Scared Villagers

Journey to the West 59 Scared Villagers

Can we please stop to rest?” moaned Bajie one day. The group had spent the morning walking down a long mountain trail. “ My knees feel weak! ” cried the pig. “ We’ll rest in a little while, Bajie, ” said the Tang Monk. As they walked, the travelers started to hear the sound of rushing water. It grew louder and louder.

“ We’re approaching a river, ” said Wujing. The trail went around a hill. A moment later the travelers saw the river. “ How will we cross this river?” said the Tang Monk. “ It’s so wide, I can’t see the other side. ” Wukong leaped into the air and looked around. “ There’s a small village nearby, ” he said. “ Maybe someone there has a boat. ”

The group walked to the village. The street was deserted. A few villagers peeked out of windows and from behind doors. They looked scared. A man was getting water from a well. “ Hello! ” said Wukong. Startled, the man dropped his bucket down the well and spun around. “ Wh-who are you?”

The Tang Monk stepped forward. “ I’m from the Tang Empire. We’re traveling to the Western Paradise to get scriptures from Buddha. ” The man relaxed a bit. “ That's wonderful! ” “ We need a boat to get across the river, ” said Bajie.

“ I don’t have a boat, ” said the man. “ But someone in the village might. Please come with me. I’ll make some tea. My name is Chen. ” The travelers followed Chen to his home. Inside, they sat down as Chen boiled water for tea. “ Why does everyone in this village seem so scared?” asked the Tang Monk.