CHAPTER XIX
Uncle Charlie’s Story
“Biff!” Charles Keene shouted his nephew’s name hoarsely. He crossed the room and placed his hands on Biff’s shoulders. Strangely, the guards made no move to stop him.
“Gee, Uncle Charlie—” Biff broke off. He felt his voice choke up and knew he wasn’t far from tears. This, he told himself, would never do. Not in front of the leering Ping Lu.
“I’m sure glad we found you, sir. Chuba came with me.”
Chuba was grinning at Uncle Charlie. “We find you okay, Sahib Charlie. You in good shapes?”
“I’ve been very well cared for,” Uncle Charlie replied, stressing the word “very.” “Ping Lu has seen to that.”
Uncle Charlie glanced at Ping Lu, then deliberately turned from him and bowed low to Tao Kwang. A fleeting smile crossed the Ancient One’s face.
“Quite a reunion,” Ping Lu said. “And surely a most happy one.”
“It would be, under different circumstances,” Charles Keene said.
“Those circumstances can be altered to suit you and your nephew, Keene,” Ping Lu said. He added, “It is but a slight thing I ask you to do.”