ericlustbader.the ninja-第78章

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　he　made
　the　drop　without　using　the　ladder？　And　without　a　sound？
　He　swivelled；　legs　spread；　aiming　the　。38　in　the　classic　pose　he　had　been　taught　so　well　at　the　Academy。　Silence。　No　movement。　He　tried　to　recall　the　path　of　the　motion　and　extrapolate　。。。
　Felt　the　presence　so　close　that　he　was　startled。　He　dropped　to　one　knee；　fired　fast　and　accurately　on　reflex。　But　in　the　space　of　that　last　instant　he　saw　the　figure　leap　at　him。　The　left　hand　was　extended　and　DeLong　could　make　out　a　short　black…wood　stick；　blunt…ended；　as　big　around　as　his　own　nightstick。　He　braced　for　an　overhand　blow　and　thus　was　totally　unprepared　for　the　horizontal　thrust。　He　was　dumbfounded　by　the　useless　gesture。
　The　rounded　end　just　touched　the　cloth　of　his　uniform　over　his　heart。　It　was　only　then　that　he　jerked　to　the　searing　pain　lancing　through　him　as　the　seven…inch　stiletto　blade；　powered　by　a　high…thrust　steel　spring；　shot　out　from　the　end　of　the　wooden　stick；　puncturing　from　front　to　back。　It　speared　his　heart；　went　through　one　lung　and　DeLong　was　dead　before　he　hit　the　ground。
　The　flying　form　was　by　him；　veiled　by　the　first　gout　of　blood；　heard　DeLong's　last　gasp　which；　to　the　policeman's　dying　brain；　sounded　like　the　loudest　shout　in　the　world。
　Nicholas　led　Croaker　back　through　the　apartment。　Women；　half…clothed；　stood　in　the　doorways；　staring　curiously　at　them。
　Ah　Ma；　having　received　the　warrant　papers　from　Willow；　stood　stone…faced　with　Penny　at　her　side。　Willow　was　in　the　back　suite　the　Japanese　had　used；　seeing　to　the　boy　and　trying　to　soothe　the　girl's　shattered　nerves。　Willow　is　wonderful　in　a　crisis；　Ah　Ma　thought；　resignedly。　The　way　I　used　to　be。　She　sighed　silently。　I　do　not　want　to　go　in　there；　she　thought。　Once　it　would　have　been　the　first　place　I'd　run。　To　help。　But　no　more。　Times　have　changed　and　so　have　I。　She　put　one　arm　around　Penny's　shoulders；　as　much　to　keep　the　girl　beside　her　as　to　reassure　her。
　'You　should　have　caught　him；'　Ah　Ma　said　in　Mandarin　to　Nicholas。　'Now　he　may　e　back　here。　He　won't　be　happy。　His　security　was　broken。'
　'He　won't　be　back；'　Nicholas　reassured　her。　'He　has　already　killed　the　leak。'
　They　had　to　go　out　by　the　front；　the　long　way　around；　surely；　because　in　the　dark　and　without　radio　linkage　they　could　not　chance　egress　via　the　back　window。　Gunfire　still　came　to　them；　sporadic　and　muffled　by　the　intervening　walls　of　the　building。　In　the　hallway　a　dog　was　barking　and　someone　one　flight　down　had　turned　up　a　TV　set；　perhaps　to　drown　out　the　noise　from　outside。
　'Christ！'　Croaker　said；　rubbing　at　his　eyes　as　they　pounded　down　the　stairs。　'What　a　goddamned　mess。'
　More　shots　as　they　emerged　into　the　hot　sticky　night　and　they　；　　　ran　down　Doyers；　heading　for　Pell　Street。
　They　saw　the　blue…and…white　first；　slewed　at　an　angle。　Nicholas　saw　the　two　bodies　immediately。　One　was　outlined　in　the　foreground；　the　other　cloaked　in　a　spider's　web　of　shadows　at　the　end　of　the　street。　He　paused；　his　eyes　searching　from　left　to　right　and　back　again。
　Croaker　pushed　past　him；　his　gun　at　the　ready；　but　checked　when　he　saw　the　first　body。　Slowly；　warily　he　went　towards　it　in　a　semi…crouch　and；　on　one　knee；　turned　it　carefully　over。　He　recognized　DeLong　at　once；　was　appalled　at　the　amount　of　blood。　He　searched　in　vain　for　any　sign　of　life。　His　hand　came　away　soaked。
　He　got　up　and；　crabwise；　scuttled　quickly　down　the　street；　checked　Binghamton's　cooling　body。　He　stood　up　and　bolstered　his　gun。　He　came　back；　passed　Nicholas　without　a　word　and　slid　in　behind　the　wheel　of　the　patrol　car。
　He　called　dispatch；　asking　for　the　meat　wagon　and　the　associate　M。E。　on　call。　Then　he　sent　out　an　A。P。B。　He　was　still　on　the　phone　when　Nicholas　came　up；　leaning　on　the　frame　of　the　open　door。
　'He's　long　gone；　I'm　afraid。'
　Croaker　cradled　the　receiver；　put　his　head　onto　the　back　of　the　seat；　closing　his　eyes。　'They　were　my　best　team。'　His　eyes　snapped　open　and　his　big　fist　pounded　the　steering　wheel　so　hard　it　jumped。　'The　best　goddamned　team！'　He　sighed。　'I'm　sorry　now　I　didn't　listen　to　you。　I　don't　know　who　that　guy　out　there　is　but　…'
　'Lew；'　Nicholas　said；　'slide　over。　I　want　to　talk　to　you　before　the　crowd　es。'
　Croaker　turned　to　look　at　him　as　he　slid　over　to　the　passenger's　side。　Far　off；　they　could　hear　the　wailing　rise　and　fall　of　a　siren。　It　could　have　been　an　ambulance。
　'I　know　who　the　ninja　is。'
　Croaker　sat　perfectly　still　for　a　moment。
　'How　long　have　you　known？'
　Nicholas　blew　out　a　breath　as　if　that　would　relieve　the　heaviness　he　suddenly　felt。　The　deaths　in　the　present　had　bined　with　the　deaths　in　his　past；　rushing　forward　to　engulf　him　once　again。　He　felt　very　tired　and　very　sad。
　'Not　long；　really。　In　the　hallway　outside　Ah　Ma's。'
　'I　see。'
　And　then　he　told　Croaker　everything；　spewing　it　all　out　as　if　that　might　cleanse　his　soul；　relieve　him　of　a　burden　which；　he　felt　now；　he　had　been　carrying　far　too　long。
　'Do　you　mean　to　tell　me；'　Croaker　said；　when　he　had　finished；　'that　Saigo　isn't　after　Tomkin　at　all？　That　he's　after　you？'
　'Yes　and　no；'　Nicholas　said　wearily。　'He　is　going　to　kill　Tom…kin　all　right；　unless　we　stop　him；　but　I　believe　he　took　on　the　job　to　get　to　me　also。　It's　the　only　way　all　of　the　killings　make　sense。'
　'I　see　that；　of　course；　but　this　is　like　a　blood　vendetta。'
　'It's　a　matter　of　honour。'
　'But　you　must　have　known　it　was　ing。'　The　siren's　wail　was　louder　now；　a　cry　in　the　night；　and　the　sound　of　excited　voices　pitched　back　at　them　off　the　brick　walls。　'Weren't　you　afraid　of　…？'
　Nicholas　gave　him　a　wan　smile　as　he　shook　his　head。　Time　to　go；　he　thought。　'I　am　prepared　for　it。　I've　been　prepared　for　a　long　time　now。'　He　climbed　out　of　the　car。　Every　muscle　seemed　to　ache　and　his　head　throbbed　as　if　it　were　in　a　vice。　He　leaned　in　so　that　Croaker　could　hear　him　as　the　blue…and…white　drew　up；　followed　by　the　ambulance。　The　street　lit　up　red　and　white；　red　and　white　like　the　entrance　to　an　amusement　park。
　'You　see；　Lew；'　he　said　with　infinite　slowness；　'I　am　a　ninja；　too。'
　'Nick；　wait！'
　But　he　was　already　walking　past　the　oning　people；　crowding　into　the　street；　into　the　glare　of　the　dense　night。
　'Sam。'
　Daddy。　Daddy。　Daddy。　He　had　never　said　that　word　in　his　life　yet　he　thought　it　now。　'Yes？'　'Sam。'
　'Who　is　this？'　'Are　you　still　my　rabbi？'
　'Oy；　Nick。　Nick！　Is　it　really　you？'　Goldman's　voice　was　light。
　'It's　me。'
　'My　God；　how　are　you？'
　'All　right。　How's　Edna？'
　'Edna？　Edna's　fine。　Dying　to　see　you。　Where　are　you？'　Silence。　'Nick；　are　you　all　right？'
　'To　be　honest；　no。〃
　'Just　a　minute。　What。。。？'　The　sound　of　muffled　voices　came　to　him；　a　conversation　from　another　world。　A　world　where　there…were　homes　and　families；　children。　Mortgage　payments　and；　perhaps；　a　two…week　trip　to　Europe　in　the　spring。　What　was　he　doing　here；　anyway？
　'Listen。　Are　you　in　the　city　？　Edna　says　to　e　right　up。　It's　a　Friday　night。　She's　made　chicken　soup。　With　lokshen。　Your　favourite；　remember？'
　'I　remember。'　He　remembered　everything　now。
　'So　e　over。　We'll　eat。　We'll　talk。'　Pause。　'You'll　make　Edna　very　happy。　She's　been　worried　about　you。'
　He　rested　his　head　against　the　acoustic　panel　of　the　booth。　Traffic　raced　by　him；　just　beyond　his　reach。
　'Yes；'　he　said　after　a　time。　'Okay。　I'll　be　over。'
　He　hung　up　and　hailed　a　cab。　The　Goldmans　lived　in　the　Dakota　on　Seventy…second　and　Central　Park　West。　They　took　the　Bowery；　which　turned　into　Third　Avenue；　all　the　way　up　to　Forty…second　Street　where　the　taxi　turned　left；　heading　cross…town　to　Eighth　Avenue。
　Just　after　Broadway；　Nicholas　leaned　forward；　tapped　the　intervening　plastic　partition。　'I've　changed　my　mind。　I'll　get　off　here。'　He　paid　and　got　out。
　He　had　been　idly　staring　put　of　the　left…side　window　as　they　passed　the　long　line　of　movie　marquees　along　that　tawdry　street　when　he　had　seen　the　film　titles。
　He　watched　the　two…way　traffic；　crossed　to　the　south　side　of　the　street。　He　walked　west；　past　a　couple　of　the　new…era　glass　and　chrome　porn　shops；　proudly　announcing　'Couples　Wele'。　The　doors　were　thrown　open　in　one　and　a　tall　black　man　in　wide　hat　and　tight　green　trousers　lounged　in　the　doorway。　'Hits；'　he　murmured；　'loose　joints；　coke；　speed。　Quality　stuff。'
　Now　the　movie　marquees　came　one　after　another　in　a　seemingly　unending　line　on　both　sides　of　the　street。　Most　were　porn　houses　but　one；　the　one　Nicholas　had　seen　from　the　cab　window；　was　not。　Here　there　was　a　kung　fu　triple　bill。　Two　of　the　films　starred　Bruce　Lee。
　Nicholas　dug　out　a　buck…fifty　and　went　inside。　The　place　smelt　old　and　musty。　It　was　lighter　than　was　normal　in　most　theatres。　There　was　a　crowd　of　black　and　Puerto　Rican　kids　clamouring　around　the　soda　machine　at　the　back。
　He　took　a　seat。　The　place　was　almost　filled。　On　the　screen　Bruce　Lee　was　talking　earnestly　with　a　couple　of　evil…looking　Japanese　in　dubbed　English。　The　audience　was　noisy；　restless　for　the　action　sequences。　Dialogue　they　did　not　appreciate。
　Nicholas　sat　back；　watching　Lee　for　a　time。　The　years　had　not　diminished　his　aura…。　His　spirit　seemed　to　leap　off　the　screen；　making　the　most　slipshod　productions　worth　watching。
　Nicholas　recalled　the　first　time　they　had　met。　It　had　been　in　Hong　Kong；　ironically；　after　the　period　Lee　had　spent　in　Hollywood；　working　as　a　bit　player　in　films　and　TV　and　teaching　stars　enough　of　the　martial　arts　to　get　by　in　front　of　a　camera。
　He　was　beginning　to　be　somewhat　of　a　star　in　his　own　right　then。　They　had　taken　to　each　other　immediately　but　time　and　logistics　had　worked　against　them　and　they　had　never　seen　each　other　again。
　Lee's　death　had　e　as　a　shock　to　Nicholas。　Not　that　someone　would　try　to　kill　him　…　he　knew　enough　about　Lee　by　that　time　to　understand　that　the　man's　unpromising　nature　had　bee　a　thorn　in　some　decidedly　unsavoury　sides　…　but　that　an　attempt　had　succeeded。　He　had　always　wondered　how　it　had　been　done；　now　he　thought　he　knew。
　Outside；　it　was　still　stifling　and；　in　this　place　of　hot　lights；　fast　food；　dirty　dope　and　even　dirtier　deals；　more　so　than　elsewhere。
　It　took　him　fifteen　minutes　to　find　an　empty　cab　and　half　that　time　to　reach　the　Dakota；　there　was　little　traffic。
　He　had　stayed　at　the　decaying　theatre　just　long　enough　to　catch　one　of　Lee's　gorgeously　choreographed　action　sequences；　motivated；　as　usual；　by　revenge。　Tonight　there　seemed　nothing　artificial　about　that。
　Goldman；　dapper　as　ever　in　a　pale　blue　pinstripe　shirt　and　midnight…blue　linen　slacks；　met　him　at　the　door。　He　smiled　warmly　when　he　saw　Nicholas；　extending　a　firm　hand。　'Nick。　We　were　getting　worried　about　you。　He　turned；　still　in　the　doorway。　'Edna；　it's　him。'　He　pulled　Nicholas　inside；　pushed　a　rum　on　the　rocks　into　his　hand。　'Here。　It　looks　like　you　need　this。'
　Edna；　a　dark…haired　chubby　woman；　bustled　into　the　living　room　from　the　swing　door　to　the　large　kitchen。　She　beamed；　raised　her　hands。　'Tateleh！'　She　kissed　Nicholas　on　both　cheeks。　She　had　the　kind　of　incandescent　inner　warmth　that　made　mere　physical　beauty　irrelevant。　'Where　have　you　been　so　long；　you　haven't　e　to　see　us？'　Her　voice　held　just　the　right　balance　between　love　and　reproach。
　He　smiled　thinly。　'It's　good　to　see　you　both。'
　'That's　it；'　she　said　as　if　she　had　discovered　a　rare　artifact。　'You've　lost　weigh