Страница 205 из 229
“Deal with him however you think fit,” replied Monkey. “Now I would like you to do me a good turn. That Taoist has now sounded his wand four times, so it's my turn to perform now. As I don't know how to use charms, burn talismans, or sound a magic wand I'll have to ask you gentlemen to help me out.”
“We would not dare disobey a command from the Great Sage,” Heavenly Lord Deng replied. “But we can only act when proper orders are given. Otherwise the thunder and the rain will happen at the wrong times, and the Great Sage will lose his credibility.”
“I'll give the signs with my cudgel,” said Monkey, to the horror of Grandfather Thunder, who protested, “But my lord, none of us can take your cudgel.”
“No,” said Monkey, “I won't be hitting you with it. When I point up with it the first time I want wind.”
“We'll let the wind out,” promised Gra
“The second time I point up I want clouds.”
“We'll spread out the clouds,” said Cloudpusher and Mistspreader.
“The third time I point up with the cudgel I want thunder and lightning.”
“We shall obey, we shall obey,” said Grandfather Thunder and Mother Lightning.
“The fourth time I point up with the cudgel I want rain.”
“Your orders will be carried out,” the dragon kings replied.
“And the fifth time I point up with the cudgel I want the sun shining in a clear sky. I won't have any disobedience or mistakes.”
Having given his orders Monkey brought his cloud down, shook his hair, and put it back on his body. None of those with mortal, fleshly eyes could see what had happened. Monkey then called out in a loud voice, “Please finish now, teacher. You have sounded your magic wand four times without producing any wind, clouds, thunder or rain. It's my turn now.” The Taoist could stay at the altar no longer; he had to come down and allow Monkey to take his place while he went with a long face to climb the tower to see the king. “Wait while I go up with him and hear what he has to say,” said Monkey.
He heard the king asking, “Why was there no wind or rain when you sounded your magic wand four times? We are listening most carefully.”
“The dragons are all out today,” the Taoist replied.
“Your Majesty,” yelled Monkey, “today the dragons are all in. It was just that the Teacher of the Nation's magic didn't work and he couldn't get them to come. Just watch how we Buddhist monks can make them come.”
“Climb to the altar then,” said the king. “We shall remain here and await rain.”
As soon as he received this command Brother Monkey hurried to the altar compound, tugged at the Tang Priest's clothes, and said, “Master, please climb the altar mound.”
“But I do not know how to pray for rain, disciple,” said Sanzang.
“He's trying to murder you,” said Pig. “If there's still no rain they'll bring firewood along and send you up in flames.”
“You may not know how to pray for rain,” said Monkey, “but you're good at reciting scriptures. I'll help you.” Only then did the venerable elder start to climb to the altar. When he reached the top he sat down with great dignity, settled his nature, brought his spirit under control, and quietly recited the Prajna-paramita Heart Sutra. As he sat there an official messenger galloped up to him to ask, “Monk, why aren't you sounding a magic wand or burning charms and summonses?”
“He doesn't need to,” Monkey shouted back. “We pray in stillness and silence.” The official returned to the king to report this reply.
When Monkey heard that his master had finished reciting the sutra he produced his cudgel from his ear, waved it in the breeze to make it about twelve feet long and as thick as a ricebowl, and pointed it towards the sky. As soon as Gra
Willow were broken and flowers hurt,
Trees blown down in devastated woods.
The walls collapsed in halls of nine stories;
Beams and columns were shaken in the Five Phoenix Tower.
In the sky the red sun turned dark,
And the yellow dust of the earth began to fly.
The officers before the reviewing stand were scared;
Terror struck the civil officials in their hall.
The beauties of the harem had their hair blown untidy;
The royal consorts' coiffures were all ruined.
Tassels fell from the coronets of nobles;
The black silk hat of the premier took wing.
The king was too terrified to speak,
The eunuchs could not hand in their reports.
Senior officials stood in disorder,
High-level functionaries broke ranks.
Coloured pavilions and turquoise screens were ruined;
Green windows and crimson doors were wrecked.
Bricks and tiles flew from the throne hall;
In the Brocade Cloud Chamber doors leaned and partition were smashed.
Vicious indeed was this terrible gale,
Making hard for the king to see his sons,
And driving the people from streets and markets:
Every household firmly shut its doors.
Just as this gale was at its height Brother Monkey gave another display of his divine powers as he pointed his gold-banded cudgel up into the sky for the second time. What could then be seen was:
The Boy Cloudpusher,
Young Lord Mistspreader.
The Boy Cloudpusher showed his divine magic,
Making great rocklike heaps that hung down from the sky;
Young Lord Mistspreader used his powers.
To cover the earth with thick, dense fog.
All was dark in the three markets;
Black were the six main streets of the city.
Leaving the sea together with the wind,
They appeared with the rain in the Kunlun Mountains,
Filled heaven and earth in an instant,
Immediately covered the mortal world.
All was reduced to obscurity
And the doors of the Five Phoenix Tower disappeared.
In an instant there was dense fog and thick clouds everywhere. Monkey then pointed his gold-banded cudgel into the air a third time, with alarming results:
Grandfather Thunder was angry,
Mother Lightning was furious.
Grandfather Thunder was angry
As he rode backwards on his fire beast down from Heaven;
Mother Lightning was furious
As she left her Dipper Palace lashing out with her golden snake.
The thunder crashed and roared,
Shaking the Iron Fork Mountain;
Brilliant flashes of red silk
Flew from the Eastern Ocean.
The noise rumbled like carts;
The flashes were like rice plants gleaming in the wind.
The spirit of all living shoots revived,
Many a sleeping insect came to life.
It terrified monarch and subject alike;
The sound made merchants nervously active.
The thunder roared with the noise of an earthquake or a landslide, so frightening the people in the city that they all burnt incense and imitation money. “Deng,” shouted Monkey familiarly, “make sure that you kill me a few more corrupt officials who twist the laws and disobedient sons who do not do their duty to their parents as an example to the people.” The thunder became louder than ever, and Monkey pointed his cudgel upwards for the fourth time.
The dragons gave their orders
And ram filled Heaven and earth,
As if the river in the sky was filling the heavenly gulf,
And as fast as clouds passing over the ocean's gates.
It pattered on the roof of the tower,
Splashed against the windows.