Shock value, p.16
Shock Value,
p.16
“No,” said the writer. “There was Ophelia.”
“We’ll have Ophelia with the biggest set of tits since Genghis Khan,” said Bruce.
“Genghis Khan was a man,” Barry Schweid said.
“With a name like Genghis? A man?” said Bruce, shocked. He looked at Hank Bindle. “I think so,” Bindle said. As the creative arm, he was supposed to be able to read newspapers and everything, even ones without pictures.
“Was this Genghis Khan gay?” asked Marmelstein.
“No,” Schweid said. “He was a great Mongol conqueror.”
“I never heard of a mongrel with a name like Khan,” said Marmelstein. “He was probably gay.”
· · ·
When Remo arrived at the condominium, set above the blue waters of Miami Beach, he brought a duck and some rice for the following day’s dinner.
A wisp of a man with delicate strands of white beard and white locks coming down over his ears sat on the veranda. He wore a kimono and did not turn to answer when Remo called his name.
“Little Father,” Remo said again. “Is everything all right?”
Chiun, the Master of Sinanju, said nothing.
Remo did not know if Chiun was being quiet or if he was just ignoring Remo. There was no way that he had not heard him. Chiun could hear an elevator start on the next block.
“I got the duck,” Remo said.
“Yes, of course, the duck,” Chiun said. Right. It was ignoring that he was doing.
“Is something wrong?” Remo asked.
“What should be wrong? I’m used to this.”
“Used to what, Little Father?”
“I said I was used to it.”
Chiun looked out to the sea, his long fingernails folded into each other.
Remo thought, I will not ask. He wants me to ask. Remo started the slow boiling of the rice. He looked back at Chiun and surrendered.
“All right. What are you used to?” he asked.
“I am so used to it I hardly notice.”
“You notice enough to ignore me,” Remo said.
“Some things one cannot shut out, no matter how hard he tries.”
“What?”
“Did you enjoy St. Maarten?” Chiun asked.
“You didn’t want to go. I had to take seventeen brothers all at once by myself. I could have used you. Fortunately, they bunched up so there wasn’t any problem. But you know seventeen is seventeen.”
“Has it come to this?” Chiun asked woefully.
“What?”
“You’re trying to use guilt on your teacher. On the trainer who has given you the awesome power of Sinanju. And now guilt? Guilt for what? For giving you what no white man has ever had? Giving from my own blood and breathing. And then you come here after being gone for a month and you try to make me feel guilty?”
“What did I do?” Remo asked.
“Nothing,” said Chiun and turned to the window in silence.
· · ·
In Miami Beach the next day, the telephone rang. The call was for Remo. Smith would be coming into Miami. Apparently there was something even more important than CURE’s lost files.
Had Remo or Chiun, in their travels, ever heard of a mountain of gold?
About the Authors
WARREN MURPHY was born in Jersey City, where he worked in journalism and politics until launching the Destroyer series with Richard Sapir in 1971. A screenwriter (Lethal Weapon II, The Eiger Sanction) as well as a novelist, Murphy’s work has won a dozen national awards, including multiple Edgars and Shamuses. He has lectured at many colleges and universities, and is currently offering writing lessons at his website, warrenmurphy.com. A Korean War veteran, some of Murphy’s hobbies include golf, mathematics, opera, and investing. He has served on the board of the Mystery Writers of America, and has been a member of the Screenwriters Guild, the Private Eye Writers of America, the International Association of Crime Writers, and the American Crime Writers League. He has five children: Deirdre, Megan, Brian, Ardath, and Devin.
RICHARD BEN SAPIR was a New York native who worked as an editor and in public relations before creating the Destroyer series with Warren Murphy. Before his untimely death in 1987, Sapir had also penned a number of thriller and historical mainstream novels, best known of which were The Far Arena, Quest and The Body, the last of which was made into a film. The book review section of the New York Times called him “a brilliant professional.”
Also by Warren Murphy
The Day Remo Died (a prequel)
The Destroyer Series (#1-25)
Created, The Destroyer
Death Check
Chinese Puzzle
Mafia Fix
Dr. Quake
Death Therapy
Union Bust
Summit Chase
Murder’s Shield
Terror Squad
Kill or Cure
Slave Safari
Acid Rock
Judgment Day
Murder Ward
Oil Slick
Last War Dance
Funny Money
Holy Terror
Assassin’s Playoff
Deadly Seeds
Brain Drain
Child’s Play
King’s Curse
Sweet Dreams
The Destroyer Series (#26-50)
In Enemy Hands
The Last Temple
Ships of Death
The Final Death
Mugger Blood
The Head Men
Killer Chromosomes
Voodoo Die
Chained Reaction
Last Call
Power Play
Bottom Line
Bay City Blast
Missing Link
Dangerous Games
Firing Line
Timber Line
Midnight Man
Balance of Power
Spoils of War
Next of Kin
Dying Space
Profit Motive
Skin Deep
Killing Time
The Destroyer Series (#51-75)
Shock Value
Fool’s Gold
Time Trial
Last Drop
Master’s Challenge
Encounter Group
Date with Death
Total Recall
The Arms of Kali
The End of the Game
Lords of the Earth
The Seventh Stone
The Sky is Falling
The Last Alchemist
Lost Yesterday
Sue Me
Look Into My Eyes
Old Fashioned War
Blood Ties
Eleventh Hour
Return Engagement
Sole Survivor
Line of Succession
Walking Wounded
Rain of Terror
The Trace Series
Trace
And 47 Miles of Rope
When Elephants Forget
Pigs Get Fat
Once a Mutt
Too Old a Cat
Getting up with Fleas
Copyright
This digital edition was published in 2023 by Head of Zeus, Ltd.
If you downloaded this book from a filesharing network, either individually or as part of a larger torrent, the author has received no compensation. Please consider purchasing a legitimate copy—they are reasonably priced, and available from all major outlets. And if you enjoy it, leave a positive review. Your author thanks you.
Copyright © 2023 by Warren Murphy
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons—living or dead—events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Errata
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Warren Murphy, Shock Value
