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in New York City。 The ring was three karats…if flawless； a fine stone。
The shoes oozed the subtle richness of expensive leather。 Wife of manufacturer or leading citizen； on shopping trip to New York； and if convenient； unplicated lay for herself。
Estimating clothes and accoutrements had been one of his poorer programs during training。 But he was good enough to trust himself。 As much as indicating wealth； clothes tell you what a person wants you to believe。 Invariably； that could give you a handle。
Remo Pelham answered the question： 〃Riverside Drive overlooks the Hudson。 It's pretty。〃
〃Where on Riverside； Mac？〃
〃Anywhere；〃 Remo told the driver。
〃You； too； lady？〃
〃If I wouldn't be bothering anyone；〃 she said。
Remo Pelham said nothing。 He said nothing as he paid the driver at 96th Street and Riverside Drive and got slowly out of the cab。 He did not turn around nor offer to help the woman with her luggage。
Remo Pelham did not need luggage。 Neither did a half dozen other names he lived by。 He walked to the low stone wall and stared out across the Hudson； glimmering in the hot September day。
Across that river and beyond the decaying docks of Hoboken； in the city of Newark； a young policeman had been tried； found guilty of murder and executed at the state penitentiary。 A young policeman who swallowed a pill from a。 priest who had offered last rites and promised him not eternal life； but life。 He had taken the pill； passed out in the electric chair； and awakened to hear a story from a man with a hook for a hand。 The story was this：
The American constitution didn't work and was working less each year。 Criminals； using the safeguards of the constitution； daily increased in number and strength。 The next step was a police state。 Machiavelli's classic perception of chaos and then repression。
Should the government scrap the constitution？ Or allow the country to e apart？ There was a third choice。 Suppose an organization outside the government evened the odds？ An organization which could not transcend the constitution because the organization would never exist？
If it never existed； who could say the constitution didn't work？ And when the odds were more even； the organization which did not exist would quietly close shop。 Closing shop would be very easy。 Only four people knew for sure what CURE did…the highest elected official； Harold W。 Smith； who was the operations head； Conrad MacCleary； the man with the hook who was the recruiter and now； the latest addition； the young policeman Remo Williams who had officially died the night before in an electric chair。
It was the high elected official who had given the！ go…ahead for what Remo would do。 What he would do was kill。 When all else failed； he would kill。
〃But why me？〃 Remo had asked。
〃A lot of things；〃 MacCleary； the recruiter； had answered。 〃I saw you in operation in Nam。 According to a shrink who didn't know why he was testing young policemen； you have a pulsion to mete out punishment； a vengeance fixation； he called it。 Frankly； I think he's a bag of wind。 I want you becuase I've seen you move。〃
It was a good explanation。 Incredibly plex training followed at the hands of Chiun； an aged Korean； who could kill with a fingernail and in whose parchment hands anything became a lethal weapon。 And then Remo saw the man with the hook again。 He saw him dying and he had orders to kill him。
That had been eight years ago and now he didn't even have an old jacket。 Everything was new； nothing had worth。 The Hudson breathed its stink of civilization out into the Atlantic； a giant sewer from a civilization that made everything a sewer。
〃It certainly is a lovely river；〃 said the woman。
〃Lady；〃 said Remo Pelham； 〃you've got taste up your ass。〃
As he began to walk away； she shrieked； 〃What about my luggage？ You can't leave me here with this luggage。 I came with you。 You're the man！ You've got to do something about this luggage。〃
And Remo took care of the luggage； a large heavy suitcase and a small modeling box； by flipping them over the dark stone wall to the West Side Highway forty yards below where they burst on the roof of a passing Cadillac。
CHAPTER FOUR
The bitter…faced man sat just beyond the spotlight's reach； his legs crossed； his left elbow on the small round table； his right hand resting in the crook of the opposite elbow。 He wore a gray suit； white shirt and gray tie。 His rimless glasses occasionally reflected the light as did his precision bed hairline with its micrometer…straight part。
He did not move from this position for fifteen minutes； not when the voluptuous dancer strained in sweaty ecstasy against the confines of her beads； or when joyful enthusiasts threw dollar bills onto the floor or stuffed them in her jeweled breast cups。 Smoke curled to the ceiling。 Sweets…loaded trays hovered over the heads of scurrying waiters。 The plinking excitement of the bouzoukis caught the audience in its rhythms and joys and shrieks of life。 The man did not move。
One man moved； almost floating through the dark crowd to the table of the bitter…faced man。
〃You're as obvious as a bowl of garbage； in Tiffany's；〃 said the man known as Remo Pelham。
〃Good to see you。 I want to congratulate you on your selection as director of security for Brewster Forum。〃
〃You're sitting here like a stone。 Don't you think some one might wonder what a man who acts like an embahner is doing in the Port Alexandria？ Isn't it obvious you're here to meet someone？〃
〃So what？〃
〃So look as if you're having some fun。 After all； aren't we playing the sex…frustrated executive who frequents places like this for voyeuristic thrills？〃
〃Something like that。 Even better； the noise levels here have been checked out。〃
〃You don't look like a voyeur；〃 Remo insisted。 〃You aren't even interested hi the women。〃
〃I'm interested in getting out of here。 Now listen… Dammit； why the hell do I have so much trouble with you？ Listen。〃 Smith leaned forward as a new dancer came center floor to heavy applause。
〃You look upset。〃
〃I am。 Listen。 You will meet a man on the Staten Island ferry leaving the Battery at 11 a。m。 tomorrow。 He will be wearing a blue and red striped tie and carrying a gray wrapped package the size of a briefcase。 It's heavy because it's a water case around water soluble documents。 Pictures and biographies。 You can get the documents out dry using the Oriental string puzzle Chiun says you know。〃
〃How is Chiun？〃
〃Dammit； will you listen？〃
〃Will you tell me how Chiun is？〃
〃He's fine。〃
〃He was worried about his arteries。〃
〃I don't know about his arteries。 He's always fine。 Now listen。 Major point。 Brewster Forum is of utmost importance to the country； maybe the world。 Your predecessor was one of ours at a low level。 He was murdered； even though it was covered as a suicidal overdose of heroin。 He stumbled onto something。〃
〃What？〃
〃We're not sure。 Pornographic photos of the top staff at the forum。 The photos are genuine。 But still the whole thing doesn't ring true。 You'll see that when you meet the staff。 And check resume four against pictures 10； 11； and 12。〃
〃It doesn't sound like it's in my line；〃 Rem