Neither Caine nor the concept of Kung Fu: the Legend Continues belongs to me, but rather to Michael Sloan and David Carradine (who brought the wonderful character to life). #~ and ~# denote song lyrics

copyright (c) 1998 Jennifer N. D'Agostino "Maven Alysse"
"All learning begins with these two phrases: I don't know. Let's find out!"

Concept: A young woman gives Caine a ride to the next town. Along the way, they discuss... life, paths, and roads not yet traveled.
Let me know what you think by writing to me at: MavnAlysse@aol.com

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Songs in the Key of Fu: Wherever I May Roam

"Wandering, ever wandering far from home, / away from all, sad and alone. Keeping track of falling stars, / never knowing....."

"Argh!" The cry of frustration echoed over the small lake. A few birds started at the noise and flew off over the head of the figure seated on the shore, cawing their displeasure at the disruption. The young woman heaved a sigh of frustration as she ripped yet another piece of paper out of the notebook balanced on her knees, wadded it up, and let it fall at her feet to join the others. "I can't believe this... this... utter crap!"

She rubbed her forehead wearily. "Who am I kidding anyway? I'll never be a poet at this rate." A stray breeze blew a lock of strawberry blonde hair into her face, she absently brushed it aside as she suddenly took note of her surroundings again. The sun was setting and dark clouds rolled quickly closer from where they had sat on the horizon almost all day. 'It's going to be one hell of a storm. Better be on my way.'

Reaching over, she drew a blue rucksack nearer, unfastened the lacings, and quickly shoved notebook and rejected pages inside. Closing it, she rose and swung it over one shoulder, then strode up the slight rise towards the road behind her. She reached the light blue Toyota Corolla that sat parked on the side of the road just as the first fat drops began to fall.

Moments later, the storm was in full swing. Lightning crashed, thunder rolled, ... "And toads fall. What?" The girl looked on in amazement as a frog landed on the hood of her car. She screeched to a halt, absently thankful that no one was behind her. She stared at the amphibian for a moment, wondering if it was all right. She was about to get out of the car and check when it gave a warbling ::ribbit:: and hopped off the car. It continued hopping right off the road and she lost track of it in the bushes. Shaking her head she put the car into gear and drove on. "I wonder if that was an omen? I've heard of it raining cats and dogs, but this is ridiculous." She glanced up at the sky, but no more frogs seemed inclined to try their luck at flying.

As she drove, she fiddled with the radio, but the storm was effectively jamming the signals. All she got was white noise. With a sigh, she switched it off. "Guess I'll have to be my own company for awhile." She had slowed as the rain made the road slippery and hard to see clearly. Her headlights and a sudden burst of lightning illuminated the figure of a man walking along the side of the road ahead of her. "Or maybe not."

She slowed even further, passing the man slightly, then stopping and reaching over to open the passenger door. The man peered into the car at her from underneath his brown fedora. She was struck by the serenity shining in his eyes. "Need a ride, Mister?"

"Are... you sure?" His voice was deep and measured and sounded very peaceful to her.

"Wouldn't've asked if I wasn't. Hop in. I wouldn't want my worst enemy to have to walk on a night like this." She waved him in.

"I thank you." He slid into the car, and she could only shake her head wryly at the grace of his movements. He took off his hat and carefully shook the water off it outside before closing the car door and settling himself in the seat.

"Seat belt," she said automatically as she eased her way back onto the road.

"Ah ... yes." He fumbled with the belt for a moment, but finally clicked it into place. "Again, I thank you. I am Caine."

She flashed a grin at him before turning her attention back on the road. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Caine. I'm Jennifer. Where are you headed?"

He shrugged with one shoulder. "Wherever you are going ... will be fine."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "No place in particular, huh? Definitely sounds like you're going my way."

"You have ... no destination in mind?"

"Not really. Just kind of ... um ... traveling, I guess." She shrugged a bit uneasily.

"I too am ... just traveling."

The two traveled in a companionable silence for a time. A few miles down the road, Jennifer turned the radio on again. Again, static blared from the speakers. Both she and her passenger winced at the noise. She twisted the dial, the noise fading, then turned it off with a sigh. "Fine. Be that way."

Caine glanced over at her curiously. "Do you often speak to your car?"

Jennifer blinked, startled. She shrugged, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Well ... um ... sometimes." She took a breath, a slight grin on her face. "But I figure I'm okay as long as it doesn't talk back."

Caine chuckled, the sound warming her. She continued, a bit self-consciously, aware that she was babbling, "I mean, traveling by yourself can be boring sometimes. With no one to talk to, you tend to start talking to yourself." She glanced at Caine, then shrugged. "At least, I do." There was a short pause. "Am I making any sense?"

"Yes."

"I am?"

Caine nodded and smiled. "I have often found it ... beneficial ... to commune with my surroundings. It helps ease the loneliness."

"My parents ..." She trailed off.

"Yes?"

She brushed her hair from her face, cleared her throat. "Um ... well, my parents used to think I was crazy when I talked to myself. I stopped for awhile, but lately have taken the habit up again. Especially when I can't write down what I'm thinking."

"Are you ... a writer?"

"Kinda. I try, but can't seem to find the right words. I know what I want to say, I just don't know how to say it." There was another pause. "If I'm not being nosy ... actually, I know I'm being nosy, or I wouldn't be asking, but if you don't mind asking, what do you do?" Caine smiled again, and Jennifer noticed that smiling seemed to take years off of him. 'I think I like it when he smiles.'

"I am a Shaolin priest."

She frowned. "What's Shaolin?"

"Shaolin is ... a type of Chinese philosophy. We follow the Tao, living in harmony with everything around us. We are teachers and defenders of that which is true and just."

"Defenders of truth and justice, huh? Sounds like a cop." She smiled at him, and was gladdened when he smiled back.

"On occasion, I have had to enlighten people that the path they were taking was the wrong one and would only bring sorrow."

"Path? You mean, like, where you're going in life? How you live and what you do?"

"Exactly."

"How can you tell if the path you are on is the right one?"

"Listen to your heart. It is wise and will rarely steer you wrong. Listen to your loved ones, those that wish you only well will let you know when you are harming yourself or others."

"Oh." She was silent for a moment, trying to figure out what he was saying. "I think I understand." They came up to a restaurant along the side of the road. "You hungry?"

"I ... have no money."

"No worries. My treat. Come on, I'm starved." She ushered him into the restaurant with a grin.

After ordering, the two went silent, each occupying their own thoughts. 'He's nice. But seems lonely. I wonder if he's on the right path for him? If not now, I'll bet he will be soon.'

'She reminds me so much of my son. Peter would question everything and everyone in the same manner.' Another thought occurred to him. "Why are you traveling alone?"

She hesitated a moment. "Well, I've been asking you questions, only fair you ask me some. I'm ... on vacation. Trying to get my head straight."

He looked confused. "Get your head straight?"

"Figure out what's been going on, what I'm going to do next. That kind of stuff."

"Ah. And ... how long have you been ... figuring stuff out?"

She sighed. "Three months." "Any closer to a solution?"

She shrugged. "Not really. I ended up just driving around the country, trying to write, and trying to forget. But, I guess you can't sort things out if you ignore them, huh?"

"No, you cannot."

"Figures."

"Can your parents not help you with this?"

"Huh. My parents are the cause of this. We had a fight about my sister. Stupid actually. I can't control what my sister does or doesn't do. But they expect me to know everything she does and to tell them when she's doing something wrong. I told them that I wouldn't spy on her. If they want to know what she's doing, they should ask her. They said I was being unreasonable." She sighed. "I had said, 'You want to see unreasonable, this is unreasonable.' I packed a bag, hopped into my car, and haven't been back since."

Caine raised an eyebrow, looking concerned. "Have you spoken to them at all since you left?"

"Not really. I mean, I send them postcards every now and then, just so they know I'm still alive and well. But, I don't think I'm up to talking to them just yet."

"Don't wait too long. You never know when the time you can spend with your loved ones will be cut short."

Caine looked so unbelievably sad at that moment that Jennifer couldn't help but place a hand over his in concern. "Are you okay?"

He took a deep breath and seemed to bury the sadness. "I ... am fine."

Tentatively, she withdrew her hand and began fiddling with her napkin nervously. "Um ... so ... why are you traveling so much? I mean, do you have a family?"

"Not any more." The sadness was back in his eyes, though more controlled.

She bit her lip. 'Now you've gone and done it, Jennifer.' "I - I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry. If you don't want to talk about it ..."

"No. Do not apologize. You did not know." He took a cleansing breath and leaned back in his seat. He tilted his head and studied her. "You remind me of my son, Peter. He had an active and inquisitive nature. Always asking questions." He watched her fidget for a moment, one foot bouncing rapidly under the table, causing the water glasses to jiggle. He smiled. "He was never still for a moment, either."

She looked up at him sheepishly and shifted in her seat so that her shaking no longer rattled the table. "What happened to him?" She asked the question quietly, almost afraid to ask.

"He died in an explosion at our old home." Jennifer again placed her hand over his, hoping to comfort. Surprised, Caine smiled sadly and placed his other hand on hers. They stayed that way for a moment, then each reclaimed their hands.

The two finished eating, then took to the road.

"I'll be traveling for another two days in this direction, if you care to join me. I've got some camp gear in the back. You're welcome, if you'd like."

"After two days, where will you go?"

"No where, I hope." She looked over at him. "We'll be hitting my home town. I think ..." she cleared her throat, "uh ... I think I'll look some people up. See how they are doing. You know." She looked a bit embarrassed.

Caine hid a smile, "Yes. I know. And I would be honored to accompany you."

"Great." She grinned and the two drove off.

The next two days went by quickly. Jennifer and Caine spoke of the places they had been, and the things that they had seen in their travels. Each marveled at the others perspectives and points of view. Caine got Jennifer to show him some of her writings, gave suggestions and encouragement. Jennifer got Caine to talk about his son - she learned a lot about Peter and was glad of it.

Finally, they entered the outskirts of the city. Caine looked at the sign: 'Welcome to Sloanville.'

"Well, we're here. Where shall I let you off?"

"Here will be fine."

Jennifer glanced around. "Are you sure. It's a fair distance from the center of town."

"I am sure."

"Okay." She sounded skeptical but obediently pulled the car over onto the shoulder of the road. Caine got out of the car, adjusted the strap of his bag, and began walking down the road.

Jennifer turned the car off, fished something out of her rucksack and ran after the retreating priest. "Caine! Hey, Caine!"

Caine turned as the young woman ran up to him. "Yes?"

She laughed, a bit breathlessly, "You forgot something."

He looked puzzled. "What did I forget?"

"This." She gave him a fierce hug, surprising him. Then she pressed a piece of paper into his hand. "You have no idea how much you've helped me. I hope you find what you're looking for." She kissed his cheek, then ran back to her car.

He watched her get into her vehicle and drive off, waving and honking her horn as she passed him. He waved back and stood watching until her car was out of sight. He glanced down at the paper in his hand.

'Caine, Before I met you, I had been in a slump; unable to express what I felt or saw in any kind of satisfactory manner. You have helped me so much; with my feelings, my family, and my writing. This poem came to mind after listening to you describe your way of life. I hope I did not offend or portray anything wrongly. If nothing else, I hope you will keep this to remind you of me.
Thank you so much,
Jennifer'

Wherever I may Roam
...and the road becomes my bride.
I am stripped of all but pride.
So in her I do confide,
and she keeps me satisfied -
gives me all I need.

...and with dust in throat I crave,
only knowledge will I save.
To the game you stay a slave.
Rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond -
call me what you will.

But I'll take my time anywhere -
free to speak my mind anywhere
and I'll redefine anywhere -

anywhere I roam.
Where I lay my head is home.

...and the earth becomes my throne.
I adapt to the unknown.
Under wandering stars I've grown.
By myself but not alone.
I ask no one.

...and my ties are severed clean.
The less I have the more I gain.
Off the beaten path I reign.
Rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond -
call me what you will.

But I'll take my time anywhere -
free to speak my mind
and I'll take my find anywhere -

anywhere I roam.
Where I lay my head is home.

Carved upon my stone:
My body lies, but still I roam.

Caine stood a moment re-reading the poem. 'She sees well, and expresses herself better than she knows. I won't forget you, Jennifer.' He folded the letter and tucked it into his bag. With a deep breath, he started down the grassy shoulder, heading for the underpass.

A few miles down, Jennifer turned off the main road and followed familiar streets until she reached a modest one-story house. Parking in the street, she turned off the engine and nervously straightened her hair. She looked into the rearview mirror. "Okay, girl. Let's do this."

She got out of the car and walked up the sidewalk to the front door. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and knocked on the door. A moment later, the door opened to show an older woman, dark circles under her eyes.

Jennifer smiled. "Hi, mom."

The End.