“Chan Li says more, that Sahib Charles hurt self when plane come down.”
Biff’s joyful feeling vanished. “Badly? Was he hurt badly?”
“No. Not too bad. But enough to keep him from traveling. Now he all better. All is arranged for House of Kwang to help Sahib Charles get back to Burma.”
“What can we do to help?”
“Chan Li will take us to hide-out place. We get Sahib Charles, lead him back to—”
Biff held up his hand. “Wait.” Biff felt there was still need for caution. He didn’t want Chuba to mention the plan for the plane pickup. He didn’t want him to reveal Muscles’ presence. There was no way of knowing whether Chan Li understood English or not. Until they reached Uncle Charlie, it would be wiser, Biff felt, to hold back what little ammunition they still had.
“Ask him where is this hide-out where my uncle is?”
Chuba turned back to Chan Li. He spoke rapidly. Chan Li replied, and pointed in a direction north of Jaraminka.
“Just north of the city. In those foothills you can see from here.”
“How long will it take us to get there?” Biff was asking these questions for the benefit of the hidden Muscles.