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?"
"I have looked into his background. Shortsleeve and two other men went on a camping trip in August 1977. The murdered man was found shot with Shortsleeve's rifle. Shortsleeve has steadfastly maintained his innocence from the trial to now. He claimed the third man on the trip, a coworker named Doyce Deek actually committed the murder. But Deek insisted it was Shortsleeve."
"One man's word against the other, huh?"
"The evidence against Shortsleeve was otherwise circumstantial," Smith admitted. "If Deek did it, he might be persuaded to confess."
"Got a line on Deek?"
"He is now living in Gillette, Wyoming. No visible means of support."
"Wyoming. I'm on my way."
"I am not going with you," Chiun called out. "My days are growing short and I wish to savor every precious hour."
"What is Master Chiun saying?" Smith asked.
Remo sighed. "He took a fancy to the Bronto."
"I am not surprised. It is a remarkable find. I would like to see it myself."
"Chiun is disappointed he didn't come away with a souvenir. Like a big toe."
"A big toe?"
"Seems dinosaur bones are the main ingredient to some witch's brew that makes Masters of Sinanju live to ripe old ages."
"Great longevity can be yours, too, Emperor Smith," Chiun called out. "Just speak the words that will speed me on my way."
"Tell Master Chiun I have no wish to live beyond my allotted span," Smith told Remo.
"Not only great longevity, but virility belongs to he who partakes of the bones of the dragon," Chiun proclaimed.
"Er, I am virile enough, thank you," said Smith.
"Don't tell me, tell him," Remo said sourly. He put his hand over his mouthpiece. "Nice try Chiun, but Mrs. Smith is built like an overstuffed sofa. I think Smith could care less about his virility."
"He does not know what he is missing."
Remo took his hand off the mouthpiece. "Okay, Smitty. I'll bundle Chiun on the next magic carpet to Castle Sinanju and get on my way to deal with this Deek character."
When Remo had replaced the receiver, he found the Master of Sinanju looking up to the night sky, his face forlorn.
"I am unappreciated."
"You are not. You own a brand spanking new castle. "
"I am unappreciated in a foreign land and a castle will no longer console me, for I do not know how long I will have to enjoy it." He shut his eyes.
"I knew this wouldn't last," Remo said. "Come on. Let's find some transportation. Smith has an assignment for me."
Chiun eyed Remo suspiciously. "You are trying to get out of cooking dinner."
"I'll buy you dinner at the airport, okay?"
"I am being abandoned at an airport. I never thought you would stoop this low, Remo."
"Stoop to what?"
"Parent dumping. I have seen this terrible practice on television. Cheeta Ching decries it often. Now it is my turn. I am being dumped."
"You are not being dumped!"
Chiun bowed his aged head. "I am being fed a farewell meal and left to fend for myself."
"Oh, cut it out."
At the airport, the Master of Sinanju announced that he was not hungry.
"You sure?" asked Remo, suspiciously.
"I am sure that I am being abandoned."
"Bulldookey."
"But do not think simply because I am being abandoned by you," Chiun said in the loud, attention-getting voice. "that you no longer owe me a final meal."
"Keep it down, will you?"
A passing stewardess stopped, set down her folding baggage cart, and asked, "Is there a problem here?"
She directed her question at Chiun not Remo.
"No, no problem," Remo said quickly.
"I am being abandoned by my adopted son," Chiun said plaintively, lifting a corner of his kimono sleeve to one eye.
The stewardess glared at Remo, "You should be ashamed of yourself. This poor old man."
"Look, I have to get him on the next flight to Boston."
"Do you live in Boston, sir?" This to Chiun.