Temple: A New Journey Begins
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Note: Strong Language
Vance and Sam were just about ready to leave on their own when Caine came up the road.
"It's about time you got back."
"Is Sally all right?" Sam asked with concern.
"Yes. She will be all right, and the monks will be safe as well."
"You mean you caught the murderer?" Vance jumped into the conversation.
"Yes."
"If that's the case, then what does the temple have anything to do with it?" Sam questioned.
"Because the person who murdered the monks is not the same person trying to stop the temple from being rebuilt."
The two men gave Caine a puzzled look.
"I still don't understand why anyone would want to keep the temple from being built after all these years," Sam inquired.
"Superstition, I would think," Vance stated. "People would rather think the worst then find out the truth."
"Superstition is like a magnet. It pulls you in the direction of your belief. Something Master Po told my great-great grandfather," Caine added with the shrug of one shoulder.
"Well, we better get going. Even though the temple isn't far from here, it's going to be black out there. There's no moon tonight."
The three men walked in silence. Caine led the way despite the fact that he did not carry a flashlight. Both Vance and Sam had bemused looks on their faces, but said nothing. The walk to the temple was shorter than either expected despite the darkness. Caine was an excellent tracker and kept everyone on course without mishap. What remained of the burnt and rotting timbers came into view as darker foreboding shapes against the already darkened landscape. The sound of feet shuffling along rough stone could be heard as they moved from the dirt path to the once enclosed courtyard of the temple.
It was then that Caine stopped. He pulled from his pack a long piece of rag and wrapped it around a thick piece of old piping that may have been part of the décor at one time or another. After getting the rag secure, he pulled out a bottle of some unknown substance from his brown pouch and poured it over the rag. Then with his chi he focused on the torch and lit it.
Both men stood back a pace. They had not seen Caine use a match or lighter of any kind. Vance's thoughts were ones of trepidation and suspicion. Had his grandfather been right after all about the Shaolin? He quickly dismissed those thoughts realizing that those were not his words, but fear speaking.
With the lighting of the torch, the area was bathed in a warm glow. Shadows danced as the three men moved through the area to start their search.
"What are we looking for?" Vance asked.
"Something that should not belong," Caine answered.
"Have you already did a search before?" Sam asked.
"No," Caine replied. "I only went as far as the courtyard."
As Caine moved through the ruins, the torch cast elongated shadows on what remained of the walls. The three men spread out, but did not lose sight of each other. Caine was first to reach the stairs. The wooden chest that had been in his grandfather's living quarters still rested against the stone steps. It had been bleached, blistered, and split by sun and rain, the wood rotting away from exposure to the elements.
The three men moved upward toward the interior of the temple. Classrooms, dining-hall, and library had not escaped the elements. Only two of the living quarters remained in tact while the rest had been consumed in the flames that destroyed the temple.
A deep sadness came over Caine. The sadness was not for himself, but for his father, Peter Caine. This had been his home as far back as he could remember until he had been a boy of twelve. KC could not understand why someone would commit such an act, killing and destroying someone's home. He had heard the stories, but that was all they were to him, stories. Seeing how complete the devastation was made those stories more real. Not only did monks die here, but children as well. He had grown up in a world of acceptance in Chinatown, where the Shaolin were respected. It was adherent to him that someone would just simply destroy everything out of revenge.
Why no one had tried to rebuild earlier was a mystery. They would soon find out. A deep rumbling could be heard under their feet. The very next moment found the three men falling as the floor suddenly collapsed beneath them.
Continues with Part 26
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2004.
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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