Bitter Waters

Part Five

Kermit set the final charge and raced from the weapons room trying to find an escape route. Even so, what he saw horrified him to no end. Children and "monks" were being mowed down like sheaves of wheat. Some fought back but not in the way that he was expecting. It was then that he realized these weren't terrorists at all. None of them carried any automatic weapons. And they just didn't behave like a terrorist group. It was then that he noticed the very large golden Buddha sitting up along the top of the stares. That clinched it. Since when did a terrorist group worship Buddha? He recalled what Steadman had called this particular monastery, a Shaolin, monastery, whatever Shaolin meant. He would have to see if there was any information on Shaolins when he returned to Washington, if he returned. While distracted with his own thoughts, he was suddenly brought to his knees when the first of the explosions happened.

Then Kermit spied Dao speaking to someone. 'That must be Caine,' he thought. Caine looked like everyone else, saffron colored robes and a shaved head. He could hear them speaking but the words made no sense.

"Discard knowledge and its cunning, and the people will benefit a hundredfold. Discard morality and its righteousness, and the people will return to family duty and love, " Dao said.

Kermit could see the look on Caine's face was one of anger, but he seemed to know what Dao was talking about. Quickly a fight ensued between them and it was obvious that Caine had the upper hand.

Kermit didn't know what to do at that moment. He neglected to bring a gun since his job was very specific. He had no room for one anyway with what he had to carry. He thought about grabbing one of the guns from Dao's attack force, but it would do little good anyway. Everything was moving so fast. He found himself now on the losing side and every man that had been part of Dao's attack force fled the monastery and debris began to rain down. He had to escape or be caught here with the rest. Smaller explosions were all ready going off and the two largest explosions had yet to happen. It would topple the place to the ground.

'I've got to get out of here,' Kermit thought. 'Time to leave this party.'

As he ran past the colonnade an old man grabbed him by the arm.

"Please, we must save his son,' the old man stated.

Kermit tried to pull away, but the old man's grip was like iron. He really didn't want to hurt the old man, but if it came right down to it he would just to secure his own escape, but something in the old man's face and voice demanded that he pay attention.

"The son of Kwai Chang Caine must live," the old priest said.

Why did the old man insist that the son of someone he had only seen at a distance be saved by him. At first Kermit thought the old man might confront him about his involvement with the devastation, but he did not. It was as if he was ignoring the fact that Kermit was dressed in the same manner as Dao's men, but Kermit could not forget his own place in this drama.

'I'm the enemy,' Kermit thought. 'Why is he asking me for help? I should just get out of here, but . . .'

It was then that the old man had pointed towards the beam that had fallen across two small forms.

"The kid is probably already dead," Kermit replied.

"No, he is not."

Kermit then noticed that one of the bodies had moved and was trying to struggle across the floor.

"Father!" The boy cried out then collapsed.

"Now, we must move him. His father will be taken care of."

The old priest grabbed Kermit by the arm and pulled him forward.

"We've got to get out of here, the place will blow any minute," Kermit stated.

"All the more reason to save Peter Caine so father and son may find each other again."

Guilt suddenly flooded Kermit's soul as he realized what he had done and allowed himself to become a part of. This was no terrorist attack force. He realized they were the terrorists here. With the way Dao had spoken it sounded more like a vendetta against one man who had humiliated him in some fashion. Kermit realized he had played right into the enemy's hands and did part of their work for them. Remembering the indiscriminate way both men and boys were being shot down, if he could save one innocent life and somehow make it right, he would do so. Even if it meant he would taste bitter waters for the rest of his life. He was not the only one who had been duped. Styles also would have to pay the price for his folly at not checking further into whether there was a terrorist network or not. Both would be drinking from the same well.

Kermit was barely aware that they made it outside.

"Put him here, I shall do the rest. You better leave, Kermit Griffin. I know you will do what is right."

Kermit was swiftly moving into the darker shadows of the night. He almost turned back when the explosions finally came. It was odd how the timers lasted so long because he remembered setting each one for no less than fifteen minutes. The timers should have gone off sooner. Even so, what puzzled him more was how the old priest knew his name.

Continues with Part 6