ericlustbader.the ninja-第52章

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　The　Japanese　watched　avidly　as　the　girl　went　to　where　Sparrow　stood　on　the　threshold。　'Do　it　on　your　knees；'　he　told　her。　He　was　gratified　to　see　how　well　she　took　instructions。　He　must　remember　to　pliment　the　old　woman。
　The　boy　stood　naked；　his　thin　body　just　beginning　to　form　the　musculature　of　adolescence。　The　Japanese　stared；　his　pupils　dilated。　In　and　out。　His　breathing　like　the　bellows　in
　a　busy　forge。　The　girl　sat　with　her　legs　folded　beneath　her。　Her　head　was　bowed。　Her　long　black　hair　hung；　shining；　down　her　back。
　He　bade　her　undress　him　next；　his　shirt　first　so　that　she　could　perform　the　rest　on　her　knees　in　front　of　him。　He　did　not　watch　her；　he　watched　the　boy。
　He　was　hard　by　the　time　she　had　finished　and　the　boy's　penis　was　no　longer　soft。　Without　looking　at　her；　he　grabbed　the　girl　by　the　back　of　her　head；　pushed　her　face　against　his　scrotal　sac。　Her　mouth　opened。　The　boy　was　hard　and　quivering。
　He　pushed　the　girl　away　from　him；　stepped　into　the　hot　tub。　'Now；'　he　said　to　her；　'wash　me。'
　When　this　had　been　pleted；　he　stepped　out　and　instructed　her　to　scrub　the　bathtub。　Only　when　it　was　washed　and　rinsed　did　he　step　back　in。　She　ran　the　water　for　him　again。
　Lying　back；　soaking　contentedly；　he　stared　up　at　the　gleaming　white　ceiling　just　as　if　he　were　alone。　He　thought　about　the　fall　and　what　it　meant。　He　smiled。　He　had　meant　to　kill　Tomkin　within　three　days　anyway。　He　had　not　been　about　to　reveal　that　to　his　employers。　The　less　they　knew　the　better。　Once　you　gave　anyone　information　of　any　kind；　you　risked　giving　them　an　advantage。　That　was　something　the　Japanese　had　never　done。　He　was　successful　because　it　was　he　who　held　the　advantage　always。　This　he　had　been　taught　well。
　He　had　to　laugh。　His　body　moved；　sending　wavelets　bouncing　off　the　porcelain　of　the　tub。　By　not　revealing　his　plans；　he　had　just　had　his　fee　doubled。　It　had　been　high　enough　to　begin　with　and　rightly　so　others　had　tried　to　kill　Raphael　Tomkin；　none　had　succeeded。　The　Japanese　had　no　doubts　about　his　success；　none　at　all。　It　was；　rather；　the　method　that　occupied　his　mind　so　fully。　Yes；　his　first　assessment　had　been　the　correct　one。　Tomkin　was　most　vulnerable　in　his　new　office。　It　was　high　up；　it　was　isolated；　it　was　surrounded　by　a　warren　of　tunnels　and　half…pleted　passageways　into　which　he　could　disappear　in　an　instant。
　There　were；　of　course；　the　long…range　methods：　the　rifle；　the　bomb；　and　so　forth。　These　were　not　in　the　Japanese's　repertoire　of　murder。　They　were　the　coward's　way；　totally　Western　form　of　assassination。　He　did　all　his　work　first　hand；　with　his　own　weapons。　There　was　no　honour　in　killing　otherwise。　Thus　he　had　been　taught。　The　ninja；　too；　had　their　code　of　honour。　It　was　far　from　the　laws　of　weak…minded　bushido；　he　thought　contemptuously；　but　it　governed　him　none　the　less。　A　buy　was　simply　not　worth　doing　if　one　could　not　get　within　arm's　length　of　the　objective。　And　that　was　all　he　needed。
　So　it　would　happen　on　the　top　floor　of　the　office　building；　in　the　plush　office　…　that　would　be　superbly　fitting。　Not　tonight　and　perhaps　not　the　next；　there　were　too　many　matters　to　tie　up；　too　many　things　yet　to　be　settled。　The　night　after　next；　then。　No　need　to　rush　it。　He　went　over　every　phase　of　the　buy　again；　feeling　a　tingling　in　his　groin　beginning。　The　only　matter　that　now　concerned　him　…　because　it　was　out　of　his　control　at　the　moment　…　was　whether　he　had　been　too　obvious。　Perhaps　he　had　miscalculated　in　killing　Ito。　Then　he　thought：　No；　it's　what　I　had　planned　to　do　from　the　start。　It's　what　he　needs。
　The　tip　of　his　erect　penis　breached　the　water。　He　stared　at　it；　fascinated。
　'Time；'　he　said　and　the　girl　opened　the　drain。　He　stood　up。　The　hot　water　rolled　down　his　flesh。　His　torso　and　limbs　were　hairless。
　He　stepped　out　of　the　tub；　brushed　aside　the　thick　towel　the　girl　had　opened　for　him。　'No；'　he　said。　'Lick　the　water　off　me。'　He　watched　the　boy；　who　had　not　moved　all　this　time；　as　the　girl　bent　to　her　task。
　Yes；　he　thought。　There　is　plenty　of　time。　Enough　for　me　to　return　here　tomorrow　night。　Release　was　instrumental　to　his　functioning　properly。　Between　his　spread　legs；　the　girl　continued　to　lick　at　him。
　In　the　bedroom；　he　smoked　another　pipeful；　repeating　his　offer　to　Sparrow。　The　girl　was　the　only　one　who　was　still　dressed。　She　came　and　stood　before　him　when　he　manded；　her　eyes　at　her　feet。　With　one　blurred　gesture　he　ripped　the　silk　rob　from　her。　She　had　small　firm　breasts；　the　nipples　long　and　hard。　Narrow　waist　and　hips；　thick　pubic　triangle。　Her　skin　was　raised　in　goose　bumps。　Still　she　would　not　look　at　him；　he　liked　that。
　He　reached　his　left　hand　up。　It　was　so　big　that　his　fingers　were　able　to　encircle　her　slender　neck　pletely。　Her　skin　was　so　soft　there。　With　his　other　hand　he　touched　her　briefly　where　her　flesh　was　raised；　interested　in　the　oddity。
　Holding　her　thus；　he　drew　his　right　hand　away；　slapped　her　breasts　so　that　they　shook。　She　grimaced　but　made　no　sound。　The　Japanese　turned　his　head　slightly　so　that　he　could　see　the　boy's　reaction；　he　had　not　moved。　The　Japanese　swung　at　the　girl's　breasts　again；　this　time　from　the　opposite　side。　She　gasped　and　immediately　bit　her　lower　lip。　Sweat　started　but　along　her　hairline；　her　flesh　was　damp　beneath　his　fingers。
　When　he　hit　her　a。　third　time；　it　was　with　considerably　more　force。　She　gave　a　short　cry　and　her　legs　collapsed　from　under　her。
　The　Japanese　took　her　under　the　arms；　threw　her　on　the　bed。　There　was　a　piece　of　silk　tied　to　each　of　the　bedposts。　He　took　these　and；　one　by　one；　tied　them　around　her　wrists　and　ankles　until　she　was　spread…eagled；　unable　to　move。　Her　chest　was　heaving　and　it　glistened　with　sweat。　She　moaned；　half　unconscious。
　The　Japanese　crossed　the　room；　took　the　ceramic　bottle　of　sake　back　to　the　bed　and　fed　it　to　her。　She　coughed　twice。　Her　eyes　flew　open　and　she　swallowed　convulsively。　He　kept　the　lip　of　the　bottle　to　her　lips　until　all　the　liquor　was　gone。　Then　he　got　onto　the　bed；　straddling　her。　He　faced　her　crotch　and　spread　legs；　her　breasts　were　beneath　him。
　'e　here；〃　he　said　to　Sparrow。'　The　boy　moved　to　the　side　of　the　bed；　climbed　up　into　the　position　the　Japanese　indicated。　He　crouched　between　the　girl's　legs。　His　eyes　went　to　her　crotch。　He　fell　over；　dazed。　The　right　side　of　his　face　was　numb。　Moments　later；　it　began　to　sting。　It　was　very　red。
　'Don't　do　that；'　the　Japanese　said。　'Look　only　in　the　direction　of　this*　He　pointed　to　his　rampant　penis。
　Now　the　Japanese　settled　over　the　girls　face。　He　felt　the　heat　of　her　breath；　the　soft　tickle　as　her　lips　opened。　Her　tongue　began　to　probe　his　anus。
　'Now；'　he　manded　the　boy。　Sparrow　leaned　forward；　opened　his　mouth。
　Soon　the　Japanese　closed　his　eyes。　He　began　to　talk　in　expletives。　Neither　Sparrow　nor　the　girl　understood　his　words；　they　were　in　Japanese。　They　could　not；　however；　mistake　his　tone。
　As　his　excitement　mounted；　so　did　the　obscenities　he　uttered。　He　reached　down　without　knowing　it；　grabbed　painful　handfuls　of　the　girl's　inner　thighs；　leaving　marks　and　red　welts；　and；　as　he　exploded　into　Sparrow's　mouth；　he　hit　her　once　between　her　thighs　so　hard　that　she　fainted　with　the　pain。
　Seeing　the　look　in　the　Japanese's　eyes；　Sparrow　backed　away　off　the　bed。　It　was　his　turn　now。
　Doc　Deerforth　was　thinking　about　the　war。　He　sat　in　his　old　wooden　chair　behind　the　desk　in　his　office；　a　cup　of　steaming　coffee　half　on　the　pale　blue　blotter　in　front　of　him。　His　head　was　turned　slightly　so　that　he　could　gaze　out　through　the　screen　window；　past　the　ancient　oak；　out　along　Main　Street。　This　time　of　the　morning　there　was　little　evidence　of　activity。　It　was　not　yet　seven　o'clock。
　Without　looking；　Doc　Deerforth　reached　for　his　cup　of　coffee；　took　a　long　sip。　He　scalded　his　tongue　but　he　took　no　notice。
　It　was　quite　like　malaria；　he　thought　now。　Once　caught　it　could　never　be　cured　entirely　but　would　return　over　and　over　in　diminished　attacks　like　an　unpleasant　reminder　of　the　past。　It　might　even　be　seasonal；　he　suspected；　ing　on　most　strongly　during　the　hot　days　of　July　and　August；　the　dog　days　when　even　out　here　in　West　Bay　Bridge　the　sun　was　so　withering；　the　atmosphere　so　sticky　that　the　leaves　on　the　trees　seemed　to　wilt。
　He　never　seemed　to　think　of　the　war　during　the　winter。
　He　picked　up　the　phone；　dialled　Ray　Florum's　number　at　the　police　station。　He　let　it　ring　six　times　before　cradling　the　phone。　He　had　dialled　Florum's　private　line。　No　one　would　pick　it　up　but　Ray　himself。
　Where　the　hell　was　he？　Doc　Deerforth　thought　irritably。　Then　he　glanced　at　his　watch；　saw　how　early　it　was。　Ray　didn't　e　in　until　around　eight。　Still；　Doc　Deerforth　wanted　to　know　if　there　had　been　any　progress　towards　capturing　the
　ninja。　He　felt　an　irrational　anger　which；　he　knew；　stemmed　from　fear。
　The　front…door　bell　rang　and　he　jumped。　For　a　moment　he　considered　ignoring　it；　but　when　it　came　again；　he　got　up　and　went　through　the　house。
　'Nicholas；'　he　said；　blinking　into　the　light。　'e　in。'　He　closed　the　door。　'What　brings　you　here　so　early？　Are　you　ill？'
　'I　didn't　wake　you　up；　did　I？'
　Doc　Deerforth　laughed。　'Hell；　no；　son。　Just　sitting　here　dreaming。'　。He　peered　closely　at　Nicholas。　'You　don't　look　at　all　well。　I　think　you'd　better　e　along　with　me。'
　'I　haven't　slept；　that's　all；'　Nicholas　said；　allowing　himself　to　be　led　into　the　house。　But　instead　of　taking　him　into　his　office；　Doc　Deerforth　led　him　to　the　kitchen。
　'A　good　breakfast　will　do　you　a　world　of　good；'　he　said。　He　opened　the　refrigerator；　took　out　a　carton　of　orange　juice；　handed　it　over。　'Here；　help　yourself。〃　He　looked　up。　'Bacon　and　eggs　all　right　with　you？'
　'Hey；　you　don't　have　to　…'
　Doc　Deerforth　waved　away　his　words。　'Course　I　don't　have　to。　I　want　to。'　He　smiled；　carrying　eggs　to　the　stove。　'Besides；　it's　been　a　while　since　I　had　a　guest　for　breakfast。　Do　me　good。　I've　been　sitting　around　too　much　lately。'　He　began　to　prepare　the　food。　He　got　more　coffee　going；　then　　　　put　up　the　bacon。　The　sizzling　of　the　meat　gave　。him　a　peculiarly　warm　feeling。　He　wondered　about　that　until　he　recalled　he　used　to　cook　breakfast　for　the　girls。　That　seemed　so　long　ago。　'I　s'pose　you　want　to　know　what　Florum's　been　up　to；〃　he　said。　Nicholas　sat　down　at　the　table；　poured　himself　some　juice。　He　looked　up　expectantly。　'Nothing；'　Doc　Deerforth　continued。　'There's　not　a　damn　thing　for　him　to　go　on。'
　'I'm　not　surprised；'　Nicholas　said。　He　told　the　other　about　what　had　taken　place　in　the　city。
　'Friends　of　yours；　huh？'　Doc　Deerforth　said　when　he　had　finished。　〃That's　a　bit　of　bad　luck。　I'm　sorry。'　He　turned　the　bacon。　'You　think　he's　really　after　Raphael　Tomkin？'
　Nicholas　nodded。
　〃Then　why　these　other　killings？　None　of　the　victims　seem　to　have　any　connection　with　Tomkin。'
　'They　don't。　At　least；　not　as　far　as　I　can　tell。'
　'Then　what's　he　up　to？　He　could　have　been　in　and　out　half　a　dozen　times　by　now。'
　'I've　thought　about　that。'　Nicholas　glanced　down　at　his　juice　as　if　he　might　find　answers　there。　'For　one　thing；　it's　not　so　easy　to　get　to　Tomkin。　That　kind　of　penetration　takes　time。'
　'All　the　more　reason　for　him　to　keep　a　low　profile。　They　don't　like　the　limelight。'　He　lifted　out　the　bacon；　started　on　the　eggs。
　'Normally　that's　true；'　Nicholas　agre