mc.risingsun-第20章

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espects。〃
　〃You're　damned　right　it　does。〃　Graham　puffed　up。　〃Damn　fucking　right。〃
　The　telephone　rang。　The　lab　technician　said；　〃Is　there　a　Captain　Connor　here？〃
　Connor　went　to　answer　the　phone。　Graham　said　to　me；　〃I'm　telling　you。　A　Jap　killed　this　girl；　and　we　are　going　to　find　him　and　fucking　flay　him。　Flay　him。〃
　I　said；　〃Why　do　you　have　it　in　for　them；　anyway？〃
　Graham　gave　me　a　sullen　look。　He　said；　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃I'm　talking　about　how　you　hate　the　Japanese。〃
　〃Hey；　listen；〃　Graham　said。　〃Let's　get　something　straight；　Petey…san。　I　don't　hate　anybody。　I　do　my　job。　Black　man；　white　man；　Japanese　man；　it　makes　no　difference　to　me。〃
　〃Okay；　Tom。〃　It　was　late　at　night。　I　didn't　want　to　argue。
　〃No；　hell。　You　fucking　think　I'm　prejudiced。〃
　〃Let's　just　drop　it；　Tom。〃
　〃No；　hell。　We're　not　going　to　drop　it。　Not　now。　Let　me　tell　you　something；　Petey…san。　You　got　yourself　this　fucking　liaison　job；　isn't　that　right？〃
　〃That's　right；　Tom。〃
　〃And　how　e　you　applied　for　it？　Because　of　your　great　love　of　Japanese　culture？〃
　〃Well；　at　the　time；　I　was　working　in　the　press　office…　〃
　〃No；　no；　cut　the　shit。　You　applied　for　it；〃　Graham　said；　〃because　there　was　an　extra　stipend；　isn't　that　right？　Two；　three　thousand　a　year。　An　educational　stipend。　It　es　into　the　department　from　the　Japan…America　Amity　Foundation。　And　the　department　allows　it　as　an　educational　stipend；　paid　to　members　of　the　force　so　that　they　can　further　their　education　in　Japanese　language　and　culture。　So。　How're　those　studies　going；　Petey…san？〃
　〃I'm　studying。〃
　〃How　often？〃
　〃One　night　a　week。〃
　〃One　night　a　week。　And　if　you　miss　classes；　do　you　lose　your　stipend？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Fucking　right　you　don't。　In　fact；　it　doesn't　make　any　difference　if　you　go　to　classes　at　all。　The　fact　is；　buddy；　you　got　yourself　a　bribe。　You　got　three　thousand　dollars　in　your　pocket　and　it　es　right　from　the　land　of　the　rising　sun。　Of　course；　it's　not　that　much。　Nobody　can　buy　you　for　three　grand；　right？　Of　course　not。〃
　〃Hey；　Tom…　〃
　〃But　the　thing　is；　they　aren't　buying　you。　They're　just　influencing　you。　They　just　want　you　to　think　twice。　To　tend　to　look　favorably　upon　them。　And　why　not？　It's　human　nature。　They've　made　your　life　a　little　better。　They　contribute　to　your　well…being。　Your　family。　Your　little　girl。　They　scratch　your　back；　so　why　shouldn't　you　scratch　theirs？　Isn't　that　about　it；　Petey…san？〃
　〃No；　it　isn't；〃　I　said。　I　was　getting　angry。
　〃Yes；　it　is；〃　Graham　said。　〃Because　that's　how　influence　works。　It's　deniable。　You　say　it　isn't　there。　You　tell　yourself　it　isn't　there　…　but　it　is。　The　only　way　you　can　be　clean　is　to　be　clean；　man。　If　you　got　no　stake　in　it；　if　you　got　no　ine　from　it；　then　you　can　talk。　Otherwise；　man；　they　pay　you　and　I　say；　they　own　you。〃
　〃Just　a　fucking　minute…　〃
　〃So　don't　you　talk　to　me　about　hating；　man。　This　country　is　in　a　war　and　some　people　understand　it；　and　some　other　people　are　siding　with　the　enemy。　Just　like　in　World　War　II；　some　people　were　paid　by　Germany　to　promote　Nazi　propaganda。　New　York　newspapers　published　editorials　right　out　of　the　mouth　of　Adolf　Hitler。　Sometimes　the　people　didn't　even　know　it。　But　they　did　it。　That's　how　it　is　in　a　war；　man。　And　you　are　a　fucking　collaborator。〃
　I　was　grateful　when；　at　that　moment；　Connor　came　back　to　where　we　were　standing。　Graham　and　I　were　about　to　square　off　when　Connor　said　calmly；　〃Now；　just　so　I　understand；　Tom。　According　to　your　scenario；　after　the　girl　was　murdered；　what　happened　to　the　tapes？〃
　〃Oh；　hell；　those　tapes　are　gone；〃　Graham　said。　〃You're　never　going　to　see　those　tapes　again。〃
　〃Well；　it's　interesting。　Because　that　call　was　the　division　headquarters。　It　seems　Mr。　Ishiguro　is　there。　And　he's　brought　a　box　of　videotapes　with　him；　for　me　to　look　at。〃
　
　Connor　and　I　drove　over。　Graham　took　his　own　car。　I　said；　〃Why　did　you　say　the　Japanese　would　never　touch　Graham？〃
　〃Graham's　uncle；〃　Connor　said。　〃He　was　a　prisoner　of　war　during　World　War　II。　He　was　taken　to　Tokyo；　where　he　disappeared。　Graham's　father　went　over　after　the　war　to　find　out　what　happened　to　him。　There　were　unpleasant　questions　about　what　happened。　You　probably　know　that　some　American　servicemen　were　killed　in　terminal　medical　experiments　in　Japan。　There　were　stories　about　the　Japanese　feeding　their　livers　to　subordinates　as　a　joke；　things　like　that。〃
　〃No；　I　didn't　know；〃　I　said。
　〃I　think　everybody　would　prefer　to　forget　that　time；〃　Connor　said；　〃and　move　on。　And　probably　correctly。　It's　a　different　country　now。　What　was　Graham　going　on　about？〃
　〃My　stipend　as　a　liaison　officer。〃
　Connor　said；　〃You　told　me　it　was　fifty　a　week。〃
　〃It's　a　little　more　than　that。〃
　〃How　much　more？〃
　〃About　a　hundred　dollars　a　week。　Fifty…five　hundred　a　year。　But　that's　to　cover　classes；　and　books；　and　muting　expenses；　baby…sitters；　everything。〃
　〃So　you　get　five　grand；〃　Connor　said。　〃So　what？〃
　〃Graham　was　saying　I　was　influenced　by　it。　That　the　Japanese　had　bought　me。〃
　Connor　said；　〃Well；　they　certainly　try　to　do　that。　And　they're　extremely　subtle。〃
　〃They　tried　it　with　you？〃
　〃Oh；　sure。〃　He　paused。　〃And　often　I　accepted。　Giving　gifts　to　ensure　that　you　will　be　seen　favorably　is　something　the　Japanese　do　by　instinct。　And　it's　not　so　different　from　what　we　do；　when　we　invite　the　boss　over　for　dinner。　Goodwill　is　goodwill。　But　we　don't　invite　the　boss　over　for　dinner　when　we're　up　for　a　promotion。　The　proper　thing　to　do　is　to　invite　the　boss　early　in　the　relationship；　when　nothing　is　at　stake。　Then　it's　just　goodwill。　The　same　with　the　Japanese。　They　believe　you　should　give　the　gift　early；　because　then　it　is　not　a　bribe。　It　is　a　gift。　A　way　of　making　a　relationship　with　you　before　there　is　any　pressure　on　the　relationship。〃
　〃And　you　think　that's　okay？〃
　〃I　think　it's　the　way　the　world　works。〃
　〃Do　you　think　it's　corrupting？〃
　Connor　looked　at　me　and　said；　〃Do　you？〃
　I　took　a　long　time　to　answer。　〃Yes。　I　think　maybe　so。〃
　He　started　to　laugh。　〃Well；　that's　a　relief；〃　he　said。　〃Because　otherwise；　the　Japanese　would　have　wasted　all　their　money　on　you。〃
　〃What's　so　funny？〃
　〃Your　confusion；　kōhai。〃
　〃Graham　thinks　it's　a　war。〃
　Connor　said；　〃Well；　that's　true。　We　are　definitely　at　war　with　Japan。　But　let's　see　what　surprises　Mr。　Ishiguro　has　for　us　in　the　latest　skirmish。〃
　
　？
　As　usual；　the　fifth…floor　anteroom　of　the　downtown　detective　division　was　busy；　even　at　two　o'clock　in　the　morning。　Detectives　moved　among　the　beat…up　prostitutes　and　twitching　druggies　brought　in　for　questioning；　in　the　corner　a　man　in　a　checked　sport　coat　was　shouting；　〃I　said；　shut　the　fuck　up！〃　over　and　over　to　a　female　officer　with　a　clipboard。
　In　all　the　swirl　and　noise；　Masao　Ishiguro　looked　distinctly　out　of　place。　Wearing　his　blue　pinstripe　suit；　he　sat　in　the　corner　with　his　head　bowed　and　his　knees　pressed　together。　He　had　a　cardboard　box　balanced　on　his　knees。
　When　he　saw　us；　he　jumped　to　his　feet。　He　bowed　deeply；　placing　his　hands　flat　on　his　thighs；　a　sign　of　additional　respect。　He　held　the　bow　for　several　seconds。　Then　he　immediately　bowed　again；　and　this　time　he　waited；　bent　over；　staring　at　the　floor；　until　Connor　spoke　to　him　in　Japanese。　Ishiguro's　reply；　also　in　Japanese；　was　quiet　and　deferential。　He　kept　looking　at　the　floor。
　Tom　Graham　pulled　me　over　by　the　water　cooler。　〃Holy　Christ；〃　he　said。　〃It　looks　like　we　got　a　fucking　confession　happening　here。〃
　〃Yeah；　maybe；〃　I　said。　I　wasn't　convinced。　I'd　seen　Ishiguro　change　his　demeanor　before。
　I　watched　Connor　as　he　talked　to　Ishiguro。　The　Japanese　man　remained　hangdog。　He　kept　looking　at　the　floor。
　〃I　never　would　have　figured　him；〃　Graham　said。　〃Not　in　a　million　years。　Never　him。〃
　〃How　is　that？〃
　〃Are　you　kidding？　To　kill　the　girl；　and　then　to　stay　in　the　room；　and　order　us　around。　What　fucking　nerves　of　steel。　But　look　at　him　now：　Christ；　he's　almost　crying。〃
　It　was　true：　tears　seemed　to　be　welling　up　in　Ishiguro's　eyes。　Connor　took　the　box　and　turned　away；　crossing　the　room　to　us。　He　gave　me　the　box。　〃Deal　with　this。　I'm　going　to　take　a　statement　from　Ishiguro。〃
　〃So；〃　Graham　said。　〃Did　he　confess？〃
　〃To　what？〃
　〃The　murder。〃
　〃Hell；　no；〃　Connor　said。　〃What　makes　you　think　that？〃
　〃Well；　he's　over　there　bowing　and　scraping…　〃
　〃That's　just　sumimasen；〃　Connor　said。　〃I　wouldn't　take　it　too　seriously。〃
　〃He's　practically　crying；〃　Graham　said。
　〃Only　because　he　thinks　it'll　help　him。〃
　〃He　didn't　confess？〃
　〃No。　But　he　discovered　that　the　tapes　had　been　removed；　after　all。　That　means　he　made　a　serious　mistake；　with　his　public　blustering　in　front　of　the　mayor。　Now　he　could　be　accused　of　concealing　evidence。　He　could　be　disbarred。　His　corporation　could　be　disgraced。　Ishiguro　is　in　big　trouble；　and　he　knows　it。〃
　I　said；　〃And　that's　why　he's　so　humble？〃
　〃Yes。　In　Japan；　if　you　screw　up；　the　best　thing　is　to　go　to　the　authorities　and　make　a　big　show　of　how　sorry　you　are；　and　how　bad　you　feel；　and　how　you　will　never　do　it　again。　It's　pro　forma；　but　the　authorities　will　be　impressed　by　how　you've　learned　your　lesson。　That's　sumimasen：　apology　without　end。　It's　the　Japanese　version　of　throwing　yourself　on　the　mercy　of　the　court。　It's　understood　to　be　the　best　way　to　get　leniency。　And　that's　all　Ishiguro　is　doing。〃
　〃You　mean　it's　an　act；〃　Graham　said；　his　eyes　hardening。
　〃Yes　and　no。　It's　difficult　to　explain。　Look。　Review　the　tapes。　Ishiguro　says　he　brought　one　of　the　VCRs；　because　the　tapes　are　recorded　in　an　unusual　format；　and　he　was　afraid　we　wouldn't　be　able　to　play　them。　Okay？〃
　I　opened　the　cardboard　box。　I　saw　twenty　small　eight…millimeter　cartridges；　like　audio　cassette　cartridges。　And　I　saw　a　small　box；　the　size　of　a　Walkman；　which　was　the　VCR。　It　had　cables　to　hook　to　a　TV。
　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　have　a　look。〃
　
　The　first　of　the　tapes　that　showed　the　forty…sixth　floor　was　a　view　from　the　atrium　camera；　high　up；　looking　down。　The　tape　showed　people　working　on　the　floor；　in　what　looked　like　an　ordinary　office　day。　We　fast…forwarded　through　that。　Shadows　of　sunlight　ing　through　the　windows　swung　in　hot　arcs　across　the　floor；　and　then　disappeared。　Gradually；　the　light　on　the　floor　softened　and　dimmed；　as　daylight　came　to　an　end。　One　by　one；　desk　lights　came　on。　The　workers　moved　more　slowly　now。　Eventually　they　began　to　depart；　leaving　their　desks　one　by　one。　As　the　population　thinned；　we　noticed　something　else。　Now　the　camera　moved　occasionally；　panning　one　or　another　of　the　workers　as　they　passed　beneath。　Yet　at　other　times；　the　camera　would　not　pan。　Eventually　we　realized　the　camera　must　be　equipped　for　automatic　focusing　and　tracking。　If　there　was　a　lot　of　movement　in　the　frame　…　several　people　going　in　different　directions　…　then　the　camera　did　not　move。　But　if　the　frame　was　mostly　empty；　the　camera　would　fix　on　a　single　person　walking　through；　and　track　him。
　〃Funny　system；〃　Graham　said。
　〃It　probably　makes　sense　for　a　security　camera；〃　I　said。　〃They'd　be　much　more　concerned　about　a　single　person　on　the　floor　than　a　crowd。〃
　As　we　watched；　the　night　lights　came　on。　The　desks　were　all　empty。　Now　the　tape　began　to　flicker　rapidly；　almost　like　a　strobe。
　〃Something　wrong　with　this　tape？〃　Graham　said；　suspiciously。