The Wrong Ms. Right - Pt.2

After the showdown with Pei Fei, poor Ah Hoe was in a state of depression for some time.  Though both Ning and I did our best to cheer him up,  we knew it would take some time before he recovered.

One evening Head Nun sent me with some food for Ah Hoe.  She knew he liked her vegetarian rice dumplings and had specially made them for him.  I was looking forward to seeing Ah Hoe again too but just as I was passing the river, somebody suddenly grabbed me from behind and thrust me into a cage! 

“Hey, what’s going on,” I yelled as I struggled to break open the door of the cage. 

“Shut up and be still!” shrieked a voice from above me. 

I looked up and saw to my shock that it was Pei Fei!  What was she doing here, didn’t they say she had left town?

“Pei Fei, what do you think you’re doing?”  I gasped.

She laughed, a wicked laugh that was laced with arsenic. 

“Surely you didn’t think I would give up so easily?  I still want that gold and you and your nosy friend are not going to stop me!”

“But there’s no gold …..” I protested.

“Do you think I’m that stupid?  The old man’s got it stashed away somewhere.  Look, I have left a ransom note at the old man’s hut.  If he values your life, he will show up or I shall throw you into the river!” and she laughed again.

“You’re mad!” I gasped.

Just then, Ah Hoe came running into view. He was panting hard and almost collapsed when he reached us.

“Aha, I knew you would come! Did you bring the gold?” she demanded.

“Look, Pei Fei,” panted Ah Hoe.  “I’ve already told you, I don’t have any gold….”

“You’re lying!  If you don’t give it to me now, I shall throw your friend here into the river.”  And she bent down and grabbed the cage.

“No, you don’t!”  shouted Ah Hoe and he lunged at her.  For a while they struggled on the river bank, he trying to snatch the cage from her and she trying to hold on to it.  In the squabble I was thrown around in the cage and suddenly it flew out of Pei Fei’s hands and fell into the river!

“Help!” I screamed but it was too late.  Water came gushing into the cage, it rose up to my chest, then covered my face and ears and I sank down, down, down into the depths of the river ……

Then, I felt myself being propelled at great speed through a long dark tunnel at the end of which was a glowing bright light ... and it suddenly dawned on me.  “I must be dead and I’m travelling through that tunnel which the humans talk about when they die,” I thought to myself.  

The light drew closer and closer, I didn’t know what to expect, then I saw to my amazement that it was the Lord Buddha Himself, sitting there looking so radiant and serene.  He smiled at me, then I knew no more.

When I came to, I found myself lying on what looked like a fluffy pink cloud.  It was surrounded by other pink and white clouds and stars twinkled all around. 

I sat up and looked around but there was no one in sight.  “Hello, anyone there?’  I called but there was complete silence.  Where was I, was this a transit from earth to Cat Heaven (or Hell)?  Would I have to wait here for judgment before I could proceed?

Then I heard a noise from below and I looked down.  I saw to my horror that Pei Fei was beating Ah Hoe with her fists and kicking him.  Then suddenly Ning rushed onto the scene with a few villagers, all of whom were armed with sticks.  I heard Ning shout, “Ah Hoe, I came as soon as I saw that ransom note.  Go get her, my friends!”  At the sight of the villagers, Pei Fei turned and ran as fast as her legs could carry her, with the villagers hot on her heels.  (Later I was told they caught her and took her to the police station).

Meantime, Ah Hoe was running up and down the river bank, shouting my name.  Finally he sank to his knees, sobbing, “Da, Da, oh my God, he’s dead and it’s all my fault!” 

I was witnessing all this from above but I knew it was futile if I tried to attract his attention.  He wouldn’t be able to see me.  I was dead and there was nothing he or Ning could do about it.  

I then heard a movement behind me and turned to see that it was ….. the Golden Phoenix!  It beckoned to me and said, “I’ve come to take you home.”

“But … but …. I don’t understand,” I whispered.

“Your time has not come yet,” it replied.  “My Master, the Lord Buddha has sent me to take you back.  Come!”  Slowly I climbed onto the Phoenix’s back, my head in a whirl.  It raised its wings and we soared into the sky as clouds and stars flew past us….

“Da!  Da!  Are you alright?”  I opened my eyes and found Ah Hoe and Ning peering anxiously at me.

 

“What … what happened?”  I stammered.

“That mad woman dropped you into the river and we thought you had drowned,” replied Ning.  “Then all of a sudden you dropped from the sky right in front of us!  I couldn’t believe my eyes!”

“Thank God you’re still alive,” said Ah Hoe, tears running down his cheeks.  “We had better get you to a vet quick.”  He lifted me up gently and carried me all the way to the vet in the village.

To cut a long story short, the doc said I had no injuries and that I could go home.  After the initial shock, Head Nun gave me some hot soup and sent me straight to bed.  “Now go to sleep, you can tell us your story tomorrow,” said Head Nun.

I nodded and closed my eyes.  What was I going to tell her tomorrow, that I had a close brush with death and was saved by the Lord Buddha?  Would she believe me, I wondered.  Anyway, as I snuggled down under my blue blanket, it felt so good to be home and to be with the ones I love and those who love me.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.