ericlustbader.the ninja-第93章

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　'Christ；'　Croaker　said。　'He　killed　a　man　just　to　snooker　us。'
　Nicholas　nodded。　'Plans　within　plans。'
　He　listened；　with　nothing　but　the　screen　door　between　him　and　the　coolness　of　the　evening；　to　the　quiet。　To　the　breakers　sighing　as　they　rose；　curled；　and　fell　again　and　again　like　his　own　tidal　breathing。
　He　was　thinking　of　Japan。　Of　the　Colonel；　of　Cheong；　of　Saigo；　and　especially　of　Yukio。　。
　All　in　their　　　　　rightful　places　now；　the　revenge　done；　all　the　impossibly　tangled　cords　laid　out　in　their　skeins；　just　as　they　had　once　started　out；　dying　as　they　had　been　born。
　The　rage　which　had　filled　him　up　when　Saigo　had　told　him　seemed　like　yesterday's　ember　now。　He　recalled　his　dream　and　the　faceless　woman　was　no　longer　faceless。　Only　now　was　he　ing　truly　to　understand　the　enormity　of　Yukio's　sacrifice。　She　could；　at　almost　any　time；　have　run　away　from　Saigo。　And　where　do　you　think　she　would　go？　Where　she　wanted　to　be；　at　his　side。　And　Fukashigi　had　said：　You　were　not　ready　then。　He　would　have　destroyed　you　。。。　Nicholas　knew　the　full　measure　of　the　truth　of　those　words。　By　staying　with　Saigo；　Yukio　knew　she　held　in　check　a　measure　of　his　deep　anger；　at　least　he　had　her　and　Nicholas　had　not。　She　gave　her　life　for　me。　Migawari　ni　tatsu。
　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。
　But　no　more。
　He　felt　Justine　ing　quietly　up　behind　him　and　he　felt　a　vast　peacefulness；　like　ing　upon　one's　own　stone　cottage　at　the　edge　of　the　sea；　guarded　by　the　tall　pines　one　knew　so　well　from　infancy。　A　warm　wind　blew　through　his　soul　and　he　closed　his　eyes　as　he　felt　her　arms　steal　about　him；　her　lips　trace　the　contours　of　his　cheek。
　'Are　you　all　right？'
　'Y〃s。　Yes。'　They　stirred　together　like　two　leaves　on　a　branch。　'The　sea　is　so　blue　now。　Bluer　than　the　sky。'
　'Because　the　sky　is　mirrored　in　it。　See　how　they're　both　there？'
　'It's　the　artist　in　you。　You　see　in　colours。'
　'But　you　see　it　too；　don't　you？'
　'Now　you've　pointed　it　out；　yes。'
　She　put　her　cheek　against　his　shoulder。　'I　miss　Doc　Deerforth。'
　'So　do　I。'　He　looked　out　to　sea。　'His　daughters　will　be　here　soon。'
　'Saigo　must　have　been　at　Gin　Lane　looking　for　Father；　but　why　Doc？'
　'I　don't　know；'　Nicholas　said　softly。　'Perhaps　he　saw　him　and　became　suspicious。'　But　his　thoughts　were　far；　far　away。
　After　a　long　time；　they　made　dinner　and　ate　it　outside　on　his　porch；　and　the　wind；　taking　her　hair　and　pulling　it　to　one　side　as　a　gentle　mother　might；　whirled　their　paper　napkins　out　across　the　dunes　to　disappear　in　the　surf；　platinum　and　mauve。
　A　couple　walked　hand　in　hand；　their　bare　feet　scuffing　the　sand；　leaving　a　trail　of　their　passage　like　a　pair　of　crabs。　A　sleek　Irish　setter；　its　glossy　coat　burnished　crimson　by　the　setting　sun；　ran　ahead；　barking　happily　at　them；　its　long　tongue　lolling　as　it　danced　at　the　edge　of　the　sea。
　'Do　you　want　to　go　back；　now？'　she　asked；　her　hand　in　his。　To　Japan。'
　He　looked　at　her　and　smiled。　He　thought　about　her　father's　offer。　'I　don't　think　so。'　He　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　it　creaked　a　little；　a　forting　sound　like　the　rattle　of　lines　in　the　wind　aboard　ship。　'Oh；　one　day；　perhaps　…　We'll　both　go　to　have　a　look；　as　tourists　might。'
　'You　could　never　be　a　tourist　there。'
　'I　could　try。'
　On　the　near　horizon；　boats　were　running　back　for　shore；　their　sails　high　and　billowing。　It　might　have　been　a　regatta　except　for　the　time　of　day。　Music　came　from　somewhere　down　the　beach　and　was　abruptly　cut　off；　as　if　a　door　had　slammed。
　Justine　began　to　giggle。
　'What　is　it？'　He　was　smiling　already　as　one　does　sometimes；　in　anticipation　of　a　funny　story。
　'I　was　just　remembering　how　you　came　and　took　me　out　of　the　disco　that　night。'　Her　face　abruptly　sobered。　'I　wish　you'd　told　me；'　she　whispered；　'all　about　it。'
　'I　saw　no　point　in　frightening　you。'
　'I　only；'　she　said；　'would　have　been　frightened　for　you。'
　He　stood　up；　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　a　very　Western　stance。
　'It's　all　over　now；　isn't　it？'　She　was　looking　up　at　him；　her　face　tilted　so　that　the　last　of　the　light　reflected　off　the　water；　toned　her　skin；　cooling　it；　making　it　glow。
　'Yes；'　he　said；　rubbing　his　bandaged　arm。　'It's　all　over　now。'
　He　was　on　his　side；　half　dreaming；　when　Justine　came　out　of　the　bathroom。　She　turned　off　the　light　and；　to　him；　it　seemed　as　if　the　moon　had　sunk　beneath　the　rim　of　the　horizon。
　He　felt　her　silently　get　into　bed；　moving　her　pillow　to　a　more　fortable　position；　then　the　warmth　of　her　body　close　against　him：　the　line　of　her　spine；　the　soft　curve　of　her　buttocks；　her　knees　against　his　thighs。　Electricity　seemed　to　flow　from　one　to　the　other。
　He　thought　of　Yukio；　as　the　exhaustion　rose　like　fluid；　suffusing　his　limbs　and　beginning　on　his　torso。　He　knew　now　that　his　fear　was　the　same　as　his　love　for　her。　Her　purely　elemental　sexuality　was　what　drew　him　to　her；　what　continually　aroused　him　when　he　was　with　her。　But　he　had　been　unwilling；　and　thus　afraid；　to　acknowledge　the　balancing　half　of　the　equation；　that　there　was；　to　him　also；　an　elemental　sexuality。　That　Yukio　had　been　able　to　draw　this　out　of　him　he　had　both　loved　and　feared　at　the　same　time。
　It　saddened　him　greatly　that　he　should　have　been　living　a　lie　for　all　these　years；　believing　that　she　had　deceived　him。　But　to　know　now　that　she　had　loved　him　as　he　had　loved　her　was　enough。　She　was　gone　from　him；　had　been　for　a　long　time；　except　in　his　dreams。　That　memory　was　his　and　he　would　do　for　her　what　he　did　for　his　parents；　light　incense　and　say　the　prayers　for　them　on　the　days　of　their　births。
　Justine　stirred　beside　him　and　he　turned　over　on　his　back。　Her　right　arm　was　beneath　her　head；　the　hand　buried　to　the　wrist　beneath　the　crumpled　pillow。　He　heard　her　soft；　even　breathing。。。
　In　the　high　house　filled　with　bars　of　bright　golden　sunlight　and　deep　shade　falling　obliquely　across　the　bare　wooden　floors　Nicholas　encountered　So…Peng。　He　seemed　not　to　have　aged　at　all　since　the　time　the　Colonel　and　Cheong　had　e　to　visit　him。　Tall　and　thin　with　bright　black　eyes　and'　long　hands；　longer　fingernails　which　clashed　softly　like　the　mandibles　of　some　mythic　creature；　he　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　vaulted　room；　studying　Nicholas。
　'You　have　brought　me　a　fine　present。　I　am　most　grateful。'　？　Nicholas　looked　around；　saw　nothing。　Only　he　and　So…Peng。　He　did　not　understand。
　'Where　am　I？'
　'Somewhere；'　said　the　old　man；　'east　of　the　moon；　east　of　the　sun。'
　'I　don't　remember　how　I　got　here。'　Nicholas　felt　panic　overtake　him。　'I'll　never　find　it　again。'
　So…Peng　smiled　and　his　nails　clashed　together；　the　brittle　sound　of　cicadas　at　noon。　'You　came　here　once。　You　will　find　your　way　again。'
　And　then　Nicholas　was　alone　in　the　high　house；　staring　at　himself　in　a　long　panel　mirror。
　Dawn　light；　gentle　and　pale；　woke　him　as　it　came　in　through　the　bedroom　window。　Justine　was　still　asleep。　He　lifted　the　covers　lightly；　got　out　of　bed。
　He　washed　and　dressed　silently；　went　down　the　hallway　into　the　kitchen　to　make　himself　a　cup　of　green　tea。　He　whirled　the　crushed　leaves　around　and　around　the　cup　until　they　had　dissolved。　There　was　a　fine　froth　on　top；　as　pale　a　green　as　the　mist　in　the　mountains　of　Japan　in　autumn。
　He　sipped　once；　very　slowly；　savouring　the　bitter　taste　that　was　like　no　other　in　the　world。　Then　he　went　into　the　living　room。　He　turned　on　the　light　in　the　fish　tank；　fed　the　inhabitants。
　It　was　a　remarkably　clear　day。　Clouds；　very　high　up；　stood　sharply　delineated；　their　striations　as　well　defined　as　those　in　marble。　They　swayed　in　the　high　wind　aloft。　He　opened　the　door；　leaving　only　the　screen　door　closed　against　the　beach　insects。　The　breeze　swept　in　off　the　sea；　rich　and　moist。
　Justine　was　dreaming　of　a　man　whose　face　seemed　to　be　all　mouth。　It　was　a　lipless　scar；　like　the　horizon　on　the　brink　of　a　savage　storm；　black　and　ominous；　opening　and　closing　as　lurid　lightning　forked　and　flickered　far　out。
　It　was　screaming　at　her；　over　and　over；　the　voice　just　a　whisper；　each　whisper　a　lash　dial　stung　her　heart；　raising　a　welt；　leaving　a　scar　in　its　insidious　wake。
　She　tried　to　get　her　mind　in　gear；　to　think　coherently；　but　the　screaming　mouth　confused　her　and　she　lay　idling　like　a　car　in　neutral。
　The　words　the　mouth　was　screaming　at　her　poured　down　on　her　like　hard　rain；　making　her　mind　hurt　until　the　only　thing　she　wanted　to　do　was　to　put　her　hands　over　her　ears　to　blot　out　the　terrible　noise。　But　it　went　on　and　on　and　on。
　The　only　way　to　make　the　mouth　stop　was　to　do　what　it　said。
　Now　she　wanted　to　wake　up。　Or　she　did　not。　She　could　not　tell　which。　She　began　to　whimper　and　cry。　In　her　dream？　Or　for　real？　Which　did　she　want　to　do？　Wake　up？　Or　continue　to　sleep？　She　was　terrified　and　every　moment　she　remained　asleep　her　fear　intensified。
　She　began　to　struggle。　She　felt　steel　crossing　the　palms　of　her　hands。
　Then　her　eyes　snapped　open。
　Nicholas　was　on　his　knees；　sitting　straight…backed；　facing　the　windows；　the　water　and　the　dawn；　when　Justine　came　into　the　room。　His　eyes　were　closed；　the　handle…less　cup　of　green　tea　steaming　in　front　of　him。　His　spirit　expanded；　gyring　high　into　the　clear　sky；　reaching　towards　the　high　clouds。
　Justine；　eyes　opened　wide　and　burning　quiet　cold　fire；　stole　silently　past　the　bubbling　fish　tank。　Her　pale　yellow　nightgown　swirled　about　her　as　if　she　were　immersed　in　mist；　rising　up　from　the　floor　she　walked；　enwrapping　her　torso。
　She　turned　and；　reaching　upwards　with　her　two　hands；　unsheathed　the　katana　which　hung　on　the　wall　just　below　Nicholas's　dai…katana。　She　would　have　taken　that　but　it　was　just　out　of　her　reach。
　Now　she　turns；　transfigured。　Her　eyes　are　not　her　own。　The　colour　is　all　wrong　and　the　crimson　motes　have　been　obscured　by　the　new　blackness　of　the　irises。　Her　face；　she　feels　with　a　mixture　of　terror　and　exhilaration；　is　no　longer　feminine；　though　her　figure　is　not　altered。　Like　dark　lightning　flickering：　adder；　ant；　man…thing。　She　shakes　her　head　as　her　vision　blurs。　Colours　seem　strange；　shapes　bulk　at　her　in　different　proportions。　All　of　it　has　lost　the　extra　dimensions　with　which　she　once　saw　the　world。　It　is　a　cold　and　hateful　place；　joyless　and　as　sere　as　the　'　great　Gobi。
　Air　bellows　in　and　out　of　her　lungs　as　if　through　some　baleful　force　outside　her　ken　and　she　curls　up　inside　herself；　crying　and　shivering。
　Still　her　hands　are　calm　and　controlled　as　she　places　them　one　over　the　other　around　the　wound　leather　handle　of　the　katana；　feeling　its　weight　and　its　balance；　knowing　…　and　not　knowing　how　she　knows　…　the　perfection　of　it。
　Now　her　bare　feet　are　placed　slowly　one　before　the　other；　at　precise　angles；　as　she　draws　ever　closer　to　the　muscular　back　at　the　front　of　the　room。
　Cool　light　floods　her　as　she　es　out　from　the　shadows　and　she　pauses　a　moment　to　allow　her　eyes　to　adjust　to　the　glare。
　Now　she　is　so　close　that　it　seems　her　harsh　breath　must　brush　his　skin。　Her　arms　are　raised　high　over　her　head　in　preparation　for　the　one　lethal　blow。　One　instant　and　it　is　all　over：　the　striking　of　a　match　in　the　dark；　the　flick　of　one　fingernail　against　another。　The　difference　between　life　and　death。
　The　tip　of　the　katana　begins　to　qu