‘I thought I heard your voice. Have you come back with the blessing I wanted from the Buddha of the Western Heavens? He must have seen by now how well I have been perfecting myself over the last thousand years?’ Monkey looked at the turtle, his memory stirred. Now he remembered why he remembered this place. When he and Jade had accompanied the monk Lao Tsu, this turtle had given them a lift across the lake. In return, Monkey was supposed to ask the Buddha of the Western Heavens to grant White Turtle her wish of becoming a human. Monkey smiled at the turtle wondering what he was going to say. He tried to change the subject. ‘White Turtle! What a surprise! How is your wonderful family?’ White Turtle lumbered her enormous body out of the water and stood dripping and towering above them. ‘They’re fine. Don’t change the subject, Monkey. What are you doing here if it is not to tell me my wish has been granted?’ Fortunately, Celeste chose that moment to fly down.
