thedestroyer.deathcheck-第21部分

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l；　maybe　he'd　just　find　her　now　and　they　would　both　go　somewhere。
　Remo　watched　the　last　scrap　of　paper　burn　and；　leaving　the　cottage；　accidentally　bumped　into　the　door。　To　hell　with　it。　Everyone　bumped　into　doors。
　He　was　tired　now；　very　tired。　The　sun　drained　him　and　the　walking　drained　him。　He　stumbled　on　the　walk。　He　had　pressed　too　hard　too　long　and　now　he　was　running　down。　He　was　sweating　now；　for　real。　Real　sweat　from　the　afternoon　heat。　He　stumbled　again。
　He　looked　up　and　saw　Brewster's　office。　He　would　rest　there　awhile　and　then　leave。　Stephanie　was　at　the　door；　but　he　didn't　feel　like　talking。　He　tried　to　pat　her　on　the　head。　But　inexplicably　his　hand　missed　and　he　fell　full…length　on　the　polar　bear　rug。　He　crawled　to　the　couch；　and　pulled　himself　up　onto　it。　In　the　cool　of　the　air　conditioning；　he　drifted　off。　Out。
　Then　there　was　the　sleep。　It　was　a　deep；　unconscious　leaving。　And　there　were　dreams。
　Chiun；　his　aged　Korean　instructor；　saying：　〃Do　not　pass　this　point。　Do　not　pass　this　point。　Do　not　pass　this　point。〃
　And　other　voices；　Oriental　voices。　And　Chiun　was　telling　the　other　voices　that　he　had　not　passed　the　point　yet；　so　they　must　stand　back。　And　Chiun　wore　black　robes　and　a　black　headband　and　he　was　motioning　that　Remo　should　go　to　his　special　room　and　stay　there。　He　should　stay　there　until　everything　was　all　right。　Chiun　would　sit　with　him。　Remo　had　just　worked　too　hard　and　too　long。
　Remo　should　go　into　the　room　and　Chiun　would　sit　with　him　and　talk　to　him。
　And　since　he　wasn't　doing　anything　important　at　the　moment　other　than　dying；　Remo　decided　to　go　into　the　room　where　Chiun　was　waiting。　He　could　always　die。　That　was　Chiun　talking。　Funny；　he　thought　he　had　been　saying　that。　But　it　was　Chiun　saying　that。　Remo　could　die　later　if　he　wished。　He　could　die　any　tune　he　wanted。　Promise？　Yes。　Chiun　promised。
　So　Remo　went。　It　was　very　cold　hi　the　room　and　Chiun　looked　very　mean　and　stern。　He　was　not　here　to　punish　Remo　but　to　save　him。　But　you　promised　I　could　die？
　You　cannot　die。
　I　want　to　die。
　You　may　not。　There　are　things　you　must　do　because　your　life　is　precious。
　Leave　me　alone。　I　want　to　die。　You　promised。
　But　you　are　in　the　room　now；　Remo；　and　here　you　are　not　permitted　to　die。
　You're　a　liar。
　Yes；　I　lied　to　you。　I　hurt　you。
　Yes；　you　do。
　I　will　hurt　you　more。　For　I　am　in　this　room　with　you　and　I　am　going　to　hurt　you　more。　You　will　feel　great　pain。
　I　do　not　want　to　hurt。
　Listen。　You　are　dying。　But　I　will　not　let　you　die；　Remo。　I　prepared　this　room　so　that　you　should　not　die。　That　is　why　together　we　prepared　this　room。　Your　room；　Remo。　It　holds　your　youth。　Without　the　miracle　of　rest；　you　have　lived　a　lifetime　in　three　months。　You　are　an　old　man；　Remo。　All　that　you　took　by　your　will　and　your　effort　has　been　taken　back　because　you　used　it　too　long。　But　watch。　We　will　do　a　trick。　e　with　me　and　do　the　trick。　See　the　fire。　It　is　hot。　Hot。　We　will　run　through　the　fire。　The　trick　is　the　fire。　e。　Yes；　it　hurts；　but　e。　I　will　go　with　you。　Now。　Into　the　fire。
　And　he　was　roasting　alive；　in　incredible；　flashing　pain；　that　seared　Ms　flesh。　The　flames　burned　his　feet　and　licked　at　his　legs；　then　engulfed　his　entire　body　in　a　whooshing　roar。
　And　Remo　Williams　was　standing；　yelling　in　the　air…conditioned　office　and　little　Stephanie　Brewster　was　terrified　beside　him。　The　room　smelled　faintly　of　jasmine　and　the　chill　made　Remo　shake。　Was　it　his　imagination；　the　residue　of　the　dream；　or　did　he　smell　burning　flesh？
　Remo　rubbed　his　forehead；　and　felt　something　crumble　over　his　eyes。　It　was　charred　hair　on　his　eyebrows；　curled　white　ashes　that　powdered　in　his　fingers。
　Stephanie　lost　her　terror　and　began　clapping。　〃Oh；　do　that　again。　Do　it　again。　Wonderful。〃
　〃What？；〃　asked　Remo。
　〃I　didn't　know　you　did　magic。〃
　〃What　magic？〃
　〃You　just　lay　down　and　shut　your　eyes　and　then　you　lit　up　almost　like　a　light　bulb。　Oh；　it　was　stellar。　Stellar。　Very　unusual。　That's　redundant。　Something　isn't　very　unusual。　It's　unusual。〃
　〃How　long　was　I　here？〃
　〃Well；　I　didn't　have　my　stop　watch。　But　I　would　guess　two　or　three　minutes。　You　looked　very　tired　when　you　came　in；　and　then　you　fell；　and　your　hands　were　cold；　and　I　thought　you　were　having　a　coronary。　But　I　didn't　know　you　did　magic。〃
　〃Yeah；　kid。　That's　the　biz。　Look。　I'm　late　for　an　appointment。　Tell　your　dad　that　I'm　going　on　vacation　and　I　may　not　be　back　because　the　forum　is　too　rough　for　me。　Okay？〃
　〃I'll　write　it　down；〃　said　Stephanie。　With　her　awkward　six…year…old　hands；　she　maneuvered　a　pencil　over　several　pieces　of　note　paper；　in　a　handwriting　reminiscent　of　someone　designing　a　rope。
　〃I　paraphrased；〃　she　explained；　starting　on　the　first　page　which　contained　half　a　word。　〃Feelings　of。　inadequacy　impel　Remo　Pelham's　resignation。〃
　〃You've　got　it；　sweets。〃
　〃Well？〃
　〃Well；　what？〃
　〃Aren't　you　going　to　kiss　me　goodbye？〃　And　Remo　Williams　kissed　Stephanie　Brewster　goodbye　and　she　crinkled　her　nose；　explaining　that　his　face　was　hot。
　〃That's　the　biz；　kid；〃　Remo　said　with　lightness　of　heart；　and　he　left　with　his　very　dry　clothes　crackling　around　him　toward　his　appointment　hi　Dayton。　Wait　hi　Israel　for　an　agent　to　e　home？　Remo　chuckled。　He　never　would　have　made　it　out　of　Chicago。　Well；　senility　is　senility。
　His　body　hurt；　like　a　very　bad　sunburn；　but　it　was　a　good　hurt。　He　was　breathing　well　and　moving　well　and　relaxed　and　alive。　He　wished　Deborah　all　the　best　and　assumed　she　would　be　well　because；　after　all；　she　was　very　lucky。　She　would　have　died　on　Deuteronomy。　That's　the　biz。
　Still；　he　felt　a　little　desire　to　read　the　note　again；　just　once　more。　But　it　had　gone　up　in　flames　and　just　as　well。　He　would　relax；　go　out　of　his　head　in　Dayton；　fornicate　a　bit；　and　maybe　start　slow　in　a　week　or　two。　Perhaps　they　would　move　Chiun　out　to　him　for　one　of　the　training　programs。　He　would　probably　need　that。
　An　ambulance　moved　toward　him　from　the　other　side　of　the　circle。　It　couldn't　be　Ratchett。　His　house　was　in　the　other　direction。
　Then　there　was　the　body。
　The　ambulance　slowed　and　a　patrolman　riding　in　front　called　out：　〃You　must　be　Pelham。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Remo。
　〃You're　the　security　officer。　You　want　to　meet　me　at　the　morgue？〃
　〃Well；　I'm　sort　of　busy；〃　Remo　said；　and　seeing　the　young　policeman's　face　contort　in　shock；　he　felt　somewhat　stupid。　〃I'm　clearing　up　some　things　here。　I'll　be　with　you　later。　I've　had　a　hard　day。〃
　〃So　has　she；〃　said　the　patrolman；　nodding　back　to　the　receiving　section　of　the　ambulance。　〃Another　OD。　Your　second　in　a　month。　I　thought　you　people　up　here　were　brains；　not　junkies。　Look。　You've　got　to　make　it　to　the　morgue　because　we're　checking　out　stuff　with　the　FBI。　Hey；　what　happened　to　your　face？〃
　〃I　got　too　close　to　a　stove。〃
　〃Oh。　Just　a　second。〃　And　to　the　driver　he　said；　〃Wait　a　minute。〃
　The　policeman　left　the　seat'　and　sidled　up　to　Remo　and　in　confidential　tones　that　the　driver　could　not　hear　said；　〃Look；　no　matter　what　they　say；　the　FBI　goes　out　of　its　way　to　grab　credit。　You　know　what　I'm　talking　about。〃
　Remo　nodded。
　〃They　told　us　that　if　anyone　saw　you　to　tell　you　to　meet　them　at　the　morgue。　I　know　what　they're　doing。
They　want　to　get　yoi　away　from　the　photographers　over　on　the　thirteenth　green。　That's　where　we　found　the　body。　Fuck　'em。　You're　the　security　officer。　If　you　make　it　there　fast；　you　can　still　get　to　see　a　reporter。　Know　what　I　mean。　I　mean　they　e　in　here　to　make　a　pinch　or　something　that　we　can　do　just　as　good　and　they　act　so　goddam　nicey…nicey　like　they　don't　want　the　credit。　Know　what　I　mean？〃
　Remo　understood。
　〃How　does　that　make　us　look；　right？　And　you。　You're　security　officer。　Both　of　us　together　don't　make　what　those　bastards　make。　Right？　All　we　got　is　our　respect。　Right？〃
　Remo　nodded。　〃I'd　like　to　see　the　body。〃
　〃She's　a　shrink。　Would　you　believe　it？　A　shrink　OD'ing　on　horse？　What　a　bunch　of　dingalings。　Hey；　watch　it　with　those　stoves；　fella。　You　look　awful。〃
　〃The　body。〃
　〃Sure。　But　she's　wrapped。〃
　〃Just　a　look？〃
　〃Sure。　Hey；　don't　start　up　yet。〃
　The　driver　shook　his　head。'　…　〃Where　do　you　think　I'm　rushing　to；　man？〃
　When　they　got　to　the　rear；　the　patrolman　confided　that　the　driver's　entire　race　was　lazy。　He　opened　the　doors　and　with　the　effected　cynicism　of　young　policemen；　said：　〃That's　it。〃
　Remo　saw　the　sheet　covering　the　being　on　the　folding　stretcher。　He　knew　it　was　Deborah。　He　reached　into　the　ambulance　and　carefully；　very　carefully；　folded　back　the　sheet；　controling　every　nerve　lest　his　hands　break　away。　He　could　feel　the　tremble　of　energy　course　through　him；　and　he　channelled　it　into　the　precision　he　knew　he　needed；　and　he　felt　something　rise　hi　him；　something　trained　and　yet　beyond　training。
　And　he　saw　the　still　face　and　the　closed　eyes　and　the　freckles　which　had　lit　his　night　of　loneliness　and　the　lips　which　were　now　still　and　the　arms　that　would　never　move　again。　He　reached　in　and　held　her　hand。　In　the　light　from　the　overhead　bulb　he　saw　on　her　arm　something　that　was　being　surrendered；　either　by　the　chemicals　he　knew　were　in　her　or　by　the　life　that　was　no　longer　in　her。　The　faint　blue　rectangle　which　looked　as　though　drawn　by　a　robin's　egg　crayon。　They　had　been　neat　little　numbers　once　that　the　master　race　used　to　catalog　the　human　beings　they　considered　subhuman；　even　precious　children　who；　for　a　brief　moment；　would　light　up　a　life；　and　having　lit　it；　could　set　in　motion　that　which　would　settle　an　old；　old　score。
　He　squeezed　her　hand。　It　was　hard；　unyielding。　Tenderly；　he　opened　the　fingers　and　removed　the　object　that　she　clutched。　He　looked　at　it；　then　put　in　his　shirt　pocket。　Deborah　was　supposed　to　lead　our　agents　to　the　killer。　Now；　in　death；　she　would　lead　Remo　to　the　master　race　who　thought　they　were　supermen。
　Well；　then；　he　would　let　them　know　what　one　was。　One　who　was　not　sure　of　where　he　had　e　from　because　he　was　left　at　a　Catholic　orphanage；　one　who；　for　all　he　knew；　contained　the　seeds　of　all　races。　He　might　even　be　a　pureblood　German。　If　that　should　be；　thought　Remo；　should　they　hold　some　special　lien　on　viciousness；　let　that　enjoy　itself　within　him　now。　Chiun's　ancient　scripture　flashed　through　his　mind：　〃I　am　created　Shiva；　the　destroyer；　death；　the　shatterer　of　worlds。〃　They　would　e　to　know　the　destroyer。
　And　then　Remo　covered　the　stars　for　the　last　time　and　could　have　sworn　that　he　gently　shut　the　ambulance　doors。　He　had　been　very　precise　about　it；　doing　it　very　slowly　to　appear　casual。
　But　the　bang　and　the　crack　of　the　door　and　the　caved…in　red　cross；　and　the　ambulance　settling　on　its　wheels　brought　the　driver　running　from　the　cab。　The　patrolman　yelled　and　Remo　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　〃These　fuckin'　nuts　they　got　here；〃　the　patrolman　yelled　to　the　driver；　while　he　stared　at　Remo　angrily。　〃They're　all　screwballs。　Even　the　cop。　What'd　you　do　that　for；　huh？〃
　But　he　made　no　move　toward　Remo。　And　Remo　again　apologized；　and　walked　away。　He　hoped　he　would　arrive　before　the　FBI。　He　had　nothing　against　the　FBI。

CHAPTER　TWENTY…THREE
　
　The　man　once　known　as　Dr。　Hans　Frichtmann　sat　at　his　chessboard；　staring　at　an　endgame　whose　oute　was　a　foregone　conclusion。　Chess　was　a　balm　for　the　mind；　the　mind　that　could　appreciate　it。
　He　had　donned　his　smoking　jacket　and　w