thedestroyer.slavesafari-第24部分

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　Chiun　turned　then　and　folded　his　hands　in　front　of　him。
　〃The　legend　is　the　truth；〃　he　intoned。　〃The　Loni　children　are　ing　home。
　〃But　wait！　Are　the　Loni　home？　Are　the　Loni　I　see　today　the　Loni　that　my　ancestor　served　many　years　ago？　Are　these　Loni；　these　Hausa…hating；　elephant…fearing　cowards　who　run　like　children　in　the　night　from　noises　they　cannot　see？　Are　these　the　Loni；　whose　bravest　souls　are　theft　women？
　〃Are　these　the　Loni　that　brought　light　and　justice　and　knowledge　to　a　dark　world　so　many　years　ago？〃
　Chiun　stopped　and　looked　slowly；　silently　around　the　vast　crowd；　seeming　to　stop　at　each　and　every　face；　as　if　seeking　an　answer
　No　one　spoke　and　Chiun　went　on。
　〃The　legend　says　that　the　Loni　children　will　e　home。　And　then　the　man　who　walks　in　the　shoes　of　death　must　destroy　the　man　who　would　enslave　the　Loni。　And　then　the　Master　of　Sinanju　must　purify　the　Loni　people　in　the　rites　of　fire。
　〃But　this　Master　looks　and　wonders　if　these　Loni　can　be　redeemed。〃
　Remo　and　Butler　stood　side　by　side；　watching　Chiun　with　equal　intensity；　thinking　vastly　different　thoughts。　He's　going　to　renege；　Remo　thought。　Did　the　House　of　Sinanju　give　refunds？　Butler　was　exploring　the　depths　of　his　satisfaction。　Nothing　had　gone　exactly　as　he　had　planned　but　no　matter。　It　seemed　clear　that　before　the　day's　events　were　over；　Obode　would　be　dead。　The　Loni　would　support　the　leadership　of　Butler；　so　would　most　of　Obode's　cabinet　and　most　of　the　Army　leaders。　It　would　be　a　fine　day　for　William　Forsythe　Butler；　next　President　of　Busati。
　〃Where　is　the　nobility　that　once　filled　the　hearts　of　the　Loni　people？〃　Chiun　was　saying。
　〃Gone　like　the　fire　goes；〃　Chiun　said；　and　as　the　crowd　gasped；　he　reached　his　hands　down　into　the　golden　brazier　and　brought　out　two　handfuls　of　coals。　Slowly；　not　even　seeming　to　feel　the　heat；　he　scattered　the　coals　around　the　ground。　〃Together；　coals　are　a　fire；　but　singly；　they　are　but　coals　and　soon　die。　It　is　thus　with　people；　their　greatness　es　because　each　shares　in　the　tradition　of　their　greatness。〃　He　dropped　again　to　his　haunches；　and　began　scattering　with　his　hands　the　coals　from　the　brazier。
　Behind　him；　the　leaves　and　twigs　still　smoldered；　the　heat　waves　rising　from　the　pit　like　steam　from　a　subway　grating。
　Inside　the　hut；　Hillary　Butler　could　no　longer　sleep。　She　got　to　her　feet；　happily　surprised　that　she　wore　so　sparkling　clean　a　blue　robe。　She　knew　now　that　she　was　going　to　be　all　right。　That　evil　house；　the　man　on　the　ship；　it　was　all　behind　her　now。　She　would　soon　be　home；　she　would　be　married　as　she　had　planned；　somehow　she　knew　that　everything　would　be　all　right。
　She　moved　toward　the　entrance　to　the　hut；　her　steps　weak　and　slightly　shaky。
　Outside　the　hut；　Remo　stood　next　to　General　Butler。　〃Willie；〃　Remo　said；　putting　his　arm　conspiratorially　around　the　other　man's　shoulder；　〃you　were　a　good　one。　But　that　was　a　good　team　you　played　for。　Tell　me　something　I　always　wanted　to　know。　Did　you　guys　shave　the　point　spread？　I　remember；　you　guys　were　always　like　five…point　favorites　and　you　always　wound　up　whining　by　three。　You　cost　me　a　lot　of　bucks；　Willie。　I　never　could　figure　why　you　guys　would　shave。　I　mean；　you　were　making　the　big　dough　already；　it　just　wouldn't　seem　to　be　worth　the　risk。　You　know；　it's　not　like　you　were　slaves　or　anything；　Willie。〃
　Hillary　Butler　stepped　out　of　the　hut　and　blinked　in　the　bright　sunshine。　Just　ahead　of　her；　she　saw　Remo；　and　she　smiled。　He　had　been　so　nice。　His　arm　was　around　that　black　man　in　the　white　uniform　and　they　were　talking。
　〃Get　out　of　here；　for　Christ's　sake；　will　you？〃　William　Forsythe　Butler　said　to　Remo。　He　raised　his　right　hand　to　Remo's　shoulder　and　pushed。　Something　on　his　hand　glinted　in　the　sun。　ft　was　a　ring。　A　gold　ring。　A　gold　ring　formed　in　the　links　of　a　small　chain。
　Hillary　Butler　had　seen　that　ring　before。　Just　once；　when　the　heavy　black　hand　holding　the　chloroform　pad　had　lowered　over　her　face。
　Hillary　Butler　screamed。
　Remo　turned；　as　silence　descended　over　the　entire　village。　The　white　girl　stood　there　in　the　entrance　to　the　hut；　her　mouth　open；　her　finger　slowly　raising　to　point。　Remo　came　to　her　side。
　〃Oh；　Remo；〃　she　said。　〃You've　got　him。〃　。　〃Got　him？　Oh　yeah；　right。　Obode；〃　Remo　said。　〃He's　tied　up　down　there。〃
　〃No；　no；　not　Obode。　That　one；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　Butler。　〃He　was　the　one　who　took　me　from　my　house。　He　kidnaped　me。〃
　〃Him？〃　Remo　said；　pointing　to　Butler。
　She　nodded　and　shuddered。
　〃Old　Willie？〃　Remo　asked。
　〃That　one；〃　she　said　pointing。
　Suddenly　everything　had　e　undone　for　William　Forsythe　Butler；　but　perhaps　there　was　still　a　chance。　He　broke　through　the　crowd；　pulling　the　pistol　from　his　holster；　running　toward　Obode。　He　might　yet　manage　it。　Kill　Obode；　then　say　he　took　the　girl　under　Obode's　orders。
　He　raised　the　gun　to　fire。　Then　the　gun　was　gone　from　his　hand；　thudding　softly；　sending　up　a　little　puff　of　dust　where　it　hit　the　ground　and　Chiun　stood　alongside　him。
　Butler　stopped　in　his　tracks；
　〃You　have　done　evil　to　the　Loni　people；〃　Chiun　said。　〃Did　you　hope　someday　to　be　king　of　this　land？　To　one　day　enslave　not　only　Hausa　but　Loni　too？〃　Chiun's　voice　rose　in　pitch。
　Butler　slowly　backed　away　from　him。　〃You　have　disgraced　the　Loni　people。　You　are　not　fit　to　live。〃
　Butler　turned　to　try　to　run；　but　there　was　no　break　in　the　crowd。　He　turned。　Then　Chiun　turned　his　back　on　him　and　was　walking　away。
　Remo　moved　out　into　the　clearing。
　〃It　was　you；　Willie？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Butler　hissed；　the　Loni　click　in　his　throat　chattering　his　anger。　〃I　would　repay　in　kind　what　the　whites　did　to　me。　What　they　did　to　the　Loni　people。〃
　〃Sorry；　Willie；〃　Remo　said；　remembering　the　girls　he　had　been　forced　to　kill。　〃You　were　a　good　cornerback　but　you　know　how　it　is：　you　can't　argue　with　a　legend。〃
　He　moved　toward　Butler；　who　drew　himself　up　to　his　full　height。　He　was　bigger　than　Remo；　heavier；　probably　stronger。　The　white　bastard　had　never　been　able　to　forget　for　one　minute　that　he　had　been　Willie　Butler。　All　right。　So　be　it。　Now　he　would　show　him　what　Willie　Butler　could　do　if　he　had　wanted　to　play　the　white　man's　game。
　He　crouched　down　and　from　deep　in　his　throat　growled　at　Remo：　〃Your　ball；　honkey。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　flood　your　zone　with　receivers；〃　Remo　said。　〃That　always　confused　you　goons。〃
　Remo　began　trotting　toward　Butler　who　went　wide…legged　into　a　tackling　stance。　When　Remo　was　within　reach；　he　sprang；　leaving　his　feet；　rolling　on　his　side　toward　Remo。　Remo　skipped　lightly　over　him　and　Butler　quickly　rolled　up　onto　his　feet。
　〃First　and　ten；〃　Remo　said。
　He　came　back　toward　Butler　who　assumed　the　same　stance；　but　this　time　as　Remo　drew　near；　Butler　straightened　up；　leaped　into　the　air　and　let　fly　a　kick　at　Remo's　face。　Remo　caught　the　heel　of　the　foot　hi　both　hands　and　continued　pushing　it　upward；　tumbling　Butler　back　over　onto　his　back。
　〃Unsportsmanlike　conduct；　Willie。　That'll　cost　you　fifteen　yards。〃
　Butler　got　up　again　and　charged　now　in　a　rage　at　Remo；　who　dodged　away。　〃Tell　me；　Willie；　what　was　it　you　were　trying　to　prove？　What'd　you　need　the　girls　for？〃
　〃How　could　you　know？　That　accursed　family。。。　the　Butlers；　the　Forsythes；　the　Lippincotts。。。　they　bought　my　family　as　slaves。　I　was　collecting　a　debt。〃
　〃And　you　think　that　poor　little　girl　over　there　had　something　to　do　with　it？〃
　〃Blood　of　blood；〃　Butler　grunted；　as　he　wrapped　his　arms　around　Remo's　waist。　〃The　bad　seed　has　to　be　uprooted；　no　matter　how　big　it's　grown。〃　He　slid　off　Remo　to　the　ground　as　Remo　skipped　away。
　〃It's　people　like　you；　Willie；　that　give　racism　a　bad　name。〃
　Butler　had　edged　around；　slowly　facing　Remo；　moving　hi　a　circle。　He　widened　the　circle　gradually　until　his　back　was　against　the　line　of　Lords　who　were　quietly　watching　this　contest；　so　unlike　anything　they　had　ever　seen。
　Without　warning；　Butler　reached　behind　him；　grabbed　a　spear　from　one　of　the　Lord　men　and　jumped　back　into　the　squared　arena。
　〃At　last；　your　true　colors　e　out；〃　Remo　said。　〃You're　just　another　dirty　player。〃
　Butler　moved　toward　him　with　the　spear；　holding　it　like　a　javelin；　his　hand　on　its　middle；　its　weight　poised　over　his　right　shoulder；　ready　to　throw。
　〃Now　you　tell　me　something；　white　man。　The　legend　says　a　dead　man　es　with　the　Master。　How　are　you　a　dead　man？〃
　〃Sorry；　Willie；　it's　true。　I　died　ten　years　ago。　Now　you　can　worry　about　the　legend。〃
　〃Well；　dying　didn't　seem　to　take。　So　I　think　you　ought　to　try　it　again。〃
　Butler　was　only　six　feet　from　Remo　now　and　he　reared　back　with　the　spear　and　let　it　fly。　Its　point　flew　straight　at　Remo's　chest　and　Remo　collapsed　backwards　out　of　its　way　and　as　the　spear　passed　over　his　head；　Remo's　hand　flashed　out　and　cracked　the　center　of　the　shaft。　The　spear　snapped　in　two；　both　halves　clattering　across　the　ground　toward　Chiun；　who　stood　quietly　watching。
　Remo　slowly　regained　his　feet　〃Sorry；　Willie；　you　just　lost　the　ball　on　downs。〃
　And　then　Remo　moved　toward　him　with　a　leap。
　〃This　one's　for　the　Gipper；〃　Remo　said。
　Butler　rammed　a　forearm　toward　the　bridge　of　Remo's　nose　but　the　arm　struck　only　air　and　then　Willie　Butler　felt　a　biting　pain　in　his　chest　that　turned　to　fire　and　the　fire　was　flashing　red　and　pure　and　it　burned　worse　than　all　the　fires　he'd　ever　seen　and　in　that　last　flash　of　flame；　he　thought　back；　and　his　mind　said；　it's　me；　Sis；　it's　Billie；　I　really　can　run　fast　because　I　know　it；　and　someday　I'm　gonna　be　a　big　man　and　his　sister　was　saying　no　tomming　swamp　nigger　ever　gonna　amount　to　anything；　but　Sis；　you　were　wrong；　I　was　wrong；　hate　and　violence　isn't　the　way；　it　just　doesn't　work；　but　his　sister　didn't　answer　and　suddenly　Willie　Butler　didn't　care　anymore　because　he　was　dead。
　Remo　stood　up　and　rolled　Butler　over　with　his　foot　so　his　face　was　buried　in　the　dust
　〃That's　the　biz；　sweetheart；〃　he　said。
　The　Loni　were　still　silently　watching。　Chiun　moved　toward　Remo；　put　his　hand　on　Remo's　arm　and　said　loudly：　〃Two　parts　of　the　legend　are　now　pleted。〃
　He　looked　slowly　around　the　circle　of　Loni；　confused　and　staring；　then　at　Obode　who　had　regained　his　dignity　and　stood　erect；　his　arms　yanked　high　up　over　his　head；　determined　to　die　like　a　British　soldier。
　〃The　evil　in　the　world　is　not