Nancy waggled fingers back. Weakly.
Then she sat down and had herself a good shake.
"This isn't happening," she told herself.
Not long after, the main hatch was ripped free and Nancy pounded down the steps and out.
"Check it out," Remo said, face calm.
She ran past him and to the rear. The Apatosaur was still in a drug-induced stupor. She found no marks on his leathery orange hide and breathed a long sign of relief.
Chiun appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. "Do not worry, it has all its toes."
"I don't know how you did it, but-"
Something rumbled up on the high ground. A horn honked. It sounded like a diesel truck, and they all looked toward the high end of the beach.
Monster headlights appeared first, shooting rays into the night sky. Then as the great forward tires eased down into the soft sand, they dipped, blinding them.
"What on earth is that?" Nancy breathed.
"At a guess, the official Brontomobile," Remo said.
With a hiss of air brakes, the lumbering multiwheeled vehicle came to a stop. The headlights were doused, and they were able to see again.
"Looks like a missile carrier," Remo ventured.
"Leave it to King to buy the biggest toys," Nancy sighed.
"And we'll leave it to you to get the Bronto onto that thing safely, okay?"
"Where are you going?"
"Our work is done. So this is where we cut out."
Nancy grinned. "Didn't the Lone Ranger say that once?"
Chiun lifted his chin. "I am not leaving without proper compensation."
"You have your castle," Remo said. "So what's the beef?"
"Castle?" Nancy asked.
"Long story. Catch you around sometime."
Remo started away. On impulse, Nancy reached out and snagged his lean arm. It felt as strong as it should-given the fact that he had just disassembled a giant aircraft without resorting to tools.
"I owe you a lot," Nancy said simply. "Care to swap phone numbers?"
Remo hesitated. Reluctantly, Nancy let go of his arm, her brow furrowing. "I know I crushed your childhood fantasies, but-"
"We do not have a telephone," Chiun said.
"We don't even have furniture yet," Remo added. "Tell you what, give me your number."
Nancy handed him a business card.
Remo looked at it. "Cryptozoology?"
Nancy smiled. "Call me sometime. I'll explain it to you. Deal?"
"Deal."
And then they were gone.
Nancy's eyes went to the crew scampering down from the dinosaur hauler, back to the Apatosaur sleeping peacefully in the exploded hull of the ekranoplane, and she mumbled to herself, "I don't know how I'm going to explain all this." Then she shrugged mentally and added, "Then again, why should I? This is B'wana King's responsibility. Let him explain it."
She smiled as she ran to meet the carrier crew.
Chapter 16
Remo and Chiun had to walk two miles before they found a roadside payphone.
"Well, I feel good," Remo was saying. "I did my good deed for the week."
"May you feel so elated at my funeral," Chiun said bitterly.
Remo frowned, "Look. One, I don't believe that crap about dragon bones being the fountain of youth. And two it wasn't a dragon. And saving it was our mission. Smith will be happy."
"Not when he learns that he is doomed to a too-short life due to your inflexibility."
"Got news for you," Remo said, fishing into his pockets for a quarter, "I don't think Smith will buy into that fable, either."
The Master of Sinanju turned his back on his pupil. Remo thumbed the one button down until the automated dialing system brought him Harold Smith's lemony voice.
"Remo. Where are you?"
"The wilds of Delaware. Mission accomplished. The Bronto is on the beach. They should be loading him onto the carrier about now. And best of all, we have the eternal gratitude of a Dr. Nancy Derringer, who gave me her card. It says she's a cryptozoologist, whatever that is."
"It is one who searches for creatures who may or may not exist," said Smith, showing no surprise at learning the dinosaur was real. "I am pleased all went well. And I have interesting news for you."
"Yeah?"
"You will remember Roy Shortsleeve, the death row inmate you believe is innocent?"
"Yeah?"