ericlustbader.the ninja-第67章

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　It　hung　there　as　if　in　mid…air；　rising　out　of　the　tidal　waters　like　a　great　three…dimensional　cuneiform　character　written　upon　the　world；　mark　of　the　old　Japan；　a　warning　never　to　forget　the　past。
　The　train　seemed　to　stand；　huffing；　for　a　long　time　in　the　Hiroshima　Station。　All　about　them　were　the　squat；　ugly；　industrial　structures　dominated　by　a　kind　of　incandescent　silence　hanging　in　the　air；　as　thin　and　brittle　as　the　shell　of　a　robin's　egg…The　seat　facing　them；　long　vacant　through　the　afternoon；　was　taken　by　a　gaunt；　spare　man　in　a　grey　and　brown　kimono。　His　head　was　hairless　save　for　a　few　wisps　of　white　beard　hanging　from　the　point　of　his　narrow　chin。　His　skin　seemed　as　translucent　as　parchment；　stretched　across　high　cheek…bones；　but　underneath　his　eyes　and　at　the　sides　of　his　mouth　one　could　see　the　masses　of　wrinkles　like　the　vast　accumulation　of　the　years；　an　ancient　tree　whose　age　one　could　count　by　the　number　of　rings　in　its　flesh。
　His　eyes　were　bright　chips　as　he　nodded　to　them。　His　hands　were　lost　within　the　folds　of　his　formal　robe。
　Soon　after；　the　train　gave　a　little　lurch　and　they　began　to　move　slowly　out　of　the　station。　On　the　way　out；　the　feeling　of　oppression　only　magnified　as　if　all　the　air　had　been　sucked　away　and　what　remained　to　breathe；　if　only　they　should　open　the　window　and　stick　their　heads　out；　was　the　frosty　vacuum　of　space。　They　might　have　been　on　another　planet。
　Nicholas　felt　a　creeping　in　his　flesh　and　he　looked　out　of　the　window；　upwards　into　the　bright　porcelain　sky；　certain　he　had　heard　the　heavy　drone　of　an　airplane。
　The　train　moved　with　unutterable　slowness　through　the　city。　For　a　moment　they　could　see；　silhouetted　against　the　near　horizon；　the　shell　of　the　old　observatory；　standing　just　as　it　had　been　left　in　1945；　…〃ts　surmounting　hemisphere　a　bird's…nest　skeleton；　a　lonely；　forbidding　eyrie　for　the　gulls　that　swooped　low　near　it　but　would　never　touch　its　inimical　skin。　Perhaps　even　after　all　this　time　they　could　still　feel　the　incendiary　heat；　the　hissed　outpouring　of　radiation；　carrying　it　in　their　bones　like　a　race　memory；　the　survival　instinct。
　'You　want　to　know　the　real　me？'　Yukio　said　into　Nicholas's　ear　as　they　both　stared　at　the　only　monument　to　what　had　happened　here　such　a　short/long　time　ago。　'There。　You　see　it。　That　is　what　I　am　like　inside。　What　you　see　on　the　outside　is　all　that's　left　standing。'
　Now；　he　thought；　she　had　bee　maudlin；　turning　full　circle　from　her　usual　sardonic　tough…as…nails　stance。　But；　he　thought；　it　was　this　dichotomy　that　most　intrigued　him　about　her。　And　he　did　not　for　a　moment　think　she　was　as　unplicated　as　she　made　out。　He　knew　that　to　be　a　defence　…　her　ultimate　defence　perhaps。　Still；　he　could　not　stop　himself　from　wondering　what　manner　of　unfamiliar　territory　lay　beyond　the　stonewall　she　had　so　effectively　erected。
　Streamers　of　cloud　flew　obliquely　across　the　sky　as　they　left　Hiroshima　behind；　seeming　to　begin　from　the　ground；　reaching　up　into　the　very　heart　of　heaven。
　'Pardon　me；'　said　the　old　man　across　from　them。　'Please　excuse　this　intrusion　but　I　could　not　help　wondering。'
　He　paused　and　Nicholas　was　obliged　to　ask　him；　'What　were　you　wondering　？'
　'If　you　have　ever　been　to　Hiroshima。'
　'No；'　Nicholas　said　and　Yukio　shook　her　head。
　'I　didn't　think　so；'　the　old　man　said。　'In　any　case；　you　would　be　too　young　to　remember　the　old　city；　to　have　seen　it　before　the　annihilation。'
　'Did　you？'　Yukio　asked。
　'Oh　yes。'　He　smiled；　almost　wistfully；　and　when　he　did；　the　wrinkles　seemed　to　fade　from　his　face。　'Yes；　Hiroshima　was　my　home。　Once。　That　seems　very　far　away　now；　I　think。　Almost　as　if　it　were　part　of　another　life。'　He　smiled　again。　'And　in　an　important　way　it　was。〃
　'Where　were　you；〃　Nicholas　said；　'when　it　happened？'　'Oh；　I　was　away　in　the　hills。'　He　nodded。　'Yes；　safely　away　from　the　firefall。　Trees　shook　miles　away　and　the　earth　convulsed　as　if　in　pain。　There　was　never　anything　like　it。　A　wound　in　the　universe。　It　went　beyond　the　death　of　man　or　animal　or　even　civilization。'
　Nicholas　wanted　to　ask　the　old　man　what　it　was　that　went　beyond　all　those　things　but　he　could　not　bring　himself　to　do　it。　He　stared；　dry…mouthed。
　'It　was　lucky　you　weren't　in　the　city　when　the　bomb　fell。'　The　old　man　regarded　Yukio。　'Luck？'　he　said　as　if　tasting　the　flesh　of　some　unfamiliar　fowl。　'I　don't　know。　Perhaps　luck　might　be　a　modern　equivalent；　though　an　inadequate　one。　If　anything；　it　was　karma。　You　see；　I　had　been　out　of　the　country　just　prior　to　the　war。　I　was　a　businessman　in　those　days　and　went　quite　often　to　the　continent。　Mostly　to　Shanghai；　where　a　majority　of　my　selling　was　done。'　For　the　first　time　his　hands　came　into　view　and　Nicholas　saw　the　unnatural　lenght　of　his　nails。　They　were　perfectly　manicured；　buffed　and　gleaming　with　clear　lacquer。　The　old　man　saw　the　look　in　Nicholas's　eyes；　said；　'An　affectation　I　picked　up　there　from　the　Chinese　mandarins　with　whom　I　did　business　and　who　befriended　me。　I　do　not　even　notice　them　now；　I've　grown　so　accustomed　to　them。　But；　of　course；　these　are　only　of　quite　a　moderate　length。'　He　settled　back　more　fortably　in　the　seat；　began　to　speak　as　if　telling　a　bedtime　story　to　his　grandchildren。　He　had　a　remarkable　speaking　voice；　manding　yet　gentle；　as　well　modulated　as　a　seasoned　lecturer's。　'We　took　some　time　off　over　a　long　weekend　and；　all　our　business　pleted；　we　went　into　the　countryside　for　a　bit　of　relaxation。　I　had　no　idea　what　to　expect；　really。　These　were　Chinese；　after　all。　The　mandarins　have；　ah；　peculiar　tastes　in　many　things。　But　in　business　one　must　learn　to　be　cosmopolitan　in　one's　thinking　…　especially　when　it　conies　to　the　matter　of　your　clients'　personal　tastes。　Yes；　I　do　not　believe　that　it　is　good　policy　to　be　close…minded　or；　ah；　traditional　here。　The　world　supports　a　myriad　cultures；　is　that　not　so？　Who　is　to　say　which　is　the　more　valid。'　He　shrugged　his　thin　sharp　shoulders。　'Certainly　not　I。'
　Outside；　the　afternoon　was　waning；　the　oblique　cloudbanks　streaked　with　gold　and　pink　on　their　undersides；　a　charcoal　grey　above。　The　sun　was　already　out　of　sight　below　the　horizon　and　in　the　east　the　sky　was　clear；　a　vast　cobalt　porcelain　bowl；　seeming　translucent。　High　up；　several　first…magnitude　stars　could　already　be　seen　flung　aloft　as　if　by　a　giant　hand。　The　world　seemed　suffused　with　an　absolute　stillness　as　at　the　midpoint　of　a　long　summer's　afternoon　when　time　itself　ceases　to　have　any　meaning。　It　was　a　magical　time；　made　up　of　fantastic　elements　having　all　miraculously　arrived　at　the　same　spot　at　one　instant；　the　inaudible　sigh　the　inner　ear　hears　in　that　last　moment　in　a　theatre　before　the　curtain　rises。
　'They　took　me　on　a　journey；　my　mandarin　friends。　To　a　town　within　a　town；　as　I　said；　outside　of　Shanghai。　It　was　…excuse　me；　my　dear　…　a　bordello。　Not　merely　the　building　we　went　to；　oh　no。　The　entire　town。　Yes；　that's　right；　a　city　of　pleasure。　You　will　forgive　me；　young　lady；　parts　of　this　tale。　A　marfon　business　for　weeks　at　a　time　…　one　can　ill　afford　to　take　one's　wife　along　on　such　trips　for　many　reasons。　And　these　things　bee；　well；　almost　an　expected　part　of　the　trip。
　'The　mandarins　regard　sex　very　highly；　oh　my；　yes；　they　certainly　do。　And　I　cannot　say　that　I　blame　them。'　He　gave　a　little　chuckle；　not　at　all　smutty　but　rather　avuncular。　'It　is；　after　all；　both　a　necessary　and　an　important　part　of　life；　so　why　not　honour　it。
　'Uhm；　in　any　event　it　was　the　most　sumptuous；　the　largest　such　place　I　had　ever　been　to。　The　clientele　was　strictly　mandarin　and　further；　I　gathered；　only　certain　families。　Extremely　exclusive；　yes。'　His　eyes　were　big　and　dreamy。　'One　could　live　the　rest　of　one's　life　there　quite　easily；　I　daresay。　But；　of　course；　that　is　not　possible。　Such　places　are　only　for　a　small　amount　of　time。　That　kind　of　rarefied　atmosphere　would；　I　imagine；　pall　after　a　time。　Anyway；　I　wouldn't　want　to　chance　it。　Life　would　most　certainly　be　not　worthwhile　if　all　such　spectacular　dreams　were　shattered。　Everyone　needs　time　in　their　　　　　life　when　reality　can　be　set　aside；　hm？'　The　train　rattled　onwards；　across　a　trestle　bridge；　plunging　into　a　bleak　and　scraggy　forest　of　deciduous　trees；　as　forlorn　as　the　ragtag　remnants　of　some　defeated　army。　The　light　was　dying；　the　clouds　stark　now　in　their　blackness；　only　losing　definition　near　the　horizon　where　the　haze　rendered　all　colour　indistinguishable。　Night　had　swept　them　up　as　swiftly　as　a　remonstrating　parent。
　'So。　Here　we　are　in　this　place。　But　my　purpose　is　not　to　tell　you　all　the　goings…on　there。'　He　smiled　winningly。　'You're　young　enough　not　to　need　any　help　from　me　on　that　score。　No。　Rather；　I　wish　to　tell　you　about　a　man　I　met　there。'　He　held　up　one　long；　bony　but　perfectly　straight　finger。　The　long　nail　gleamed　in　the　artificial　light　of　the　car；　causing　it　to　look　like　a　street　marker。　'Curious。　About　this　man；　I　mean。　He　was　no　client；　of　that　I　am　certain。　Yet　neither　did　he　appear　to　be　an　employee　of　the　establishment。　Certainly　I　never　saw　him　at　work。
　'Late　in　the　night；　or　early　in　the　morning；　to　be　pletely　accurate；　he　could　be　found　in　the　great　first…floor　parlour　…　the　building　had　two　storeys；　it　may　have　been　British…made；　though　certainly　for　quite　a　different　purpose　originally　…　sitting　in　one　of　the　overstuffed　wing　chairs　playing　a　game　with；　red　and　black　marked　tiles　I　had　never　seen　before　…'
　'Mah…jongg？'　Nicholas　asked。
　'No；　not　mah…jongg。　Another　game　entirely。　One　I　could　never　fathom。　He　would　sit　there　silent　and　motionless　while　the　girls　cleaned　up　and　when　they　had　finished　and　had　left　he　would　begin　to　play。　Click…click。　Click…click
　The　old　man　lifted　out　a　cigarette　and；　with　some　difficulty；　owing　to　the　length　of　his　nails；　lit　it　with　a　thin　gunmetal　Ronson。　He　smiled　as　one　eye　squinted　up　with　the　smoke。　He　might　once　have　been　an　oriental　Humphrey　Bogart；　the　expression　came　so　naturally　to　his　face。　He　twisted　the　lighter's　wide　face　so　that　the　light　glanced　off　it　in　a　flare。　'A　memento　of　those　days；　so　far　away。　Belonged　to　a　British　diplomat　whom　I　helped　out　of　a　spot　of　trouble　there。　He　insisted　I　take　it。　I　would　have　lost　face　had　I　not。'　He　pocketed　the　Ronson；　drew　briefly　on　the　cigarette；　let　the　smoke　out　so　that　his　image　was　as　hazed　as　the　countryside　rolling　by　outside。
　'It　was　impossible　for　me　to　sleep　in　that　place　…　even　after　I　had　been　satiated。　I　hope　I　am　being　delicate　enough；　young　lady。'
　'Perfectly；'　Yukio　said。　Nicholas　wondered　what　the　old　man　would　think　if　he　heard　the　way　she　threw　words　around。
　'It　was　my　habit　to　read　late　at　night　…　I　am　an　insatiable　reader。　Have　been　all　my　life。　But　one　night　I　felt　restless　enough　to　put　my　book　down　…　I　was　reading　Moby　Dick。　In　English；　mind　you　…　I　don't　trust　translations；　you　lose　too　much　…　and　take　a　stroll　through　the　first　floor。
　'Click…click。　Click…click。　I　heard　the　tiles　as　he　moved　them。　I　sat　next　to　him　and　watched。　In　those　days　I　was　certainly　a　brash　young　man。　Not　rude；　mind　you。　I　was　far　too　well　brought　up　by　my　parents。　But　I　had　a　spot　of　…　what　shall　I　say？　…　the　impetuosity　of　youth；　yes？
　'Now　this　man　was　older　than　I　am　today；　a　good　deal　older；　I　would　say；　but　then　I　am　an　abysmal　judge　of　age　so　you　must　not　go　by　roe。　Sti