Reading the Journey (continued)

Yeah, I've slowed down a bit in my reading of the abridged version of Journey to the West, and I note as follows:

a.    it takes to about the half way point of the book before the journey actually begins;

b.    I am now 55% percent in, and we still haven't met the 4th travel companion (Sandy in the TV series);

c.    I was rather surprised that in Chapter 17, the Heart Sutra suddenly appears in full.   I had just watched       one of the Doug's Dharma videos on Youtube in which he spoke about it.

The Heart Sutra has had my attention before.   I think I am now closer to understanding its point, though....