Date: Mon, 5 Dec 1994 14:31:28 -0600 Reply-To: Joshua A Reyer Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Joshua A Reyer Subject: Beginnings and Endings, Part Four Beginnings and Endings Part Four Aftermath By Joshua A. Reyer Movie Universe rules. No Duncan, Connor, et.al. Tell me what you think. ************************************************************************** Daniel and McHenry sifted through the burnt rubble of Daniel's former house. Everything, what little Daniel still owned was lost. All he had was the clothes on his back. "What will I do? Where should I go?" he asked the Irishman. McHenry looked off, toward the east, pondering his answer. "You will need training. You'll need to learn to fight, and fight well, or you'll never live past 100." He took Daniel by the shoulder and led him to the wagon they had brought with them. It was depressingly empty. But McHenry reached into it and took out a sword. It was a one-handed long sword, about 100 years old. "Take this. It'll protect you better than any pigsticker could. It'll do until you get a sword of your own." He put it in Daniel's hand. It was heavy to Daniel, who was used the light swishing weight of a rapier. "So, will you teach me?" Daniel asked. McHenry shook his head. "I'm not a teacher. I'm barely done being a student." He got onto the wagon and picked up the reins. "No, you need a true master. Take my advice. Leave England. Take a ship and travel to China. Seek the city of Honjing. It is not large, but some may have heard of it and guide you to the place. When you get there, find the man named Ying Chen. Do not fight him. He is a powerful Immortal. To not draw your sword. Greet him with open hands. Mention my name. Ask him to teach you. He will refuse." "But..." "Return to his house everyday and ask him to teach until he relents." "An Oriental is going to teach me?" Daniel sounded dubious. McHenry regarded him for a moment. A look of pity mixed with amusement was on his face. "You may live long enough to be shamed for that kind of thought. Do not be so naive. Listen to my words, Daniel. They will save your life." Daniel almost snorted. "An ironic thing to say to an Immortal." "Life is full of ironies." McHenry started the wagon. "One more thing, Crosby," he called back, "Holy Ground is your sanctuary, your refuge. We may not fight there! Good luck!" In a trail of dust, he was gone. Daniel looked at the manor-house, a tear coming to his eye. Inside was the few people he knew and loved, probably getting ready for dinner, and then to bed. He sighed. He felt a kick in his back, and he fell to the ground. He looked up, and saw a noble riding away, resplendent in new boots and collar. Apparently, Daniel had been in his way. At first, Daniel was shocked that a fellow noble would so debase him. Then he looked at his clothes and realized his folly. His doublet and hose were sooty and muddy. His hair was greasy and unkempt. He'd lost his rapier, and his boots were scorched from lightning strikes. He did not look like a noble, and Daniel realized that he then was not one. Picking himself up off the ground, he brushed himself off. He regarded the house and again, and with sudden resolution, decided to approach it. He wandered back to the side of the house. There was a window, slightly higher than usual to allow for morning sunshine to peer in. Jumping up, he grabbed the pane and pulled himself up so he could look inside. Andrige was not in the house. Mary was playing the harpsicord, and Rebecca was doing threadwork. They did their tasks silently, and without much feeling. Daniel wanted to call them, wanted to make them feel better. They believed him dead, but he wasn't yet, he could change what had happened. And he also realized he couldn't. Andrige's reasons for casting out Daniel were wrong, but the action was right. His family could never accept him as an immortal, and the fact that some would come to hunt him down would make things far more difficult. As Mary played, her head rolled back in weariness. She turned, and at that moment, she saw Daniel. In surprise, she hit a wrong note, and the harpsicord strummed violently in protest. Rebecca, startled, looked at Mary, and then looked at what Mary was looking at. But it was too late, there was nothing by the window. "Are you all right, Mary?" Rebecca asked. Mary shook out of her stunned reverie. "Oh, yes, Mum. I'm all right." But her gaze returned to the window. "Good-bye, Daniel," she whispered to herself. "Now, the cap'n's in charge, an' if ya donna lissen, ye get a lick o' the cat? Understand?" Daniel returned the old bosun's gaze evenly. "I understand, perfectly. I just want to get to China." "Right, mate, just sign right there." Daniel signed the contract, turned down the insurance offers, and boarded the ship. He was given a crash course in ship regs, procedures and duties. Two hours later, they were a-sail, headed for China. Daniel stood on the deck, not on watch, but saying his goodbyes. He looked at the shimmering outline of the isle he had called home reflected in the water along with the night sky. He felt a cold pit in his stomach as he realized just how much he had lost. It outweighed what he felt he gained. "Eh, you. Time to get below decks. Ye got a big day tomorra." Daniel turned and saw the bosun. He waved him away. "I'll be down soon. Just something I want to do..." He looked once more to England. Closing his eyes, he burned the image of the isle into his brain. When he opened them, they were wet. "Goodbye," he said, and went below decks. ************************************************************************** Well, that's it for "Beginnings and Endings". Unless I got an overwhelming number of responses that beg me never to take pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) again, Daniel's story will continue in "Dragon's Luck". See you then. E-mailed comments welcome, of course. =========================================================================