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Butler moved toward him with the spear； holding it like a javelin； his hand on its middle； its weight poised over his right shoulder； ready to throw。
〃Now you tell me something； white man。 The legend says a dead man es with the Master。 How are you a dead man？〃
〃Sorry； Willie； it's true。 I died ten years ago。 Now you can worry about the legend。〃
〃Well； dying didn't seem to take。 So I think you ought to try it again。〃
Butler was only six feet from Remo now and he reared back with the spear and let it fly。 Its point flew straight at Remo's chest and Remo collapsed backwards out of its way and as the spear passed over his head； Remo's hand flashed out and cracked the center of the shaft。 The spear snapped in two； both halves clattering across the ground toward Chiun； who stood quietly watching。
Remo slowly regained his feet 〃Sorry； Willie； you just lost the ball on downs。〃
And then Remo moved toward him with a leap。
〃This one's for the Gipper；〃 Remo said。
Butler rammed a forearm toward the bridge of Remo's nose but the arm struck only air and then Willie Butler felt a biting pain in his chest that turned to fire and the fire was flashing red and pure and it burned worse than all the fires he'd ever seen and in that last flash of flame； he thought back； and his mind said； it's me； Sis； it's Billie； I really can run fast because I know it； and someday I'm gonna be a big man and his sister was saying no tomming swamp nigger ever gonna amount to anything； but Sis； you were wrong； I was wrong； hate and violence isn't the way； it just doesn't work； but his sister didn't answer and suddenly Willie Butler didn't care anymore because he was dead。
Remo stood up and rolled Butler over with his foot so his face was buried in the dust
〃That's the biz； sweetheart；〃 he said。
The Loni were still silently watching。 Chiun moved toward Remo； put his hand on Remo's arm and said loudly： 〃Two parts of the legend are now pleted。〃
He looked slowly around the circle of Loni； confused and staring； then at Obode who had regained his dignity and stood erect； his arms yanked high up over his head； determined to die like a British soldier。
〃The evil in the world is not always Hausa evil；〃 Chiun said。 〃The Loni curse has not been the Hausa； but the Loni people who have no heart。 We must give you back your heart。〃
Chiun released Remo's arm and turned toward the fire pit。 Almost as if by signal； the last of the water evaporated； and the pit went aflame with a searing whoosh that seemed to swallow the oxygen in the arena and that moved Obode back； cringing slightly。
From a bowl alongside the pit； Chiun took salt and began sprinkling it at the end of the pit； seemingly oblivious to the heat。 While Chiun's ritual went on； Saffah and her two sisters moved forward behind Chiun。
The flames died quickly as the dried…out wood almost exploded into fire and Chiun motioned to the two Loni men who stood near the rear corners of the pit。 Using long staves； they began to spread the fire； shaking the twigs and embers loose； and exposing through the fire the giant ostrich egg…sized rocks； now glistening white hot from their two…day baking。
Remo came up alongside Chiun。
〃What the hell are you up to？〃 he demanded。
〃One does not worry about the Master。 One only observes and learns。〃 Chiun looked at Remo； seemed to understand his concern and said； 〃No matter what happens you must promise not to interfere。 No matter what。〃
〃Chiun； I won't let you do anything foolish。〃
〃You will do as I say。 You will not interfere。 My House's debt to the Loni has been a family disgrace。 You dishonor me if you stop me from discharging that debt。 Do nothing。〃
Remo searched Chiun's eyes for any weakness； any hint； but there was none。
〃I don't like it；〃 Remo said glumly； even as he started moving back。
〃Your preferences are of little interest to my ancestors。 They like what I do。〃
The entire pit had now been raked until it was an evil mix of white hot stones and red hot embers。
Chiun looked around him at the Loni people。 〃The Lonis must again be taught of bravery。〃
He nodded to Princess Saffah and her sisters and they slowly walked forward in a single line toward the pit。 Remo stood alongside and watched them； a procession of three proud and beautiful women。 He could understand why once this land had great kings and queens。 Saffah and her sisters were royalty in any land in any day。 Traditional royalty was a gift of governments or an accident of heritage； but real royalty came from the soul。 The sisters had soul。
Saffah stepped into the ritual bed of salt Chiun had prepared； then folding her arms； without hesitation； she placed her right foot into the bed of hot coals and began to walk into the pit of fire。 The Loni gasped。 Remo stood stunned。 Obode appeared in a state of shock。
But oblivious to all their feelings was Saffah； who was now walking； resolute step after resolute step； down the center line of the pit。 Her feet kicked up little clouds of sparks and heat shimmered around her bare ankles。 When she was halfway across； the next sister stepped through the salt pit and out into the coals。 And a few moments later； the third sister followed。
Remo watched their faces carefully； not a sign of pain or concern showed。 It was some kind of trick。 Cheapie old Chiun had done some finangling with the fire。 Unworthy； Remo decided。 Definitely unworthy of a Master of Sinanju。 He would have to tell him。
The three sisters now stood in a row near Obode at the far end of the fire pit。
〃Your princesses have shown you that the Loni can still breed courage；〃 Chiun said； 〃but that is not enough to purify you。〃
Chiun stepped his bare wrinkled yellow feet into the small salt bed and then he too stepped out into the field of flame and fire and heat
As he walked； he intoned a chant softly to himself。 〃Kufa tutakufa wote。〃 Remo had never heard it before but recognized it as part of the Loni tongue。
Carefully； yet decisively； Chiun walked straight along the length of the fire bed。
And then in the middle he stopped。
Good trick； Remo thought。 A real show…stopper；
Chiun stood there； feet not moving； arms folded； face impassive as ever； still mouthing his chant。 〃Kufa tuta…ufa wote。〃
〃What's that mean？〃 Remo said to a Loni standing behind him。
〃It means； As for dying； we shall all die。〃
The Loni watched Chiun and their small buzzings turned to silence as the seconds ticked on and Chiun stood still in the middle of the fiery pit； the heat waves rising around him； making his body seem to shimmer and shake even though he did not move。
Then a small wisp of smoke began to curl up the side of Chiun's leg。 Remo could see that Chiun's shin…length white pants had singed at the bottom。 A little speck turned brown； then black； then broadened； and now gave out thin trails of smoke。 An orange dot appeared at the edge of one leg as the overheated fabric neared its flash point。 A tiny lick of flame puffed up。 ；'
The Loni gasped。 Remo took a step forward； then stopped； indecisive； not knowing what to do。
And over the gasping and the whispers roared the voice of General Obode。
〃Will no one help that man？〃
The roar