thedestroyer.slavesafari-第23部分

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that；　you　will　do　no　more。〃
　He　called　to　the　Lord　holding　Obode：
　〃Release　him。〃
　Chiun　wore　his　white　ge　the　shin…length　pants　and　white　jacket　known　hi　America　as　a　karate　uniform。　The　jacket　was　tied　with　a　white　belt；　which　Remo　recognized　as　an　act　of　humility　on　Chiun's　part。　In　the　Westernization　of　the　Oriental　bat　arts；　the　white　belt　was　the　lowest　grading。　Black　belts　were　highest　and　there　were　various　degrees　of　them。　And　then；　beyond　the　black　belt；　beyond　the　knowledge　of　simple　experts；　there　was　the　red　belt；　awarded　to　a　handful　of　men　of　great　courage；　wisdom　and　distinction。　The　Master　of　Sinanju；　foremost　among　the　men　of　the　world；　was　entitled　to　wear　such　a　belt。　Chiun　instead　had　chosen　beginner's　white；　and；　as　a　beginner　would；　he　wore　it　tied　tightly　around　his　waist。
　He　stood　now　in。　front　of　the　fire　pit　where　the　continually　dampened　leaves　and　branches　still　steamed　and　smoldered；　and　beckoned　to　Obode。　〃e；　one　of　the　great　mouth。〃　His　arms　free　suddenly；　Obode　lunged　forward；　then　slowed　down　and　stopped。　〃This　isn't　right；〃　he　said　to　Chiun。　〃I'm　too　big。　How　about　your　friend？　I　wrestle　him。〃
　〃He　has　no　more　humility　than　you。　The　Master　must　teach　you；〃　Chiun　said　grandly。　〃e。　If　you　can。〃
　
　CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
　Obode　moved　forward　slowly；　almost　unwillingly；　his　heavy　booted　shoes　kicking　up　little　puffs　of　tan　dust　as　he　came。
　He　put　a　hand　up　in　front　of　him；　gesturing　peace　to　Chiun。　Chiun　shook　his　head。　〃It　is　said　the　Hausa　are　brave　and　courageous。　Are　you　the　exception　to　that　rule？　e。　I　will　make　the　contest　more　even。〃
　From　under　his　sash；　Chiun　pulled　a　square　of　white　silk；　no　more　than　eighteen　niches　on　a　side。　He　carefully　placed　it　on　the　ground　in　front　of　him　and　stepped　onto　it；　his　body　so　light　that　his　bare　feet　seemed　not　even　to　crinkle　the　cloth。　〃e；　loud　one；〃　he　said。
　Obode　shrugged；　a　big　heavy　moving　of　his　massive　shoulders；　and　then　he　unbuttoned　and　stripped　off　his　white　uniform　shirt。　The　sight　of　his　shoulder　muscle　rippling　black　and　sleek；　almost　purple　under　the　hot　African　sun；　drew　a　murmur　from　the　crowd。　And　against　him　was　arrayed　only　poor　pathetic　old　Chiun；　eighty　years　old；　never　having　seen　one　hundred　pounds；　but　standing；　facing　Obode；　impassive；　arms　folded；　his　eyes　like　fiery　hazel　coals　burning　into　the　big　man's　face。
　Obode　tossed　his　shirt　to　the　ground　and　Remo　picked　it　up　and　moved　past　Obode　to　the　rear　of　the　square　where　General　William　Forsythe　Butler　stood。　Obode　kicked　off　his　shoes；　he　wore　no　socks。
　Remo　turned　to　Butler。　〃Two　bucks　on　the　little　guy；　Willie；〃　he　said。
　Butler　refused　to　answer。
　〃I'll　take　it　easy　on　you；　old　man。〃
　Obode　said　that　and　lunged　toward　Chiun；　Ms　powerful　arms　spread　wide。　Chiun　stood　still；　unmoving　on　his　square　of　silk　and　let　Obode　engulf　him　in　the　black　coils　of　muscles。　Obode　locked　his　hands　behind　Chiun's　back；　then　arched　his　own　back　to　lift　Chiun　off　the　ground；　snapping　as　he　would　if　lifting　a　heavy　garbage　pail。　But　Chiun's　feet　remained　planted　on　the　ground。　Obode　lurched　again　and　almost　fell　backwards　as　Chiun　remained　rooted　to　the　spot。
　Then　Chiun　unfolded　his　arms；　with　delicate；　slow　majesty。　He　reached　forward　with　both　hands　and　touched　two　spots　on　the　underside　of　Obode's　arms。　As　if　torched　by　electricity；　Obode's　arms　released　Chiun　and　flew　wide　apart。
　He　shook　his　head　to　clear　it　from　the　sudden　jolt　of　nerve　pain；　then　moved　forward　again　toward　Chiun；　his　left　hand　assorting　air　in　front　of　him；　seeking　the　classic　wrestler's　finger　lock。
　Chiun　let　Obode's　hand　approach　his　shoulder　and　then　the　President　was　flying　through　the　air。　Chiun　had　not　seemed　to　move。　His　hands　had　not　touched　Obode；　but　the　shift　of　Obode's　weight　was　across　Chiun's　standing　line　of　force；　and　Obode　went　somersaulting　through　the　air　to　land　with　a　thud　on　his　back　behind　Chiun。
　〃Ooooof；〃　he　exploded。
　Chiun　turned　slowly　on　the　silken　square　until　he　was　facing　the　fallen　Obode。　Ripples　of　laughter　went　through　the　Loni　men；　standing　around；　as　Obode　raised　himself　to　a　kneeling　position；
　〃Silence！　Silence！〃　Chiun　demanded。　〃Unless　there　is　one　among　you　who　would　take　his　place。〃
　The　noise　subsided。　Remo　whispered　to　Butler；　〃Willie；　you　saved　yourself　two　bucks。〃　Privately；　Remo　was　just　a　tinge　surprised　at　how　easily　Chiun　was　handling　Obode。　Not　that　Obode　represented　any　real　danger。　But　Chiun　was　an　assassin　and　how　often　had　he　told　Remo　that　an　assassin　who　could　not；　for　some　reason；　enter　bat　prepared　to　kill　his　opponent　was　even　more　defenseless　than　the　average　〃man　because　the　focus　of　his　energy　was　dissipated　and　some　of　it　must　turn　back　upon　himself。　Yet；　Chiun　was　obviously　keeping　Obode　alive；　and　it　did　not　seem　to　pose　any　special　danger　for　Chiun。　Oh　well；　Remo　thought；　that　is　why　there　is　only　one　Master　of　Sinanju。
　Obode　was　now　on　his　feet　He　turned　toward　Chiun；　a　questioning　look　on　his　face；　and　then　lurched　forward　toward　him。　The　old　man　stood　in　place；　but　when　Obode　neared　him；　Chiun　shot　out　a　silent　swift　hand。　It　planted　itself　near　Obode's　collarbone　and　Obode　dropped　as　if　he　were　a　ball　rolling　off　the　end　of　a　table。　Except　a　ball　bounces。　The　President　of　Busati　didn't　He　lay　there　in　a　dust…covered　crumpled　heap。
　Chiun　stepped　back；　retrieved　his　silk　handkerchief；　dusted　it；　folded　it　neatly　and　tucked　it　back　in　under　his　waistband。
　〃Take　him；〃　he　said　to　no　one　in　particular。　〃Tie　him　to　that　post。〃
　Four　Loni　tribesmen　dropped　their　spears　and　came　out　into　the　arena。　They　grabbed　Obode　by　his　hands　and　feet　and　tugged　him；　sliding　along　the　ground；　past　the　ceremonial　fire　pit　which　was　still　steaming　and　smoking；　and　to　an　eight…foot　stake　planted　in　the　ground　at　the　far　end。　Two　of　them　propped　the　unconscious　Obode　up；　while　two　more　lifted　his　arms　high　and　tied　them　with　a　rope　through　the　large　iron　ring　at　the　top　of　the　eight…foot　post。
　Obode　hung　there；　slowly　regaining　consciousness；　hanging　by　his　wrists。　Chiun　meanwhile　had　turned　from　him　and　looked　to　Saffah。
　From　the　ground　behind　her；　she　lifted　a　golden　brazier；　shaped　like　a　Japanese　hibachi；　and　carried　it　by　its　handles　toward　Chiun。　Heat　waves　shimmered　off　the　bowl　and　the　red…glow　of　the　burning　coals　it　contained　cast　an　aura　around　the　golden　dish。　She　placed　it　at　the　feet　of　Chiun。
　Chiun　looked　down　at　the　burning　coals。
　The　silence　of　the　moment　was　interrupted　by　a　call　from　a　sentry　posted　on　the　north　side　of　the　hill　over　the　small　encampment。
　〃Loni！　Loni！　Loni！〃　he　called；　obviously　in　great　agitation。　Remo　turned　and　looked　up　toward　him。　He　was　waving　an　arm　toward　the　hills　to　the　north。
　Remo　moved　to　the　edge　of　the　camp　and　looked　north。　ing　up　the　hillsides；　toward　the　encampment；　were　other　natives；　and　Remo　placed　them　instantly　as　Loni。　The　men　were　tall　and　lean　and　strong…looking；　the　women　lithe　and　beautiful。。。　two　of　them　in　particular。
　The　long　chain　of　people　was　now　only　a　hundred　yards　from　the　camp　and　the　two　women　led　the　band　of　Loni　men　and　women　and　children　as　if　they　were　generals　reviewing　a　parade。　They　were　tall…black　as　night；　their　faces　impassive　and　strong…boned；　and　Remo　knew　immediately　these　were　the　two　younger　sisters　of　Saffah；　crown　princess　of　the　Loni。
　Remo　glanced　back　at　Chiun。　Chiun　had　sat　in　the　center　of　the　small　square；　his　legs　twisted　into　a　full　lotus；　his　fingertips　in　front　of　him　hi　praying　position。　His　eyes　were　closed　and　Ms　face　leaned　forward　toward　the　brazier　of　hot　coals　on　the　ground　before　him。
　Remo　looked　at　Chiun　hard；　but　there　was　no　way　to　tell　what　he　was　thinking　or　doing。　The　whole　thing　had　confused　Remo。　Remo　was　to　kill　the　evil　man；　but　why　had　Chiun　insisted　upon　playing　with　Obode　first？　Why　not　just　give　him　to　Remo？　And　what　was　this　ritual　purification　by　fire　that　Chiun　was　to　do？　And　this　nonsense　about　Chiun　perhaps　sacrificing　his　life？　If　it　was　anything　dangerous；　Remo　would　not　let　him　do　it。　That　was　that　case　closed。　No　crap　about　it　either。
　And　then　the　Loni　were　streaming　into　the　village。　There　were　hundreds　of　them；　led　by　the　two　beautiful　black　women。　As　they　came　into　camp；　then'　impassive…ness　melted　as　they　saw　Saffah　and　each　ran　forward　to　be　embraced　by　her。
　It　took　fifteen　minutes　before　the　procession　had　ended；　the　square　was　now　filled　with　all　three　existing　Loni　bands。　Remo　looked　around。　From　what　was　once　the　greatest　empire　in　all　the　history　of　Africa；　this　was　left。　Five　hundred　men；　women　and　children。　Hardly　enough　to　fill　a　Newark　tenement；　much　less　create　a　new　empire。
　And　still　Chiun　sat。　The　Loni　looked　at　him　silently　as　they　crowded　in　around　the　village　square；　enclosing　the　pit　of　fire　and　an　area　the　size　of　a　large　boxing　ring。
　They　buzzed　to　themselves　as　they　saw　General　Obode　tied　to　the　post　at　the　far　end　of　the　pit　of　fire。
　Obode　was　now　awake；　clearly　wondering　what　was　happening。　His　face　darted　from　side　to　side；　looking　for　an　explanation；　seeking　a　friendly　face。　He　saw　General　William　Forsythe　Butler　at　the　far　end　of　the　field　and　spat　viciously　onto　the　ground　near　his　feet。
　Inside　a　hut　outside　the　square　of　people；　Hillary　Butler　stirred。　There　was　so　much　noise　and　it　was　so　hot　But　it　was　a　nice　hot；　the　kind　of　hot　that　makes　your　muscles　work　and　your　bones　swing　loose　and　easy。　For　the　first　time　since　she　had　entered　the　Loni　village；　Hillary　Butler　decided　she　would　get　up　and　walk　outside　and　see　what　kind　of　place　she　was　in。
　But　first　she　would　nap　just　a　few　minutes　more。　Saffah　walked　forward　now　to　Chiun　and　stood　in　front　of　him；　looking　down　at　him　across　the　heat　waves　rising　from　the　brazier　of　coals。
　〃It　is　a　great　moment；　Little　Father。　The　legend　has　begun。　The　Loni　children　are　home。〃
　Chiun　rose　to　his　feet　in　one　smooth　fluid　movement　and　opened　his　eyes。　He　turned　and　looked　at　the　Loni　men　who　continued　to　water　down　the　leafy　branches　covering　the　fire　pit；　and　nodded。　They　put　down　their　containers　of　water　and　almost　instantly　the　smoke　from　the　pit　grew　heavier。
　Chiun　turned　then　and　folded　his　hands　in　front　of　him。
　〃The　legend　is　the　truth；〃　he　intoned。　〃The　Loni　childr