thedestroyer.deathcheck-第7部分

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；　it　was　Father　Boyle's　time　running　out。
　〃The　new　security　director；〃　whispered　Brewster。
　〃Our　new　flatfoot；〃　taunted　Ratchett。
　〃Shhhhh；〃　said　Brewster　to　Remo　before　Remo　said　anything。
　〃Are　you　Irish　like　our　deceased　Mister　McCarthy？〃
　Remo　said　nothing。　He　just　stared　at　the　board。
　Remo　had　been　taught　chess　and　did　not　like　it。　He　had　been　taught　chess；　not　for　the　intricacy　of　the　moves　nor　for　the　concentration　it　required。　He　was　taught　chess　simply　to　realize　that　each　move　changed　the　board。　It　was　something　people　tended　to　forget　in　life；　that　every　move　altered　things　in　some　way　and　that　preconceived　operations　needed　flexibility　to　be　worthwhile。　Basically；　chess　taught　Remo　how　to　look。　He　looked　now　around　the　room　and　saw　the　karate　lover；　in　clothes　this　time；　watching　closely。　Another　interested　observer　was　a　man　in　a　dark　suit　and　dark　tie；　who　Remo　found　out　later　was　the　chess　instructor。
　〃I　asked　you　a　question；　cop；〃　said　Ratchett。　〃Are　you　Irish　like　our　deceased　Mister　McCarthy？〃
　〃Shhhhh；〃　said　Brewster　angrily　to　Remo　who　was　silent。
　〃When　I　speak　to　you；　you　will　answer　me；〃　said　Ratchett；　huffing　himself　in　his　chair。　〃Answer　me。〃
　〃I　don't　think　I'm　Irish；〃　Remo　said。　It　was　a　bland　tone；　one　used　for　getting　rid　of　annoying　questions　and　questioners。
　〃You　don't　think　you're　Irish。　You　don't　think。　Don't　you　know？　After　all；　I　thought　all　Irishmen　knew　they　were　Irish。　Otherwise；　why　would　the　little　dears　all　bee　policemen　and　priests？　I'm　playing　against　a　priest；　now；　you　know。〃
　Father　Boyle　did　not　look　up；　but　moved　his　rook　from　an　inactive　corner　to　the　center　of　the　board。　Ordinarily；　it　would　not　be　a　bad　move。　But　now　it　was　a　bad　move　because　Ratchett　had　more　men　attacking　the　square　than　the　priest　had　defending。　Under　those　circumstances；　the　priest　would　succumb。
　Ratchett　was　suddenly　quiet　and　on　the　board　with　all　his　attention。　Father　Boyle　looked　over　his　shoulder　and　extended　his　hand　to　Remo。　〃Hi；　I'm　Bob　Boyle。　We're　all　a　little　bit　nuts　here。　I　think　it's　a　function　of　intelligence。〃
　〃I'm　Remo　Pelham；〃　said　Remo；　taking　the　hand。　Well；　pleasant　or　not；　the　priest　would　go　with　the　rest　if　the　word　came　down。　Remo　wasn't　a　judge；　just　an　operative。
　〃Shhhh；〃　said　Nils　Brewster。
　〃Get　off　it；　Nils；〃　said　the　priest。 …
　〃He's　not　to　disturb　anyone；〃　Brewster　snapped　back。　〃I　don't　really　like　his　presence　here　in　the　first　place。　If　we　didn't　need　federal　funding；　I　wouldn't　allow　him　on　the　premises。　You　know　how　they　are；　the　whole　fascistic　mentality。〃
　〃You're　the　biggest　fascist　I've　ever　met；　Nils。　And　also　the　worst　snob。　Now　get　off　it。〃
　Ratchett；　red　faced；　snapped　a　piece　angrily　down　on　the　board；　putting　more　pressure　on　the　imperilled　square。
　〃What　is　going　on　here。？〃　he　screamed。　〃Why　must　I　suffer　these　indignities　from　a　cop？　Everytime　I　move；　someone's　yelling。　Yelling。　Yelling；〃　Ratchett's　voice　rose　like　a　happy　hawk。　His　hands　twittered　violently。　His　fat　face　flushed。
　〃You　Irish　bastards　are　in　league　to　defeat　me。　That's　why　you're　here。　It's　a　plot…that's　all　you　Irish　are　good　for。　Why　don't　you　stop　skulking　around　trying　to　upset　me。　and　act　like　a　man？　Tell　Boyle　how　to　move。　Go　ahead。　Go　ahead。　Make　your　perfidy　plete。　Go　ahead。
　〃Look　everyone。　A　cop　is　going　to　help　Father　Boyle　play　chess。　A　cop　who　plays　chess。〃　Ratchett　laughed　out　a　haughty　condemnation　and　looked　around　for　approval。　Finding　none　in　the　onlooking　faces；　he　increased　his　vehemence。
　〃I　demand　you　tell　Father　Boyle　how　to　win。　He　can　use　your　help。　Anyone　who　believes　in　God　can　use　all　the　help　he　can　get。　Go　ahead。　Right　now。　No　protest。　There　are　two　possible　ways　he　can　win。　I　am　assuming　you　know　chess。　Father　Boyle　does　not。　Tell　him　how。〃
　It　was　the　three　months　of　peak　that　got　to　Remo；　the　three　months　of　staying　where　he　should　not　have　stayed　mentally　or　physically。　That　and　Brewster　Forum　and　these　lunatics　and　being　told　that　he　must　arrange　for　the　deaths　of　these　harmless　twits；　just　because　their　brilliance　might　lead　them　to　a　wrong　corridor。
　So　Remo　made　a　mistake。　Even　before　he　knew　what　he　was　doing；　he　said：
　〃There　are　three　ways　Father　Boyle　can　beat　you。　The　first　two　require　an　error　on　your　part。　But　the　third　he　can　do　alone。　His　knight　to　your'Rook　3；　uncovering　check　by　the　queen。　It's　a　smothered　mate　in　three。〃　…　
　Remo　had　spoken　softly；　almost　like　the　tender　point　of　a　sermon。　At　first　Ratchett　was　going　to　laugh；　then　his　face　became　blank。　It　was　obvious　he　had　not　seen　the　move。　And　as　the　move　became　apparent　to　others　in　the　audience　there　were　little　sounds。　And　Father　Boyle　began　to　laugh；　a　full　hearty　laugh；　and　others　laughed　with　him；　and　Ratchett　became　white。　White　hot。　If　man　could　bee　hate；　Dr。　James　Ratchett　was　hate。
　Remo　did　not　laugh；　because　he　knew　he　should　be　spanked。　Lectures　were　for　grownups　and　beatings　were　for　men。　But　spankings　were　for　little　boys　who　took　up　prideful　challenges　that　could　so　easily　get　them　killed。　Stupid。　Stupid；　Remo　thought。　You　entered　as　a　dumb　cop　and　lest　anyone　spot　you　as　a　real　danger　by　some　accident；　you　went　out　of　your　way　to　let　them　know　that　maybe　you　weren't　so　dumb。　A　cop；　all　right；　but　a　cop　to　be　watched。　The　greenest　rookie　wouldn't　do　something　that　stupid。　Give　away　surprise　and　you　give　away　your　life。　How　the　lecture　had　been　drilled　into　him；　and　how　logical　it　was：
　〃You　must　isolate　what　you　wish　to　do。　Most　personal　assaults　fail　because　they　attempt　to　do　too　much；　not　the　least　of　which　is　to　gain　respect　from　your　target。〃　Those　were　the　words　of　Chiun；　the　instructor。
　〃That's　stupid；〃　Rerno　had　answered。　〃No　one　would　do　that。〃
　〃Most　people　do；〃　said　Chiun　quietly。　〃They　show　off　for　their　victim。　This　is　because　they　wish　not　so　much　to　harm　the　other　person　as　to　force　the　other　to　recognize　their　superiority。　You　see　it　even　among　prize　fighters。　How　foolish。
　〃If　you　learn　no　other　lesson；　learn　this　one；　and　it　will　do　more　to　keep　you　alive　than　any　other。　The　most　dangerous　man　is　the　man　who　does　not　appear　dangerous。　Say　it　after　me。〃
　〃Okay；〃　said　Remo；　imitating　the　squeaky　sing…song　of　the　aged　Korean。　〃The　most　dangerous　man　is　the　man　who　does　not　appear　dangerous。　Say　it　after　me。〃
　〃Ooooh；〃　said　Chiun；　clutching　his　chest。　〃Ooooh。〃　And　Remo　had　jumped　to　his　feet　from　the　little　cushions　they　sat　on　and　moved　to　steady　the　elderly　man。
　〃Set　me　down；　please。　Please。　On　my　back。〃　Chiun　groaned　again　and　Remo　carefully　placed　his　hands　under　Chiun's　arms　and　slowly　placed　the　white　frosted　head　on　a　pillow。
　〃I　do　not　look　dangerous　now；〃　said　Chiun；　in　obvious　pain。
　〃No；　you　do　not；〃　Remo　said　tenderly。
　〃Good；〃　said　Chiun；　driving　a　finger　into　the　back　of　Remo's　rib　cage；　rendering　him　a　helpless　cripple　on　the　floor。　It　had　felt　like　pliers　tearing　his　lower　rib　from　his　spinal　column；　causing　such　pain　that　Remo　was　unable　to　cry　out　or　even　to　groan。
　When　the　eternity　of　the　moment　was　over　and　Remo　could　scream；　then　breathe；　and　then　lie　quivering；　Chiun　had　said：　〃I　cause　you　this　pain　so　that　you　should　remember。　Never　be　dangerous　in　the　eyes　of　men　whom　you　plan　to　bat。　Never。　I　cause　you　pain　because　I　love　you。　Yes。　Love。　True　love　is　doing　what　is　good　for　a　person。　False　love　is　doing　only　that　which　causes　that　person　to　love　you。　The　love　I　have　for　you　is　shown　in　this　pain　that　I　give　you。　The　pain　is　your　lesson；　best　learned。〃
　When　Remo　could　speak；　but　not　yet　get　up；　he　said：
　〃You　yellow　dink　bastard　shit。　Stop　the　pain。〃
　〃I　love　you　too　much　to　stop　the　pain。〃
　〃You　no　good　scumbag。　Stop　the　pain。〃
　〃No；　my　son。〃
　Then　Remo　went　for　his　emotional　lungs。　〃You　look　like　a　Chinaman。〃　He　knew　Chiun　hated　the　Chinese　almost　as　much　as　he　hated　the　people　in　the　next　village。
　〃You　shall　not　tempt　me　to　rob　you　of　your　lesson。　I　have　given　too　much　to　you　to　be　robbed　of　the　gift。　You　see；　never　again　can　I　pretend　this　weakness　and　catch　you　off　guard。　I　have；　in　a　small　way；　given　you　a　piece　of　my　future；　a　piece　of　my　life。　I　have　given　to　you　the　knowledge　that　I　am　dangerous。〃
　〃I　always　knew　you　were　dangerous；　you　little　yellow　China　bastard。〃
　〃Ah；　but　not　in　that　way。〃
　〃Okay；　okay。　I'm　sorry。　I've　learned^　Stop　the　pain；　please。〃
　〃True　love　does　not　allow　it。〃
　〃Hate　me　then；〃　said　Remo。　〃For　heaven's　sake；　hate　me　and　stop　the　fucking　pain。〃
　〃No。　A　gift　is　a　gift。〃。；　…：
　〃Your　generosity　will　kill　me；　you　creepy；　fish…eating　fuck。　When　does　the　pain　stop？〃
　〃All　your　days　you　may　have　it。　It　is　a　lifelong　gift。　Ribs　can　be　like　that。〃
　
　The　pain　lessened；　but　continued　from　day　to　day；　and　from　day　to　day；　Remo　begged　Chiun　to　do　what　he　must　to　stop　it。　Every　night；　he　would　interrupt　Chiun's　sleep　to　tell　him。　And　in　the　second　week；　Chiun　who　could　endure　almost　anything　but　the　loss　of　sleep；　succumbed。
　Remo　had　nudged　him　in　the　very　dark　predawn。　〃It　still　hurts　me；　you　bastard。〃
　And　wearily；　Chiun　sat　up　from　his　mat；　and　told　Remo：　〃I　am　sorry；　my　son。　But　I　do　not　love　you　this　much。　I　must　sleep。〃　And　he　pressed　his　fingers　on　the　base　of　Remo's　spine；　working　his　way　to　the　rib　of　pain　and　then　with　a　slap　at　the　pain；　the　pain　was　gone　and　Remo　felt　exquisite　relief　that　almost　brought　tears　to　his　eyes。
　〃Thank　you。　Thank　you；〃　he　said。
　And　Chiun　had　said：　〃I　am　sorry；　my　son。　I　am　sorry　I　had　to　do　that。　But　I　would　not　live　much　longer　without　my　sleep。　I　am　an　old　man。　And　I　only　love　you　with　a　part　of　my　life。　Not　all　of　it。〃　He　lay　down　on　his　mat　and　before　he　passed　back　into　slumber；　he　said；　〃Forgive　me。〃
　And　Remo　had　forgiven　with　a　laugh。　But　standing　now　over　the　chess　board；　he　would　not　forgive　himself。
And　he　realized　that　he　had　been　unworthy　of　the　gift　that　Chiun　had　given　him。　Stupid。　Stupid。　Stupid；　Remo
thought。　You　stupid；　idiotic　bastard。　You　entered　this　room　a　zero；　and　now　you're　part　of　the　goddam　dynam
ics　of　the　place；　with　friends　and　enemies；　and　it's　just　going　to　be　that　much　tougher　to　perform　if　the　order
es　to　waste　them。。
　
　CHAPTER　NINE
　
　The　man　once　known　as　Dr。　Hans　Frichtmann　had　seen　the　move。　Nothing　new。　Nothing　innovative。　Rather　standard。　Nothing　that　couldn't　be　learned。　Yet；　for　its　purpose　and　in　context；　brilliant。　They　hadn't　sent　a　McCarthy　this　time。　Did　they　suspect　that　McCarthy　was　not　the　victim　of　an　accidental　overdose；　that　he　was　murdered？
　This　was　the　real　thing　this　tune。　Could　they　know　about　him　and　his　daughter？　Perhaps；　but　doubtful。　More　likely；　they　knew　about　McCarthy　as　a　murder　victim。　Yet；　where　were　the　legions　of　men　in　shined　shoes　and　clean　shirts　and　schoolboy　honest　plexions？　There　would　certainly　be　all　that　for　a　full　crackdown。
　Well；　perhaps　not。　Maybe　this　Remo　Pelham　person　was　the　best　they　had。　It　was　strange　that　he　had　somehow　evaded　the　men　who　met　him　on　the　ferryboat。　Dr。　Hans　Frichtmann　would　have　to　deal　with　him。　The　sooner　the　better。
　He　waited　until　everyone　had　left　the　hall；　then　went　to　Ratchett's　home。　Ratchett　had　been　the　first　to　leave；　huffing　out　indignantly。
　He　walked　awhile　with　his　daughter；　up　the　tree…graced　lane　and　over　the　sweetly…w