26

Revenge of the Sword, part 4

Randi glanced up when Donnie opened her office door.

"Your guy's name just came across the police scanner again," he said with a wink.

"What happened?" Randi was already rising from her chair as she grabbed her recorder and purse.

"He was a… get this… a bystander and witness at a shooting in Chinatown."

"Chinatown?" Randi paused. "What was he doing there?" She reached down to save her story and turn off her computer.

"Accompanying Jimmy Sang."

"The actor on the that martial arts film? Is he dead?" She was already bustling down the hallway.

"Who? Your guy or the actor?" Donnie chuckled teasingly.

"Both… Either one… Does it matter?" she said sharply. Donnie had laughed his head off at the old man's taped comments. True… they'd sounded like something from The Twilight Zone, that old television show about the supernatural… but Randi had listened to them with wonder. She'd been researching the name Duncan MacLeod throughout history since last evening… and was finding references going back four hundred years.

Donnie laughed. "Hey… that tape mentioned that he wasn't immortal… so either one could be dead… right?"

Randi glared.

"Okay… MacLeod was a witness and helped subdue a man who fired the shot that killed a Buddhist monk. Sang had left by the time the police got there.

Randi slowed. "Sang had left?"

"MacLeod actually didn't even mention he was there. Some other witnesses did. A bunch of school-kids." Donnie began laughing again; then he began to hum the theme music of The Twilight Zone. Randi was not amused.

"I hope you didn't mention what we heard on that tape to anyone," she asked.

"Nope!" Donnie said as he got behind the wheel of the van and pulled the door shut. "One obsessed reporter on this staff is enough." He smiled as he turned the ignition. "So… to the temple?"

Randi nodded. They needed some footage there. But after that, she was headed to MacLeod's.

-----

Upon reaching the mortuary, Duncan let himself in, wondering where Johnny and his thugs were. They weren't in the man's office; but when he saw Jimmy's broken necklace and a bloodied knife; he had a feeling where he'd find them… in the crematory. He just hoped that he wasn't too late… that Jimmy was still alive. He was… but he wouldn't be for long unless the Highlander acted quickly.

He leaped onto the crematory floor he was immediately assaulted by the two thugs. One of them was good… very good. Had Duncan been a man in his first life… really thirty some years old… he'd have lost. The older of the two thugs was a thinly disguised weapon. He'd seemed quiet and unassuming… even smiling a little yesterday in Johnny's office when Duncan had pretended to throw him the Ming vase. But the man was all business now.

Meanwhile… as Duncan fought… the coffin carrying Jimmy Sang rolled ever closer to the flames in the oven. Inside the coffin… Duncan could hear Jimmy pounding on the lid. Desperately, the Highlander managed to stop the forward movement of the coffin before continuing the fight. His opponent started it again. For some moments it was touch and go as first one and then the other kept finding ways to hit one of the buttons. The coffin rolled forward and lurched to a stop several times. And with each stop, Jimmy's pounding grew louder and louder. Just as he'd crumbled bricks and splintered wood in the exhibitions… so too now he was splintering the polished hardwood of the coffin. Duncan could not help him… he had to deal with the thugs… especially the older man.

From the corner of his eye he saw Jimmy rise from the splintered coffin and hop out. Duncan pulled back and let loose with a punch that he knew cracked the bones in his hand. Pain lanced up his arm as his opponent finally went down… joining his unconscious partner on the floor. Duncan gasped for breath and winced at the pain. Then he realized he had no time to finish getting himself together. Jimmy had gotten to one of the guns… and even now was holding it against Johnny's forehead… ready to pull the trigger.

"Don't!" cried Duncan between gasps. "Don't become what he is… a murderer."

"He killed Grandfather Lao," said Jimmy as he tightened his finger on the trigger. "He must pay."

"Then make him pay Jimmy. But not like this. This way he destroys your life. Talk to the cops. Tell them what you know. You can put him away in prison where he will never have any control over anyone ever again."

Jimmy closed his eyes… his finger still on the trigger.

"Don't let this be your testament to the teachings of Grandfather Lao," Duncan said softly. "Is this what he would want?"

Slowly Jimmy opened his eyes and shook his head. He shoved a sweating Johnny Leong away from him and turned away. "No… it isn't."

For a moment… Duncan recalled Darius's words long ago when he'd wanted Duncan to follow him and forego a life of violence. But that choice for his life was something Duncan had been unable to make… not then… and not now. He still couldn't live that life. He still couldn't stand by and watch while evil sought to destroy others. He had to do something. But maybe… just maybe… Jimmy Sang could. Duncan lay a hand on the young man's shoulders as he took the gun from the young man's unresisting hand. "Let's call the police," he said gently. It was over… he'd broken the cycle of violence for one man. He just hoped that it had been enough to make a real difference.

-----

Randi McFarland was still waiting for him at the antique store by the time Duncan returned home from police headquarters. Jimmy had told the police everything… and Johnny Leong was currently in jail being held without bond, as were his henchmen. Hopefully justice would be swift. Tessa excused herself to head for the back so that Duncan could talk to Randi alone.

"Miss McFarland," Duncan smiled knowingly. "Heard any good tapes lately?"

Randi paled. "You set that up… didn't you. You warned your friend I might try to get his recorder… and he planted that little tidbit."

Duncan chuckled. "What was on it? He didn't tell me what he recorded but said it would by something truly creative."

"Oh… just some talk about someone not being immortal."

Duncan laughed and shook his head. Since there had been nothing specific on the tape about him… he'd decided to just laugh it off. Surely she'd back down… at least for now.

"But you were at the site of another murder today, MacLeod. Why does this keep happening?"

Duncan shrugged. "Someone was after film star Jimmy Sang whom the producer had asked me to keep an eye on."

"Isn't that unusual?"

"Can't say. I'm not in the film business, Miss McFarland."

"No… nor in the bodyguard business."

"Jimmy Sang and I have developed a close friendship in recent days."

"Why is that?"

Duncan shrugged again. "He lost his father when he was younger. He seems to have respect for strong male authority figures."

"You're his father figure?" Randi asked doubtfully.

"I suppose."

"And being four hundred years old lets you get by with that?"

"Four hundred? Where did you get that?" Duncan laughed. "Have you been into the brandy while waiting for me?" He crossed to a crystal decanter, lifted it and examined the contents.

"Duncan MacLeod is a name I've been running across in historical research."

"It's not an unusual name."

Randi shrugged. "Well… it was worth a try. Thanks for the comments MacLeod." She turned to leave.

"Miss McFarland?"

Randi turned back. "Yes?"

Duncan smiled at her. "If you want a story about all this… may I suggest you do a profile on the man who died this afternoon. His name was Grandfather Lao and he was a remarkable man of peace. Men like him should be honored… always."

"When they're dead you mean?"

"And while they still live."

"Like Victor Paulus last year?"

Duncan nodded with a small smile. "Yes… like Victor Paulus."

"Sure… I'll look into it."

"And Randi?"

She turned back once more, her smile broadening.

"Leave my name out of this story," Duncan asked. "It's not about me. It's about Jimmy Sang… and Grandfather Lao."

She left quietly and Duncan breathed a sigh of relief. He could smell dinner cooking in their quarters and could hear the voices of his family. Duncan smiled and the words of Emily Dickinson crossed his mind... "If I can ease one life… I shall lived in vain." If he could change a single life… then maybe his life was not in vain. Darius, Grandfather Lao, Victor Paulus, and other men of peace had tried to tell him that over the centuries. Perhaps he was finally ready to believe it.

Within the kitchen, Tessa was finishing up some stir-fry while Richie tossed a salad and spoke of his job search. If he could make their lives better… then anything… anything at all… was worth the price.

-----

If I can stop one Heart from breaking

I shall not live in vain

If I can ease one Life the Aching

Or cool one pain

Or help one fainting Robin

Unto his Nest again

I shall not live in Vain.

-Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)