Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 13:44:08 -0600 Reply-To: Joshua A Reyer Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Joshua A Reyer Subject: Dragon's Luck, Part Three X-cc: Chandra Reyer Dragon's Luck Part Three By Joshua A. Reyer Movie Universe rules. No series or movies characters. Any questions? *************************************************************************** Northern China countryside, 1608 A.D. It had been two weeks since Daniel had set out with Wei Lao Nan to find the city of Honjing. Wei had almost right away shown Daniel just how green a campaigner Daniel was. Daniel's time on the English ship had gotten him in shape, he was stronger and leaner now than when he had left England. But despite his older age, and seemingly frailer physique, Wei seemed to be outhiking Daniel all the time. He never called for a rest, whereas Daniel had to call one three or four times a day. When they camped at night, Daniel was the one that plopped on his bedroll, exhausted, while Wei made supper for that night. Finally, Daniel couldn't stand it. "All right, Wei, let's have it. Where do you get your energy?" Wei looked at him, a bit puzzled. "My...energy?" "How come you never get tired?" Daniel asked accusingly. "Aah, Crosby, that comes from eating right, sleeping right, and keeping the both the spirit and the body healthy." "Ah, yes, a tip I can use." Daniel yawned. Wei shrugged. The old man settled onto his bedroll, took a book from his pack and began to read. He looked up when Daniel began to settle in for bed. "Crosby, you shood not sleep facing that way," he said. Daniel looked at Wei, bewildered. "Why not?" "Because that way is North. It is not polite to sleep facing that way, it offends the Gods of the North." Daniel looked at Wei strangely. "There are no gods in the north. God resides in Heaven." He layed down and cast an eye on Wei's book. It was similar to the one in Wei's shrine. "What are you reading?" "Laozi's Treatise on the Response of the Dao." "Oh. What's it about?" "It is Laozi's instructions on following the Way, the Dao. If you follow these instructions, prosperity and good fortune will be yours." Daniel harumphed. "You might be better served if you took Christ as your savior, rather than trusting pagan religions." "Ah yes. Jesus Christ. Your mishunaries have told our village of him. You need not worry, I do not need him to be my savior." Wei resumed reading. Daniel sat up. "Don't need him!?" "Yes. According to your Bible he died for the sins of the world. But I have never sinned." Wei again went back to his book. "You have, too, sinned," Daniel accused. Wei looked up, astonished. "When have I? What are your 'Ten Commandments'? I have never killed, or stole. I've never coveted anything of my neighbors'. I have always respected my mother and my father, and my parents' parents. And their parents before them. That is perhaps more than what you could say, Crosby." Daniel rose and moved to the other side of the fire, so he could face Wei easier. "You forgot taking no other God other than Him. You also don't keep the Sabbath holy." "That is untrue. Every week there is a day of rest. No one could fish everyday. And I have taken no God before yours. I accept your God, along with Buddha, Di, Kuan-ying, Shiva, and Allah. No one God is before or after another." "You just don't understand," Daniel muttered. "No, Crosby, it is you who doesn't understand. Tell me, do you believe in your God?" "Of course." "Do you honor your God?" "Yes..." Daniel could not see where this was going. "Then rest assured. As long as I keep what is holy here," he indicated his heart, "and you keep what is holy here," he pointed to Daniel's heart, "we can rejoice. We are both assured ascenscion to Heaven when we die." "Agh..." Daniel growled, and rising, left. Wei watch him wander off by himself. Shaking his head, he resumed reading. Daniel looked up at the stars. He'd put on a brave front for Wei, but the truth was, his faith was faltering. He didn't know if God, the Devil, or one of Wei's pagan religions had done this thing to him; made him immortal. He'd undergone five would-be deaths, and come out unscathed. Now that he thought about it, his near-fatalities had a certain prophetic sense about them. A trial by Earth, a trial by lightning, a trial by fire, a trial by water, and a trial by steel. Perhaps, God had something planned for him. Or maybe, he thought, I'm thinking too much like a Shakespeare play. "...ascenscion to Heaven when we die..." As the words came back to him, Daniel had to smile. The irony of it; at least one of them was going to. The next morning, Daniel did not dwell on their conversation, and neither of them spoke about it. They simply packed up and continued to their destination. They traveled on, for another two weeks. Daniel was exhausted, he was on the verge of collasping to the ground. Only his pride kept him from requesting another rest. Still, he was getting better. Trips that would have winded him two weeks ago were now fairly easier. And the scenery was nice to look at. Daniel was snapped out of his musings by a sudden feeling. It was a vague uneasiness, a feeling of anxiety. He felt a small pressure in the back of his head, and suddenly his adrenaline was flowing. He felt revived, full of energy. Nervous energy. Daniel stopped and looked around. Wei stopped also. "Something wrong, Crosby?" he asked. "Not really, no," Daniel answered. "I just have this feeling, like something's watching us. A presence." "Hmmm. Strange. But, come, Crosby, we are almost there!" "Fine, Wei. Mind if we run?" "Run? If you wish it. Do you really feel we are in danger, Crosby?" Wei looked anxiously at his young friend. "Trust me, Wei. I think we are." Daniel grabbed his friend's shoulder, and they started to run. Wei kept pace with Daniel, and Daniel wasn't all that surprised that he did. They ran for almost an hour, and if Daniel hadn't felt this inrush of energy, he never would have made it. How Wei managed was a mystery. All as they ran, Daniel could not shake this feeling of anxiety, this feeling of a presence. It followed them until they reached a small village in a valley filled with rice crops. The village of Honjing. **************************************************************************** E-mail please. =========================================================================