What the Mongolian and his Monkey Revealed

Author: * Monkey God Chi - 18 Posts on this thread out of 53 Posts sitewide.
Date: May 18, 2004 - 03:55

"Mongolian!" they shouted in virtually one voice. "The Mongolian has the monkey."

From the rock where he had set it, the parchment shimmered, its last line throbbing as it waited for an answer.

They couldn't all be wrong, surely, and yet, they would only have one chance at this, and disaster might follow if...still, what kind of a leader doesn't trust in his party.

Leaning over the parchment, Monkey whispered, “The Mongolian has the monkey."

The parchment stopped shimmering, and for one long moment stayed perfectly still. Then it quivered, throbbed to one perfect musical pitch, and transmuted into a tiny spirit of light.

Hovering at eye level, the tiny creature recited in a bell-like tone:

My puzzle you have solved, set right;
Now go and seek the lantern's light,
But first, go south, rest and repose,
And stray no more this night.

Two paths await you in the morn,
The west bridge traveled much and worn,
'Twould seem that's how the pathway goes,
Not to east forest, so forlorn.

If you choose west, you will arrive,
In all go speed for which you strive,
But evil stalks in hidden clothes,
And some may not survive.

And if perchance you might escape,
Five traps within that path you take,
In less that life three would be froze,
So spare all for their sake.

The forest waits with its own snare,
And evil threatens from the air,
But good will come where most morose,
And foul turn to fair.

East path meanders, twisting wide,
But brings you round to western side,
With safer passage that you chose,
And luck in turning tide.

So think you true where you will trod,
And be you neither fool nor god,
But think with wisdom Buddha knows,
Count well each traveler’s nod...

Having sung this rhyme, the small spirit flew up and over Monkey's head, soaring south to the portal he had seen earlier, but which now opened to a clearing comfortably furnished with a glowing fire, a low table furnished with what looked like a provision pack for each member of the party, and a number of sleeping mats placed on the ground underneath the fragrant trees.

It was very late by his reckoning, and they would need rest before making their decision to go west across the bridge and onto the wide road, or east into the thicker, darker, and more forbidding forest. Monkey would give them time to decide, each according to his or her own conscience.