Acid Rock

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Two phone calls concerning Vickie Stoner were made that night from Pittsburgh.

In a rundown hotel, Dr. Gunner Nilsson managed to convince the desk clerk to get him Switzerland, even though he had to put up a fifty dollar cash deposit before the clerk would complete the call. Nilsson took the call in the lobby, to make sure the clerk did not open the key to listen in.

He said simply, «This is Nilsson. Someone else was after the girl tonight.»

He listened, then said, «All right, they were not yours, but if any of yours show up, the same thing will happen to them.»

He listened again and said «The Darlington Festival? Then that is where this will all end. But I caution you. No more bunglers getting in my way. You might let that be known.»

Then, «Thank you.» Nilsson hung up and went to his room. He had to clean and polish his revolver. Tomorrow would be his moment. He must be ready.

«Who cares what the papers say?» Remo said into the phone.

Patiently, Smith tried to explain again. The body of Lhasa Nilsson had been found and identified. The press had dredged up his background and was now speculating that he had been in this country on a murder contract when he had met his own death. But now, the word was out in the underworld that the Nilsson family was in the country to take revenge against the killers of Lhasa.

«So I care what the papers say,» Smith said. «It means that you and Chiun must be extra careful. Vickie Stoner is now being hunted down by one of the world's great assassins and so, apparently, are you. Be careful. And it would probably improve Vickie Stoner's chances if you could keep her in your sight for more than a minute at a time.»

«Yeah, right, right, right,» Remo said disgustedly.

«Where are you going to pick up the girl?» Smith asked.

«She got away from us tonight in a riot. But we'll nail her at the Darlington music festival and get her away.»

«Be careful.»

«Is worrying written into your job description?» Remo asked, but Smith had already hung up and Remo slammed the phone onto the cradle.

«Dr. Smith worries?» Chiun asked.

«Yes. It seems the Nilsson house is after us because of what you did to Lhasa Nilsson.»

«Of course, they are,» Chiun said, shaking his head sadly. «But that is always the way with upstart houses. They take everything personally.»

«But we don't?» Remo said.

«You do, but I don't. It is the difference between the keeper of a tradition, and something the cat dragged in.»

Remo was now as annoyed at Chiun as he had been at Smith.

«Well, you better go easy, Chiun. I understand these Nilssons are good. And they're no upstart house. They've been at it for six hundred years.»

«Still upstarts,» Chiun said. «The House of Sinanju existed when the Nilssons were still living in mud huts.»

«Well, Smith says be careful.»

«You should take his advice,» Chiun said.