Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 1-2 | Page 270

New Journeys to the West
Good Hope Primary School cum Kindergarten, Yim, Hoi Lam - 10
‘M
aster, we have been walking around here for weeks. Wouldn’t it be easier for us to just head
back home? After all, I have family there.” The lazy pig asked. The Monkey king glared at
him. It has been a week since they had left the last town, however, they still have no luck
finding India, where Xuanzang will get a Buddhist scripture. Suddenly, Xuanzang yelled,” Look! I think I
see a temple there!” they marched up to the glorious white temple. Once they stepped inside however, they
heard a loud voice.
“ Who are you, and how dare you disturb the Olympians?” The man in the centre asked in a loud,
demanding voice. Xuanzang immediately started,” Please sir, we are travelers from China. I am a monk and
these are my apprentices.” The man told them they were distrusted as this was Greece, far away from India.
They were thrown into a big hole that leads to the underworld by a grey-haired woman named Athena. By
then. The Monkey King was sure they were surrounded by divine presence. “ I should have fought them!”
he yelled. The Sha monk shushed him. They saw a young man trying to push up a huge boulder and asked
him where they were. “ Oh travelers, I am Sisyphus. I tried to cheat death once and was severely punished.
You are in Tartarus. Perhaps you can negotiate with Hades, the god of the underworld. He may free you.”
The four of them decided to travel to the palace of Hades. They first crossed the river Styx, where they paid
a daimon named Charon to ferry them across. The Monkey King was not happy with this arrangement at all
for Charon reminded him of the Ox King, whom he had fought a while back. Then, they had to cross
Cerberus, the three headed watch dog of Hades. The dog bit and hissed at the intruders and almost killed
them, but luckily, the Monkey King knocked him on one head and the demon dog fell unconscious. An
army of zombies tried to stop them, and so did Hecate, goddess of witchcraft. They were all held back by
the three faithful apprentices. Finally, they reached the palace of Hades. It was dark and scary and Xuanzang
hated it very much. They managed to have an audience with Hades and his wife Persephone.
“So you say there are other gods then?” Hades questioned. The monk nodded surely. Hades’s head bursted
into flames,” And who is your god of the dead?” Xuanzang told him it was King Yan Luo. Hades finally
decided to free them. They were sent back to Olympus, in the throne room.
The Monkey King was enraged and started attacking the twelve gods, but Ares, god of war just snapped his
fingers and they were in chains. Zeus, their king, promised them freedom if they can beat the Olympians in
combat. They agreed after a round of debate.
They were lead to an arena where four gods were waiting: Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare, Ares,
god of war and manly courage, Artemis, goddess of the hunt and moon, and at last, Apollo, god of the sun
and healing. The Monkey King was very smart and he turned into a horsefly. During the fight, he attacked
the god’s shoulders one by one until they have fell down. However, Athena’s shield Aegis, which bears the
head of Medusa, petrified the Monkey King. Artemis shot an arrow that grazed him arm. He gasped in pain
and fainted.
Even though the Olympians won, they were touched by the group’s bravery. They set them free! Before
they left, they asked for a copy of their prayer to add to their scripture, and they carried on with their
journey.