thedestroyer.slavesafari-第27节

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　Remo　turned；　as　silence　descended　over　the　entire　village。　The　white　girl　stood　there　in　the　entrance　to　the　hut；　her　mouth　open；　her　finger　slowly　raising　to　point。　Remo　came　to　her　side。
　〃Oh；　Remo；〃　she　said。　〃You've　got　him。〃　。　〃Got　him？　Oh　yeah；　right。　Obode；〃　Remo　said。　〃He's　tied　up　down　there。〃
　〃No；　no；　not　Obode。　That　one；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　Butler。　〃He　was　the　one　who　took　me　from　my　house。　He　kidnaped　me。〃
　〃Him？〃　Remo　said；　pointing　to　Butler。
　She　nodded　and　shuddered。
　〃Old　Willie？〃　Remo　asked。
　〃That　one；〃　she　said　pointing。
　Suddenly　everything　had　e　undone　for　William　Forsythe　Butler；　but　perhaps　there　was　still　a　chance。　He　broke　through　the　crowd；　pulling　the　pistol　from　his　holster；　running　toward　Obode。　He　might　yet　manage　it。　Kill　Obode；　then　say　he　took　the　girl　under　Obode's　orders。
　He　raised　the　gun　to　fire。　Then　the　gun　was　gone　from　his　hand；　thudding　softly；　sending　up　a　little　puff　of　dust　where　it　hit　the　ground　and　Chiun　stood　alongside　him。
　Butler　stopped　in　his　tracks；
　〃You　have　done　evil　to　the　Loni　people；〃　Chiun　said。　〃Did　you　hope　someday　to　be　king　of　this　land？　To　one　day　enslave　not　only　Hausa　but　Loni　too？〃　Chiun's　voice　rose　in　pitch。
　Butler　slowly　backed　away　from　him。　〃You　have　disgraced　the　Loni　people。　You　are　not　fit　to　live。〃
　Butler　turned　to　try　to　run；　but　there　was　no　break　in　the　crowd。　He　turned。　Then　Chiun　turned　his　back　on　him　and　was　walking　away。
　Remo　moved　out　into　the　clearing。
　〃It　was　you；　Willie？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Butler　hissed；　the　Loni　click　in　his　throat　chattering　his　anger。　〃I　would　repay　in　kind　what　the　whites　did　to　me。　What　they　did　to　the　Loni　people。〃
　〃Sorry；　Willie；〃　Remo　said；　remembering　the　girls　he　had　been　forced　to　kill。　〃You　were　a　good　cornerback　but　you　know　how　it　is：　you　can't　argue　with　a　legend。〃
　He　moved　toward　Butler；　who　drew　himself　up　to　his　full　height。　He　was　bigger　than　Remo；　heavier；　probably　stronger。　The　white　bastard　had　never　been　able　to　forget　for　one　minute　that　he　had　been　Willie　Butler。　All　right。　So　be　it。　Now　he　would　show　him　what　Willie　Butler　could　do　if　he　had　wanted　to　play　the　white　man's　game。
　He　crouched　down　and　from　deep　in　his　throat　growled　at　Remo：　〃Your　ball；　honkey。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　flood　your　zone　with　receivers；〃　Remo　said。　〃That　always　confused　you　goons。〃
　Remo　began　trotting　toward　Butler　who　went　wide…legged　into　a　tackling　stance。　When　Remo　was　within　reach；　he　sprang；　leaving　his　feet；　rolling　on　his　side　toward　Remo。　Remo　skipped　lightly　over　him　and　Butler　quickly　rolled　up　onto　his　feet。
　〃First　and　ten；〃　Remo　said。
　He　came　back　toward　Butler　who　assumed　the　same　stance；　but　this　time　as　Remo　drew　near；　Butler　straightened　up；　leaped　into　the　air　and　let　fly　a　kick　at　Remo's　face。　Remo　caught　the　heel　of　the　foot　hi　both　hands　and　continued　pushing　it　upward；　tumbling　Butler　back　over　onto　his　back。
　〃Unsportsmanlike　conduct；　Willie。　That'll　cost　you　fifteen　yards。〃
　Butler　got　up　again　and　charged　now　in　a　rage　at　Remo；　who　dodged　away。　〃Tell　me；　Willie；　what　was　it　you　were　trying　to　prove？　What'd　you　need　the　girls　for？〃
　〃How　could　you　know？　That　accursed　family。。。　the　Butlers；　the　Forsythes；　the　Lippincotts。。。　they　bought　my　family　as　slaves。　I　was　collecting　a　debt。〃
　〃And　you　think　that　poor　little　girl　over　there　had　something　to　do　with　it？〃
　〃Blood　of　blood；〃　Butler　grunted；　as　he　wrapped　his　arms　around　Remo's　waist。　〃The　bad　seed　has　to　be　uprooted；　no　matter　how　big　it's　grown。〃　He　slid　off　Remo　to　the　ground　as　Remo　skipped　away。
　〃It's　people　like　you；　Willie；　that　give　racism　a　bad　name。〃
　Butler　had　edged　around；　slowly　facing　Remo；　moving　hi　a　circle。　He　widened　the　circle　gradually　until　his　back　was　against　the　line　of　Lords　who　were　quietly　watching　this　contest；　so　unlike　anything　they　had　ever　seen。
　Without　warning；　Butler　reached　behind　him；　grabbed　a　spear　from　one　of　the　Lord　men　and　jumped　back　into　the　squared　arena。
　〃At　last；　your　true　colors　e　out；〃　Remo　said。　〃You're　just　another　dirty　player。〃
　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　mom