MANY THOUSANDS OF MILES WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH DISTANCE219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmMNuJGGt9
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo6nRZXQaI
Lost in his memories, Robinson sat before the glowing embers of a bonfire.  Most of his fellow workers had retired to the tents; the night was quiet.  From the cooktent came an occasional clatter of pots; the men there worked long shifts.  The night guard, riding through the compound, looked at the man by the fireside, and decided there was no real reason to interfere.  The strange one, he thought.  A hill, but not like the others.  Kind of a loner.  Works like through men, though, and that's the important thing.

The guard rode on.

Inside the tent, huddled around the single candle, three men sat talking while the other slept.  Hoga said, "I heard the story from two men, neither of whom knows the other.  The details were the same."

"It hardly seems possible," Kimoto said. His face was bleak in the candlelight.  Yoshihiro, huddled in blankets, said nothing. "I don't want to believe it is true," Kimoto said, "he is a good man.  He is gentle and peaceful.  If I know nothing else, I know this."

"I heard the story from two men," Hoga repeated.  He took pleasure in conveying this knowledge to them.  He was willing to admit this.  Let them see what was the nature of their Korean Hwrangdo!  They would surely listen to him again.  The priest had dazzled their minds but Hoga was still their true leader.  He knew this.  They would turn to him again...

"If the story is true it is not to say this priest is the same man," Yoshiihiro said quietly.  "Everything is rumors, third-hand, lies."

"I know everyone," Hoga said.  "While you have given up, resigned yourself to your lives, I have kept my eyes open, and have circulated through this camp.  Do you doubt me?  I have been here for almost a year, longer than any of the rest of you.  There is no doubt. This priest is the same man.  All of the details are correct."

"Why then," Kimoto said after a long pause, "why would he come here?"

Hoga smiled and his teeth were deadly in the fires. "A man runs a long way with a price on his head for murder," he said.  "This man did the unthinkable – took the life of a U.S. Marine on Korean soil.  He impaled the Marine with a stolen bayonet, a crime that's got everyone, including his fellow Koreans, stirred up.   Many thousands of miles would not be enough distance for me if I had done this and I am not a Hwarango priest who thrives on distance."

"If that is so," Kimoto said slowly as if he were just understanding what he was saying as he spoke, "then this man is worth more than any of us will ever see."

Yoshihiro said, "Only to one who could kill him." His voice was sharp. "I do not think there are many people who could kill him," he said then.

"No," Kimoto said thoughtfully.  "There are not many who could do that. Even from a distance."

Hoga smiled.  Kimoto thought he was being subtle but Hoga felt that he could understand every impulse fluttering within this farmer's head.  "There are such things as rifles," he said. "And there are also others with the same skills as himself; others who might be willing to engage him." He paused for a long time, leading Kimoto's eyes into his, leading the man as long as he dared, and then said, "I understand that a determined Korean court official seeks Robinson for the murder of that Marine.  He wishes to gain both personal recognition and the opportunity to showcase Korea's commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations."

They were all intent on hearing his talk.  None of them saw a man---Kazuo----lift his head to listen better.

"No doubt," Kimoto said, "no doubt this court official wants recognition."

"Our cooperation in assisting with the apprehension of Robinson might earn us the favor of our employers," Hoga said, "and that would give us better working conditions and better treatment......and who, dare I ask, does not wish for that?"219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWkXxsPUEg

He leaned back, having said all that was necessary, and looked into the fires.  Insects scuttled against his face and rebounded to the floor as he flicked them off absently.  Kimoto shifted his position and sighed.  Hoga felt fatigue begin to settle around him.  

"I think I'm going to go to sleep," he said.

"A golden opportunity," Kimoto said softly, "is it not?"

Slowly and unobtrusively Kazuo rose to his feet.  Glancing around to make sure that no one was watching him, he slipped out of the tent.

"Enough," Yoshihiro said loudly, "enough of this!  Hoga, I do not know where your talk leads or what you want but this man is one of us.  He is one of us and that is the end of the matter."

"Of course," Hoga said lightly, "who is to say otherwise?  It was merely a line of conversation." He put his pallet on the floor, laid his head on it, and closed his eyes.

Outside the tent, Kazuo walked stealthily across the compound.  He paused for a moment as he noticed Robinson sitting beside the fire, then continued on his way to Bronco's tent.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1x7B5OBsc