Spider's Bite
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*Cough, cough, cough* Kermit could feel his lungs clearing as clean fresh oxygen was pumped through his nose and mouth. "Matthew! Where are you?" he called through the mask that was covering his face. *Cough, cough, cough*
"Take it easy fella," someone said. "You nearly died from smoke inhalation. You need to keep still. We'll take you to the hospital for treatment."
"No." *Cough, cough, cough* "Must find Matthew," Kermit struggled to rise from the gurney they had placed him on, his voice a harsh hoarse whisper due to smoke damage.
"Please Kermit, do as the paramedics say. You need to rest." Someone said and tried to push the ex-mercenary back down.
"But Matthew . . ."
"Matthew is safe, he got out," another voice stated. It was Blake. "The paramedics are treating him. He wasn't as badly off as you."
Kermit leaned back to finally notice another Shaolin sitting beside him, his clothes covered with ashes and soot.
"Caine, what are you doing here?"
"He's the one that got you out," Blake stated. "You're both lucky to be alive. He walked right through that blasted inferno like it was a walk in the park."
"What about the members of the order?" Kermit stated.
"We've only rounded up a few."
"Did you check for a large number of male black widow spiders?" Caine questioned.
"Spiders? He's got to be kidding right?" Blake stated.
Kermit shook his head, "No. They turn into spiders so they can slip away. I've seen it happen."
"Okay, we'll check the grounds one more time, but I doubt if we'll find anything."
"Kermit, where is my son?" Caine gently questioned the prone ex-mercenary. "He was not at your home."
"Caine and I came by as soon as we could," Karen Simms approached. "We checked your apartment, but no one was there."
"He thought it was best to move Peter before putting on our little charade."
Caine gave Kermit a questioning look, "Who . . ."
"Meng Xupin. He said he was a friend."
Caine shook his head, his eyes still betraying his confusion.
"You mean you don't know this guy?"
"No, I do not."
"We better get back there, Peter could still be in danger." Kermit stated and once again tried to rise, this time succeeding in sitting up. He was nearly to his feet when one of the paramedics once again tried to force him back on the gurney.
"You're not going anywhere, Mister. You need to get to a hospital."
"And I'll put you in the hospital if you don't let me go," Kermit growled back, his voice more menacing with the rough treatment it received from the smoke.
"Better let him go," Karen stated. 'I'll take responsibility."
"I will make certain he gets some rest," Caine stated.
"All right. I can't do anything if he refuses any treatment. If he has any difficulty, you bring him to the hospital right away."
"Come on, I'll take you to Peter," Kermit stated.
As Kermit got up to leave, he then saw Matthew. He had been sitting quietly on the grass meditating under a nearby tree, and looking no worse for wear himself. Kermit watched as Caine approached Matthew and helped him to his feet then pulled him in a deep embrace. It was a touching scene that Kermit did not want to disturb, but with the Black Widow order destroyed, it was time to collect their other wayward Shaolin.
"Come on you two, Peter's waiting."
Kermit found his car where he left it and climbed inside. The car would be cramped for three people until Karen pulled up in her sedan.
"Come on Matthew. We can follow Kermit."
As the two cars pulled away from the mansion and headed back to Chinatown, no one spotted the small eight-legged creature that clung to the back bumper of Karen Simm's car.
Continues with Part 40
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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