Temple: A New Journey Begins
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Everyone was asleep, even though it was near noon. Last night's events had worn everyone out, except for one solitary figure sitting at his keyboard. Even though he knew he should have been sleeping, Kermit Griffin still could not give up the search. He continued to do more typing until he was satisfied that what he had was enough to reveal everything that had gone on since the temple had been built nearly 100 years ago.
He was completely surprised to learn that even though the Caine family owned the land, they had not done much with it. Someone else had built the temple on the land with Caine's permission back in the 1950's. The temple was pretty new back then.
Kermit read about the first Kwai Chang Caine and how he came to this country in the 1870's. Caine had been half-Chinese and half-American. After coming to America in his late twenties, early thirties and living in the US for more than 20 years, he was considered a US citizen; protected and subjected by US laws. He could no longer be hunted by the bounty hunters of China, and he could no longer be hunted by the law enforcement of this country. It also helped that he had a brother. He would have to do more research into Danny Caine and his son Zeke. It would seem that Danny Caine was a wealthy man and his son Zeke didn't do too badly either. There was also mention of a Margit McLean-Caine.
'Must be a sister or cousin,' Kermit thought. 'Her name was on the deed as former land owner.'
Kermit could find no reference as to who actually built the temple. It was as if that person did not exist. He did find out one small detail, the name of the town had been changed.
'This could be quite useful,' he thought. 'I better send this to Sparky and see if he can add this in. The more information the better. I bet very few people know the history of this little town, and just how much land the Caines really own.'
After Kermit had completed his research, he checked up on Caine, Sam, and Vance. They were still sleeping. This was the perfect time to go check out that temple. Kermit outfitted himself with more comfortable clothes. He grabbed a flashlight, a small portable shovel, and some rope. He also carried a black bag lined with plastic. He didn't want to think about the many uses this particular bag had been put to; it was too gruesome a memory to be allowed in the forefront of his mind. Even so, a small part of him didn't dare to hope that he was absolutely wrong about his friend. And if he was right, he wanted to make certain his friend's remains were returned to their final resting place.
Kermit Griffin followed the road in silence as he walked the rest of the way out of town and to the cliff and the ruins in the distance. His thoughts drifted back to the long far gone days of another friend, one that waited at home for the news.
"Find him Kermit." He could hear the voice in his head tell him. "I want to know what happened to my son."
The face of an aged Paul Blaisdell came to the forefront of his mind. Paul was nearly ten years older than Kermit, but he still hung onto hope, that Peter would still be found alive after all these years. Kermit, though was not so hopeful. It just felt too much like when Peter was a kid, and the temple had been destroyed. Both Peter and Caine had survived, but each had been told that the other had been killed in the destruction, thus setting off a chain reaction where each suffered for fifteen years without the other. Peter had found hope and a family again in the arms of the Blaisdell family. Kwai Chang Caine wandered for those fifteen years until chance brought him back to the arms of his son. Kermit did not think there would be so happy a reunion with KC or Paul, but at least they would know the truth of what had happened ten years ago.
Kermit skirted the lake as it came into view, heading to where the markers rested. He never met Damon Caine, though he had communicated with Martin Bradshaw on several occasions, not realizing that he was also one of Peter's uncles. He stopped briefly at the spot that held the marker for Peter Caine. Everyone knew the grave was empty, and yet seeing the marker had a sobering effect.
"I'll find out the truth, Pete. If it takes me the rest of my life." Kermit said to the silent stone plaque.
Continues with Part 31
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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