Warren Murphy: Midnight Man

"What's going on?" he asked.

Remo took out the identification card that Smith had given him for this purpose and showed it to the man. The man inspected it carefully, looking at both sides of the card which bore the names of Remo Schwartzenegger and Chiun.

Princess Sarra smiled. The American agent tried to keep at the Prin-

The leader of the guards reappeared from inside the house, along with a harried looking man in a tweed suit with a wide rayon tie. He was short and

cess's side, but her disdain for him and his company was obvious. Inside, she led them to a sitting room while the agent went off to check out Remo and

"You can't go," she told the Royal Guard who had started to crowd into the room after them.

They hesitated. Their leader began to speak.

"Out," Princess Sarra ordered in a tone that allowed no discussion, and the men dutifully filed out.

"Be seated," the Princess told Remo and Chiun in a voice that was an invitation, even though the words themselves were a command.

Remo took a cushion from the couch and dropped it on the floor for Chiun. While Chiun settled him-

"Well?" the Princess asked sdf CIOSsA^ on the cushion> Remo relaxed back It seems to be m order, the man admitted. . ., b, „ fu m,- „> ,,»o ™ \

"Seems to be? Don't you know?" °nt° ^ f^' He MChm™ ^ OT ,

"Well I it looks okay I don't " ' helooked at Prmcess Sarra- He knew he was m for

"We will'take these men inside while'you check another lecture' Number 912 in Chiun's Catalog:

further wkh your government," she said. She turned to Chiun. "Will you step inside?"

"Thank you," Chiun said. "I am old and frail and my people are so poor because of unpaid debts that . . ."

"Don't start, Chiun," cautioned Remo. "We'd be delighted to come inside," he told the Princess.

Again, the half-smile formed on her full lips and she turned and walked toward the house. Remo watched her buttocks undulate as he followed her.

"How women dilute the ability of a Master of Sin-arrju to perform at any level of consistency." To which Remo usually delivered Pupil's Comeback Number Two: "Who cares?"

"Are you here to help my brother?" Sarra asked

him.

"We are what we said," explained Remo. "We came to examine the security of this island and to see if your brother is well protected."

"Obviously, the security is severely flawed, for

She was a tall woman in her high heel boots, stand- I here you are."

ing almost as tall as Remo himself. i «Not necessarily," Remo said.

He did not mind at all. He liked tall women. ft "Either that," she said, "or you two are extraordi-

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f

nary kinds of men. Are you, Remo Schwartzeneg- j but inclined his head, acknowledging the apology. Ser?" "It is apparent from your presence that our secu-

Chiun answered for him. "He isn't," Chiun said. "I am. Actually, he is kind of ordinary."

Another man entered the room. He was tall and his hair was pitch-black except for a sprinkle of gray at the temples. His eyes sparkled with intensity, and his mouth looked like a thin slit cut in paper. His skin was milk-white. He wore a small beard.

"Excuse me, Princess," he said.

"Oh, Pakir. Come in." She took the man's arm and guided him to the center of the room.

"We are not quite sure yet, Pakir, whether these gentlemen are our guests or our prisoners. Although I have some doubt about our being able to keep them prisoner if we wanted to."

"So I've heard. Fortunately we won't have to. We have checked with Washington and their authorization to be here comes directly from the White

rity measures—and your country's—are rather po-

rous.

"We were just discussing that," Sarra said.

"I must tell you that I do not appreciate the way you have been treating my men," Pakir told the Princess.

"In the first place," Sarra told him coldly, "the Royal Guards are my brother's men, not yours. Second, I speak to whom I want, how I want. If you have criticisms, voice them to my brother, later. I will not quarrel with you in front of our guests."

"As you wish, Princess," Pakir replied politely. He nodded at Remo. "The Emir would like to see both of you."

Remo and Chiun stood. Sarra told Remo, "I will join you after I've changed. My brother does not appreciate the dress of Western women." She ran her

House-" I hands along the outsides of her thighs. "I, on the

"Well, then," she said and the half-formed smile [ otnerhand, find it very comfortable."

that had been on her face for the past fifteen minutes blossomed wide for Remo. "In that case, let me introduce our guests. Gentlemen, this is my brother's . . . how do you say it ... right-hand man, Perce Pakir."

"Remo Schwartzenegger," said Remo. He indicated his silent companion. "This is Chiun."

"A Chinese."

"Korean," Remo said quickly—quick enough to

save Pakir's life. "Please, don't make that mistake again. He's very sensitive."

"I apologize for my effrontery," Pakir said to Chiun, bowing slightly at the waist. Chiun glared,

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"See you later, Princess," Remo told her.

She tossed her hair behind her shoulders and smiled broadly at him. "Yes. Later," she said.

Remo and Pakir watched her walk from the room. Chiun watched Remo watching and shook his head sadly. Remo smiled at the old man and shrugged. Chiun's expression remained impassive. But he slowly rose and followed Remo and Pakir from the room.

CHAPTER SIX

Even ill, even propped up in bed on pillows, the Emir was royalty. He exuded nobility. Remo noticed it even as he walked into the room.

Chiun was the only other man he had ever noticed to have that quality.

"Your Highness," Pakir said. "This is Mister Remo Schwartzenegger of the United States Government."

Again, the man had ignored Chiun.

"Your Highness, this is Chiun," Remo said. "He is my companion and very much more."

"Yes," the Emir said. "I can see that. Thank you, Pakir. You may go."

"Your Highness, I wish to point out ..."

The emaciated figure in the bed waved a bony, weak hand at his aide-de-camp. "I am sure, Perce, that I shall be quite safe with these two gentlemen. Please leave us."

"As you wish," Pakir said. "I shall be alert, should you need me." He bowed his way from the room.

Chiun was staring intently at the man in the bed, and Remo hoped that the old Korean had not decided to hold the deposed monarch accountable for that ancient debt.

"Please," the Emir beckoned. "Come closer, both

Remo and Chiun moved forward to opposite sides of the bed, Chiun still staring intently at the Emir who seemed not to notice the scrutiny he was under.

"It disturbs me that you were able to breach our defenses so easily," the Emir said.

He was gray-haired and incredibly thin. The skin on his face was loose, as if his skin had been a balloon which had suddenly deflated. Remo could see that he was a very tall man, and at one time he must have been imposing, but now he was just bones and loose flesh.

"It should not disturb Your Highness," Remo told him. "No one else could have gotten through that security so easily. With a few suggestions from us, your security should be tight enough to protect you from everything short of an all-out army attack."

The man in the bed laughed dryly, not by choice but as a by-product of his illness. "I don't think anyone wants me quite that badly, yet."

"I hope not," Remo said and meant it.

"Oh, no doubt there are many who would like to see me dead, but most of them would only attempt my death if it were easy. As you know, the prospect of any effort at all being needed for a particular task will always make that task that much harder and undesirable."

"I guess that's true enough," Remo said.