thedestroyer.slavesafari-第17章

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　woman　whom　he　thought　loved　him　for　his　obviously　superior　soul。
　She　took　his　wallet　and　the　seventy…three　British　pound　notes　it　contained　and　returned　to　her　native　village　where　she　was　as　venerated　as　Marjorie　Meriwether　Post。
　The　house　meanwhile　was　recaptured　by　the　Busati　government　for　non…payment　of　the　four…dollar　annual　real　estate　tax…Busati　facing　its　own　urban　crisis　at　the　time；　the　necessity　to　buy　another　four　push…brooms　for　the　one…man　street　cleaning　force　who　was　charged　with　keeping　the　city　immaculate。
　The　house　had　since　that　time　belonged　to　the　Busati　government；　remaining　vacant　until　now…General　William　Forsythe　Butler　took　it　over　and　decided　to　use　it　for　his　own　purposes。
　〃Look。　In　the　tree；〃　Chiun　said。　〃Have　you　ever　seen　such　foolishness？〃
　In　the　dark；　Remo's　eyes　made　out　the　figure　of　a　soldier　with　a　gun；　notched　in　the　fork　of　the　tree　across　the　street　from　the　white　house。
　〃And　in　the　window　of　that　building　over　there；〃　Remo　said　softly；　gesturing　with　his　eyes　toward　the　window　where　he　had　just　seen　a　glint　of　light　that　could　e　only　from　a　rifle　barrel。　〃It　looks　as　if　General　Obode　is　expecting　pany　tonight。〃
　Remo　and　Chiun　stood　in　the　shadows；　half　a　block　away　from　the　large　white　house　behind　the　metal　gate。
　〃And　look；〃　Chiun　said；　〃there　are　two。。。　no；　three　more　behind　that　motor　vehicle　over　there。〃
　〃I　guess　no　one　told　them　that　the　Master　of　Sinanju　was　ing；〃　Remo　said。　〃They're　not　properly　impressed。〃
　〃We　must　do　our　best　to　remind　them　of　their　good　manners；〃　the　old　man　said。
　Before　Remo　could　say　a　word　in　answer；　Chiun　was　up　at　the　large　stone　wall。　His　fingers　bought　a　hold　in　the　wall　and　he　smoothly　clambered　up　it；　paused　momentarily　on　the　top　and　then　vanished　into　the　grounds　behind　the　fourteen…foot…high　barrier。
　Remo　moved　close　to　the　wall　and　heard　Chiun　say；　〃Shall　I　send　a　litter　bearer　for　you；　my　son？〃
　〃Up　yours；　My　Father；〃　Remo　said；　but　too　softly　for　Chiun　to　hear。　Then　Remo；　too；　was　up　and　over　the　stone　wall。
　He　stood　alongside　Chiun。　〃Better　be　careful；〃　he　said。　〃There　are　probably　more　soldiers　in　here。〃
　〃Oh；　thank；　you；　Remo；〃　Chiun　said。
　〃For　what？〃
　〃For　alerting　me　to　danger。　For　helping　to　prevent　me　from　falling　asleep　and　into　the　hand　of　these　terrible　dangerous　men。　Oh　me；　oh　my。〃　This　was　Chiun's　new　phrase　which　he　had　picked　up　from　Rad　Rex　on　the　last　installment　he　had　seen　of　As　the　Planet　Revolves；　the　one　show；　Remo　swore；　in　all　of　television　history　in　which　nothing　not　only　never　happened；　but　in　which　nothing　even　threatened　to　happen。
　〃Buck　up；　Chiun；〃　Remo　hissed。　〃The　only　thing　we　have　to　fear　is　fear　itself。　I'll　protect　you。〃
　〃〃My　heart　soars　like　the　eagle。〃
　They　moved　through　the　darkness　toward　the　house。　〃Are　you　sure；〃　Chiun　said；　〃that　this　is　what　you　want　to　do？〃
　〃It's　what　I　was　supposed　to　do　before　you　tricked　me　into　playing　Prince　Charming　for　that　gang　on　the　mountain；〃　Remo　said。
　〃Please　not　to　embarrass　me；〃　Chiun　said。　〃The　Loni　might　hear　of　any　foolishnesses　of　yours　and　this　would　lower　me　in　their　eyes；〃　Chiun　led　the　way　up　one　of　the　stone　walls　of　the　house　and　into　an　open　second…floor　window。　The　room　they　entered　was　empty；　they　moved　out　into　a　broad　dimly…lit　hallway；　built　like　a　balcony；　from　which　they　could　see　the　main　door　of　the　house　below。
　Behind　the　door　were　a　half…dozen　soldiers　wearing　Busati　whites　and　carrying　American　Army　grease　guns。　One　of　the　soldiers　was　a　sergeant。　He　looked　at　his　watch。
　〃Very　soon　now；〃　he　said。　〃Very　soon　we　will　have　our　pany　and　we　will　put　them　to　sleep。〃
　〃Good；〃　one　of　the　privates　said。　〃I　hope　they　e　quickly　so　we　have　time　to　sample　the　merchandise。〃
　〃By　all　means；〃　the　sergeant　said。　〃This　merchandise　is　to　be　sampled　as　often　as　possible；　as　vigorously　as　necessary。　Mi　casa　est　su　casa。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃　the　first　soldier　asked。
　〃That　means　screw　your　brains　out；〃　another　soldier　said。　〃Use　up　that　white　ass。〃
　〃I　can　hardly　wait；〃　the　first　soldier　said。　〃Where　are　those　bastards　anyway？〃
　〃Right　here；〃　Remo　said。　He　stood　on　the　balcony　looking　down　toward　the　main　entrance。　At　his　side　stood　the　tiny　Chiun；　wearing　not　his　customary　robe；　but　a　black　Ninja　costume　which　he　wore　only　at　night。
　〃I　said；　right　here；　you　stupid　gorilla　bastard；〃　Remo　said；　louder　this　time。
　Chiun　shook　his　head。　〃Always　on　display；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　never　learn？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Chiun。　Something　about　him　there　just　pisses　me　off。〃
　〃Hey；　you；　get　down　out　of　there。〃　The　sergeant　spoke。
　〃e　and　get　us；〃　Remo　said。　〃Use　the　stairs。　They　work　both　ways。〃
　〃You　e　down　from　there　or；　by　God；　we're　gonna　plug　you。〃
　〃You're　all　under　arrest；〃　Remo　said；　seeing　himself　as　Gary　Grant　hi　the　temple　of　the　thugs。
　Chiun　leaned　against　the　railing；　shaking　his　head　in　disgust。
　The　sergeant　started　for　the　stairs；　followed　by　the　other　five　soldiers。　They　moved　slowly　and　Remo　wondered　why。
　〃Oh；　oh；〃　Remo　said。　〃I　just　thought。　If　they　foe　their　guns；　the　guys　outside'll　hear　it　and　e　in；〃　Remo　whispered　to　Chiun。
　〃I　doubt　much　that　you　'just　thought'　of　anything；〃　Chiun　said；　〃since　you　seem　incapable　of　thought。　But　if　that　worries　you；　don't　let　them　fire　guns；〃　Chiun　said　as　if　that　answered　everything。
　〃Of　course；〃　Remo　said。　〃Why　didn't　I　think　of　that？　Don't　let　those　six　men　fire　their　guns。〃
　〃Not　six。　Ten；〃　a　voice　said　from　behind　Remo。　He　turned。　Standing　in　an　open　doorway　was　another　soldier　in　Busati　whites。　He　carried　an　automatic。　Behind　him　in　the　dimness；　Remo　could　see　three　more　men。　He　realized　now　why　the　sergeant　had　been　very　slow　about　leading　his　men　upstairs；　he　was　waiting　for　the　other　half　of　the　trap　to　close。
　〃I　surrender；〃　Remo　said；　raising　his　hands。
　〃A　wise　decision；　friend；〃　the　soldier　with　the　automatic　said。　He　nodded　to　the　other　three　men　who　poured　out　of　the　room　and　joined　the　six　men　ing　up　the　stairs。　They　put　their　guns　away；　slinging　them　back　over　their　chests；　as　they　surrounded　Remo　and　the　small　Korean。
　After　all；　ten　against　two　did　not　require　weapons；　did　they？
　Of　course　not。
　The　sergeant；　who　was　the　house　doorman；　as　much　as　told　them　that　before　he　felt　himself　being　lifted　up　by　the　small　Oriental；　and　then　being　spun　around　as　if　he　were　a　long　stick　and　used　as　a　battering　ram　against　the　other　men。
　The　soldier　who　had　been　in　the　doorway　reached　for　his　automatic　again　to　free　it　from　the　holster。　But　the　holster　was　gone；　ripped　away　from　his　side　by　the　young　American。　〃This　yours？〃　Remo　said。　Stupidly；　the　soldier　nodded。　Remo　gave　them　back。　Holster；　automatic　and　ammunition　right　through　the　soldier's　face　into　his　throat。　Deep。
　Behind　him；　Remo　heard　the　thwack；　thwack；　thwack；　the　machinelike　periodicity　that　meant　Chiun　was　at　work。
　〃Chiun；　keep　one　of　them　alive；〃　Remo　yelled；　before　two　soldiers　were　on　him。　Then　he　violated　his　own　injunction；　dropping　them　heavily　onto　the　body　of　the　soldier　whose　face　had　sprouted　a　gun。
　Then　there　were　no　more　sounds。　Remo　turned　to　Chiun　who　was　releasing　the　feet　of　the　sergeant　he　had　used　as　a　battering　ram。　The　soldier　slipped　shapelessly　onto　a　pile　of　bodies。
　〃Chiun；　dammit；　I　said。。。〃
　Chiun　raised　a　hand。　〃This　one　breathes；〃　he　said。　〃Therefore　present　your　lectures　to　someone　who　needs　them。　Perhaps　you　might　talk　to　yourself。〃
　The　sergeant　groaned　and　Remo　reached　down　and　yanked　him　roughly　to　his　feet。
　〃The　girls；〃　Remo　said。　〃Where　are　they？〃
　The　sergeant　shook　his　head　to　clear　it。　〃All　this　for　women？〃
　〃Where　are　they？〃　Remo　said。
　〃The　room　at　the　end　of　the　hall。〃
　〃Show　us。〃　。
　Remo　shoved　the　sergeant　who　led　the　way　down　the　wide　oak…planked　hallway；　staggering　slightly　from　side　to　side。　A　head　wound　dripped　blood　onto　his　white　unif　orm。　His　right　arm　hung　limply；　a　shoulder　separation；　Remo　thought。　He　grabbed　the　sergeant's　right　wrist　and　yanked；　then　choked　off　the　sergeant's　scream　by　tossing　his　hand　around　the　soldier's　mouth。
　〃Just　a　reminder；〃　Remo　growled；　〃that　we　ain't　your　friendly　neighborhood　team　of　United　Nations　advisors。　No　tricks。〃
　The　sergeant；　his　eyes　wide　with　fright　and　pain；　nodded　quickly；　almost　frantically。
　He　walked　faster；　then　stopped　outside　a　large　oak　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall。　〃In　there；〃　he　said。
　〃You　first。〃
　The　sergeant　unlocked　the　door　with　a　key　from　a　ring　on　his　belt；　pushed　open　the　door　and　stepped　inside。
　The　room　was　just　beginning　to　be　lit　by　the　first　dim　blush　of　the　morning　sun。　Remo　forced　the　pupils　of　his　eyes　to　wide；　and　in　the　darkness；　he　could　see　four　bunks。　Each　was　occupied。
　The　four　women　in　the　beds　were　naked。　They　were　tied　with　ropes；　their　arms　up　over　their　heads　lashed　to　the　bed　posts。　Their　legs　pulled　wide　apart　and　their　ankles　tied　to　the　posts　at　the　foot　of　the　beds。　Cloth　gags　were　in　their　mouths。
　In　the　faint　glints　of　light　from　the　window　and　from　the　hallway；　then…　eyes　sparkled　as　they　watched　Remo。　They　looked　like　animals　peering　from　the　dark　ring　around　a　campfire。
　The　room　smelled　of　excrement　and　sweat。　Remo　brushed　past　the　sergeant　and　entered　the　room。　The　sergeant　looked　around　but　Chiun　stood　in　the　doorway　behind　him；　blocking　escape。
　Remo　took　the　gag　from　the　girl　in　the　nearest　bunk　and　as　he　did　leaned　forward　close　enough　to　see　her　clearly。　Her　face　was　scarred　and　broken。　One　eye　had　been　deformed　from　a　badly　healed　beating。　Her　mouth　was　toothless。
　Whip　marks　covered　her　naked　front　from　her　face　to　her　ankles。　Hard　black　cankers　dotted　her　body　where　it　had　been　used　as　an　ashtray。
　Remo　released　the　gag　and　said；　〃Don't　worry。　We're　friends。　You're　going　to　be　all　right　now。〃
　〃Be　all　right；〃　she　repeated　dully。　She　smiled　suddenly；　the　toothless　grimace　of　an　old　hag。　Her　eyes　sparkled。　〃Treat　you　nice；　mister。　You　like　to　whip　me？　I　do　everything　if　you　whip　me。　Hard。　You　like　hard？　I　like　hard。　Make　me　bleed；　I　treat　you　nice；　mister。　You　like　kiss　me？〃　She　puckered　up　her　mouth　and　scroontched　an　imaginary　kiss　toward　Remo。
　He　shook　his　head　and　backed　away　from　her。
　〃Hee；　hee；　hee；〃　the　vision　cackled。　〃I　got　money。　I　treat　you　right　if　you　whip　me　hard。　My　family　is　rich。　I　pay。　Just　hit　me；　soldier　boy。〃
　Remo　turned　away。　He　went　to　two　more　girls。　They　were　the　same。　Lamed；　twisted；　mindless　husks　that　once　were　people。　None　of　them　could　have　been　much　over　twenty；　but　they　spoke　with　the　grim　sadness　of　ancient　wizened　women　who　sit　on　corners　and　whose　eyes　suddenly　light　up　as　they　remember　something　nice　that　once　happened　to　them。　Nice　was；　for　these　girls；　the　whip；　the　chain；　the　knife；　the　extinguished　cigarette。
　〃The　fourth　girl　began　to　cry　when　Remo　removed　her　gag。　〃Thank　God；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　God　for　somebody。〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Remo　asked。
　Through　her　tears　and　sobbing；　she　said；　〃I'm　Hillary　Butler。　They　kidnaped　me。　I've　been　here　two　days。〃
　〃Kinda　rough；　kid；　huh？〃
　〃Please；〃　she　said。　Remo　began　to　free　her。
　Behind　him；　he　heard　the　sergeant　start　to　speak。　〃I　have　nothing　to　do　with　it；　man；〃　but　his　words　were　cut　off　as　he　oomphed；　Chiun　putting　a　hard　hand　into　his　back。
　〃Who