Respectfully the chauffeur danced out of the way of Remo's first clumsy blows.
Remo moved in, hopping. He danced to one side, hopped into reverse. All the time, he watched his opponent's hands, looking for the truth and the lie.
The chauffeur did the same. His arms went back and forth, and Remo opened and closed his fists alternately.
And while his opponent's eyes were mesmerized by the play of fingers, Remo suddenly put his weight on his bad foot and lashed out with his good one.
The blow was low and elegant. It caught the chauffeur in the kneecap, splintering it.
Sagwa screamed. And in the instant he balanced in midair, Remo countered with a closed fist to the other knee. It broke like a plate.
The chauffeur landed on his ass. Remo stepped up and brought one foot down on his left elbow. The joint cracked like a walnut.
Pain warped the chauffeur's masked face. He grabbed for Remo's restraining ankle. Remo deflected the off-balance stroke with a casual slap of his hand. Then he reached down for the mask, saying, "It's midnight. Time for all good little trick-or-treaters to unmask."
"Stop!" commanded the mandarin Wu Ming Shi.
Remo's hand froze. Gritting his teeth, he willed his straining fingers to touch the mask. They held fast, as if encountering an invisible wall.
"Stand back from my Sagwa," Wu Ming Shi ordered.
Obediently Remo stepped back. He swore under his breath.
"Sagwa. Rise to your feet."
Sagwa, sweating and straining, attempted to get up. He used his one good arm to lever his body up. But his legs refused to take his weight. Three times he tried to get to his feet. And then, exhausted, he fell back sweating and breathing hard.
His heart rate was tremendous, Remo heard. It accelerated to the point where Remo wondered if it would burst the heart muscle itself. The man's yellow face turned red with exertion.
Finally Wu Ming Shi spoke up.
"Enough! You have failed me, Sagwa."
Sagwa stared at the high ceiling. Tears welled up from his eyes. They overflowed the close-fitting onyx mask.
The mandarin stepped off the dais. He walked stiffly, clumsily, as if his old joints were unaccustomed to movement.
He stepped up to Sagwa's side. Remo listened for a heartbeat. He heard one. Just one. Then, no more. He wondered if he was mistaken.
Wu Ming Shi looked down upon his servant.
"You can no longer serve me," he said coldly.
"I am sorry," said Sagwa plaintively.
"Silence!" The mandarin Wu Ming Shi took two steps toward Remo. His black button eyes were cold and venomous.
"You are worthy, for a white man," he said.
"Suck eggs," Remo said.
No emotion flickered over those vellum features.
"Finish what you have begun," he told Remo.
Remo hesitated.
"One blow! To the face! Now!"
It was as if Remo stood apart from his body. He turned to Sagwa. One hand drew back. It struck the chauffeur in the face. The black mask broke in sympathy with the skull beneath.
All the tension left Sagwa's body as if he had been unplugged from the universe.
Remo straightened. His expression was furious.
Wu Ming Shi called over to the Master of Sinanju.
"Now that my servant is no more, I have need of a strong one like this," he intoned.
"It is no concern of mine," Chiun said coolly.
Wu Ming Shi turned to Remo. "You are my slave from this moment on."
"Make me," Remo spat.
"Bow."
Remo, face grimacing with exertion, fell to one knee.
"No, the full bow. Both knees. Forehead touching the floor."
Remo fell into the position. His forehead touched the cold stone floor.
He was so surprised he said nothing. He felt like a human puppet manipulated by unseen strings.
Chiun padded over. His sandals stopped at Remo's left hand.
"This is remarkable," Chiun said.
"A depressive alkaloid known as Burundanga," Wu Ming Shi said sternly. "It produces complete hypnosis in its victims, making them susceptible to any verbal commands. Should I order this man to step in front of a speeding car, he will do so without hesitation, although his brain will scream in protest until the last synapse dies."
"He responds to your voice?"
"Clearly."
"Stand," Chiun said suddenly.
And Remo stood.
"He knows no loyalty, it seems," Chiun said to Wu Ming Shi.
"The drug is not so specific. A flaw. But perhaps I will overcome this with certain refinements of the alkaloid."
Chiun nodded. "Drugs are no substitute for ability-or loyalty," he said. "I wonder if you will ever learn this."
"I will miss my Sagwa," Wu Ming Shi said slowly. "For he amused me, he who once considered himself so far beyond my power that he dared to make of himself a mere movie star." His eyes left the body to fix Chiun's gaze with his own.
"We have much to discuss, you and I. But not now, for I fear this excitement has put a strain on my heart. I must rest. "
Chiun bowed. "This former servant of mine was recalcitrant. I would enjoy having his obedience until we speak."
Wu Ming Shi considered this in silence. "I will hold Zhang Zingzong as a guarantee," he suggested.
"So be it," Chiun said. To Zhang he instructed, "You will do as this man bids. No harm will come to you, for this is a man of his word."
Zhang Zingzong hung his head in meek submission.
"Fang Yu will show you to quarters," Wu Ming Shi announced.
Fang Yu approached and said, "Come."
The Master of Sinanju looked down at Remo.
"Rise, O slave, and follow me," he said imperiously.
Remo Williams came to his feet as if in a dream. The Master of Sinanju padded by him. Remo fell in line behind him, going through the bronze door and into the incense-filled corridor.
"This isn't funny, Chiun," he hissed.
"These are not funny times," Chiun retorted. "You should never have followed me here."
Chapter 34
Fang Yu escorted them to a simple stone room, a monk's cell. There were no windows, only a bare cot and floor rugs for warmth. A yak-butter candle guttered in a wall niche.
"Leave us, cat-eater," Chiun told the Chinese woman coldly.
Fang Yu withdrew, her face turning crimson.
"Enter, O slave," Chiun said.
Remo did as he was told.
"Sit."
Remo sat on the cot.
"I like you better this way," Chiun cackled, closing the door behind him. "Heh heh heh."
Remo said nothing.
"Have you nothing to say?" Chiun murmured.
"How about blow it out your backside?"
"How about you keep a civil tongue!" Chiun spat. "No," he added quickly, "you will keep a civil tongue, Remo. I command this. No more will you insult me. In fact, you will immediately apologize."
"I immediately apologize," Remo said humbly.
Chiun blinked. "No, say 'I apologize profusely,' " he said.
"I apologize profusely."
Chiun started. "This is unbelievable. Have you no harsh words for me?"
"I have plenty," Remo growled, "but you won't let me say them."
Chiun raised a long-nailed finger. "Awesome Magnificence. I prefer to be addressed as Awesome Magnificence."
"Awesome Magnificence," Remo said flatly.
Chiun approached. He looked Remo over carefully. Pushing back one ear, he felt the skin. Remo couldn't feel his probing nail, so he knew it was the skin patch Chiun touched.
With a tug, Chiun removed it.
"Ouch!" Remo complained, reaching for the back of his neck.
"This is a strange device," Chiun said, examining the circular Band-Aid-like pad.
"It's a skin patch," Remo explained. "People wear them when they're seasick. They time-release drugs through the pores. "
"Are you still under its wicked influence?" Chiun wondered.