ericlustbader.the ninja-第25章

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lood　of　Solomon　and　David；　of　Moses；　runs　in　your　veins；　too。　Never　forget　that。　Whether　you　choose　to　do　anything　about　it　is　purely　your　concern；　I　would　not　tamper　with　so　private　a　matter。　Yet　it　is　my　duty　to　tell　you；　to　give　you　the　facts；　as　it　were。　I　hope　you　understand　this。'　He　gazed　solemnly　at　his　son　for　a　long　moment　before　he　opened　the　tiger　and　dragon　box；　the　last　gift　of　the　enigmatic　So…Peng。
　Nicholas　looked　down；　stared　into　the　brilliant　fire　of　sixteen　half…inch　cut　emeralds。
　Nicholas　had　been　studying　bujutsu　for　nearly　seven　years　now　and　still　felt　as　if　he　knew　almost　nothing。　He　was　strong　and　his　reflexes　superb；　he　went　through　the　drills　and　exercises　with　a　great　deal　of　concentration　and　assiduousness　but　without　any　special　love　or　feeling。　This　surprised　and　concerned　him。　He　had　been　fully　prepared　for　the　hard　work；　the　difficulty；　for　it　was　exactly　this　kind　of　effort　which　interested　and　absorbed　him　the　most。　What　he　had　not　reckoned　on　was　any　indifference　on　his　part。　It　was　not；　he　reflected　one　day　during　floor　exercises　at　the　dojo；　that　he　had　in　any　way　changed　his　mind　about　wanting　to　learn　bujutsu。　In　fact；　if　anything；　this　desire　had　increased〃。　It　was　…　well；　very　difficult　to　put。　Perhaps　there　was　no　spark　there。
　Perhaps　it　was　his　instructor。　Tanka　was　a　stolid；　solidly　built　man　who　believed　a　great　deal　in　repeated　movements　and；　it　seemed；　nothing　else。　Over　and　over；　Nicholas　was　obliged　to　perform　the　same　manoeuvre。　Again　and　again　until　he　felt　that　the　sequence　had　been　engraved　upon　his　brain　and　nerves　and　muscles。　It　was　boring　work　and　he　hated　it。　Hated；　too；　the　fact　that　Tanka　treated　them　as　if　they　were　children　not　yet　ready　for　the　adult　world。
　Ever　and　again；　he　would　find　himself　looking　over　to　the　far　side　of　the　dojo　where　Kansatsu；　the　ryu's　master；　taught；　individual　classes　with　a　select　few　of　the　older　students。　He　longed　to　be　there　instead　of　here　on　the　dung…heap　of　un…specialized　exercises。
　He　had　e　to　join　the　same　ryu　as　Saigo　…　as　had　been　said；　through　Itami's　intervention　…　and　it　galled　him　further　that　his　cousin；　being　older　and　having　joined　the　ryu　earlier　than　Nicholas；　was　thus　far　ahead。　This　point　Saigo　brought　up　to　him　at　every　opportunity。　At　the　dojo　he　was　openly　contemptuous　of　Nicholas　…　as　were　many　of　the　other　students；　because　of　his　occidental　aspect；　feeling　that　bujutsu；　being　one　of　the　most　traditional　and　sacred　of　Japanese　institutions；　should　not　be　open　to　a　gaijin；　a　foreigner　…　and　never　referred　to　Nicholas　as　his　cousin。　However；　at　home　it　was　quite　another　matter。　He　was　scrupulously　careful　to　be　polite　to　Nicholas。　For　his　part；　Nicholas　had　given　up　trying　to　talk　the　matter　out　with　Saigo　after　the　third　unsuccessful　attempt。
　Truth　to　tell；　Saigo　was　a　thorn　in　Nicholas's　side　at　the　dojo。　When　he　could　have　been　so　much　help　to　the　other；　he　invariably　went　out　of　his　way　to　make　everything　more　difficult；　even　going　so　far　as　to　bee　the　unofficial　ringleader　of　the　'opposition'。
　One　evening；　the　work　over　with　and　the　showers　taken；　Nicholas　was　dressing　when　five　or　six　of　the　boys　came　up　in　ones　and　twos　until　they　had　surrounded　him。
　'What　are　you　doing　here？'　said　one　of　the　largest　boys。　'This　is　where　we　sit。'
　Nicholas　said　nothing；　continuing　to　dress。　Outwardly　he　took　no　notice；　but　inwardly　his　heart　was　beating　like　a　triphammer。
　'Don't　you　have　anything　to　say？'　said　another　boy。　He　was　small　and　younger　than　the　others　but　was　seemingly　emboldened　by　their　surrounding　presence。　He　laughed　derisively。　'Maybe　he　doesn't　understand　Japanese。　Do　you　think　we'll　have　to　speak　to　him　in　English　like　they　do　with　the　apes　in　the　zoo？'　Everyone　laughed。
　'That's　right；'　the　big　boy　said；　picking　up　the　cue。　'I　want　an　answer；　ape。　Tell　us　why　you're　here　in　our　spot；　stinking　it　up　like　a　spot　of　venereal　disease。'
　Nicholas　stood　up。　'Why　don't　you　go　off　and　play　somewhere　where　your　jokes　will　be　appreciated。'
　'Look；　look　I'　cried　the　small　boy。　〃The　ape　speaks　I〃
　'Shut　up！'　said　the　big　boy；　and　then　to　Nicholas：　'I　don't　much　care　for　your　tone；　ape。　I　think　you've　just　said　something　you're　going　to　regret。'　His　right　hand　chopped　downward　towards　Nicholas's　exposed　neck　without　warning。　Nicholas　blocked　it　and　then　they　were　all　crowding　into　him。
　Through　the　melee　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　Saigo　on　his　way　out；　oblivious　to　the　raucous　disturbance。　He　called　out　his　name。
　Saigo　checked　and　came　over。　'Hold　on　1'　he　yelled；　shouldering　his　way　through　the　crowd。　He　shoved　them　back　against　the　wall；　giving　Nicholas　some　breathing　space。　'What's　going　on　here？'
　'It's　the　gaijin；'　the　big　boy　said；　his　fists　still　clenched。　'Making　trouble　again。'
　'Oho；　is　that　so？〃　Saigo　said。　'One　against　six？　Hard　to　believe。'　He　shrugged；　slammed　the　edge　of　his　hand　into　Nicholas's　stomach。
　Nicholas　pitched　forward　onto　his　knees；　his　forehead　touching　the　floor　as　if　in　prayer。　He　retched；　tried　to　fill　his　bursting　lungs　with　air。　He　gasped　like　a　fish　out　of　water。
　'Don't　bother　these　people　any　more；　Nicholas；'　Saigo　said；　standing　over　him。　'Where　are　your　manners？　But　what　can　you　expect；　fellows。　His　father's　a　barbarian　and　his　mother's　a　Chinese。　C'mon。'　He　led　them　away；　leaving　Nicholas　alone　on　the　floor　with　his　pain。
　She　had　e　with　her　attenuated　procession　quite　unexpectedly　during　the　middle　of　the　week；　throwing　the　entire　household　into　a　state　of　unmitigated　panic；　initiated；　of　course；　by　Cheong；　who　felt　that　the　house　was　never　clean　enough；　the　food　never　fine　enough；　her　family　never　well　dressed　enough　to　suit　Itami。
　She　looked　like　a　tiny　doll；　Nicholas　thought；　a　perfect　porcelain　thing　to　be　put　on　a　pedestal　inside　a　glass　case；　protected　from　the　elements。　In　fact；　Itami　needed　no　such　exterior　protection；　she　had　a　will　of　iron　and　the　power　to　promote　it；　even　with　her　husband；　Satsugai。
　Nicholas　watched　clandestinely　from　another　room　as　Cheong　herself　performed　the　elaborate　tea　ceremony　for　Itami；　kneeling　on　the　tatamis　before　a　green　lacquered　table。　She　wore　a　traditional　Japanese　robe　and　her　long　gleaming　hair　had　been　put　up　with　ivory　sticks。　He　thought　that；　at　that　moment；　she　had　never　looked　so　beautiful　or　so　regal。　She　was　a　far　cry　from　the　icy　aristocracy　of　Itami；　yet　perhaps　even　because　of　that　he　had　far　more　admiration　for　his　mother。　Of　Itami's　kind　of　woman　there　were　plenty　in　books　of　photographs　he　had　seen　of　an　older；　pre…war　Japan。　But　oh；　Cheong　1　There　were　none　to　touch　her。　She　carried　with　her　a　nobility　of　soul　that　Itami　could　never　hope　to　attain；　not　in　this　life；　at　least。　Though　Itami　was　strong；　her　magnetism　was　nothing　pared　to　Cheong's　power；　for　she　wielded　an　inner　tranquillity　that　was　as　profound　as　the　utter　stillness　of　a　hot　summer's　day；　a　living　jewel；　unique。　She　was；　as　Nicholas　thought　of　it；　of　a　whole　cloth　and　this　he　respected　and　admired　above　all　else。
　He　had　no　great　desire　to　talk　to　Itami　but　it　would　have　been　very　bad　manners　for　him　to　leave　the　house　without　acknowledging　her　presence；　his　mother　would　be　furious　and；　quite　naturally；　blame　herself。　This　he　did　not　want　and　thus；　some　time　later　in　the　afternoon；　he　pulled　open　the　shoji　and　stepped　through。
　Itami　looked　up。　'Ah；　Nicholas；　I　did　not　know　that　you　were　home。'
　'Good　afternoon；　Aunt。'
　'Excuse　me　a　moment；'　Cheong　said；　getting　effortlessly　to　her　feet。　'The　tea　is　cold。'　For　some　reason　she　would　not　overtly　use　the　servants　when　Itami　was　around。　She　left　them　alone　and　Nicholas　began　to　feel　unfortable　under　the　mute　scrutiny　of　Itami's　gaze。
　He　went　over　to　the　window；　gazed　out　at　the　forest　of　cryptomeria　and　pine。
　'Do　you　know；'　said　Itami；　'that　hidden　within　that　forest　is　an　ancient　Shinto　shrine？'
　'Yes；'　Nicholas　said；　turning　round。　'My　father　told　me。'
　'Have　you　seen　it？'
　'Not　yet。'
　'And　did　you　know；　Nicholas；　that　within　that　shrine　is　a　park　filled　with　mosses？'
　'Forty　different　varieties；　I　think；　Aunt。　Yes；　I　know　of　it　but　I　am　told　that　only　the　priests　of　the　shrine　may　look　upon　it。'
　'Perhaps　it　is　not　so　difficult　as　that；　Nicholas。　I　cannot　imagine　you　wanting　to　bee　a　priest。　It　does　not　suit　you。'　She　rose；　said　unexpectedly；　'How　would　you　like　to　take　me　there？　To　the　shrine　and　to　the　park？'
　'When？　Now？'
　'Certainly。'
　'But　I　thought…'
　'All　things　may　be　possible；　one　way　or　another；　Nicholas。'　She　smiled　and　called：　'Cheong；　Nicholas　and　I　are　going　for　a　walk。　We　won't　be　long。'　She　turned　back　to　him　and　reached　out　her　hand。　'e；'　she　said　gently。
　They　walked　silently　until　they　came　to　the　verge　of　the　forest。　There　they　turned　right　along　the　grass　for　perhaps　two　hundred　metres；　when　she　abruptly　guided　him　inward。　He　found　that　they　were　on　a　narrow　but　well…worn　track　through　the　trees　and　underbrush。
　'Well；　Nicholas；　you　must　tell　me　how　you　like　your　training　at　the　dojo；'　Itami　said。　She　walked　carefully　in　her　wooden　geta；　using　the　point　of　her　lacquered　paper　parasol　as　a　walking　stick　to　help　balance　her　on　the　uneven　ground。
　'It　is　very　hard　work；　Aunt。'
　'Yes。'　She　waved　a　hand　as　if　dismissing　this　statement。　'But　this　is　not　something　that　you　had　not　anticipated。'
　'No。'
　'Do　you　enjoy　all　the　hard　work？'
　He　glanced　up　at　her；　wondering　what　she　was　getting　at。　He　had　absolutely　no　intention　of　telling　her　of　the　growing　animosity　between　himself　and　Saigo。　That　would　not　do　at　all。　He　had　not　even　told　his　parents。　'At　times；'　he　said。　'I　would　wish　to　move　on。'　He　shrugged。　'I　am　impatient；　I　suppose。'
　'There　are　times　when　only　the　impatient　are　rewarded；　Nicholas；'　she　said；　stepping　over　a　tangled　root。　'Here；　help　me　the　last　few　feet；　won't　you？'　She　gave　him　her　arm。　'Ah；　there　we　are。
　They　were　in　a　clearing；　and　as　they　moved　out　from　the　shade　of　the　pines；　Itami　lifted　her　parasol　over　her　head　and　opened　it。　Her　skin　was　as　white　as　snow；　her　lips　deep　red；　her　eyes　as　dark　as　nuggets　of　coal。
　The　deep　lacquered　wall　of　the　temple　was　awash　in　shimmering　sunlight　so　that　he　was　obliged　to　squint　until　his　eyes　accustomed　themselves　to　the　brightness。　It　was　as　if　he　were　gazing　at　a　sea　of　gold。
　They　began　to　walk　along　the　crushed　limestone　gravel；　a　blue…white　stippled　path　that　pletely　encircled　the　temple；　one　could　tread　it　forever；　never　getting　closer　to　or　farther　away　from　one's　goal。
　'But　you　have　survived；'　she　said　softly。　'That　is　gratifying。'　They　had　reached　the　verge　of　the　steep　wooden　steps　up　to　the　bronze　and　lacquered…wood　doors　which　stood　open；　shadowed；　silent；　hunkered　down　fortably　as　if　waiting　for　something　or　someone　to　arrive。　They　paused　there。　She　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　so　lightly　that　if　he　had　not　seen　it；　he　might　not　even　have　felt　its　weight　there。　'I　had　grave　doubts　when　your　father　came　to　me；　requesting　that　I　help　gain　entrance　for　you　in　a　suitable　ryu。'　She　shook　her　head。　'I　had　no　choice　but　to　acquiesce　and　honour　dictated　that　I　made　no　ment　of　my　own；　but　I　was　concerned。〃　She　sighed。　'In　a　way　I　pity　you。　How　strange　your　life　will　be。　Westerners　will　never　fully　accept　you　because　of　your　ori