"Explain these survival tactics to me."
"Verapaz surrounds himself with loyal companeros, much as you do."
"Thus, my strategy is equal to his."
"Yes, except that Verapaz does not eat his loyal ones."
"Nor do I. I assimilate them. None are converted into waste products for disposal. The absorbed become inextricable from my present form. Nothing is wasted."
"This is good. For waste is bad. But having consumed your fill, is it not better to permit your followers to protect you with their numbers, their courage and their willingness to sacrifice themselves for you?"
"They appear to be gratified by the sacrifice."
"Yes, we must have sacrifice. I agree. Let us sacrifice others. Let us from this moment forward vow solemnly to sacrifice only our enemies. For my ancestors understood that to eat the brains and flesh of their enemies imbued them with the strength and skills of the vanquished."
"This is reasonable."
"Bueno. I am glad that you agree, Coatlicue. Now, come. Oaxaca lies behind this mountain before us. We must reach the seat of your temporal power on earth, where you will rule inviolate."
"Yes, l will rule. For ruling brings me followers and power, and these are the elements that will ensure my survival. "
"And mine," muttered Rodrigo Lujan under his breath.
Chapter 34
Blood hung in the air.
Remo and Chiun picked up the metallic taste in the still jungle air. The ground under their feet rumbled slightly.
"Aftershock," said Remo.
They moved through the jungle with the stealthy ease of jungle cats, following the scent. It was strong. Stronger than the pungent scent of crushed onion grass left by the trampling feet of their quarry. Their careful feet picked bare spots to land, crushing no grass and leaving no trail. They had abandoned the Humvee.
"It is the blood of men," Chiun intoned.
Remo nodded. "I smell gunpowder, too."
"We near our quarry."
"Maybe. Maybe not."
They came upon the dead bodies in a clearing. They wore the khaki uniforms of federal Mexican army soldiers.
"Shot," said Remo, looking them over.
There was a coffin. But no one inside.
"Looks like they had Verapaz in that coffin, took him out to execute him but were ambushed first," Remo concluded.
Chiun's hazel eyes were intent upon the ground. Starting from the coffin, he began walking in a widening circle.
"The footprints of men go this way," he said, pointing to the west.
Remo joined him.
"I count three."
Chiun nodded. "Two are hours old, one more recent."
Remo checked the bodies. "The commander said something about a colonel. There are blood spots here and the impression of a body, but no body. I think the colonel was wounded but got up."
"Yes, these are the prints of a colonel's boots."
"Now, how can you tell that?"
"Because I am Reigning Master and I have fingernails of the correct length."
Remo grunted skeptically. He looked around. "I guess we have a hike ahead of us."
"You may continue to carry my trunk."
"Thanks," Remo said dryly.
And taking the trunk up on his shoulder, Remo faced the Master of Sinanju, saying, "If I see a locker anywhere, I'm stashing this for the duration."
"Do not dare."
"You're just busting my chops, hoping I'll cave in to your little blackmail scam."
"You will," said Chiun.
"I will not."
"The night is young, and the trunk will only get more heavy."
"Actually it's pretty light. What did you say was inside?"
"I did not say. But in exchange for a solemn vow to free your nails, I will allow you to peer inside."
"No, thanks."
"I will not make this generous offer again."
"Good. Because I'm not falling for it."
They continued on. His curiosity aroused, Remo laid an ear against a lapis lazuli phoenix. A faint sound came from the trunk. It was hard to place, but Remo had a growing suspicion that he was carrying approximately five million loose toothpicks.