Smith stood with a stupid expression on his face. "Dead," he said weakly. "She's dead."
"We will scour these Everglades," cried Chiun. "We will recover the body of the emperor's wife so that she may be buried with honor." And he kicked the corpse in spite.
"No," said Harold Smith. "No. Just . . . just take me back to Folcroft. Please."
Chapter 30
Dr. Harold W. Smith walked stiffly into his office. It was late at night, and outside the picture window a heavy snow was falling.
"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Remo asked gently. "Wouldn't you rather be home?"
"There is nothing there for me anymore," Smith said dully, dropping into his age-cracked leather chair. "Folcroft is my home now."
Smith got out the red phone and waited while the line automatically rang an identical phone in the bedroom of the President of the United States.
After a moment, Smith spoke.
"My report, Mr. President. I regret to inform you that Ferris D'Orr is dead. Murdered by kidnappers.... Yes, it is regrettable. My person did all he could. However, the nebulizer is secure and we have eliminated the persons responsible. There will be no more difficulty from that quarter."
Smith paused, listening. Finally he said, "Thank you for understanding, Mr. President," and hung up.
"I don't get you, Smitty," said Remo. He had been wanting to ask him a question, but during the flight back, Smith had insisted, for security reasons, on not sitting with them on the plane. "That was your wife we left back there. Why wouldn't you let us hunt for the body?"
"And how would I have reported her death?" asked Smith bitterly. "Any police inquiry would automatically include questioning me. They would ask for my whereabouts on the day of the murder. They would place me in Florida and then what would I tell them? CURE's security would have been jeopardized."
"Is the organization so important that you couldn't take the risk?" Remo asked.
"CURE is all I have now," Smith said tonelessly.
"How will you explain away her disappearance?" wondered Remo.
"I'll think of something."
"Where's Chiun?" asked Remo suddenly. "I thought he was right behind me."
"I saw him talking to a guard on the way in. Why don't you go to him, Remo? I would prefer to be alone just now."
"Yeah, I know how it is."
"No, you do not," Smith said flatly.
Before Remo could leave, the Master of Sinanju breezed into the room. He was not alone.
Smith looked up, shock melting the haggardness of his features into surprised joy.
"You're alive!"
"Oh, Harold." said Mrs. Smith, running into his arms. "It was awful. I met one of your nurses. She took me to the most horrible man. He said he knew you. They tied me up and I thought they were going to kidnap me or something like that. The last thing I recall was asking for some water and then I woke up in a dark room filled with garden tools. I thought I was going to starve to death until this kind gentleman found me."
"Where? How?" asked Remo in Korean.
The Master of Sinanju beamed. "Emperor Smith gave up too easily. On the way in, I spoke to a guard. Smith's security is too tight. All leaving vehicles are searched. No one could have spirited out a kidnapped woman beyond these walls. So I looked around Fortress Folcroft until I found a woman who looked like she would be married to Smith."
Remo nodded in understanding. "Where was she?"
"In the basement."
"Good going, Little Father," said Remo.
Harold Smith released his wife from the grip that threatened to crush her.
"Please wait outside, dear," he said quietly. "I must speak to these men in private. I'll be with you directly."
"Hurry, Harold," said Mrs. Smith. She smiled at the Master of Sinanju, her rescuer, in gratitude and slipped out of the room.
Smith cleared his throat noisily. "Master of Sinanju, I can't thank you enough. Ask anything."
Chiun bowed. "I ask only that I be allowed to continue in your generous employ for the duration of our contract. "
"Done," said Smith.
"Hey!" cried Remo. "I thought we were going to discuss this."
"We just have," said Chiun placidly.
"I didn't get a word in edgewise."
"Can I help it if you are slow on the uptake? Perhaps the leisurely pace of life in Sinanju has dulled your formerly quick reflexes."
"You old pirate," said Remo. "What am I going to do now?"
"You can return to Sinanju and await my possible return," said Chiun. "Or you can demonstrate your strength of character and delay your return until I am free to accompany you."
"I am prepared to let you rejoin the organization, Remo," Smith interjected. "I'm very grateful to you both."
Remo paced the floor. "Nothing doing! Christ, Chiun, you always have to do this to me!"
"I do not know what he is talking about, Emperor," Chiun confided to Smith. "He has not been himself since the engagement. I think it is the premarriage jitters. Perhaps Remo is not yet ready to settle down."
"I'm ready to settle down," Remo said. "You're just not ready to let me settle down. All right, all right, I'll make you both a deal."
Chiun cocked his aged head to one side. "Yes?" he asked.
"You're stuck working for Smith for the next year. Right?"
"Not stuck," said Chiun. "Privileged."