Taek Won Do #2: Chains - FOUR

Robinson sat cross-legged on the floor of the cell, Morrison at chain's length eyeing him nervously. Robinson felt the giant's confusion, despair, and mistrust licking like waves at the edge of his consciousness; these would be part of the problem of escaping, he knew.

When he decided to come to Fort Lonestar he had known the risk involved. The "wanted" poster was widespread; there was every reason to believe it would have reached this outpost, too. But against that was his knowledge that no place was without peril for the King's arm was long indeed. And his quest for his unknown father leading him so far, Fort Lonestar had been the necessary next step.

Still, he had taken what he considered the obvious precautions. As he had entered the fort, his keen eyes recorded every detail of its layout and searched the surrounding countryside for what it might offer him for eventual protection. And locked in the cell, he had listened to the changing noises of the corridor, the voices and footsteps that told him the routine of the stockade---who did what, how, and when. Getting out of the cell would be no problem, Robinson concluded. Getting out of the fort, however, would be more difficult. Chained to Morrison, whose fear had dulled any instinctual, animal cunning he possessed, Robinson would need more than the shelter of darkness.

He would need a very good plan and a more cooperative cellmate. By the time he had to explain Morrison's role to him, the big man must be calmer, more trusting, and less ready to turn like a cornered bear when his fright mastered him.

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Squatting on the earthen floor of their cell, Morrison spooned up the last portion of gummy stew from his tin plate. He wiped his beard-fringed mouth with his sleeve. He glanced at Robinson, asking, "How come you ain't eatin'?"

"I am not hungry."

Spoon still clutched between his thick fingers, Morisson pointed to the plate in front of Robinson. "You ever going to....?"

"It is yours."

The big man pulled the plate towards him with his thumb and forefinger. "Don't you hills ever eat?"

Robinson did not respond.

When Morisson had finished with the second helping he dropped the plate to the floor. "You know what I think. I think you're plumb loco. You should be caged up more 'n me."

"Should you be in a cage?"

"Well, everybody around me thinks so."

Sitting cross-legged on the earth, Robinson let his mind take him back through time. Back to the old Hwarangdo temple where he had been taught and raised.319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VEAQejPQQ
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In a wide clear blue freshwater pool within the temple grounds swam a dozen young golden gudgeons, each over three inches long. Beside the pool, touched by the rippling patterns of reflected light it threw, stood young Robinson, thirteen years old and his red hair done up in the traditional topknot of all Hwarangdo. Next to him was Grand Master Kang.

"The entire world is wet and round and bright," Grand Master Kang was saying. "But there are twelve fish and, thus, twelve worlds."

"Yet there is but one pool," said the boy Robinson.

"Many rather. The one you see, the one I see, and the pool of each of these glistening gudgeons," said the instructor. "The world you live in is mysterious, exciting, unknown. Mine is older, familiar, and calm. You will never know my world, nor I yours."

"Never?"

"Can you then look as I look? Think as I think?"

"But, Grand Master, you are one with the universe. So am I and so also are these fish."

"We are one, yet we are not the same." From the tiles bordering the round pool, the instructor picked a wire basket with a long thin handle of bamboo. He swept the basket into the water, catching one of the bright-scaled carp. He gestured with his free hand towards a clump of ferns across the courtyard. "Our brother the fish protests. But our brothers the cats approve," said Grand Master Kang. "They may eat well tonight."

Robinson looked and saw two lean white cats crouched, anticipating, in the brush.

"A storm has invaded the world of fish," continued the grand master. "But in the world of cats, the sun has risen." Gently he returned the struggling fish to its pond. "Ten million living things have as many different worlds. Do not see yourself as the center of the universe, as one wise and good and beautiful. Seek, rather, wisdom and goodness and beauty that you may honor them, everywhere."

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"What're ya doin'?"

Robinson had been stirring a brown powder into a cup of water with which he'd been provided.

"What's that stuff?" Morisson persisted.

"A broth."

"That's all you're going.....?" The huge man trailed off as lantern light splashed on him.

The night guard was checking on them again. He squinted in, nodded to himself, and moved on to the next cell in the stockade.

"That's all you're going to eat?"

"It will be sufficient."

Morrison gave a snorting laugh. "Just water with stuff in it? That's crazy."

After drinking from the cup, Robinson asked, "Did you mean it when you said you could take me to the place where you last saw my father?"

"You think I wanna hang? Sure, all you got to do is get me outta here and I'll take you up there."

Robinson watched the small window in their door. "If you have any possessions here, gather them. We will leave soon."319Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DpzW4Rusf
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The guard came around to their cell again ten minutes later. Lantern held high, he put his face close to the bars to look inside. Seeing the two prisoners, he turned away.

At that moment strong fingers shot between the bars and grasped the neck, pressing into certain nerves. Pain filled the man, but he found he had no voice. He could not cry ou t, could not even gasp. As he slumped to the floor, Robinson's fingers were locating the keys the guard carried.

He caught the lantern out of the falling man's hand before it could smash on the stones.

After extinguishing the flame he opened the door and dragged the guard into their cell. "We will leave now," he told Morrison.

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