Chapter 3

Part 13

At the same moment that the three friends were considering their fate, a plane was flying high over the Pacific Ocean on a return trip from Thailand on it's way back to San Fransisco. The sole passenger of the private aircraft, leaned back in his seat as a young asian woman dressed in a kimono served him tea. He sipped slowly, savoring the flavor while thinking of his short yet relaxing vacation trip. His thoughts drifted back to the events just prior to his departure, he reached for the cellular phone in the arm rest of his seat and quickly pushed the preset button on the phone, it auto-dialed the number for his home in San Fransisco. Before he heared a second ring, the phone was answered by his butler, he informs him that his plane is two hours away from the airport, and that his car and driver should be waiting for him when he arrived there.

"Very good sir", the butler answered. "Do you wish an update on the Blood Lords? I have been keeping track of their movements as you instructed."

"Yes, have they concluded the matter that Calvin and I discussed before my departure?", he asked while sipping his tea.

"I feel that the situation has gotten out of hand sir. The Blood Lords have killed the gun store owner in a most grizzly manner, and have as yet to locate the young man who shot the two members of their gang in the attempted robbery. They have at this point taken the young man's friends in an effort to extract the whereabouts of the young man in question from them."

"I see", He said coolly, putting down his cup. "I am very displeased at this. Perhaps Calvin has outlived his usefullness. When I arrive I will whish to speak with him personally before I come to a final descision."

"Very good sir. May I enquire as to if your vacation in your compound in Thailand was beneficial?"

"Very!", he said. "It was also most instuructive as well. I consulted a Feng Shui Man and his wife who was a Dream Teller. They gave me some very powerful insight into my life, and of my past as well. Of course I had them killed afterwards, so no one else may gain this most precious knowledge... pitty they were very good."

"I am very happy that you enjoyed yourself sir, I will have everything ready for you upon your arrival."

After hanging up the phone he called for the young woman to refill his glass, and as he sipped his tea once more he thought back to what the Feng Shui man had said.

"Destiny can not be denied, just as the circle can never remain unbroken. Your destiny lays in the Empire of Sian-kiang, and in it's re-emergence in the world of men once more!", the old man told him.

His Wife, the Dream Teller, had taken him into a small ante chamber and lit a special incense to help clear his mind. She had led him down the paths of memory, soon he came to his dream of falling once more. The images of the ground rushing towards him was a terrifying sight, but as he worked forward from that memory he began to recall more and more every moment he was there. He smiled to himself as he recalled the look on her face as he uttered words that had not been heard in quite some time, and of how she gasped when he strangeled her with his bare hands. He then ordered the aide that he had brought with him to shoot the Feng Shui Man so as not to leave any witnesses. He sipped his tea once once, and began to make new plans for the future. Very Important plans!

Part 14

Looking down at the ring in his hand, Ray had a strange feeling wash over him. Visions of his friends swam before his eyes, and a feeling of dread came to him. He gripped the ring tighter, the image of Mark came in to focus with great clarity.

"You have had a vision?", asked the Tulku.

"Yes, just for a moment I saw my friends. And then I saw Mark in my mind really clear."

"And how did this vision make you feel?"

"Uneasy", Ray said while looking down at the ring. "It was like I could tell something bad was going to happen to them!"

"Then you must heed the warning of the visions my son. You must go to your friends, for they need help that only The Shadow can give them." The Tulku clapped his hands and a Chela appeared carrying a wooden box. "Take this into the next room, inside you will find everything you will need to help your friends, and to bring your true inner self into focus!"

Ray took the the box from the smiling Chela, who then lead him into an adjoining room. Once inside, he lifted the lid and reached inside. His fingers touched cloth, and the smell of gun oil reached his nostrils. With an odd sense of familiarity he began to pull out the garments inside, and began to undress.

The younger Monks and Chelas outside wear puzzled expressions on their faces. They had no idea of what was going on, but the Tulku seemed pleased at the events so far.

"What will happen now Master?", asked one of the students that stood near him.

"An end of the life that our young friend once knew, and the begining of a new one. A life that will be steeped in darkness, but will serve the cause of light!"

All eyes turned as Ray entered the room once more. He is dressed all in black, a topcoat with twin shoulder holsters on the outside. In his hands he carried with him a black cloak, red scraf, and wide snap-brimmed hat. On his gloved left hand he wore the Girisol ring that now pulsed with new life.

"Your old garments were well preserved, and should serve you well", said the Tulku. "However you old weapons did not fare as well over time, and had to be replaced. I hope that you approve of the new ones."

Ray drew out one of the pistols and examined it more closely. At first glance it looked like a standard nickel- plated long slide .45cal colt pistol, but as he ran a gloved hand over the pearl grip he saw it was anything but ordinary. It was a custom model with a special frame designed to hold a double staggered magazine. Now instead of the standard seven rounds of an old model Colt, this one would hold fourteen rounds. Efectively doubling his fire-power. Sliding the pistol back into it's holster, Ray turned back to the seated Tulku. "What do I do to save them, where do I go first?"

"You must follow your instincts. The powers of the mind that have lain dormant within you are beginging to rise once more to the surface. Trust in them. For although you are fit by Western standards, you do not possess the physical conditioning that Kent Allard had when the left our temple many years ago. So for now you must use you most important weapon of all, your mind!"

Ray closed his eyes and worked to clear himself of all thought preparing for the task at hand. He quickly donned the cloak and scarf, and pulled the snap-brimmed hat low over his forehead. He felt different somehow, he felt a growing strength and confidence wash over him and when he opened his eyes he felt a raw, primal power surge thru his body as if a long hidden force within him had finally been released!

The monks and chelas in the chamber watched in awe as the young man in black underwent a strange transformation before their eyes! His profile took on a predatory, almost hawk-like appearance; his now open eyes had become orbs that seemed to glow with a burning power. The young man before them had become a strange dark-clad demon from their legends of old! He had become The Shadow!

Turning to leave The Shadow stopped and turned once more to face his old/new master. "Before I leave may I ask two questions of you?" His voice now deeper, and sounding as if it alone commanded the night.

"As your questions, I will answer as best I can my son."

"Will you still be here when I return, so that I may begin to train my body to it's former peak?"

"Yes. The visa's given to us expire in 3 months, that should be time enough for you to master the pysical training of the e-kung once more. And what is your second question?"

The Shadow looked into the eyes of his master. "When I... that is, when Kent Allard died what became of his body?"

"We were going to perform the sky burial ritual, as is our custom. But in going thru Allard's belongings we came across a letter, inside were instructions on what to do in the event of his death. We followed them by packing the body in Ice, and shipped it back to New York to a Dr. Roy Tam and a Mr. Shervenitz. I presume they gave him a proper burial when the body arrived. Why do you ask?"

"Just a strange feeling I had for a moment. Like a ghost of a memory. For now Kent Allard may be dead, but The Shadow is reborn!"

Those present in the room watched as the ebon figure stepped into the shadows, and was embraced by them as if long parted friends had been reunited once more, then he was gone. Outside the room a laughter that could chill the human soul could be heard on the night time wind.

for those of you wondering what happened to Kent Allard's body... check in with the story Shadow 2099, to be posted soon.

part 15

The tulku's advice of following his instincts seemed to be paying off, as he found himself standing outside of "Shriver's Auto Repair Shop." It was owned by Marks' father who also ran a limo service on the side. Quickly looking around his gaze came to rest on two low slung vehilces parked outside the shop. They weren't the type of cars that Mr. Shriver normally worked on, and as he examined the vehicles carefully his new found senses flashed a warning signal to him. He stepped back into the darkness just as the side door to the shop opened, a figure dressed in gang colors walked outside. His mind focused, and he willed himself not to be seen. The gang punk walked right past him and went to the nearest of the two vehicles, retrieveing what looked like a large combat knife he then went back inside. Rage flared up with in him as the image of Uncle Dave's corpse came into his mind. Concentrateing the full force of his will he moved towards the repair shop, steeling himself for the battle to come.

Mark had been working late at the shop for his dad to keep his mind off the events of the past week. He was worried by the fact that he was unable to contact his friends all day, as he had gone to pick up some auto parts from an out of town dealer. On his return he wasn't able to reach any of them, so when he heard a couple of cars pull up outside the shop he thought it was his friends come to talk. But as strong hands grabbed him roughly from behind and tied his hands, all thoughts friendship quickly fled his mind. There were eight of them, dressed in gang style clothes, four tied him to a nearby welders rack and began to punch and kick him for what seemed like hours, but in reality was only a few minutes. When they stopped, the one who acted like he was in charge started to talk to him.

"Now that we've got your attention, I'm gonna ask you a question. If I like the answer you give me I won't have to hurt you. But If I don't like your answer I'm gonna make you scream!" He then motioned to one of the others who then left thru the side door.

"We shouldn't be doin' this man", said one of the others. "C.J. said that we was just to jack him, and bring him back with us."

"Well C.J. ain't here, and I'm in charge! Besides, if we get him to tell us where that punk who shot our homies is we can go find him and bring him back with us so C.J. can cap him personally! Then who do you think he's gonna thank for that? Us that's who!"

Mark knew then that it was Ray that they were looking for. He knew that they would kill him even if he could tell them where Ray was, so he readied himself for whatever pain was to come. He turned his head as he heard the side door to the shop open once more. The one gang punk had returned and was carrying a very long, sharp looking knife. Their leader then went over to the welding torch, and ignited it while holding the blade in the blue tinged flame. The knife began to glow with the heat, and handing the torch yo one of the otheres he advanced on Mark.

"Now, tell me where your college boy friend is hiding out!"

He held the blade close enough to feel the heat of it on his bare skin. Mark swallowed hard, and as a last act of defiance he spat in the knife wielder's face.

"Have it your way asshole, but sooner or later you'll beg to talk. I promise you will!"

Mark readied himself for the pain and intense heat, but the knife advanced no farther as some unseen force pushed him back into the midst of the others. It was then the sound of laughter filled the room. A deep, low, mocking sound that seemed to come from everywhere at once.

"What the hell is that?", yelled the knife wielder while drawing a pistol from his waistband. The others followed his example, trying to zero in on the source of the eerie sound. "I don't know who's playin' games but whoever you are you're a dead man!" He then motioned for the others to fan out and begin to search the shop. "Come on out now! No body messes with the Blood Lords!" Dark laughter answered back, then a sinister voice broke forth from all around them.

"Torture, attempted murder, and kidnapping. Is there any crime you scum haven't committed?"

One of the gang thugs began to panic from the strange voice. "Who's talking man, who's sayin' that!"

"Shut up!", yelled the leader. "Someone's just trying to scare us!" But even he was begining to sweat from terror. His grandmother had always told him that bad things waited in the dark to take bad people away with them, and now those old tales ran thru his mind as the voice spoke once more from the darkness.

"You should be frightened; did you think that you could get away with doing these things for long, did you thnk that I wouldn't know?"

When the laughter started once more, one of the younger gang thugs panicked and began shooting. This set off a chain reaction with the rest of them, as they too began firing in all directions, hoping to silence the sinister voice. But instead laughter grew in volume and from around them, shots were fired in return and found their way to their targets with lethal accuracy. Some tried to run, but were brought down by a hail of gunfire aimed at their legs as they tried to escape. Then, just as suddenly as the laughter and gunfire had began, it stopped and all was silent. Dead gangmenbers lay where they fell, and the wounded began to moan and tried to drag themselves away. The one who had acted as the leader was one of these, his legs shattered by gun shots, was stunned to feel unseen hands close around his jacket and lifted him off the ground!

"It's got me! Help me guys it's got me!", he screamed.

The surviving thugs and the still bound Mark could only stare in amazement as the wounded ex-leader hung suspened in the air, held by some unknown force for a few moments before being flung against a far wall.

"Now you will answer my questions!", the voice commanded. "Who sent you here, and why!"

"It was C.J. man", screamed the wounded thug as he tried to pull himself upright. "He runs the Blood Lords! He was the one who told us to grab this guy and bring him back with the others!"

"What others?", the voice demanded angrily.

"Two other guys, and some asian bitch. C.J. was real pissed when Darryl couldn't get the old dude to tell where the punk who shot some of our homies was at, so he had us grab his friends and is gonna make them talk!" He felt invisible grab him once more. They lifted him off the floor once more and pinned him to the wall.

"You mean that your gang was responsible for the murder of David Grant?!", the voice demanded.

"Yea, but it was Darryl that did the old dude!", he said while squirming in an unseen grip.

"While you on the other hand were going to toture, and then murder the man tied up eh? You will tell me where the others are being held, then you will be left here for the police. When they arrive you will confess to every crime that you have ever committed, and you will plead guilt to all of them. If you don't, I will find you no matter where you go and the fate you will suffer will be far worse than even you can imagine!"

When the gang thug finished telling everything he knew, he was dropped once more to the ground. Pulling himself up the wounded punk mustered what little courage he had left and shouted into the dark. "You're dead meat if you go up against C.J. and the rest of the Blood Lords! You hear me? Dead Meat!" He opened his mouth to shout out once more but was silenced as a shadow appeared on the floor in front of him, elongated in his direction until it covered him completely, and rose high onto the wall behind him. Mark and the other wounded gang bangers saw this too, and all eyes followed it back to it's source at the far wall where parts of the smoke from the exchange of gunfire still hung in the air seeming to merge with the dark there. The smoke and shadows parted slowly, as if a curtain was being drawn open, to reveal the figure of a man dressed all in black from shoes to hat, which was pulled down low. What little could be seen of his face, behind the covering of his red scarf, was fierce-eyed and hawk-like in appearance and behind him a dark cloak fluttered and snapped like a living part of the night, even though there is no wind inside the shop. His eyes went wide with terror as the dark clad figure advanced on him like the spectre of death itself!

"No. It is you and criminals like you that are finished in this city because I now claim it as my own, and I will defend it against those who would seek to do evil!", the dark figure intoned while standing over him. "The weed of crime bears bitter fruit, crime does not pay! Remeber that, for if you are ever released from prison, I will be waiting! And should you commit another crime you shall receive the final justice that your friends received here tonight... death!!! The black clad figure watched with amusement as the once haughty leader fainted dead away on the ground. He then turned, and freed Mark from his bonds.

"I don't know who, or what you are mister. But thanks for saving my ass!", Mark said while rubbing his wrists to get the blood flowing in them again.

"I have indeed saved your life Mark Shiver. Now I will ask you, are willing to risk it again to help your friends?"

Mark looked at the dark figure in front of him. "Shouldn't we let the police handle this?"

"The police would take too long, and as you have witnessed here I can go places where they could not, and remain unseen! By the time they reached them they would more than likely be dead."

Mark couldn't argue with that. He had seen what these animals could do. If anyone could save them, this man could! "All right, I'm game!"

The black clad avenger turned and headed for the door as Mark got a shirt and jacket from the nearby table. Reaching the outside he closed the door, locking the gang punks inside for the police to find. Mark got in the drivers seat, as his passenger got into the back. "Before we do this, can I ask a couple of questions? Who are you, and how did you know that I was in trouble?"

"I have been called by many names, but most know me as The Shadow!"

"Well, that seems to describe you petty well", Mark said while adjusting the rear view mirror. "But how did you know I needed help?"

The Shadow's laugh filled the car as the engine started. "Believe me, I Know!"

Part 16

Mark drove thru the dark city streets, following the directions that his dark clad passenger had gotten out of the knife wielding thug. He occasionally glanced in the rear-view mirror to watch the man who had appeared so suddenly, and saved hi life. Many questions ran thru his mind, who was he, where had he come from, and what was his interest in him and his friends? He wondered if he knew the whereabouts of Ray, but before he could ask the voice from the back seat ordered him to stop the car and park. Pulling over to the curb he complied, and looked back at his passenger. "Why did we stop here?"