10:30am
COLE'S HOUSE
Cole had just come through the front door, entering the living room. He slumped down into a chair, depressed.
His mother, surprised to see him, asked, "Cole, why are you home so early?"
He replied, "Oh, Mr. Cunningham sent us home. But I don't think he's acting himself lately."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, he was nice as usual, then..just when we were done..he ordered us to go home! I don't know why. Oh, I also saw the bad spirit today."
She sat down. "Wait, you mean, the ninja look-alike you told me about? He's followed you to school now??"
He slowly nodded. "Yes..then I tried to call Peter from his work. I really wanted to talk to his father, because Caine would know how to deal with *him*."
"But, Cole, what can he do? It's not like you can put a supernatural restraining order on ghosts."
She didn't understand what he was getting at. "*Mom*...he's a special priest. He's kind of like me, only better. He can see things like I do, know things..he has dreams and visions and knows how to work with it. He's...mysteri-no, wait-mythical..what word is it? Someone who does what he can.."
She offered, "Mystical?"
He jumped. "Yes! Right, mystical. But I couldn't contact him, because they told me he doesn't have a phone. And his son was busy on a stakeout or something."
"Is there a way to contact him?"
"I can write him. Well..I planned to do it anyway. But maybe..I think I know how to contact Caine. I'll meditate."
"Huh? What, meditate?"
"Sure. I've never done it, but I heard Caine talk about it. I'm gonna go try it after I write the note." He grabbed a candle off the shelf and walked to his room, slipping under his blanket tent.
**********
11:15am
ALL-STYLE FOR MENS
Mr. Cunningham/Tan just got out of the dressing room. He used his $500 limit Visa card to get some essentials for Stanley's new look: dark slacks, business jacket, white button-shirt, tie, and black sunglasses. He needed to dress for class. He had already paid for them and was dialing a long distance number from a payphone. After a few rings, he said, "Yes information? Chinatown, New York. Can I please have the number for Jack Wong? Thank you..yes..yes, got it--sure, I'd like to be tranferred. Thank you."
*********
11:18am
CHINATOWN
Jack Wong was driving downtown, fighting through heavy traffic. "Come on, move it. I don't have all day! Damn cars holding up the goddamn expressway-"His cell-phone rang. "Yes, Jack here."
A polite-sounding voice said, "Jack Wong?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"Don't you recognize an associate?"
"No, your caller ID says 'Out of Area'."
"It's your old boss. Mr. Tan."
"No, you're mistaken. Tan died three years ago. I'm hanging up, you idiot-"
"-No! It IS me, Mr. Wong. I died, true, and my soul somehow awakened to Philadelphia, in some suburb area. I'm in the body of a schoolteacher."
"Look, I'm not in the mood for jokes, sir! I'm in the middle of fucking traffic, on my way to see Mr. Bon Bon Hai. My boss. He's replaced Tan. You don't know who you're fucking with, but you better call someone else-"
"Call Xia, my daughter. She can-"
"Enough! I'm not calling to bother her with a crank call!" He immediately disconnected the line.
************
11:20am
ALL-STYLE FOR MENS
Stanley slammed the phone down. He was shocked at Wong's abruptness. Yet he was somewhat pleased. "So, you've improved. I failed to contact Xia! But she will come to me, I know it. If she wants to truly avenge my death, she will come."
*************
12:05pm
COLE'S HOUSE
It was pouring rain outside. Cole had finished writing his letter and sealed the envelope. He then lit the candle, closing his eyes. He tried to think about nothing, just to remain calm and very quiet. His mind thought only of Caine. Then, a gust of wind swept across the room. Cole still concentrated, centering himself. He wasn't sure if it was working, but he did feel very much at peace..
***********
12:14pm
CHINATOWN
CAINE'S APOTHECARY
Caine sat on the floor, eating a bowl of rice. He was almost finished.
Lo Si sat in front of him. "Kwai Chang, do you like the recipe?"
Caine nodded. "Yes..it was very spicy, as usual. What.is in it..."
The Ancient smiled mischieviously. "Ah, that is..family secret recipe. I-"
Just then, a mighty wind blew onto them. Lo Si got up. "Kwai Chang Caine!! Someone is trying to..call on you..."
Caine slowly rose to his feet. "Yes..I sense it, too. In a place that is rained upon..far from here. Yes..Cole!"
Lo Si asked, "He tries to contact you?"
"Yes.." He sat down, closed his eyes. "I am here, Cole, what is the matter.. something is wrong, master. His soul is in turmoil..he is very troubled by events around him..an evil spirit is in conflict with him..an enemy of the Tao..Cole! Wait, do not go..I will send protection to you. Do not fear. Draw upon your inner strength and no spirit shall overcome you..wait!"
Thunder crackled across the sky.
"It is..the link has been disrupted, master. He is in fear of this enemy..I also sense it is one that I know, yet I do not know the exact identity of this adversary.." He got up, went to his dresser, opening the first drawer. He took out a round, olive-colored necklace which had Chinese lettering on four corners.
Lo Si recognized it immediately. "That amulet, that powerful artifact..from Matthew Caine."
Caine put it in his pocket. "Yes, my father recieved this from *his* father, Kwai Chang..this medallion was originally created by his Master Po. I must somehow send this to Cole to help him fight his demons.."
*********
12:25pm
COLE'S HOUSE
Cole jerked up in a flash, the sudden thunderclap frightened him. Then, he sat back down. Meditation often required stillness. And that was somewhat hard to achieve with the weather that's been going on inPennsylvania lately. He would have to wait for the rain to stop before he could place his envelope in the mailbox. Well, at least he made contact with the Shambhala Master. Caine impressed on him that something was coming. Some sort of protection. Cole doesn't know what form that help would come in, but he's thankful for it. Against an enemy *this* powerful, he'll need all the protection he can get.
COLE'S HOUSE
Cole had just come through the front door, entering the living room. He slumped down into a chair, depressed.
His mother, surprised to see him, asked, "Cole, why are you home so early?"
He replied, "Oh, Mr. Cunningham sent us home. But I don't think he's acting himself lately."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, he was nice as usual, then..just when we were done..he ordered us to go home! I don't know why. Oh, I also saw the bad spirit today."
She sat down. "Wait, you mean, the ninja look-alike you told me about? He's followed you to school now??"
He slowly nodded. "Yes..then I tried to call Peter from his work. I really wanted to talk to his father, because Caine would know how to deal with *him*."
"But, Cole, what can he do? It's not like you can put a supernatural restraining order on ghosts."
She didn't understand what he was getting at. "*Mom*...he's a special priest. He's kind of like me, only better. He can see things like I do, know things..he has dreams and visions and knows how to work with it. He's...mysteri-no, wait-mythical..what word is it? Someone who does what he can.."
She offered, "Mystical?"
He jumped. "Yes! Right, mystical. But I couldn't contact him, because they told me he doesn't have a phone. And his son was busy on a stakeout or something."
"Is there a way to contact him?"
"I can write him. Well..I planned to do it anyway. But maybe..I think I know how to contact Caine. I'll meditate."
"Huh? What, meditate?"
"Sure. I've never done it, but I heard Caine talk about it. I'm gonna go try it after I write the note." He grabbed a candle off the shelf and walked to his room, slipping under his blanket tent.
**********
11:15am
ALL-STYLE FOR MENS
Mr. Cunningham/Tan just got out of the dressing room. He used his $500 limit Visa card to get some essentials for Stanley's new look: dark slacks, business jacket, white button-shirt, tie, and black sunglasses. He needed to dress for class. He had already paid for them and was dialing a long distance number from a payphone. After a few rings, he said, "Yes information? Chinatown, New York. Can I please have the number for Jack Wong? Thank you..yes..yes, got it--sure, I'd like to be tranferred. Thank you."
*********
11:18am
CHINATOWN
Jack Wong was driving downtown, fighting through heavy traffic. "Come on, move it. I don't have all day! Damn cars holding up the goddamn expressway-"His cell-phone rang. "Yes, Jack here."
A polite-sounding voice said, "Jack Wong?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"Don't you recognize an associate?"
"No, your caller ID says 'Out of Area'."
"It's your old boss. Mr. Tan."
"No, you're mistaken. Tan died three years ago. I'm hanging up, you idiot-"
"-No! It IS me, Mr. Wong. I died, true, and my soul somehow awakened to Philadelphia, in some suburb area. I'm in the body of a schoolteacher."
"Look, I'm not in the mood for jokes, sir! I'm in the middle of fucking traffic, on my way to see Mr. Bon Bon Hai. My boss. He's replaced Tan. You don't know who you're fucking with, but you better call someone else-"
"Call Xia, my daughter. She can-"
"Enough! I'm not calling to bother her with a crank call!" He immediately disconnected the line.
************
11:20am
ALL-STYLE FOR MENS
Stanley slammed the phone down. He was shocked at Wong's abruptness. Yet he was somewhat pleased. "So, you've improved. I failed to contact Xia! But she will come to me, I know it. If she wants to truly avenge my death, she will come."
*************
12:05pm
COLE'S HOUSE
It was pouring rain outside. Cole had finished writing his letter and sealed the envelope. He then lit the candle, closing his eyes. He tried to think about nothing, just to remain calm and very quiet. His mind thought only of Caine. Then, a gust of wind swept across the room. Cole still concentrated, centering himself. He wasn't sure if it was working, but he did feel very much at peace..
***********
12:14pm
CHINATOWN
CAINE'S APOTHECARY
Caine sat on the floor, eating a bowl of rice. He was almost finished.
Lo Si sat in front of him. "Kwai Chang, do you like the recipe?"
Caine nodded. "Yes..it was very spicy, as usual. What.is in it..."
The Ancient smiled mischieviously. "Ah, that is..family secret recipe. I-"
Just then, a mighty wind blew onto them. Lo Si got up. "Kwai Chang Caine!! Someone is trying to..call on you..."
Caine slowly rose to his feet. "Yes..I sense it, too. In a place that is rained upon..far from here. Yes..Cole!"
Lo Si asked, "He tries to contact you?"
"Yes.." He sat down, closed his eyes. "I am here, Cole, what is the matter.. something is wrong, master. His soul is in turmoil..he is very troubled by events around him..an evil spirit is in conflict with him..an enemy of the Tao..Cole! Wait, do not go..I will send protection to you. Do not fear. Draw upon your inner strength and no spirit shall overcome you..wait!"
Thunder crackled across the sky.
"It is..the link has been disrupted, master. He is in fear of this enemy..I also sense it is one that I know, yet I do not know the exact identity of this adversary.." He got up, went to his dresser, opening the first drawer. He took out a round, olive-colored necklace which had Chinese lettering on four corners.
Lo Si recognized it immediately. "That amulet, that powerful artifact..from Matthew Caine."
Caine put it in his pocket. "Yes, my father recieved this from *his* father, Kwai Chang..this medallion was originally created by his Master Po. I must somehow send this to Cole to help him fight his demons.."
*********
12:25pm
COLE'S HOUSE
Cole jerked up in a flash, the sudden thunderclap frightened him. Then, he sat back down. Meditation often required stillness. And that was somewhat hard to achieve with the weather that's been going on inPennsylvania lately. He would have to wait for the rain to stop before he could place his envelope in the mailbox. Well, at least he made contact with the Shambhala Master. Caine impressed on him that something was coming. Some sort of protection. Cole doesn't know what form that help would come in, but he's thankful for it. Against an enemy *this* powerful, he'll need all the protection he can get.