The Yogi said:
Questions regarding the secret stronghold;Does Fah Lo Suee even know it's exact location?
I would be greatly surprised to learn that she does not; it would be extremely difficult to keep this knowledge from someone who had to visit the fortress on a regular basis and who was in routine contact with large portions of Fu Manchu's staff.
I am, of course, easy to surprise in some ways.
Also, if Fu knows that she's aware of it's precise location, would he not remove anything sensitive from there and leave it a heavily defended fortress guarding... nothing?
Assuming that he knew what was and was not sensitive, yes.
But the Sword of Mars? He surely knows it to be a powerful magic sword, but would he have any reason to expect Fah to try to steal it, specifically? As opposed to, say, the apparatus Fu uses to make Elixir Vitae, or his stockpile thereof? Or the blueprints for his secret weapons? Or any of a number of other valuable treasures Fu doubtless owns which would be of great use to any journeyman evil overlord such as Fah?
The Sword of Mars is actually relatively low on the list
unless you plan to get into close combat with supernatural beings. And since Fah Lo Suee is, to my knowledge, essentially innocent of sorcerous knowledge (heh heh... I got to say "Fah Lo Suee" and "innocent" in the same sentence), she wouldn't necessarily feel much need for such a weapon.
Moreover, she wouldn't even know she needs to
steal the weapon if it weren't for her access to a piece of information that even Fu Manchu does not possess (we think).
I would not want to be that German mechanic trying to explain to BN that the Ju-52 is flying on fumes and needs to go down to refuel, while Naga's hunter sense is telling it that the prey is drawing ever further away.
I would not want to be that mechanic, period, for any reason, under any circumstances, even if the plane had an unlimited reserve of fuel.