"What is it?" Nancy gasped.
"I just remembered. We don't have a phone."
"Oh, no."
"Maybe the guy who put me on to this can help."
"And who might that be?"
"Don't ask."
"I won't," Nancy said, lifting an arch eyebrow.
As Nancy watched, Remo blocked the phone with his body and touched a key. She didn't see which. But he held it down without dialing further.
A moment later, he was speaking in low tones. Nancy caught only cryptic snatches of the conversation.
"Think you can help?" Remo finished. He listened a few minutes and said, "Great."
He hung up grinning. "The new phone is supposed to be installed today. He's going to put an expedite on it. Could be hooked up within the hour."
"Whoever he is, he must have a lot of clout if he's plugged into Burger Triumph's grapevine and AT
Remo's grin turned tentative. "So, what do you want to do to kill time?"
"Care to hear some dinosaur stories?"
"Is there a second option?"
"Unfortunately, no."
Remo's face fell. He dropped into a chair and folded his arms defensively. "Okay, but be gentle. I don't want all my illusions shattered."
The phone rang as Remo was trying to grapple with the concept of dinosaurs being neither warm-blooded nor coldblooded, but capable of shunting between metabolic options.
"I liked the dinosaurs we had when I was a kid better than these new ones," Remo muttered unhappily. "You knew where you stood with them."
Laughing, Nancy put the receiver to her ear and said, "Hello?" then jerked the earpiece away as if it was hot.
"Chiun, right?" said Remo.
"He seems more than a little upset."
Remo accepted the handset and said, "What's up, Little Father?"
Out of the receiver came a horrendous squeak.
"Remo, Remo, a calamity has happened!"
"I know, but with your help, I think we can get Nancy reinstated."
Chiun's voice grew annoyed. "What are you babbling about?"
"Nancy got the old heave-ho. What are you talking about?"
"I am speaking of my terrible encounter while exploring the streets near my castle."
"Mugger?"
"Worse," Chiun spat. "I encountered a Vietnamese."
"Uh-oh."
"The neighborhood is rife with Vietnamese. I also saw a woman I took to be Chinese. Or possibly a Filipina. "
"But no Japanese, right?"
"I am afraid to find out. Oh, Remo this is impossible. I cannot dwell among lowly Vietnamese. What would my ancestors say?"
"Lock the castle door every night?"
Chiun grew so angry he hissed.
"Okay, okay, you're pissed. Smith got you again. Why don't you take it up with him? He gave you this number, right?"
"I was so beside myself. I did not know what to say. I have accepted his castle and signed his contract. I am bound by these things, Remo."
"So we move. I can live with that. But skip it for now. Listen, Nancy needs your help."
Chiun's voice grew cool. "The woman knows my price."
"Forget dinosaur toes for a minute. We're on Smith's clock now. No perks."
"Pah! I am too distraught to think properly."
"We need to ring Cheeta Ching in on this," Remo said.
Immediately, the Master of Sinanju's voice grew softer.
"Cheeta. Smith wishes me to contact beauteous Cheeta?"
"Right away. Here's what you tell her ...."
The first thing Cheeta Ching wanted to know when she heard the familiar voice of the Master of Sinanju was, "Is Ringo with you, Grandfather?"
"Ringo?"