Soulmates Beyond Time
"Come." Mai Chi commanded. "We must search."
"What is it we are looking for?" the doctor was getting frustrated. All this was very confusing and he still wasn't ready to admit that he was wrong about Sing Ling's condition.
"A game board."
"What does this have to do with Sing Ling?"
"Haven't you listened?"
"No one has told me anything."
"The game causes evil intentions. It is an instrument used for evil purposes."
"You have to be kidding."
"No." The serious look on Mai Chi's face caused the doctor to listen more closely.
"How is that possible?"
"Have you heard of Wei Ch'i?"
"Only in stories. He was suppose to be some kind of warlord who would play games for the souls of others. That was hundreds of years ago."
"Wei Ch'i exists. He has the Emperor's soul. The Shaolin are here to stop him. But they need
our help in finding the board game. That is how he controls his victims. Come. We do not have much time."
Lo Si continued to watch over Sing Ling. With his skills as an apothecary, he knew what herbs
and roots could be used to prolong the life of another. It was how he kept his own life going so he could see the reuniting of father and son. Soon he would have to give up that life but not right now. It was not time yet. Lo Si checked Sing Ling's vital signs. They were beginning to weaken again. Quickly Lo Si assessed the situation and left the Temple. It was necessary that he search and retrieve the ingredients as quickly as possible. Lo Si went back into the village and headed to the ruined house. He made his way to the area that was the workroom and placed his hands upon one of the still existing panels. It slid back with ease after all this time. Lo Si reached in and pulled out several small ceramic jars. These he placed in an existing basket that was also hidden in the space. The space had been lined with pitch making it waterproof. Then the space had been lined with metal protecting it further from the elements. After retrieving all the jars and some other items, he carried the basket back to the temple. He asked one of the young guards to set up a bench near the young Emperor and then he began to work. The herbs and roots Lo Si needed he hoped they kept their potency. Even if they had weakened over time, it would be enough to help Sing Ling until Lo Si could search the surrounding countryside for fresh herbs.
Peter came by at that moment carrying the necessary items for him to begin his journey. He
noticed the many small jars and items that Lo Si had set up. Where had they come from? It wasn't like they brought a whole lot of items with them. Peter thought to ask him but instead concentrated on what he needed to do. Peter found a quiet space off to one side and set the candles down in a circle. A small bowl for the Jasmine scented incense was placed within. He thought about placing a small rug in the center but thought better of it. The cold stone would help to keep him cool while the candles surrounding him heated up the space. At that moment, he hoped that Mai Chi and the doctor would succeed in their search. He knew it was going to be tough to defeat We Ch'i if the Board was not found quickly. Peter stepped within the circle. He placed the incense within the bowl and then he proceeded to use his hand to heat each candle till they ignited. He lit the jasmine scented incense last. As the smoke rose to encircle him, Peter settled down in a full lotus position and breathed deeply. The incense brought images of his mother and father and their life together. A pang of sadness came to him but he quickly suppressed it. Somehow he knew that his father had failed in his search for Laura, his wife and Peter's mother. Knowing the truth did not make it easy. Images continued to play before him as he sank deeper into meditation. What images he saw, he filed away for future viewing to ask his father about them later when they would meet, again. Slowly Peter relaxed. His breathing became shallow and slow. Then suddenly, his Chi was propelled outward. The journey began.
Mai Chi and the doctor searched. It was getting frustrating. Every door they opened proved
fruitless. All they found were rooms of old furniture or crates containing unknown items. There had to be a place where someone was playing the game. It took them nearly an hour to search the underground complex.
"This is fruitless. We have not found anything. What makes you think it would be here?"
"Master Caine sensed that the Game was being played here."
"He is a stranger. What makes you think he would know where to look?"
"He is Shaolin."
"That does not answer my question."
"You seem to be in doubt."
"I am a doctor. The old stories are just that old stories. The Shaolin are just like Buddhists. They have no special powers. They are just priests that sit around all day and meditate."
"How do you explain Master Caine helping the emperor?"
"Anyone with knowledge of chinese herbs and medicine could have done it. I only let him help
because there was no one else."
"So what you said back there was not the truth."
"Let's continue to search." The doctor was becoming very uncomfortable with the line of
questioning. It was not that he did not have any faith in the old ways, it was because he trusted modern methods more. The old ways had their place but not within his practice.
Suddenly they were back within the original corridor they had searched first. A door appeared at the end of the hall that was not there before. Mai Chi approached it with caution. Slowly she opened the door and peered in. In the center of the room the game sat. Six figures could be seen on the board. Mai Chi recognized at least three of the figures. The others were unknown to her. Suddenly from the side one of the person's playing the game came at her. The person was dressed as a monk in the old style. He was wielding a sword, trying to stop her from interrupting the game. When she tried to counteract the move, a second person came from the other direction. This person was dressed in regular street clothes. He was carrying a spear and tried to thrust it into her. Without thinking Mai Chi countered with a back kick that she never knew she knew. The doctor was frozen with fear at first; not sure how to react. He was not trained in the martial arts. Suddenly it occurred to him what needed to be done. While Mai Chi was busy trying to fend off her attackers, the doctor ran to the board and tipped it over onto the floor. Then he took a nearly club and began breaking each of the figurines. At the same time the doctor began smashing the board, Mai Chi cried out. The monk with the sword had made contact with her side, cutting into her. But as soon as all was destroyed, the monk and the unknown man from the street woke from their trancelike state. Both did not know where they were. The monk was also horrified at what he had done. The doctor ran to Mai Chi's side.
"Quickly. We must stop the flow of blood."
"Here." the monk handed the doctor his sash to use to bind the wound. They needed to get Mai
Chi to surgery.
"Take me to the Ancient."
"You need surgery. I need to take you to a hospital"
"No. If you take me to a hospital, the injury would have to be reported. The emperor and his
followers helped me escaped from the prison. The soldiers could find me and arrest me, again.
The Ancient is an apothecary. He can help me."
"Very well. Maybe he can give you something for the pain. I will see if there is something in my bag I can use to stitch you up."
With the aid of the monk and the stranger, the doctor carried Mai Chi back to the great hall.
****
Peter arrived within the world of Wei Ch'i. Mist surrounded him on all sides. Soon he found
himself within a temple similar to the Shaolin temple but darker. The Gamemaster waited at the top of the stairs.
"Your game has ended. The spell has been broken."
"You may have stopped one game Shaolin, but another still continues. She is with the other and is no longer a part of your world. As for the Emperor. You are too late. He is in the Bardo awaiting his turn. As for you, you will never leave here. This is my world."
Peter thought on Wei Ch'i's words. Peter tried not to let on that what the Gamemaster said
disturbed him.
"We shall see." Peter positioned himself in the cat stance.
Wei Ch'i came forward brandishing a staff. Peter countered and soon had the GameMaster
disarmed. The GameMaster tried to take Peter out but Peter was centered and prepared. Each
move that the Gamemaster made was countered. He had underestimated this Shaolin. As quickly as it began, Wei Ch'i again found himself defeated as he had been defeated by another Shaolin twice before. Then he disappeared calling to the young priest.
"There will be another time, Shaolin. You cannot win every time."
Peter's chi slammed back into his body with such force he was knocked out. The taste of bitter strong tea was in his mouth. He woke to Lo Si staring down at him.
"How is Sing Ling?"
"I take it you defeated Wei Ch'i?"
"Yes, but it won't be the last. What about Sing Ling?"
"He has not woke from his comma. I have tried all I can." The sound of failure was in Lo Si's
voice.
"The GameMaster said he was in the Bardo. We're going to have to rescue him. We'll need Mai
Chi."
"That may constitute a problem?"
"What do you mean?"
"She has been injured."
"What?!?" The alarm in Peter's voice frightened even him. Images of the first temple and Mai Chi of the past came to him. She also had been injured. She laid in a coma. Peter had been reluctant to leave her but he had no choice. I will not loose her, again, he thought. "Take me to her."
Lo Si took Peter to where Mai Chi lay. Peter sat next to her. It was too much like the last time. Tears came to his eyes. He found without knowing that in some way, he and this woman were connected through not only their chi but their souls. He could not loose her. Their life together was just beginning, again. It was as if their two souls were always destined to be together and yet circumstances and time kept them apart only to be met again and again in other lifetimes.
Lo Si could see the distress in Peter's face and eyes. Gently he laid a hand on the young man's
shoulder. "It will be all right, young Caine. She is only sleeping. The wound that she received was not fatal."
The words barely registered but Peter felt some relief at what Lo Si said. But the situation with Sing Ling still remained.
"Lo Si, I need to go into the Bardo."
Lo Si was surprised at hearing that. "You are still recovering from your ordeal with the
Gamemaster. Is that wise?"
"I must. He can still die if I don't."
"You will need the strength of another to help you. I will be that other."
"Thank you Lo Si."
"For now, you must rest. I will prepare some herbs to strengthen your chi and the emperors."
Peter found a corner and laid down. The Ancient was right. He needed rest. The fight with Wei Ch'i had drained him more than he would admit. The next fight would certainly be just as
draining. His last thoughts were of Kermit and his father and how they were as he fell asleep.
End Part 12
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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