thedestroyer.slavesafari-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　There　was　no　sound　and　no　sign　of　his　soldiers。
　Two　whole　panies？
　Obode　looked　at　the　note　in　his　hand　again；　thought　deeply　for　a　full　ten　seconds；　dropped　the　paper；　turned　and　ran。　〃Butler；〃　he　shouted　as　he　neared　the　other　tent。　〃Butler。〃
　General　William　Forsythe　Butler　came　from　the　tent；　sleepy；　rubbing　his　heavied　eyes。　〃Yes；　Mr。　President？〃
　〃e　on；　man；　we　getting　out　of　here。〃
　Butler　shook　his　head；　trying　to　get　a　grasp　on　the　morning's　events。　Obode　flew　past　him　into　Obode's　own　tent。　Butler　looked　around　the　camp。　Nothing　really　unusual　there。　Except。。。　except　there　weren't　any　soldiers　to　be　seen。　He　followed　Obode　into　his　tent
　Obode　was　wrestling　his　white　shirt　on。
　〃What's　wrong；　Mr。　President？〃　Butler　asked。
　〃I'll　tell　you　what's　wrong。　We　leaving　this　place。〃
　〃Where　are　the　guards？〃
　〃The　guards　are　dead　or　deserted。　All　of　them；〃　Obode　said。　〃And　the　elephants。　Their　ivory　been　removed。　We　leaving。　We　leaving　now　'cause　I　ain't　gonna　have　nothing　to　do　with　nobody　who　can　kill　my　soldiers　and　cripple　my　elephants　in　the　night；　without　a　sound；　without　a　trace。　Man；　we　getting　out　of　here。〃
　Obode　brushed　past　Butler　before　his　subordinate　had　a　chance　to　speak。　When　Butler　got　back　outside；　the　sun　was　beginning　its　climb　into　the　sky　and　Obode　was　behind　the　wheel　of　one　of　the　jeeps。　He　turned　the　ignition　key　to　start　position　but　nothing　happened。　He　tried　again；　then　with　a　curse　jumped　heavily　down　from　the　jeep　and　went　to　another　vehicle。
　That　one　would　not　start　either。
　Butler　came　to　the　jeep　and　opened　the　hood。　The　in…sides　of　the　engine　partment　had　been　destroyed。　The　battery…had　been　broken　in　half；　wires　were　ripped　and　wrenched　apart；　the　distributor　had　been　crushed　into　broken　black　powder　and　chips。
　Butler　inspected　the　other　four　jeeps　in　the　clearing。　They　were　all　the　same。
　He　shook　his　head　at　Obode；　sitting　disconsolately　on　the　seat　in　the　driver's　seat　of　one　of　the　vehicles。
　〃Sorry；　General；〃　Butler　said；　although　he　was　not　sure　he　was　sorry　at　all。…〃If　we　go　anywhere；　we　walk。〃
　Obode　looked　up　at　Butler。　〃In　this　land　we　haven't　a　chance。　Even　the　Loni　could　pick　us　off　like　flies。〃
　〃Then　what　do　we　do；　Mr。　President？〃
　Obode　slammed　a　ham…sized　fist　down　into　the　steering　wheel　of　the　jeep；　cracking　the　wheel　and　sending　the　vehicle　rocking　back　and　forth　on　its　wheels。
　〃Dammit；〃　Obode　shouted；　〃we　do　what　armies　should　always　do。　We　charge。〃
　
　CHAPTER　FIFTEEN
　While　Remo　slept；　Princess　Saffah　slipped　out　of　his　hut　and　went　back　to　the　hut　where　Hillary　Butler　slept。
　Saffah　could　not　recognize　the　feeling　that　gripped　her　on　this　day。　All　her　life；　she　had　waited　for　the　legend　to　e　true；　now　the　men　of　the　legend　were　here；　soon　the　people　of　the　Loni　tribe　would　be　restored　to　power；　and　yet；　she　felt　a　vague　feeling　of　unease。
　Legends　were　never　simple。　There　were　many　ways　for　one　to　e　true。　Had　they　not；　for　instance；　thought　that　Butler　might　be　the　Master　of　the　legend？　He　had　given　up　his　former　life　in　America　to　bee　the　Loni's　friend；　so　one　might　call　him　a　dead　man。　And　his　returning　to　the　Loni　might　fulfill　the　prophecy　of　the　Loni　children　ing　home。　So　she　had　thought；　but　that　was　wrong。
　。　Might　not　other　things　be　wrong？　You　are　being　a　fool；　child。　What　of　Obode？　Do　you　doubt　that　he　is　the　evil　man　of　the　story？　And　that　Remo　must　face　him　today？　Yes；　yes。　And　what　of　the　Little　Father？　Doubt　you　that　he　will　purify　the　Loni？　No；　no；　but　how？　How？
　Saffah　ducked　into　the　hut　where　the　young　American　girl　slept。　She　slid　down　smoothly　onto　her　heels　at　the　side　of　the　small　raised　cot。　The　white　girl　breathed　smoothly　and　evenly；　and　the　faint　trace　of　a　smile　played　at　the　corners　of　her　mouth。　She　would　be　well；　Saffah　knew；　for　one　who　could　dream　could　live。
　She　put　her　ebony　hand　out　and　rested　it　on　Hillary's　pale　white　arm　and　looked　down　at　the　contrast　Hillary　did　not　stir。　Why　was　it　so　important；　all　this　concern　with　color？　Skin　was　skin；　black　or　white　or　yellow　as　the　Little　Father's。　What　counted　only　was　what　was　under　the　skin；　the　spirit；　the　heart；　the　soul。　She　looked　at　Hillary　Butler　and　thought；　might　it　not　also　be　thus　with　tribes？　Could　hatred　between　Loni　and　Hausa　end　if　they　could　only　consider　each　other　as　people；　good　and　bad；　but　each　different？
　She　squeezed　Hillary　Butler's　arm　gently；　reassuringly。
　
　
　Chum　was　up　early　and　Remo　found　him　at　the　pit　of　fire。　The　fire　had　been　stoked　and　allowed　to　smolder　during　the　night　and　now　dry　weeds　and　twigs　were　being　thrown　upon　it。
　As　Chiun　directed；　four　Loni　tribesmen　began　to　cover　the　unburned　wood　in　the　pit　with　leafy　green　branches　of　trees　which　dripped　water；　and　sizzled　and　hissed　on　the　white　hot　stones　in　the　pit。　Steam　rose　and　smoke　poured　out　from　under　the　corners　of　the　branches　in　lazy　coils　like　drunken　sated　snakes。
　〃We　going　to　have　a　cookout？〃　Remo　asked。　〃Do　you　need　a　duck？　I'll　run　to　the　store　for　hamburger　rolls　if　you　want。〃
　。。。　〃Need　you　go　out　of　your　way　to　appear　gross？〃　Chiun　asked。　〃For　certainly；　you　need　no　assistance；　no　more　than　the　duck　needs　help　in　quacking。〃
　They　were　interrupted　by　a　roar　behind　them。　Along　the　trail；　around　the　corner　of　the　huts；　striding　into　the　village　square　came　Obode　and　Butler；　Obode　leading　the　way；　bellowing　like　a　bull　moose　taunted　by　flies　and　gnats。
　〃Cowards　and　washwomen　of　the　Lord　tribe；　General　Obode　is　here。　e　out；　fly　swatters　and　mosquito　killers。〃
　The　village　square　was　deserted　as　the　few　Loni　men　in　it　seemed　to　slip　away。　At　one　end　of　the　square；　near　the　fire　pit；　stood　Remo　and　Chiun；　at　the　other　end；　seventy　five　feet　away；　stood　Butler　and　Obode。　The　four　men　stood　looking　at　each　other。
　Out　of　a　hut　halfway　between　the　two　pairs　came　Princess　Saffah。　She　stood　black　and　tall；　silent　and　majestic；　wearing　her　almost…Grecian　short　robe；　staring　imperiously　at　Obode　who　continued　to　challenge　the　Loni　men　to　bat；　one　at　a　time　or　all　at　once。
　〃Silence　your　mouth；　braying　beast；〃　Saffah　said　finally。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Obode　shouted；　after　a　moment's　pause　in　which；　Remo　saw；　he　was　stunned　by　Saffah's　beauty。
　〃I　am　Saffah；　first　princess　of　the　Loni　Empire；　and　I　order　your　silence。〃
　〃You　order？　You　order？　I　am　General　Dada　Obode；　President　of　Busati；　mander　of　all　this　land；　and　I　am　the　one　who　orders。〃
　〃Perhaps　in　your　brothels　and　in　your　pig　sty　of　a　capital；　but　here　you　can　be　silent。　We　are　glad　you　came；　General。〃
　〃When　I　am　done；〃　Obode　said；　〃Perhaps　you　will　not　be　so　glad。〃
　Saffah　clapped　her　hands；　three　times；　sharply。　Slowly；　obviously　reluctantly；　the　Loni　began　to　e　from　their　huts；　first　women　and　children；　and　then　men。
　〃We　are　glad　you　came　nevertheless；〃　she　said　smiling；　as　Loni　men　drew　near　Obode　and　Butler。　〃And　you；　Butler；〃　she　added；　〃you　have　done　well　to　get　the　gross　beast　into　our　camp。〃
　Butler　gave　a　slight　bow　and　Obode's　head　snapped　toward　him　as　if　on　a　rubber　band。　Suddenly；　so　many　things　made　sense。　Butler　was　his　traitor。　Obode　roared　and　lunged　with　both　hands　for　Butler's　throat。　Butler　was　surprised　by　the　attack　and　fell　back　before　Obode's　weight　until　Obode；　at　a　signal　from　Saffah；　was　pulled　away　and　restrained　by　six　Loni　tribesmen。
　Chiun　and　Remo　walked　slowly　down　the　length　of　the　plaza　toward　Obode　who　still　glared　at　Butler。　〃Coward；　traitor；　Loni　dog；〃　Obode　spat。　〃Wele　to　my　people；　fat　pig；〃　Butler　said。　〃You　have　not　even　the　courage　of　the　assassin；〃　Obode　said。　〃For　you　feared　to　take　my　life　by　yourself　as　you　could　have　many　times　because　I　trusted　you。　Instead；　you　waited　until　you　could　deliver　me　into　the　hands　of　this　flock　of　sheep。〃
　〃Discretion；　General；　discretion。〃
　〃Cowardice；〃　Obode　roared。　〃The　armies　I　have　known　would　have　shot　you　like　the　dog　you　are。〃
　Into　the　chaos；　above　the　voices；　rose　the　mand　of　Chiun：　〃Silence。　The　Master　of　Sinanju　says　stop　your　tongues　of　women。〃
　Obode　turned　toward　Chiun　who　now　stood　directly　in　front　of　him　and　looked　him　over；　as　if　he　had　just　noticed　him　for　the　first　time。　The　Basuti　President　towered　over　the　aged　Korean　by　a　foot　and　a　half。　His　weight　was　three　times　Chiun's。
　〃And　you　are　the　Master　of　the　Loni　legend？〃
　Chiun　nodded。
　Obode　laughed；　tipping　his　head　back　to　offer　his　laughter　to　the　sky。　〃Mosquito；　stay　out　of　Dada's　way　before　I　swat　you。〃
　Chiun　folded　his　arms　and　stared　at　Obode。　Behind　Chiun；　the　square　was　now　packed　with　people　and　they　were　hushed　as　if　listening　through　thin　walls　to　a　family　arguing　next　door。
　Remo　stood　next　to　Chiun；　peering　coldly　at　Obode。　Finally；　the　President's　eyes　met　his。
　Contemptuously；　he　asked：　〃And　you？　Another　of　the　fortune…telling　fairies？〃
　〃No；〃　Remo　said。　〃I'm　the　chief　elephant　trainer　and　jeep　repairman　around　here。　Have　a　nice　walk？〃
　Obode　began　to　speak；　then　stopped；　as　if　realizing　for　the　first　time　；that　he　was　the　prisoner　of　an　overwhelmingly　large　number　of　enemies。　Not　as　lowest　recruit；　not　as　British　sergeant　major；　not　as　mander　in　chief　of　the　Busati；　but　now；　for　the　first　time　in　his　long　career；　he　realized　that　death　might　be　a　real　possibility。
　〃Kill　him；〃　Butler　said。　〃Let　us　kill　him　and　end　this　ancient　curse　on　the　Loni。〃
　〃Old　ant；〃　Obode　said　to　Chiun；　〃since　this　is　your　party；　I　ask　that　when　you　kill　me　you　do　it　like　a　man。〃
　〃Do　you　deserve　the　death　of　a　man？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Obode　said。　〃Because　I　have　always　given　a　man　a　man's　death　and　I　have　tried　to　be　fair。　In　my　day；　I　wrestled　regiments　and　no　man　feared　to　try　to　beat　me　because　of　my　rank　or　station。〃
　〃Wrestling　is　very　good　for　the　teaching　of　humility；〃　Chiun　said。　〃It　is　the　weakness　of　you　Hausa　that　the　most　developed　muscle　in　your　body　is　your　tongue。　e。　I　will　teach　you　humility。〃
　He　walked　back　into　the　center　of　the　open　plaza；　then　turned　to　face　Obode　again。　Remo　came　up　alongside　Chiun。　〃Chiun；　he's　mine。　We　agreed。〃
　〃Silence；〃　Chiun　ordered。　〃Do　you　think　I　would　deprive　you　of　your　pleasure？　It　is　written　hi　the　legend　what　you　must　do。　You　will　do　that；　you　will　do　no　more。〃
　He　called　to　the　Lord　holding　Obode：
　〃Release　him。〃
　Chiun　wo