thedestroyer.slavesafari-第28节

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d　a　few　moments　later；　the　third　sister　followed。
　Remo　watched　their　faces　carefully；　not　a　sign　of　pain　or　concern　showed。　It　was　some　kind　of　trick。　Cheapie　old　Chiun　had　done　some　finangling　with　the　fire。　Unworthy；　Remo　decided。　Definitely　unworthy　of　a　Master　of　Sinanju。　He　would　have　to　tell　him。
　The　three　sisters　now　stood　in　a　row　near　Obode　at　the　far　end　of　the　fire　pit。
　〃Your　princesses　have　shown　you　that　the　Loni　can　still　breed　courage；〃　Chiun　said；　〃but　that　is　not　enough　to　purify　you。〃
　Chiun　stepped　his　bare　wrinkled　yellow　feet　into　the　small　salt　bed　and　then　he　too　stepped　out　into　the　field　of　flame　and　fire　and　heat
　As　he　walked；　he　intoned　a　chant　softly　to　himself。　〃Kufa　tutakufa　wote。〃　Remo　had　never　heard　it　before　but　recognized　it　as　part　of　the　Loni　tongue。
　Carefully；　yet　decisively；　Chiun　walked　straight　along　the　length　of　the　fire　bed。
　And　then　in　the　middle　he　stopped。　
　Good　trick；　Remo　thought。　A　real　show…stopper；
　Chiun　stood　there；　feet　not　moving；　arms　folded；　face　impassive　as　ever；　still　mouthing　his　chant。　〃Kufa　tuta…ufa　wote。〃
　〃What's　that　mean？〃　Remo　said　to　a　Loni　standing　behind　him。
　〃It　means；　As　for　dying；　we　shall　all　die。〃
　The　Loni　watched　Chiun　and　their　small　buzzings　turned　to　silence　as　the　seconds　ticked　on　and　Chiun　stood　still　in　the　middle　of　the　fiery　pit；　the　heat　waves　rising　around　him；　making　his　body　seem　to　shimmer　and　shake　even　though　he　did　not　move。
　Then　a　small　wisp　of　smoke　began　to　curl　up　the　side　of　Chiun's　leg。　Remo　could　see　that　Chiun's　shin…length　white　pants　had　singed　at　the　bottom。　A　little　speck　turned　brown；　then　black；　then　broadened；　and　now　gave　out　thin　trails　of　smoke。　An　orange　dot　appeared　at　the　edge　of　one　leg　as　the　overheated　fabric　neared　its　flash　point。　A　tiny　lick　of　flame　puffed　up。　；'
　The　Loni　gasped。　Remo　took　a　step　forward；　then　stopped；　indecisive；　not　knowing　what　to　do。
　And　over　the　gasping　and　the　whispers　roared　the　voice　of　General　Obode。
　〃Will　no　one　help　that　man？〃
　The　roar　was　an　anguished　cry。
　Yet　no　one　moved。
　〃Help　him；〃　Obode　demanded　at　the　top　of　his　voice。
　Still　no　one　moved。
　With　a　bellow　of　rage　and　anger；　Obode　wrenched　at　the　eight…foot　post　to　which　he　was　tied。
　The　force　of　his　huge　body　tore　the　iron　ring　from　its　mounting　and　his　hands　came　loose；　still　tied　together　with　the　ring　now　suspended　on　the　rope　connecting　his　wrists。
　Chiun's　ge　was　breaking　into　flame　at　the　shins；　at　the　waist。
　Without　hesitation；　Obode　raced　forward　the　two　steps　separating　him　from　the　fire　pit；　seemed　to　pause　momentarily；　and　then；　barefooted；　ran　through　the　pit　to　the　place　Chiun；　stood。　Each　step　he　took；　he　screamed。　Yet　he　ran　on。　When　he　reached　Chiun；　he　scooped　with　both　hands　together　and　lifted　Chiun　in　his　giant　arms　like　a　baby；　then　ran　the　short　distance　across…the　pit　to　exit　at　the　side。　He　put　Chiun　down　gently　and　with　his　hands　began　to　beat　out　the　flames　of　Chiun's　uniform。　Only　when　they　were　out；　did　he　roll　onto　his　back　and　begin　to　try　wiping　away　the　glowing　bits　of　wood　and　rock　that　still　stuck　to　his　burned…black　feet。　He　was　still　screaming　in　pain。
　The　Loni　watched　quietly　as　Chiun　sat　unconcerned　and　Obode　ministered　to　his　feet
　And　then；　a　full…throated　cheer　went　up　from　the　watching　crowd。　Hands　clapped　hi　the　peculiar　un…rhythmic　African　manner。　Women　shouted　approval。　Children　whistled。　The　Loni　princesses　left　their　places　and　came　running　toward　Obode　and　Chiun。　Saffah　snapped　her　fingers　and　shouted　some　words。　In　a　seeming　split　second；　women　were　back　with　leaves　and　buckets　that　appeared　filled　with　mud　and　Saffah　began　making　a　poultice　for　Obode's　feet。
　Remo　came　over　and　as　he　moved　in　front　of　Chiun；　he　saw　with　astonishment　that　Chiun's　feet　were　unmarked　and　so　were　his　legs　and　hands。　His　uniform　was　singed　and　scorched；　in　places　crisped　away　into　hard　flecks　of　black　charcoal；　but　Chiun　was　unhurt。
　As　Remo　stood　there；　Chiun　moved　to　his　feet　and　stood　over　the　figures　of　the　three　princesses　ministering　to　General　Obode。
　〃People　of　the　Lord；　hear　me　now　and　hear　me　well　because　I　have　traveled　many　miles　to　bring　you　these　words。〃　He　waved　a　hand　toward　Obode；　writhing　on　the　ground　hi　pain。
　〃You　have　learned　through　this　man　today　that　the　Hausa　may　have　courage。　It　is　the　beginning　of　wisdom。　You　have　applauded　his　courage；　and　that　is　the　beginning　of　self…worth。　The　Loni　did　not　lose　an　empire　because　of　the　Hausa。　They　lost　it　because　they　were　not　fit　to　hold　it。　Today；　your　people　have　regained　their　fitness。　The　legend　has　been　redeemed。　The　debt　of　the　House　of　Sinanju　has　been　paid。〃
　One　voice　piped　out　of　the　crowd。　〃But　our　return　to　power。　What　of　that？〃　Several　voices　mumbled　in　concert　with　him。
　Chiun　raised　his　hands　for　silence。　〃No　man　bestows　power；　not　even　the　Master　of　Sinanju。　Power　is　earned　by　deeds　and　works。　The　President　of　the　Hausa　has　learned　something　today。　He　has　learned　that　the　Loni　no　longer　hate　him　because　he　is　a　Hausa。　They　have　hated　him　because　he　has　been　unjust。　Today　he　is　going　to　bee　a　great　leader　because　he　will　now　bring　the　Loni　into　the　palaces　of　government　to　build　again　a　great　land。　The　Loni　will　not　be　sergeants　and　servants；　they　will　be　generals　and　counselors。〃　Chiun　looked　down　at　Obode　whose　eyes　met　his。　They　locked　momentarily　and　Obode　nodded　in　agreement；　then　looked　away；　back　at　the　head　of　Princess　Saffah　who　still　ministered　to　his　burned　feet；　her　long　black　silken　hair　splashing　about　his　blistering　ankles。
　〃To　keep　this　new　power；　the　Loni　must　be　worthy；〃　Chiun　said。　〃And　then　soon　there　may　be　a　new　race　of　kings　hi　this　land。　With；　the　bravery　of　the　Hausa；　with　the　beauty　and　wisdom　of　the　Loni。〃
　He　looked　now　at　Saffah。　She　looked　at　him　and　then；　with　tenderness；　at　Obode；　then　nodded　to　Chiun。　She　smiled　and　reached　out　her　hand　and　placed　it　on　Obode's　shoulder。
　〃People　of　the　Loni；　the　legend　is　done。　You　may　tell　your　children　you　saw　the　Master。　You　may　tell　them　also　he　will　return　if　ever　man's　hand　is　set　unfairly　against　you　people　whom　I　protect。〃
　With　those　words；　Chiun　dropped　his　hands　and　walked　toward　his　hut。　He　picked　Hillary　Butler　from　the　crowd；　took　her　arm　and　led　her　inside　with　him。
　Remo　followed　and　found　Chiun　sitting　on　his　prayer　mat。　Hillary　Butler　sat　on　the　floor　near　him；　just　watching。
　Chiun　looked　up；　saw　Remo；　and　said：　〃Where　were　you　when　I　needed　you？〃
　〃You　told　me　not　to　interfere。〃
　〃Ah　yes；　but　would　a　worthy　son　have　listened？　No。　He　would　have　said；　ah；　that　is　my　father；　he　is　in　danger；　nothing　must　stop　me　from　saving　him。　That　is　what　a　loyal　son　would　have　said。　It　is　the　difference　between　good　breeding　and　being　something　the　cat　dragged　in。〃
　〃Well；　it　didn't　really　matter　anyway。　It　was　just　a　trick。　Nobody　stands　on　hot　coals。〃
　〃e；〃　Chiun　suggested。　〃We　will　go　out　and　walk　the　fire　together。　It　is　done　often　in　the　civilized　sections　of　the　world；〃　meaning；　Remo　knew；　the　part　of　the　world　Chiun　came　from。　〃Japanese　do　it。　Even　some　Chinamen。〃
　〃But　how？〃　Remo　said。
　〃Because　they　are　at　peace　with　themselves；〃　Chiun　said　triumphantly。　〃They　think　of　their　souls　instead　of　their　stomachs。　Of　course　to　do　that　one　must　first　have　a　soul。〃
　〃Bicker；　bicker；　bicker；〃　Remo　said。　〃It　was　still　a　trick。〃
　〃The　stupid　never　learn；　the　blind　never　see；〃　Chiun　said　and　would　say　no　more。
　Remo　turned　to　Hillary　Butler。　〃We'll　get　you　started　on　your　way　home　tonight〃
　She　nodded。　〃I　want。。。　well；　I　want　to　thank　you。　I　don't　really　understand　all　this；　but　maybe。。。　well；　anyway　thank　you。〃
　Remo　raised　a　hand。　〃Think　nothing　of　it。〃
　Chiun　said；　〃You　may　be　grateful。　。The　Master　has　done　what　he　had　to　do。　This　one。。。　well；　he　did　the　best　he　could。〃
　Later；　as　they　prepared　to　leave；　Remo　stood　near　the　graying　fire　pit；　and　picked　up　a　small　chip　of　wood　from　the　ground。　He　flipped　it　out　into　the　pit　of　coals。　The　chip　of　wood　hit；　seemed　to　break　up　the　steady　pattern　of　heat　waves　for　a　split　second；　then　flared　into　flame。
　Remo　shook　his　head。　He　turned；　and　saw　Chiun　standing　there；　smirking。
　〃There　is　still　time　for　you　to　learn　the　fire　walk。〃
　〃Try　me　next　week；〃　Remo　said。
　Remo；　Chiun　and　Hillary　Butler　left　the　Lord　camp　that　night　with　a　hundred…man　Loni　escort；　fourteen　of　them　with　no　other　responsibility　but　to　carry　Chum's　luggage。
　Saffah　and　Obode　bade　them　good…bye；　then　Saffah　took　Remo　to　one　side。
　〃Good…bye；　Remo；〃　she　said。　She　began　to　say　some…；　thing　else；　stopped　herself；　said　a　word　that　sounded　to　Remo　like　〃nina…upenda〃　and　walked　quickly　away　from　him。
　On　the　trail　down　the　mountainside；　Chiun　said　more　j　to　himself　than　to　Remo；　〃I　am　glad　we　did　not　have　to　I　kill　Obode。〃
　Remo　glanced　at　him；　suspiciously。　〃Why？〃
　〃Hmmm？〃　Chiun　said。　〃Oh；　there　is　no　reason。〃
　〃There　is　a　reason　for　everything　you　say；〃　Remo　said。　〃Why　are　you　glad　we　didn't　have　to　kill　Obode？〃　'；　〃Because　the　chief　of　the　Hausa　is　to　be　protected。〃
　〃Who　says？　Why？〃　Remo　demanded。
　Chiun　was　silent。
　〃Two…faced　sonuvabitch。　I'm　going　to　get　Smith　to　get　the　Washington　pollsters　to　tak