The Ox regarded the Secretary mildly as he approached, munching hay quietly.  He read thoughtfully, nodding in the sun.  “How kind, how kind… of course I shall come, Mr Secretary.  At seven o’clock?  I shall be there precisely then.” And the Secretary went away content.  The Ox was always so reliable.  If he said he’d do something, he’d do it, but woe betide anyone who made him angry… The Secretary shivered and continued on his way.

The Horse, grazing in his field, threw up his head as he heard the gate open, his eyes wide, his nostrils flared ready for flight, but as he saw it was a friend he quietened and trotted across the meadow to greet him.

“A party, a party, now who’s going, Mr Secretary?  Anybody worth being seen with, I wonder?  Probably not but still, if his Majesty has asked for me, I wouldn’t dream of declining and in that I am determined.”  He tossed his head and cantered off, kicking up his heels as he went.  The Secretary watched him.  “Hmm.  I knew he’d come all right.  Pleasant enough fellow, but a frightful snob.  Ah well, it takes all sorts…”  And he left, closing the gate carefully behind him.

Up in a tree nearby he found the Monkey who shinned down the branches and bounced through the lower leaves to end up at his feet.  He turned his head this way and that, his eyes bright and inquisitive.  “Well, Mr Secretary and what brings you here?”  The Secretary held out the invitation.  Like a flash the Monkey seized it in his little, clever hands and swiftly took off with it, chattering excitedly.  “What’s this?  What’s this?  How thrilling!  A party?  At the palace, too.  Now what’s all this in aid of, I wonder?  How curious.  Yes, yes, yes, of course I’ll come, how amusing, how delightful…” and he turned somersaults in his excitement.  But as the Secretary walked off he looked back and the Monkey was sitting there, frowning to himself, a sudden doubt crossing his mind.  He dropped the invitation on the ground and stared at it, muttering to himself but eventually he once more sidled up to it, picked it up and studied it afresh, this time with greater scrutiny, smelling it and turning it over and over in his restless, dextrous fingers.

The Secretary climbed to the top of a sunny bank and looked about him.  Surely this was the domain of the Snake but he could not see him.  He turned to go and suddenly on a rock beside him which he had not observed previously, he saw a flash of light catch the steady gaze of the Snake who lay curled up, watching him closely.  “Well, Missster Sssecretary, and what bringsss you here?  Sssit down in the sssun, my friend and join me.  Perhapsss you would care for sssome refeshment on thisss hot, hot day?”

The Secretary observed him a trifle warily.  He knew the Snake of old.  Elegant and refined, nonetheless he could lead any thoughtless person into a trap that would always be to the Snake’s advantage.    “Not today, thank you, Snake, I’m rather in a hurry.  I’ve come to issue you an invitation from the great Lord, His Majesty, the Jade King.”

(c) Elizabeth Housden 2006 

& the story continues...please visit again soon for the next part.

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