Soulmates Beyond Time
"POP!" Peter screamed out his father's name as pain shot through him. Tears ran down his face
and he curled himself into a ball.
"Master Caine!" Mai Chi called to Peter but he did not hear her.
"Peter!" Lo Si quickly came to Peter's side. "Wake up!. You are having a nightmare."
Mai Chi and Lee Chin watched with concern as the young Shaolin was stricken from some unseen source.
"Pop." Peter's voice became a whisper as tears continued to fall. It did not seem possible that he could feel his father's pain. Ever since he took the brands, his link to his father became stronger. Though they were hundreds of thousands of miles apart, it was as if they were in the same room.
"Peter." Lo Si continued to try to get his attention. He then placed his hand on Peter's forehead and felt the growing fever. This was odd. Peter was reacting to whatever was happening to his father. Lo Si marveled at the bond between these two. Never in his life did he see such a bond, except maybe when he was younger. Another Caine and son had been just as close until tragedy also struck. Suddenly the fever was gone as quickly as it had come and Peter relaxed. His eyes fluttered open.
"It's over." Peter's breathing was haggard. *Pop, are you all right?*
Peter tried to contact his father through the link but found a wall between them. Wei Ch'i must have somehow isolated them. All he could tell was that his father lived. Peter sensed that his father had suffered greatly but somehow had been saved. How he was able to feel the pain of torture was yet beyond him. The Gamemaster did indicate this was a test solely for him. His father could not interfere or even help in this situation. But maybe there was another way. Peter knew that through dreams communication could happen. If there was a way, he would try to communicate to his father.
"Young Caine, you are worried."
"Yes. I don't know how it was possible but I felt my father's pain. He was being whipped by
Jordan. I sent Kermit to try and stop her. I am assuming that he was able to because I can still tell that my father's alive."
"Jordan? The young woman you were seeing at one time? Why would she go after your father?"
"I . . .do not know. She would not have admitted it but I think she really did not like the idea of
me becoming a Shaolin. As long as I was a cop, we had something in common. Her actions were not totally her own. Wei Ch'i is controlling her through the game just as he's controlling Sing Ling. I dreamed that Jordan would do this. Speaking of the game, we need to break camp and get going. I'm beginning to recognize this area. This feels like the area where that warlord's camp was that Pop and I ran into. We should be nearing the first temple."
The small group broke camp and headed in the direction of the temple. Peter was amazed at how the memory of this place was coming to the forefront. He was also amazed at how time had not stood still in that place as well. Young trees that he had seen had grown into ancient giants. The hills in the distance that were once wilderness had rice paddies stepping down them. As they aproached, Peter remembered the village that had been near the temple. Concern for their safety played on his face soon to be abolished after viewing what was left. A once thriving village was now in ruins. Only a few inhabited but dilapidated buildings were left. The villagers that remained were old men stooped from back breaking work.
"This way." Lee Chin lead the small band through the village and turned down one of the streets.
Peter slowed when he recognized the now empty and ruined house. Two of the walls had fallen revealing the interior. This had been the old apothecary's home. The one that Peter had mistaken for Lo Si.
Lo Si had seen Peter stop to gaze at one of the buildings. He smiled to himself as he watched. Peter was deep in remembering his travels to this place. Soon Peter realized the group was waiting for him and he continued.
Lee Chin made his way to where they could enter the temple without being seen. Peter remembered that it had been the very same entrance that Mai Chi of the past had led the villagers to escape the warlord and his men. Peter caught himself looking over at the present woman within their midst. So much like her and yet this Mai Chi was younger, closer to his own age. Peter barely had time to stop and think about who this Mai Chi was and what they might mean to each other. He was also wondering why she was not being affected by Wei Ch'i's influence. The Gamemaster must have a plan to use her in some way not foreseen.
The small group entered within not making a sound. Peter was again brought back to the time
when his father and him, through the sword of Kwai Chang, came to this place. The temple had
not changed much except for it's feeling of abandonment. The once worn paths from monks' bare feet were overgrown with weeds. The fountain in the courtyard was devoid of water. The great statues were smashed and rain had washed many of their color and features away. The great hall stood empty. Within the rooms, dust covered everything. No furniture remained. The wood long decomposed from wood eating insects. The candles that warmed this place had long been burned to nothingness. A deep sadness came over Peter. This was where it all began. It felt wrong in some way that this temple in it's own way had also been destroyed of its spirit. Even here, Peter felt at home. Maybe because it had felt much like his own temple home in California. Peter vowed some day to bring his father here and hoped that the young emperor when he came into his own would help restore this sacred space.
"Come we need to go this way." Lee Chin directed them to a secret door hidden in what had been the artifacts room. A stairway led down. Here there were torches. Peter was surprised at learning this existed. He remembered that his own temple in California had a similar space for keeping artifacts. As a boy he had spied on the adults and learned of its existence. With two of his friends, they discovered the musical instruments hidden there. Peter smiled at the memory. His father catching them there, the lame excuse he had given him, and then his father taking the guitar from him and playing it as well. Was it possible there was a stairway below that room as well?
Lee Chin led them down and soon they came upon three men. Quickly they responded guarding their path. Lee Chin gave them the necessary information. The three guarding the space leading to other areas became surprised at seeing Peter and Lo Si. They questioned Lee Chin not sure whether to believe him. Peter without having to be coached or having their words translated, pulled up his sleeves. Lo Si also did the same. The guards watched in fascination as the brands on both men's arms danced in the light of the torches. Suddenly each guard came forward and bowed deeply. Tears came to their eyes at the prospect of there being Shaolin within their midst. It was the sign they had been wating for.
*****
Note: being in China, and not in mixed foreign company the characters will be speaking Chinese
but regular quotes will be used.
******
"Take us to the Emperor." Peter spoke in his now more fluent Chinese.
One of the guards bowed again and they followed. Peter took in his surrounding and tried to make sure he could find his way by using his Shaolin training of observation and awareness of the space. He was impressed that here were many other rooms deep under the temple that could be used. Was it possible that the Shaolin in China could still exist but hidden from the world underground within the destroyed temples? Did all temples have such a place or only certain ones? Peter recalled the old Shaolin hiding in the shrine. Just how many secret Shaolin were there in China waitng to be free again to practice their arts? The guard that led them entered what looked like a replica of the great hall. At the top of the stairs Sing Ling was laying on a daybed surrounded by worried faces. One in particular wore a stethescope, obviously a doctor. He was checking Sing Ling's heart. The guard led them to the base of the stairs and signaled for the men to halt by blocking their continued path with the spear that he carried. It was Mai Chi who approached the emperor and the doctor.
"I have brought them." The doctor eyes were cast down. A sadness was there.
"You are too late."
"No. He is still alive." It was Peter who spoke.
"I have just checked his heart. It beats too slowly. He will be dead within the hour. Who are you to question me?"
"He is Shaolin." As Mai Chi spoke, Peter raised his arms to show the brands.
"What can he do? The Shaolin do not exist anymore. They were destroyed years ago."
"I am Shaolin." Peter said gently and humbly. "I am Peter Caine, son of Kwai Chang Caine,
descendant of Kwai Chang. Let me help."
The doctor looked at Peter doubtfully but something told him that he must trust this man. He
nodded. Peter mounted the steps and approached Sing Ling. As he came closer, he pulled out a
small leather pouch from the larger. From inside he pulled some dried herbs and placed them into Sing Ling's mouth.
"What is that?" the doctor became suspicious.
"It will help to strengthen his Chi." Lo Si spoke up. The doctor was surprised as if he had not
noticed the old man before.
"Who are you?"
"They call me the Ancient."
The doctor also noticed that this old man had the same marks on his arms. Maybe the legends
were true. Maybe there were still Shaolin in the world.
"Check his heart again." Peter spoke this time.
The doctor placed his scope upon the young emperor's chest. It was beating more strongly but it was still weak. Whatever the young man had given him had worked.
"I do not know what to say? You bare the marks of a Shaolin but you do not look . . ."
"Just because my head isn't shaven and I'm not wearing robes does not mean I am not what I say I am. Do not judge a person on their appearance alone."
"Forgive me. I did not mean to offend."
"You did not offend me. There is always a chance to learn a lesson. Now, there is more that
needs doing here. Lo Si, could you keep an eye on Sing Ling? Mai Chi, you will need to do a
search of this underground temple while I need to go to the source. I will need a place where I can concentrate and where I will not be disturbed. Candles and incense will be needed. Jasmine would be preferred."
"What is it you are looking for and why will you need these things?" the doctor asked confusion on his face. It was obvious the others knew what this was all about. He did not like being in the dark.
"To answer the first question, a very unusual board game. And the second, I intent to go to the
source."
"The source of what?"
"Everything." was all Peter would say on the matter.
End Part 11
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2000.
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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