Distant Cousins
Please see the disclaimer on the Synopsis page.
Year 1997
Henry R. McLean-Caine, the third watched Kwai Chang Caine float on air. His eyes could not believe what he was seeing. He glanced back at the fading poster. The face that stared back certainly appeared to be the same. The man that floated in the room beyond, however, appeared older and had hair. He just could not believe what he was seeing, that Kwai Chang Caine could be alive after all this time and in perfect health. There had to be something more that he was missing.
"Pop? Where's the zhi gan cao?" a voice called out from down the hall. "Never mind I found it."
That's it. He had been thinking that the original Kwai Chang Caine would still be alive after all this time, but he should have realized that just wasn't so. The man that sat in the room beyond him must be related to the man in the poster, perhaps even his grandson. That made more sense to him now and he closed his eyes, breathed a sigh of relief, and leaned against the doorframe. He just wasn't prepared to face a legend.
As Henry gathered his resolve to approach the Shaolin, he nearly jumped out of his skin when a voice right next to him stated, "May I help you?"
Henry had not been aware that the Shaolin was done with his meditation and had come back to earth, so to speak. He had not heard a single sound.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you," the Shaolin stated, his face humble and apologetic.
"That's okay. I guess I was distracted," Henry stated slowly. "You must be Kwai Chang Caine. I've been trying to find you. That is, my family has, ever since . . ." Henry stopped what he felt was simple babbling. What he was about to say just would not make any sense and he would sound as if he was crazy.
"You were trying to find me?" the Shaolin coaxed.
"Well yeah. It's really kind of crazy."
"Please, tell me."
"It's really a long story. See it started with my great grandmother, though I never knew her. She told my grandfather before she died to find you."
"Me?" Caine's eyes widened in surprise. "Who was your great grandmother?"
"Margit McLean-Caine," answered Henry.
Caine stared at the man then blinked. "Caine?"
"That's because she added it later. Her name was just Margit McLean before that."
"Ah," Caine stated. "That name is familiar to me. My grandfather mentions a woman by that name in his journal. May I ask you why you have come?"
"To deliver a message. It's kind of strange and rather a moot point anyway. Besides, it was really meant for someone else."
"Please, tell me the message."
"She wanted to let you know, I mean, to let your grandfather know that he's not alone and to tell you, I mean him, about the will. I mean it probably doesn't mean anything now since you're not him and . . ."
Before Henry could explain further, the voice that he heard earlier approached the two men.
"Pop, could you help me with this. I can't read the Ancient's handwriting. He wants me to prepare a remedy for Mrs. Wang, but I can't read everything."
"Peter," Caine gently placed a hand on his son's shoulder to gain his attention.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know we had company."
"This is my son, Peter," Caine introduced the young man who now stood by his side. "Peter, this is Henry . . . What did you say your name was?"
"Henry R. McLean-Caine," the man stated.
"What does the "R" stand for?" Peter asked.
"Rafael. I was named after my great, great, great-grandfather, Henry Rafael Caine. I know it sounds rather farfetched, but . . ."
Caine and Peter stared at each other, not sure how to respond to what the man in the doorway had just said. What was it that Peter had said once about their family tree? That it was more like a creeping vine. Well the creeping vine just suddenly got longer.
Continues with Part 4
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2003.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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