Distant Cousins
Please see the disclaimer on the Synopsis page.
Challenge
He felt saddened by what had to be done. It was the only way. It had gone on far too long. It would be a challenge to the death, with only one being the victor. He faced another and handed what the other needed to send the message.
"You know what you must do."
"Are you certain you want to do this?"
"I must if I am to have my son and cousin returned to me unharmed."
"Okay. I'll deliver the message. But I'm not certain if he'll understand it."
"He will."
***
The messenger entered without fan fair. No one even tried to stop him from entering. His job was simple and he knew what he had to do. The messenger placed the box on the floor and opened it. He pulled out an old saffron colored robe and placed it on the floor face down. He crossed one of the arms over the body then took a knife and slashed the robe. He then took the weapons, a three sectional staff, two butterfly knives, a long staff, and a chain with a piece of red cloth tied to one end. He placed the objects in position, then on top of it all, he placed a folded sheet of paper. Then the messenger left the way he came. Now it would be up to the person to answer the message that had been left at his doorstep.
**
Bon Bon Hai walked off the elevator just as Master Kahn was entering another. The ex-Zhong Li Quan leader rushed forward as he saw that the door to his private office had been left open. He looked down to see the robe and the weapons lying in the center of the floor. A deep frown furrowed his brow. The challenge had come, but not in the way he had expected. He knew he should have killed Caine when he had the chance, but the thought of making him suffer first had been foremost on his mind. What he should have done was kill the Shaolin's son and threw the carcass at the priest's feet, but he did not do that either. Caine had escaped before he could achieve that objective. In truth, he had never killed anyone himself. He preferred to let others take care of that business, those who were far more skilled and knew of ways where he would not be implicated in the death of his enemies. Now he was faced with a challenge for which he had no choice.
Bon Bon Hai picked up one of the butterfly knives and felt its edge. Blood formed on his fingers where the edge had cut his skin. Well if Caine wanted a fight, he was going to get one, but not in the way that he would expect.
Bon Bon Hai picked up the sheet of paper that rested on the robe. The paper contained instructions as to where the fight was to take place. Bon Bon Hai nodded his head in agreement. Caine wanted this fight where no one would interfere. It was a fitting choice. Perhaps Caine would meet his end after all and his son as well.
"Very well, Shaolin. We shall meet in Tan's old temple, but once there, the rules will change."
Continues with Part 28
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.
Synopsis / Previous Part / Next Part
Back to Temple Tales / Contact
Alisa