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he Loni will run。〃 He grinned a broad faceful of mirth。 〃After all； are not the redeemers of the legend there among them？〃
Butler nodded。 〃So it is said。〃
〃Well； we shall see； Butler。〃
Butler saluted； turned and walked toward the door。 His hand was on the knob when he was halted by Obode's voice。
〃General； your report lacked one item。〃
Butler turned。 〃Oh？〃
〃Your women。 What happened to them？〃
〃Dead；〃 Butler said。 〃All of them。〃
〃Good；〃 Obode said。 〃Because if they lived they might speak。 And if they spoke； it might be necessary for me to make an object lesson of you。 We are not yet ready to defy the American government。〃
He meant it； Butler knew； which was why he had lied hi the first place。 Soon enough； Qbode would be dead and the kidnapings could be blamed on him。
〃Dead；〃 Butler repeated the lie。 〃All dead。〃
〃Don't take it so hard；〃 Obode said。 〃When we are done with these accursed Loni； I will buy you a new whorehouse。〃
Obode smiled； then thought again of the thirteen soldiers dead at the hands of the American and the Oriental。 〃Better yet； Butler。 Make that two panies of soldiers。〃
Princess Saffah came from the hut wiping her hands on a small cloth。
〃She sleeps now；〃 she told Remo。
〃Good。〃
〃She has been ill…treated。 Her body has been used badly。〃
〃I know。〃
〃Who？〃 Saffah asked。
〃General Obode。〃
Saffah spat on the ground。 〃The Hausa swine。 I am glad that you and Little Father are here because soon we will be free of this evil yoke。〃
〃How？〃 Remo asked。 〃We sit up here in the mountains。 He sits down there in his capital。 When are the twain going to meet？〃
〃Ask the Little Father。 He carries in him the seed of all knowledge。〃 She heard a slight moan behind her from inside the hut and without another word； turned and went inside to minister to her patient。
Remo walked off through the village。 Chiun was not in his hut； which was built against the protection of a large stone formation； but Remo found him in the square in the center of the encampment。
Chiun wore a blue robe which Remo recognized as ceremonial； and the old man watched as Loni tribesmen stacked wood and twigs into a pit。 The pit which had been dug that morning was twenty feet long and five feet wide。 Its one…foot depth had been filled to the brim with wood； but in between the branches and twigs； Remo could see that the pit was filled with smooth white stones； the size of goose eggs。
As he watched； one of the tribesmen set the wood in the pit afire and the flames quickly spread until the entire pit was ablaze。
Chiun watched for a few moments； then said： 〃Adequate。 But remember to keep the fire fed。 It must not be allowed to dwindle。〃
He turned to Remo and waited for him to speak。
〃Chiun； I've got to talk to you。〃
〃I am writing my remembrances？ I am watching my beautiful stories？ Speak。〃
〃The legend of the Loni；〃 Remo said。 〃Does it say I get the shot at the baddie？〃
〃It says the man from the West who once died will grind into dust the man who would enslave the Loni。 Is that an accurate English translation of what you have said？〃
〃All right；〃 Remo said。 〃I just wanted to make it clear between us that I get the shot at Obode。〃
〃Why is it so important to you now？〃 Chiun said。 〃After all； the House of Sinanju owes this debt。 Not you。〃
〃It's important to me because I want Obode。 You didn't see what he did to those girls。 He's mine； Chiun。 I kill him。〃
〃And what makes you think the legend has anything to do with your General Obode？〃 Chiun asked； and walked slowly away。 Remo knew it would be useless to follow and ask just what he meant by that last statement； Chiun would speak only when the urge to speak came upon him。
Remo looked back toward the 。pit of fire。 The dried wood had already passed the peak of its blaze and now the flames were lowering。 The Loni tribesmen were busy feeding more wood into the fire； and over the sound they made； Remo could hear the stones in the pit cracking and splitting from the intense heat。 An errant puff of wind blew across the pit toward Remo and the surge of heat sucked the breath from his lungs。
His inspection was interrupted by a shout from the hill that loomed over the small village。 Remo turned and looked up。
〃Tembo； tembo； tembo； tembo；〃 the guard kept shouting。 He was hollering and pointing out across the tree…speckled flatlands in the direction of the capital city of Busati。
Remo moved toward the edge of the plateau； hopped up onto a rock and looked in…the direction the guard was pointing。
A big dust trail moved； perhaps ten miles away； across the plain。 He forced his eyes to work harder。
Then he could pick out figures。 There were jeeps with soldiers in them； and keeping up with the slowly moving vehicles were three elephants； soldiers on their backs； moving along in the stiff…legged elephant gait。
Remo sensed someone at his side。 He looked down； saw Princess Saffah and extended a hand to help her up onto the stone。 The guard was still shouting； 〃Tembo； tembo。〃
〃What's he getting all worked up for？〃 Remo said。
〃Tembo means elephant。 In the Loni religion； they are considered animals of the devil。〃
〃No sweat；〃 Remo said。 〃A peanut or two； and keep the mice away。〃
〃The Loni long ago sought a meaning for good and evil in the world；〃 Saffah said。 〃Because it was so long ago and they had not yet science； they thought that animals embodied not only the good in the world but the bad。 And because there was so much bad； they decided that only tembo…the elephant…was large enough to hold all that evil。 He is a feared beast among the Loni。 I did not believe Obode was smart enough to think himself of bringing elephants。〃
〃This is Obode？〃 said Remo； suddenly interested。
〃It can be no one else。 The time draws near。 Little Father has begun the fire of purification。〃
〃Well； don't expect too much from the Little Father；〃 Remo said。 〃Obode belongs to me。〃
〃It shall be as Little Father wishes；〃 Saffah said。 She hopped down and walked away and behind her back； Remo mumbled to himself； 〃As Little Father wishes。 No； Little Father…Yes； Little Father…in your hat； Little Father。 Obode's mine。〃
And then； he thought； his job would be over。 Get the girl back to America； report to Smith what had happened； that the missing Lippincott was dead； and then forget this whole God…forsaken country。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Obode and his soldiers camped at the base of the hills in which the Loni camp sat； and throughout the day； tension built in the small mountainside village。
Remo sat with Chiun in his hut； trying to make conversation。
〃These people got about as much backbone as a worm；〃 he said。
Chiun hummed； his eyes fixed intently on the fire pit which shimmered heat and smoke at the other end of the village square。
〃The men are wetting their pants just because Obode's got a couple of elephants。 They're all ready to run away。〃
Chiun stared and hummed softly to himself but said nothing。
〃I don't know how the House of Sinanju ever got into such a crap deal； taking care of these Loni。 They're not worth it。〃
Chiun did not speak； and exasperatedly Remo said； 〃And another thing； I don't like this bu