"Well—"
"Come on, now, Renton. Please don't tell me you're a monk."
"I don't have much free time," he said by way of explanation.
"It's a good thing that we got you, then, before you waste away. All work, no play, et cetera."
"I understood this was a working expedition, Dr.—"
"Audrey, please."
"All right."
"It is, of course, but there's no law that says we can't enjoy ourselves along the way, now, is there?"
Remo thought about it. "Not that I'm aware of."
"There you go."
They were a block south of the Shangri-la and gaining fast. When Audrey saw the progress they had made, she dropped her grip on Remo's arm and took his hand.
"You know," she said, "you saved my life tonight."
"I doubt that very much."
"My honor, then. The proverbial fate worse than death."
"Something tells me you make out all right on your own," Remo said.
"Oh, I do. But it's more fun with two."
"So I'm told."
"You deserve a reward from the damsel in distress."
"I'll have to take a rain check, Audrey. Gear to pack, that kind of thing."
"A rain check, eh?"
"If that's permissible."
"You do know where we're going, don't you?"
"Well—"
"Rain forest all the way," she told him, rising on her toes to kiss him lightly on the corner of his mouth. "You get some sleep, now. Save your strength."
"I'll see you in the morning."
"And don't forget to pack your rubbers," Audrey told him. "It gets wet here in the bush."
"I'll bet it does," said Remo, and he started back toward his hotel.
Chapter Seven
"The woman has desire for you?" asked Chiun.
"It looks that way to me," said Remo.
Chiun reached out and thumped him on the forehead with a bony index finger. "Think with this head, always," he demanded. "Sex is a temptation to be overcome, an instrument to be employed for higher purposes. It is the nature of the female to deceive."
"I hear you, Little Father."
"Yes, but do you listen?"
"Well, my ears are ringing at the moment."
"Always joking, like a monkey in the zoo."
"I have to go," said Remo, glancing at his watch. "It wouldn't do for me to miss the kickoff."
Chiun was seated in his customary place before the television, even though the set was not turned on. "If you can manage to retrieve a dragon's tooth," he said, "by all means bring it back with you. They make strong medicine and fortify virility."
"What difference does it make?" asked Remo.
"We're supposed to overcome temptation and employ our instruments for higher purposes."
"Nobody likes a smart wasoo."
"You'll have to tell me what that means someday."
"When you are old enough to understand."
"I'm going now," said Remo.
"Watch the big man," Chiun suggested as the door swung shut behind him. "It was negligent of you to let him live."
You may be right, thought Remo as he waited for the elevator, passing up the stairs this morning on a whim. But killing Chalmers on the street, in front of Audrey Moreland, would have caused innumerable problems off the top, including a police investigation and delay of their departure for the Tasek Bera. As it was, the hulking Brit had either learned a lesson or he hadn't. Either way, his clumsy fighting style would pose no major challenge.
Just remember not to let him get behind you with a gun.
Okay.
He taxied over to the Shangri-la and checked his gear in with the concierge. The others had assembled by the time he followed cooking smells into the restaurant. A Chinese waiter led him to the table, where an empty chair stood next to Audrey Moreland. At the far end of the table, Chalmers wore a wide strip of adhesive tape across his nose and glared with blackened eyes.
"Somebody had a restless night," said Remo. As he spoke, a warm hand came to rest upon his thigh and squeezed.