Requiem III: The Search for The Truth
By Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin
Part 5: Putting Their Troubles Aside to Help
Mia turned the TV on for Marlene. "You may watch this for two hours only if you eat the food I prepared. You are getting weak, and the Master will not tolerate such behavior. This is for your own good. I will return in half an hour. If the plate is not clean, I will turn the TV off and leave you in your own misery." Mai did not like to be cruel, but she had become very concerned for her charge. She, too, feared what the Master might do if he found out. Mia turned the lock on the door and left Marlene to eat.
Marlene did. The luxury of a TV had been missed for so long. She spent very little time playing or looking at her food but continued to take each fork-full, barely aware of each bite. She gazed at the screen in wonder and amazement as a news report caught her attention.
"Resident cop turned Shaolin Priest, Peter Caine has been busy these days, and with crime escalating in the city, rumor has it that Police Commissioner Kincaid will be asking Mr. Caine to return to work to help end this crime spree. It is also a well-known fact that Caine's father, Kwai Chang who recently arrived back in Chinatown, will also be asked to assist in this matter. The father and son team brought down crime lord Tan a few years ago and ended a wave of crime and violence that took over Chinatown. It is also rumored that Tan's daughter is at the center of this crime spree. Peter Caine and his father have played a very important part in keeping Chinatown's streets safe for its residence. Kwai Chang Caine, also resident Shaolin Priest, was elected as this district's representative over two years ago. Councilman Caine played a key role in stopping development in the Nottingham neighborhood by developer Abel Lennex, who was later charged with bribery, conspiracy, and even murder. We will continue with this news story when more details become available."
Marlene quickly shut off the TV. She did not want Mia catching her seeing this. Though she did not know why, Marlene felt that if her benefactor found out, the TV would be taken away and she would have no way of knowing about the rest of her family and where they might be found. Realizing this, she went and laid down on the bed just as the door opened and quickly thought up an excuse for the television's now silent state.
Mia looked at Marlene and questioned, "You turned it off?"
Marlene responded in as tired a voice as she could. "That meal was wonderful. I was much hungrier than I thought and now I'm ready for a nice nap. Thank you, Mia for making me eat and for that gift of the television."
Mia turned and locked the cabinet door. "I will let you get some sleep. Perhaps you will do as well with dinner, and I'll let you watch more."
Peter backed off, still aware of his father's anger. Rather than switch to this new problem that faced them, Peter still could not help but plead his case. So much had gone wrong this past year. It was as if a dam had burst, and Peter had lost whatever control he had learned. "Pop, I know you're still angry at me. I've tried to apologize for my rude behavior, I don't know what else you want me to do."
"I will deal with you on that issue, but not now. We must focus on the person who needs our help," replied Caine.
"I feel like a little kid, Pop. What are you doing, thinking of a way to punish me?" Peter was getting nervous and did not hear Caine's words. He just could not stop himself at this point. 'Shut up Peter,' he thought to himself, 'Or this could get a whole lot worse if you show Dad disrespect.' He had not felt like this in a long time. The thing was, Peter had been disrespectful, and he knew it. He had no cause in the past to fear his father's wrath, but this time his disrespect had involved his grandfather and Lo Si who was like a member of the family. He should have known better. He did know better, but something inside him just could not help but release what he was feeling.
"You acted like a child. You did not consider the consequences of your words. We will discuss this later. A woman's life may be in peril. For now, I need your assistance. We must link our chis to find out who needs our help."
Peter quickly obeyed. His father was right. Someone needed their aid. His own petty feelings would have to wait for the time being. Grabbing his father's hands in his own, they sat together in lotus position.
"You must clear your mind," Caine told his son, even though his own mind was less than clear. It would take all his effort to concentrate on the task at hand.
Marlene could hardly contain herself. She recognized the name. 'It's them, it's them! I can't believe I am near to them.' Kwai Chang, he was Laura's husband and Peter was her nephew. They are alive and well! 'I've got to get out of here! I've got to find them.'
Her mind was drained, her emotions running wild. Her senses were on fire. She started to pace the room excitedly, then halted. She suddenly remembered that Li Pei had taught her to relax by meditating. She sank to the floor and emptied her mind. 'Help me Peter, help me Caine please help me.' She sat there saying it over and over.
Peter and his father sat with their chis linked in unison. What happened next was something neither expected. Their eyes flew open. Peter was the first to speak and to express the feeling of whose essence they touched. "It's Mom, Pop. She's alive."
"No, Peter, it is not your mother, but someone who looks like her. She needs our help. We must find her."
Peter's heart quickened at what his father had said. "I didn't see her face. Are you sure?" He suppressed what he knew about the woman, realizing that it wasn't his place to tell his father, and he would only be guessing at the prospect that this woman might be the same one.
"Yes, Peter, but I am at a loss as to how that is possible."
Peter realized that his father had not heard the whole story, and deep-down Peter suspected that the woman was his aunt. Still, the need to find her and to know the truth took precedence "Where is she, Pop? I couldn't tell where she was at."
"I could not tell either, my son. The place felt familiar, but I am uncertain. We will stop and get the Ancient and my father," spoke Caine. "We will need their help. There is great danger in the shadows."
Continues with part 6