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n a force that no man can stop will e to shed blood in the river and in the mountains。〃
Butler nodded。
〃You nod； but I do not think you understand； Colonel。 The legend says that the Loni children will eh ome。 It says a man from the East will purify the LonI and make them again worthy to rule。 And it says a man from the West； a man who walks in the shoes of death； will rid the Loni of a man who would enslave them。〃
〃And you're the man who would enslave the Loni？〃 Butler asked。
Obode shrugged his shoulders。 〃Who else could the legend mean but the Hausa man who is the leader of the country？ You wonder why I have listened to you and put Loni men into my government？ I have done it because I want to be free of the title of 'man who would enslave them。' But still I fear。 I do not think that one can outsmart a legend。〃
〃I see。〃 Butler watched the lizard's tail poke out of the bush。 When General Obode went into one of his prophecy raves； the best thing to do was to nod。
〃Perhaps you are beginning to see；〃 Obode said。
〃The legend says a man from the East and a man from the West。 Yellow and white。 To serve the Loni。 And if that happens； the Hausa are through and I am dead。 That is why I got rid of our Asians。 That is why I got rid of our whites。 I do not want yellow men and white men joining； lest they bee this force to free the Loni。 You see？〃
Butler； who had his own very good ideas on what the legend meant and how it was soon to be fulfilled； simply nodded at Obode's explanation。 Where was the predator？ Why was that lizard's tail still sticking out of that bush？
〃Butler；〃 said Obode。 〃I think there are times when there are some things you not only fail to understand； but you refuse to try understanding。〃
〃I'm only a colonel；〃 Butler said。
〃All right。 Now you're a general。 You must understand everything now。 Understand this； General。 I take no chances with the Loni legend。 I do not want Westerners in Busati。 I do not want this Remo Mueller。 I do not want any more of your white women from America。〃
〃As one general to another； Big Daddy； let me say I've got to have one more。〃
〃Get one from China。〃
〃No。 It's got to be America。 It's got to be a certain one。〃
〃No more；〃 said Obode。
〃This one is the most important one。 I've got to get her。 If you say no； I'll resign。〃
〃Over a white woman？〃
〃A special one。〃
Obode thought deeply for a few seconds。 He cupped his chin in his ham…wide； cave…black hands。 〃All right。 But this is the last。〃
〃After her； General； I will want no more。 She makes it all perfect。〃
〃And you say I am hard to understand；〃 said Obode。 〃One last thing； General Butler。 Do not think the legends are all lies or that General Obode is a fool。〃
He put a heavy hand on Butler's shoulder。 〃e； I will show you something you do not think I know。 You have been watching that tail under the bush； you think there is no predator around because you do not see one。 You think the lizard ran into the sun for no reason； right？〃
〃Well； yes； I guess that's what I was thinking；〃 said Butler； surprised that Obode had seen his interest in the bush。
〃Good。 Good to show you a point。 Even if you cannot see something； it does not mean that it does not exist。 There is a predator around。〃
〃I saw no rats or birds。 I still see the tail。〃
Obode smiled。 〃Yes； you see the tail。 But e quickly or you will not see it。〃
When they reached the bush； Obode drew aside the green foliage。 〃Look；〃 he said； smiling。
Butler looked。 He had seen a tail all right； but that was all that was left of the lizard； sticking from the full mouth of a very fat frog。
〃Sometimes when you run from danger； you run to it；〃 said Obode； but he forgot the lesson very quickly that afternoon when he again not only refused to see the writer； Remo Mueller； but ordered him evicted from Busati。 Immediately。
CHAPTER SIX
The Busati Hotel had air conditioning that did not work； faucets that gave no water； and elegant carpeting with inlaid old food。 The rooms were like furnaces； the hallways smelled like sewers and the only remnant of its former grandeur was a clean brochure with Victoria Hotel scratched out and Busati Hotel penciled in。
〃Spacious； air conditioned and elegant； the Busati Hotel offers the finest conveniences and the most gracious service in all East Africa；〃 read Remo。
Chiun sat on the floor； his white robe flowing and motionless behind him。 Remo sat on the edge of the bed with the high brass posters。
〃I've heard of untruth in advertising；〃 said Remo； 〃but this is a bit much。〃
Chiun did not answer。
〃I said this is a bit much。〃
Chiun remained a silent statue。
〃Little Father； there is no television set before you。 You're not watching your shows。 So why don't you answer me？〃
〃But I am watching my shows；〃 said Chiun。 〃I am remembering them。〃
Remo was surprised that he shared a bit of Chiun's anguish at the master's loss of the daytime soap operas。 They had been a constant nettle to Remo through the years； but now that they were gone； he felt sorry for the Master of Sinanju。
〃That Watergate thing will not last； Chiun。 All your shows will return。〃
〃I know that；〃 said Chiun。
〃So you don't really have to sit staring at a wall。〃
〃I am not staring at a wall。 I am remembering。 He who can remember the good things as though they were present can live his happiness forever。〃
〃Well； let me know when you stop remembering； so we can talk。〃
Remo looked at his wristwatch。 At home； Chiun's soap operas went off at 3：30。 He would time Chiun and see how close he came to judging the time。
At 3：27 by Remo's watch； Chiun toward turned him。
〃You missed； Chiun。〃
〃Missed？ What stupidity are you pursuing now？〃
〃The shows go off at 3：30。 And it's only 3：27 and you were done；〃 Remo said triumphantly。 〃Three minutes off。 A child could have a better sense of time than that。 Three minutes is a long time。〃
〃Three minutes is not very long in the life of one who has dedicated every minute to foolishness；〃 Chiun said。
〃Meaning？〃
〃Meaning； you forgot the moments of selling。 I do not watch them。 I do not use soap powder。〃
Chagrined because he had indeed forgotten the three minutes of mercials at the end of the day's stories； Remo said； 〃Yeah； well； anyway； I was talking about the brochure。〃
〃It may not be a lie；〃 Chiun said。
〃Look around you； it's not a lie？〃
〃I look around and I see that perhaps at one time it was the truth。 I see elegance in decay。 So if these things were said about this palace when they were true； then the advertisement is true。〃
〃Are you telling me； Little Father； that to say this is a stinkhole is a lie？〃
〃I am telling you that truth is a matter of time。 Even in this very land there are people who were once great and who now hide in the hills like frightened calves。〃
〃Well； I don't need that drivel now； Chiun。 I need advice。 I'm supposed to see the top man in this country to find out about that white house； without letting him know that I know。 But he won't see ma〃
Chiun nodded。 〃Then my advice to you is to forget all your training and run head first like a crazed dog into what you； hi your lack of perception； think is the center