Warren Murphy: Return Engagement

"Yeah, I know how it is."

"No, you do not," Smith said flatly.

Before Remo could leave, the Master of Sinanju breezed into the room. He was not alone.

Smith looked up, shock melting the haggardness of his features into surprised joy.

"You're alive!"

"Oh, Harold." said Mrs. Smith, running into his arms. "It was awful. I met one of your nurses. She took me to the most horrible man. He said he knew you. They tied me up and I thought they were going to kidnap me or something like that. The last thing I recall was asking for some water and then I woke up in a dark room filled with garden tools. I thought I was going to starve to death until this kind gentleman found me."

"Where? How?" asked Remo in Korean.

The Master of Sinanju beamed. "Emperor Smith gave up too easily. On the way in, I spoke to a guard. Smith's security is too tight. All leaving vehicles are searched. No one could have spirited out a kidnapped woman beyond these walls. So I looked around Fortress Folcroft until I found a woman who looked like she would be married to Smith."

Remo nodded in understanding. "Where was she?"

"In the basement."

"Good going, Little Father," said Remo.

Harold Smith released his wife from the grip that threatened to crush her.

"Please wait outside, dear," he said quietly. "I must speak to these men in private. I'll be with you directly."

"Hurry, Harold," said Mrs. Smith. She smiled at the Master of Sinanju, her rescuer, in gratitude and slipped out of the room.

Smith cleared his throat noisily. "Master of Sinanju, I can't thank you enough. Ask anything."

Chiun bowed. "I ask only that I be allowed to continue in your generous employ for the duration of our contract. "

"Done," said Smith.

"Hey!" cried Remo. "I thought we were going to discuss this."

"We just have," said Chiun placidly.

"I didn't get a word in edgewise."

"Can I help it if you are slow on the uptake? Perhaps the leisurely pace of life in Sinanju has dulled your formerly quick reflexes."

"You old pirate," said Remo. "What am I going to do now?"

"You can return to Sinanju and await my possible return," said Chiun. "Or you can demonstrate your strength of character and delay your return until I am free to accompany you."

"I am prepared to let you rejoin the organization, Remo," Smith interjected. "I'm very grateful to you both."

Remo paced the floor. "Nothing doing! Christ, Chiun, you always have to do this to me!"

"I do not know what he is talking about, Emperor," Chiun confided to Smith. "He has not been himself since the engagement. I think it is the premarriage jitters. Perhaps Remo is not yet ready to settle down."

"I'm ready to settle down," Remo said. "You're just not ready to let me settle down. All right, all right, I'll make you both a deal."

Chiun cocked his aged head to one side. "Yes?" he asked.

"You're stuck working for Smith for the next year. Right?"

"Not stuck," said Chiun. "Privileged."

"I'll stick around. But just for one year. And I'm not working for Smith. I'm strictly along for the ride. Only to see that you don't get into trouble. Understand?"

"Yes," said Smith.

"Perfectly," said Chiun happily. He clapped his hands together in undisguised glee. "Oh, it will be just like old times."

"Now that that is straightened out," said Dr. Harold W. Smith, "will you both please leave? Security, you know. And I want to take my wife home."

Remo stared up at the ceiling.

"It's going to be a long year," he sighed.

"Let us hope," added Chiun.