The barn held a long silence in which beautiful light played along its walls and on the faces of its stunned occupants. Even Amanda Bull was shocked by the stern tone of the World Master. She recovered her composure long enough to say, "Preparation Group Number Two stands ready to fulfill its glorious destiny."
"Excellent," the reedy voice commented. "And your destiny will be glorious, I promise you. In the new world, you will all be giants. Future generations will sing your praises. But first, we must insure that there will be a future for your tiny planet, which is my planet's mission."
"Orders?" Amanda asked stiffly.
"You will transport the Titan warhead to the center of the population area known as Oklahoma City and detonate it."
Amanda swallowed hard. Ethel Sump fainted, and the others looked as if they wanted to. Pavel Zarnitsa felt none too good himself. From what he could piece together, it sounded very much as if World War III was about to be started by a bunch of Americans, on orders from a being from another planet!
And there was no doubt in his mind that if Oklahoma City should be obliterated, America's nuclear finger would swiftly be pointed to Soviet Russia.
Pavel knew he couldn't allow that. He was about to move from where he crouched when the barn doors were flung open and a strident voice announced, "Hail all! The Master of the House of Sinanju brings greetings to the Master of the House of Beetle Goose!"
Chiun, resplendent in his green ceremonial robes, strode boldly into the startled group. Remo, more wary, stood at his side.
Amanda Bull whipped her gun up toward Chiun but Remo cleared the distance between them before a shot could be fired, and suddenly Amanda was staring at her empty gun hand, which stung painfully.
Remo extracted the clip, cleared the chamber, and tossed the weapon aside.
"You won't be needing that," he told her.
"Yes," Chiun called out, "no violence is necessary. We have come in peace. We have come to resume ties with the House of Beetle Goose."
"If you have come here with peaceful intent," the World Master said, "then speak."
"There has been a misunderstanding between our houses, World Master," Chiun said. "I wish a private audience."
"As proof of your peaceful intent, you will allow your companion to be held prisoner during your audience."
"Done," Chiun said. "Remo, return the woman's weapon."
"Chiun, I don't like this. These clowns were just talking about blowing up Oklahoma City."
"Remo!" Chiun said sharply.
Remo reluctantly returned the automatic to Amanda, who quickly rammed home a fresh clip.
"All right, I've got you, buster!" Amanda crowed.
"Good for you," Remo said sourly. He was looking around for the man they had tailed here. Now where could he be?
* * *
Chiun entered the ship of the World Master through a panel, which quickly shut after him. He stood again within the outer chamber, which suddenly filled with a golden light. It was a very peaceful light, Chiun thought.
When the shadow of the World Master crossed the pebbled-glass screen, Chiun bowed low.
"My ancestors smile upon this meeting," Chiun said quietly.
"And mine," returned the World Master.
"I have many questions," Chiun began.
"And your persistence has earned you the right to many answers."
"Many generations ago, one of my ancestors met with one of your people. In the hour of his greatest need, when even life itself was failing, a ring of fire descended from the heavens and a voice was heard."
"Yes, my voice."
Chiun's beard trembled. "Yours?"
"Yes. My life span is greater than you could imagine."
"Truly, then, I stand in the presence of a great Master. For it was you who made my people what they are today."
"This is correct. Far, far in your planet's past, my world saw that this Earth held great potential. We came in our ships and with our science, propelled the apes and the monkeys on the upward evolutionary path that led to your humans."
"Apes? Monkeys?" Chiun said bewilderedly. "You must be referring to some other things. My Korean ancestors do not come from mere apes. I have been taught that our line sprang from the pairing of the great Tangun and a bear."
"Yes, this is true," the World Master said. "I am Tangun."
This time Chiun's entire body trembled. "You? Tangun? You have told me that your name is Hopak Kay."
"My full name is Tangun Hopak Kay."
"That is a strange name," said Chiun slowly.
"To human ears perhaps."
"Tell me of your world," Chiun asked next. "I wish to know more of it."
"It is a world of beauty and peace, which I know you would find to your liking. There is no hate, no crime, no wars. This is the image in which I intend to remake your world. One devoid of ugliness and evil. Where all men will live in true harmony, and the old will be cherished in their declining years."
"Yes, that will be good for them," Chiun said absently. "But tell me more. Tell me of the sun source."
"On my world as well as yours, the sun is a great source of energy. But we have learned to harness that energy more efficiently. All things on my planet are solar-powered."
Chiun's hazel eyes narrowed to slits. "And your assassins. What of them?"
"My civilization long ago advanced beyond such practices. The last of our assassins were rehabilitated through brain operations. They were rendered meek and nonviolent in this manner."
"You have answered all my questions," the Master of Sinanju announced suddenly. "I wish to confer with my son."
"You may do this," the World Master said, and the panel reopened. "But you must both decide if you wish to join with me in my plan to eradicate war and the evils of assassination after that."
Chiun left the gently bobbing ship.
* * *
When Pavel Zarnitsa saw that everyone in the barn was distracted by the reappearance of the old Oriental from the UFO— or whatever it was— he decided it was time to make his move.
He dashed inside, waved his pistol for all to see, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "You will all stand perfectly still, please! You, drop your weapon," Pavel told Amanda, who complied hastily. "The rest of you stand aside. I am claiming this spacecraft and its secrets on behalf of my government!"
"You fool, Pavel Zarnitsa! You will ruin everything!" The voice of the World Master was an amplified screech.
Pavel almost dropped his weapon in shock.
"You... you know my name?" Pavel demanded. "Who? How?"
"You have ruined everything," the voice said, and then a low humming filled the barn.
"Chiun! There's that sound again," Remo shouted, expecting his skin to heat up.
But it didn't. Instead, there came a sputtering and hissing from within the floating object, which suddenly fell to the ground. White-hot sparks like the product of a dozen arc-welding torches spilled out of the object. They hurt the eyes and caused everyone to look away in pain. Smoke filled the barn. People ran and collided with one another.
Remo, shielding his eyes, tried to find Chiun in the confusion. "Little Father," he shouted, "where—"
"Hush, Remo. I am here."
Remo felt a familiar hand take his. Chiun, seemingly oblivious to the smoke and sputtering light, guided them both away from the barn, which had started to blaze.
Remo glanced back once and saw the UFO. It was partially obscured by the smoke, but he clearly saw it slowly melting into a puddle of incandescent slag. There was no sign of the being who called himself the World Master.
?Chapter Fourteen
"Over here," Remo was saying. "I found one."
"One what?" Chiun called from inside the smoldering barn. The structure had burned almost to the ground before the fire had gone out on its own. Parts of two sides still stood stubbornly.