Book2:KigdomIteDreams

wouldIwantyoutodie?Inmyview,deathdoes.Lifeahhasnodefiniteborderahisnotthebestunishpeople.IhaveabetterwaytoreformasihewordsseemedtotouchacoreinOliverKaffee,whomusedandseemedengrossedinthoughtasifenlightened.HeturnedandsawRichardandJamaz.Heaskedthem,

    “Wherehaveyoutwobeenhidingallthistime?MypeoplelookedallovertheBayArea,ateverynookandybutcouldfindnotraceofyou.ThatiswhyIhavebeenonpinsandneedles,restlesswithay.Ifyoutwoescapedmeanduncoveredmyspiracy,youwillexposemeforthehypocriteIamandIwilllosemyreputationandhavenostandinginsociety.”

    “Soyoutooknowwhatitistobeonpinsandneedles,eh?”saidRichard.“Itwaslikethatforus.Wehadtobeontherunandlookoverourshouldersallthetime.Weseeeverybushandtreeasysingtokillus.Why?Whymakeeveryoremelynervousanduohaveamomentofpeadquiet?Well,nowthatitdoesn’tmatteranymoreItellyouweneverlefttheBayArea.Wehidinasmalltemplebytheke.It’sluckyyouhoughttolookforusthere!”

    “WasthattheBuddhisttemplebyLakeMerritt?Myformer#1assassinisnowamonkinthattemple.Hehassworakeasiepoutofthetemplewhilehelivedahed,andsecludedhimselftheretospeofhislifeinprayeranddoingpe’sreallyunimagiohavesuchperseveranless...”OliverKaffeelookedatDimitriandsaidslowly,

    “Coulditbethatitisalsomyfiination?”

    “Ihavethoughtofthat,too”saidDimitrismilingathimknowingly.Youuandmenohurtsyouandotherpeople.Youotkillit,butyoutameit.Hereafter,youmustbeextravigintaboutthisshatwillbeyourprimarygoalwhenyouareatthetemple.”

    OliverKaffeemulledoverDimitri’swordsandthought,

    “Heisright.Thereisavenom