A Monk ' s Mistake
West Island School , Green , Leia - 13
Yun nan province 2133 CE .
Days away from Yu Lin monastery : 0
“ N
o . I forbid it .” The Abbot hobbled ahead of the monk , his bare feet calloused and sore on the stone floor . Ming exhaled a labored breath and paced forward . “ Superior . Please , let me do this . I want to follow in His steps . I must see the world .” He glanced up to the sky , grimacing as he lied . He was a lousy monk , always breaking the rules . A sudden loud burst of laughter broke the cloud of silence that had started to gather . Ming turned to see the abbot chuckling , his wrinkles dancing foolishly on his forehead . “ Superior ?” Ming questioned , puzzled by his amusement . The laughter subsided . The Abbot looked away and clicked his tongue . His eyes soon met Ming ’ s again , “ Fine . But travelling to India , Ming ? Leaving your brothers and this monastery . It ’ s just not like you , that ' s all . I wish you back in five years . Five years , Ming . One more thing . You are still young , so come back alive .” Overjoyed , Ming clasped the Abbot ’ s hand . “ I shall be gone by mid-afternoon . Thank you Superior . Thank you .” The Abbot winked and gestured for the young man to leave .
As he walked to his room , Ming cherished each step . The sensation of the cold , stone floor under his feet was one he would never forget - after all , this had been his home for 20 years . Kneeling down , Ming clumsily rolled up his sleeping mat with his long , bony fingers . He was giddy with excitement at the prospect of the adventure that lay in front of him . ‘ India .’ He thought . The birthplace of the enlightened Buddha and Ming ’ s dreams . Ming gathered his sparse belongings , threw them into a woven sack and , with that , and that only , he left .
...
Days away from Yu Lin monastery : 235
The hacking thwacks of Ming ’ s blunt blade slicing through the greenery , seemed to throb and echo in the still atmosphere . The vibrant colors of the jungle jumbled in his head and he collapsed into a nook of protruding roots , exhausted and weeping . His bald head shiny with salty moisture and his cheeks damp with tears , he sat there , soaking up the intense humidity . For the first time in a long time Ming felt a sliver of self-doubt and regret . He thought about the Abbot . Five years , Ming . At this rate his promise would be broken .
Ming closed his almond shaped eyes and rested his spine against the great tree , before starting to mutter prayers . A sudden rustle disturbed his murmurs . Opening one eye slowly , he perceived a flash of dull orange disappear into the green undergrowth . His breaths distorted as he lowered himself up with quivering hands , his pupils darting from different points as he tried to capture a glimpse of the beast . He backed up against the tree and he waited . Nothing came and nothing happened so the monk let the snapped twig ,