One of Bajie's arms lay across Six-Eared Macaque's bedding, and his snores rang out.
Six-Eared Macaque gently put the arm back, then pulled Bajie's slipped clothing into place before getting up and putting on his shoes.
He tiptoed to the door.
The bolt stuck a little. Six-Eared Macaque supported it with both hands and eased it out bit by bit.
Bajie rolled over, and his snores started up again.
Only then did Six-Eared Macaque push the door open and step out. He closed it behind him, rounded the corner of the courtyard, and headed behind the village cottage. A jujube tree grew there.
Wukong lounged in a fork of the tree, one leg dangling, softly chanting, "Hard! Hard! Hard! Most mysterious is the Way; never take the Golden Elixir lightly. Without a perfected master to impart its wondrous secrets, empty words weary the mouth and leave the tongue dry!"
Six-Eared Macaque walked beneath the tree and tilted his face up. "Brother Monkey."
The chanting stopped.
Wukong lowered his head and studied him for a moment. "Little Six, why aren't you learning how to sleep properly from that idiot? What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?"
"I did learn," Six-Eared Macaque said with a smile. "But didn't you tell me to come find you?"
"I called you?"
"You did, during the day."
Six-Eared Macaque held up three fingers. "Three knocks, and you wouldn't say anything in front of everyone. I thought you meant for me to find you at the third watch, in the middle of the night."
Wukong did not answer at once. He merely swung his dangling foot. "You overheard me, didn't you?"
Six-Eared Macaque shook his head. "You told me not to use my ability, so I didn't."
"Then how did you know