Soulmates Beyond Time
Peter dreamed of his mother. She was holding him in his arms and rocking him. He might have been about a year old. He could smell the jasmine perfume on her skin. Her long light auburn hair fell across her face. He felt safe within her arms. There was warmth and love that reached out to him to calm him to sleep. In his dream, his mother was singing to him.
Sleep my child and peace attend you all through the night.
I who love you shall be near you all through the night.
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, hill and vale in slumber sleeping
I my loving vigil keeping all through the night.
Peter could also hear the sound of a flute playing that same tune and realized it was his father. His father came into view in the dream and Peter reached to try to grab the flute from his father's hands. His mother continued to sing.
Mother I can feel you near me all through the night.
Father I know you can here me all through the night.
And when I am your age nearly, still I remember clearly
How you sang and held me dearly all through the night.
The sound of the flute and his mother's voice was strong and Peter nearly cried out in his sleep from the deep sadness it invoked. A gentle hand reached out and touched his brow and the sadness went away replaced with warmth and light. The sound of the flute continued its tune and Peter's forgotten memories finished the rest of the words.
While the moon her watch is keeping all through the night.
While one half the world is sleeping all through the night.
Even now the sun comes stealing, visions of the day revealing
breaths a pure and holy feeling all through the night.
Then the flute changed and it took on a song of greeting. The coolness of the night was giving
way to the dawn. Birds were beginning to join in the song. Then the flute stopped just for a
minute and the sound of something being ignited came to Peter's hears and the smell of smoke
came to his nose. Then the flute continued in its searching and this time, the sound became one of deep joy and pride as Peter slowly came awake. As Peter woke, he realized the music had not been a part of his dream. He also woke with the feeling of something warming his face and found himself by the fire that Lo Si had made last night and that his father reignited that morning. At first Peter wondered how he got there. Then he realized his father must have woken up earlier and found him laying against the cold stone of the marker. Taking the blankets, his father must have wrapped him in both of them and carried him up to the shelter of the temple.
Kwai Chang Caine smiled as he saw his son was awake. It had been a long time since they sat by a fire or fallen asleep together as they had last night. Kwai Chang was grateful for the comforting arms of his son. He had not realized just how much emotion he had held back since the death of his wife. When he woke, he found that he had fallen asleep with his head in his son's lap. This was a complete reversal from the many times when Peter was a young child. Even when Laura was alive, he remembered the many times she would rock Peter to sleep and sing a specific tune. He remembered it now because she tried to teach it to him. He would listen and soon he would try to pick up each word with a note on his flute. Sometimes he would join her by playing his flute while she would sing. After her death, it was Kwai Chang's turn to do the carrying. At first it was difficult. Peter did not understand why his mother was no longer there to hold him. Over time, Kwai Chang found a way to embrace his son and in so doing, his son accepted the change and they became closer for it. It had been only a few months after Laura's death. Peter had been especially difficult that day and to top it off, a thunderstorm had moved into the area and Peter had become very frightened and would not go to sleep. Kwai Chang picked him up and sat in the rocker that his wife would use and began humming the song that Laura would sing to Peter. It was during that night Kwai Chang began to develop the bond between them. Letting his son know in his own way that he was there. His mother may have been gone but his father would remain until that fateful day when terror came and 15 years would pass to reunite them again.
Kwai Chang began to pick up the pieces of his life as best he could and with the aid of the other monks at the Temple continued to care for his son It wasn't long before they settled into a life there. He did not know how long it took until Peter finally settled into his warm embrace and accepted him as his primary caregiver. He only remembered that one day, Peter snuggled close feeling secure and protected. Even now, when Kwai Chang carried his son up to the ruins of the Temple, Peter had not stirred but reacted in the same way, snuggling close to feel the warmth and security. In many ways, Peter was still that little boy and always would be. Kwai Chang marveled at how his son had grown over the years from the child he once knew, to that frightened angry young man he met 15 years later that was the cop, and now to the strong and gentle soul that was the priest. Without a word, Kwai Chang came and sat next to his son and handed him a cup of tea. It was then that Caine noticed that Peter had become aware of Ping Hai's absence. Ping Hai had gone to gather herbs that grew among the ruins. It was an excuse so that father and son could be alone.
"He's feeling bad about what happened." It was a statement.
"Yes. He feels responsible in some way."
"It wasn't his fault."
"He knows that Peter. He needs time to forgive himself."
"I really don't understand how someone could do that. To trick him into thinking . . ."
"I should have realized from the beginning. The images were too much alike. There was no
evidence of aging."
Peter tried to change the subject. Looking down at his hands, he quietly asked the question he had wanted to know for so long.
"How did mother die?"
"She became ill with cancer that could not be treated. I tried to prolong her life, even tried to cure her in my arrogance as a young apothecary. I did not know enough. I could not stop her decline. In the end, I held her in my arms and she simply fell asleep and died soon after that."
"Did she suffer?"
"No. I gave her some herbs for the pain. It was all I could do."
"When you showed me the photo, you said that maybe she was alive, that her death did not
happen. That in some way, we were denying that she was alive. I am confused. How could she
be alive if she died in your arms?"
"I do not know. When I saw the photograph, I wanted her to be alive even though I knew she
was dead. I believed at the time the woman in the photograph may have had her essence. I had to know the truth. She looked so much like your mother on the day that we met. I was blinded by my own need to know that I let myself walk into a trap."
"You mean the woman in the photograph was part of that setup?"
"Yes. As soon as we left the safety of the park, and turned down a blind ally, Jordan made her
move and the young woman vanished. I was led into a trap. I could not stop it from happening."
"Don't berate yourself, Pop. You did not know. I should have realized there was more to my
dream than just mother calling out to me. I saw Jordan within a giant web, trapped and yet she did not struggle. I also dreamed of the attack on you, but by then you were already gone. I couldn't warn you. So I sent Kermit. By then Wei Ch'i had started whatever game he was planning. Except for the dream where Jordan was trapped in that web, I never thought this would happen. I should have realized she was in some kind of trouble, too."
"You fear she maybe forever lost within the Blackwidow Sect."
"Yes. Mother may have been trying to warn me but I didn't act. It's funny. I feel as if she's near me, ever since I went into the Bardo to bring you back. It's as if she was communicating to me through my dreams. Letting me know that there was trouble, especially for Jordan."
"You may be right, my son. Dreams can be very powerful. Even when you were a child, your dreams would tell you things that others would not foresee. You dreamed of the temple's destruction two months before it happened. I should have listened. You should have told me about Jordan. We might have been able to interpret the dream if we had known it's full story."
"I don't know if it would have done any good. In the dream, Jordan looked like she just gave up. She was trapped and there was no way out."
"Maybe, but when Jordan did not succeed in her attack, I saw fear and anguish in her eyes. A part of her wanted release and another part hungered for something more. The part that wanted released was quickly covered with a veil. The truth was hidden from me."
Peter was surprised by his father's words. His powers as a Shambhala master were greater than his but Peter was not expecting this. If a Shambhala master could not see the truth, what hope was there for Jordan?
"Under normal circumstances, I would have seen the truth. But I had been poisoned by Jordan's whip. The attack was sudden and unexpected. I did not feel her presence before it was too late. It had weakened me greatly. I am grateful you sent Kermit. Without Kermit there, Jordan could have succeeded. You did the right thing, and I am proud of you."
"So where do we go from here?"
"I . . . do not know." Kwai Chang stared out into space. The thought of wandering the earth for his Laura's essence seemed to wear down his spirit.
"There's no need for you to wander, Pop. Mother has always been here with us. Besides, you have a home waiting for you in Chinatown. And, well, I could use your help in teaching me how to be an apothecary. We made a pretty good team when I was a cop, why stop now. I've missed you and the way you would impart some cryptic message to me."
Peter had read his father's thoughts as plainly as if he had spoken them. The tears that were evident in Peter's eyes that threatened to shed, were tears of a son that missed the presence of his father, not from fear of abandonment but from deep love and admiration. Peter wanted his father to continue in the role as teacher. Kwai Chang found that his heart was truly blessed for having such a son.
Ping Hai cleared his throat. It was time, he thought, that they should be returning. The morning was growing old and the noontime would soon be upon them. Suddenly they heard noises coming up the road.
"What could that be? I hope it is not another mob like the last time."
Ping Hai positioned himself so he could defend himself with ease. He was not about to face another confrontation with the townspeople of Braniff.
"I do not think we are in any danger." Kwai Chang said. He saw and recognized who was leading the group. They approached the three men and stopped just short of what was left of the temple steps.
"I thought I saw you coming into town. Hello Caine. It's good to see you."
"Rachael. What brings you to this place?"
"If you remember the last time, Vance tried to kill me. Without your help, he would have succeeded. I never really got to thank both of you for that. I did a lot of soul searching after that time and I finished the shrine. I'd hoped you would come back to see it. In fact, many of the monks from the old temple had been by since it was finished."
"I am pleased to hear it. I had some other things that needed attention before I could come."
Suddenly Rachael caught her breath. "I don't believe it. Ping Hai. Is it really you?"
Ping Hai bowed to Rachael surprised that he had been recognized.
"Oh, Michael would talk about you so much. He felt really bad when you had been taken from the temple."
"I survived." Ping Hai smiled at the memory. "They could not keep an old Shaolin down."
"Peter, it is good to see you, too." Rachael stretched out her arms and Peter came forward to grasp them.
"How's Sam?"
"Oh, he's been wonderful. He helps the monks every time they come. I think he wants to follow in his father's footsteps." It was then that Rahael noticed the brands on Peter's arms. Surprise and wonder appeared on her face. In reaction, Peter shrugged his shoulders in an imitation of his father.
"Anyway, the reason for my visit. The town has decided that they want to restore the temple.
Not because of what Vance and the others had done but because this place is a part of our history. And maybe, someday, maybe the Shaolin will come back here."
A dream thought lost was being restored. Home was being renewed and yet, Peter felt apprehensive. There was still other matters that needed to be dealt with before they could consider coming back here.
"I would like to stay and help."
"Ping Hai?"
"I need to lay to rest the ghosts of the past, my friend. It is time that you become the old apothecary of the community. Master Lee is still young. You have much to teach him. He is not a Shaolin but he will learn."
"I am honored Master that you think I am worthy but there are many who rely on your counsel."
"I am old. My time on this plane is growing short. This temple has always been a place for knowledge. Perhaps by seeing it rebuilt, new students will come. They will need more than just a shrine and the temple will need a teacher at least for a while until someone else comes along."
Ping Hai looked not at Kwai Chang but at Peter when he said that last line.
"Are you sure?" Kwai Chang feared he was not going to see the Ancient again.
"Yes. Go with your son. I believe you will be most needed there."
Peter pulled the Ancient's belongings out of the trunk. He did not want to think about the look that the Ancient had given him. But deep down he knew that someday, he would be back here. He only hoped he would not come back alone. His father on the other hand was another story. He knew that his father was not a person to stay too long in one place unless there was a reason to do so. What was in store for him, Peter could not even begin to fathom, though he suspected it would be in the form of a certain lady cop. Right now, there were other matters that needed taken care of, one in particular. How they were to free her could not be foreseen. The only thought that came to mind was the web itself. If they could find the web, severing her connection to it might save her. Peter sighed feeling somewhat guilty at what has happened. He should have realized that night that Jordan had also been targeted. The black widow that was on her back had not made any move toward him. Now, Jordan was caught within their web. Would there be a way to free her? In reality, he did not know.
End Part 16
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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