Chương 107: Book 4 - Chapter 3 B

Matt was watching eagerly as the fishing boat held its place at the location I gave them. Security too was interested but they weren't still holding a fishing pole like Matt was. We had spent some time deep-sea fishing off the coast, and I had asked the boat captain to stop at this particular spot on the way back.

"This is a rebreather GA built for me using my CO2 cracking technology."

"So it's like scuba?" he asked as I slipped the helmet on. Talking loudly to be heard through the helmet, I said, "It's battery-powered and good for an hour underwater."

"Where are the tanks?" Chief Brown asked.

"No tanks. It's all part of the helmet."

"That's all you need?" he asked.

"Eight D batteries, a weight belt, a custom buoyancy vest and flippers. Have that and you're good to go."

"What's custom about the vest?" Chief Brown asked.

"A built-in mini compressed air tank. I don't have big scuba tanks to fill it with." I put on the other equipment then dropped over backwards into the water. The shipwreck in Tokyo Bay wasn't overly deep. Once I located it with my flashlight, I carefully removed the long box I was looking for and a few old coins. I surfaced and was helped back into the boat where Chief Brown was looking angry that I had gone over on my own.

"Chief Brown," I said.

"I thank you for your concern. You are right. I should have had a dive buddy. Next time I will. As an apology, I'll give you my dive equipment when I leave, so you can come back to dive for treasure on the wreck." He considered a moment then recognized my grin for what it was, an insincere apology.

"Keep the equipment, it'll never fit me," he said, still frustrated and angry. I handed the box to Matt as the Captain of the boat came to excitedly ask, "Did you find sunken treasure?"

"Just the box and a few coins," I said and showed him one.

"You aren't allowed to take treasure from sunken vessels," he insisted.

"You are free to return to this site and investigate the wreck on your own. I apologize for the trouble I've caused you." I turned to Matt and, in English instructed, "Matt, give him the little something I gave you for the man's trouble." Matt reached into a pocket and pulled out a small packet of money.

"As you can see from the coins, they are not Japanese. Take this little compensation for your worry." The Captain flipped briefly through the cash. It totaled $10, 000. He gave a short perfunctory bow and returned to the pilothouse. Matt handed the box back to me. It was tightly wrapped in tar-covered leather. I looked at the Chief and at Matt.

"We are done fishing, right?" They agreed we were done so we continued back to port. At the hotel I carefully wrapped the items in plastic then put them in a backpack that had been in my luggage. The long box just barely fit. That accomplished, I found Matt.

"I need you to go downstairs and call a cab to take me to the train station."

"You aren't using security to take you?"

"No. I need to sneak away. Leave them a note in your room that we'll be fine and back in two days." He wrote the note and took my backpack with him downstairs. I slipped out past security and went down to meet him and the cab. At the train Matt paid for the tickets north. We didn't talk on the train. We just watched the scenery buzz past the window at high speed. When we got to the stop, we disembarked and I used a payphone to call a cab. It took us from the train station to the base of a mountain.

"Matt, I'm supposed to do the next part of this journey alone. I need you to go back to the town we passed through and wait for me at the hotel there. I'll be back tomorrow," I told him. He didn't want to let me go but finally relented. So with my backpack loaded up, I started to climb the mountain path to the hidden monastery. I knew I was being watched after the first mile. I ignored the watchers. When I reached the first stone marker, I left one of the coins I found on it.

When I reached the second marker, I left a second coin. The third stone marker got the plastic-wrapped leather-covered box. The final stone marker got my backpack. Now unburdened, I turned back down the path and took a fork that led to a cliff wall. There I sat after bowing to the wall. Every hour I stood and went through my Tai Chi poses. I would then bow to the wall and sit. I didn't eat or drink. I just sat and meditated with my eyes closed between Tai Chi. As the sun set, I was joined by two people.

I didn't say anything, but they sat with me. Once the sunset finished, I performed no more Tai Chi but just sat there and meditated. At sunrise, my two companions stood and waited for me. I went through a few stretches, performed my Tai Chi routine and then bowed to the wall. Then in a clear voice, I spoke to the wall.

"Master, I return bearing wisdom, carrying that which was lost." Then I bowed low and held it. A voice from the top of the cliff called out loudly to me.

"Come if you know the way." I moved to the cliff and began to climb. My silent companions just watched from below. While I knew each and every handhold, it was still a frightening thing to free-climb with no rope or tools. I was particularly happy I didn't share Grandma's fear of heights when I briefly looked down as I climbed. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

At the top, I was greeted by ten robed men who said nothing but just gestured that I come then formed an honor-guard of five on each side. We walked up to an ancient wooden building where a middle-aged man sat in a chair. The honor guard stopped so I bowed.

"Tell me who you are," he commanded.

"I am John Wayne Cook."

"Tell me what you are," he commanded.

"I am spirit reborn as flesh."

"Tell me why you are," he commanded. I was silent. It was a trick question. He waited, then grunted.

"Come, John Wayne Cook, we will eat and you will tell me more." He stood and I followed him inside to a table. There he joined my honor guard, the two men who had sat vigil with me overnight and a dozen others sitting at the tables. He offered me the seat next to his and I accepted it. We all ate as bowls were placed in front of us filled with rice and vegetables. I had no difficulty with my chopsticks. But I did not talk and no one else did either. We finished the bowls and set them on the table.

They were whisked away to be replaced with cups of tea. Everyone watched as I took my teacup and poured it out on the ground. That made a few of them stiffen in shock. But the man who interrogated me smiled widely.

"How is it you have returned Master Yoshi?" he asked.

"I am not Master Yoshi," I told him.

"I am Mushi-dokugo (enlightened without a teacher). I have come to call on the resources of this monastery as Master Yoshi intended that one day this monastery would be called upon to do."

"You have passed the tests he set. Some we did not know until after you arrived. The return of the sword signified the fulfillment of prophecy, so we opened the ancient scrolls to learn what tests to give you. You passed every test," the master said with some excitement.

"I am Pratyekabuddha (Solitary Buddah). All knowledge is open to me, but I cannot teach the path I take. I live as I must. The middle way guides my steps. I awoke April 4th, 1984. I have been working ever since for the good of everyone on earth."

"Why now? You come to us five years after awakening?" he asked as the others watched carefully.

"Even a lotus must take time to blossom. It was time so I came. When it is time, I will go. Shall I tell you the day you die? Would you like to know the name of your great-great-great-great-grandchild? Shall I sing to you the song your mother sang when she washed your clothes in the river?"

"Command us, Master. Tell us and we will do," he said sincerely. So I instructed them. I gave them dates, times, places and instructions. They brought out modern pens and paper and carefully wrote down all their instructions. Then when I had finished, they were stunned for a moment.

"It is a hard task and a complicated series of events over many, many years," I said to acknowledged their wordless questions.

"I know you will accomplish every task I have set. I trust you with these tasks because you will do them all with honor." They all stood and bowed to me in acknowledgment.

"Show me the sword. I have never seen it with these eyes," I requested. We moved to an inner room, where they gathered in a circle around me and I knelt on the mats. The box was set before me. It had been removed from the oil-coated leather but still smelled of the ocean it had spent so many years in waiting. I opened it up and carefully drew out the sword. It had been preserved wonderfully. I stood, leaving the rosewood box on the ground.

I turned to where the giant Buddha statue stood in another room at the center of the monastery and bowed. Then with my eyes closed, I performed a kata. The balance was perfect but the sword was too large for me. I returned the sword to the box. It was an ancient single-edge straight sword. I thanked him for letting me hold the sword and handed it off to a person sitting in the silent watching circle of monks. Returning to the center of the circle, I sat again.

A second box was brought out and set before me with a bow. I placed my hand on the box and looked at the master of the monastery.

"Master Yoru thought it was funny to make swords this short," I said, smiling.

"This is a wonderful gift. Thank you." Then I opened the box, wrapped the silk sash around my waist and inserted the katana and wakizashi. Then I handed the box back to the man who brought it. Moving into the center of the room, I again turned and bowed to the statue, closed my eyes and performed a kata with both swords. They were the perfect length for my five-foot height. I resheathed both blades then turned to the monastery master.

"Master Koru, there is a criminal at this monastery. A man who attacks and kills women. What would you have me do?"

"Master Cook," he replied.

"Clean our house as you see fit." I turned to a man sitting at my left.

"Mino do you confess?" He stood shaking then bowed his head.

"I confess nothing!" he shouted. Pulling a katana from his robes, he rushed at me. A simple sweep, my blades danced up, touched his and took his head off. It thudded across the room but the body collapsed in a heap. I pulled a silk cloth from a pocket and carefully cleaned the swords and then resheathed them. I bowed to the Master.

"It is time to go. Thank you for your hospitality." I turned and walked out of the room. The circle parted as I approached. The swords still at my waist. I crossed the hallway to the room with the giant Buddha statue and moved behind it. From there I took the hidden-tunnel staircase to the bottom of the cliff. So much easier than free climbing. I moved into a quick jog as I went down the mountain path. At the end I saw Matt.

"Hi Matt!" I greeted happily.

"Thank God you're back!" he said with relief.

"I was worried I'd have to go into the forest to find you." I walked up to him and he looked me over.

"Nice swords, where did you get them?" he asked.

"Zen Warrior Monks," I told him.

"What?" he asked.

"This is Noru," I said, pointing behind him.

"He will accompany us while we are in Japan," I told Matt as the Monk slipped up behind him.

"Noru, this is Matt, a friend and sworn retainer," I said in Japanese. Matt spun around to face the monk. Noru bowed and said, "I am honored to meet a servant of the Master." I translated for Matt.

"He says he is honored to meet you." Matt, Noru and I headed to the train station. It was a short wait and we took it back to Tokyo. Security met us at the train station and the Humvee caravan wrapped in matte black graphene felt again gathered intense attention and a little fear as the big vehicles rumbled through traffic back to the hotel. The Chief just glared at me as I entered the hotel room.

"Chief Brown, I'm sorry you were upset, but I had a secret meeting I had to attend alone."

"I'm not happy with you. Your Mother gave us very specific instructions!" he said forcefully. I smiled into his anger.

"Chief, my Mom doesn't pay for your services. I do. Additionally, I am emancipated and have the right to go where I please like any other law-abiding adult." I gestured at my weapons still at my waist and said, "These were gifts to me at my meeting. Anyone other than me would have offended my hosts." He huffed and walked off. Matt came back in the room handing me a stack of messages to go through.

"Good news," I told him.

"I saw," he said.

"I'll call them back in a bit. Better give the recall notice to the Flight crew."

"We'll leave tomorrow?"

"Yup, with the equipment order finished and Sony's delivery to the airport tomorrow, we can head home to San Diego."

"I was wondering when we would get back," he said.

"We haven't been to the house there since you left for Olympic training."