thedestroyer.slavesafari-第25部分

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his　head；　determined　to　die　like　a　British　soldier。
　〃The　evil　in　the　world　is　not　always　Hausa　evil；〃　Chiun　said。　〃The　Loni　curse　has　not　been　the　Hausa；　but　the　Loni　people　who　have　no　heart。　We　must　give　you　back　your　heart。〃
　Chiun　released　Remo's　arm　and　turned　toward　the　fire　pit。　Almost　as　if　by　signal；　the　last　of　the　water　evaporated；　and　the　pit　went　aflame　with　a　searing　whoosh　that　seemed　to　swallow　the　oxygen　in　the　arena　and　that　moved　Obode　back；　cringing　slightly。
　From　a　bowl　alongside　the　pit；　Chiun　took　salt　and　began　sprinkling　it　at　the　end　of　the　pit；　seemingly　oblivious　to　the　heat。　While　Chiun's　ritual　went　on；　Saffah　and　her　two　sisters　moved　forward　behind　Chiun。
　The　flames　died　quickly　as　the　dried…out　wood　almost　exploded　into　fire　and　Chiun　motioned　to　the　two　Loni　men　who　stood　near　the　rear　corners　of　the　pit。　Using　long　staves；　they　began　to　spread　the　fire；　shaking　the　twigs　and　embers　loose；　and　exposing　through　the　fire　the　giant　ostrich　egg…sized　rocks；　now　glistening　white　hot　from　their　two…day　baking。
　Remo　came　up　alongside　Chiun。
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　up　to？〃　he　demanded。
　〃One　does　not　worry　about　the　Master。　One　only　observes　and　learns。〃　Chiun　looked　at　Remo；　seemed　to　understand　his　concern　and　said；　〃No　matter　what　happens　you　must　promise　not　to　interfere。　No　matter　what。〃
　〃Chiun；　I　won't　let　you　do　anything　foolish。〃
　〃You　will　do　as　I　say。　You　will　not　interfere。　My　House's　debt　to　the　Loni　has　been　a　family　disgrace。　You　dishonor　me　if　you　stop　me　from　discharging　that　debt。　Do　nothing。〃
　Remo　searched　Chiun's　eyes　for　any　weakness；　any　hint；　but　there　was　none。
　〃I　don't　like　it；〃　Remo　said　glumly；　even　as　he　started　moving　back。
　〃Your　preferences　are　of　little　interest　to　my　ancestors。　They　like　what　I　do。〃
　The　entire　pit　had　now　been　raked　until　it　was　an　evil　mix　of　white　hot　stones　and　red　hot　embers。
　Chiun　looked　around　him　at　the　Loni　people。　〃The　Lonis　must　again　be　taught　of　bravery。〃
　He　nodded　to　Princess　Saffah　and　her　sisters　and　they　slowly　walked　forward　in　a　single　line　toward　the　pit。　Remo　stood　alongside　and　watched　them；　a　procession　of　three　proud　and　beautiful　women。　He　could　understand　why　once　this　land　had　great　kings　and　queens。　Saffah　and　her　sisters　were　royalty　in　any　land　in　any　day。　Traditional　royalty　was　a　gift　of　governments　or　an　accident　of　heritage；　but　real　royalty　came　from　the　soul。　The　sisters　had　soul。
　Saffah　stepped　into　the　ritual　bed　of　salt　Chiun　had　prepared；　then　folding　her　arms；　without　hesitation；　she　placed　her　right　foot　into　the　bed　of　hot　coals　and　began　to　walk　into　the　pit　of　fire。　The　Loni　gasped。　Remo　stood　stunned。　Obode　appeared　in　a　state　of　shock。
　But　oblivious　to　all　their　feelings　was　Saffah；　who　was　now　walking；　resolute　step　after　resolute　step；　down　the　center　line　of　the　pit。　Her　feet　kicked　up　little　clouds　of　sparks　and　heat　shimmered　around　her　bare　ankles。　When　she　was　halfway　across；　the　next　sister　stepped　through　the　salt　pit　and　out　into　the　coals。　And　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；〃　Chi