He saw Remo standing over him, no expression on his sharply angled face, not breathing hard, not even sweating.

He closed his eyes to blot out the sight of Remo's face, but he heard Remo's voice say: "Nice race, junior. I guess I'm just one step better than you."

Remo strolled back to the bench on the infield where he found Chiun frowning at him.

"What's wrong now? I did what you said, didn't I?"

"Yes, but you did not win."

"I had something else on my mind. Besides, I only had to finish third to get to Moscow. You said save the good stuff for the Games."

"But I didn't tell you to embarrass me."

Remo started to answer, then thought better of it. Chiun would have his say, no matter what.

53

"You will have to redeem me in Moscow," Chiun said. "There you can make me look like the greatest of all trainers. I will be approached to reveal my great secrets for making a lump like you into a runner. They will ask me to do television guest shots and I will make much money for my village. Maybe I will even get my own show."

"Heeeeeeeeeeere's Chiun," said Remo.

Chiun did not smile. "All this will happen in Moscow where you will atone for shaming me today."

Remo bowed gravely and said: "As you wish, Little Father."

Up in the stands, Vincent Josephs was not pleased.

"That's your super runner?" he asked Mills. "He was never in the race."

Wally Mills thought for a moment before replying. Should he tell Josephs what he thought he saw? That this Remo was busy pulling that other runner across the finish line? No. He couldn't tell him that. It was so unbelievable, he wasn't sure he believed it himself. Instead he said, "You're mistaken, Mr. Josephs. He was where he wanted to be every step of the way. He wasn't even trying for some reason, but he made sure to qualify. Did you see him close?"