Bitter Waters

Part Seven

The monastery wasn't deserted. Police, fire, and rescue vehicles dotted the landscape. Water trucks were dousing what was left of the ruins, which continued to smolder. Kermit could also see a few vehicles that looked like they might be from the city morgue to collect the remains of the dead. The rest were just sitting there waiting. People were also milling about without really doing much. Kermit looked around, trying to determine who sent him the note.

"Hey, no spectators." A uniformed officer approached him.

Kermit pulled out his government issued ID and badge, the one that gave him full jurisdiction no matter where he was in the country.

"What's the CIA doing here?" the officer remarked.

"That's on a need to know basis. Mind if I look around?"

"Go ahead, just don't get too close."

Kermit pocketed the ID and badge hen walked around the ruins toward the woods, retracing his steps from the night before. A man in saffron robes approached him. He wasn't the old man, but someone Kermit had seen only at a distance. He was one of the priests who fought back.

"Master Ping Hai stated you helped to save Peter Caine last night. You are to come with me," he said.

"Who are you?" Kermit asked.

"My name is Kahn."

"So, where are we going, Kahn?"

"To witness a burial."

Kermit was brought up short by the man's remark. "By the way, what was this place really, before . . ." Kermit suspected, but he wanted to learn if his hypothesis was correct.

"Before it was destroyed?" Kahn finished Kermit's words before he could voice it. "This was the first Shaolin monastery in this country, in fact in the world. There are no more Shaolin monasteries, at least ones that follow the old traditions. Now it has been destroyed by a renegade priest."

"Renegade priest?"

"Kwai Chang Caine defeated and humiliated Master Dao several weeks earlier. We did not expect Master Dao to return with an armed force and destroy everything."

So, he had been right. This wasn't a terrorist stronghold but a religious order. And he helped in its destruction. He had been part of that armed force. Deep shame and guilt filled Kermit. Even though he had not fired the weapons that killed innocent lives, he was just as guilty as the rest of them, because he had destroyed their sacred home.

"Why am I here?" Kermit asked.

"Look there," Kahn pointed toward a clearing where a stone marker had been placed.

Kermit could barely hear what they were saying, but it soon became clear who the young boy was as well as the old man. He recognized the old priest from last night, and the boy he helped to rescue.

"The boy is Peter Caine."

"What does he have to do with me?" Kermit questioned.

"You helped to rescue him. Ping Hai said he must be protected."

"Protected, why?"

"You were here last night, you saw what happened. He said you helped save the boy and can be trusted."

Kermit did remember the gunfire, the priests and children being mowed down like cattle, but at the same time, it felt like a dream, as if he had been an observer last night, not really a part of what went on.

"The renegade priest will kill him if he learns that Peter Caine still lives," Kahn answered.

"What do you want me to do? I can't take care of a child. I'm not that kind of person." What Kermit didn't voice was that he had his own family problems to worry about, especially his brother David. He didn't need another child to look after.

"Yet you risked your life to save him. He must not be allowed to fulfill the vow of vengeance that he has made at his father's grave."

"Why?" Kermit saw no harm in making such a vow. He's made vows like them before and for a lesser reason than what the boy did, but he's also not acted on them, knowing it would be futile.

"He was to be Shaolin. He must be allowed to have that choice again. If he fulfills that vow he will become like that renegade priest. He will feel nothing but hatred. I know."

"You know? I don't understand," Kermit questioned.

"I was once filled with hate for those who murdered my family," Kahn confessed. "Only one other knows the truth. It was the Shaolin who took me in and gave me a higher purpose. I owe them my life for that, especially Kwai Chang Caine. And if I can help his son, protect him in some way, that's what I am bound to do."

"So, what do you want me to do?" Kermit continued to question.

"Find a place where he can grow into a man without fear, without hatred. His spirit is like that of his father's, protecting those who are weaker, though he may not see it right now. He knows what is just and true, but grief and anger blinds him from it. If he seeks revenge, he will lose himself."

Kermit found himself listening to the priest while his eyes were fixed on the face of Peter Caine.

"His father, this Kwai Chang Caine, was one of the ones who were killed?" Kermit asked, recalling the name. The so-called terrorist leader who turned out to be a Shaolin priest, his own thoughts said, but he didn't voice them out loud. Silence ensued for a moment. Kermit turned toward Kahn to see his face more clearly. He could see that he was wrestling with something, as if trying to decide what to tell him. It was apparent there was more to this than Kermit knew. He could also see when Kahn made his decision and what it would be.

"No, Kwai Chang Caine still lives, but Peter must not know."

"Because of this renegade priest."

"Father and son will be reunited one day. For now, they must remain apart for their own safety."

Kermit listened and a plan formed in his mind. He didn't quite understand why he was getting involved at all. He should have flown back to Washington to make his report, but something about these strange events compelled him to remain. Without realizing it, he found himself helping these Shaolin, and doing what was right. Thinking further on the plan, it could take some doing, but he thought he could pull it off. 'Besides, a few months back he did talk about having another child. I think I may have found him another option.' Kermit gave a lopsided grin. "I think I know someone who could take the kid in, but it may take several months." Kermit pulled out a card and handed it to Kahn. "You can contact me at this number. Let me know where the kid's going to be and I'll see what I can do."

Kermit turned on his heals and left the clearing.

Continues with Part 8