Requiem IV: Death's Door the Final Hour

by Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin

Part 5: Burying and Honoring the Dead?

The arduous work of burying the dead came and went, the time moving slowly as each slain monk was given its due. Before, Peter went out and dug a mass grave, digging it deep and wide enough so all the monks could be laid to rest together. Next, he moved through the village and found the stone cutter's cottage and found an appropriate marker. It had already been partially carved with the appropriate Chinese script and a saying that could be applied to all those who had died, including those in the village. If he had the skill, Peter would have taken the time to finish the carving, but he did not have the luxury of time. He took the marker and placed it in the ground at the head of the grave, then began the task of burying the dead.

Before doing so, he changed into the robes of a Shaolin priest, placing the prayer beads around his neck. He decorated the area and lit what candles he could find. He did this in total silence, a feat that would have left his father speechless. He then proceeded to move each of the headless bodies onto the mourning table reserved for the dead and then he went through the grizzly task of searched for the bodiless face and matched it up with its owner.

Memories ran through him like water of the time that he spent at this temple relearning and retraining in the Shaolin way. Peter remembered the disciple who was his rival, and his lust for power. He remembered how his father and the Ancient nearly died, and how the minds of the monks had been clouded from the Da Chon, the death stone that he destroyed. He did not take the brands then, but he had them now. Each monk who offered him that right, he in turn honored them now by revealing his brands even though none were aware. Peter honored each one despite the gruesomeness of it all. He touched each one with a clean white cloth, and passing that cloth over the person's heart, he told each one to wait, that their life would be avenged, and justice would be done. Then he wrapped each one in a clean shroud of saffron and gold. He then took the remains and lovingly placed each body in the grave, laying each brother by the other until all were together. As he covered them, he shed tears of overwhelming grief.

When all was said and done, Peter collapsed into a depth of deep despair, fearing that he would never emerge whole once, again.

*You can do this Peter. There are many more that need you* a voice said in his head. He didn't know if it was him or his father who said the words, but they rang true, and a lone Shaolin had no choice but to honor all who had died.

As Peter lifted his weary body off the freshly laden earth, images from his great-grandfather came to him. This was not the first time something like this had happened. A rain-filled night, an unknown boy standing out in that rain staring up at his great-grandfather's window. Lightning lighting up the sky. Kwai Chang Caine going out to meet the young man and is given startling news.

"All the masters? No one can kill all the Masters."

He could not verify whether the young man was telling the truth, but something inside him told him that it was so.

'Now I know how you must have felt Great-Grandfather, but I have suffered the loss of two temple homes, but not all were killed back then. With this one I swear I will do whatever I can to see justice done.' This time the vow Peter made was not filled with the bitterness of grief and hatred, but with the clear understanding of the true purpose of the Shaolin mind and heart. A Shaolin did not seek revenge, but justice had to be served.

With the monks buried, Peter set his eyes on the village. He could not hope to bury so many bodies alone, lighting a funeral pyre was out. That might cause the flames to jump, and a larger forest fire might happen, drawing attention to this place. He would not be able to gather enough wood, and the fire might spread further than intended. The deed though had to be done, but the task seemed even more daunting than the last. Where was he going to bury all those bodies?

Continues with Part 6