The last few months at the temple had been very quiet. It was also very hot especially in the afternoons and the nuns were drenched in sweat after prayers everyday. The evenings were a little cooler and the big fan in the kitchen gave us some relief when we gathered there for our meals.
One morning I was rather surprised when Head Nun announced that she had a "mission" for me. She wanted me to hand deliver an old prayer book to the Chief Nun of a temple situated at the foot of the hills.
"The temple is very secluded, they don't have phones or Internet, no postal service either. I promised the Chief Nun to get her this prayer book some time ago, so I am giving you this assignment."
It was something like a two-hour journey from our temple and Head Nun said she would let APK and a junior nun accompany me. I was very happy to be given this assignment, so arrangements were quickly made. An old devotee of the temple, a woman in her sixties, by the name of Ah Ying offered to drive us there as she had been to the temple before and knew the way.
So the four of us set off two mornings later. Ah Ying came to pick us up in her old jalopy which was painted a bright blue and had dents and scratches all over. APK sat in front with her while I sat in the back seat with the junior nun. We were all looking forward to the trip as we had been cooped up in the temple for so long due to the pandemic and were naturally very excited.
After we had been driving for about half an hour along a bumpy track which was full of pot holes, we came to a fork in the road. Ah Ying stopped the car and muttered, "Oh dear, now do we turn right or left?"
"But I thought you had been to the temple before," said APK.
"Yes but that was ten years ago ....."
"What?" gasped the junior nun.
"Hmmm ....I think we shall go right," said Ah Ying and turned the car to the right. We trundled along for some time and it looked like we were going nowhere.
"Are you sure this is the right way, Ah Ying?" I asked anxiously.
"If I remember correctly, we should come across a grove of bamboo trees soon on the left," said Ah Ying optimistically. We drove on and kept a lookout for the bamboo trees and were relieved when we saw them.
"Thank God we're on the right track," exclaimed the junior nun, wiping the sweat off her forehead. I forgot to mention that the air conditioning of the car was not working, so it was very warm and we had to roll down the windows.
Then suddenly the engine of the car started to spit and splutter. We jerked along the track for several hundred yards before the car finally came to a stop in the middle of a pothole.
"Ah Ying, what's wrong with your car?" gasped APK.
Ah Ying looked a little sheepish. "I ... er ....I forgot to fill her up before we left," she stammered.
"Oh no!" screamed the junior nun. "Now we're stranded and there's nobody to help us."
It was true we had not come across anyone using that road so far and it certainly looked like we were stranded.
The junior nun started chanting frantically and lo and behold! A young man on a bicycle suddenly appeared and seeing our predicament, offered to buy petrol for us. Ah Ying gave him some money and he disappeared down the road. It must have been more than half an hour and still no sign of him.
"Looks like he's run away with your money, Ah Ying," said APK.
Even as she spoke, the young man appeared with a can of petrol, helped us fill up the tank and push the car out of the pothole, and before we could thank him, disappeared.
"Thank God we're on our way again," I thought to myself, sighing with relief as Ah Ying started up the engine. I was of course worried that we would not be able to deliver the prayer book. Head Nun would not only be disappointed but furious with us.
It was getting warmer and warmer as the sun rose and soon, APK and the junior nun became drowsy and dozed off. My eyes were also about to close when suddenly Ah Ying slammed on the brakes and we came to a screeching halt. The three of us were thrown forward and then backwards.
"Hey, what's happening," I cried.
Ah Ying pointed wordlessly to the windscreen of the car and we saw to our shock that a tiger was standing in the middle of the road. It was staring at us - and four pairs of eyes stared back at it.
"Don't move," whispered Ah Ying. "It won't harm us if we don't harm it."
"Looks like it's hungry," said APK. "Well, if it wants some food, we can offer Vege Cat," she said with a nervous laugh. Seeing the look on my face, she said, "Just joking" and patted my head.
For several minutes, the tiger stood there looking at us, then it must have decided that we were not good enough to eat, so it turned and walked back into the jungle.
"Phew!" gasped Ah Ying. "We'd better get out of here fast." She hit the accelerator and we shot off down the road at an incredible speed. We clung on for dear life and prayed that the old car would not fall apart.
For the next half hour, we drove on without any mishaps. APK and the junior nun went back to sleep. I was also getting drowsy but at the same time I couldn't help feeling some apprehension. First no petrol, then a hungry tiger .... what next? My sixth sense seemed to tell me that more was coming! I prayed silently that we would arrive at the temple safely - and soon.
Then it happened. It had been hot and dry so far and we were certainly not prepared for the storm that suddenly descended on us. Torrents of rain accompanied by a strong wind battered our car making it impossible to see where we were going.
Then just as suddenly as it came, the storm abated and we found, to our surprise, that we were actually outside the gate of the hill temple. Shaken, we crept out of the car, exhausted beyond words.
The Chief Nun was standing there. together with a few nuns. She seemed to be expecting us though we had not informed her of our visit due to the absence of any form of communication.
The Chief Nun smiled and escorted us into the temple. "Our prayers are about to begin, then please join us for lunch," she said.
After the prayers, I presented the prayer book to the Chief Nun who was very pleased that Head Nun had remembered to send it to her. I was very honoured indeed when during lunch, she let me sit beside her on her right, while Ah Ying, APK and the junior nun sat on her left. She must be at least ninety years old but still very alert and mobile. As we ate, she turned to me and said, "So you are the cat monk whom I have heard so much about."
I was taken aback. I didn't for one moment think that anyone would mention me to an important person like the Chief Nun.
"Respected sifu, you won't believe what happened to us on the way here," I said, very eager to tell her of our ghastly experience.
She smiled and said, "I know, I know. No petrol, hungry tiger, big storm."
I stared at her. How did she know? The four of us had not told her anything.
"But...but how did you know?" I gasped.
She smiled again but did not answer my question. Instead she said, "Please thank your Head Nun on my behalf for the gift and tell her she's very lucky to have such brave and courageous followers like you four."
After lunch, the Chief Nun blessed us and sent us off. We were also keen to leave ASAP as we wanted to get home before dark. Goodness knows what might happen on the way back!
As though reading our thoughts, the Chief Nun said, "Don't worry, you will reach home safely."
And we did, just a little under two hours. As soon as we arrived, we ran excitedly into the temple. We couldn't wait to tell Head Nun of our experience.
Head Nun was in the kitchen together with the other nuns preparing dinner.
"Head Nun, you'll never believe what we're going to tell you," I said breathlessly.
Head Nun smiled and said, "I know, I know. No petrol, hungry tiger, big storm."
The four of us looked at each other, stunned.
NOW how did she know?
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