ericlustbader.the ninja-第88章

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f　could　e　to　enjoy。　Now　he　knew　that　there　was　nothing　about　life　he　enjoyed：　merely　the　knowledge　of　unfinished　business　which　drove　him　onward　towards　its　inevitable　conclusion。
　He　no　longer　felt　alone　and　afraid。　The　drug　coursed　through　his　system；　heightening　his　senses。　His　muscles　tingled　with　suppressed　energy。　It　was　time　to　move。
　Out　from　the　shadows；　he　encountered　another　policeman　with　a　submachine…gun　at　the　ready。　They　saw　each　other　at　the　same　time。　The　muzzle　of　the　submachine…gun　swung　up；　centring　on　Saigo's　chest。　His　finger　began　to　squeeze　on　the　trigger；　he　stared　into　Saigo's　eyes；　his　finger　froze　in　place。
　Still　as　a　statue；　he　made　no　reaction　as　Saigo　raised　a　blunt；　black　stick　from　waist　level。　The　man's　eyes　seemed　blank。　Saigo　depressed　a　hidden　stud　and　with　a　whisper　of　sound　a　steel　spike　four　inches　long　shot　into　the　plainclothesman's　gaping　mouth；　through　the　roof；　puncturing　the　brain。　He　spun　around；　his　finger　convulsed　on　the　trigger　of　his　weapon　so　that　it　erupted　in　a　short　burst；　a　brief　deadly　arc。
　Saigo　was　already　moving　away　from　the　area　as　the　man　fell　heavily　to　the　patterned　tiles　of　the　atrium　floor。　He　could　hear　the　pounding　of　running　feet；　the　hoarse　shouts　of　the　remaining　policeman；　the　static　of　a　walkie…talkie。
　He　skirted　the　area　overseen　by　the　second　long　gun；　though　this　was　one　element　which　still　made　him　somewhat　uneasy。　The　sniper　was　potentially　as　mobile　as　he　was。　Haragei　would　protect　him　from　direct　assault　and；　in　near…silence；　it　could　negate　much　of　the　long　gun's　threat。　But　in　this　motion；　he　felt　cut　off　from　many　of　his　unnatural　senses　and　haragei　was　useless　for　the　kind　of　distances　involved。
　He　wanted　to　get　upstairs　now；　but　he　knew　he　would　not　until　he　had　nullified　that　last　threat。
　In　a　leap；　he　gained　the　catwalk　half　way　up　to　the　mezzanine。　Two　shots　in　rapid　succession　spun　off　the　metal　close　by　his　left　side　and　had　he　not　been　moving　he　would　certainly　have　been　hit　at　least　once。
　He　ran　along　the　catwalk；　his　forebrain　concentrating　on　what　was　directly　before　him　as　he　let　his　subconscious　work　out　the　location　of　the　sniper　from　the　double　flashes　dial　had　registered　on　the　periphery　of　his　vision。
　He　ceded　conscious　control　of　his　body　to　this　part　of　him；　quartering　in　on　the　location。　All　the　while；　he　watched　for　any　movement。
　Up　ahead　were　two　patches；　of　light　with　a　length　of　deep　shadow　in　between。　To　circumvent　them　would　mean　to　return　to　ground　level。　This　he　did　not　wish　to　do；　for　in　doing　so　he　would　relinquish　his　growing　advantage　over　the　sniper。
　He　paused　six　feet　from　the　first　patch　of　light　and；　standing　perfectly　still；　surveyed　the　topography　directly　in　front　of　him。
　He　took　three　deep　breaths　and　sprang　forward。　One　step；
　two；　and　he　was　in　the　air；　his　legs　jack…knifed　into　a　diver's　tuck　so　that　he　passed　through　the　first　patch　of　light　as　a　rotating　ball。
　He　was　already　arcing　downwards　when　he　heard　the　report　of　the　long　gun。　In　the　midst　of　tumbling；　he　could　not　tell　how　close　the　sniper　had　e　to　him；　but　he　took　no　chances。　Barely　had　his　feet　touched　the　metal　catwalk　when　he　had　re…launched　himself　through　the　air。　But　now　the　atmosphere　around　him　seemed　thick　and　humid；　as　turbulent　as　cloud　turned　to　smoke。
　Automatically　he　ceased　to　inhale。　Briefly；　as　he　turned　over　in　mid…air；　he　saw　the　dull　Sash　of　the　metal　canister　rolling　along　the　catwalk　in　the　pool　of　light。　He　counted　the　spang　and　whine　of　four　bullets；　a　quick　heat　sear　along　one　calf；　and　then　　　　he　was　in　darkness　again；　on　his　feet；　hurtling　down　the　catwalk　towards　the　sniper。　He　ignored　the　pain　in　his　right　leg；　partmentalizing　and　thus　trivializing　the　nerve　shock；　the　disruption　to　his　thirstily　questing　senses。
　The　sniper；　seeing　at　last　the　full　outline　of　the　onrushing　figure；　did　not　drop　to　one　knee　and　aim　but　turned　his　rifle　crosswise　across　his　body；　using　it　as　one　might　an　ancient　long…staff。　He　jammed　the　heavy　stock　forward　in　an　attempt　to　wreck　the　figure's　momentum；　felt　a　jarring　crash　as　it　hit　a　protrusion；　the　figure's　elbow　perhaps。
　He　took　one　step　back　and　to　the　side；　bringing　the　muzzle　end　forward　and　down　in　an　oblique　slash。　Saigo　struck　it　away　and　down　with　his　forearm　while　extending　his　leading　leg。　This　brought　him　within　intimate　range　and　he　used　a　kite；　the　edge　on　his　hand　as　hard　as　a　block　of　concrete。　The　entire　right　side　of　the　sniper's　rib　cage　collapsed　like　an　eggshell。
　The　man　had　time　only　to　grunt　once；　as　if　in　surprise。　As　his　head　and　torso　came　forward；　Saigo　kicked　high；　catching　him　on　the　bridge　of　the　nose。　Skin　ripped　away　and　cartilage　tore　itself　from　its　tendon　foundations。　Blood　gouted　and；　spinning；　the　sniper　followed　his　useless　weapon；　cart　wheeling　over　the　side　of　the　catwalk。
　Leaping；　Saigo　was　away；　racing　towards　the　stairs。　At　his　side；　he　gripped　his　scabbarded　katana。
　'They　got　him。　Listen　to　all　that　noise。'
　He　meant　the　firing。
　Tomkin　stood　behind　his　desk；　torso　canted　forward　at　the　hips；　the　way　an　athlete　might　hold　himself。　The　columns　of　his　thick　arms　were　rigid；　his　fists　against　the　desktop。
　The　sounds　of　the　machine…guns　had　e　like　an　echoing　roll　of　thunder；　amplified　and　hurled　upwards　by　the　vast　core　of　air　in　the　atrium。
　Nicholas；　at　his　post　near　the　double　metal　doors；　had　not　moved　at　all。
　'What　do　you　think；　Nick？'
　He　wondered　at　Tomkin's　sudden　nerves。　He　had　been　as　cool　and　relaxed　as　a　man　about　to　leave　on　a　long　vacation　the　last　time　he　had　seen　him。　Now　he　seemed　on　edge。
　Across　the　room；　faced　with　the　reality　of　the　situation；　Tom…kin　was　sweating。　He　was　having　serious　second　thoughts　about　his　deal　with　the　ninja。　There　seemed　to　be　an　inordinate　amount　of　activity　down　there。　He　knew　just　how　many　men　Croaker　had　deployed　and　with　what　armaments。　Had　they　got　him？　It　sounded　like　a　world　war　down　there。　What　if　he　made　it　up　her？？　What　if　I　can't　trust　him？　My　God；　Linnear　is　my　last　line　of　defence　and　I've　sacrificed　him。
　Tomkin　opened　his　mouth　　to　speak；　bit　back　the　words　at　the　last　minute。　He　could　not　tell　Nicholas　what　he　had　done；　no　matter　what。　He　put　his　shaking　hand　inside　his　suit　jacket　and　felt　his　fingers　slip　in　sweat　against　the　warm　edge　of　his　gun。　He　felt　wildly　out　of　place；　a　piranha　stripped　of　its　teedi；　watching　the　shark　as　it　swam　ever　closer。　The　feeling　did　not　sit　well　with　him。　He　enjoyed　being　in　control　…　at　his　desk；　in　the　boardroom　in　the　midst　of　proxy　fights；　overseas　taming　recalcitrant　buyers　…　while　others　hung　precariously　on　to　the　twists　and　turns　of　a　destiny　he　was　creating。　Now；　for　this　moment；　others　controlled　his　life　and　he　felt　a　brief　stab　of　a　fear　he　had　not　known　since　one　sun…drenched　day　sixteen　years　ago；　the　house　on　Gin　Lane；　the　summer's　heat；　the　sound　the　wind　made　as　it　raced　through　　the　high　beach　grass；　the　dryness　of　the　sand　like　beads　of　glass；　sounds　on　the　sigh　of　the　wind；　a　rising　and　falling　tide；　moaning；　and　movement　and　…　Gelda。　My　God；　Gelda。Geldal
　His　heart　pounded　in　his　chest　as　upon　an　anvil　and　some…
　thing　sat　astride　his　intestines；　racing　up　from　his　genitals；　squeezing；　squeezing。
　'。。。　better　sit　down　and　do　as　I　told　you。'
　4　What？　What？'
　'Sit　down；　Tomkin。　He'll　be　ing　soon　now。'
　'ing？　Who？'
　'Saigo。　The　ninja。'
　Tomkin's　face　was　shiny　in　the　half…light　ing　in　through　the　wall　of　windows　to　his　left。　All　the　lights　were　off　on　that　floor。
　'They　didn't　get　him？'
　'I　think　not。'
　'What　about　all　those　men　…　down　there？'　He　was　thinking　of　them　as　lines　of　his　defence。　They　could　not　all　be　crumbling；　so　quickly；　so　easily。
　Nicholas　misunderstood　him。　I'm　　surprised　you　care。　This　wasn't　my　idea。　It　should　just　have　been　me　and　you　…　and　him。　They're　all　innocents　down　there。'
　'Meaning；'　Tomkin　said；　moving　a　little　towards　the　windows；　wondering　if　Nicholas　would　follow　him　as　the　ninja　had　suggested　he　might；　'that　we　…　you　and　me　and　the　cop　…are　not。'
　Nicholas　might　have　been　a　statue。　'No。　Up　here　on　Olympus　morality　has　little　meaning。　When　you　get　used　to　watching　people　from　such　a　lofty　distance　their　features　blur；　being　at　last　so　indistinct　that　they　bee　as　interchangeable　as　ants　…　and　as　insignificant。　What　does　one　less　ant　mean　to　the　course　of　history　？　It's　too　insignificant　even　to　think　about。'
　'You're　crazy；'　Tomkin　said。　'I　don't　know　what　the　hell　you're　talking　about。'　The　trouble　is；　he　thought；　I　do　know　what　he's　talking　about。　He　pressed　his　hands　against　his　temples；　squeezing　his　eyes　shut　against　the　sun…dazzle　tumble　of　images　limned　against　his　eyelids。　Gelda　and　another　girl。　How　his　pulse　raced？　Now　the　hatred　sluiced　like　venom　through　his　veins。　His　head　pulsed　as　if　being　blown　up　like　a　balloon。　How　could　she　have　。。。　He'd　meted　out　retribution　all　right。　Deservedly　so。　His　thoughts　began　to　race　dangerously。
　Where　had　the　days　of　innocence　got　to？　he　asked　himself。　The　Easter　egg　hunts　in　Connecticut；　the　school　dances；　the
　easy；　laughing　summers　when　the　girls　would　e　in　from　the　surf　like　two　brown…skinned　mermaids。
　Caught　in　faded　photographs；　irretrievably　caught　between　Kodak　paper　and　photographic　chemicals；　as　real　as　Coleridge's　dream　of　Xanadu；　gone　up　in　smoke　like　an　addict's　hopes。
　'You　said　he's　ing。'　Tomkin's　voice　was　clotted　with　emotion　and　he　had　to　clear　his　throat　before　he　could　continue。　'What　are　you　going　to　do？'
　'Sit　down；'　Nicholas　said。　'I　want　you　away　from　the　windows。'
　'I　want　to　know　1'　Tomkin　shouted。　'It's　my　life　I'
　'Sit　down；　Tomkin。'　Nicholas's　voice　was　even　lower　than　it　had　been　a　moment　before。　'Keep　yelling　and　you　will　guide　him　right　to　you。'
　Tomkin　glared　at　him　for　a　long　moment。　His　chest　heaved　beneath　his　suit　jacket。　Then；　abruptly；　he　collapsed　into　his　chair。
　Nicholas　turned　his　head　towards　the　rear　of　the　office。　Next　to　the　open　door　of　the　bathroom　was　a　narrow　hallway　leading　first　to　the　electrical　and　air…conditioning　circuits　for　the　floor　and　then　to　the　offices　on　the　far　side　of　the　floor。
　He　did　not　believe　that　Saigo　would　e　through　the　front　doors。　For　one　thing；　they　were　bulky　and　slow…moving。　Too　much　time　and　effort　was　involved　in　opening　them。　He　could　not；　of　course；　discount　the　ledge　outside　the　windows　but；　as　in　the　manner　of　most　newer；　centrally　temperature…controlled　buildings；　these　windows　could　not　be　opened。　Certainly　they　were　easily　breached　but　that　also　would　take　time　and；　worse；　an　inordinate　amount　of　sound。
　It　was　logical；　then；　to　expect　the　attack　from　the　rear　of　the　office。　He　thought　briefly　about　positioning　himself　more　advantageously；　in　the　air…conditioning　alcove；　perhaps。　But　if　Saigo　chose　another　way　in；　he　might　take　too　long　recovering　and　he　could　not　chance　that。
　That　Saigo　was　at　this　moment　on　his　way　up　he　had　no　doubt。
　It　was　quiet　now；　just　the　gentle　white…noise　hissing　in　the　inner　ear；　as　of　the　aftermath　of　a　violent　tornado。　With　the　front　doors　secured；　no　sound　seeped　in　from　the　street；　all
　the　glass　was　in　place　here。
　He　could　hear　the　sound　of　Tomkin's　heavy　breathing；　as　if　he　were　an　asthmatic　with　his　mouth　part