged he could not beat him and threw Sha Monk a glance. The two sham defeat, drag their weapons, and turn and run. The monster called: "Little ones, stand fast here. Let me run these fellows down, catch them, and boil them up for you all to eat." Watch him—like wind chasing dead leaves, like rain beating fallen petals, he drove the two of them up out of the water.

The Great Sage Sun on the east bank never took his eyes off the water. Suddenly he saw the waves boil and heard shouts and roars. Bajie leaped ashore first: "Here he comes! Here he comes!" Sha Monk reached the bank too: "Here he comes! Here he comes!" The demon followed, shouting: "Where will you run?" He had barely put his head out when Pilgrim shouted: "Take the staff!" The demon swerved aside and met him in haste with the copper hammer. One churned the waves at the river's edge; one showed his might on the bank. Three rounds had not passed before the demon could parry no longer: with a splash he dove back into the water, and the wind fell and the waves went still.

Pilgrim came back up the high bank: "Brothers, hard work." Sha Monk said: "Brother, this demon is mediocre on land, but under the water he is plenty fierce. Second brother and I attacked from both sides and only fought him level. How do we manage to save Master?" Pilgrim said: "No doubting, no delaying—we must fear for Master's life." Bajie said: "Brother, this time I will lure him out. You keep quiet—wait only in midair. Judge when his head comes up, then give him the pestle-pounding blow, square on the crown. Even if it does not kill him, it will surely stagger him with pain—then old Pig catches up with one rake, and that settles him." Pilgrim said: "Right, right—that is called 'answering within and joining without.' Only so can it be done." The two went back into the water. No more of that for now.

Now the demon, beaten, fled for his life back to his home. His demons received him into the palace, and the fish wife came forward and asked: "Great King, how far did you chase those two monks?" The demon said: "Those monks had another helper after all. The two leaped ashore, and the helper swung an iron staff at me. I dodged and locked with him. Who knows how many catties that staff weighs—my copper hammer could not hold it. Three rounds were not fought, and I was beaten back here." The fish wife said: "Great King, do you remember what that helper looked like?" The demon said: "A monk with a hairy face and a thunder-god beak, ears sticking out, a broken bridge of a nose, fiery eyes and golden pupils." The fish wife heard and shivered: "Great King, it was lucky you knew what was what and saved your life. Three rounds more and you would never have come out whole. I know that monk." The demon said: "You know him—who is he?" The fish wife said: "In the old days in the Eastern Ocean I heard the old Dragon King tell his fame: the Handsome Monkey King, a golden immortal of the highest order of primal unity, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who five hundred years ago wrecked the Heavenly Palace. Now he has turned to the Buddha's law, guards the Tang monk on his way to the Western Heaven for scriptures, and is renamed the Pilgrim Sun Wukong. His powers are vast, his changes beyond count—Great King, how could you provoke him? From now on, never fight him again."

Before the words were done a little demon came from the gate to report: "Great King, those two monks are at the gate again demanding battle." The monster said: "Worthy sister sees far. I will not go out again—let them see what they can do." He gave swift orders: "Little ones, shut the gates tight. As they say: 'Call at my door all you please—the gate stays shut.' Let them pester two days till their temper cools and they go home; then shall we not enjoy our Tang monk at leisure?" The little demons together piled stones and packed mud and shut the gate fast.

Bajie and Sha Monk called and called, and no one came out. The Idiot, his temper rising, hammered the gate with the rake. The gate was barred and bolted—no getting in. Seven or eight blows broke the door panels, and inside it was all mud and stones, heaped a thousand layers high. Sha Monk saw: "Second brother, the monster is frightened out of his wits, shut in and will not come out. Let us go back up the bank and take counsel with big brother." Bajie did as told and turned back to the east bank.

Pilgrim, half cloud and half mist, stood waiting with his staff. Seeing the two come up with no demon behind, he set down his cloud, met them at the bank, and asked: "Brothers, why has the fellow not come up?" Sha Monk said: "The monster has shut his doors tight and will not show his face. Second brother broke the door panels, and inside it was all mud and stones, solidly piled. So we could not fight him, and came to take counsel with you—how else shall we contrive to save Master?" Pilgrim said: "In that case there is no cure but one. You two patrol the banks; do not let him slip off anywhere. I am going." Bajie said: "Brother, where are you going?" Pilgrim said: "Up to the rock of Potalaka to ask the Bodhisattva where this demon comes from, and what his name is. Then I will find his old home, take his kin, seize his neighbors, and come back to catch him and save Master." Bajie laughed: "Brother, done that way it is terribly troublesome, and it eats up the hours." Pilgrim said: "Trust me—neither trouble nor delay. I go and come."

Good Great Sage—he rushed off on his auspicious light, left the river mouth, and went straight to the Southern Sea. Inside half a watch he could see Mount Luojia not far off. He lowered his cloud and came to the cliff of Potalaka. The gods of the twenty-four quarters, with the mountain-guarding god, the Pilgrim Muzha, the boy Sudhana, and the pearl-bearing dragon girl, came up together, bowed, and said: "What brings the Great Sage?" Pilgrim said: "I have business with the Bodhisattva." The gods said: "The Bodhisattva went out of the cave this morning and let no one follow her; she went into the bamboo grove to look about. Knowing you would come today, she ordered us to wait here and receive you, but not to bring you in yet. Please sit a while before the green crag, till the Bodhisattva comes out."

Pilgrim did as told, but before he could sit, the boy Sudhana came forward and bowed: "Great Sage Sun, once I received your kindness; happily the Bodhisattva did not disdain me but took me in. Morning and evening I am never away from her side, in waiting beneath the lotus seat, and I have found great mercy." Pilgrim knew him for Red Boy and laughed: "Back then your demon heart was bemused; today you have won the true fruit—and so you know old Sun is a good man after all."

Pilgrim waited long and saw nothing, and his heart burned: "One of you carry word in. If this drags on, I fear for my master's life." The gods said: "We dare not report. The Bodhisattva's orders were to wait till she comes out herself." Pilgrim was impatient by nature—how could he wait? He sprang up and pushed on in. Ah!

This Handsome Monkey King, impatient, would not be checked.The gods could not hold him; in he pushed.Striding into the deep grove, he peeped with open eyes.Far off he saw the Honored One who saves from pain, sitting cross-legged on worn bamboo leaves.Careless of adorning, her beauty all the sweeter,Her hair loose in one dark cloud, no jeweled net upon it,No plain blue robe hung on her; a little close-bound jacket,A brocade skirt gathered loose about her waist, her two feet bare,No embroidered scarf on her shoulders, both arms bare and bright,In her jade hand a steel knife, busily paring the bamboo sheath.

Pilgrim saw and could not help crying out at the top of his voice: "Bodhisattva, your disciple Sun Wukong comes with all his heart to worship." The Bodhisattva said: "Wait outside." Pilgrim kowtowed: "Bodhisattva, my master is in trouble. I have come specially to ask the origins of the monster of the Heaven-Reaching River." The Bodhisattva said: "Go out and wait till I come."

Pilgrim dared not press; he could only walk out of the bamboo grove and say to the gods: "The Bodhisattva has taken up housekeeping today. Why does she not sit on the lotus seat, or dress, or look glad? What is she doing in the grove, paring bamboo strips?" The gods said: "We do not know either. This morning she left the cave without dressing and went straight into the grove. And she told us to receive you here—she must have business with you." Pilgrim had no choice but to wait.

Before long the Bodhisattva came out of the grove, a purple bamboo basket in her hand: "Wukong, I will come and save the Tang monk with you." Pilgrim hastily knelt: "Your disciple dared not hurry you. Let the Bodhisattva dress and take her seat first." The Bodhisattva said: "No dressing needed. We go as we are." She left the gods behind, rode the auspicious cloud up, and was gone; the Great Sage Sun could only follow.

In a moment they reached the bounds of the Heaven-Reaching River. Bajie and Sha Monk saw and said: "Brother is so hasty—what a racket he must have raised in the Southern Sea, to drive a Bodhisattva here before she dressed." The words were barely done when they reached the bank. The two bowed: "Bodhisattva, we have intruded—guilty, guilty." The Bodhisattva drew from her robe the silk cord that bound it, tied it to the basket, held the cord, half trod the clouds, swung the basket out over the river, and held it there upstream, saying the chant: "Let the dead go down; let the living stay. Let the dead go down; let the living stay!" Seven times she said it, then lifted the basket: and there in the basket gleamed a goldfish, bright and shining, its scales still moving, its eyes still turning. The Bodhisattva said: "Wukong, into the water quickly and save your master." Pilgrim said: "The demon is not caught—how can I save Master?" The Bodhisattva said: "Is he not here in the basket?" Bajie and Sha Monk bowed and asked: "How does a fish come by such powers?" The Bodhisattva said: "He is a goldfish I raised in my lotus pond. Every day he rose to the surface to hear the scriptures, and so trained up his powers. That nine-petaled copper hammer is an unopened lotus bud he wrought into a weapon. Some day, when the sea tide swelled, he drifted here. This morning, leaning on the rail to look at the flowers, I missed him coming out to bow. I counted on my fingers and traced the lines, and reckoned he had turned demon here and was hurting your master. So, without time to dress, I worked my magic and wove this bamboo basket to catch him."

Pilgrim said: "Bodhisattva, since it is so, wait a moment. Let us call the faithful of Chen Family Village to see your golden face: first, to leave your grace with them; second, to tell how the monster was taken, so these mortals may believe and worship." The Bodhisattva said: "So be it. Go and call them quickly." Bajie and Sha Monk flew pell-mell to the village and shouted: "Come see the living Bodhisattva Guanyin! Come see the living Bodhisattva Guanyin!" Old and young, men and women of the whole village came to the river, and heeding neither mud nor water, knelt down within and kowtowed and worshipped. Some who were good at painting took her likeness down—truly Guanyin with the Fish Basket appearing in the world. Then the Bodhisattva returned to the Southern Sea.

Bajie and Sha Monk parted the water and went straight to the Water Turtle's Residence to find Master. The water monsters and fish spirits there were all dead and rotting. They went into the rear palace, lifted the stone case, hoisted the Tang monk on their backs, and came up out of the waves to meet the others. The Chen Qing brothers kowtowed and thanked them: "My lords, you would not heed our begging to stay, and so came to this suffering." Pilgrim said: "Say no more. From next year on, you people of this village need hold no more sacrifices—that Great King is rooted out forever, and will hurt no one again. Old Chen, now indeed we must trouble you: find a boat quickly and ferry us across the river." Chen Qing said: "There is, there is, there is." And he had planks split to build a boat. When the villagers heard, there was none who did not give gladly. One said: "I will buy the mast and sail." Another: "I will provide pole and oars." One said: "I will give the ropes." Another: "I will hire the boatmen."

Just as they were clamoring on the bank, a loud voice called from mid-river: "Great Sage Sun, do not build the boat and spend these people's goods. I will carry you and your master across." All who heard were startled; the timid ran home, and the bold stayed trembling to watch. In a moment something rose out of the water. Guess what it looked like:

A square-headed spiritual creature, no common stock; nine costal shields of living spirit, called the immortal of the waters.Dragging his tail, he can stretch his years a thousand ages; sunk in stillness, he lies hidden in the depths of a hundred streams.He rolls the waves and leaps the billows against the river banks; facing the sun, greeting the wind, he lies along the sea shore.Nourishing his breath and holding his spirit, he has truly the Way: for many years the white-scabbed, powder-covered turtle.

The old turtle called again: "Great Sage, do not build the boat. I will carry you and your master across." Pilgrim swung his iron staff: "You wretched beast! Come one step nearer and this staff kills you." The old turtle said: "I owe the Great Sage a kindness and wish with a good heart to carry you across—why would you strike me?" Pilgrim said: "What kindness do you owe from me?" The old turtle said: "Great Sage, you do not know: that Water Turtle's Residence below is my house, handed down from my ancestors through the generations to me. Because I awoke to my own root and nature and nurtured a spirit, I practiced here, and I rebuilt the ancestral home and made it the Water Turtle's Residence. Nine years ago a tidal wave rolled up; that monster rode the flood here, flaunting his fierceness, and fought me. He killed many of my children and stole away many of my kin. I could not beat him, and he took my lair for nothing. Now that you have come to save Master Tang and asked the Bodhisattva Guanyin to sweep the air clean and take the monster away, my home is restored to me. I have my whole family together again, and need never hug mud and slime—I can live in my old house. This kindness is heavy as a hill and deep as the sea. Nor is it only we who benefit: this whole village is freed from the yearly sacrifice, and how many households keep their children! Truly a kindness with two rewards at one stroke—how could I not repay it?" Pilgrim heard, secretly glad, put up the iron staff, and said: "Is that truly your real feeling?" The old turtle said: "So deep is the Great Sage's kindness—how dare I speak false?" Pilgrim said: "If it is the truth, swear it toward heaven." The old turtle opened his red mouth and swore to the sky: "If I do not truly carry the Tang monk across this Heaven-Reaching River, may my body turn to water and blood." Pilgrim laughed: "Come up then, come up."

The old turtle backed in near the bank, gave a spring, and climbed the river bank. The crowd came near to look: a great white shell four zhang around. Pilgrim said: "Master, we will mount his back and cross." Tripitaka said: "Disciples, that sheet of thick ice gave us trouble enough. How could this turtle's back be steady?" The old turtle said: "Master, set your heart at rest. I am far steadier than any sheet of ice: if I tilt so much as a hair, may the work come to nothing." Pilgrim said: "Master, of all living things, any that can speak man's words will never lie." He called: "Brothers, bring the horse quickly."

At the river's edge the old and young of Chen Family Village came all together to bow them off. Pilgrim had the horse led onto the white turtle's back, asked the Tang monk to stand at the horse's left neck, Sha Monk at the right, Bajie behind the horse, and Pilgrim before it. Fearing the turtle might play false, he took off his tiger-sinew cord, ran it through the old turtle's nose, and pulled it up like a rein. Then with one foot on the shell and one on its head, one hand gripping the iron staff and one holding the rein, he called: "Old turtle, walk slowly. Tilt so much as a hair, and you get one on the head." The old turtle said: "I dare not, I dare not." He struck out with his four feet and trod the water as on level ground. On the bank the people burned incense and kowtowed, all reciting "Homage to Amitabha." Truly it was a true arhat come to earth, a living Bodhisattva revealed. The people bowed on until shape and shadow were gone out of sight, and then turned home. No more of that for now.

Now the master rode the white turtle, and in less than a day crossed the eight hundred li bounds of the Heaven-Reaching River, and stepped ashore with dry hands and dry feet. Tripitaka climbed the bank, joined his hands, and thanked him: "Old turtle, we have troubled you and have nothing to give. When I have the scriptures, I will come back and thank you." The old turtle said: "Do not trouble yourself to thank me, Master. I hear that in the Western Heaven the Buddha has neither birth nor death, and knows things past and things to come. I have cultivated here some thirteen hundred years and more. Though my years are long and my body light, and I can speak man's words, still I cannot shed this shell of mine. I beg you, Master: when you reach the Western Heaven, ask the Buddha one question for me—when may I shed this shell and win a human body?" Tripitaka answered readily: "I will ask, I will ask." Then the old turtle sank into the water and was gone.

Pilgrim then helped the Tang monk into the saddle, Bajie shouldered the load, Sha Monk followed at either side; master and disciples took the high road and pushed straight west. Truly:

The holy monk, by edict bound, went to worship Amitabha; far waters and far mountains, and troubles without end.His will was set, his heart sincere, and he did not fear death; the white turtle bore them over and across the River of Heaven.

How far the road ran after this, and what luck or ill awaited—listen to the next chapter to find out.