ericlustbader.the ninja-第64章

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　Then　Tom　had　hold　of　his　boss　and　was　pulling　at　him。　Tomkin　allowed　himself　to　be　drawn　away　from　the　confrontation　but　lifted　a　finger；　swung　it　in　the　air　in　Croaker's　direction。　〃I'm　warning　you；'　he　cried；　'this　is　harassment。　I　don't　want　you　near　me　I'　And　then；　lowering　his　voice；　he　said　to　Nicholas；　'He's　after　me。　I　don't　know　why。　It's　a　vendetta。　I've　done　nothing；　Nick。　What's　he　doing　to　me？'　He　turned　away　abruptly；　walked　silently　back　to　the　limo　with　Tom　at　his　side　casting　a　worried　glance　or　two　over　his　shoulder。　The　revolving　red　lights　played　on　their　backs　intermittently。
　'Well；　that　was　pretty　stupid；'　Nicholas　said；　turning　round。
　'Oh；　who　gives　a　fuck？　What　are　you；　my　nanny？　Jesus！'　Croaker　disappeared　into　the　car。
　Nicholas　went　slowly　around　to　the　passenger's　side。　He　took　his　time　climbing　in。　Croaker　stared　fixedly　out　through　the　windshield。
　'Sorry；'　he　said；　after　a　time。　And　then；　〃That　bastard　really　boils　my　blood。'
　'The　antagonism　isn't　going　to　make　anything　easier。'
　Croaker　turned　his　head；　looked　at　Nicholas　for　the　first　time　since　he　had　got　in　the　car。　'You　know；　I　worry　about　you；　Nick；　I　really　do。〃　Their　reflections　in　the　windshield　like　a　neon　sign；　blinking　on　arid　off　in　the　backwash　of　traffic　headlights；　a　product　advertisement。　'You're　a　man　who　never　loses　control。　Don't　you　ever　get　angry？　Or　sad？'
　Nicholas　thought　about　Justine。　He　wanted　to　see　her　now；　to　talk　to　her　more　than　anything。
　'Because　I　feel　sorry　for　you　if　you　don't。'
　'No　cause　to　worry；'　he　said　softly。　I'm　as　human　as　the　next　person。　All　too　human。'
　'Hey；　you　know　I'd　swear　you're　making　that　sound　like　a　liability。　We're　all　born　into　it；　buddy。'
　'But　me；'　he　said。　'I　grew　up　thinking　there　was　no　room　to　make　a　mistake；　that　it　was　some　kind　of　failure　if　I　did。'
　'But　you　made　them　…'
　'Oh；　yeah。'　Nicholas　laughed　softly；　without　humour。　'I　made　plenty　of　them；　especially　when　it　came　to　women。　I　trusted　when　I　shouldn't　have；　now　I　guess　I'm　afraid　to　try　it　again。'
　'Justine？'
　'Yeah。　We　had　a　heavy　row。　It's　mostly　my　fault；　I　see　now。'
　'You　know　what　I　think；　buddy？〃　Croaker　said；　starting　the　engine。
　'What？'
　'I　think　the　problem's　not　with　you　and　Justine　but　in　the　past。　What's　so　wrong　in　trusting　someone？　Like　I　said；　we　all　do　it。　Sometimes　it　pays　off　and　sometimes。。。〃　He　shrugged。　'But　what　the　hell；　right？　It's　worse　never　to　trust　anyone。'　He　put　the　car　in　gear　and　they　edged　past　Tomkin's　limo；　pulling　over　to　the　left　to　make　the　U…turn　downtown。
　'The　flood　was　ing；　Nicholas　knew。　His　face　was　awash　in　yellow　and　red；　blue　in　the　shadows　between　light　sweeps。　The　tsunami；　his　personal　tidal　wave；　was　roaring　blackly　just　behind　him；　looming　over　the　world。　The　past　will　never　die；　he　thought。　Pain　surged　inside　him；　threatening　to　engulf　him。　All　the　bitter　days；　hanging　like　frost　on　the　ledges　of　his　soul；　were　returning　again　despite　his　careful　partmentalizing；　the　agony　returning　like　a　dull　river　of　lead；　climbing　through　him　once　more。　He　lacked　the　strength　to　push　the　memories　away　any　more。
　e　1　he　thought　savagely。　Here　I　am；　let　it　happen。
　But　before　the　tsunami　hit；　he　heard　Croaker　saying　triumphantly；　'But　cheer　up。　We　got　a　break。　We　may　not　know　who　this　ninja　is　but　I　know　where　he's　gonna　be　at　exactly　9　p。m。　tonight。
　'We're　gonna　be　mere；　buddy；　waiting。　You　and　me　and　two　blue…and…white　backup　units。　We're　gonna　nail　this　bastard　before　he　even　gets　a　chance　to　get　to　Raphael　Tomkin。'
　
　II
　Osaka/Shimonoseki/Kumamoto/Tokyo　Suburbs；　Winter　1963
　At　this　time　of　the　year　the　countryside　was　bleak　and　pale。　The　searingly　spectacular　deep　reds　and　oranges　of　the　autumnal　foliage　had　already　faded；　dropped　away　to　dull　brown　mulch　under　animals'　hooves；　and　the　first　snow　had　obstinately　yet　to　fall　to　leave　the　sere　land　hidden　beneath　its　crisp　albescence。
　Rolling　by　rail　under　a　low　sky　full　of　incipient　rain　reminding　him　of　a　child's　face　full　of　an　emotion　unacknowledged；　it　seemed　sad　to　see　the　lines　of　bare　trees　like　rough　wire　approximations　of　next　year's　model　in　among　the　eternal　dark　green　of　the　sentinel　pines。　So　forlorn；　almost　as　if　God　had；　after　much　effort；　at　last　given　up　on　this　part　of　the　world。
　Nicholas　allowed　his　eyes　to　focus　on　the　far　horizon。　The　speed　blur　of　the　landscape　passing　closer　to　hand　became　dizzying；　a　brown…black　sensation　of　being　whirled　about　on　a　funfair　ride。　Yukio；　leaning　half　across　him　to　get　a　better　glimpse；　pressed　the　side　of　one　hard　breast　against　him。　Fingers　spread　on　his　thigh　to　brace　herself　against　the　rocking。　Nails　digging　in；　giving　her　purchase。　Warmth　spread　upwards　into　his　groin　and　he　wondered；　half…afraid；　half…expectant；　if　her　hand　would　move　up　with　it　to　cup　him。
　Opposite；　on　a　seat　facing　them；　a　Japanese　businessman　in　a　dark…coloured　pinstripe　and　a　scrubbed　face；　calfskin　attache'　case　placed　carefully　on　the　seat　beside　him　as　mute　pany；　surmounted　by　a　charcoal…grey　cashmere　overcoat　folded　meticulously　and；　atop　that；　like　the　miniature　couple　on　a　white　wedding　cake；　a　black　bowler　hat　…　in　all；　an　arcane　archaeological　pyramid　offering　no　ancestral　clues　…　glanced　up　from　reading　the　paper。　His　eyes　were　given　an　unnatural　size　and　annularity　by　his　thick　round　glasses。　He　blinked　much　as　a　fish　might　upon　encountering　an　unexpected　foreign　object　close　to　hand。　Was　he　staring　at　the　proximity　of　her　fingertips　to　his　crotch　before　he　returned　to　his　reading？　The　paper　rustled　slightly。　It　might　have　been　a　brick　wall。
　Nicholas　could　see　the　flash　of　reflected　light　from　the　curving　edge　of　the　thick　gold　ring。　He　imagined　the　man　to　be　an　important　member　of　the　zaibatsu。　But　which　one；　he　wondered？　Mitsubishi；　perhaps？　Or　Sumitomo　or　Mitsui？　Not　one　of　the　groups；　surely；　Fuyo；　Sanwa；　Dai…Ichi　Kangyo。　Of　the　seven　lesser　konzerns；　he　was　obviously　not　from　Nippon　Steel；　Toyota　or　Nissan。　No；　he　had　the　look　about　him　of　the　burgeoning　electronics　firms　like　Toshiba…IHI；　Matsushita；　Hitachi　…　on　second　thoughts；　scratch　Hitachi　…　or　Tokyu。　Did　Tokyu　manufacture　electronics；　e　to　think　of　it？　He　wasn't　all　that　certain。
　Perhaps　this　man's　family　had　started　Mitsubishi　…　the　families；　he　knew；　were　back…running　the　zaibatsu　as　they　had　since　the　beginning。　The　American　laws　that　had　forced　a　hiatus　had　been　stricken　after　only　a　brief　term。
　Nicholas　stared　at　the　paper　barrier　as　if　he　had　X…ray　vision。　He　could　see　in　his　mind　the　round　yellow　face；　slightly　burnished　with　a　light　film　of　sweat；　and；　below　it；　the　perfect　collar　white　as　snow；　stiff　and　starched；　the　thin　dark　silk　tie　the　colour　of　the　midnight　sky。　Here　was　a　symbol　of　the　new　Japan：　the　painful　climb　out　of　the　stone…age　isolationism　…oddly；　still　more　pressing　than　the　much　more　recent　war　…　the　human　memory　is　so　deliberately　and　depressingly　selective。　Adopting　the　Western　mode　of　dress　was　just　one　manifestation　of　the　Japanese　cultural　drive　to　catch　up　with　the　West。　As　monomaniacal　as　Tojo　still。　Or　MacArthur。　Our　savior。
　Parity　was　already　a　fact　in　Japan　and　the　country　was　gearing　itself　up　for　overdrive；　for　the　great　push　to　surpass　those　countries　from　which　it　had　learned。　And　there　would　e　a　day　now；　Nicholas　was　convinced；　when　the　Japanese；　having　proved　his　economic　strength；　would　shed　his　Western　appurtenances；　returning　in　re…won　security　to　the　traditional　kimono；　robes　of　state。
　They　were　on　the　fast　train　…　the　express　…　from　Tokyo　to　Osaka。　Out　of　the　window　on　their　right　was　all　of　the　width　of　Honshu；　the　main　island。　On　the　other　side　they　could　see　from　time　to　time　the　glintings　of　the　sea；　throwing　bright　golden　reflections　in　abstract　patterns　across　the　car's　ceiling。　The　vibration　from　the　rails　was　minimal；　as　was　the　noise　on　this　sleek　blue　and　silver　liner；　quiet；　spacious　and　serene。
　Yukio　sat　back　in　the　seat；　linked　her　arm　through　his。　'Why　don't　we　stay　overnight　in　Osaka？'　she　suggested　and　then；　as　if　in　explanation；　'I　hate　trains。'
　Nicholas　thought　about　that。　Perhaps　it　wasn't　such　a　bad　idea。　The　nightlife　there　was　bright　and　glossy　and　he　needed　cheering　up　right　now。
　The　little　bit　of　clandestine　cloak…and…dagger　that　Yukio　and　he　had　concocted　regarding　Saigo　…　he　had　quite　conveniently　forgotten　whose　suggestion　it　had　been　…　had　proved　unnecessary。　Astoundingly；　before　she　had　even　had　a　chance　to　leave　for　the　dinner　at　Satsugai's　house；　where　she　was　to　take　a　peek　at　Saigo's　ticket　destination；　a　note　had　been　delivered　to　Nicholas。　It　was　in　Saigo's　hand　and　it　invited　him　to　e　to　a　town　called　Kumamoto　in　Kyushu　for　a　visit　during　the　next　few　weeks。　No　reason　was　given　for　the　invitation。　Like　everything　in　Saigo's　life；　this；　too；　was　meant　to　be　secretive。
　Nicholas　had　read　the　note　with　a　mounting　sense　of　deflation。　Irrationally；　he　felt　as　if　Saigo　had　somehow　read　his　mind　and　he　could　not　throw　off　the　anticipatory　overtones　the　words　set　off　in　him；　like　a　far…off　bell　tolling　from　some　fog…shrouded　hillside。　〃This　will　all　be　unexplored　territory；'　Kansatsu　had　said　to　him；　'if　you　decide　it's　what　you　want。　It　is　totally　your　decision　to　make；　Nicholas。　I　cannot　guide　you。　Only　say　that　here　you　can　go　no　further。　For　that　you　must　look　to　the　darkness　…　and　the　light。'　Squelched；　his　plan　had　been　cruelly　revealed　as　just　so　much　juvenile　fantasy　and；　instead　of　thinking　about　why　he　had　been　asked　south；　he　made　himself　busy　feeling　unhappy；　defeated。　And　to　make　matters　worse；　Yukio　went　to　dinner　at　Satsugai's　anyway。
　Mountains　reared　silently　through　the　perspex　window；　blue…grey；　ragged　with　streaks　of　snow　running　down　from　their　summits　like　spilt　cream。　One　of　the　three　ranges　of　Alps　…　the　most　southerly；　headed　by　Mount　Shirane　…　passed　like　a　cincture　about　Honshu's　waist。　Where　was　he　headed　now；　he　wondered。　Into　the　light　or　the　darkness？　Did　it　matter？
　'Especially　this　one；〃　Yukio　said　as　if　there　had　been　no　space　of　silence　between。　'I　hate　this　one。　All　the　wide　seats；　the　chrome　trim；　the　bigger　windows　don't　mean　a　thing　to　me。　It's　worse　on　this　one。　Because　of　the　silence。　The　silence　makes　me　restless。'　She　made　a　face。　'My　foot's　asleep。'　She　shifted；　stretching　out　legs　on　which　she　had　been　sitting。　The　businessman　across　the　way　rattled　his　paper；　peals　of　warning。
　'All　right；〃　Nicholas　said。　'Yes。'　There　seemed　no　good　reason　to　rush　headlong　into　Kumamoto。　Anyway；　he'd　only　been　to　Osaka　once　when　he　was　much　younger　and　he　was　curious　to　see　how　much　it　had　changed。　Would　he　recognize　it？　He　thought　not。
　He　felt　Yukio's　presence　close　and　warm　beside　him　and　he　wondered　if　it　had　been　intelligent　to　take　her。　In　truth　it　had　not　been　his　idea。　But　after　making　his　decision　to　accept　Saigo's　summons；　it　had　proved　quite　impossible　to　deflect　her。　'It　was　you；　after　all；'　she　had　said　in　her　most　persuasively　accusatory　tone；　'who　got　me　involved　in　this　in　the　first　place。'　He　couldn't　recall　whether　or　not　that　was　so。　'It's　only　fair　you　take　me　along　now。'　She　had　flung　her　head　back　defiantly；　sensually　…but　then；　even　in　anger；　she　was　superbly　sensual。　'Besides；　if　you　don't；　I'll　only　e　with　you　on　my　o