ericlustbader.the ninja-第79章

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　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　weight。　e。〃　She　took　him　by　the　hand。　'We　eat　first。　Whatever　it　is　you　want　to　talk　to　Sam　about　can　wait　for　a　full　stomach。'
　They　ate　in　the　kitchen　with　the　yellow　and　beige　wallpaper　and　the　old　West　Side　fixtures；　the　oval　table　of　fine…grained　mahogany　richly　waxed；　covered　with　a　beautiful　embroidered　white…on…white　tablecloth。　A　brass　Menorah　stood　on　a　wall　shelf　above　the　table；　at　its　centre。
　Afterwards；　as　Edna　cleared　the　dishes；　Sam　nodded　silently　to　Nicholas　and　they　excused　themselves。　Edna　kissed　them　both　before　they　left。　'Whatever　is　wrong；'　she　told　him　with　absolute　faith；　'you　can　fix　it。　Right；　Sam？　Am　I　right？'
　'You're　always　right。'　He　ushered　Nicholas　into　the　living　room。
　Beige　and　pale　green　predominated。　Edna　despised　brilliant　primaries；　perhaps　because　she　saw　her　childhood　on　189th　Street　in　those　colours。　The　effect　was　a　soothing　one；　like　being　in　a　cool　forest　during　the　heat　of　the　day。
　They　sat　on　the　beige　velvet　couch　and　Sam　put　his　feet　up　on　a　matching　ottoman。　An　antique　clock　ticked　lightly　from　its　owl…like　perch　on　the　white　marble　mantelpiece。　A　great　bunch　of　dried　eucalyptus　in　a　pale　pink　ceramic　vase　stood　within　the　grate；　wafting　its　pungent　scent　into　the　room。　There　was　a　Utrillo　on　the　opposite　wall　and；　on　another；　a　small　Dali。　In　their　bedroom；　on　pale　blue　walls；　were　a　Picasso　and　a　Calder　which；　of　course；　Edna　detested。　They　were　all　originals　but　they　were　displayed　with　a　pleasing　lack　of　ostentation。
　'It　has　e　back；'　Nicholas　said　softly。　'All　my　past；　like　a　great　tidal　wave。〃
　Goldman　reached　for　a　hardwood　box；　took　out　a　cigar；　lit　it　slowly。
　'I've　lost　the　present　somewhere　along　the　line。　I　no　longer　know　where　I　am。'
　He　deliberately　blew　the　blue　smoke　away　from　Nicholas。　'Nicholas；　as　Shakespeare　so　cleverly　put　into　Ophelia's　mouth；　〃We　know　what　we　are；　but　we　know　not　what　we　may　be。〃'
　'Sam；　I　didn't　e　here　for　homilies！'　he　exploded。
　'Nor　did　I　mean　to　give　you　any。'　He　took　the　cigar　out　of　his　mouth；　laid　it　on　a　crystal　ashtray。　'Look；　it　is　totally　unreasonable　to　expect　to　know　or　understand　everything　about　yourself。　The　human　being　is　such　a　plex　animal　that　we　have　to　be　content　to　muddle　through　things　as　best　we　can。　Some　days；　it　just　doesn't　seem　nearly　enough。　At　other　times。。。'　He　shrugged　with　some　equanimity。
　'I　understand　all　that。　But　you're　the　expert　on　history。　I　am　only　partly　a　Jew。　I　haven't　had　the　training。　I　don't　…'
　'It　has　nothing；'　Goldman　said　seriously；　'at　all　to　do　with　training。　One　learns　the　meaning　of　being　a　Jew　just　as　one　learns　the　meaning　of　being　a　human　being　…　by　living　life；　not　by　learning　the　Torah。
　'It　es　from　what　you　feel　inside　and　the　important　thing　is　that　you　do　not　deny　what　is　inside　you。　Doubt　and　fears；　uncertainty　of　the　present　and　the　future　all　stem　from　that。　Your　self　must　be　free　to　go　in　whichever　direction　it　must　go。
　'The　spirit　flies；　Nicholas　…　it　is　the　only　thing　we　possess　which　can。　It　is　a　sin　to　tie　it　down；　to　deny　your　spirit　its　breath。　Life　is　nothing　without　it。　We　merely　survive；　from　day　to　day；　in　a　kind　of　unthinking　limbo。
　'Does　this　answer　your　question？'
　In　the　night…silence　of　the　tower　on　Park　Avenue；　he　sat　with　Raphael　Tomkin。　At　the　moment；　Tomkin　was　on　the　telephone。　Somewhere　in　the　world；　it　was　always　some　time　between　nine　and　five　and　that　meant　business　was　rolling。　Decisions；　vital　to　one　subsidiary　or　another；　and　thus　vital　to　the　corporation　as　a　whole；　required　the'　mind　of　the　mover　and　the　shaker。　Three　continents　awaited　the　oute　of　such　trans…Atlantic　or　tram…Pacific　conversations。
　While　Tomkin　talked　on　in　mega…figures；　a　kind　of　semi…secret　corporate　shorthand；　Nicholas　looked　at　the　tiny　bit　of　metal　and　plastic　he　held　between　his　fingers。　He　turned　it　like　a　miniature　world；　though　in　truth　it　was　only　a　disk　and　thus　flat；　so　that　it　caught　the　lamplight；　its　face　turning　to　a　slow　dazzle。
　Just　possibly；　he　thought；　this　little　piece　of　the　electronicized　present　could　be　the　key　to　it　all。　The　past；　the　present　and　the　future。　It　could　end　right　here；　if　he　chose。　If　he　chose。
　And　he　desperately　wanted　it　to　be　his　decision。
　He　felt；　quite　rightly；　that　Saigo　had　taken　all　initiative　from　him　and　he　felt　stripped　bare；　naked　and　defenceless　because　he　had　not　seen　what　was　happening。
　Saigo　had　been　leading　him　around　by　the　nose　until　he　was　dizzy；　laughing　all　the　way。　It　was　a　technique　from　the　Go　Rin　No　Sho。　What　was　its　name？　To　Hold　Down　a　Pillow。　Restrict　the　enemy's　useful　actions　while　encouraging　his　useless　ones。　Lead　him　around　as　if　he　had　a　ring　through　his　nose　and；　when　he　is　in　total　confusion；　strike。
　'Where've　you　been？'　Tomkin　asked；　cradling　the　phone。　He　looked　slightly　rumpled　at　this　time　of　the　night；　his　cream…coloured　linen　suit　wrinkled　at　the　insides　of　the　elbows；　his　medium…width　grey　silk　knitted　tie　slightly　askew。　The　flesh　of　his　face　had　lost　the　pink　glow　it　maintained　for　most　of　the　day；　seemed　pummelled　into　a　kind　of　uneasy　truce　…　submission　was　a　flat…out　impossibility　…　by　the　long　hours。　Lines　at　the　corners　of　his　eyes　had　bee　noticeable　but　they　merely　made　him　seem　that　much　more　human。　Nicholas　still　felt　himself　wondering　which　was　the　facade。
　'In　Chinatown。'
　Tomkin　grunted；　swivelling　round　in　his　high…backed　leather　chair。　His　hands　played　idly　across　his　desk's　electronic　console　as　a　Greek　peasant　might　fondle　his　worry　beads。　'Chinatown；　huh？　With　that　bastard；　Croaker；　I'll　bet。'　He　stared　into　Nicholas's　face　and　his　eyes；　like　chips　of　blue　quartz；　were　merciless。　They　were　sailor's　eyes；　Nicholas　thought。　The　eyes　of　a　man　well　seasoned　to　the　sardonic　tricks　of　the　sea　and　the　open　sky。　They　were　the　eyes　of　a　survivor；　shipwrecked；　his　crew　drowned；　this　man　would　make　it　onto　some　beachy　shore　and；　like　Crusoe；　vanquish　time　though　perhaps　not　solitude。　'You　better　not　get　too　friendly　with　that　cop。　Just　a　friendly　warning；　'cause　I'm　waiting　for　that　motherfucker　to　step　one　inch　out　of　line。　Then　I'm　gonna　break　him　in　two。'
　Nicholas　thought　about　what　Croaker　had　told　him　of　Gelda　and　he　had　to　smile　to　himself。　What　would　Tomkin　do　when　he　found　out　that　Croaker　and　his　daughter　were　seeing　each　other？　Apoplexy　might　be　an　accurate　term。
　'That　bastard's　got　a　hard…on　for　me　and　I've　got　no　idea　why。　He's　got　this　crazy　notion　that　just　because　I　was　balling　Angela　Didion；　I　killed　her。'
　Nicholas　watched　him；　rubbing　the　electronic　bug　back　and　forth　between　the　calloused　pads　of　his　fingers。
　Tomkin　snorted　derisively　through　his　nostrils；　giving　Nicholas　the　image　of　a　horse　rearing。　'Hell；　that　broad　got　around；　you　know？　Doing　people　she　didn't　even　know。　Got　a　kick　out　of　that；　giving　rim　jobs　to　guys　she　pulled　off　the　street。　Just　like　that　…　Boom！　Only　it　wasn't　always　guys；　see。　The　broad　was　nuts。　Definitely　nuts。　If　I'd've　known　about　that　…you　know；　a　closet　lezzie　…　I　wouldn't　have　…　hell；　she　disguised　it　well　enough。'　He　waved　a　hand　and　gold　glinted。　'Anyway；　it's　all　ancient　history　now　…　that's　how　I　see　it。　But　that　cop　won't　let　it　alone；　you　know？　He's　like　a　fucking　dog　with　an　old　bone　nobody　wants　but　him。'
　'He's　doing　his　job。'
　'He　ain't　doing　his　job！'　Tomkin　cried。　'That's　the　whole　goddamned　issue。'　He　pounded　the　table。　'The　Angela　Didion　thing　is　a　dead　issue　for　everyone　on　the　entire　fucking　New　York　Police　Force　except　Croaker。　What's　he　think　he's　got？　A　calling　from　God？　Well；　I'm　telling　you；　he's　got　nothing。　I　got　his　number；　loves　to　see　his　name　in　the　papers。'　He　swivelled　back　and　forth　in　his　chair；　very　fast；　as　if　he　had　a　surplus　of　nervous　energy。　'Goddamned　glory　hound。　He's　not　gonna　ride　me　to　any　headlines。　He　needs　to　be　taught　a　lesson；　that's　all。'　He　glanced　up；　no　longer　half…talking　to　himself。　'What　about　this　guy　…　the　ninja？'
　'Well；　that's　what　I　came　to　talk　to　you　about。　So　far；　he's　been　setting　the　pace。　What　I　think　we　have　to　do　now　is　reverse　the　situation。　We　have　a　chance　if　we　can　control　the　environment。　We　have　to；　in　other　words；　be　on　the　battleground　before　him。'
　'So？　Set　it　up。　That's　what　I'm　paying　you　for；　isn't　it？'
　'It's　not　that　simple；　unfortunately。'
　'Well；　do　what　you　have　to　do。　I　don't　care　what　it　is。　I　want　him　out　of　the　way。　Permanently。'
　'It　involves　you　directly。'
　'Of　course　it　does。　He's　been　sent　here　to　kill　me。〃
　'He's　here　to　kill　me；　too。'
　'What？'
　'I　know　this　man。　There　is　an　old　score　to　be　settled。　It's　nothing　to　do　with　you。'
　'I　see。'
　'Except　that　it　may　lead　us　to　his　entrapment。'
　'How？'
　'Through　one　of　his　bugs。'　Nicholas　lifted　the　tiny　disk　so　that　Tomkin　could　see　it　clearly。　'You　see；　this　is　currently　inactive。　It's　one　of　the　new　contact　type；　which　simply　means　that　once　it　is　reapplied　to　a　surface；　it　bees　active　again。'
　A　gleam　came　into　Tomkin's　icy　eyes；　deceit　was　a　currency　he　understood。　'You　mean　…'
　'We　reactivate　it。　And　use　it。　Chances　are　he'll　believe　there's　been　a　minor　dysfunction　and　…'
　'What　if　he's　smarter　than　that？　This　guy's　an　expert。　I've　heard　stories　about　ninja　…'
　'I　don't；'　said　Nicholas；　'think　it　will　matter　at　all。　He　wants　us　both　and；　if　he　thinks　he　can　get　us　together；　he'll　take　the　chance；　even　if　there's　the　suspicion　of　a　trap。　It's　one　I've　set　up；　you　see。　It's　a　challenge　and　he　cannot　back　down　without　losing　an　awful　lot　of　face。　That　he　will　not　do。'
　'It　amounts　to　inviting　him　over；'　Tomkin　said　slowly。
　'Yes。'
　The　blue　eyes　regarded　him　cannily。　Nicholas　could　almost　hear　the　sound　of　his　mind　ticking…　over；　weighing　probabilities　just　as　if　he　were　making　a　puter…assisted　business　decision。　But　then；　in　a　curious　kind　of　way；　it　was　a　business　decision。
　'Let's　do　it。'　His　voice　rang　unhesitatingly。
　Afterwards；　as　Nicholas　detached　the　bug　and　dropped　it　into　the　thick　cotton　bed　he　had　fashioned　for　it　in　one　of　the　desk　drawers；　Tomkin　said；　'Can　everything　be　arranged　by　the　night　after　next？〃
　'There　won't　be　any　problem。'
　'Good。'　He　picked　up　the　phone　as　Nicholas　turned　to　leave。　'Hey；'　he　said；　'you　didn't　tell　me　you　were　having　problems　with　Justine。'
　Nicholas　froze；　silently　cursing　Tomkin。　Had　he　been　spying　on　his　daughter　again？　How　else　would　he　know？
　'Hit　a　nerve；　didn't　I？'　He　laughed。　'You　got　a　damn　good　poker…face　but　I　don't　need　to　see　your　expression　to　know。'
　'Just　what　do　you　know？'
　Tomkin　shrugged。　'Just　that　she's　in　the　city；　out　with　another　guy。　Don't　know　who　he　is　but　I　will　soon　enough。'　He　^　dropped　his　eyes；　began　to　dial。　'It's　too　bad；　really。　I　would've　liked　you　two　to　stay　together。　You're　good　for　her。　Now　I'm　afraid　she's　gone　back　to　her　old　ways。'
　'Where　is　she？'
　'Hello？　Yes…'
　'Tomkin　…'　Nicholas's　tone　cut　through　the　space　between　them。
　'Hold　the　line　a　moment　…'　Tomkin　put　his　palm　over　the　receiver。　'What　did　you　say？'　His　voice　had　turned　a　touch　treacley。
　'Where　is　she？'
　'At　a　discotheque。　On　West　Forty…sixth　Street。'　He　rummaged　with　one　hand　on　his　desktop。　'I　kno