ericlustbader.the ninja-第36章

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in　in　the　bathroom；　yet　she　had　a　cupboard　full；　stashed　away；　it　was　a　popular　item。
　She　picked　up　the　phone。　'Yes。'
　'Darling；　what　took　you　so　long？'　Pear　said　in　her　ear。　'Something　horribly　naughty？'
　'Not　naughty　enough。'　Gelda　closed　her　eyes。
　Pear　chuckled。　'That's　my　girl。'　Her　voice　changed　gear　abruptly。　'G；　are　you　all　right？'
　'Sure；　why？'
　'You　haven't　been　out　much　lately。　Some　of　the　girls　were　asking；　that's　all。　They　miss　you。'
　'I　miss　them；　too；'　Gelda　said；　wondering　whether　she　meant　it　or　not。　'I've　been　thinking　a　lot；　Pear。'
　'My　dearest　darling；'　Pear　said　patiently；　'you　know　that　thinking　is　no　good　for　the　soul。　You've　got　to　get　out　more；　go　to　a　couple　of　parties。'
　'You　know　I　don't　do　that　sort　of　thing；'　Gelda　snapped。
　'Please。　I　wasn't　soliciting。'　Pear's　voice　seemed　pained　now。　'My　darling；　I　care　about　you。　Genuinely　care。'
　'I'm　worth　a　lot　to　you。'
　'Now　you　forget　that　kind　of　talk。　G。'　It　was　Pear's　turn　to　snap。　'You　are　just　being　contrary。　I　know　that　and　I　forgive　you　that　statement。　There　aren't　many　people　I　care　about　in　this　world　…　Lord　knows；　none　of　the　girls　…　but　you're　one　of　them。'
　Tm　one　of　your　girls；'　Gelda　said　stubbornly。
　She　heard　Pear's　exasperated　sigh　on　the　other　end　of　the　line。　'Darling；　need　I　remind　you　again　that　it　was　you　who　sought　me　out？　Yes；　I　provide　your　clientele；　but　they're　a　very　special　breed；　you　don't　need　me　to　tell　you　that。　One　thousand　dollars　a　night　is　nothing　to　look　down　your　nose　at。　You　could　perhaps　make　more　by　the　hour　but　what's　the　point；　darling？　That　won't　make　you　happy　and　this　does。　But　I　can　hardly　say　that　you　are　one　of　my　girls。　My　God；　what　a　difference！　People　ask　for　you；　my　darling。　That's　the　difference。'
　'Do　you　have　something　for　me？'　Gelda　asked　woodenly。
　Pear　sighed　again；　giving　up　for　the　moment。　'Yes。　Dare。　The　actress。　You　remember　…'
　'I　remember。'
　'She　only　wanted　you。'
　'All　right。'
　'Do　you　have　everything　you　need？'　Pear　inquired。
　Gelda　thought　for　a　minute。　'The　chaps　were　just　cleaned　but　the　silk　…'
　'I'll　have　Lawless　e　by　with　it　this　afternoon。　Anything　else？'
　Gelda　was　thinking　about　the　enormous　Remington　Navy　six…shooter　with　the　long　octagonal　barrel　and　the　polished　hardwood　stock　under　her　expert　guidance。　It　wasn't　called　a　six…shooter　for　nothing。　'Yes；'　she　said　dreamily；　'a　half　pound　of　lox　and　four　bagels。'　She　paused　for　a　moment。　'Pear；　be　sure　you　tell　him　no　onions；　not　when　I'm　working。'
　Pear　laughed　in　her　ear。　'That's　more　like　it。　You　know　tonight's　going　to　be　more　pleasure　than　business。'
　There　was　that　to　look　forward　to　at　least。　She　turned　to　look　out　of　the　window　at　the　bright　brittle　sunshine。　The　phone　slid　from　her　grip。　The　river　of　salt　winked　at　her；　dazzling。
　The　room　itself　was　constructed　entirely　of　wood。　Only　wooden　pegs　and　glue　had　been　used　in　the　laying　of　the　boards；　shiny　with　clear　lacquer。
　It　was　a　rectangle；　wider　than　it　was　deep；　with　a　high　ceiling。　The　light　was　soft　and　well　defined　in　every　corner　of　the　room。
　It　had　the　look　of　a　gymnasium　save　for　the　raised　dais　with　its　low　wooden　railing　that　ran　across　the　width　at　the　rear　of　the　room。　Otherwise　it　was　devoid　of　furniture　or　other　accoutrements。
　There　were　a　dozen　men　in　white　cotton　leggings　and　shirts；　lined　up　six　against　six　opposite　each　other。　Each　held　a　polished　wooden　stick；　round　with　a　shallow　hilt　guard。　Croaker　would　have　thought　of　them　as　swords　had　it　not　been　for　a　total　lack　of　cutting　edge　or　sharp　point。　The　men　were　maskless。　All　were　Japanese。　Most　were　in　their　early　or　middle　twenties　though　he　saw　one　teenager　and　two　who　were　obviously　nearer　forty。
　A　man　dressed　in　grey　stood　between　these　two　groups；　near　the　stairs　leading　up　to　the　low　dais。　He　was　small　in　stature。　He　was　hairless；　making　a　judgement　of　his　age　somewhat　more　difficult。　Croaker　put　it　somewhere　between　forty　and　fifty。　The　man　gave　a　piercing　cry　and　the　two　lines　advanced　two　quick　steps；　engaging　each　other　in　what　looked　to　him　like　ritualized　bat　using　the　wooden　sticks。
　'This　is　a　kenjutsu　class；　Lieutenant；'　Nicholas　said。　〃The　finest　in　the　Western　Hemisphere　and　parts　of　the　East　as　well。'　Croaker　watched；　fascinated；　as　the　men　advanced　and　retreated；　attacked　and　parried；　crying　out　in　unison。　But　it　all　seemed　so　slow　and　methodical　that　he　could　not　see　how　any　of　it　could　be　at　all　useful　in　a　fight。
　In　moments　there　came　a　soft　bell　tone　and；　at　a　sharp　mand　from　the　sensei；　the　men　stepped　back　and；　lifting　their　swords　in　unison；　bowed　deeply　to　each　other。　Then　they　wheeled　and　broke　up　into　quiet　groups。　Some　walked　to　the　sides　of　the　dojo　and　sat　on　their　thighs；　others　bent　and　stretched　where　they　were。　All　seemed　totally　involved　in　these　minute　actions。　/
　Nicholas　took　Croaker　across　the　polished　floor　to　where　the　kenjutsu　master　stood。　He　bowed　and　said　some　things；　in　Japanese；　to　the　small　man；　who　bowed　again　and　extended　his　hand　towards　Croaker。
　Uncertain；　Croaker　took　it。　It　was　as　hard　as　a　block　of　concrete。　The　man　smiled。
　〃This　is　Fukashigi；'　Nicholas　told　Croaker。　'Consider　yourself　introduced。'
　Croaker　let　go　the　man's　hand；　said；　'What　happens　now？'　'Watch；'　Nicholas　said。
　Fukashigi　looked　off　to　his　left；　spoke　in　rapid　Japanese。　A　student　uncoiled　himself　and；　first　pausing　to　pick　up　another　wooden　sword；　came　quietly　over。　He　bowed　to　Nicholas；　handed　him　one　of　the　weapons。　Fukashigi　spoke　to　him　for　a　short　time　and　at　the　end　his　head　bobbed　once。　'Hail'　he　said　in　assent。
　The　student　was　tall　and　lanky；　with　a　hard　face　and　quick；　intelligent　eyes。　Both　he　and　Nicholas　adopted　an　opening　attitude；　feet　as　far　apart　as　the　width　of　their　shoulders；　knees　slightly　bent；　both　hands　on　the　hilts　of　their　wooden　swords。
　'Now；'　Nicholas　said　to　Croaker；　not　taking　his　eyes　from　the　student；　'there　are　five　attitudes　in　kendo　and　only　five：　upper；　middle；　lower；　right　side；　left　side。　The　first　three　are　decisive；　the　last　two；　fluid；　used　when　you　encounter　an　obstruction　overhead　or　on　one　side；。　However；　this　is　not　the　Way。　To　master　the　technique；　you　must　have　what　is　monly　known　as　the　〃attitude　…　no　attitude〃。　That　is；　adapt　from　one　to　the　other　as　the　situation　dictates　without　thinking　so　that　your　motion　from　the　beginning　of　the　contest　to　the　end　is　one　uninterrupted　fluid　motion：　like　the　sea。　The　five　elements；　Lieutenant；　are　crucial　to　kenjutsu。'
　And　he　attacked　the　student　with　such　blinding　speed　and　ferocity　that　Croaker　literally　jumped。

　'Approach　from　the　middle　attitude；'　Nicholas　said　and　he　performed　it　again；；　slowed　down　immensely；　the　motions　now　magnified。　He　lifted　his　sword　so　that　its　'point'　was　in　the　student's　face。　The　man　immediately　attacked　and；　as　he　did；　Nicholas；　with　minimal　motion；　slashed　the　other's　sword　to　the　right。
　Nicholas　stood　with　his　sword　high　above　his　head；　the　upper　attitude。　The　student　struck　forwards　and；　at　the　same　time；　Nicholas　cut　downwards。
　Nicholas　lowered　his　sword。　The　student　attacked　once　more；　moving　his　sword　upwards。　This　time　the　student　blocked　him　but　in　that　same　instant　Nicholas's　sword　freed　itself　from　the　block；　cut　across　the　other's　upper　arms　in　a　soft　tap。
　The　student　immediately　moved　to　attack；　ing　in　from　the　right　side。　Nicholas　moved　his　sword　until　it　was　on　his　left　side；　below　his　waist。　As　the　student　attacked　him；　his　sword　flashed；　upwards；　scoring　along　the　length　and；　crossing　over；　he　cut　across　the　man's　shoulders。
　Now　the　student　attacked　from　the　cut　upwards。　Blocked；　Nicholas　slid　gracefully　into　the　upper　attitude；　delivering　what　would；　in　actual　bat；　have　been　a　killing　blow　to　the　top　of　the　student's　head。
　They　both　stepped　back；　bowed　to　each　other。
　'You　see；'　Nicholas　said；　turning　to　Croaker；　'the　basics　of　kenjutsu。'
　'But　you're　just　using　wooden　practice　swords；'　Croaker　said。　'You　can't　hurt　anybody　…'
　'On　the　contrary；　these　bokken　are　every　bit　as　deadly　as　the　katana　is。　They　…'
　But　in　that　instant　he　had　whirled；　somehow　sensing　the　dual　attack　from　both　the　student　at　his　side　and　the　sensei　directly　behind　him。　The　student　had　already　been　disarmed　with　one　cut　and　Nicholas　was　deep　within　battle　with　Fukashigi　by　the　time　Croaker　had　time　to　react　to　the　situation。　That　would　be　about　a　tenth　of　a　second；　he　calculated　dazedly。　My　God；　I　saw　the　attack　ing　before　he　did！
　The　clash　of　the　bokken　filled　the　room　but　the　contestants'　movements　were　so　swift　that　they　were　a　mere　blur。　Croaker　stared　carefully　but；　try　as　he　might；　he　could　not　distinguish　one　movement　from　the　next；　so　fluid　were　they。　He　recalled　Nicholas's　analogy　of　this　movement　to　the　sea　and　he　understood。
　Then　there　came　a　momentous　crashing　as　Fukashigi　landed　a　ferocious　overhead　blow　against　Nicholas's　upraised　sword。　Nicholas　was　not　moved　backwards；　however；　and　as　he　stood　immobile；　the　sensei　sprang　backwards　as　lightly　as　a　current　of　air；　preparing　himself　for　a　second　attack。　But　as　the　sword　moved　backwards　to　gain　momentum　for　the　forward　thrust；　Nicholas　was　there；　extending　himself　outwards　like　a　river；　his　own　sword　following　precisely　the　path　of　the　other's　and；　beating　down　the　'point'；　stabbing　inwards　at　the　sense？'　head。　It　touched　the　tip　of　the　nose　but；　at　the　same　instant；　Fukashigi's　left　fist　was　at　Nicholas's　face　in　a　blow　that　might　have　broken　his　nose　and　stunned　him。
　Both　stepped　back；　bowed　to　each　other。　Neither　of　them　seemed　to　be　breathing　hard。
　Doc　Deerforth　had　left。　Justine　sat　over　her　drawing　board　working　on　a　design　that　had　eluded　her　for　four　days。　Once　or　twice　she　seemed　to　have　it　conquered　only　to　see　it　slip　away　from　her　as　she　sketched　it　out。　It　was　like　trying　to　catch　a　minnow　with　your　fingers；　she　decided。　At　length　she　threw　down　her　pen　in　disgust；　ripped　the　sheet　of　tracing　paper　off　its　drawing…pin　anchors　and　crumpled　it　up。
　She　went　into　the　kitchen；　fixed　herself　a　tuna　fish　sandwich。　She　had　chewed　at　it　without　really　tasting　it；　thinking　of　where　she　had　gone　wrong；　surely　the　concept　was　sound　enough。　She　washed　the　last　of　the　sandwich　down　with　a　half　glass　of　orange…juice。
　She　was　dressed　in　a　Danskin　bathing　suit。　For　a　moment　she　stood　staring　at　the　drawing　board　as　if　it　were　her　enemy。　Dangerous；　she　thought。　She　knew　the　signs。
　She　grabbed　a　towel　and　went　out　of　the　door　onto　the　beach。　She　ran　now；　dropping　the　towel　onto　the　sand；　high…stepping　into　the　breakers；　pushing　herself　through　the　heavy　drag　of　the　cold　water　until；　seeing　a　wave　looming　high　over　her；　ready　to　crash；　she　dived　into　its　green　side。
　In　solitude；　she　dimly　heard　its　thunder　over　her；　felt　the　slight　quake　of　its　violent　passage。　Then　she　was　borne　upwards　on　the　swell。　She　launched　out　with　cupped　hands　and　kicking　legs；　stroking　powerfully　outwards；　feeling　the　stretch　in　her　lower　back；　her　shoulders；　her　thighs。　Bubbles　streamed　like　molten　metal　from　the　corner　of　her　mouth　and　she　glided　effortlessly　upwards；　breaking　the　shivering　surface；　blinking；　gulping　air　before　she　went　under　again。
　Nicholas　filled　her　thoughts　and；　despite　what　she　had　told　Do