mc.risingsun-第48章

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n　at　the　studio？　There's　somebody　there　you　need　to　see。〃
　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃
　〃Just　look；　Senator。　If　you　would；　please。〃
　Snorting　angrily；　Morton　strode　to　the　window　and　looked　down　at　the　studio。　I　looked　too。　I　saw　the　reporters　swiveling　in　their　chairs；　laughing　and　joking　with　each　other　as　they　waited　to　ask　questions。　I　saw　the　moderator；　adjusting　his　tie　and　clipping　on　his　mike。　I　saw　a　workman　wiping　the　shiny　sign　that　said　NEWSMAKERS。　And　in　the　corner；　standing　right　where　we　had　told　him　to　stand；　I　saw　a　familiar　figure　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　looking　up　at　us。
　Eddie　Sakamura。
　
　？
　Of　course　Connor　had　put　it　all　together。　When　he　opened　the　door　to　my　living　room　and　saw　my　daughter　sitting　on　the　floor；　playing　with　her　Tinkertoys　with　Eddie　Sakamura；　he　hadn't　even　blinked。　He　just　said；　〃Hello；　Eddie。　I　was　wondering　how　long　it'd　take　you　to　get　here。〃
　〃I've　been　here　all　day；〃　Eddie　said。　He　sounded　put　out。　〃You　guys。　Never　e　here。　I　wait　and　wait。　Have　a　peanut　butter　jelly　sandwich　with　Shelly。　You　have　nice　girl；　Lieutenant。　Cute　girl。〃
　〃Eddie　is　funny；〃　my　daughter　said。　〃He　smokes；　Daddy。〃
　〃I　see　that；〃　I　said。　I　felt　slow　and　stupid。　I　was　still　trying　to　understand。
　My　daughter　came　over　and　held　her　arms　up。　〃Pick　me　up；　Daddy。〃　I　picked　her　up。
　〃Very　nice　girl；〃　Eddie　said。　〃We　made　a　windmill。　See？〃　He　spun　the　spokes　of　the　Tinkertoy。　〃Works。〃
　I　said；　〃I　thought　you　were　dead。〃
　〃Me？〃　He　laughed。　〃No。　Never　dead。　Tanaka　dead。　Mess　hell　out　of　my　car；　too。〃　He　shrugged。　〃I　have　bad　luck　with　Ferraris。〃
　〃So　does　Tanaka；〃　Connor　said。
　I　said；　〃Tanaka？〃
　Michelle　said；　〃Daddy；　can　I　watch　Cinderella？〃
　〃Not　right　now；〃　I　said。　〃Why　was　Tanaka　in　the　car？〃
　〃Panicky　guy；〃　Eddie　said。　〃Very　nervous　guy。　Maybe　guilty；　too。　Must　have　got　scared；　I　don't　know　for　sure。〃
　Connor　said；　〃You　and　Tanaka　took　the　tapes。〃
　〃Yes。　Sure。　Right　after。　Ishiguro　says　to　Tanaka：　Get　the　tapes。　So　Tanaka　gets　them。　Sure。　But　I　know　Tanaka；　so　I　go　along。　Tanaka　takes　them　to　some　lab。〃
　Connor　nodded。　〃And　who　went　to　the　Imperial　Arms？〃
　〃I　know　Ishiguro　sends　some　men；　to　clean　up。　I　don't　know　who。〃
　〃And　you　went　to　the　restaurant。〃
　〃Sure；　yes。　Then　I　went　to　the　party。　Rod's　party。　No　problem。〃
　〃And　what　about　the　tapes；　Eddie？〃
　〃I　told　you。　Tanaka　takes　them。　I　don't　know　where。　He's　gone。　He　works　for　Ishiguro。　For　Nakamoto。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　Connor　said。　〃But　he　didn't　take　all　the　tapes；　did　he。〃
　Eddie　gave　a　crooked　grin。　〃Hey。〃
　〃You　kept　some？〃
　〃No。　Just　one。　Just　a　mistake；　you　know。　In　my　pocket。〃　He　smiled。
　Michelle　said；　〃Daddy；　can　I　watch　Disney　channel？〃
　〃Sure；〃　I　said。　I　put　her　down。　〃Elaine　will　help　you。〃
　My　daughter　went　away。　Connor　kept　talking　to　Eddie。　Slowly　the　sequence　of　events　came　out。　Tanaka　had　gone　off　with　the　tapes；　and　at　some　point　in　the　evening；　apparently　realized　that　one　was　missing。　He　figured　it　out；　Eddie　said；　and　he　came　back　to　Eddie's　house　to　collect　the　missing　tape。　He　had　interrupted　Eddie　with　the　girls。　He　had　demanded　the　tape。
　〃I　don't　know　for　sure；　but　after　I　talk　to　you；　I　figure　they　set　me　up。　We　have　a　big　argument。〃
　〃And　then　the　police　came。　Graham　came。〃
　Eddie　nodded　slowly。　〃Tanaka…san　shit　a　brick。　Hey！　He's　unhappy　Japanese　man。〃
　〃So　you　made　him　tell　you　everything　。　。　。〃
　〃Oh　yeah；　Captain。　He　tells　me　very　fast…　〃
　〃And　in　return　you　told　him　where　the　missing　tape　was。〃
　〃Sure。　In　my　car。　I　give　him　the　keys。　So　he　can　unlock　it。　He　has　the　keys。〃
　Tanaka　had　gone　into　the　garage　to　get　the　tape。　The　patrolmen　downstairs　ordered　him　to　halt。　He　started　the　car　and　drove　off。
　〃I　watch　him　go；　John。　Drives　like　shit。〃
　So　it　had　been　Tanaka　who　was　driving　the　car　when　it　hit　the　embankment。　It　was　Tanaka　who　had　burned　to　death。　Eddie　explained　that　he　hid　in　the　shrubbery　behind　the　swimming　pool　and　waited　until　everybody　left。
　〃Cold　as　shit　out　there；〃　he　said。
　I　said　to　Connor；　〃You　knew　all　this？〃
　〃I　suspected。　The　reports　of　the　crash　said　that　the　body　was　badly　burned；　and　that　even　the　glasses　had　melted。〃
　Eddie　said；　〃Hey；　I　don't　wear　glasses。〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Connor　said。　〃Even　so；　I　asked　Graham　to　check；　the　next　day。　He　never　found　any　glasses　in　Eddie's　house。　So　it　couldn't　have　been　Eddie　in　the　car。　The　next　day；　when　we　went　to　Eddie's　house；　I　had　the　patrolmen　check　the　license　plates　on　all　the　cars　parked　on　the　street。　Sure　enough：　there　was　a　yellow　Toyota　sedan；　a　short　distance　up　the　road；　registered　to　Akira　Tanaka。〃
　〃Hey；　pretty　good；〃　Eddie　said。　〃Smart。〃
　I　said；　〃Where　were　you；　all　this　time？〃
　〃At　Jasmine's　house。　Very　nice　house。〃
　〃Who's　Jasmine？〃
　〃Redhead　number。　Very　nice　woman。　Got　a　Jacuzzi；　too。〃
　〃But　why　did　you　e　here？〃
　Connor　said　to　me；　〃He　had　to。　You　have　his　passport。〃
　〃Right；〃　Eddie　said。　〃And　me；　I　have　your　business　card。　You　give　me。　Home　address　and　phone。　I　need　my　passport；　Lieutenant。　I　got　to　go　now。　So　I　e　here；　and　wait。　And　holy　shit；　all　the　reporters。　Cameras。　Everything。　So　I　stay　low；　play　with　Shelly。〃　He　lit　a　cigarette；　turned　nervously。　〃So。　What　do　you　say；　Lieutenant？　How　about　you　give　me　my　passport？　Netsutuku。　No　harm　done。　I'm　dead　anyway。　Okay？〃
　〃Not　just　yet；〃　Connor　said。
　〃e　on；　John。〃
　〃Eddie；　you　have　to　do　a　little　job　first。〃
　〃Hey。　What　job？　I　got　to　go；　Captain。〃
　〃Just　one　job；　Eddie。〃
　
　Morton　took　a　deep　breath；　and　turned　away　from　the　studio　window。　I　had　to　admire　his　self…control。　He　seemed　pletely　calm。　〃It　appears；〃　he　said；　〃that　my　options　at　this　moment　are　somewhat　reduced。〃
　〃Yes；　Senator；〃　Connor　said。
　He　sighed。　〃You　know　it　was　an　accident。　It　really　was。〃
　Connor　nodded　sympathetically。
　〃I　don't　know　what　it　was　about　her；〃　Morton　said。　〃She　was　beautiful；　of　course；　but　it　wasn't　。　。　。　it　wasn't　that。　I　only　met　her　a　short　time　ago。　Four；　five　months　ago。　I　thought　she　was　a　nice　girl。　Texas　girl；　sweet。　But　it　was　。　。　。　one　of　those　things。　It　just　happened。　She　had　this　way　of　getting　under　your　skin。　It　was　crazy。　Unexpected。　I　started　to　think　about　her　all　the　time。　I　couldn't　。　。　。　she　would　call　me；　when　I　was　on　a　trip。　She　would　find　out　when　I　was　on　a　trip；　somehow。　And　pretty　soon；　I　couldn't　tell　her　to　stay　away。　I　couldn't。　She　always　seemed　to　have　money；　always　had　a　plane　ticket。　She　was　crazy。　Sometimes；　she　would　make　me　so　mad。　It　was　like　my　。　。　。　I　don't　know。　Demon。　Everything　changed　when　she　was　around。　Crazy。　I　had　to　stop　seeing　her。　And　eventually　I　had　the　feeling　she　was　paid　for。　Someone　was　paying　her。　Someone　knew　all　about　her。　And　me。　So　I　had　to　stop　it。　Bob　told　me。　Hell；　everybody　in　the　office　told　me。　I　couldn't。　Finally　I　did。　It　was　over。　But　when　I　came　to　that　reception；　there　she　was。　Shit。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃It　just　happened。　What　a　mess。〃
　The　girl　stuck　her　head　in　the　door。　〃Two　minutes；　Senator。　They're　asking　for　you　downstairs　if　you're　ready。〃
　Morton　said　to　us；　〃I'd　like　to　do　this　first。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Connor　said。
　
　His　self…possession　was　extraordinary。　Senator　Morton　conducted　a　televised　interview　with　three　reporters　for　half　an　hour；　without　a　trace　of　tension　or　disfort。　He　smiled；　cracked　jokes；　bantered　with　the　reporters。　It　was　as　if　he　had　no　problems　at　all。
　At　one　point　he　said；　〃Yes；　it's　true　that　the　British　and　the　Dutch　both　have　larger　investments　in　America　than　the　Japanese。　But　we　can't　ignore　the　reality　of　targeted；　adversarial　trade　as　practiced　by　Japan　…　where　business　and　government　make　a　planned　attack　on　some　segment　of　the　American　economy。　The　British　and　Dutch　don't　operate　that　way。　We　haven't　lost　basic　industries　to　those　countries。　But　we've　lost　many　to　Japan。　That　is　a　real　difference　…　and　that's　the　reason　for　concern。〃
　He　added；　〃And；　of　course；　if　we　want　to　buy　a　Dutch　or　English　pany；　we　can。　But　we　can't　buy　a　Japanese　pany。〃
　The　interview　continued；　but　nobody　asked　him　about　MicroCon。　So　he　steered　it：　in　reply　to　a　question；　he　said；　〃Americans　should　be　able　to　criticize　Japan　without　being　called　racists　or　bashers。　Every　country　has　conflicts　with　other　countries。　It's　inevitable。　Our　conflicts　with　Japan　should　be　freely　discussed；　without　these　ugly　epithets。　My　opposition　to　the　MicroCon　sale　has　been　termed　racist；　but　it　is　nothing　of　the　sort。〃
　Finally；　one　reporter　asked　him　about　the　MicroCon　sale。　Morton　hesitated；　then　he　leaned　forward　across　the　table。
　〃As　you　know；　George；　I　have　opposed　the　MicroCon　sale　from　the　beginning。　I　still　oppose　it。　It　is　time　for　Americans　to　take　steps　to　preserve　the　assets　of　this　nation。　Its　real　assets；　its　financial　assets；　and　its　intellectual　assets。　The　MicroCon　sale　is　unwise。　My　opposition　continues。　Therefore；　I　am　pleased　to　say　that　I　have　just　learned　Akai　Ceramics　has　withdrawn　its　bid　to　purchase　the　MicroCon　Corporation。　I　think　this　is　the　best　solution　all　around。　I　applaud　Akai　for　its　sensitivity　on　this　matter。　The　sale　will　not　go　forward。　I　am　very　pleased。〃
　I　said；　〃What？　The　bid　was　withdrawn？〃
　Connor　said；　〃I　guess　it　is　now。〃
　
　Morton　was　cheerful　as　the　interview　drew　to　a　close。　〃Since　I've　been　characterized　as　so　critical　of　Japan；　perhaps　you'll　let　me　express　my　admiration　for　a　moment。　The　Japanese　have　a　wonderful　lighthearted　side；　and　it　shows　up　in　the　most　unlikely　places。
　〃You　probably　know　that　their　Zen　monks　are　expected　to　write　a　poem　close　to　the　moment　of　death。　It's　a　very　traditional　art　form；　and　the　most　famous　poems　are　still　quoted　hundreds　of　years　later。　So　you　can　imagine；　there's　a　lot　of　pressure　on　a　Zen　roshi　when　he　knows　he's　nearing　death　and　everyone　expects　him　to　e　up　with　a　great　poem。　For　months；　it's　all　he　can　think　about。　But　my　favorite　poem　was　written　by　one　particular　monk　who　got　tired　of　all　the　pressure。　It　goes　like　this。〃
　And　then　he　quoted　this　poem。
　
　Birth　is　thus；
Death　is　thus；
Poem　or　no　poem
What's　the　fuss？
　
　All　the　reporters　started　laughing。　〃So　let's　not　take　all　this　Japan　business　too　seriously；〃　Morton　said。　〃That's　another　thing　we　can　learn　from　the　Japanese。〃
　
　At　the　end　of　the　interview；　Morton　shook　hands　with　the　three　reporters　and　stepped　away　from　the　set。　I　saw　that　Ishiguro　had　arrived　in　the　studio；　very　red…faced。　He　was　sucking　air　through　his　teeth　in　the　Japanese　manner。
　Morton　said　cheerfully；　〃Ah；　Ishiguro…san。　I　see　you　have　heard　the　news。〃　And　he　slapped　him　on　the　back。　Hard。
　Ishiguro　glowered。　〃I　am　extremely　disappointed；　Senator。　It　will　not　go　well　from　this　point。〃　He　was　clearly　furious。
　〃Hey；〃　Morton　said。　〃You　know　what？　Tough　shit。〃
　〃We　had　an　arrangement；〃　Ishiguro　hissed。
　〃Yes；　we　did；〃　Morton　said。　〃But　you　didn't　keep　your　end　of　it；　did　you？〃
　The　senator　came　over　to　us　and　said；　〃I　suppose　you　want　me　to　make　a　statement。　Let　me　get　this　makeup　off；　and　we　can　go。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Connor　said。
　Morton　walked　away；　toward　the　makeup　room。
　Ishiguro　turned　to　Connor　and　said；　〃Totemo　taihenna　koto　ni　narimashita　ne。〃
　Connor　said；　〃I　agree。　It　is　difficult。〃
　Ishiguro　hissed　through　his　teeth。　〃Heads