Requiem III: The Search for The Truth
By Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin
Part Three: Lo Si's Part of the Story
Matthew felt the pain in his soul. It overwhelmed his being. He had never felt heartache like this before. His son and grandson were thought to be dead. Then he remembered the joy of them being alive, but he believed it was it too late for him to be a part of their lives. He was having second thoughts about coming to Chinatown and asking for his son's help. He should have found another way.
Lo Si could feel Matthew's pain. The trip had weakened him. It was best that he continued so that Matthew could regain some strength and some hope.
"Peter, when you knelt at your father's grave, and your father knelt at yours, I made you both a promise that you would be reunited someday. The anger in your soul could have been turned to evil, an evil that could have surpassed that of Tan's. I had to protect you and your father the only way I could. Tan thought you and your father were dead, and then he went after your grandfather. He did not want to take the chance that the line could still be carried on.
Lo Si continued his narrative. "Did you ever wonder what had happened to me during that time? No, Peter, because you believed I had gotten sick and died. Now you know that was not so. Everyone had left the charred remains of the temple accept Master Kahn and me. I still had other duties that needed my attention to ensure that the Caine line continued to be safe, along with another's line, which you have protected."
"Oh, yeah. I remember," Peter said. He didn't say anything more, and Matthew didn't ask. Lo Si continued.
"I met your grandfather that day at your gravesite. He gave me the picture. I was the only one who knew the truth that you both lived. I was haunted by strange visions of Marlene that I did not understand. I had intended to seek out the Dalai Lama, but I had to help your grandfather first. Tan had attacked again upon seeing Matthew Caine. I sent Master Kahn to his aid."
"Wait a minute, is that why you were delayed?" Peter asked. "Then what happened to my aunt?"
Matthew then spoke, "While I was healing. I feared for Marlene's life. She had told me something quite startling. Before the Dalai Lama left into exile, he told Marlene that she would be leaving the temple and taking her son with her into hiding. He knew of the danger she would be in long before it happened. When I returned to Paris after my injury was sufficiently healed, she had disappeared."
Lo Si drew a deep sigh. Today was a day filled with confession. "It was I who took Marlene into hiding while you were healing, Matthew Caine. In your fevered state you spoke of Marlene and the danger she was in. Rather than wait for your return, the Dalai Lama charged me with her safety. We came here to the states. I was able to find a safe shelter for Marlene and her son in Maine. It was far into the back country with an old Shaolin priest named Kim Luc. He told me he would take care of them, and we arranged that I would get a location from him after I journeyed here to Chinatown. I never heard from him," The Ancient said with frustration.
"Oh ok, I get it, you told Dad and I that the other had died, lied about that to us both. Not only that you lied to my grandfather. Now I find out that I have no mother, but I do have an aunt. I learn that she's been hidden from me for 20 years, and now she's lost, too. Hell, I don't even know if she is alive, and you act like I should trust you?" Peter felt the rage returning. "Not only did you let us down, but you also couldn't keep your word to the Dalai Lama, you had to dump my aunt into a stranger's hands and abandon her just like you did me. What did you do? Put her son in an orphanage too?"
"That is enough, Peter!"
Peter spun around in the direction of his grandfather and saw his father standing in the doorway. A look of joy and fear overwhelmed his face. He looked into his father's eyes and saw deep anger there, but Peter was angry, too. Angry that his father may have overheard every word.
Caine then turned to give the Shaolin salute to Matthew. "Father, it has been over a year since I have seen you." He then turned his attention to the Ancient. "I must apologize Master for my son's rude behavior. Peter you will never speak to the Ancient in such a tone again. Do I make myself clear?" Caine was very angry that Peter had shown such disrespect.
Ignoring Caine's reprimand, Peter turned his anger on his father. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough. We will discuss your behavior later," Caine said icily.
Not expecting the chilly reception, Peter hung his head in shame and approached his father. It was as if his father had slapped him in the face, hard. "Dad, I'm sorry that I've shown disrespect to them."
Caine's eyebrows narrowed. "To your grandfather, too?"
"I . . . I . . I," Peter began to stutter then trying to make light of the situation, he shrugged his shoulder in that typical Caine-like fashion and quipped, "You know me, foot in mouth disease. I missed you. I'm really sorry." He then collapsed into his father's embrace. He was glad his dad had found his way home, but could he handle what he had just learned?
Caine held his son, but without warmth, his eyes riveted on his father from under the brim of his hat. Why his father had come puzzled him. Though he was still angry with Peter for his disrespect, there was time enough to deal with his son's behavior later.
As Matthew looked on while Peter and Kwai Chang embraced, he thought, 'If I could only share that with you, my son, I would be so proud.' He did not realize, that something else had happened between his son and grandson.
Caine let go of Peter, pushing him away, a bit more roughly than he intended, and a stab of regret entered his soul when he saw the look in Peter's eyes. He would have to deal with it later. For now, he turned to his father. Trepidation entered his soul and something else that he was not ready to let go of; something that Kwai Chang Caine did not expect. "Father, we have not spoken in over a year, not since . . ." Kwai Chang did not say the word, "And yet you are here, please, tell me why?" As Caine asked his question, he could not help thinking to himself, 'Liar, whatever you may say, cannot be the truth. Say what you will, then go. I do not need you. Go guard the Chalice. It is what you do best.'
Matthew then took the cup of tea that Lo Si gave to him. As he took a sip, he could not look into his son's eyes for fear of what he might find there. "I have come to try to retrieve a little bit of love from my son and to make peace with him." Only then did he raise his head to meet his son's eyes. "Come and sit my son and we shall talk." He reached his hand.
Could Kwai Chang reach out and do the same?
Kwai Chang Caine stared at his father in disbelief. 'Then why did you not come sooner?' His anger at Peter forgotten for the moment was directed at his father. Caine spun on his heels and left.
Peter, believing it was his own behavior that caused his father to leave, rushed after him, "Pop? Pop, I'm sorry." But when he reached the front door, Kwai Chang Caine was gone.
Continues with Part 4