Temple: A New Journey Begins
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"Wait, there's another way," Kermit grabbed Vance by his left forearm before he could dash from the room. "If you were to confront whoever is involve without this, you could get yourself killed." Kermit held up the deed.
"We know who is behind this, my father and his friends," Vance announced. "I suspected something like this for a long time, but I didn't have any proof. Now I do." Vance held up the piece of ore that he still held in his hand.
"But without the deed it won't stick, plus we don't have any other hard evidence like photos to show that they've been there."
"So how do we get the proof?" Vance questioned.
"You leave that to me," Kermit stated. Kermit walked over to where his laptop computer sat.
"You know him better than the rest of us, what's he going to do?" Vance turned toward Caine.
"I do not know," was Caine's answer.
Silence fell except for the click of the keys on Kermit's keyboard. Whatever he was up to, it certainly was going to blow everyone out of the water and those responsible out into the open.
"Well," Sam stretched and gave a very big yawn. "I think I'm going to get some sleep. I'm going to need to take care of some things later this morning. The monks will be having their fourth memorial service today."
"Will you be attending?" Caine asked.
"No," Sam said a little too quickly and too hard. "I'm just glad that part is over. No one should have to die that way."
Caine gave his uncle a curious look, questioning silently what had caused the older man to abandon his Buddhist vows. His memories of Sam, though few, were still sharp. Caine remembered seeing his uncle in the robes of a Buddhist priest and it fascinated him. "Tell me Uncle, what has happened that you should lose your faith?"
"I can't talk about it right now, Grasshopper," Sam's words came out more harshly than he meant. He bowed his head and his next words came out more softly. "It's too painful."
Sam's use of the childhood nickname sought to remind Caine of their differences in age and experience. It felt like a slap in the face. Though Caine was a Shaolin Priest, his Uncle would always see him as a boy, running around the farmyard catching grasshoppers to show his elders.
Sam turned away and walked to the stairs leading up to the bedrooms. With his use of the nickname, it was his way of saying that he needed more privacy and time, but the look on his nephew's face could clearly be seen. The remark had hurt him. 'I will make it up to him later,' Sam thought. 'I guess I'm more tired than I though.'
Vance cleared his throat, "Well I think we all need some sleep. It was a long night for all of us."
Without turning around Sam added, "KC, show Vance to the extra guestrooms, you know the way."
"No, that's okay. I can go home."
"I don't think that would be wise," Caine cautioned.
"And why shouldn't I go home? I rent a house in town."
"Because if your father finds out where you've been, there could be serious repercussions," Kermit added as he continued to type. "Your life could be in real danger. Someone could be watching your place. They know you're with us."
"Kermit is right. I will show you to the guestrooms."
"I thought everyone was going to have some breakfast," Rachel came out of the kitchen carrying a stack of pancakes and a bottle of maple syrup.
"I certainly would not mind something to eat," Kermit rose and walked to the dining room table. "It's going to be a while before I hear from those I've contacted anyway. A little breakfast won't hurt this tired ex-mercenary one bit. Then I think I'll get some sleep as well."
Continues with Part 29
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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