ericlustbader.the ninja-第92章

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mearing　their　faces　and　wrists。
　Muscles　bulged　like　puffing　engines；　veins　and　rolling　sweat　ribboning　their　glossy　skin。　Their　panting　breath　mingled；　magnified　in　this　tiny；　overheated　space；　and　their　eyes　crossed
　to　look　at　each　other。　Mere　words　were；　for　the　moment；　beyond　them　and　they　hissed　their　hate　at　each　other　in　a　kind　of　elemental　language　that　had　not　been　heard　since　the　dawn　of　man。
　The　blade　of　the　tanto　was　turned　away　from　him　and　Nicholas　used　the　angle　to　force　Saigo's　wrist　backwards。　But　he　was　not　Kan…aka　na　ninja；　not　an　adept　in　koppo。　Saigo；　however；　was　and　he　knew　how　to　stop　this　manoeuvre。　He　drew　his　right　knee　up　and；　simultaneously；　began　a　movement　with　his　right　hand。　Which　was　the　feint？　Or　were　they　both？
　In　the　split　second　of　deciding；　Nicholas's　grip　on　Saigo's　left　wrist　loosened　and　then　was　dislodged。　The　point　of　the　tanto　blurred　immediately　upwards　towards　Nicholas's　face。　He　caught　the　end　of　the　hilt　on　the　outer　bone　of　his　wrist；　deflecting　its　flight。
　There　was　only　destruction　in　their　hearts；　their　minds；　cleansing　themselves　of　the　years　of　enmity；　poured　their　power　into　the　emotionalism　of　the　moment；　stoked　by　pumping　adrenalin　and　the　hsing…i；　the　so…called　imaginary　mental　fist：　that　is；　the　enormous　force　of　will　their　disciplines　had　imbued　them　with。
　Now　Nicholas　used　the　heart…kite　to　break　the　deadlock　and　Saigo；　stung　and　surprised；　swung　outwards；　landing　a　blow　on　the　side　of　Nicholas's　head。
　Immediately　he　rolled　upwards　and　out　through　the　rent　windshield。　Nicholas　followed；　leaping　from　the　bonnet　of　the　stalled　limo　onto　the　sidewalk。
　He　saw　Saigo；　all　in　black；　standing　beyond　the　bent　light…；　post。　He　had　thrown　aside　his　katana's　scabbard　and　he　held　it　now　in　the　first　position。　He　did　not　have　to　call　to　Nicholas。
　In　the　periphery　of　his　vision；　Nicholas　saw　a　car　brake　to　a　halt。　Croaker　got　out。　Without　turning　his　head；　Nicholas　called　out；　'Leave　us　alone！　See　to　Tomkin。　He's　in　the　back　of　the　limo。'
　Then　he　advanced　on　Saigo。
　When　one　is　ninja；　one　sees　not　only　with　one's　eyes。　Haragei　allows　one　to　see　with　the　entire　body。　Thus　it　was　that　as　Nicholas　moved　towards　Saigo；　it　was　his　eyes　which　saw　the　other's　one…handed　grip；　but　his　body　was　already　reacting。
　Using　the　iai　draw；　he　lifted　the　blade　of　his　katana　in　time
　to　deflect　the　pair　of　shaken　Saigo　had　flicked　at　him　almost　nonchalantly。　They　buzzed　away　like　angry　bees　clattering　down　the　brick　steps　behind　Saigo　to　the　lower　plaza　of　the　building。　Beside　him　a　modern　sculptured　waterfall　crashed　and　splattered　downwards　to　rectangular　'rocks'　in　a　pool　on　the　plaza。
　Their　katana　clashed　together　in　the　Fire　and　Stones　Cut；　making　them　shudder。　Only　the　superbly　forged　Japanese　weapons　could　survive　such　power　intact。
　Saigo　seemed　frantic。　His　pupils　were　so　large　his　eyes　seemed　all　black；　so　alien　that　Croaker　was　transfixed　by　the　hsing…i；　which　he　perceived　as　an　almost　physical　blow。
　Saigo　attacked　strongly　and　swiftly。　His　strength　was　appalling；　even　to　Nicholas。　He　felt　engulfed　in　a　kind　of　magnetic　storm　which；　swirling　him　around；　threatened　to　disorient　him　pletely。　And　he　fell　back　under　the　onslaught。
　He　saw　Saigo's　lips　moving　slowly　and　softly　and　found　himself　wondering　how　high　he　was；　how　much　of　the　drug　was　now　coursing　through　him；　and　how　he　could　use　this　to　his　own　advantage。
　He　shook　his　head　as　a　strike　almost　slipped　through。　Abruptly；　his　arms　felt　enormously　heavy。　His　eyelids　flickered。　And　there　was　a　wolfish　grin　on　Saigo's　face。
　Nicholas　staggered　back；　felt　running　water　against　the　backs　of　his　legs。　He　was　in　the　waterfall；　a　steep　drop　at　his　back。　How　had　he　been　turned　round？
　He　felt　a　sharp　pain　in　his　arm；　saw　Saigo's　katana　streaked　with　a　line　of　blood　like　saliva　from　a　mad　dog　and　he　knew　what　was　happening　to　him。
　It　was　the　Kobudera。　The　magic　not　even　the　most　fanatic　of　the　Kan…aka　na　ninja　would　touch。　Except　for　Saigo。
　Back　went　Nicholas　under　the　ferocious　attack　until　they　were　both　in　the　water。　Magic　was　all　around　him；　turning　the　night　crimson。　He　seemed　not　to　be　able　to　feel　his　legs；　he　staggered。　His　fingers　were　numb；　the　grip　on　his　katana　faltering。　His　breath　came　in　pants。
　And　all　the　while；　Saigo　came　mercilessly　on；　striking　and　grinning；　his　lips　invoking　the　Kobudera。
　Nicholas's　foot　slipped　on　a　piece　of　sculpture　which　he　could　not　feel　and　he　almost　went　down。　He　was　immediately　slashed　again。　Blood　sparked　the　night　air。　His　blood。　Agony　filled　him　and　it　seemed　as　if　he　could　not　breathe。　Whatever　Fukashigi　did　during　the　night；　he　thought；　it　is　not　enough。
　The　rushing　water　drenched　him　and　he　shuddered。　And　in　that　great　breath；　which　reached　from　his　throat　all　the　way　down　to　his　toes；　came　a　thin　stream　of　crystal　clarity；　piercing　the　fog　that　had　shrouded　him。
　He　thought　of　Musashi；　the　Sword　Saint；　standing　in　his　garden　more　than　three　hundred　years　ago。　'What　is　the　〃Body　of　a　rock〃？'　he　was　asked。　In　answer；　Musashi　summoned　a　pupil　of　his　and　bid　him　kill　himself　by　slashing　his　abdomen　with　a　knife。　Just　as　the　pupil　was　about　to　ply；　the　Master　stayed　his　hand；　saying；　'This　is　the　〃Body　of　a　rock〃。'
　This；　then；　Nicholas　did；　reaching　down　inside　himself　where　something　he　did　not　even　know　existed　lay　in　wait。　He　dragged　it　up　with　all　his　strength　and；　as　Musashi　wrote；　ten　thousand　things　could　not　touch　him；　not　Saigo's　katana；　not　even　the　Kobudera。
　In　a　blur；　Nicholas　cut　from　left　to　right　with　his　katana。　In　shock；　Saigo　lifted　up　his　own　blade；　his　eyes　wide　and　staring。
　Blood　spurted；　brilliantly　red　as　a　cardinal　bird's　plumage　and　Saigo's　torso　arched　back；　his　lips　pulled　back　from　his　teeth　in　a　rictus。
　Water　sloshed　and　sucked　as　they　both　struggled　to　maintain　their　balance。　For　Saigo；　who　had　been　cut　through　skin　and　flesh　and　even　sternum；　it　was　a　Herculean　task。　His　katana　hung　from　his　nerveless　left　hand；　the　fingers　twitching　relentlessly　as　they　sought　to　do　what　their　torn　nerves　no　longer　would　allow　them　to。　He　weaved　from　side　to　side　like　a　lush　on　one　last　monumental　drunk。　He　grasped　the　top　of　his　chest；　near　his　shoulder　blade；　but　Nicholas；　using　the　point　of　his　katana；　flicked　away　the　deadly　shuriken　needles　he　had　clutched。
　Groaning；　Saigo　held　on　to　the　hilt　of　his　katana　now；　using　it　like　a　walking　stick　to　prop　himself　up。　Without　its　aid；　he　would　have　collapsed　like　an　old　man。
　'Kill　me　now。'　His　voice　was　a　harsh　gurgle　over　the　restless　bubbling　of　the　water　rushing　over　the　fall。　'But　not　until　I　tell　you；　cousin；　what　I　have　waited　long　years　to　tell　you。'　His　shoulder　twitched。　'e　closer。'　His　voice　cracked；　dropped　abruptly　in　volume。　'e　closer。　We　cannot　have　you　savour　your　triumph；　ah　no！'
　Nicholas　took　a　step　towards　him。　His　chest　and　belly　were　streaked　with　blood　and　the　iridescent　seeping　of　his　organs。　For　Nicholas；　the　pain　was　a　dull　throbbing　all　down　his　arm　where　Saigo　had　slashed　him。
　'You　should　have　cut　me　when　you　could；'　he　said。　'Your　spirit　was　not　resolved；　the　Kobudera　consumed　you　and　you　slashed　me　instead。　You　see　what　one　cut　can　do。'
　Saigo　staggered。　'What　is　that　you　say；　cousin？　e　closer　still。　I　cannot　hear　you。'　He　grimaced　in　pain；　a　fleet　passing　cloud；　and　then　it　was　gone；　hidden　behind　all　the　layers　that　they　had　both　acquired。　This　was；　perhaps　more　than　any　other　thing；　what　set　Japan　apart　from　the　rest　of　the　world；　this　bit　of　hard；　unflinching　stone　beneath　all　the　wrappers　…　the　many；　many　layers　…　of　distilled　duty　and　filial　love。　This　was　why　they　must　go　forward　always　and　never　take　a　step　back。　But；　O　Amida；　their　memories　were　long　indeed；　stretching；　it　was　said　in　many　tales；　beyond　the　grave　itself。
　Nicholas　wanted　to　sleep　now。　His　body　had　dealt　with　the　shock　and　now；　as　it　damped　down　on　the　pain；　he　was　calming。　A　kind　of　lassitude　was　running。。。
　'You　think　that　you　have　won　but　you　haven't；'　Saigo　gasped　out。　A　thin　trickle　of　blood　was　seeping　from　one　corner　of　his　mouth。　His　busy　tongue　flicked　at　it；　as　an　adder's　might；　tasting　it。　'I　see　that　I　had　better　get　on　with　it。。。　But　won't　you　e　one　step　closer；　cousin　so　that　I　don't　have　to　shout？　Good。'　His　eyes　burned　coldly。　'You　believe　that　Yukio　is　alive；　somewhere；　living　the　life　of　a　married　lady　perhaps；　and　thinking　every　so　often　of　the　old　days　with　you。　But；　oh　no；　this　is　not　so！'　He　began　a　laugh　which　ended　in　a　ragged　cough。　He　hawked　and　spat　pinkly　between　them。　He　looked　into　Nicholas's　eyes　as　he　said；　'She　lies　at　the　bottom　of　the　Straits　of　Shimonoseki；　cousin；　precisely　where　I　dumped　her。
　'She　loved　you；　you　know。　With　every　breath　she　breathed；　with　every　word　she　spoke。　Oh；　I　could　drug　her　as　I　did　that　night　with　you　and；　for　a　time；　she　would　forget　you。　But　each　time　she　would　awake　and　it　would　be　as　before。
　'At　last　it　drove　me　out　of　my　mind。　She　was　the　only　woman；　the　only　one　。。。　for　me　and　without　her　there　were　only　men　and　more　men　and　still　more。。。〃　His　eyes　blazed　like　coals；　red…rimmed　and　mad。　The　trickle　of　blood　had　thickened；　running　like　heavy　drops　from　a　careless　painter's　brush；　darkening　the　water。
　'You　made　me　kill　her；　Nicholas；'　he　said　in　sudden　accusation。　'If　she　had　not　loved　you　…'
　'If　life　was　not　the　way　it　was　…'　Nicholas　said　harshly。　His　arms　were　already　in　motion　and　the　katana　was　a　crescent　of　living　light；　as　if　he　were　the　Lord's　true　messenger；　whirring　like　a　living　entity　through　the　hot；　wet　air。
　In　a　bright　arc；　Saigo's　head　sailed　upwards；　tumbling　over　and　over　on　its　final　journey　like　a　miniature　planet；　a　crimson　streamer　like　a　kite's　or　a　et's　tail　laced　behind　it。　Over　the　edge　it　went；　bouncing　downwards　across　the　white　steps；　a　child's　lost　ball；　ing　to　rest　at　last　at　the　bottom　of　the　waterfall　：　on　the　ninth　step　from　the　top。
　'…　but　it　is；'　Nicholas　said；　finishing　the　sentence。　At　his　feet；　the　water　spun；　rocking　gently　as　if　on　a　faraway　tide；　shivering。　Caressing　Nicholas's　spread　legs。
　Of　course；　after　it　was　all　over　Croaker　wanted　to　know　just　how　he　had　done　it；　so　he　made　Nicholas　e　down　to　the　morgue　with　him　to　look　at　the　body。
　'Can't　tell　a　goddamned　thing　from　this；'　he　said。　'Christ　on　a　crutch；　we'd　never　have　known。'
　Nicholas　looked　down　at　the　battered　and　broken　body。　It　was　Japanese；　the　same　height　and　weight　as　Saigo。　An　exhaustive　autopsy　would　turn　up　the　difference　in　the　musculature；　of　course；　this　man　could　not　have　been　trained　as　Saigo　had　been。　But　dial　would　have　happened　only　if　you　were　looking　for　a　difference。
　He　reached　out；　turned　the　head　to　one　side；　peered　at　the　neck；　touched　the　side　with　his　fingertips。　'There；'　he　said。
　'What？'　Croaker　looked　at　the　spot。　'His　neck's　broken。　So　what？　Happens　all　the　time　in　a　fall。'
　'No；　Lew。　It's　the　way　the　neck　was　broken。　I've　seen　that　done　before；　years　ago。　Bones　sheared　through　as　if　someone　had　used　a　surgical　scalpel。　No　fall　can　do　that。　It's　koppo；　Lew。　A　ninja　technique。'
　'Christ；'　Croaker　said。　'He　killed　a　man　just　to　snooker　us。'
　Nicholas　nodded。　'Plans　within　plans。'
　He　listened；　with　nothing　but　the　screen　door