"You had best hurry," suggested Chiun, blotting the writing on his scroll. "I have chartered the helicopter by the hour. "
The village came out to watch the Master of Sinanju depart. The lazy whirl of the helicopter blades fanned their stricken faces.
"Do not fear, my people," Chiun called from the helicopter's side. "For I will return sooner than you think. Until then, faithful Pullyang will head the village."
Remo loaded the last steamer trunk into a hatch on the helicopter's skin. Then he looked around for Jilda. She stood a little off from the villagers, holding Freya's tiny hand. The helicopter blades picked up speed.
"Come, Remo," Chiun said, climbing aboard.
"Hold your horses," said Remo, walking toward Jilda. "I have to go," Remo told her. "But I'll be back. Will you wait for me?"
"Where do you go, Remo?"
"America. I'm going to end the Dutchman's threat once and for all."
"Remo, hurry," Chiun called querulously. "The meter is running."
Remo ignored him. "I have to go. Please wait for me."
"I do not think so, Remo. I do not think you will return. "
"Look, I promise to come back."
"I do not belong here. Neither do you, I think."
"Remo!" Chiun's voice was strident.
"I'm coming," Remo snapped. The backwash of the helicopter blew Jilda's green cloak open. "Look, if you won't wait for me here, come with me. Now."
"That I will not do."
"Then meet me in America. We can talk there."
"Are you going, Daddy?" asked Freya.
Remo picked her up. "I have to, little girl."
Freya started to cry. "I wanted you to meet my pony," she cried. "I don't want you to go. Mommy, don't let Daddy go. He may never come back. "
"It can't hurt to meet me in America," Remo pleaded. "You don't have to decide anything just yet."
"I will consider it," said Jilda.
"That's something," said Remo. "Here, stop crying, Freya."
"I can't. I'm scared."
Remo set Freya down and knelt in front of her. He brushed a tear aside with his finger. "Let Daddy show you how never to be scared."
"How?" Freya asked petulantly.
"By breathing. Take a deep breath. That's right, hold it in. Now, pretend this finger is a candle. Quick, exhale!" Freya blew on Remo's upraised finger.
"Okay," said Remo, touching her heart. "That was breathing from the chest. But you want to breathe from down here," he said, tapping her round stomach. "Try it again."
Freya inhaled. This time, at Remo's instruction, she let it out slowly.
"Didn't that feel better?" Remo asked tenderly.
"Oh, yes! I feel all tingly. Not scared at all."
"That's Sinanju. A little hunk of it anyway. Keep practicing that way," Remo said, getting to his feet, "and you'll grow up to be big and strong. Like your mother."
Jilda smiled. She kissed Remo slowly, awkwardly, her bandaged arms held away from her body.
"In America," Remo said, and he whispered the where and when in her ear.
"Perhaps," said Jilda.
"Good-bye, Daddy. Can I have the hug you can't give Mommy? I'll give it to her later for you."
"You sure can," Remo said, squeezing her tight.
Then, walking backward because he wanted to hold their image in his mind as long as possible, Remo returned to the helicopter. It lifted off before his feet left the ground.
Remo settled in beside Chiun. He waved out the open door. Jilda and Freya waved back until long after they had become dots that disappeared under the helicopter's wheels.
"What were you doing with that child?" Chiun asked, pulling his unfinished scroll from his kimono.
"I was just showing Freya how not to be afraid."
"You were showing her early Sinanju breathing. You were wasting your time."
"How do you know that?"
"Because women do not know how to breathe. And never will," said Chiun, untying the scroll's blue ribbon.
"What's that?"
"You tell me, trainer of females."
"Looks like a scroll. Blue ribbon. A birth announcement?"
"You have the mind of a grasshopper," said Chiun, starting to write.
"Quick, and leaps high?"