A Shaolin Easter to Remember
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James Nelson watched with high-powered binoculars from the roof of a nearby building. The Easter basket that he had sent several days ago could not have done a better job. He had hoped the basket had injured both of them to keep them out of commission while his master moved in to take control. Nelson's master would have preferred that the basket had been more lethal. Still, his master's plans were not always his plans. Those plans involved more than just killing his enemies. His master, however, didn't care how Nelson got the job done, he just cared about the results. More importantly, his master would want proof after the job was completed. That was one thing that Nelson always made sure he had. He would need to bring something back to show that the job had been done and he knew exactly what he would bring back.
Many times, Nelson was called upon for his special talents. His was a psychological game as well as using what knowledge he had of explosives, poisons, and other deadly weapons, some not so obvious. Mostly, he would devise some deadly game styled after his own enemy's way of thinking, so when played, the player would eventually lose, permanently. Some times the games would take weeks to play. That was the beauty of it. You never knew when the game was over until it was too late. This kind of deadly game took patience. That was one good thing he learned from that blasted temple. No, actually there were two things. The other was making sure the job was completed and completed correctly
Nelson thought back to on the weeks that he spent at the temple. There were a few of things that stood out in his mind. One was the day he arrived. Another was the one lesson that taught him to always finish a job. And the third was learning that Peter Caine was alive.
***Flashback***
On the day of his arrival, James Nelson saw a kid about his age arguing with one of the strangely dressed adults. He heard rumors there were kids here, but what his father told him about this place didn't seem to fit the image. As Nelson walked by, he could not help but overhear their argument.
"Peter, I want an answer."
"I don't know why. I just did it."
"Very well, you will go to your room and meditate on your actions until supper."
"But I was going to go with Ping Hai to town."
"Until you have a better explanation, you will remain here."
'Sounds like he's not happy about being here, too. Looks like I might have an ally,' Nelson thought. 'Maybe he can tell me which one of these gooks is the headman. He might even give me some information I can use.'
Nelson later learned that the two were related and that the adult was Kwai Chang Caine, the leader of the temple. The kid turned out to be his son. Whenever an argument ensued between the two, Nelson later would try to use those opportunities to place a wedge between them. He thought if he could make Peter think that his father really didn't love him, he could get Peter to do some of the dirty work. And one of those ways was having him get back at one of the Masters by playing a "little joke. If the "joke" succeeded in it's efforts, then Nelson could take Peter to Tan and have him join their little party. Peter then would become the means to which all other Shaolin would fall. 'You sure turned out to be a woosy,' thought Nelson to himself as they both stood before Kwai Chang Caine. 'I can't believe Petey's actually confessing and even feels sorry for that monk.'
"And what do you have to say on this matter, James Nelson?" Kwai Chang Caine asked, his arms folded across his chest.
"It was only a joke. You'd think it was the end of the world. He wasn't that hurt"
"Master Khan could have been blinded for life. Peter, since you have shown honesty and remorse for your actions, you will take Master Khan's place in the kitchen until he can resume his duties. It is a fitting penance to pay'
"Yes, father."
Nelson noticed that Peter's head was even down as if to say he really meant it.
"As for you, James. You will scrub every inch of the floor within the great hall."
"But that will take days!" Nelson faced up to Caine but with less than perfect results.
"Enough! For your back talk, you will also take your meals in your room. You will not be allowed to join the rest of your classmates in the exercises until that job is completed. You will meditate on your actions on this matter. Master Ping Hai will see to it that you carry out those duties. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, Master Caine."
When Nelson started the job of cleaning the floor of the great hall. It felt so monumental a job. He tried to get one of the other boys to help (or at least trade places with him like Tom Sawyer) but Ping Hai gently reminded him that if the job was not completed, he would not be allowed to go back to his kung fu training. Thinking better of it, he had finished the job.
It was five weeks though before Nelson could send a message to his father and in turn that message was sent to General Dao. When the attack came, Nelson did not have time to get to the woods like he planned. He was nearly killed himself but one of the monks managed to keep him safe. In all the confusion he witnessed Peter's collapse when he tried to rescue one of the other children. Nelson could not help but smile when he saw the beam fall, believing that both were crushed. At least that woosy Petey got what he deserved.
Nelson though would get a very rude surprise and learned that Peter Caine was alive. It should have been both Peter and his father that died. But when Peter was found alive and Caine was thought to be dead, Nelson took advantage of the situation. Dao had not finished the job. But that did not mean that the job could not be completed.
When they were taken to the orphanage, Nelson had hoped that he could get away and tell Dao, but his parents came and got him before he could do anything. They soon moved overseas when his father's unit was called. Nelson later learned it was for his own protection as well as his father's. If the monks that were left alive were to find out that he had a part in setting up the raid that destroyed the temple, Nelson's life would not be worth a damn thing. The monks would certainly go after him for revenge; at least that is what his father said. But they never found out.
***End of Flashback**
Nelson continued to muse over those events, taking great pride of the part that he had played. He had been able to do one thing that the grownups weren't, he had been able to get inside. Once inside, he was able to learn everything that Dao needed to destroy the temple. The monks at the temple were either stupid or they were too blind to realize that there had been treachery from within their ranks. It had been Nelson's job to smuggle the explosives inside while another "monk" working for Dao set the charges. No one noticed the explosions had come from inside. Even if they had, it would have been too late. The charges had been set so carefully that even if they were to examine the remains, it would have been inconclusive. 'Past is past, I always say,' Nelson thought. 'I have bigger fish to fry now.'
Nelson continued to watch Caine's apartment until a blanket was placed over the window. This was not going to be easy. Nelson knew he had to take care of Peter's father first. He was already helpless from his little surprise. That would make it easier as the game progressed. He thought about taking the old man out now, but he wouldn't get the satisfaction of seeing Peter's face when he did. No this job required more finesse. Better to stick with the game and keep Peter off balance. Nelson at first regretted tipping his hand the second day by sending the flowers. He should have done something else but Peter's father had been too well guarded at the hospital. 'Besides, I did warn him to watch his back after all those years,' he thought. 'Let's just see how much he can take of the game before he cracks.' With that, Nelson left his perch to prepare the next ingredient in the game.
End of Part 5
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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