A Shaolin Easter to Remember
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"Peter, look out!" Kermit spotted the first in the series of obstacles. This one was designed to knock you flat on your butt. It was positioned just below the neckline at chest level. A small hidden panel in the floor of the cave had been placed there to trigger the arm's release. Depending on where you walked, you could have missed the panel by inches without triggering it. This time, there was no such luck. Peter remembered as a child triggering this trap only because he had bent down to pick up a stone that intrigued him. The arm just missed hitting him in the head. The blow would have been more severe for a 10 year old. The moment Kermit shouted Peter ducked and rolled out of the way. It was then that he spotted the means to reset the trap. It was similar to a release mechanism used in setting a snare. There had to be a spring release when the person stepped on the floor panel. The arm was pulled back and held there by a small hook that was released when the person stepped on the panel. This particular trap was one that was used for every initiate. If you had not been looking for it, the trap could be easily missed. Even if it had been triggered, it was also a test in the initiate's reaction to avoiding the arm. Peter had succeeded in avoiding it both times. His father would have been proud. Right now, though he had to concentrate on avoiding the next one and keeping Kermit from harm. This time, however, Peter was glad that Kermit had insisted on coming with him. Maybe together they would succeed in rescuing his father.
As they made their way through the tunnel, Peter tried to remember exactly where each of the traps that he had triggered as a child had been. He did not know how many more there would be. As they both walked together through the tunnel, Kermit was noticing about this particular arrangement.
"A labyrinth." Kermit said.
"A what?"
"A labyrinth. Peter, if you noticed, we haven't left the same path even if when we turned a corner. We still have to continue forward. I bet this first part of the test is a labyrinth but one with two paths. Once you get to the center, you choose another exit but if you choose wrong, you somehow end up back on the same path but heading out instead of in. Did you make it to the center when you were a kid?"
"No, I was hurt from one of the obstacles. I never got to finish it. But now that you mentioned it, the path never did change. There were no side exists like in a maze. Shortly after that I ran into another obstacle. That one nearly took my leg off at the knee. It cut into my leg pretty deep and I needed surgery. I almost bled to death."
"How could your father let that happen to anyone?"
"These obstacles weren't designed to be lethal. You could get injured, yes, but by the time you were ready to face this your kung fu training should have been nearly completed. Remember I was 10 years old. This obstacle course was designed to test those skills and for those a lot older than I was. Some monks would test themselves earlier thinking their training was completed and would find that certain areas needed to be worked on."
"How do you know so much about this?"
"I asked my father the same question and he gave me the same answer."
"How do you suppose Nelson changed these traps?"
"I . . . do not know," Peter answered with a shrug. "But if you had noticed, he added a few sharp blades to that arm. If that thing did hit me, my shoulders would be lonesome for my head right now. We better keep our eyes and ears open. The next trap should be coming up very soon."
The next trap, however, was a pushover compared to the first. Plus, there was a note attached. Peter read the note and a look of horror came over his face.
"What's the matter?"
"We have to hurry. There's not much time. My Pop's in the center trapped on the island."
"So, we'll be able to get to him easily. It's these traps I'm worried about."
"You don't understand. Nelson has rigged the pond. It's rising as we speak. Not only that, the pond contains acid."
"Acid?!?"
"Yeah, just enough to irritate the skin. But prolonged exposure could cause some serious damage."
"How do you know?" Kermit asked
"I remember one of students after having completed the course had to go to the infirmary. He had a very bad rash on his skin. It struck me kind of odd until I spilled some acid on my hands in a Chemistry class I had back in high school while living with Paul. I developed the same kind of rash. The acid had come from some pine needles that had been soaked in alcohol. That's when I discovered that certain pines give off a resin that was poisonous to other plants. I learned that pine needles can be very acidic. From all the rains over centuries of time, the acid must of leeched through the soil. There are a lot of pines in the area. I just hope Nelson hasn't tampered with the water like raising the acid level.
"He'd have to add at least a half a dozen large drums to do that, assuming this pond is pretty substantial in size," Kermit said.
"Whatever the case, my father is trapped there and if we don't get him off, he'll drown," Peter stated.
"How deep is this pond?"
"It wasn't that deep from what I remember the other monks had said. If my memory is correct, it was only about waist high at its deepest point. You could walk across to the center. But now . . ."
"I take it that's not suppose to be that way."
Peter shook his head. The feeling of dread became more clear. It wasn't for Kermit. It was for his father. He prayed to the Tao that it would not come true. At that moment, they ran into another obstacle.
***
"Uugghh." Kermit was coming to. The last trap he had tripped had sprayed him with some small darts containing some kind of drug. It was just their luck that the darts did not contain poison. It was possible that Nelson did not know where all the traps were. Still, Peter was concerned. He didn't remember this trap being here. It was possible Nelson put it here as a diversionary tactic. They could be getting closer.
"Can you stand?"
"Yeah, I'll make it. I can't believe I fell for that. No pun intended. I may need to take a refresher course in mercenary tactics."
"Don't berate yourself Kermit."
"You did try to warn me but I didn't listen. How did you know the trap was there?"
"I'm not sure but lately I seem to have developed this sixth sense."
"Like father, like son, huh?"
"Something like that."
"How many more traps are we going to have to go through? It seems like we've been in here for hours."
"It's only been about 2 hours, and I'm not sure."
"If only there was some way we could trip them without one of us getting in the way."
"I doubt it. Remember these traps were designed to test a Shaolin student's reaction time. When the trap was tripped, the student was supposed to use their skills to avoid the obstacle in some way. If he could not overcome the trap, he failed."
"How many more of these things are there?" Kermit asked, annoyance showing up on his voice.
"I . . ."
"DON'T say it."
The two fell silent for a while. Kermit tried to concentrate on Peter by keeping his eyes on him. He was beginning to feel claustrophobic as they went deeper. He had to keep his mind active to try to ignore the fear that was rising to the surface. 'What I could use right now is a good stiff breeze. It's getting hot in here,' thought Kermit. 'I need something else to focus on.' Perhaps if he focused on Peter, it might relieve his own growing anxiety. "How's your shoulder holding up?"
"Not bad."
"Liar. I saw the pain in your face when we went through that last trap. It caught you right on your shoulder. Besides, I can see you might have pulled some stitches. You're starting to bleed."
"I can't let that stop me. My father's life depends on me."
"You won't be able to do anything if you loose too much blood. Give me that sash. I'll see what I can do. This won't take long."
Peter sighed and resigned himself to Kermit's care. In all the excitement Peter forgot that he was injured, too.
"Ooww. Careful, what did you do, pour salt in there?"
"No, it's all this dust. There must be some sodium carbonate in these walls."
"How can you tell?"
Kermit licked the dust from his fingers. "Taste."
Kermit adjusted the sash so it would not be too constricting but continue to protect Peter's injured shoulder. Kermit became concerned when Peter grew silent. He was certain that Peter was thinking the same thing. At least he hoped it wasn't. Kermit was beginning to question if they were ever going to get through. He was also beginning to question whether they would find Caine alive.
"At this rate, it won't matter if we make it to the center. He's probably dead all ready." Without realizing it, Kermit had spoken his doubts out loud.
A look of despair came over Peter from Kermit's words.
"Look, Peter, I'm sorry. I didn't mean . . ."
Then without warning that despair turned into rage. A fire came into Peter's eyes that spoke of revenge that frightened even Kermit. Kermit knew that fire could only be quenched by a Shaolin's wisdom.
Peter suddenly rushed forward. If his father was dead, Nelson would pay, with his life. Blind rage was driving him, when suddenly . . .
"Peter! Look out!"
He had set off another trap. Two small silvery stars shot out at them. Peter reacted with a speed that Kermit never knew he had. It was as if it was second nature and yet, Peter did not seem to be aware that he was doing it. His hands went up and caught within his fingers were the two throwing stars. Without stopping a beat, Peter again moved forward.
"Peter wait! Your father would not want you to do whatever it is you're planning on doing."
Peter was brought up short and back into himself by Kermit's voice. "How would you know?"
"Look, I'm sorry for what I said. It's this tunnel. It's getting to me. I don't think Nelson wants you to find your father dead. He could have killed him back at your father's apartment if he wanted that. He's playing with your mind. Trying to bring you down to his level so you will make mistakes."
"We've wasted too much time here as it is. I should have gone the other way and found the entrance from inside the temple. My father . . ."
". . . is still alive. You must continue to believe that. I'm sorry for what I said."
Peter let out a deep sigh. "It's all right, Kermit. I guess I'm feeling it, too. It's been so long . . ." Peter did not finish the sentence for at that minute, rock and debris rained down on them.
End of Part 10
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2001. 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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