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〃That's why ROMs were invented。 These are read…only memory chips which are totally non…volatile。 That means their bins are either filled or empty…permanently。 That； of course； is their drawback。 They must be taken out of the puter in order to be reprogrammed。
〃For years； the puter technician's dream has been for a non…volatile RAM： a speedy； readily reprogrammable chip that won't lose its memory when the power is turned off。〃
Nicholas looked at everyone before he went on； no one seemed bored。 〃Recently； the industry has e up with a partial solution to the problem： E…squared PROMs； or electrically erasable programmable read…only memory chips。 The problem with them is that they're just too slow to replace RAMs in the heart of a puter。
〃Xicor； one of our petitors； has even gone one step further。 They're beginning to bine a RAM with an E…squared PROM to allow the RAM to do all the fast calculations； then to transfer its memory to the E…squared PROM just before the power is cut。 But they are unwieldy； expensive； and still cannot do a full range of functions。 Further； disk or tape data…storage systems； mechanical switches； or just RAMs with battery backups can still do much of what this tandem chip can do。〃
Nicholas put his hands together and concentrated on the banker。 〃In other words； Nangi…san； the elusive； non…volatile RAM which will change the face of the puter industry for all time was still not available。 Until now。〃 His eyes lit up。 〃Sphynx has it。 Sato…san's own people have validated the test data。 There can be no doubt。 We have it； and we are offering it to you on an exclusive basis。〃
Nicholas shrugged his shoulders resignedly。 〃Naturally； such a monumental discovery cannot remain exclusive for long； imitations will surely e。 But in the meantime Sphynx…Sato will have the head start that is essential to cornering the market。 Our production plants will already be in full swing filling orders while the other konzerns are still scrambling to work out the electronics。〃
〃There is your profitability base；〃 Tomkin said。 〃Within two years； we should be looking at a bined net profit of one hundred and fifty million dollars。 That's…〃
〃Thirty…six billion； six hundred and sixty million yen；〃 Nangi said。 He stubbed out his butt with the formality of an aloof professor confronted by a group of vociferous but inferior pupils。 〃Do not attempt to teach me about money； Mr。 Tomkin。 But this is all in the future and these are your figures； not ours。 Their astronomical nature is problematical。〃
Tomkin apparently had had enough。 〃Now； look； Sato；〃 he said； pointedly ignoring the banker。 〃I came here in good faith thinking we had a deal to iron out。 I am prepared for problems along the way； that's part of all business ventures。〃 He gestured。 〃But not this nonsense。 I'm hearing talk here like I'm in the middle of a MITI meeting。〃
〃Nangi…san was vice…minister of MITI；〃 Sato said with a kind of wolfish smile； 〃until seven years ago when； as a ronin； he helped found Daimyo and； quite directly of course； Sato Petrochemicals。〃
〃I'm not surprised；〃 Tomkin said； furious。 〃But you can tell him for me that this isn't a case of the foreign devil trying to undermine Japan's economic balance。 Each've us's got something the other wants…and needs。 I've got the goods and you've got the wherewithall to manufacture it at the right price。 It's profits for all。〃 He abruptly switched his gaze to the banker's odd mask…like face。 〃Get it； Nangi…san？〃
〃I understand quite well；〃 Nangi said； 〃that you e here wanting a good sized piece of our keiretsu's property in Misawa； land we have already designated for Niwa Mineral Mining's new expansion。 Land is at a premium here； the expense unimaginable for such as you who sprawl like hedonists in your multi…acre estates with pools and stables and gatehouses。
〃It is what you ask us to give up； it is what you always expect us to give up。〃 His eyes were glittery； as hard as obsidian。 〃And for what？ The technology of the future。 But I ask you directly： will this 'new technology' ease the enormous land problem here； will it make Japan more independent of the fuel…rich nations who seek to bleed us dry； will it free us from our heinous obligation to the United States to be its guardpost against the encroachment of munism in the Far East。〃
He rose up even straighter； an adder about to strike。 'Times have indeed changed； as you yourself pointed out。 We are no longer your vanquished foe； subject to the blind acceptance of your demands。〃
〃Listen to this；〃 Tomkin said。 〃I'm bringing you the key to millions and you're preaching reactionary politics at me。〃 His stubby forefinger pointed at his own chest。 〃I'm non…political； see？ I'm a businessman； that's the beginning and the end of it right there。 You wanna pull this； I gotta think about going elsewhere。 Like to Mitsubishi or Toshiba； for instance。〃
〃What you must try to understand；〃 Sato said calmly； 〃is that historically it's a difficult position for us to be in。 Japan has not nearly the space and； er； elbow room attendant with what the United States has。 There is； therefore； quite a different attitude toward foreign panies who want a slice of the Japanese pie。〃
〃But that's just it；〃 Tomkin said angrily。 〃I'm not interested in Japan。 Last year the big three U。S。 superputer panies sold only two mainframes to Japan out of a total output of sixty…five。 It's the world market I'm thinking of。 And so should you。 You're so busy erecting what you call 'safeguards' to your business that you've all got a severe case of tunnel vision。
〃These so…called safeguards are nothing more than barriers to international trade。〃 He was just beginning to hit his stride now。 〃I think it's high time Japan came out of its global infancy and owned up to its responsibilities as a nation of the world。〃
Nangi appeared unruffled。 〃If； as you say； these safeguards were precipitously withdrawn； the effect on the Japanese economy would be disastrous。 But beyond that； the overall effect on American imports into this country would increase by…no more than… uhm…eight hundred million dollars。 Even you； Mr。 Tomkin； can see that would hardly be a drop in the bucket in solving your country's massive trade deficit。〃
〃I think you guys'd better wise up；〃 Tomkin said； his face beginning to flush around the jowls。 〃Your reactionary insular trade policies're beginning to isolate you from the rest of the world munity。 You're much too dependent on foreign energy sources to allow that。 Stop flooding our market with your products while hindering our own from sale here； or you're likely to bee prosperous orphans in the international arena。〃
〃Why must the Japanese be constantly castigated；〃 Nangi said； 〃for manufacturing superior products。 We have no armhold on your American public； no one has made them buy our products。 The simple…and for you sad…fact is we make things better and more cheaply。 Americans trust our know…how more than they do the advances of their own panies。〃
But Tomkin was far from finished。 〃Right now；〃 he said softly； 〃Sato Petrochemicals is not one of the six major Japanese puter firms。 It is my understanding that you are looking for an entree into that charmed ci