thedestroyer.slavesafari-第23节
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campment。
Chiun wore a blue robe which Remo recognized as ceremonial； and the old man watched as Loni tribesmen stacked wood and twigs into a pit。 The pit which had been dug that morning was twenty feet long and five feet wide。 Its one…foot depth had been filled to the brim with wood； but in between the branches and twigs； Remo could see that the pit was filled with smooth white stones； the size of goose eggs。
As he watched； one of the tribesmen set the wood in the pit afire and the flames quickly spread until the entire pit was ablaze。
Chiun watched for a few moments； then said： 〃Adequate。 But remember to keep the fire fed。 It must not be allowed to dwindle。〃
He turned to Remo and waited for him to speak。
〃Chiun； I've got to talk to you。〃
〃I am writing my remembrances？ I am watching my beautiful stories？ Speak。〃
〃The legend of the Loni；〃 Remo said。 〃Does it say I get the shot at the baddie？〃
〃It says the man from the West who once died will grind into dust the man who would enslave the Loni。 Is that an accurate English translation of what you have said？〃
〃All right；〃 Remo said。 〃I just wanted to make it clear between us that I get the shot at Obode。〃
〃Why is it so important to you now？〃 Chiun said。 〃After all； the House of Sinanju owes this debt。 Not you。〃
〃It's important to me because I want Obode。 You didn't see what he did to those girls。 He's mine； Chiun。 I kill him。〃
〃And what makes you think the legend has anything to do with your General Obode？〃 Chiun asked； and walked slowly away。 Remo knew it would be useless to follow and ask just what he meant by that last statement； Chiun would speak only when the urge to speak came upon him。
Remo looked back toward the 。pit of fire。 The dried wood had already passed the peak of its blaze and now the flames were lowering。 The Loni tribesmen were busy feeding more wood into the fire； and over the sound they made； Remo could hear the stones in the pit cracking and splitting from the intense heat。 An errant puff of wind blew across the pit toward Remo and the surge of heat sucked the breath from his lungs。
His inspection was interrupted by a shout from the hill that loomed over the small village。 Remo turned and looked up。
〃Tembo； tembo； tembo； tembo；〃 the guard kept shouting。 He was hollering and pointing out across the tree…speckled flatlands in the direction of the capital city of Busati。
Remo moved toward the edge of the plateau； hopped up onto a rock and looked in…the direction the guard was pointing。
A big dust trail moved； perhaps ten miles away； across the plain。 He forced his eyes to work harder。
Then he could pick out figures。 There were jeeps with soldiers in them； and keeping up with the slowly moving vehicles were three elephants； soldiers on their backs； moving along in the stiff…legged elephant gait。
Remo sensed someone at his side。 He looked down； saw Princess Saffah and extended a hand to help her up onto the stone。 The guard was still shouting； 〃Tembo； tembo。〃
〃What's he getting all worked up for？〃 Remo said。
〃Tembo means elephant。 In the Loni religion； they are considered animals of the devil。〃
〃No sweat；〃 Remo said。 〃A peanut or two； and keep the mice away。〃
〃The Loni long ago sought a meaning for good and evil in the world；〃 Saffah said。 〃Because it was so long ago and they had not yet science； they thought that animals embodied not only the good in the world but the bad。 And because there was so much bad； they decided that only tembo…the elephant…was large enough to hold all that evil。 He is a feared beast among the Loni。 I did not believe Obode was smart enough to think himself of bringing elephants。〃
〃This is Obode？〃 said Remo； suddenly interested。
〃It can be no one else。 The time draws near。 Little Father has begun the fire of purification。〃
〃Well； don't expect too much from the Little Father；〃 Remo said。 〃Obode belongs to me。〃
〃It shall be as Little Father wishes；〃 Saffah said。 She hopped down and walked away and behind her back； Remo mumbled to himself； 〃As Little Father wishes。 No； Little Father…Yes； Little Father…in your hat； Little Father。 Obode's mine。〃
And then； he thought； his job would be over。 Get the girl back to America； report to Smith what had happened； that the missing Lippincott was dead； and then forget this whole God…forsaken country。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Obode and his soldiers camped at the base of the hills in which the Loni camp sat； and throughout the day； tension built in the small mountainside village。
Remo sat with Chiun in his hut； trying to make conversation。
〃These people got about as much backbone as a worm；〃 he said。
Chiun hummed； his eyes fixed intently on the fire pit which shimmered heat and smoke at the other end of the village square。
〃The men are wetting their pants just because Obode's got a couple of elephants。 They're all ready to run away。〃
Chiun stared and hummed softly to himself but said nothing。
〃I don't know how the House of Sinanju ever got into such a crap deal； taking care of these Loni。 They're not worth it。〃
Chiun did not speak； and exasperatedly Remo said； 〃And another thing； I don't like this business about the fire ritual。 I'm not letting you take any crazy chances of getting hurt。〃
Slowly； Chiun turned and confronted Remo。 〃There is a proverb of the Loni；〃 he said。 〃Jogoo likiwika lisiwike； kutakuctia。〃
〃Which means？〃
〃Whether the cock crows or not； it will dawn。〃
〃In other words； whether I like it or not； you're going to do what you're going to do？〃
〃How quickly you learn；〃 Chiun said and smilingly turned away to stare again at the fire。
Remo left the hut and wandered the village。 All he heard； everywhere he went； was 〃tembo； tembo； tembo。〃 The entire population was hi a snit about a couple of elephants。 Worry instead about Obode's soldiers and their guns。 Pfooey。 The Loni weren't worth saving。
He was annoyed and only later realized that he might be taking out his anger at Obode in annoyance against the Loni。 The more he thought about it； the surer he was； and late that night； stripped naked； Remo slipped past the guards and out of the village。 It was well after midnight when he returned。 He moved silently； unseen； past the guards who capped the nearby rocks； stepped into his hut and immediately sensed the presence of someone else there。
His eyes scanned the bare hut and then saw the outline of a form on the raised grass mat which served as his bed。
He moved closer and the form turned。 In the faint flicker from the flames in the ceremonial pit； he could make out Princess Saffah。
〃You have been away；〃 she said。 〃I got tired of hearing everybody yelling tembo。 I decided to do something about it。〃
〃Good；〃 she said。 〃You are a brave man。〃 She lifted her hands toward him and he could feel and see the warmth of her smile。 〃e to me； Remo；〃 she said。
Remo lay down alongside her on the mat and she wrapped her arms around him。 〃When the sun is high tomorrow； you face your challenge；〃 she said。 〃I want you now。〃
〃Why now？ Why not later？〃
〃What we have between us； Remo； may not survive a later。 I have this feeling that all may be changed after tomorrow。〃
〃You think I might lose？〃 Remo asked。 Along the length of his warm flushed body； he felt the black coolness of her ebony skin。
〃One can always lose； Remo；〃 she said。 〃So one must take victories where one can。 This now will be our victory。 And then； no matter what happens on the morrow； we will always have this victory to remember。〃
〃To victory；〃 Remo said。
〃To us；〃 Saffah said； and with surprisingly strong arms moved Remo over her。 〃I was conceived a Lord and born a princess。 Now make me a woman。〃
She placed Remo's hands on her breasts。 〃God made you a woman；〃 he said。
〃No。 God made me a female。 Only a man can make me a woman。 Only you； Remo。 Only this way。〃
And Remo did go into her and did know her and it could be truly written that on that hour she did bee a well…made woman。 And when both had done and the first rays of the sun were beginning to pink the sky； they slept； side by side； man and woman； God's team； by God's design。
And while they slept； General Obode arose。
It was barely dawn when he pushed aside the flaps of his umbrella tent and； scratching his stomach； walked out into the pre…sun mist and did not like it at all。
His sergeant major's eyes scanned the camp quickly。 The campfire had burned out。 The guards who had been posted at the corners of the small campsite were not at their stations。 There was too much stillness in the camp。 Things bring stillnesses； the wrong things。 There was sleep on duty and that was one kind of stillness but that was not this kind。 And there was death； and this was that kind of stillness； which hung heavy in the air like a mist。
Obode stepped forward and with his toe kicked the ashes of the campfire。 Not even an ember remained； not even a glow。 Farther from his tent now； he looked around the camp。 Next to him was General Butler's tent； its flaps still closed。 All over the clearing lay the sleeping bags of the soldiers who had acpanied them； but the bags were empty。
He heard a sound ahead of him and looked up。 The elephants had been chained to scrub tre
