"I know a bit about your surrogate father. He is quite a manipulator and the whole thing may have nothing to do with the treasure. He just wants it back. Being the standard-bearer of the world's greatest anachronism, I am sure the trappings of the past are of great importance to him."
"If it's an anachronism, why can we do things no one else can? If it's an anachronism, why don't I go running off like some idiot for war? If we're an anachronism-"
"I'm sorry, Remo, if I offended you."
"You didn't offend me. You just sounded like some communist twit. You know, just because it wasn't invented yesterday doesn't make it invalid. It's more valid because it survived the test of time."
"You indicated yourself that you were suspicious about the treasure playing any part."
"Yeah, well. That's something else," said Remo.
"The something else," said Anna wisely, "is that I am talking about your family, and you may think the worst about Chiun, but God help anyone else who thinks the same way."
"Let's get on with business. Where are these special troops?"
"We're not sure. They seem to be all over."
"Chiun usually has an idea of where he might appear. If you can get to Smitty, I can get to Sinanju. We have a special secure line," said Remo. He did not tell Anna about overlapping the American system with the Russian one in Cuba. Remo didn't understand the electronic theory exactly, only that he had overcome his little portion of it, and was proud of it.
After all, for someone who does battle with a toaster with only fifty-fifty odds of success, getting the right plug into the right socket is an accomplishment.
"All our wires are tapped by the KGB, so keep that in mind."
"Why are you warning me?"
"Because despite your marine concept of Soviet Russia, the KGB and the army and my special security service serving the Premier are not all one monolithic block out to fry your precious little buns, dear," said Anna.
"You have a sharp tongue, lady," said Remo.
"So have you when you want to," said Anna. Remo lifted the telephone receiver off the hook. It was an old-style phone made of plastic that still had the aroma of the factory. As he got through to Smith, he polished the phone to make it look as though it were manufactured in a modern country.
Smith got the call and made the transfer to Sinanju, explaining that the signals required a lot of electronic brushing to clean them up.
Since the line was in the baker's house, Poo's mother answered the phone.
"Let me speak to Chiun, please."
"Poo is right here," said the mother.
"I want to speak to Chiun. This is business."
"Your lawfully wedded wife waits here every moment for the sound of her husband's voice. Her eyes are filled with tears. The rest of her has been filled with nothing."
"Yeah, well, let me speak to Chiun," said Remo. He was burning. He smiled at Anna. Anna smiled back.
"I will give you Poo."
"Poo, let me speak to Chiun," said Remo.
"There's another woman in the room with you," divined Poo.
"This is a business phone and I want to speak to Chiun."
"You haven't even consummated our marriage and you're cheating already," she wailed.
Anna did not understand the Oriental language Remo was using in the latter part of his call to Sinanju. But there were some things she did understand.
When Remo finally had a respite while waiting for Chiun, she asked:
"Remo, do you have a girlfriend in Sinanju?"
"No," said Remo honestly.
"Then who was that woman you were talking to?"
"What makes you think it was a woman?"
"Remo, I know how men speak to women. Who is she?"
"Not my girlfriend. Nothing to do with romance."
"Who is she, Retno?"
"My wife," said Remo. He went back to the phone. Chiun was there.
"Arieson's in Russia. He could start World War III. Where can I find him?"
"World War III is his business. Not ours. So long as he has left us Southeast Asia, I don't care."
"It's my concern. Where is he?"
"Until you get the treasure, why bother?"
"Where is he?"
"That is no way to speak to your father."
"Little Father, please tell me where he is. I am in Russia and I don't want to hang around this place looking for him."
"Well, if he were in the modern country called Russia, that must include Siberia. There is a Tartar encampment between Vladivostok and Kubsk. I would say he would probably be there. He would probably be welcome there for all the damage those little vandals are likely to do."
"Thanks, Little Father," said Remo.
"Poo has a word for you."
"I'll speak with her," said Remo, still in Korean, "only because I owe you a favor."