"Thank you," she said.
"When we go into war tomorrow, you want to go with us?"
"Who are we fighting?" she asked.
"Other Arabs," Remo said.
"Not Israelis?" she said, disappointed.
"No. Arabs."
Melody's face brightened. "But they're Arab renegades whose minds have been poisoned by the corrupt Western beliefs and who are lackeys of the United States and therefore deserve death, right?"
"Right," said Remo wearily.
"It is my duty to go with you to let the world know of our army's glories," Melody Wakefield said.
"Good. You can ride in the front car," Remo said. "Strapped over the hood."
"All right," Chiun said. "Now jump up onto that stallion."
"I don't jump so well," said Abdul, the son of Sheik Fareem. He was wearing a silk shirt and silk pantaloons.
"It is time to learn," Chiun said. "You will lead your father's army into battle tomorrow."
"I don't want to learn jumping," Abdul said.
"Whenever I want somebody to jump, I hire a jumper. Why should I learn to jump? Give me a week or two. I'll advertise in the London Times. I'll get you jumpers. Probably in London right now, there are a couple of hundred people who can jump onto a horse. I'll hire one. Two if you want. I'll hire them all for you." \
"You must do it," Chiun said severely.
"It'll make me sweat."
"And I will make you cry," Chiun said.
"Is that a threat?" Abdul asked.
They were standing in a clearing in the rear of the oasis, far from the tents of the village.
"Yes," Chiun said mildly.
"Please explain to me why," Abdul said.
"You are going to lead your father's army into battle tomorrow. You have to be able to lead them by your example. They are not likely to follow anybody who falls off his horse. You think I am being unkind to you, but I, the Master of Sinanju, tell you that the only way to train is to work one's body unto pain."
"Where can I buy pain?" Abdul said.
"Get on that horse."
"No."
"You will not have to buy pain," Chiun said. "I will give you some for free." He reached forward and with one long-nailed finger touched Abdul's side through his shirt. It felt like sticking his finger into tapioca.
Abdul turned, Chiun's finger still in his side, and tried to scurry up onto the back of the patiently waiting stallion. His left foot kept missing the stirrup.
"Get up there," Chiun growled.
"I'm trying. I'm trying. Stop hurting my side."
Finally, Chiun released the fat man's side, grabbed the back of his right calf with his hand, and lofted Abdul up into the saddle. It took twenty seconds for Abdul to get himself back in balance. Finally, he was seated upright. He looked down at Chiun, then kicked his feet into the horse and galloped it away.
He stopped twenty yards from Chiun. He did not
know how to turn the horse around, so he looked back over his shoulder at the old man.
"I don't think you understand. I am the next sheik."
"And your father has assigned me to train you."
"I don't want a Korean trainer. I want an American trainer. Everybody knows Americans cost more than Koreans."
Chiun thought for a moment about calling the horse back to him, pulling Abdul off, and punishing him, but decided it was not worth the effort. He watched silently as Abdul rode away, trying to hold onto the horse and not fall off, bouncing his big body from side to side with each step of the stallion.
Then Chiun heard a sound behind him and turned to see a young woman walk from behind the trees.
"I am Zantos," she said. "I apologize for my husband, Master."
"I apologize to you for letting him live another day," Chiun said.
"How will we war tomorrow if Abdul is not ready?" she asked. He noticed that she had bright, direct green eyes that looked into his face with confidence and intelligence.
"I do not know. I will think of something," Chiun said.
"You will not battle against your own son," she said.
"You know Remo? And that he is my son in heart?" Chiun asked.
"Yes. I warned him that there were those who would try to kill him."
Chiun paused. Remo had known about the death attempt to be made on him but had done nothing. Instead, he had wanted to test Chiun to see if Chiun would save him. As Chiun had.
"No, child. I will not raise my hand against my son."
"I am happy for that," Zantos said. She glanced around to make sure that no one was in earshot, then stepped closer to Chiun. "I will warn you now, Master,
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