Warren Murphy - Look Into My Eyes

Then came the explosion and the rush of American troops. Remo commandeered a jeep and driver. It was amazing how he could touch one nerve and make a person do what he wanted. Including Anna, Anna thought with another broad grin.

"Remo, I want to really get you with your clothes off." she said.

"I got work," said Remo.

"What you need, Remo, is a good mind-bending screw." she said.

And from the side of the road came a wail like a siren. But no siren ever made that noise. An angry-faced Oriental in a black robe was staring at Remo and Anna, pointing at their jeep. Remo made the driver stop.

"Slut. Don't you dare talk like that to Remo. Remo. what are you doing with that white girl? Come, we must pay our respects to the Great Wang."

"I think that's Chiun," said Remo. "Do you see an Oriental?"

"With a wisp of a beard?"

"Yes," said Remo.

"Yes, I see him," said Anna.

"That's Chiun. Don't talk dirty in front of him. He doesn't like it."

"Killing is noble, sex is wrong?"

"You got it," said Remo.

"Who is she? How can I bring you to the Great Wang when you have a disgrace of a white girl with you?" Chiun asked.

"I'm white," said Remo.

"Great Wang doesn't have to know that. He could think a grandparent was Korean."

"He knows. He knows I'm white. He liked the idea."

"Liar," said Chiun.

"Who's the Great Wang?" asked Anna.

"Who is this slut with the mouth of a sailor?" asked Chiun.

"Great Wang is the one who answered the question without waiting for the question," said Remo.

"Is he from Sinanju?" asked Anna.

"The most," said Remo.

"Answer her before me. Has that wanton so crazed your mind with lust that you do not answer me before her?"

"Her name is Anna Chutesov. She is here to help."

"Have you had relations?" asked Chiun.

"I don't think so," said Anna. "Tell me about this Great Wang you so admire. Is he the one who gives you orders now?"

"The Great Wang does not have to give orders. A Master of Sinanju follows his wishes before the orders are given. "

Anna saw the strange floating movement of Chiun and it reminded her of something. That was how Remo moved through the jungles.

"Does the Great Wang move like you and Remo?" asked Anna, and suddenly Chiun was no longer speaking English but conversing in Korean.

Remo answered in the same language. "What is he saying?" asked Anna.

"He's saying why did you ask that question in particular?"

"So he knows something is wrong. He is aware of that."

"Little father," said Remo. "How much is wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," said Chiun. "Everything is better than it has ever been. Even Emperor Smith thinks so." That name, too, sounded familiar to Anna Chutesov. But she was about to see something coming down the road that would tell her the problem was no longer in Sornica, but in Russia itself. And she had to get Remo out of here, otherwise there might not be much of a world to save, even for a Master of Sinanju.

Chapter 14

Anna saw it coming down the road.

"Oh, no," said Anna. "Those idiots."

Large trucks trundled slowly along the dirt and pitted Sornica's Route 1. On their beds were fat tubes like giant sewer pipes. In the front were cones. In back were afterburners. On the side were big red stars with Russian lettering, and even American television couldn't miss it.

They were medium-range Russian nuclear missiles, far more accurate this close to America. Far more deadly. And there was absolutely no military reason for it.

The advantage was negligible because with the number of nuclear warheads in stock, no one needed accuracy. Did they think someone would fire three nuclear missiles, wipe out three cities, and then sit down to talk?

But worse, far worse, the Americans would make a great display of this. The Russian generals would be humiliated by such a great loss; after all, this was not just a client state that had fallen, but Russian soldiers. Then, just like after the Cuban missile crisis, they would launch a new round of face-saving experiments. The last one had bankrupted the weak Russian economy, and the next might well mean war. There was no more money for a new generation of weapons. That was why Russia was pushing so hard lately for a freeze. Which was also why America was pushing for new weapons.

Of course there was no advantage. But men thought so.

In this case there was less advantage than in urinating up a wall to see who could go higher. That was a useless boys' contest. This one was suicide.

"She's a Russian agent of sorts," said Remo. "Looks like we got your missiles."

"You have. They have. We have," said Anna, throwing up her hands. "Men. What are you going to do with them? They have no more purpose in your hands than they did in ours. Where is Rabinowitz?"

"Your heart wishes him no good. You may not come near," said Chiun.

And to Remo, in Korean he said:

"Rabinowitz is a friend of the Great Wang. If this slut gets close to Rabinowitz, kill her."

"Sure, sure, little father. Will do."

"You didn't say it like you meant it."

"Tell me more about Wang. Could you point him out to me?"

"Haven't you seen him yourself?"

"I did. He gave me the answer."

"So you know now," said Chiun, his eyes sparkling, his face crinkling into a smile.

"Yeah. I know the answer is yes."

"That was my answer, too," said Chiun. "The first time I saw him before Fort Pickens, and when I saw him again."

"What was your question?"

"It is very personal. I don't wish to say," said Chiun. "What was yours?"

"Nothing much," said Remo.

Anna, hearing the two babble in Korean, asked what they were talking about.

"Nothing," they both said in unison.

"We should find this wonderful Mr. Rabinowitz," said Anna. "But look, Mr. Chiun. You obviously feel I am a sort of danger to him."

"How can you be a danger? Both I and the Great Wang protect him."

"Then let's find him. And I will make you this promise. We won't come within five hundred yards of him. We just want to ask a few questions. And perhaps you can take those questions to him, and bring back the answers."

"I'm not a messenger," said Chiun. "Remo can ask the questions of him."

"No," said Anna. "Definitely not. Tell Mr. Rabinowitz we have a message for him from his mother in Dulsk. Tell him I bring peace from the Soviet Union. Tell him he has won, and that we respect his strength and his power, and now we wish to sign a treaty with him personally. To assure him of his safety. Russia will assure him of his safety."

"I assure him of his safety. Who are you to assure him of his safety? You can't keep your hands off innocent young men."

Remo looked around. He hadn't seen Anna touch anyone else. She had her hand on his arm. Chiun stared at it with hostility. Remo knew that, for Chiun, this was too much affection for a woman to show in public.

A simple bow from ten feet away was considered proper by Chiun. Touching was obscene. America had once been described in his histories as a land so degenerate that people kissed strangers to say hello. Italy was beyond the pale. Saudi Arabia was all right, except they were a little lax in enforcement.

They only cut off hands. Why cut off hands, reasoned Chiun, when it was the mind, not the hand, that committed the crime? Chiun had hands and never once had they committed a crime on their own. Nor, did he think, did anyone else's.

And so Chiun not only saw this blond woman with the beautiful, high cheekbones and devastating smile touching Remo, but Remo allowing it. Standing there, allowing, as though nothing was wrong. Degenerate whiteness coming through again, and just before he was to meet the Great Wang again.

"You are not going to walk like that toward the Great Wang," said Chiun.