ericlustbader.the ninja-第82章

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y　within　himself　which　had　driven　him　to　the　drugs。　Besides；　he　believed　now　that　they　enhanced　his　powers。
　But　surely　it　had　been　Nicholas　Linnear　who　had　brought　him　to　this　sorry　state。　If　it　had　not　been　for　him；　he　would　not　。。。　they　would　not　。。。　there　would　not。。。
　Lights　blazed　against　his　closed　eyelids　as　he　beat　himself　but　even　they　would　not　drown　out　the　visions　of　the　gentle　pale　fish　at　play　in　the　straits。　And；　O　Amida！　How　the　wind　howled　on　that　night；　snow　swirling　down　like　lace　curtains；　disappearing　upon　the　changeless　waves　with　the　black　sky　so　low　that　neither　Kyushu　nor　Honshu　was　visible。　Alone　in　the　rocking　boat。　Did　the　howling　increase　at　the　heavy　splash？　Did　the　Heike　know　they　were　about　to　receive　another　unrepentant　sinner？　Unrepentant　they　must　be　or　why　else　lie　upon　the　darkest　nights　as　unappeased　kami？
　Ghost　lights　upon　the　straits；　just　as　the　tales　told；　and　he　recited　many　prayers；　as　many　as　he　knew；　repeating　them　without　surcease　until　the　prow　of　the　boat　touched　the　wooden　quay　at　Shimonoseki　and　he　stood　on　solid　land；　shaking　and　wet　with　sea…water　and　sweat　despite　the　snow　and　the　chill　north　wind。
　Still　today　he　could　hear　that　eerie　howling　like　demons　calling　him　back；　to　plete　terrors　that　had　somehow　been　left　undone；　circling　within　his　head　like　black　kites　descending　upon　a　bloody　carcass。
　At　last；　his　breath　heavy　with　the　aftertaste　of　psychedelics　drenched　in　so　much　sweat　that　he　might　have　just　e　from　the　bath；　he　fell　into　a　sodden　sleep　filled　with　dreams　and；　worse；　the　trumpeting　echoes　of　dreams。
　Nicholas　dreamed：　of　land's　end。　And　out　from　the　near　shore；　the　very　end　of　it　at　least；　arched　a　bridge　of　wood　and　stone　very　much　like　the　one　at　Nihonbashi。　And　as　he　started　across　this　bridge；　he　saw　that　to　either　side　there　was　nothing　but　a　hanging　mist。　He　turned　round；　looking　back　the　way　he　had　e；　and　was　astonished　and　not　a　little　afraid　to　see　that　the　strange　mist　had　obscured　the　land　from　which　he　had　e；　so　effectively　that　he　forgot　which　land　that　was　as　well　as　not　knowing　towards　which　land　he　was　bound；　as　if　the　mist　stirred　about　inside　his　head　as　well　as　without。
　When　he　was　approximately　half　way　across；　he　thought　he　could　discern　a　sound；　dim　and　muffled　by　the　mist；　but　as　he　drew　closer　he　became　more　and　more　convinced　that　it　was　the　sobbing　of　a　woman。
　In　time；　he　was　able　to　make　out　a　darker　shape　within　the　mist　which；　as　he　approached；　coalesced　into　the　form　of　a　young　woman。　She　was　tall　and　willowy　and　she　wore　a　clinging　dress　of　white　silk。　It　was；　he　saw　now；　dripping　with　water；　as　if　she　had　just　climbed　out　from　the　sea；　which　he　supposed　this　bridge　spanned。
　She　stood　with　her　slim　back　against　the　bedewed　balustrade；　weeping　into　her　hands；　and　such　was　the　power　of　her　lamentations　that　Nicholas　felt　pelled　to　move　closer。
　When　he　was　only　a　few　steps　from　her；　he　heard　her　speak：　'Oh；　you've　e。　At　last　I　At　last　I　I　had　given　up　all　hope！'
　'Pardon；　me。'　His　voice　reverberated　within　his　chest　as　if　it　were　a　cathedral…like　cavity。　'My　lady；　I　do　not　think　that　I　know　you；　yet　you　seem　to　have　recognized　me。　Have　you；　perhaps；　made　some　error？'
　As　he　said　this；　he　moved　his　head　back　and　forth　in　an　attempt　to　get　a　clear　view　of　her　face　for；　as　it　was　now；　he　could　not　truly　say　whether　she　was　known　to　him　or　not。　But　this　seemed　quite　beyond　his　present　capacity。　Between　her　long　dark　hair；　spread　like　a　sea…fan　and　strewn　with　small　shells；　and　the　long…fingered　hands　she　continued　to　press　to　her　face；　she　remained　hidden　from　his　gaze。
　'No；　there　is　no　error。　You　are　he　whom　I　have　sought　for　all　these　years。'
　'Why　do　you　weep　so　bitterly；　my　lady？　What　ill　has　befallen　you？'
　'A　most　dishonorable　death；　sir；　and　until　it　is　avenged　my　spirit　must　wander　…　wander　here。'
　'I　do　not　see　how　I　can　be　of　help　to　you；　my　lady。　But　if　you　will　allow　me　to　see　your　face。。。'
　'It　will　do　you　no　good　to　look　upon　me；'　she　said　so　sadly　that　he　felt　his　heart　must　break。
　'Then　I　was　correct。　I　do　not　know　you。'
　She　said　nothing　and　thus　he　did　not　know　what　her　answer　should　be。
　'Take　your　hands　away　from　your　face；'　he　said　to　her。　'Please；　my　lady。　I　cannot　assist　you　otherwise。'
　Slowly；　as　if　most　reluctant；　her　long　fingers　drifted　down　through　the　mist　and　he　gasped。
　Where　the　features　of　her　face　should　have　been　…　eyes；　nose；　lips　and　the　rest　…　her　skin　was　as　flat　and　smooth　as　an　egg。。。
　'…　God；　Nicholas；　what　is　it？'
　His　chest　heaved　as　if　he　had　just　struggled　to　finish　a　marathon；　and　sweat　glistened　across　bis　face　like　rime。
　Justine's　face；　lined　with　worry；　hovered　above　him；　her　long　hair　draped　on　either　side；　an　electric　curtain；　a　tenuous　link。
　'What　happened？'
　'I　don't　know。　You　cried　out　in　your　sleep　…'
　'What　did　I　say？'
　'I　don't　know；　darling。　Nothing　recognizable；　at　least　not　in　English。　Something　like；　oh'　…　her　brow　wrinkled　in　thought　…'minamara　no　tat…something。'
　'Migaurari　ni　tatsu？'
　'Yes；　that's　it。'
　'Are　you　certain？　Really　certain？〃
　'Yes。　Absolutely。　You　said　it　more　than　once。　What　does　it　mean？'
　'Well；　literally；　it　means；　〃to　act　as　a　substitute〃。'
　'I　don't　understand。'
　'In　Japanese　folklore　there　is　the　belief　that　a　person　may　give　his　or　her　life　in　order　to　save　another's。　It　needn't　even　be　a　person。　It　could　be　a　tree；　just　about　anything。'
　'What　were　you　dreaming　about？〃
　'I　am　not　certain。'
　'Nicholas；'　she　said　with　her　typical　objective　intuition；　'did　someone　give　their　life　for　you？　…　In　the　dream；　I　mean？'
　He　looked　at　her；　put　his　hand　up　to　her　cheek；　but　it　was　not　her　soft　flesh　he　seemed　to　stroke；　certainly　not　her　voice　he　heard　in　his　head　then。
　In　that　heated　room　of　perfect　death　with　his　toes　touching　the　hem　of　his　mother's　exquisite；　perfectly　folded　kimono　and；　just　a　little　way　beyond；　the　rivulets　of　blood　dropped　like　rubies　along　the　floor；　Itami　said；　'We　both　must　leave　now；　Nicholas。　There　is　nothing　left　here　for　outsiders　such　as　ourselves。'
　'Where　will　you　go？'　His　voice　was　as　dull　as　lead。
　'To　China。'
　His　eyes　tracked　upward　to　her　white　face。　'To　the　munists？'
　She　shook　her　head　slightly。　'No。　There　are　others　there　…who　were　there　long　before　the　munists。　Your　grandfather；　So…Peng；　was　one　such。〃
　'You　would　leave　Saigo？〃
　Her　eyes　were　as　bright　as　a　bird's。　'Nicholas；　did　you　ever　wonder　why　I　had　but　one　child？　But　no；　why　should　you？'　Her　lips　were　turned　in　a　grim　smile　that　chilled　him。　'I　can　only　say　that　with　me　…　with　me　…　it　was　totally　a　matter　of　choice；　though　Satsugai　believed　otherwise。　Oh　yes；　I　lied　to　him。　Willingly。　Are　you　surprised？　Well。'　She　stirred　slightly　like　a　sapling　in　a　sudden　gust　of　wind；　giving　way；　giving　way　minutely。　'I　would　not　have　another　like　him。〃　Her　dark　eyes　were　slits　now。　'Do　you　understand　me？　I　trust　you　do。'
　She　looked　down　briefly　at　her　katana；　standing　on　its　bloody　point。　'Do　you　hate　me？　I　would　not　be　surprised　。。。　But　no；　I　see　that　you　do　not。　That　gladdens　my　heart；　I　cannot　tell　you　how　much。
　'I　love　you；　Nicholas。　Were　you　my　own　I　could　not　love　you　more　but　I　think　you　already　knew　that　deep　inside　yourself。'　Her　head　jerked　as　if　she　had　been　abruptly　reminded　of　something。　'These　days　of　kwaidan　pass　through　my　fingers　like　so　much　sand。　Time　is　short　and　I　have　much　to　do。'
　He　stood　in　front　of　her；　pale　and　drawn。　He　shivered　once　though　no　breeze　stirred　in　the　room。
　'Will　you　tell　me；〃　he　said；　'what　honour　there　is　in　this？'
　'What　honour　there　remains　in　all　the　world；'　Itami　said　sadly；　'resides　in　this　room。　There　is　little　enough；　I　fear。　Little　enough。'
　'You　must　tell　me。　You　must。'　His　voice　was　almost　a　cry　and　he　was　certain　then　he　saw　tears　standing　out　like　soft　pearls　at　the　inner　corners　of　her　eyes。
　'Ah；　Nicholas。　These　tales　are　not　so　easily　told。　You　ask　me　to　expose　the　soul　of　Japan。　I　could　sooner　rip　a　blade　into　my　own　belly。'　Her　eyes　squeezed　shut　as　if　she　were　attempting　to　brush　away　a　vision　from　her　mind。　Her…voice　was　a　whisper。　'Ask　me　anything　else。　Anything。'
　'What　will　bee　of　you　…　Aunt？'
　Her　eyes　flew　open　and　she　smiled　kindly。　'In　China　I　shall　travel　until　I　reach　the　place　Cheong　bade　me　go　to　in　her　last　breath。　I　will　not　be　there　long。'　Her　hand　tightened　on　the　hilt　of　her　katana；　another　drop　of　blood　rolled　from　the　blade's　smooth　steel　surface　onto　the　bare　wooden　floor。
　I　must　see　Fukashigi；　Nicholas　thought　now；　staring　at　Jus…tine　in　the　semi…darkness；　time　to　renew　the　old　vows。　And　she　must　leave　here；　she　must　be　out　of　harm's　way。　Aa　i　ninjutsu　was　the　only　way　now　the　forces　of　Kan…aku　na　ninjutsu　were　stirring；　readying　themselves　to　e　against　him：　ancient；　implacable　enemies　arrayed　on　a　modern　battlefield。　He　would　need；　he　knew；　all　the　fearful　shades　of　steel　to　be　victorious　this　one　last　time。
　When　Saigo　awoke　he　was；　for　just　an　instant；　convinced　that　it　was　into　death's　dark　realm。　Death　held　no　horror　for　him　but　this　might　only　be　because　life　held　so　little　for　him。　It　was　the　meanest　of　gifts　and；　therefore；　it　meant　nothing　for　him　to　part　with　it。
　Then　he　remembered　that　he　had　not　yet　killed　Nicholas　and　he　knew　that　this　was　life　only　into　which　sleep　had　yet　again　deposited　him。
　There　was　much　to　be　said　for　revenge；　yes。　It　was　all　that　kept　his　heart　pumping　now。　He　thought　of　all　the　money　in　his　swollen　bank　accounts；　the　vast　acres　of　land；　the　four　small　but　rapidly　growing　electronics　konzerns。　What　did　it　all　amount　to？　Not　even　a　part　of　the　smallest　steel　filing　from　a　master　sword　smith's　forge　…　ah；　no！
　Money　was　merely　the　sere　gateway　to　power；　and　power；　well；　all　that　was　good　for　was　manoeuvrability。　Once　you　could　manoeuvre　in　this　atom　age；　you　could　acplish　anything。
　Yet　there　was　but　one　thing　that　Saigo　now　wished　to　acplish　and　that　was　to　seek　out　and　expunge　a　life。
　Tonight；　he　thought　savagely；　lying　naked　on　the　futon。　Pale　grey　light　filtered　through　the　blinds；　traipsing　across　the　ceiling　like　an　itinerant　priest；　his　korom　torn　and　tattered；　its　ragged　ends　taken　by　the　wind。
　He　marvelled　at　the　weakness　of　Americans。　Such　cowards；　they　surely　could　not　have　powerful　spirits。　How　they　had　won　the　war　he　still　could　not　imagine。　It　would　give　him　great　pleasure　to　see　the　look　on　Raphael　Tomkin's　face　as　he　died　beneath　the　blade　of　steel。　To　think　that　he　believed　a　deal　could　be　so　easily　arranged。　No　deal；　was　possible；　not　after　the　mencement　of　a　buy。
　No；　death　would　e　to　him　tonight；　just　as　it　would　e　to　Nicholas。
　Perhaps；　even；　there　would　be　a　stalemate　between　them　and　death　would　e　to　both。　This　did　not　concern　him。　On　the　contrary；　he　might　have　even　looked　forward　to　it；　knowing　that　the　importance　of　death　lay　not　in　the　dying　itself　but　in　the　manner　of　one's　death。　How　one　died　was　recorded　by　history　and　one　was　remembered　as　much　for　the　manner　of　one's　death　as　for　one's　life。
　For　Saigo；　as　for　all　Japanese　warriors　from　time　immemorial；　there　were　only　two　honourable　ways　to　die：　in　battle　or　by　one's　own　hand　with　calmness　and　ritual。　To　the　otherwise　would　mean　terrible；　insu