The train was not the fastest way across the country anymore, but for those that didn't want to live through the rattling hells in the sky that were the airplanes, it was the best. The ride was smooth, reasonably fast and far more peaceful. With the grasslands spanning across everywhere, and the feeling of being in a basin from the view of the mountains to the right and to the left, so far into the horizon that their white tips were blue, it was peaceful out here. Sure, there was the occasional whistle and when trains passed on the opposite track, it was a little loud, but the man dressed neatly and slick, with his eyes buried in a book as he sipped some tea, it was the only way to travel in style.

The two men, bulky and muscular, with fierce tattoos of dragons and tigers across what was exposed of their bodies, along with the bulky weapons poorly concealed in their clothing, thought differently. But none of them said a word. They had all seen this apparently peaceful monk move when he was in action. No man drawing a gun would see him fast enough before he had a dart in his eye, or his hand chopped off by the blades hidden in his staff. Even without his weapons he was deadly. The Shaolin monks were legendary fighters, and the skills that they had were seen by some Americans as magical. Nerve strikes that could paralyze a man for hours, or heal him from sicknesses. Punches delivered from less than an inch away that could shatter skulls and punch through ribcages.

Yes, the Enforcers sent to accompany and 'Guard' the Deputy Mountain Master knew that he did not need their help to keep out of trouble.

A younger version of the Monk moved through the eating car, sitting alongside his Brother. He had been visiting Las Vegas and was now headed back to Boston for his studies. He had decided to accompany his older brother on his way to the East Coast. The Monk had humbly agreed at his father's request. 

Sitting down, munching happily on a scone, he turned to his brother," Why are you going to Miami, Brother? I know that it won't be to enjoy the sunshine and beaches, even though it should be. Did father send you on some business?"

"That is none of your concern, little brother," The Monk said, not looking away from his book," And when in the presence of those outside our family, you will refer to The Mountain Master by his Title."

The younger man shook his head," You take life too seriously, brother. You should lighten up, or I will find better company."

"Please do," Li's voice was deadpan, and never once during the exchange did he look up from his book, or show any interest in extending the conversation. The younger Li was used to this behavior by his brother and with a quick laugh he stood and left the three once more.

By this time, one of the Enforcers found his tongue," I do not understand why we will have to negotiate with the Gaijjin," He growled," We have the greater numbers, we have the advantage. We could simply force them out, like we did in the East."

"And what do you know of politics and business, my eager friend?" The Monk finally looked up from his book, Das Kapital by Karl Marx, changing the language of the conversation from Cantonese to English, his odd eastern accent mixing musically with a British lilt," Once we have killed the Good Don and all of his confederates, what then? Who will want to do business with a bunch of bloodthirsty triads then?"

The two men looked at him, confused. Li sighed and placed down his book," Allow me to explain. We have no foothold in the Eastern part of the country. The Triads are not well known or feared in this area like they are in the West. To make an ambitious move like the Mountain Master has seen fit, we will need contacts and loyalty with our countrymen in this area. We will need more of our countrymen in this area as well. The Italian pigs," He growled that word," Are our finest offer, despite their barbarism, as they have been enforcing their law in this half of the country for the better part of the last fifty years," He leaned back in his seat, taking a sip of tea," Their Don is feared and respected. But if their Don was to come to Los Angeles, for instance, he would be just another immigrant. Like we are here," He smiled thinly," For us to gain any foothold in this part of the country, we must pay our respect to the lords of it. There are the Irish, who hold most of Boston and Atlanta, along with most of New Orleans, and there are the Italians, who hold anything else. We will present our offer. Cheap Labor from our countrymen, weapons from Japan, opium and alcohol from the bootleggers in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Casinos filled with the beautiful flowers from the East, our women. And all we would ask is a cut in all the profits, as well as a say in how investments are made. As such, we will be respected and feared as associates of the Italian Don and left alone as such until we have built our own reputation, have our... foot in the door, as the Americans say."

The two men still looked lost.

"Should the Don turn down our offer, we will bring it to their Irish Competition, who will be far more accommodating, and see us as a way to grow in power and influence, being able to expand with our Triad troops into places that have long been held with an iron fist by the Italians. Either way, we have our place in the East of the United States," He picked his book back up and smiled," We win both ways."

Both men nodded, but still looked confused. He had simplified it as much as he had cared to for the brutes to understand, and now his patience with them had worn thin," Never mind, brothers. You have your duties, I have mine. We shall remain in our posts doing what the Mountain Master sees fit for us to do in our time. He sees the larger picture," The two men nodded, understanding. They were brutes, enforcers, remnants of the Boxer rebellion that knew how to fight like few in the world, but had little mind for tactics. His duties were in making sure that they had the money to have guns, and put bullets in their guns. 

He looked at his pocket-watch and smiled," Ah, only twenty minutes until our stop."