Caine felt frustrated and dismayed. He had been all over France with his father, searching for any trace of the woman in the photograph that had been taken 12 years ago. There was none. It was as if she had never existed. Kwai Chang Caine searched his memories for some explanation. He remembered vividly that Laura had died in their home with him by her side and Peter sitting on the floor next to him. He had held her hand in his and had felt her chi fading with each passing moment, as the disease that ravaged her body had taken its toll. He could not stop its advance, only prolong her life until time would finally take her.

Caine again examined the photograph that held the face of his dead wife and suddenly knew the truth. Though the image was good, when he examined it more closely he could see minute areas that did not seem to fit in the background, as if someone had inserted one image inside another. He suddenly wished that Kermit was here. With his knowledge of computer manipulation he would be able to tell with definitive proof whether the image was a fake, or at least tell whether Laura's image had been inserted into this particular photograph. That thought brough to mind several questions. Who would create such a photograph? Who gave the photograph to the Ancient. Why did Lo Si hang on to the photograph for so long? And, more importantly, why? The third question he could possibly ascertain the reason. Knowing Lo Si's secret, it would have been impossible for him to know where Caine was during his wanderings. Perhaps Lo Si had felt that he had not been ready to learn the truth. But what was the truth? Deep down Kwai Chang Caine knew that answer, but had been afraid to even admit it to himself.

Caine heaved a heavy sigh. Perhaps he was looking in the wrong place and the answers that he sought could not be found here.

"You are troubled, my son," Matthew Caine approached with a tray containing a teapot and two cups.

"Yes, my father," Kwai Chang began, "I fear that I may be "wasting my time" as Peter would say."

"To search for truth is never a "waste of time."

"I know, but searching for a woman whom I know in my heart is gone, may very well be," Kwai Chang answered. "I think it is time that I return home. I searched for my son's essence for fifteen years believing he was lost to me. At the time of that loss, I had no body to bury. I had been told that he was gone, but I found him, alive. However, I was by my wife's side when she died. Her essence had returned to the source of all things, but because of the pain that I felt at the loss, I denied it for many years. I do not wish to continue a search that will prove to have no end and lose another fifteen years with my son." Before Caine could stop himself, he saw that his words brought pain to his own father's eyes. "Father, I am sorry. I did not mean to . . ."

"It is all right, my son. The fault is not yours. I should have tried harder to find you after I had healed from my injuries. I should have come when I heard that you had a son and had reentered the temple in America. I was afraid that you would not want me in your life. Too much time had passed. Only after I had heard that your temple had been destroyed and you and Peter were lost did I come, and then it was too late. Never did I expect that you and Peter would be the ones to come to protect the Chalice. To see my son and grandson alive brought me great joy beyond description. But we have also lost much time together, time that we will never regain."

"I am sorry for what happened in the Bardo." Kwai Chang bowed his head in shame.

"You were not yourself, my son." Matthew placed a comforting hand on his son's shoulder.

"Perhaps we were both wrong. It is not too late for matters of the heart between us. You are my father. I have never stopped loving you."

"Nor I you, my son."

Silence fell between them as they sipped their tea.

"When will you be returning home?" Matthew asked.

"Tomorrow."

"There is something I wish to give you and Peter." Matthew handed his son an envelope. "Do not open it here. Open it with your son. Tell my grandson I am proud of him."

Kwai Chang watched his father rise from the table and slowly walk toward his workbench. He could not help notice the slump in his father's shoulders. He knew that his father was disappointed that he was leaving. Though they had spent four months together, it wasn't nearly enough time to get reacquainted. Furthermore, Kwai Chang did not know how much more time he would have with his father. The thought was very sobering and he realized he did not want to be without this man by his side.

"Father, would you return home with me, please?"

Matthew turned toward his son. Tears rimmed his eyes as he realized what his son was asking him. "I have a life . . ."

"Please, father. I have missed you and I do not want us to lose any more time together."

Without another word, Matthew simply smiled and nodded.

****

The trip back home proved uneventful. The two older Caines arrived and entered customs without any trouble.

"I shall see about getting a taxi," Kwai Chang said. "I am glad you had retained your citizenship and your birth certificate so you could acquire a U.S. passport from the embassy. It is good to have you home, Father."

At that moment, a man approached Kwai Chang Caine and handed him a note. He opened the sheet of paper, read what was inside, then looked around for the man to reply but he was gone.

"Father, you had better go on to Chinatown without me. There is something I must do."

Kwai Chang Caine left his father standing by the baggage claim. As Matthew watched his son depart, he wondered what could have caused his son to leave so quickly. Though the question was soon dismissed as he realized that he too had been the same way. Whatever it was, he would find out later. After Matthew Caine had gathered up his belongings and headed out to the curb to flag a taxi, he could not help overhearing a conversation regarding a certain newly-made young Shaolin.

"Jordie, are you sure this is what you want?"

"I don't know, Kelly. Everything has been turned upside down since Peter became Shaolin. I don't know what I want any more. We've had some great times, but lately, all we ever do is argue. I need some time away to think. You know how it is with Peter. He just can't help playing the white knight and trying to protect everyone, even if that person can take care of him or herself."

"Sure, I understand. He's a wonderful guy, but he can certainly drive you crazy with his stunts."

"Well, if you think it was bad when he was a cop, think again. Spider Sects, Shadow Assassins, Singh Wah, it's getting to a point where I can't handle it any more. I don't know what other danger could be lurking in the background to kill him or even me for just associating with him. I need some time away where nobody has ever heard of Shaolin priests and other such things."

"I guess I don't blame you. I'll walk you to your plane."

Matthew shook his head as the two women moved into the terminal. Poor Peter. He could certainly sympathize with much of what the young women were going through. It had been the same for himself. Only Kwai Chang's mother, Su Ling, had been strong enough to face whatever came their way. He hoped that someday his grandson would find such a woman. Just at that moment, the taxi pulled up and Matthew was soon on his way to Chinatown and to his grandson's apartment.

End of Part 1