"Yes. That is a brand name."
"Here in this land of roughnecks, a Ninja was employed to work the same end."
"Excuse me-did you say ninja?"
"He means a Nishitsu Ninja," said Remo.
"Japanese-made vehicles are very common these days," said Smith. "I doubt this is anything more than coincidence."
"There is more, Emperor. In both places the unmistakable bite of a katana blade marked the site of this fiend's depredations."
"Did you say katana?"
"You know it?"
"I believe it is a sword used by the ancient Japanese."
Chiun's voice shifted away. "Remo, Smith recognized katana. Why did you not?"
"I'm having a slow week," Remo said sourly.
"Since 1971?"
"Get off my back!"
Smith interrupted the impending argument. "Master Chiun, I can think of no reason why-"
"There is more. Last night I encountered a foe the like of which I have never encountered."
"Yes'"
"A ronin. Do you know this word?"
"No."
"See?" said Remo. "Even Smith never heard of it.
"Hush. A ronin is a masterless samurai," explained Chiun.
"The samurai clans died out long ago," Smith said.
"Would that it were truly so," Chiun said, sad voiced. "I myself beheld one with my own eyes. He escaped. Stealing our dragon."
"It's Dragoon," Remo inserted.
"With which the fiend made his escape. Otherwise, we would have vanquished him utterly, just as you would wish."
"Er, did Remo see this samurai?"
"This ronin-no. He emerged from the sea while Remo was busy elsewhere. I alone saw him. He moved with great stealth. Fierce was his mien. Great was his skill."
"From the sea, did you say?" asked Harold Smith.
"Yes. Why?"
Smith frowned. A hazy memory tickled his brain. What was it he had seen?
"Nothing," he said, unable to shake the cobwebs from his brain. "It is nothing. Go on."
"Now that we have solved this mystery, we crave a boon, O Emperor."
"What is it?"
"My pupil and I are in dire need of a vacation. We are thinking of sojourning in sweeter climes. Just for a month or two. No more. We will return if needed."
"This assignment is not over."
"I told you he wouldn't fall for it," said Remo.
"Hush, unwise one. O Emperor, will you not reconsider?"
"This assignment is not over. And I do not accept your findings."
"What is wrong with them?"
"If a-er-samurai blocked the right-of-way with a Nishitsu Ninja, how did he get into the cab to behead the engineer?"
"Perhaps he flung his blade into the man's face."
"In that case the blade will be in the wreckage of the cab."
"Not if the samurai recovered it."
"How? The engine traveled over fifty miles before crashing."
"A mere detail."
"You might look into the engine. If a katana turns up, I may reconsider my evaluation."
"It will be done, O Smith."
The line went dead.
"I TOLD You he wouldn't fall for it," said Remo after Chiun hung up. The receiver shattered like so much black glass from the force of Chiun's angry gesture.
"That man is impossible."