Prodigal Son
Please see the disclaimer on the Synopsis page.
Peter Caine peered into the cargo trailer. The inky blackness shrouded his vision, making it impossible to see if anyone was even in the trailer.
"I can't see inside," Peter turned back to where Sarah stood.
"She's probably toward the back. She might be bound and gagged."
Peter turned once again to peer into the trailer. Something about this did not feel right. If this is where his sister was, where were all the guards that Masterson would have set? He should have at least had heard something to indicate if his sister was even inside. He was certain it was a trap, but he had to check it out just to make sure.
As he stepped beyond the threshold, something caught his eye. It looked like a bundle, but it was too small to be a person. Even so, something about that bundle looked familiar. He moved forward to pick it up and just as Peter did, the trap was sprung. The huge doors of the cargo trailer were slammed shut.
'Damn, I knew I should have brought a flashlight. At least I could have checked it out without going inside,' Peter berated himself for falling into such an easy trap.
Peter could hear the sound of padlocks being clicked into place.
"Hey! What's going on?"
Peter heard the sound of a large engine being started.
"That's not good."
Then he felt his stomach lurch as the cargo trailer started to move. Panic started to set in as he realized the trailer was being lifted into the air. He did his best to try to keep his balance, but the swaying of the trailer knocked him off his feet. Suddenly he felt himself floating in mid air, just for an instance. It was as if he was levitating, but it ended just as abruptly as it began as the trailer came crashing down.
Peter recognized the sound as large amounts of water being displaced from the trailer entering the bay.
"That's really not good," Peter said out loud, trying to gulp down the lump that had formed in his throat.
For a few more minutes, the trailer was floating, but all too quickly, Peter felt his feet grow cold and wet as water started to fill the trailer.
Peter felt the panic rise as he realized that this could be his last moment on earth. His mind was numb with fear, until he felt the reassuring presence of his father's chi.
*My son, you must calm your chi*
"Pop?" Peter spoke out loud.
*Remember the prism.*
"Remember the prism, I can't see a DAMN thing in this place!" Peter shouted, even though he knew his voice would never reach his father. For some reason it made him feel less scared, but the wetness continued to creep up further, it was quickly covering his legs as the container was rapidly filling with water.
"Hey! Hey! Anyone out there!" Peter banged on the sealed doors of the trailer. "Looks like you're on your own Caine," Peter said out loud.
Peter swallowed the panic that was quickly rising to the surface. A saying from Woody Allen's Ants "He who panics is lost," reminded him that he must remain calm if he had any hope of escaping this predicament. He then remembered being trapped in a cell filled with venomous snakes, and how he had escaped.
Peter waded through the rising water until he reached what he thought was the center of the sinking trailer. Then he moved forward until he was touching one of the panels. He felt for s seam and sure enough, he found where water was leaking through.
'That's got to be at least one of the weakest points,' he thought. He closed his eyes and reached out with his chi. In his mind he saw the trailer wall. Then he saw the wall grow thinner, unsubstantial as paper. Then the wall dissolved. He felt himself going forward, wading through the water until he was floating, treading water to keep afloat. When he turned back toward the trailer, Peter Caine was indeed treading water, and looking up into a brilliant morning sky.
Peter Caine put some distance between him and the sinking trailer. It wasn't long before he saw the top of the trailer sink below the surface. Anger and embarrassment filled him for having fallen for such an easy trap. He didn't feel the cold of the bay seeping into his bones, but quickly realized he needed to get to the dock, so he started swimming.
"There he is!"
Peter felt two pairs of hands reach down and help him to climb out of the bay's cold water. A blanket was being wrapped around his shoulders.
"Kermit, Donny, am I glad to see you two. How did you know I was out here?"
"Uh, it was Donny who knew," Kermit stated. "I can't take credit for this one."
"Lula had this strange dream, said you were in trouble and told me to come down to the docks."
"Really, I didn't know Lula was Shaolin," Peter jested.
"Well anyway, I came down here to warn you, but I was too late. I saw what happened and quickly got Mr. Shades here . . ."
"Watch it Double D, I've killed for less," Kermit growled under his breath.
Ignoring the warning between Kermit and Donny, Peter said, "Sarah Masterson is working with her brother."
"What! You mean Masterson is back in town? Why haven't I heard anything about it?"
"Where have you been the last few days?" Peter threw back the question.
"On vacation, and point taken. Let's get you back to your father's for some dry clothes than go see Captain Simms. We've got a real problem on our hands."
"There's more, Kermit," Peter said, his voice grim and serious.
"What is it?"
"Masterson has Kelly, my sister."
"It's worse."
Continues with Part 15
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2006.
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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