thedestroyer.deathcheck-第23部分

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ngless　actions　being　built　into　the　habit　pattern；　demanding　pliance；　until　'the　final　act。。。　the　final　sum。。。　was　demanded　by　the　parts。　Until　there　was　no　way　to　stop　it。
　〃Harder。〃　Anna's　voice　insinuated　itself　into　his　mind。　Harder。　Faster。　Deeper。　He　considered　his　fingers。　Then　his　toes。　While　his　body　forced　blood　to　pump；　his　mind　denied　that　blood　and　thought　of　other　parts；　other　functions。　It　was　Chiun's　secret。
　〃More；〃　she　yelled。　〃More。〃
　He　ground　into　her；　pressing　with　his　knees；　lifting　her　and　dropping　her　down。　She　groaned　in　ecstasy。
　Remo　moved　harder。　Faster。
　She　groaned。　Ecstasy　again。
　Harder。　Faster。　Concentrate　on　kneecaps。
　She　groaned　continuously　now。　But　ecstasy　was　giving　way。　It　was　surrendering　to　pain。；
　Remo　moved　on。　Harder。　Faster。　His　mind　sensed　the　heavily　calloused　skin　on　the　tips　of　his　fingers。
　Her　groans　grew　in　intensity；　raised　in　pitch。　She　was　in　pain　now。　Suffering。　She　would　soon　shout　stop　and　Remo；　under　drugs；　would　have　to　obey。
　He　leaned　forward　heavily　onto　her　body　and　smashed　his　heavily　muscled　shoulder　down　into　her　mouth；　chipping　her　front　teeth。　Hard。　Stopping　her　from　calling　out　the　mand　to　stop。
　Her　voice　was　muffled　under　his　shoulder。　
　And　Remo　kept　on。　Harder。　Harder。　The　toes　now。　He　felt　them　digging　into　the　wooden　floor　for　a　firm　footing。　She　was　using　her　hands　now。　Trying　to　push　him　away。　He　pressed　her　harder。
　Stohrs　had　stopped　taking　pictures。　He　was　now　just　a　spectator。　The　Nazis　had　killed　by　gang　rape。　Stohrs　was　watching　that　fate　overtake　his　daughter；　a　death　administered　by　a　one…man　gang。
　Then　Stohrs　called　out。　〃Stop。〃
　Remo　stopped。　And　the　bitch　lay　semi…conscious；　bleeding　from　the　mouth　and　groin。
　〃Are　you　all　right；　dear？；〃　Stohrs　asked。
　She　sat　up　slowly；　hatred　in　her　eyes。　〃Let　us　kill　this　bastard；　father。　Painfully。〃
　〃We　shall。　But　first；　Mr。　Pelham　and　I　must　finish　our　game。　Develop　the　film。　I　will。call　you。〃
　Remo　was　ordered　to　dress；　and　then　Stohrs　led　him　back　to　tv　chess　room。　He　ordered　Remo　to　sit　down　and　then　took　his　seat　on　the　other　side　of　the　table。
　He　spoked　to　Remo：　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃Rerro　Pelham。〃
　〃Who　told　you　about　me？〃
　〃Deborah　Hirshbloom。〃
　〃What　did　she　tell　you？〃
　〃That　you　were　Nazi。〃
　〃Why　did　you　e　here？〃
　〃For　money。　I　could　get　money　from　you。〃
　〃All　right。　We　will　play　a　little　game。　You　will　wake　up　and　show　me　how　you　can　win；　and　then　you　will　go　back　to　sleep。　Repeat　after　me。　You　will　wake　up　to　play　the。game　and　then　you　will　go　to　sleep。〃
　〃T　will　wake　up　to　play　and　then　f。　o　back　to　sleep。〃
　〃Back　to　sleep　when　I　snap　my　fingers。　Wake　up　when　p　my　fingers。〃
　And　Stohrs　snapped　his　fingers。
　〃A　fast　game；〃　he　said；　smiling。
　〃A　fast　game；〃　Remo　said。
　〃Still　think　you　can　win？；〃　Stohrs　asked；　confident　in　his　skills；　assured　of　his　victory。
　〃Yes；〃　Remo　said。　He　picked　up　the　queen　from　the　board。　Deborah's　queen。　〃Watch　the　queen；〃　Remo　said。
　〃I　am　watching。〃
　〃It　is　my　move；〃　Remo　said；　as　he　lifted　the　queen；　standing　it　on　its　green　felt　base　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。　His　fingers　curled　down　to　hold　it　by　the　base；　against　his　palm。　Then　his　deep　brown　eyes　that　seemed　to　have　no　pupils　burned　into　Stohrs'　eyes　and　Remo　said；　〃It　is　mate　in　one。〃　Remo　turned　the　queen　over　in　the　palm　of　his　right　hand；　and　then；　with　a　roll　of　the　wrist；　moved　it　forward。　His　move；　the　greatest　move　in　the　history　of　chess；　put　the　white　point　into　Stohr's　right　eye；　and　then　a　push　through　the　socket　into　the　brain；　and　there　was　Stohrs　with　a　green　felt　monocle　where　his　right　eye　should　be；　and　red　ribbons　beginning　to　hang　from　it。　Stohrs'　body　twitched　convulsively　and　his　fingers　went　snap；　snap；　snap；　because　that　was　the　last　message　his　brain　had　sent　before　Remo　had　moved；　white　queen　to　the　bastard's　eye。
　Remo　looked　at　him；　then　smiled　with　only　his　lips。
　〃Checkmate；〃　he　said。　And　walked　away。
　The　rest　was　easy。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…FOUR
　
　Anna　Stohrs　was　still　naked。　She　was　just　placing　the　negatives　of　Remo　into　a　metal　card　file　containing　the　other　negatives　when　Remo　walked　into　the　darkroom。。〃
　She　looked　up；　and　her　eyes　opened　wide　in　horror；　when　she　saw　him　there。
　〃He　lost；〃　Remo　said。
　She　tried　to　kick　him　but　Remo；　laughing；　ignored　the　effort；　and　flipped　her　left　arm　up　behind　her　back。　Then　he　whispered　into　her　right　ear；　〃Your　father　said　just　before　I　killed　him　that　the　one　thing　he　really　enjoyed　was　seeing　you　perform。　But　he　never　wanted　to　let　on；　because　you　might　stop。〃
　Then　he　killed　her　and　left　her　body　sprawled　over　the　giant　photo　dryer。　The　sweat　on　her　naked　body　sizzled　as　he　dropped　her　over　the　stainless　steel　drum。　Then　Remo　burned　the　negatives；　and　set　fire　to　the　house。
　He　took　a　doughnut　from　the　cupboard　on　his　way　out；　and　left　a　few　minutes　before　the　arrival　of　the　first　fire　pany。
　The　cool　of　evening　chilled　the　air；　and　suddenly　it　became　incredibly　cold　for　August；　then　hot；　then　Remo　felt　nothing　and　just　kept　walking。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…FIVE
　
　The　roast　beef　at　Henrici's　in　Dayton　was　good。　It　had　been　good　for　the　last　two　Wednesday　nights　and…Remo　looked　out　of　the　windows　down　on　the　Miami　valley；　with　blinking　lights　on　the　outskirts　of　Dayton；　and　farther　off　the　small　towns　surrounding　it。　The　restaurant　was　on　the　top　of　the　hotel　and　for　Dayton　provided　exquisite　dining。　In　New　York；　it　would　be　just　another　good　meal。
　He　cut　into　the　rich　red　beef；　which　shivered　slightly；　emitting　a　reddish　pool　which　flowed　into　the　mashed　potato　mountain；　making　its　base　pink。　Good　beef；　someone　had　once　said；　was　like　a　hearty　woman。　It　must　be　taken　with　gusto。　Who　said　it？　It　obviously　had　not　been　Chiun；　who　while　he　once　allowed　that　all　women　are　beautiful　but　not　all　men　are　capable　of　seeing　it；　also　felt　that　red　beef　was　like　a　subtle　poison。　You　enjoyed　your　destruction　because　it　was　fortable　and　slow。
　Remo　enjoyed　the　beef。　In　fact；　Chiun　might　be　very　bright　about　the　poison。　Being　some　place　at　a　certain　night　regularly；　a　certain　place　someone　else　knew；　made　you　a　perfect　setup　for　that　someone　else。　The　beef　could　be　poisoned。　He　couid　be　poisoned　without　his　poisoner　ever　seeing　him。　CURE　was　good　at　that。　In　fact；　if　it　wanted　to；　the　poisoner　might　not　even　know　it　was　poison。　Breaking　links　wherever　you　can。
　But　he　was　alive　and　every　day　he　lived　probably　meant　that　he　was　being　kept　there　to　stew。　The　punishment　would　be　waiting　to　be　killed。　If　he　waited；　though；　it　would　also　show　them　that　he　could　be　trusted　again。
　What　had　he　really　done　that　was　so　bad？　Talked　back？　That　could　be　attributed　to　the　long　peak。　What　counted　was　not　what　he　said　but　what　he　did。　And　what　he　did　was　to　follow　orders。　He　had　headed　for　Deborah's　cottage　and　then　he　went　to　Dayton。
　How　he　had　gotten　to　Dayton；　he　forgot。　There　was　the　path；　the　tiredness；　the　oppressive　heat；　and　then；　what　he　remembered　of　it；　he　was　in　the　Dayton　Airport　just　outside　Vandalia；　with　an　incredible　sunburn；　money　from　what　must　have　been　cashed　traveler's　checks　and　no　identification。　He　had　probably　gone　through　the　necessary　go　routine　automatically。
　He　had　noticed　how　weak　he　had　bee；　but　the　rest　improved　him　daily。　When　he　returned　to　training；　he　would　be　well　ready　for　it。　But　he　would　never　again　allow　them　to　keep　him　at　that　level。　He　would　explain　this　if　he　ever　got　to　Smith　again。
　Deborah；　of　course；　had　gotten　her　man。　He　knew　she　would；　but　it　was　a　sloppy　job。　He　had　heard　about　it　in　a　bar。　Father…daughter　fight。　But　why　would　the　woman　choose　suicide　by　photo…drying？　Funny；　it　sounded　like　something　he　might　do。　The　Israelis　were　supposed　to　be　a　bit　neater。　Yeah；　he　might　do　it。　No；　it　just　wasn't　fast　enough。　For　punishment；　it　would　do。　But　Remo；　however；　was　not　in　the　punishment　business。
　Some　day；　if　they　should　ever　meet；　he　would　tell　Deborah　how　sloppy　she　had　been。
　He　looked　out　over　the　valley；　gazing　for　miles。　It　was　a　clear　night；　yet　there　were　no　stars；　and　for　reasons　he　could　not　fathom；　he　felt　deeply　lost；　as　if　he　had　found　something　so　necessary　to　his　life；　then　lost　it　without　knowing　what　it　was。
　It　was　then　that　Remo　created　an　original　line　of　sentiment　and　felt　proud　of　it。　He　thought　of　Deborah's　freckles　and　said　to　himself；　waiting　to　use　it　publicly　to　advantage　some　day；　〃A　girl　without　freckles　is　like　a　night　without　stars。〃
　Remo　looked　around　the　restaurant　for　a　woman　with　freckles。　He　had　to　try　out　his　original　line。　He　saw　only　a　man　in　a　suit　with　a　briefcase。　The　reason　he　saw　only　this　was　that　the　man　was　standing　three　inches　from　him。
　〃Enjoying　yourself？　Pleasant　thoughts？〃　asked　the　man。　It　was　a　bitter　thin　voice。　Remo　looked　up。　It　belonged　to　a　bitter；　hateful　face。
　〃Good　evening。　Sit　down。　I　wondered　why　you　kept　me　waiting　so　long。〃
　Remo　watched　Harold　W。　Smith　take　the　other　side　of　the　table。　He　put　his　briefcase　on　his　lap。
　Smith　ordered　a　grilled　cheese　sandwich。　The　waitress　said；　〃We　have　something　with　tomatoes　and　bacon　and。。。。〃
　〃Just　grilled　cheese；〃　he　said。
　〃And　make　it　unpleasant；〃　Remo　added。　Ah；　the　waitress　had　freckles。　He　would　devastate　her。
　The　waitress　hid　a　smile　from　all　but　the　corner　of　her　mouth。
　〃Be　off；〃　Smith　said　to　the　girl；　and　turning　to　Remo　said：　〃My；　you're　in　fine　fettle。　Did　you　enjoy　yourself　on　your　last　business　trip？〃
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃I　never　knew　you　liked　to　freelance。〃
　〃What？〃　Remo　looked　confused。
　〃You've　forgotten　little　details？〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃
　Smith　leaned　over　the　table　and　peered　intently　at　Remo's　forehead；　where　his　peeled　skin　was　still　taut　and　shiny；　and　his　eyebrows　were　just　growing　back。
　〃Well；　the　reports　said　it　was　there；　so　I　suppose　I'll　buy　it。　And　I　do　have　Chiun's　explanation。〃
　〃Buy　what？〃　Smith　smiled　and　Remo　knew　that　he　was　not　supposed　to　ask。
　〃When　did　you　recover　your　memory？　I　mean　fully？〃
　〃Tell　you　what；〃　Remo　said；　〃you　tell　me　how　I　got　this　sunburn　because　I'm　sure　you　know　and　I'll　tell　you　when　I　recovered　my　memory。〃
　〃You'll　tell　me　when　you　recovered　your　memory。〃
　〃At　the　Dayton　Airport。〃
　〃That's　about　right；〃　Smith　said。　He　looked　around　him　and　said；　lest　anyone　be　listening；　〃You　left　your　wallet　in　my　room　this　morning。〃　He　handed　Remo　a　well…worn　wallet　containing；　as　Remo　knew；　who　he　would　be　and　where　he　would　go　and　what　he　should　look　for　that　would　tell　him　where　he　would　meet　Smith　again。
　〃What　about　the　sunburn？〃
　〃Someday　ask　Chiun。　I　can't　even　understand　it；　much　less　be　able　to　explain　it。〃
　Smith　surveyed　the　fine　surroundings　and　added：　〃You　know；　if　the　tables　weren't　so　close　together；　I'd　like　to　see　you　eating　the　next　time　in　an　automat。〃
　〃You　would；〃　said　Remo；　placing　his　wallet　and　new　self　in　the　pocket　of　the　new　suit　he　had　bought　for　cash。
　The　waitress　was　back；　putting　the　grilled　cheese　sandwich　in　front　of　Smith。
　〃You　know；〃　Remo　said　as　she　bent　over；　〃a　girl　without　freckles　is　like　a　night　without　stars。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　said。　〃My　boyfriend　tells　me　that。〃
　And　Smith　took　obvious　delight　in　Remo's　obvious　deflation。
　〃I　swear　it；〃　Remo