Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 1-2 | Page 190

“You, Monkey Ghost, Pig Ghost and Friar Sand Ghost, three ungrateful creatures, have been
condemned to spend your afterlife here on the 18 th level of Hell for eternity!” the judges boomed from the
Highest Dictators’ Panel and cackled horribly at the chained three.
Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand were terrified and screamed with their top voice. The floor parted and
revealed a huge hole. They slid down to the 18 th level with the ghost prisoners.
Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand wanted badly to help the ghost prisoners get out. But when they
attempted to unlock the chains, a force blocked them. The second time they tried it, a much stronger force
blocked them. They never thought of being naughty and ungrateful would result in losing their freedom
and precious belongings.
“We promise to be good again and never lie!”
“Please … Please … Please …”
“We swear …. We will never leave our trusty friend alone!”
At that moment, a streak of light appeared in the sky and they were sucked up.
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Xuanzang awoke and looked around. “Drat! Where are they?” he was getting frustrated. He
stomped down to Liu Sha River and found the bodies of Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand on the shore. He,
being a kind man, fished them out and dragged them back to the grassy plain. Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand
finally awoke and found that the monk had dragged them out of the water. They, remembering their
wrongdoings and vision, sobbed and begged the monk to forgive them. “We will be good and follow your
orders from now on!” exclaimed Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand truthfully. The monk wondered what had
happened when he was napping. The four travelers then continued on their way to the West.
******************************
After encountering countless difficulties, and defeating trolls, they finally reached India.
“Mission completed!” the Buddha appeared on the altar of a temple. With a wave of his hand, the
monk, Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand arrived at Heaven.
Monkey then came up with an idea. “Oh greatest Buddha, throughout the journey, we learnt that
being faithful, grateful and truthful are the core attributes of each individual. These, unforturnately, are
what human beings lack the most. Should we tell our stories to the humans?”
The Buddha looked at him with a smile. He knew what Monkey’s next task would be.