The Black Queen - Pt.2

As soon as we arrived at the temple, we ran to Head Nun's room to wake her up.  Fortunately she was still not yet asleep and we poured out our story to her.

After thinking for a while, she said, "Well, the best thing to do is to ask Lao Tze to come here and we can all plan the best course of action."

It was certainly good advice, so I ran to get my golden star and after sending out signals to Lao Tze, he arrived at our kitchen window in less than five minutes.

"Yes, I know what happened, I was witnessing the whole incident from above," said Lao Tze.  "The Black Queen is as evil as they come.  But don't worry, I've got a plan.  I shall be at the gardens at the appointed time."

"And we shall come too," Ning and I chorused.  Though Lao Tze tried to dissuade us from going, we felt we had to back him up, even though we knew we were powerless against the Black Queen.  Head Nun also volunteered to come but we insisted that she remained at the temple for her own safety.

Of course we couldn't sleep the whole night and when the next day dawned, we were on tenterhooks.  By evening time, both Ning and I were jittery.

Head Nun came over and gathered us up in her arms.  "My dear ones, I wish you wouldn't go.  Don't worry, you will be safe with Lao Tze.  Now before you go, I want to tell you how much I love you both.  May the Lord Buddha protect you and keep you safe."

I was very touched when I saw a tear trickle from Head Nun's eye.  For a moment I wished all that had happened was a bad dream but it wasn't, so before we changed our minds, both Ning and I hurried from the temple and headed for the gardens.

When we arrived there, Lao Tze was nowhere to be seen.  At about 9 p.m. we heard and saw the Black Queen's flying saucer.  It landed in the same spot as the night before and she emerged, red cape flying in the wind..

"Alright, where's your rat friend?" she shrieked.

Before we could answer, Lao Tze suddenly appeared and to our amazement, he was not alone.  With him were at least one hundred other Lao Tze's all identical in size and colour!

Lao Tze and his replicas

The Black Queen was taken aback and she screamed, "What trickery is this?"

One of the Lao Tze's replied, "Well, Your Majesty, we have fulfilled your request.  Not only has Lao Tze come but we have also come.  We are over 100 exact replicas of himself. Your job now is to identify which one is he. If you make a wrong decision, choose a replica and take him back with you, he will explode within 30 seconds and you and your ship will be destroyed. By the way, we have put a force field round the temple to safeguard it, so it's impossible for you to destroy it.  Now, come on, don't waste our time!"

The Black Queen could not speak.  She was seething with anger and her fury was indescribable.

Finally, she spoke, "Alright, I know when I'm beaten.  I must admit Lao Tze is very clever - I could use someone like him in my army!  Congratulations - for now - but I shall return and this time, I shall be more prepared!"  With that she laughed that cackling laugh of hers and flew off.

Both Ning and I hugged each other in glee, so did all the Lao Tze's, and together they escorted us back to the temple.  When we were safely inside, Lao Tze and his army of replicas disappeared as mysteriously as they had appeared.

Head Nun was sitting in the kitchen waiting for us and it was the most wonderful reunion we ever had.

"No more adventures, do you hear?" she said, hugging both Ning and myself.

Well, all we could do then was to purr contentedly in her lap and fall asleep.