thedestroyer.slavesafari-第28章

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　〃Silence　your　mouth；　braying　beast；〃　Saffah　said　finally。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Obode　shouted；　after　a　moment's　pause　in　which；　Remo　saw；　he　was　stunned　by　Saffah's　beauty。
　〃I　am　Saffah；　first　princess　of　the　Loni　Empire；　and　I　order　your　silence。〃
　〃You　order？　You　order？　I　am　General　Dada　Obode；　President　of　Busati；　mander　of　all　this　land；　and　I　am　the　one　who　orders。〃
　〃Perhaps　in　your　brothels　and　in　your　pig　sty　of　a　capital；　but　here　you　can　be　silent。　We　are　glad　you　came；　General。〃
　〃When　I　am　done；〃　Obode　said；　〃Perhaps　you　will　not　be　so　glad。〃
　Saffah　clapped　her　hands；　three　times；　sharply。　Slowly；　obviously　reluctantly；　the　Loni　began　to　e　from　their　huts；　first　women　and　children；　and　then　men。
　〃We　are　glad　you　came　nevertheless；〃　she　said　smiling；　as　Loni　men　drew　near　Obode　and　Butler。　〃And　you；　Butler；〃　she　added；　〃you　have　done　well　to　get　the　gross　beast　into　our　camp。〃
　Butler　gave　a　slight　bow　and　Obode's　head　snapped　toward　him　as　if　on　a　rubber　band。　Suddenly；　so　many　things　made　sense。　Butler　was　his　traitor。　Obode　roared　and　lunged　with　both　hands　for　Butler's　throat。　Butler　was　surprised　by　the　attack　and　fell　back　before　Obode's　weight　until　Obode；　at　a　signal　from　Saffah；　was　pulled　away　and　restrained　by　six　Loni　tribesmen。
　Chiun　and　Remo　walked　slowly　down　the　length　of　the　plaza　toward　Obode　who　still　glared　at　Butler。　〃Coward；　traitor；　Loni　dog；〃　Obode　spat。　〃Wele　to　my　people；　fat　pig；〃　Butler　said。　〃You　have　not　even　the　courage　of　the　assassin；〃　Obode　said。　〃For　you　feared　to　take　my　life　by　yourself　as　you　could　have　many　times　because　I　trusted　you。　Instead；　you　waited　until　you　could　deliver　me　into　the　hands　of　this　flock　of　sheep。〃
　〃Discretion；　General；　discretion。〃
　〃Cowardice；〃　Obode　roared。　〃The　armies　I　have　known　would　have　shot　you　like　the　dog　you　are。〃
　Into　the　chaos；　above　the　voices；　rose　the　mand　of　Chiun：　〃Silence。　The　Master　of　Sinanju　says　stop　your　tongues　of　women。〃
　Obode　turned　toward　Chiun　who　now　stood　directly　in　front　of　him　and　looked　him　over；　as　if　he　had　just　noticed　him　for　the　first　time。　The　Basuti　President　towered　over　the　aged　Korean　by　a　foot　and　a　half。　His　weight　was　three　times　Chiun's。
　〃And　you　are　the　Master　of　the　Loni　legend？〃
　Chiun　nodded。
　Obode　laughed；　tipping　his　head　back　to　offer　his　laughter　to　the　sky。　〃Mosquito；　stay　out　of　Dada's　way　before　I　swat　you。〃
　Chiun　folded　his　arms　and　stared　at　Obode。　Behind　Chiun；　the　square　was　now　packed　with　people　and　they　were　hushed　as　if　listening　through　thin　walls　to　a　family　arguing　next　door。
　Remo　stood　next　to　Chiun；　peering　coldly　at　Obode。　Finally；　the　President's　eyes　met　his。
　Contemptuously；　he　asked：　〃And　you？　Another　of　the　fortune…telling　fairies？〃
　〃No；〃　Remo　said。　〃I'm　the　chief　elephant　trainer　and　jeep　repairman　around　here。　Have　a　nice　walk？〃
　Obode　began　to　speak；　then　stopped；　as　if　realizing　for　the　first　time　；that　he　was　the　prisoner　of　an　overwhelmingly　large　number　of　enemies。　Not　as　lowest　recruit；　not　as　British　sergeant　major；　not　as　mander　in　chief　of　the　Busati；　but　now；　for　the　first　time　in　his　long　career；　he　realized　that　death　might　be　a　real　possibility。
　〃Kill　him；〃　Butler　said。　〃Let　us　kill　him　and　end　this　ancient　curse　on　the　Loni。〃
　〃Old　ant；〃　Obode　said　to　Chiun；　〃since　this　is　your　party；　I　ask　that　when　you　kill　me　you　do　it　like　a　man。〃
　〃Do　you　deserve　the　death　of　a　man？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Obode　said。　〃Because　I　have　always　given　a　man　a　man's　death　and　I　have　tried　to　be　fair。　In　my　day；　I　wrestled　regiments　and　no　man　feared　to　try　to　beat　me　because　of　my　rank　or　station。〃
　〃Wrestling　is　very　good　for　the　teaching　of　humility；〃　Chiun　said。　〃It　is　the　weakness　of　you　Hausa　that　the　most　developed　muscle　in　your　body　is　your　tongue。　e。　I　will　teach　you　humility。〃
　He　walked　back　into　the　center　of　the　open　plaza；　then　turned　to　face　Obode　again。　Remo　came　up　alongside　Chiun。　〃Chiun；　he's　mine。　We　agreed。〃
　〃Silence；〃　Chiun　ordered。　〃Do　you　think　I　would　deprive　you　of　your　pleasure？　It　is　written　hi　the　legend　what　you　must　do。　You　will　do　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　pos