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Soviet agents were doing their work。〃
His beefy shoulders were bent as with an incalculable weight。 〃We cannot allow Tenchi to be infiltrated； Nicholas…san。 The knowledge that the Russians are so close fills me with dread。 They have the power to destroy usall of us…if they discover Tenchi。〃
〃What has happened？〃 Nicholas said in a voice a good deal calmer than he felt。
〃Phoenix is pursuing one of their agents…the last remaining one within the ryu。 The man has fled north with a top…secret profile of Tenchi。 He is now on Hokkaido。 Phoenix has allowed him to go even though the man murdered one of his students in the process。 He believes the agent will lead him to the Soviet local control。 But you cannot imagine just how dangerous this maneuver is。 This agent must be stopped by any means before he can pass on that profile。〃
Viktor Protorov； Nicholas thought。 I must be at this Phoenix's side when he infiltrates the Russian's base。 Sato will have his secrets back and I will have Protorov。 〃Where is Phoenix now； precisely？〃
Sato glanced at him。 〃I fathom your intent。 But if you go； I must also。〃
〃That is impossible；〃 Nicholas said sharply。 〃Purely from a tactical point…〃
Sato raised his hand。 〃My friend；〃 he said softly。 〃There has already been too much murder here for me to allow it to go on。 Three human beings…people I counted as friends as well as valued work colleagues and indispensable parts of my kobun…have ceased to exist because of me。 That is a heavy burden for anyone to bear。
〃While you were gone； funerals for all of them were held； as well as temporary burials。 Miss Yoshida had no family； so it was not so bad in her case。 But the others…Kagami…san and Ishii…san…both did。 They will of course obey my orders to keep the police out of it。 We do not need the Kempeitai in here； stomping around in their efforts at investigation。
〃But I do not like it。 I want these people to have proper burials in their family plots。 Can their kami be at rest until then？〃
Nicholas thought of the afternoon with Miss Yoshida； the sight of her kneeling within a long stone's throw of where his own mother and father were buried。 He resolved to be at her final burial； to light joss sticks before her gravestone； and to say the prayers of reverence for the safekeeping of her spirit。
〃I know where this is all leading；〃 Nicholas said； 〃and I cannot allow it。 You'll stay here where it's safe。〃
Sato's laugh was hollow and without humor。 〃Have you so soon forgotten the Wu…Shing； my friend？〃
〃That's what Koten is here for；〃 Nicholas said stubbornly。 〃Do you doubt that he can do the job？〃
〃This has nothing to do with Koten or anyone else。〃
〃I am responsible for your safety； Sato…san。 This is what you wanted； it is what we have sworn to。〃
Sato nodded gravely。 〃What you say is true； Nicholas…san。 You are sworn to protect me and I am sworn to consummate the merger of our kobun without difficulties。 But this oath only goes so far。 I am the final arbiter of my life and death。 You must accede to this。 You know you must。〃
There was a silence for some time。 A brace of plovers broke cover past Sato's left shoulder； racing into the clouds。 The wind was picking up and a heaviness was returning to the air。 Unless the wind direction changed abruptly there would be rain again； a good deal of it。
〃Then the oath that binds us is severed。〃 It was a desperate ploy。 One which Nicholas feared would not work。
〃Are you free to walk away then？〃 Sato smiled。 〃By all means do so。 I will not think ill of you。〃
〃I can force you to stay here。〃
〃And where would you go； my friend？ Only I know where Phoenix would meet us。 You could roam all of Hokkaido without ever finding either him or the Soviet agent。〃
There was a deliberate silence。
〃Then you'll still join me。〃
〃I seem to have no choice in the matter。〃
〃Good。 We will take Koten and fly to the north island。 From there a rented car will take us to our final destination。〃
〃Which is？〃 Nicholas said warily。
〃A rotenburo…an outdoor hot bath…my friend。〃 Sato smiled with real warmth。 〃And why not？ You appear to be in need of some relaxation！〃
In the middle of the night the phone sang shrilly in her ear。 Justine； who had had trouble falling asleep； started awake。 Her mouth was dry and her throat sore； as if she had been straining for something or constantly calling out in her dreams。
She brushed her hand out to the receiver to stop the racket； picked up her watch off the nighttable。 Just after three…thirty。 Jesus！ She heard squawking from the phone； picked it up as if it were alive。
〃Justine？〃
〃Rick； what're you…〃
〃Don't tell me you forgot。〃
She put her hand to her head。 〃I don't…〃
〃Haleakala。 The dormant volcano。 You promised I could take you up there。〃
〃But it's three…thirty in the morning。 For God's sake； Rick…〃
〃If we leave now we'll make it in time for the sunrise。 That's the time to be up at the crater。〃
〃But I don't want to see the sunrise。 I…〃
〃You'll never know until you're there。 e on now； we're wasting precious time。 We've got to be there by five…thirty。〃
Justine was about to protest some more but suddenly she felt too tired to try。 It seemed easier just to go along with him。 Besides； she thought wanly； maybe it will be fun。
It certainly proved to be nothing she had expected。 For one thing； just the drive up the winding slope of the volcano was fascinating。 The summit was two miles up； and she could see the terrain changing before her eyes as they ascended。 Rick had cautioned her to dress warmly in slacks and sweater； a jacket as well if she had one。 Walking out to the car in the cool but balmy night air she had felt faintly ridiculous being so overdressed。 It seemed inconceivable to her that there could be any place on this tropical paradise where the temperature was hovering at thirty…five degrees Fahrenheit。
But as they rose； as the terrain metamorphosed from palm tree laden； to the dominance of spiky desert cactus； to long stands of stately pine trees more appropriate to Maine or Vermont； she was obliged to roll up her window and don her jacket。
Near the crater itself； Rick switched on the heater。 They had already passed the tree line； and now she looked out on black desolation。 Long ago； massive lava slides； spewed up from the depths of the earth； had rolled slowly downward； inundating all in their paths。 Now hardy grasses peeped up here and there through the dark mounded lava。 But otherwise there was nothing。 As the car made one switchback after another； Justine glanced back over her shoulder。 From this vantage point she could look across the vast undulating slopes of Haleakala's base； down to the shoreline； the crescent beach just beginning to glimmer with an odd kind of phosphorescence and the utterly black feathery silhouettes of the slender…boled palms。
She had said not a word to Rick on the long drive up； huddled on her side of the front seat as if she expected him to deliver a blow to her face。 She was shivering by the time he pulled the car into the wide blacktopped parking lot。 She put it down to the unnatural cold。
As they got out she could see the looming spectral shapes； spiderweb gantries； towe