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.Did he not understand that this was no longer necessary?It was fortunate that his adopted son, the prince general, had had theforesight to revoke this command.It had bought them time.Allah, as always, had provided.First with the immediate release of thehostages, and then with the mysterious secret offensive plans of the Iraitiinvader.The winds of war were being blown away like the sands of the desert.Soonthere would be peace.Then further word had come from Washington, in the form of a privatecommunication from the President himself.It had been hand-delivered by theU.S.ambassador.The text was brief."The one known to you as Chiun requests an audience.He will arrive shortly."Upon reading these words, Sheik Fareem looked up, his wizened old facescrewing into a dry pucker of confusion."What madness is this?" he muttered, stroking his beard."Master Chiun isdead."He ruminated upon this, drinking watered yogurt and fingering ivory worrybeads, and decided the only answer was an unfortunate one.He was in leaguewith the deranged.First they wanted war.Then they did not.Now they claimedto be sending him a dead man.The sheik made a phone call.He was told that the personal aircraft carriercommissioned for his adopted son was still three years away from completion."I will pay triple if you deliver by Wednesday," the sheik implored."Impossible," said the shipyard supervisor."You don't crank out an aircraftcarrier like a stock car.""Quadruple.""Your highness, if I could I would.""All right," the sheik said testily."Quintuple! But no higher, you bandit!""I'd love to take your money," the man said sincerely, "but it's impossible.We just can't deliver an aircraft carrier on such short notice.""Somewhere," growled Sheik Abdul Hamid Fareem just before he hung up thephone, "there is someone who can." He knew the white was lying.But he wouldnot pay two billion dollars for a mere aircraft carrier.The prince generalwould have to wait.And the House of Hamid would have to find a way to solvePage 31 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlthis matter through the Americans.When, hours later, the Master of Sinanju was announced, Sheik Fareem awokewith a start."Show him in," said the sheik, gathering his red-and-brown-striped thobe abouthis body, for he trembled in anticipation.And upon beholding the sight of a short, wrinkled visage he had thought neveragain to see again in life, the sheik wept tears of joy and cried, "Master ofSinanju! Boundless is my joy on this day.For only you can assist me.I ambeset my madmen.""Salaam Aleikim," intoned the Master of Sinanju gravely."I have come to dealwith the madman known as Maddas Hinsein.For he has cost me my only son."The sheik started.He said, "Maddas is dead.Which I believed you to be, as well.As for yourson, I know only that he was the perpetrator of that glorious deed."Chiun shook his age-racked head."No.The evil one lives.As for my son, he is beyond salvation.For he hasfulfilled his ultimate destiny at last.As for me, I have come back from thevery Void to deal with these things."Sheik Fareem compressed his lips into a thin line.His ancestors had come topower with Dar al-Sinanju-the House of Sinanju-by their side.They had waxedpowerful under their guidance.Their enemies had fallen like the sugar datesfrom the palms when the Masters of Sinanju of old had willed it.Before him stood a man who looked a thousand years older than when last theymet less than a decade ago.The man he had believed dead.Now he resembled a mummy come back to life.There was no spark in his eyes.No vibrancy in his low, squeaky voice.It was as if all the juices of life had been squeezed from the old Korean,leaving only a steely purpose and no hope, no joy at all."What is your desire, friend of my forefathers?" Sheik Fareem asked at last."It may be a war is to be fought.You will need a general.""I have a general, my adopted son.He is-""For what is coming," Chiun said, "you will need a general like none to befound in your kingdom
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