Spider's Bite
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Peter paced the floor nervously. His father was in with Mrs. Chow. There just was not much he could do at the moment. He still did not have the patience to deal with certain things, and this was one of them. His father told him that he needed to keep calm, but Peter was not one to keep calm so easily under the circumstances. Though he tried to help his father with preparations, Caine in the end had to ask Peter to leave. The disturbance in Peter's qi was even trying him. It seemed like hours since his father went upstairs to help Mrs. Chow. Mr. Chow sat in the living room, his face a mask, his eyes staring straight ahead. Perhaps there was something he could do.
"Mr. Chow?" Peter approached the man on the couch and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Can I make you a cup of tea?" The man did not respond so Peter called again. "Mr. Chow?"
"Huh? What?" Mr. Chow jumped suddenly and came out of his trance.
"Can I get you a cup of tea?" Peter asked a second time.
"Sure," Mr. Chow said, though his eyes never left the area of the stairs.
Suddenly, all faces turned upward as the sound of an infant crying out its first displeasure came down from above. Peter turned toward Mr. Chow, a broad grin appearing on his face. Tears of joy threatened to spill as Mr. Chow also returned that grin. Soon enough, there were light footsteps on the stairs and Peter saw his father descend. His sleeves were rolled up and he was wiping his hands on a small hand towel.
"You may go to your wife, Mr. Chow. You have a healthy new son."
"Thank you, Master Caine," Mr. Chow bowed with deep respect and gratitude then turned toward Peter. "Thank you for being here as well, Master Peter." Then Mr. Chow was bounding up the stairs taking them two at a time.
"Wow, a new baby." Peter said with astonishment. "How were you able to . . ." Peter was not able to finish asking his question when there was a frantic knock on the Chow's front door.
"Master Caine, are you there?"
Kwai Chang Caine crossed through the foyer and upon opening the door, saw that it was Mr. Lee, one of the elders of the community. Mr. Lee was also an apothecary, but not as skilled as the Ancient. That thought suddenly had Caine's heart racing without Mr. Lee having to say another word.
"Peter, grab my pouch. We must hurry."
"Pop, what's up?" Peter asked with concern.
"Can you not sense it?" Caine asked in return.
Peter reached out with his Shaolin senses as his father requested and his eyes became wide. He sensed an evil presence, one that he had felt before, but this time someone else's life was in danger. Peter snatched up his father's pouch and was quickly out the door. "I'll drive you. It will be faster."
Caine did not question his son's wisdom. Perhaps by driving they might save at least five minutes. That was five minutes more that the Ancient would have and perhaps the difference on whether he might live or die.
Continues with Part 2
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2002.
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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