ericlustbader.the ninja-第21章

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　Karma；　Terry　thought。
　He　moved　to　his　left；　attacking；　but　was　at　once　balked。　Now　their　boftfen　whistled　through　the　air；　moving　so　swiftly
　that；　to　the　untrained　eye；　it　might　appear　as　if　the　two　batants　were　wielding　enormous　fans；　so　blurred　were　the　weapons'　movements。
　Terry　moved　to　one　knee；　sweeping　his　bokken　horizontally；　but　the　other　used　a　vertical　block。　A　less　experienced　swordsman　might　then　have　gone　for　the　kill；　using　the　two…handed　vertical　sky…to…ground　sweep。　This　would　have　brought　instant　disaster；　for　Terry　need　only　have　lunged　forward　several　inches；　the　point　of　his　weapon　piercing　the　attacker's　stomach；　to　vitiate　that　lethal　blow。
　Instead；　the　other　stepped　back；　forcing　Terry　to　regain　his　feet　to　continue　the　match。　There　had　already　been　two　draws　and；　as　the　hour　was　drawing　to　a　close；　this　would　be　the　last　match。　Yet；　as　he　blocked　several　lightning　thrusts；　Terry　had　the　unfortable　feeling　that　he　had　not　seen　this　man's　plete　repertory　of　strategy。　Truth　to　tell；　he　felt　as　if　the　other　had　been　toying　with　him　for　all　the　forty　minutes　they　had　been　at　it。
　Annoyed；　he　struck　and　struck　again。　But　instead　of　directly　countering；　the　other's　frozen　cleaved　to　his　as　closely　as　a　shadow；　moving　in　concert；　always　touching。　Then　they　were　close　together　and　Terry　had　his　first　good　look　at　the　other's　face。　It　was　just　the　flicker　of　an　instant；　perhaps　a　tenth　of　a　second　when　his　concentration；　his　zanshin　…　that　is；　physical　form　bined　with　mental　concentration　and　alertness　…wavered。　Almost　contemptuously；　the　other　flicked　at　Terry's　bol（kfn　with　his　own　weapon。　There　was　not　enough　time　to　react　fully　and；　with　the　other's　bokken　at　his　throat；　Terry　was　defeated。
　When　Justine　came　out　of　the　bedroom　to　make　herself　a　drink；　it　was　near　sunset。　However；　looking　out　of　the　windows　at　the　front　of　the　house；　she　saw　only　thick　banks　of　grey　clouds；　trailing　like　streamers　left　over　from　a　wild　party；　tattered；　shredding　in　the　winds　aloft。　The　wan　light　bleached　out　all　the　colour　from　the　land。　The　sand　looked　solid　and　lumpy　like　cooling　lead。
　She　stopped；　one　hand　around　the　neck　of　the　bottle　of　rum。　There　seemed　to　be　a　shadow　on　the　porch。　Letting　go　of　the
　bottle；　she　moved　slowly　to　her　right　to　get　a　better　view。　She　moved　past　the　centre　beam　between　the　two　picture　windows。　Curtains　fluttered；　further　obscuring　her　view。　She　moved　farther　to　her　left　and　stopped　dead　still。　The　shadow　had　bee　a　silhouette。　Someone　was　out　there。
　She　felt　a　nameless　fear　flood　her　body　and；　unconsciously；　she　put　a　hand　up　to　her　throat。　Her　heart　beat　like　a　triphammer　and　Nicholas's　words　abruptly　came　to　her。　/*'*　not　safe　here。　Is　this　what　he　meant？　She　wished　now　that　she　had　paid　more　attention　to　what　he　had　been　saying；　but　she　had　been　solely　intent　on　pushing　him　away；　had　heard　only　her　own　words。
　Now　she　wondered　wildly　whether　she　had　locked　the　door　after　he　had　left。　She　thought　not　but　could　not　be　certain。　Yet　she　dared　not　attract　attention　by　moving　to　it。　She　would　have　to　pass　directly　before　the　windows。　She　thought　of　crawling　but　was　too　frightened　of　making　some　noise。
　Then　she　thought　of　the　phone。　Keeping　her　eye　on　the　silhouette；　she　backed　up　slowly　into　the　hall。　She　reached　down　convulsively；　almost　knocking　the　receiver　to　the　floor。　She　went　to　her　knees　to　retrieve　it。　She　dialled　Nicholas's　number；　closing　her　eyes；　praying　he　was　home。　Each　solitary　ring　was　like　an　icicle　through　her　heart。　She　felt　chilled；　her　flesh　raised　in　goose…bumps　as　she　cradled　the　phone。
　She　went　silently；　on　dancer's　feet；　out　to　the　living…room；　sitting　on　the　arm…rest　of　the　sofa；　staring　at　the　silhouette。　She　considered　creeping　out　at　the　back　door。　But　then　what？　Pound　on　a　neighbour's　door？　And　say　what？　That　she　was　afraid　of　a　shadow？
　Abruptly；　she　felt　idiotic；　like　a　madwoman　trapped　within　the　nightmares　of　her　own　mind。　And；　after　all；　there　had　been　no　movement　of　the　silhouette　since　she　had　first　glimpsed　it。　It　could　be　a　chair…back　or　…
　She　was　up　and　moving　without　giving　herself　time　to　think；　to　back　out。　She　flung　the　door　open；　stepped　out　on　the　porch。　The　air　was　heavy　with　the　salt　of　the　sea；　yet　perhaps　the　humidity　was　abating　somewhat。　There　was　a　fresh　breeze　from　the　east。
　As　if　she　were　a　mechanical　doll；　she　forced　her　gaze　in　the
　direction　of　the　silhouette。
　'Nicholas！'　An　indrawn　breath。
　He　sat；　lotus　position；　forearms　resting　easily　on　the　points　of　his　knees；　staring　seaward。
　'What　are　you　doing？'　She　came　around　beside　him。　'Nick？'　She　stopped；　bending　down。　'What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃
　'Thinking。'
　'About　what？'　It　was　a　simple　thing　to　say　but　perhaps；　considering　her　mood；　not　a　very　logical　one。　She　might　easily　have　said；　'Can't　you　do　it　somewhere　else　…　away　from　me？〃　Yet　she　had　not　and　this　surprised。her。　She　wondered　that；　in　finding　him　there；　a　guardian　of　her　house　…　of　her；　really　…rather　than　an　invader；　her　anxiety　had　dissipated　as　easily　as　a　bad　dream。　In　its　place　was　…　what？　As　she　pondered　this；　she　heard　him　say；　'I'll　have　to　tell　you　now。'
　She　reacted　better　than　he　might　have　expected。　It　was　tantamount　to　saying：　You　have　cancer。
　'Are　you　sure？'　she　asked。
　'I　wouldn't　tell　you　if　I　wasn't。　I　can't　say　that　I　understand　it　yet　but　that　animal　crashing　in　here　was　no　accident。　It　was　a　ninja　warning。'
　'I　may　be　way　off　base；'　she　said　levelly；　'but　didn't　you　tell　me　that　one　of　the　ninja's　traits　was　to　strike　without　warning？'
　He　nodded。　'Yes。　That　was　true；　most　of　the　time。　But　there　were　occasions　…　a　blood　feud；　for　instance；　or　where　it　was　specifically　ordered　or　where　the　ninja　wished　to　boast　of　invincibility　…　when　a　ritual　warning　was　given。〃
　'But　it's　crazy；'　she　protested。　'What　would　a　ninja　want　with　me？　I've　had　no　connection　。。。'　She　paused　but　he　said　nothing；　waiting　to　see　if　she　would　figure　it　out　for　herself。　He　did　not　think　he　would　have　to　help　her。
　She　got　up　off　the　sofa；　walked　nervously　about　the　living…room；　snapping　her　fingers。　She　stopped　in　front　of　the　bar；　mixed　herself　a　long　white　rum　on　the　rocks　without　offering　him　one；　she　was　too　engrossed。　She　came　back　to　the　sofa；　sipped　at　her　drink。
　'There's　only　one　thing　I　can　think　of；'　she　said；　still　somewhat　unsure　of　herself。
　'Let's　see　if　we　came　to　the　same　conclusion。'
　'My　father。'
　'Your　father；'　Nicholas　echoed。　'Raphael　Tomkin。'　He　got　up　and　poured　himself　a　bitter　lemon。　'Tell　me；　what　do　you　know　of　his　business　dealings？'
　She　shrugged。　'Not　much　more　than　anyone　else；　I'm　afraid。　I　never　took　much　interest　in　it。　You　know；　the　basic　facts。　Oil　is　the　mainstay。　The　corporation　is　multinational。　That's　about　it。'
　'In　other　words；　not　much。'
　She　winced。　'I　told　you　so。'
　'All　right。　Let's　leave　that　for　a　while。　Now　…'
　But　she　had　already　put　a　long　forefinger　against　his　lips。　'Don't；　Nick。　Don't　ask　me。　Not　now。　Not　yet。　Let's　leave　things　the　way　they　are。　Please。　Please。'
　He　watched　her　eyes；　wondered　what　was　missing。　Perhaps　nothing　or　then　again　everything。　He　did　not　want　that。　But　now　he　wanted　her　more　and　that　called　for　a　promise。　It　was　an　uneasy　one；　at　best；　he　knew。　Talking　was　always　better　than　not　talking；　that　was　a　fundamental　underpinning　to　all　human　relationships。　Still；　perhaps　she　was　right　after　all　and　this　was　the　wrong　time。　He　swallowed　half　of　his　bitter　lemon。
　'What　are　we　to　do　now？'
　A　good　question；　Nicholas　thought；　looking　at　her。　The　ninja　meant　to　kill　her；　of　that　there　seemed　little　doubt。　This　was　something　he　accepted　as　given；　although　he　could　not　discount　the　importance　of　motivation。　But　there　would　be　no　immediate　answer　to　that；　thus　he　put　it　out　of　his　mind　for　the　moment。　What　truly　concerned　him　was　the　nature　of　the　ninja。　It　was　rare　enough　to　encounter　a　modern…day　villain　although；　as　he　had　indicated　to　Vincent　and　Doc　Deerforth；　a　number　did　operate　clandestinely　as　independent　agents　on　the　highest　levels。　But　to　find　one　adept　at　the　Niten　school　was　quite　alarming。　It　was　one　of　the　most　difficult　of　kenjutsu　styles　to　master　and　it　might　be　indicative　of　other　elements。　There　was；　Nicholas　knew　well；　more　than　one　kind　of　ninja。　Was　it　a　coincidence？
　'The　only　thing　to　do；　for　the　moment；　is　to　stay　with　you。'
　Justine　nodded。　Oddly；　this　did　not　fill　her　with　fear。　Quite　the　opposite；　in　fact。　She　might　even　begin　to　relax　with　it。　God　knew；　she　wanted　to。　Yes；　she　thought；　I　do　want　to。
　Suddenly　she　was　feeling　much　better。
　Doc　Deerforth　was　dreaming。　He　lay　on　the　hammock　tied　to　his　porch　beams；　swaying　slightly。　The　delicate；　insistent　drone　of　the　unceasing　rain　had　lulled　him　to　sleep。
　He　dreamed　of　a　forest；　gleaming　like　a　great　emerald；　dripping　with　moisture。　But　it　was　not　a　place　of　pleasure　or　beauty。　Not　for　him。　He　ran　through　the　angled　underbrush　and；　from　time　to　time；　as　he　twisted　his　head　to　peer　fearfully　behind　him；　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　hideous　beast　that　pursued　him　relentlessly。　It　was　a　tiger。　Fully　ten　feet　long；　the　beast　seemed　to　move　effortlessly　through　the　thick　foliage　that　otherwise　sought　to　pull　him　down。　Its　massive　muscles　worked　with　astounding　fluidity　beneath　its　glossy　striped　coat。　Now　and　again；　Doc　Deerforth's　eyes　would　lock　on　those　of　his　foe。　They　glowed　green　in　the　night　like　lambent　beacons；　lighting　the　way　before　it。　Yet　they　were　not　the　shape　of　cats'　eyes　but　the　unmistakable　oval　…　epicanthic　fold　and　all　…　of　a　human：　a　Japanese；　to　be　more　specific。
　They　were　the　eyes　of　the　ninja　Doc　Deerforth　had　encountered　just　before　war's　end　in　the　jungles　of　the　Philippines。
　Now　his　way　was　balked　by　an　enormous　stand　of　bamboo。　No　matter　which　way　he　looked；　there　was　no　passage　forward。　He　turned　to　see　the　man…beast　open　its　mouth。　Hot　flame　poured　out　like　a　river；　inundating　him　in　a　jelly…like　substance　that　clung　to　him；　stinging　like　a　man…of…war。　He　writhed；　slapping　at　himself　to　rid　himself　of　the　burning　substance。　Still　it　clung　to　him　tenaciously　as　if　it　were　sentient。　He　had　acquired　a　second　skin：　a　malignancy　which　now　started　to　eat　into　his　flesh。　His　skin　curled　and　cindered；　peeling　away　to　tendon　and　sinew。　Only　this　was　left　to　him；　as　the　substance　saturated　him；　piercing　his　bones。　These　were　slowly　powdered。　And　all　the　while　the　tiger　with　the　ninja's　face　grinned　at　him。　Then；　as　he　felt　all　strength　running　out　of　him；　as　if　he　were　urinating　his　life　away；　puddling　it　on　the　ground　before　him；　the　beast　lifted　its　right　forepaw。　It
　was　a　human　arm　that　had　been　amputated　at　the　elbow。　Above；　the　skin　was　black；　the　muscles　gone；　the　arm　…　what　was　left　of　it　…　virtually　fleshless；　as　if　it　had　been　crisped　in　some　terrible　swift　blast。　The　tiger　with　the　ninja's　face　lifted　this　limb　up　to　him　as　if　to　say；　'See　this　and　remember。'　On　the　inside　of　the　arm　was　tattooed　a　seven…digit　number。　Camp；　he　thought　over　and　over。　Camp；　camp；　camp。　He　was　a　jellyfish　now；　shorn　of　manhood；　even　his　ape　heritage。　Beyond　that；　he　now　swayed　in　the　jungle；　when　man　was　still　a　part　of　the　gravid　seas；　before　the　spark；　before　the　first　fish　crawled　to　the　e