thedestroyer.slavesafari-第26部分

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t。　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　take　the　soap　operas　off　again。〃
　Chiun　considered　this　for　a　moment。　〃There　is　no　need　for　you　to　punish　an　old　man。〃
　〃Then　talk。　Why　was　Obode　to　be　protected？〃
　〃Because　when　my　ancestor　many　years　ago　left　the　Loni　and　they　were　overthrown。。。〃　Chiun　paused。
　〃Get　on　with　it。〃
　〃He　left　to　go　work　for　the　Hausa；〃　Chiun　said。　〃For　more　money；〃　he　explained　brightly。
　〃Well；　I'll　be。　Talk　about　double…dealers；〃　Remo　said。　〃Has　any　Master　ever　played　anything　straight？〃
　〃You　know　not　the　meaning　of　such　words；〃　Chiun　answered。
　〃Yeah？　Well；　try　this。　Nina…upenda；〃　he　said；　repeating　the　Lord　word4hat　Saffah　had　spoken　to　him。
　〃Thank　you；〃　Chiun　said　and　Remo　had　to　find　out　later　from　one　of　their　guards　that　the　word　meant　〃I　love　you。〃
　It　made　him　feel　good　all　over。



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