thedestroyer.slavesafari-第15章

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　〃I　thought　you　might　be　lonely；〃　Remo　said；　〃so　I　decided　to　move　in　to　keep　you　pany。〃
　〃I　am　happy　you　think　so　much　of　me；〃　Chiun　said。　〃But　please；　I　would　not　want　you　to　do　anything　against　your　principles。〃
　〃No；　that's　all　right；　Chiun。　I've　made　my　mind　up。　I'll　stay。〃
　〃No；〃　Chiun　said。　〃I　insist。〃
　〃Sorry；　Chiun；　I'm　not　leaving。　I'm　going　to　stay　here　and　keep　you　pany　whether　you　like　it　or　not。〃
　〃You　are　leaving　this　instant；〃　Chiun　said；　and　then　called　the　entire　Loni　village　to　remove　Remo　by　force　if　necessary。　As　Remo　slunk　away　back　to　his　own　little　mud　hut；　he　could　hear　Chiun　explaining　behind　him：　〃Sometimes　the　child　forgets　himself　and　must　be　reminded　of　his　place。　But　he　is　young　and　will　yet　learn。〃
　Remo　had　wandered　up　the　hill　and　Princess　Saffah　had　followed　him。　She　had　e　to　console　him。
　〃Yeah；　the　legend；〃　Remo　repeated。　〃Look；　you're　a　smart　girl。　Do　you　really　believe　the　Loni　are　going　to　return　to　power　because　Chiun　is　here？〃
　〃Not　just　the　Little　Father；〃　she　said。　〃You　are　here　too　and　you　are　part　of　the　legend。〃　She　opened　the　palm　of　his　hand　and　pretended　to　examine　it。　〃Tell　me；　when　did　you　die？〃　She　laughed　as　she　felt　Remo's　hand　tense　momentarily。　〃You　see；〃　she　said　laughing。　〃The　legend　speaks　only　truth。〃
　〃You'd　better　tell　me　of　this　legend；〃　Remo　said。　He　was　happy　that　she　still　clung　to　his　hand。
　〃Once；〃　she　began；　〃many　years　ago　there　was　a　Master　from　across　the　sea。　And　because　he　stood　with　the　Loni；　the　Loni　were　a　great　and　just　people。　They　lived　in　peace；　they　inflicted　injustice　upon　no　man。　In　the　ancient　days；　by　your　calendar；　the　great　libraries　of　the　world　were　said　to　be　at　Alexandria　hi　the　land　of　Egypt。　But　the　greatest　of　all　was　at　Timbuktu　and　it　was　the　library　of　the　Loni。　This　is　true；　I　what　I　am　telling　you；　Remo；　you　could　look　it　up。　And　it　was　the　Loni　Empire　that　gave　to　the　world　the　gift　of　iron。　That；　too；　is　true。　We　had　men　who　could　repair　damaged　eyes；　we　had　physicians　who　could　heal　those　with　twisted　brains；　all　these　things；　the　Loni　had　and　did　and　we　were　a　great　people；　blessed　of　God。
　〃It　was　said　of　the　Master　that　the　Loni　had　given　him　their　courage　for　safekeeping；　while　they　used　their　heads　for　science　and　then…　hands　for　art。　And　then　this　Master　from　across　the　sea　went　away　and　the　Loni　who　had　relied　on　him　were　overwhelmed　by　an　inferior　people　and　our　empire　was　lost。　Our　best　men　and　women　were　sold　into　slavery。　We　were　hunted　and　tracked　like　animals　until　we　retreated；　three　small　bands　all　that　was　left；　into　these　hills　where　you　now　find　us　and　where　we　hide　from　our　enemies。
　〃But　this　Master　sent　word　across　the　years　and　across　the　seas　and　across　the　mountains　that　one　day　he　would　return。　He　would　bring　with　him　a　man　who　walked　in　the　shoes　of　death；　a　man　whose　earlier　life　had　ended；　and　this　man　would　face　in　mortal　bat　an　evil　man　who　would　keep　the　Loni　in　chains。　That　is　you；　Remo；　and　this　is　truth　I　tell　you。〃
　Remo　looked　up　and　saw　that　Princess　Saffah's　dark　eyes　were　tinged　with　sadness。
　〃Does　the　legend　say　whether　I　win　or　lose　the　fight？〃　Remo　asked。
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃The　legend　is　silent。　But　it　tells　what　must　happen。　The　Loni　children　must　e　home。　And　if　you　are　victorious；　the　Lonis　will　again　rule　the　land　and　children　will　be　able　to　walk　the　streets　and　the　blind　again　can　be　made　to　see。〃
　〃It　sounds　like　I'm　doing　all　the　work；〃　Remo　said。　〃What　does　the　legend　say　of　Chiun？　Does　he　do　anything　except　lay　in　your　hut　down　there　like　Henry　the　Eighth？〃
　Princess　Saffah　laughed；　and　the　smile　brought　beauty　back　to　her　finely　chiseled　face。　〃You　must　not　speak　unkindly　of　the　Little　Father。　Centuries　of　hardship　have　changed　the　Loni　people。　Where　once　we　were　kind；　we　are　now　vindictive。　Where　once　we　had　charity；　we　now　have　malice；　where　love；　now　hate；　where　courage；　now　cowardice。　It　is　written　that　the　Master　will　purify　the　Loni　people　in　the　ritual　of　the　sacred　fire。　In　that　fire；　he　will　restore　to　the　Lonis　the　goodness　that　once　was　theirs；　so　that　they　may　again　be　fit　to　rule　this　land。　The　Little　Father　may　perish　in　this　task；　which　is　why　we　revere　him　so。〃
　Remo　rolled　over　and　searched　Saflah's　deep　eyes。　〃Perish？〃
　〃Yes。　So　it　is　written。　The　flames　may　consume　him。　He　is　a　very　great　man　to　e　back　to　us；　knowing　that　here　he　may　hear　the　clock　strike　the　hour　of　his　death。〃
　〃Chiun　knows　this？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Saffah　said。　〃He　is　the　Master；　is　he　not？　Did　you　not　hear　his　words　when　first　he　arrived？　No；　of　course　not；　you　would　not　understand　because　he　spoke　the　tongue　of　the　Loni。　But　he　said；　'I　have　traveled　these　ages　from　the　land　of　Sinanju　to　stand　here　again　with　my　brothers；　the　Loni；　and　to　place　my　body　on　the　sacred　coals　to　purify　their　lives　with　my　life。'〃
　〃He　didn't　tell　me；〃　Remo　said。　〃He　didn't　say　anything　about　any　ritual　fire。〃
　〃He　loves　you　very　much；〃　the　princess　said。　〃He　would　not　worry　you。〃
　〃What　about　you；　Saffah？　You　believe　the　legend？'
　〃I　must；　Remo。　I　am　first　in　the　line　of　succession　to　the　crown　of　the　Loni　Empire。　My　faith　sustains　my　people's　faith。　Yes。　I　believe。　I　have　always　believed。　I　have　believed　in　the　past　when　others　have　e　to　us　and　we　thought；　perhaps　here；　perhaps　this　is　the　redeemer　of　the　legend。　But　when　they　failed；　it　was　just　their　failure；　not　the　failure　of　the　legend。　Not　long　ago；　another　came　and　we　believed　that　he　might　be　the　one　but　now；　now　that　you　and　the　Little　Father　have　arrived；　we　know　that　he　was　not　the　one。　You　are。〃
　〃We　who　are　about　to　die　salute　you；〃　Remo　said。
　She　leaned　forward　and　said　closely　to　his　face。　〃Do　you　believe　in　sin；　Remo？〃
　〃I　don't　think　anything　is　wrong　between　two　consenting　orangutans。〃
　〃I　do　not　understand。〃　Her　face　assumed　a　look　of　quizzicality　which　softened　when　she　saw　Remo　smile。　〃You　jest；〃　she　accused。　〃You　jest。　Someday　you　must　tell　me　of　your　jesting　and　what　it　means。〃
　〃I　will　someday；〃　he　said。　〃No；　I　don't　believe　too　much　in　sin。　I　think　sin　is　not　being　able　to　do　your　job。　Not　much　else。〃
　〃I　am　glad　you　have　said　that；　because　it　is　said　to　be　a　sin　for　a　Princess　of　the　Loni　to　know　a　man　before　she　is　wed。　And　yet；　Remo；　I　want　to　know　you　and　I　want　you　to　enter　into　me。〃
　〃Best　offer　I've　had　today；〃　Remo　said　lightly；　〃but　I　think　you　ought　to　think　about　it　some　more。〃
　Princess　Saffah　leaned　forward；　pressed　her　lips　against　Remo's　and　kissed　him　hard。　She　pulled　her　head　back　triumphantly。　〃There；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　already　mitted　the　sin　of　touching　a　man。　Now　when　your　time　es；　you　will　have　no　reason　not　to　take　me。〃
　〃When　I'm　sure　you're　ready；〃　Remo　said；　〃no　reason　could　have　stopped　me。　But　first　duty　calls。〃
　Duty　for　Remo　meant　two　things：　freeing　the　girls　in　the　white　house　behind　the　iron　gate　and　finding　out　what　had　happened　to　Lippincott
　But　princess　Saffah　could　give　aim　no　answers　to　either　of　those　problems；　although　she　suggested　that　if　evil　was　involved；　it　was　probably　the　work　of　General　Obode。
　〃We　have　a　friend；〃　she　said；　〃in　Obode's　camp。　Perhaps　be　will　be　able　to　help　you。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃　Remo　asked。
　〃He　is　a　countryman　of　yours；〃　Saffah　said。　〃His　name　is　Butler。〃
　CHAPTES　TEN
　In　the　American　circles　that　concerned　themselves　with　the　activities　of　the　Four　Hundred；　it　was　well　known　that　the　Forsythes　and　the　Butlers　talked　only　to　their　cousins；　the　Lippincotts；　and　that　the　Lippincotts　talked　only　to　God　or　to　whomever　else　could　match　His　credentials。
　So　when　the　body　washed　onto　the　beach　a　few　miles　from　Norfolk；　Virginia；　pummeled　and　battered　by　the　stones　near　the　shore；　it　became　a　big　story　because　the　body　was　identified　as　that　of　Hillary　Butler。　The　identification　was　made　through　her　blue…and…white　dress　and　from　engraved　jewelry　the　corpse　wore。
　The　Butler　family　bit　its　lip；　as　such　families　do；　and　refused　to　indulge　in　speculation　for　the　press　as　to　how　their　daughter；　soon　to　be　married；　had　managed　to　wind　up　dead　and　drowned　in　the　ocean。
　The　family　detested　the　whole　idea；　but　part　of　the　routine　hi　such　accidental　deaths　was　an　autopsy。
　Clyde　Butler　was　called　by　the　county　medical　examiner　that　afternoon。
　〃Mr。　Butler；　I　have　to　see　you；〃　the　doctor　said。
　Resentfully；　Butler　agreed　and　made　an　appointment　to　see　the　examiner　at　his　private　medical　office；　where
　Butler's　arrival　would　not　draw　attention；　as　it　certainly　would　have　at　the　county　administration　building。
　Despite　the　unseasonable　spring　heat；　Butler　wore　a　heavy　dark　pin…striped　suit　as　he　sat　in　the　doctor's　office；　facing　him　across　〃a　tan…painted　metallic　desk。
　〃I　suppose　it's　about　my　poor　daughter；〃　Butler　said；　〃Really；　haven't　we　gone　through　enough　without。。。？〃
　〃That's　just　it；　sir；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃That　body　was　not　your　daughter's。〃
　Butler　could　not　speak。　Finally；　he　said；　〃Repeat　that。〃
　〃Certainly。　The　dead　girl　who　washed　ashore　was　not　your　daughter。〃
　〃You're　sure　of　this？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　In　making　the　autopsy；　I　discovered　that　the　girl　whose　body　was　found　had　syphilis。　Discreetly；　I　obtained　your　family's　records　from　your　physician　and　dentist。　If　was　very　difficult　because　of　the　mutiliation；　but　I　can　now　say　without　a　twinge　of　doubt　that　some　other　young　woman　is　on　the　slab　at　the　morgue　right　now。〃
　Butler　grimaced　at　what　he　considered　unnecessarily　explicit　phrasing　by　the　doctor。
　He　thought　momentarily；　then　said：　〃Have　you　told　anyone　else？〃
　〃No　one　at　all。　If　wanted　to　talk　to　you　first。　Frankly；　I　did　not　know　if　…your　daughter　might　have　known　this　other　girl；　or　if　your　daughter's　disappearance　might　be　tied　in　somehow　with　this　girl's　death；　or　precisely　what　It's　only　　air　no　tell　you　that　the　dead　girl　wasn't　drowned。　She　was　dead　before　she　entered　the　water。　I　thought　before　I　announced　anything　I　would　give　you　a　chance　to　explain。〃
　〃You've　done　very　well；〃　Butler　said；　〃and　I　appreciate　your　thoughtfulness。　I　would　like　you　to　do　something　else　for　me；　if　you　would。〃
　〃If　I　can。〃
　〃Give　me　an　hour　and　then　I　will　be　back　here。　Then　we　can　decide　what　to　do　and　what　to　say。〃
　〃Of　course；　Mr。　Butler。　Just　so　long　as　we　both　understand　that　I　must　fulfill　the　requirements　of　my　office。〃
　〃Naturally　I　understand　that；　Doctor。　Just　an　hour。〃
　Butler　left　the　doctor's　office。　In　the　middle　of　the　next　block　was　a　bank　in　which　the　Butler　family　was　the　controlling　stockholder。　Butler　went　in；　spoke　briefly　to　the　bank　president；　and　in　five　minutes　was　ensconced；　as　he　had　asked　to　be；　in　a　private　office　with　a　private　telephone　and　a　guarantee　of　no　interruptions。
　It　was　a　sticky　problem；　Butler　realized。　At　first　blush；　he　would　immediately　think　kidnaping　and　ransom。　But　why　then　would　the　kidnapers　have　gone　to　the　trouble　of　dressing　someone　in　Hillary's　clothes　and　jewelry　and　trying　to　make　it　appear　as　if　his　daughter　were　dead？　No。　Kidnaping　was　out。　Therefore；　the　next　step　might　be　that　Hillary　herself　was　somehow　involved　in　this。　He　had　no　idea　how　to　handle　a　thing　like　that；　no　knowledge　of　police　processes。　And　hanging　over　it　all　was　the　publicity　problem　because　of　the　Butler　family's　relationship　with　the　Li