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the thought of the old ways passing； the sunny； serene days transplanted by the lust for profits that the building boom had created during five or six years of the Crown Colony's high…speed growth in the middle and late seventies。
That was what had ultimately brought him here。 The collapse of that real estate boom。 And in that light the destruction of the 。 Repulse Bay Hotel was even more bitter。
Now Nangi was alone in the tile and stucco villa watching a young nubile Chinese girl brave the pollution of the South China Sea as she ran down the beach and into the mild surf。 No one else was about although a pitcher of iced tea and two tall glasses sat on a pebble glass…topped table at Nangi's left elbow。
He saw the girl's bobbing head in the water。 She had not bothered to tie up her hair or to wear a cap。 The dark tail of hair flung down her naked back； spreading out in the water like a sea anemone； tendrils waving on the tide。
Wu…Shing。 The words kept intruding on his conscious thoughts and that was a problem。 Three deaths； three questions to be answered。 Nangi wondered what connection there could be between the Wu…Shing murders and Tenchi。
These days； when anything unexplainable occurred he immediately thought of Tenchi。 That was logical enough。 He knew the Russians would stop at nothing to wrest Tenchi from Japan。。。 if they knew what Tenchi was。 As for the Americans； he could imagine them attempting to sabotage the operation。 Ever since the end of the war America had been dependent upon Japan to be its anti…munist watchdog in the East。 But America wanted Japan subservient so that； like a willow； it would bend to the will of the victorious country。 And it was true that Japan was dependent on America。
But Tenchi would change all that。 Nangi feared that if the Americans got wind of the operation they would move as quickly as the Soviets to short…circuit it。 This could not be allowed。
For the first time in many decades Japan found itself totally alone and； oddly enough； it was a frightening experience。 He was being increasingly aware that he could no longer cling to his dreams of what Japan had once been。 All that was gone now； wiped out by the atomic sunshine and the period of high…speed growth in which he had played such a crucial role。
He closed his eyes； knowing that there were no easy answers in life； nothing was so neat in reality as it was in fiction。 One problem at a time； he thought。 I must surmount the Chinese obstacle before I again think about ancient and arcane punishments。
Though he had been alone in the villa when he had arrived； he now heard the soft footfalls； opening and closing of doors that foretold the mencement of his assignation。
He reached for the pitcher of iced tea and poured himself a glass。 It was bracing and delicious； just the tonic for this already steamy day。
Nangi did not turn his head as his keen ears picked up another's approach but remained where he was； sipping his drink； staring out at the girl now emerging like a water nymph from the rolling South China Sea。
〃Good afternoon； Mr。 Nangi。〃
By mutual agreement they spoke only English here。 It was foreign to both of them but at least they hated it with an equal passion。
〃Mr。 Liu。〃 Nangi nodded his head to no one in particular。 He heard the creak of the chaise beside him； the musical clink of ice against glass and only then turned his head。
Once this man's ancestors must have been purebred Manchu； for he had the long； high…domed skull structure peculiar to them。 He was tall for an Oriental； he knew it and used this advantage as an intimidating tool even when he was seated。
Liu was smiling now as he sipped at his drink。 He put his head back against the chaise。 〃And how is the business climate in Japan； these days； Mr。 Nangi？〃 Liu had the habit of beginning topics as if they had been spoken about previously。
〃Very strong；〃 Nangi said shortly； thinking； I'll give him nothing to chew on until I'm ready。 〃The forecast is formidable。〃
〃Ah；〃 the Chinese said； moving his head。 〃Then your； ah； keiretsu is not so much involved in the heavy industries that began your country's great economic leap forward。〃 He put down his sweating glass； laced his fingers across his small potbelly。 〃It is my understanding that these industries such as steel manufacturing…long the very core of your economic progress…are in serious financial straits in these days of worldwide recession。〃
Nangi said nothing for a moment； wondering just how well this man was informed。 He might know the worst of it or again he might be fishing in order to corroborate unconfirmed reports。 It was essential that Nangi answer him without giving anything away。
〃There is no problem with our steel kobun〃 he said carefully。 〃We have seen nothing but profits from it。〃
〃Indeed。〃 With that one word Liu made it clear that he did not believe Nangi's statement。 〃And what of coal mining？ Textile manufacturing？ Petrochemicals； hm？〃
〃This topic is of no interest to me。〃
Liu turned his high head like a dog on point。 〃And yet； Mr。 Nangi； it is of interest to me why you would wish to sell a division of your organization that in your words has only made profits for you。〃
〃We are no longer interested in manufacturing steel。〃 Perhaps he had said it a shade too quickly。 But at least now he knew the extent of the Chinese's knowledge。 It was formidable and he was even more on his guard now。
〃The real problem for Japan has； I think； just begun；〃 Liu said much as an instructor will inform a pupil。 〃Your golden age of unlimited global economic expansion has e to an end。 In years gone by you could export your finished product into foreign markets where they were snapped up immediately over their domestic petition。 It gave you not only profits； of course； but an ever…expanding level of employment in your own country。
〃But now times have changed。〃 Liu's fingers unlaced； spread like a starfish； and closed down again； settling back on his stomach。 〃Let us take as our example one of your greatest successes： automobiles。 Your invasion of the United States' domestic auto market has caused a spate of unemployment in that country and not long ago forced one of its giant corporations to the brink of financial dissolution。
〃You know as well as I do how slow the Americans are to take the initiative。〃 He smiled thinly。 〃But sooner or later the deepest sleeper must awake； and when his strength is as vast as is America's； the awakening can be quite rude。 Repeatedly now you have been slapped with import quotas from the U。S。 government。
〃Now you are beginning to understand what it is like to fence in the international arena。 In order to survive you must export capital and technology； building new Nissan plants in Tennessee instead of in Kanda。 That means less Japanese employment； less profits。 Your era of free trade has ended。〃
Despite the truth in what Liu was saying Nangi detected a strong streak of jealousy in the other man's words。 Wouldn't the Chinese love to be in our economic position； he thought dryly。
〃And then there is Yawata；〃 Liu continued。 He was referring to Japan's magnificent Yawata Steel Works； the oldest and largest of the country's coastal