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art。 Akutagawa…san had； among other things； been an ichi sensei and he had seen in Nicholas an apt and willing pupil。 〃I was beginning to think of Gospadin Protorov as omniscient。〃 He thought that ichi just might save his life now。
〃Kill him；〃 Koten growled。 〃Shoot him now or I will kill him for you。〃
〃Quiet； you；〃 Russilov said。 He had not taken his eyes off Nicholas during the entire exchange。 He cocked his head。 〃e here； rade Linnear；〃 he said as thunder rumbled east to west above their heads。 The rain beat down on them； silvered as it spun through the lights。 〃You are going to get your wish； after all。〃
And Nicholas thought； Protorov！
KUMAMOTO/ASAMA KOGEN/SWITZERLAND AUTUMN…WINTER 1963…SPRING 198？
This is how Akiko came to save Saigo's life and how he paid her back in kind。 The autumn of 1963 was a cold and dismal one； filled with an inordinate amount of rain； sleet； and even snow； premature and the color of silver； dying upon the ground like stranded carp。
Already； in Kyushu； where Sun Hsiung sent Akiko for the next phase of her training； the farmers were hard at work atop stained wooden ladders； spinning delicate cocoons of retted linen gauze over their precious trees to keep them from winter's harsh hand。
It was unusual to see them at this so relatively early in the year； and like the unpredictable inclement weather it boded ill for the ing winter； whose expected virulence had been spoken of in hushed whispers throughout the countryside ever since summer evaporated overnight like woodsmoke。
Mist shrouded this part of Kyushu so thoroughly that upon her arrival Akiko could discern neither Mount Aso nor the giant smokestacks of the vast industrial plex sprawled through the valley to the northwest of the city。
She hated Kumamoto immediately。 Once in feudal times perhaps it had possessed a certain charm； but in these days of Japan's mighty economic leap forward the blued patina of industrial wastes coating the old buildings were merely a reminder of how tiny a backwater Kumamoto really was。
Nevertheless Akiko had resigned herself to be here at the Kanaka na ninjutsu ryu。 Its symbol was a circle within which were nine black diamonds。 Within the open heart of them was the kanji ideogram komuso。 And when she saw it she knew： the Kuji…kiri。 Black ninjutsu。
There was difficulty； even with Sun Hsiung's personal chop affixed to her letter of introduction。 The sennin； an ax…faced individual who appeared to be almost unhealthily thin； let her cool her heels for fully half a day before he summoned her within his chamber。
Then he was most effusive in his apologies。 In his eyes Akiko could discover nothing； not even the basic spark that distinguished human beings from the less sentient creatures of the earth。 And alone； kneeling before him on a bare reed tatami； she began to feel at last a sadness she needed some time to identify。 At length she was surprised to discover that she missed Sun Hsiung； and part of her wished that she had never left his warm and fortable house。
And yet there was a stronger； more urgent desire which had driven her from fort and warmth。 It was her karma to be here now； she knew that as well； and did not question it。 Acceptance was all she had of her own now。
For his part； the sennin despised her on sight and silently cursed her former sensei for evoking his right of privilege here。 There was absolutely no question of sending her away though the sennin wished most fervently for such an occurrence。
His only hope； he correctly detected； was if the training here… and the life…were too rigorous； too taxing both emotionally and physically for this woman。 He shuddered inwardly and tried not to think about her presence here； the inevitable disruption of discipline and ritual her wa would cause。
Even now he could sense the peculiarly female flux of her spirit； experiencing it almost as a painful interruption in the confluence of forces he and those beneath him had labored so long and hard to perfect。
Therefore he smiled as benignly as he was able and with an inward exclamation of delight consigned her into the care of the one pupil who； at the very least； would drive her out of Kumamoto。
The sennin watched unblinking as she bowed formally and rose。 As he watched her retreating back he smiled to himself； his thoughts on the best of possibilities regarding his newest student's fate： that Saigo would destroy her。
Not literally； of course； for had that occurred the sennin would have lost enormous face with Sun Hsiung and that he could not have tolerated。 No； no。 If he knew anything about his pupils； he had chosen correctly。 There was a peculiar and somewhat frightening demon which rode Saigo's back； its talons sunk so deeply that the sennin had given up trying to exorcise its presence。
Let the Haunted One； as Saigo was known privately by a number of the sennin； drive the unwanted female out； let it be her choice。 That way face was saved all around。 The sennin could take no blame from Sun Hsiung and the female could return with honor to the areas for which she was best suited： the tea ceremony and； perhaps； flower arranging。
The moment Akiko came up to him in the dojo； and told him of his assignment； Saigo knew the low regard in which he must be held by the sennin。 This was an outcast's work； he thought darkly； holding the hand of a female student。 He glared at her as anger and resentment welled up in him。
For her part； Akiko sensed immediately that she had been directed into the tiger's den。 Her wa contracted at the icy contact with Saigo's hostile emanations and she knew that in order for her to survive here she must first win him over and then； one by one； do the same with every individual at the ryu。
Akiko spent more of her time that afternoon observing him as he took her on a tour of the ryu； which was in effect a world within a world； a secret dojo in the middle of a basically industrial town； wrapped in the trappings of a drab and windowless warehouse。
There were no other students or sennin about when they pleted their rounds。
〃I want you to stay here；〃 he told her； 〃while I go out on an errand。〃 She nodded in acquiescence。 〃Make no sound while I am gone and； especially； when I return。〃
〃What is happening？〃
Without warning he hit her a heavy blow on the side of the face。 Akiko staggered backward and fell on one hip。 Saigo stood over her； his feet apart； his body totally relaxed。
〃Do you wish to ask a question？〃 His voice was mocking； possessing an edge to it that caused Akiko to shudder inwardly。 She made no sound or movement。
Grunting in some satisfaction； Saigo turned and departed。
When she was alone Akiko sank immediately into shinki。 This involved keeping her tanden； that part of her called the second brain by some sensei； the reflex control center； immobile。 In this way she detached a part of herself from the area where she burned。
After a moment of intense concentration； she felt no more pain。
Slowly she rose； staring at the door through which he had departed。
Of course she had felt the spit of his spirit microseconds before that vicious emanation had been transmogrified into physical action。 She could have easily