[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
."What for? Why now?""To save your life," Chiun said."If it is not already too late."Chapter TwelveHarold W.Smith walked briskly into the Denver motel room."What is it? What was so important that you couldn't tell me over the telephone?""Don't look at me," Remo said.He was leafing through a magazine and did not bother to look up from its pages.Chiun sat in a corner of the room on a straw mat.As Smith turned to him, the old man raised his head slowly.His face looked older than Smith had ever seen it before."Leave us, Remo," Chiun said softly.Remo slapped the magazine down into his lap."Come on, Chiun.Isn't this a little much? Even for you?""I said, leave us," the old man snapped.His face reddening, Remo threw the magazine onto the floor and strode out the door, slamming it behind him."Is something wrong?" Smith asked Chiun."Not yet," the old man said impassively."Oh," Smith said.Chiun did not speak, and Smith felt uncomfortable in the silence."Er, is there something I can do for you, Chiun?" He looked at his watch."My needs are small, Emperor," Chiun said, and Smith thought he recognized the opening of a new salary negotiation.Every time Chiun said that he needed nothing, it turned out that only more gold would save him from an eternity of disgrace in the eyes of his ancestors.Smith felt an unaccustomed small surge of anger.The pressure was mounting on CURE from the White House to end the airline killings.International Mid-America Airlines had just about gone belly-up, and who knew how many airlines would follow.The news media were putting people in an afraid-to-travel panic.Civilization, which in the long run meant the free flow of goods and ideas, was in danger.And Chiun was going to try to beat him out of more money."You remember, Master, you said the matter with Remo would be straightened out." He watched Chiun's face, but it revealed nothing."Yet I come here, and instead of working, he is reading a magazine.Remember your promise? For four extra gold bars, if you remember.It was our last conversation, Chiun.Do you remember?"He had tried to keep the irritation out of his voice, but he had not been too successful.Page 51ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"It was not fair," Chiun whispered softly."I beg your pardon?""It was not fair," Chiun repeated."It most certainly was," Smith snapped, making no attempt now to conceal his annoyance."You agreed that for a nine-weight payment to Sinanju, you would get Remo to work again.If he has refused-""It was not you who were unfair," Chiun said."Not you, O gracious Emperor.It was I." He lowered his eyes in shame."I see.You mean Remo refuses to work, even with the additional tribute.""He does not refuse to work.He has been unable to work.""Why?" Smith asked."Is he ill?""He is afraid."Smith felt himself flushing with anger.Afraid.Smith, too, had been afraid many times during his life.Many times he had faced death.He had never been blessed with Remo's natural skills or his training, but all the same, when the crunch came, Harold Smith had overcome his fear and gone on about his work.Fear was no excuse.In the rocky New Hampshire soil where Smith had grown up, there was an old saying that he had somehow absorbed into his rock-hard soul:"Do it afraid if you have to, but just do it.""He'll just have to get over being afraid," Smith told Chiun tersely."I have said it incorrectly, Emperor.It is not the fear that will stop Remo.He will find the source of the airplane killings, because he will not be able to stop himself.And he will fight whoever is at that source.""Then what's the problem?"Chiun sighed."Remo will not survive the fight."Smith took off his hat and turned the brim around in his hands."How can you know that?""I know.I can explain no more.You are not of Sinanju and you would not believe." He lapsed back into silence as Smith twirled the brim of his hat."Are you saying this is the end?" Smith said at last."The end of Remo? The end of our working together?""Perhaps," Chiun said."I'm not going to pretend I understand anything you are saying," Smith said."And I don't know what I could do about it even if I did."He looked toward the door, and Chiun said, "Do not go, Emperor.I have thought of a way to protect him." Smith's lips tightened.The usual, he thought.Just done with a little more dramatic flair this time."More tribute, I suppose," he said sarcastically."Chiun, I'm a busy man.There was absolutely no reason to call me away from my office for this.If what you wanted was more gold, you could have told me over the telephone.I want you to know I don't appreciate this.Not one bit." He turned to leave."I do not want gold," Chiun said.Smith's hand was on the doorknob.It froze there."Then what?""I must go to Sinanju immediately," Chiun said."Out of the question.Things like that take time to set up.""It is the only way," Chiun said."No.""There is something in my village that can save Remo," Chiun said."And you just happen to get a free vacation at the same time," Smith said."You've cried wolf once too often, Chiun." Smith opened the door."Hold!" Chiun's voice was like electricity cracking.He rose to his feet in one smooth movement that seemed like a puff of colored smoke rising, walked over, and pushed the door shut."I rescind my request," he said."Pardon?""For the additional tribute.The extra four-weight of gold was not Remo's wish, in truth.It was my own for the welfare of my village.I hereby offer it back to you in exchange for my passage to Sinanju and back.Immediately."Smith studied the old man's face.It was the first time he had ever heard Chiun give up an opportunity to amass gold."This is serious, isn't it? It means that much to you?"Page 52ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Yes, Emperor.""You honestly think it will help Remo?""I do not know.I can only try," Chiun said."Maybe if you'd tell me.""It is no dishonor to you, Emperor, that you would not understand.There are things in this world that none understand but me.This is because I am reigning Master of Sinanju and the history of scores of centuries rests with me.I must go.Now."The two men looked into each other's eyes for a long time.Smith realized how small and old and frail Chiun was.Finally the American nodded
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]