Cloud-Soaring
Matthew spent a day practicing riding the clouds with Wukong and Bajie. Mostly Bajie sat on the cloud that was towed behind Wukong’s, eating snacks from his Unfillable Satchel. Matthew stood with Wukong at his side, trying to become more at ease with the heights they travelled, the speed at which they moved, and the air brushing across his skin with the ground so far below.
Wukong told him to stare at the horizon, much like the way he had learnt to become accustomed to travelling by ship with Eldarus. If he stared at the horizon, the rocking of the waves did not make him so travel sick. It was similar with Cloud-Soaring. If he stared at the clouds in the sky in the distance, and the deep blues of the open air, he felt more at peace, calmer, and more relaxed.
Wukong kept a hand hovering above Matthew’s shoulder, in case he became sick again and needed support. But his mentor insisted that Matthew learn to ride the cloud without his help, as he would need to do this on his own one day. Whenever Matthew began to sway in his stance, Wukong’s firm hand on his shoulder felt as if Matthew were suddenly connected to a structure as strong as a stone statue. Unwavering support like a core of solid steel joined from Wukong’s hand, through his mentor’s body, and melded with the firm cloud base on which they stood.
Wukong was trying to get Matthew used to travelling by cloud so that they could make their journey much faster. However, by early afternoon, Matthew was leaning over a thicket of tall grass and heaving up his guts once more. He just could not get used to the feeling of being so high, suspended in the air and travelling so fast he was always half terrified of falling to his death. It made him dizzy, nauseous, and after chucking up for half an hour he insisted they find him a horse.
Wukong stroked his chin whiskers at this, until he snapped his fingers and replied that he would return as soon as he was able. He left Matthew under Bajie’s care, and with that, he stepped onto his cloud that was lowered close to the ground, then raised the cloud over a hundred feet in the air. The next moment he somersaulted through the air so far and fast he was gone in an instant. His form flicking through the open sky faster than anything Matthew had ever seen before.
‘How does he do that?’ Matthew asked.
‘He had a fine teacher,’ Bajie replied, setting up the pot and water to cook some rice.
‘Where is he going?’ Matthew asked.
‘I suspect he is going to pinch a horse or two,’ Bajie said with a chuckle.
‘How long will he be gone?’
‘Well, if he is going where I suspect, it could be a few days at least. A day in heaven is a year spent on Earth, they say. So even if he is very swift in his attempts to steal the horses, it could still take days, weeks, or months for him to return.’
‘Surely he won’t be that long?’ Matthew asked.
‘I hope he isn’t gone for more than a day or two,’ Bajie said.
‘So, Wukong is going to steal horses from heaven?’
‘They are the fastest horses to ever exist. Wukong does not care much for upsetting the gods. If he thinks you need a fast horse, I believe that is most likely where he is headed.’
‘So, tell me about when you and Wukong first knew each other,’ Matthew said.
‘Oh, that was long ago,’ Bajie said, poking the cook fire with a stick. ‘A friend and I were appointed to watch over Wukong as Guardians to the Sacred Peaches of Heaven. It was a vast garden of Heavenly Peach Trees, and these delicious fruits took thousands of years to grow and ripen. They hold extreme heavenly powers, and there are festivals held for the gods to eat them and increase their immortal fortitude.’
‘And so, what went wrong?’ Matthew asked.
‘Well, Wukong ate the peaches.’
‘What, all of them?’
‘Pretty much all of the good ones,’ Bajie said with a sigh. ‘The Rulers of Heaven were most displeased, and to sum it all up, my friend and I were banished from heaven. We were thrown down to Earth and made into part demon form.’
‘But you’re not a mean demon, are you?’
‘I’ve done some pretty nasty things during my time on Earth,’ Bajie admitted. ‘But Wukong, and my other accomplice, were to be reunited under a Holy Pilgrimage, following our new master to recover sacred scriptures from the west. And for a time, we were redeemed, and returned to heaven in exalted honour. But there were … complications.’
‘What went wrong this time?’
‘You will have to ask Wukong about that one,’ Bajie said with a grimace. ‘It is an old tale. I will not trouble you with the details tonight, Matthew.’
‘I have time,’ Matthew said with open interest. ‘I’d like to learn more about you two and your old adventures.’
‘You are too polite for such a small boy,’ Bajie said. ‘Let’s eat first, and then we might have time for a few stories before bed.’
‘Okay,’ Matthew said. Then while Bajie was preparing the food, Matthew stared again at the fabulous silk robe Bajie wore. It was thick and plush, deep sea blue with sinuous dragons breathing balls of blue fire, bright reds, greens, and yellows. As he sat staring at those dragons, it seemed they were almost moving in the shimmer of the firelight. ‘That is an exceptionally fine robe,’ Matthew remarked. ‘Where did you get it?’
‘Why thank you!’ Bajie beamed with pride. ‘It is the Dragon Kimono. Only one of its kind. Bought it at Heaven! Cost me forty-two Starlight Plums.’
‘What are Starlight Plums?’
‘They are another fruit from the Gardens of Heaven,’ Bajie explained. ‘But they take less time to grow and hold lesser magic than Heavenly Peaches. Yes, it is an exceptionally fine garment. Stronger than any enchanted armour, no blade can pierce it. And you can sleep out in the wilds in just the kimono, and it is more comfortable than a mattress fit for a king. It even has a hood, see?’
‘Yes, I noticed already,’ Matthew said with a smile.