With the Chalice Comes a Miracle
Synopsis
Time Frame: Takes place before and during the Chalice of I Ching
Characters: Matthew Caine, Gary Bennett, The Ancient, Kwai Chang Caine, Peter Caine
Matthew Caine receives a miracle and discovers who it was that saved the Chalice from enemy hands.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to WB and Michael Sloan. I am just borrowing them. I promise not to damage them too much and to heal them of their wounds as quickly as possible. Any new characters that are introduced of course are my own.
I give permission to Archive.
What went on before:
"Gary, my old friend," Matthew said. "You must find someone to protect the Chalice."
"Has something happened?" Gary Bennett asked. "Is the Chalice in danger?"
Matthew did not answer his old friend at first. How could he tell him of events that have not happened and would not happen for quite some time. "I can no longer act as the Chalice's protector. And good Father Vashon is also growing older. The only one who can protect the Chalice is another Shaolin."
"But no one else knows of the Chalice. How will I get them to believe that it even exists?"
'You must find the other half of the map. It was hidden in my journal many years ago. I gave that journal to my son."
"But you said your son was dead. He perished when his temple had been destroyed."
"Yes," Mattthew concurred, his thoughts remembering when he had traveled to Braniff, California and the old priest who told him of the loss. "You must seek out the old priest. He called himself the Ancient. He may know where the journal may be found, if it survived the fire. Perhaps he also may know of a Shaolin who can help us."
I will try," said Gary. "But I do not know if I will have any luck."
Gary Bennett traversed the streets of this particular Chinatown. It had been many years since he had set foot into this kind of territory. In fact, for some odd reason, he had avoided it as if it was a plague. It wasn't because he was prejudice, it was just that the Chinese made him feel uncomfortable.
Gary was feeling weary. It had taken several weeks, almost two months before he found out where the old priest could be found. Matthew had given him very little to go on. His search, however, was nearly at an end. For several minutes now, Gary Bennett tried to get the attention
of anyone who would listen to him. Then he felt a light touch on the sleeve of his jacket. He looked around and was nearly startled as a small, frail looking, elderly Chinese was watching him. What nearly unnerved him the most was what he had said.
"You are searching for assistance for a difficult task ahead," the old man said.
Gary quickly gathered his resolve. "I'm looking for someone. A man called the Ancient?"
"You have found him," smiled the old man. "Tell me what it is you need."
"I am looking for a Shaolin priest."
"And what, pray tell, do you wish of this Shaolin priest?"
For a moment, as Gary was about to answer the old man's question, he thought he spotted someone. It looked like the same man who tried to attack him earlier at the Airport before he boarded his plane to go to America.
"Is there another place we can talk? What I have to say should really be said in private."
The Ancient lead the man down the street and through a series of twists and turns. It was as if the old man had known that someone had been watching them and was trying to throw them off their trail. How the old man knew puzzled Gary but he was not about to ask. They entered a private garden and entered the house.
"I will make tea and we will talk."
Gary sat on the worn couch and scrutinized the room. The room felt ancient like its occupant with all the different items, various containers, jars and bottles of herbal remedies, a pestle and morter, and mixing bowls. Books and scrolls littered one shelf while amongst them, a wooden box of deep cherry wood with a simple white circular design seemed to stand out, yet tried it's best to be inobtrusive in its appearance. On another shelf, brushes of bambo and horsehair could be seen sticking out of an old Chinese vase and next to it, bottles and small blocks of indigo ink could also be seen. And amongst all the clutter sat a small white microwave oven, an oddity to say the least with the rest of the decor.
As Gary was taking in the room, he had not heard the old one come in with the tray and set it down. Gary was once again startled when the old one spoke.
"Now we may speak freely of you errand," the Ancient said.
Gary quickly turned to the old man, his thoughts still a jumble, not knowing what to say. Most of all, not knowing if he could even trust this person with what he knew. It was then that he spotted a familiar shape peeking out from one of the sleeves of the old man's tunic.
"You're Shaolin," Gary said, as relief flooded into him. "You've got to help me. The Chalice is in danger."
The Ancient stared at the younger man with knowing eyes. 'It is time,' he thought, and rose from the couch in fluid motion. "Come, I will take you to him."
Gary followed the old man back into the streets of Chinatown. Unlike their previous walk, this one did not take as long as the old man led the younger to an old warehouse. They entered the building and climbed the steps to the top floor. The old one stopped and raised his hand haltng their progress.
"Wait here, I shall let him know you are here. Wait five minutes then
enter."
Gary watched the Ancient disappear into the apartment then counted off the minutes. As soon as five minutes had passed he entered. He stumbled in the hallway over discarded buckets of paint and a ladder that rested to one side. He soon heard voices and he followed their cadence until he found himself at a doorway that opened into a large room filled with light and the heady scent of various herbs. Standing in front of the windows was a tall man in shadow. Gary thought the man seemed familiar; as if he had seen that profile countless times before and knew it all too well. As the man turned toward him to greet him, his face was revealed. Gary nearly fainted. He could not believe his good fortune, and yet, he could not explain how this particular man could be alive when he had been told that he was dead. He also knew without a doubt who that face belonged to and could be no other. He was looking into the face of Kwai Chang Caine, the son of Matthew Caine.
The day before:
Gary Bennitt dialed the number.
"I have found someone who can help us. It is him. Yes, he is alive. No, I have not told him. As far as he knows, there is a third party who had asked for aid. He does not know who that third party is. I know he should be told. We will be arriving tomorrow. I will let him know then." A long pause followed as Gary Bennitt listened to the voice on the other side of the phone. "Are you sure? She is also there? I will deal with her when we arrive. I know she may not wish to see me, but perhaps this is the best time for it. The restoration people have arrived? What's that you say, they have been what? But it's the roof that needs restoring, not the foundation. What would they be doing digging around the foundation?" Another long pause. "Perhaps you are right. We will be there as soon as we can.
***
Gary Bennitt walked up the path to the cottage on the edge of the village. He knew the others waited for him at the church but he had to do this alone. He opened the door that he knew was never locked and stepped inside. Sitting in the old worn rocker was his old friend. He tried to hold in his enthusiasm as he gently woke his friend and to tell him the news.
"The Chalice is secure," the old Shaolin stated.
"How did you . . ." Gary was about to ask. "Never mind. I should know by now that you have your ways of knowing everything that goes on."
"Not everything," Matthew smiled at his friend. "Tell me. Your Chi tells me there is more news."
"I thought we might take a walk to the church so you can meet the person responsible for saving the Chalice."
Matthew eyed his old friend with care. It was obvious that he was hiding something, but what he was hiding seemed to bring the man great joy. 'He wishes it to be a surprise. I wonder what could it be?' Matthew thought. He knew he could simply place his hand on the man's wrist and know in an instant what the man was thinking, but rather then spoil the surprise, he let Gary Bennitt keep his secret.
As they drew closer to the church, something tugged at Matthews memory. A familiar essence that seemed so out of his reach now seemed to be within his grasp. It could not be. That essence had died many years ago, at least that was what he had been told. As they entered the church, Matthew pushed his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose and his eyes beheld a sight that he thought that was lost to him forever. A miracle stood there, tall and handsome. His breath caught in his throat as he heard the word that he thought he would never hear again.
"Father!"
Matthew Caine opened his arms and felt the strong embrace of his child. Tears blinded his old eyes for a moment. Then he pulled away to look upon the face of his son. Even though he had been told that everything was safe, he needed to hear it again.
"The Chalice," he asked.
"Safe," Kwai Chang stated.
Suddenly Matthew looked up to see a young man approaching them both.
"Father, this is my son, your grandson, Peter."
Matthew had to smile at the reaction his presence had on the young man. But most of all, Matthew smiled for another reason. His Grandson was also alive. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought his family would be restored to him. Matthew felt ashamed having let too many years drift between him and his son then to suddenly discover that both had been thought lost to him; destroyed by an enemy that even Matthew had not foreseen. And yet, before him stood the very family he thought had been lost to him, but did he even have the right to be a part their lives after all these years?
Suddenly, Matthew felt Kwai Chang pulling him into another embrace. Then a third, Peter, joined him in a three way hug, both their chis mingling with his own. For the second time, Matthew's old eyes grew misty with emotion and he had to turn toward the hidden santuary where a treasure rested. In a silent prayer, he thanked the forces of the Tao and of the Chalice that brought this very real miracle to life, and surrendered to its love.
End
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