Paladin and Kwai Chang True knights of the Orient.

 There are very few lovers of Old Western Television that won't remember, "Have Gun Will Travel."  The story about a man who calls himself, "Paladin" after the foremost knights in Charlemagne's court.  Paladin is a gentleman knight.  A true warrior of the old school.  Although during the series that ran from 1957 to 1963 Paladin's true name is never really spoken, only eluded to.  Although it is accepted that his name may have indeed been Will Paladin.  It may be hidden within the card he hands to possible clients during the show.  Embosomed over a White Paladin Chess piece is, "Have Gun Will Travel"  Wire Paladin San Francisco the card became the graphic for the TV series during it's entire run.  

Played by Richard Boone who stated before his death in 1981 that Paladin was the best and finest part he had ever had the pleasure of playing.   Paladin was a Union officer during the Civil War being a graduate of The United States Military Academy at West Point, he was an expert shot and quick draw he became a gun for hire that charges an extremely high fee at 1000 dollars for those who can afford him, and gives his services away for free for the poor who need his help.  Paladin is a true Knight who follows the code. 

An expert in Chinese martial arts, Paladin is seen in a few episodes taking instruction from a Chinese Master.  He is an expert swordsman, a Boxer, and never looses a fight.  Paladin is to the Old West what Author and Lancelot were to Camelot.  A very educated man and a Master Chess player Paladin was also his own Merlin.  Following the path of righteousness and Chivalry Paladin is the kind of Good Guy that made the kids of the era feel good about the Westerns they were watching on TV, Myself included.  Two of my favorite shows of the time were, "Kung Fu" with David Carradine, and "Paladin" with Richard Boone.  I've always wondered what would have happened if Kwai Chang Caine hadn't met Paladin?  It would have been a glorious show.  What Kwai Chang did with his feet and body, Paladin did with his Colt 45 and mind.  What a show it would have been.

Now I will Google old Paladin episodes and dream the good dream.

Peace and Balance,

John

Chapter 18: The Almost Monk

 The Dad taught The Boy about chivalry.  He taught him about the knights and a round table.  The Dad taught The Boy about the goodness behind that kingdom, the truth encapsulated into Camelot. The Old Man taught The Boy about the Darkness.  He taught The Boy about Merlin and Morgana, the struggles between Light and Darkness, and The Boy absorbed all he could about the lessons that The Dad, and The Old Man shared with him.  In his mind his became both a Warrior of Light and The Encompassor of The Dark.  He wanted to know everything he could about being a Human Being, a Man of Knowledge.  

The Dad had a friend that would visit from time to time.  His friend would walk with The Dad and The Old Man in the fields late at night talking about the acts of a Warrior, being a hunter.  These Hunters stalk Death.  They Hunt and are being Hunted by what The Old Man called The Terrible Other, The Shadow of the Stalker, also coined as The Angel Of Death.  

Very late on an evening The Boy was sleeping in his tent next to Winston, The Dad's Friend tapped on the side of the tent and woke The Boy.  When The Boy climbed out of the tent The Dad's Friend was there waiting for him.  The Boy looked at him, beneath His short black sombrero The Dad's Friend had eyes that were shinning a silver light as terrible as anything The Boy had ever seen.  In a voice that sounded straight from Hell The Dad's Friend spoke, "I See You." Then he ran back into the fields.  The Boy was left sitting in the grass in front of His tent next to Winston.  He was petrified. 

The next morning The Old Man brought him a plate of tortillas, some chicken strips, and a cup of café' mocha, chocolate coffee.  The Boy ate, drank and thought about the past night.  The Old Man just said, "You'll understand someday.  We are the Toltec."  Then he went back into Winston.  

The Boy took a shower and did his chores.  The Dad was waiting for him in the horse stalls.  He had the stalls cleaned already but there was a large metal cauldron full of water sitting in the middle of the stable.  The Dad instructed The Boy to stand low in a Riding Horse and slap the water with first the palm of his hand, then the back of his hand rotating back and forth right to left, left to right and so forth. "Don't stop until I come back for you." The Dad repeated twice, "Savvy?"  Then He walked away. 

The Boy did as he was instructed.  After about an hour his hands began becoming numb.  After two hours the numbness translated into the kind of pain that a person shouldn't feel.  The hands felt like they would melt.  After 4 hours they began feeling like falling stones attached to two tightly wound ropes.  The Boy's hands were becoming weapons. 

The Dad returned just as the sun was falling behind the horizon with a bucket of ice and submerged The Boy's hands into the ice.  The Boy winced in pain, then the pain went away and His hands suddenly felt very good.  The Dad pulled The Boy's hands out of the ice and dried them with a towel.  He showed The Boy his hands, they looked red, but nothing worse for the wear.  They felt powerful.  

Again that night The Dad's Friend showed up at the tent.  This time he shook The Boy's hand and said, "It was very good meeting you.  I See You."  Then he got into his car and drove away down the road to the highway.  The Dad waved at his retreat, and The Old Man was laughing. 

Episodes like these repeated themselves over the course of several years until The Boy voiced His urge to walk to the mountains and live with the Zen Monks there.  The Dad said these words to The Boy, and they changed the course of his life, "It's Easy to be a Holy man sitting in front of a tree alone with no one but the tree and yourself to keep you company, But what of the man who walks amongst the people learning and absorbing everything from life that He can take?  This is the way of The Toltec."

Peace and Balance,

John