〃Really well？〃
〃Yeah。〃
〃One。 My own。 The rest I use。〃
Remo noticed an imported copy of the New York Times selling for 2。50。 Under the fold of the front page； there was a story about the television networks adjusting their Watergate coverage to allow the showing of soap operas。
〃As the Planet Revolves is back on the air in the states；〃 said Remo； mildly。
〃What？〃 demanded Chiun。
〃Your shows。 They're back on。〃
Chiun's mouth began to work as he fried to speak； but nothing came out。 Finally he said； 〃I left America under the condition that I was leaving a void。 America has lied to me。 How could they have returned the programs just like that after taking them off just like that？〃
〃〃I don't know； Little Father。 But I think now we can get about our business so we can get back to the States faster； right？ You can pay your respects to the Loni some other time。 If they've waited a couple of thousand years； they can certainly wait another one or two。〃
For the first time； Remo saw Chiun in conflict。
Just then； the Army captain they had spoken to walked up to them； and said； in British…tinged English： 〃My men and I have been delighted； sir； by your telling of that silly Loni fairy tale。 To show our pleasure； we will be glad to retrieve your luggage for only one hundred dollars American。〃
Remo put his hand up over his mouth to stifle a laugh。
Chiun resolved his internal conflicts。 The frail Oriental went whirring into the newspapers； shredding them。 The stand went into a wall rack and the wall rack went into the vendor who went into the lighting fixtures along with the rack； stand and little shredded bits of white papers that slowly settled like a soft snowfall in the Busati Air Terminal。
〃Just so it should not pass； this perfidy； in calmness；〃 said Chiun。 The captain who had tried to shake them down had begun to back away； when a word from Chiun stopped him。
This time； Chiun did not translate for Remo as he spoke with the captain。 Finally； Chiun beckoned for Remo to follow him。 As they walked behind the captain； Chiun said softly to Remo； 〃They are not Loni； these people。〃
〃Good。 Then let's go to the city and finish what we came to do。〃
〃First I must finish what I came to do；〃 Chiun said。
Several hours later； as they trudged across the Busati plain； Remo was still picking little bits of newsprint out of his jacket pockets and bitching at Chiun for deceiving him into thinking they were going back to the capital city。
〃I told you；〃 Chiun said。 〃An older contract takes precedence。〃
〃That doesn't answer my problem； Little Father。〃
〃To a fool； nothing is an answer。〃
〃You and I are paid by the same employer。 We have a job to do and we are not serving him。〃
〃You may leave if you wish；〃 Chiun said。
〃How？〃 said Remo looking around the plain。 〃I don't even know where I am。〃
〃When did you ever？〃 said Chiun and marched on happily toward the mountains in the distance。 For a full day they walked and Remo plained about the assignment being missed； the Loni who would undoubtedly rob them when the two got to their village and the awesome dryness of the plain which Chiun kept referring to as the lush gardens before the mountains； for they had once； he explained； been the most beautiful gardens in the world。
〃The Loni must have paid your ancestors pretty good；〃 said Remo。
〃They recognized true worth。〃
〃They're gonna jump us as soon as we get to enough of them。〃
〃The Loni are fair and just and decent。〃
〃They must have really paid；〃…said Remo。 He felt； clammy and dusty and grimy； not having changed clothes in two days。 Chiun； naturally； had seven trunks full of changes。
As they climbed into the mountains； night descended in its awesome majesty upon the old continent。 Remo noticed immediately that these were not simple paths； but stairways cut of rock worn by centuries of feet。
They continued marching into the night； pushing onward and upward。 Remo was amazed at the ability of the soldiers to keep going under the burden of Chain's baggage。
Around one bend a fire shone from a high wall。
Chiun cupped his hands to his face and yelled the Loni dialect of Swahili。
〃I told them I was here；〃 he said to Remo。'
〃Now we get it；〃 said Remo； prepared to slash his way back down the mountain。
From arches in the wall came men bearing torches and spears； just a few men at first who hung back and waited until their numbers grew； and then moved forward； their torches illuminating the night with fire as though they were high beam lamps。
There were too many with too many spears to escape unscathed。 Remo decided to take a route through the center； prepare his body to take some wounds； and then to keep going。 Retreat was impossible。 Behind him he heard Chiun's trunks striking the ground； and the scuffling feet of the Hausa soldiers as they turned and fled down the mountainside。
Oddly enough the Loni tribesmen did not pursue them。 Instead； when they got within striking distance； they fell to their knees and a cry of praise rose from their throats in powerful unison。
〃Sinanju。 Sinanju。 Sinanju。〃
Then； up over their heads on the mountaintop； Remo could see in the flame light； a tall black woman wearing a short white gown。 She carried in her hands a shiny metal brazier from which a fire burned。 Remo and Chiun moved closer； and the crowd which chanted 〃Sinanju〃 stopped； upon one word from her。
She spoke。 Chiun translated for Remo。
〃Wele； Master of Sinanju。 Our ambitions have been awaiting the return of your awesome magnificence。 Oh； Awesome Magnificence； the Gods of the Loni greet you in fire。 Our hopes await the glory of thy majestic presence。 Oh； Awesome Magnificence； the throne of the Loni once again will' be secure because you have deigned to e among us。〃
〃They really saying those things about you； Chiun？〃 said Remo from the side of his mouth。
〃That is how civilized people greet the Master of Sinanju；〃 said Chiun； the latest Master of Sinanju。
〃Shit；〃 said Remo Williams； ex…Newark cop；
CHAPTER EIGHT
General William Forsythe Butler rented a car at the Washington； D。C。 airport when his plane landed there； and drove out in the quiet night toward Norfolk； Virginia。
The air was sweet with the hot smells of spring and he rode with the air conditioning turned oil and the windows open； listening to the land； feeling its beauty around him。
How long ago had those first slaves set foot on this land？ Had they perhaps traveled this same road？ Of course； it would not have been much more than a cart path then。 Perhaps the rich dirt got between their toes and warmed and weled them and they thought the way Butler once had： that the land was rich and good。 After a trip of unrelieved brutality； perhaps they felt that they had chanced into something good…a growing； fertile land where they could build a full and rewarding life。 The Loni princes would have thought that way。 And instead of happiness and fulfillment； they found only the chain and the whip and the sun…hammered days of backbreaking labor in the fields； labor unrelieved by the release of humor； by the circle of family； by the slow； lazy forgetfulness of happiness。
The Loni had once been prideful people。 How many of them had tried to change their lot； first by reasoning with the white…eye brutes； then by fleeing； then by rebellion？
Butler thought of them and then of what the Loni； subjugated and beaten； had bee even in their nature land。
He trod heavier on the gas pedal。 In Norfolk； he drove to the city's bustling waterfront and parked his car in a now unsupervised parking lot near a small amusement arcade。 Before he even left the car； the watery feel and smell of salt and brack coated everything。 He could feel it working its way into the soft silk fibers of his light blue suit； as he stepped along the riverfront street。
He stopped near the piers and looked up and down the street； blinking and bright with neon lights for a half…mile in each direction。 His man would be in one of three places。
The first bar was air…conditioned cold； and he felt the sweat on his body dry almost immediately as he stepped inside the door。 It was a sailor's bar。 A white sailor's bar。 The tavern was filled with seamen； their clothes； their tattoos； the leathery but still untanned look of their faces and hands giving away their occupation。 Heads turned toward him as he stood in the doorway； realizing he had made a mistake and this was not the bar he was looking for； but determined to brazen it out as a free man； first looking along the bar； then toward the tables； scanning faces。
〃Hey； you；〃 the bartender called。 〃This is a private bar。〃
〃Yassuh；〃 Butler said。 〃Jes' looking for somebody； boss。〃
〃Well； you won't find him in here。〃
〃Not a him； boss。 A her。 You see her； maybe？ Big blonde woman with big titties。 Wearing a little； short； red dress； way up high around the nice； fine； warm ass；〃 He grinned； showing teeth。
The bartender sputtered。
Butler said； 〃Never mind； boss。 She ain't here。 But if she e in； you tell her to get her white ass home； 'cause her man gonna whomp her good iften she don't。 You tell her； she don't get right home； and she ain't getting no more of this good stuff right here；〃 Bu