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e puter firms。 It is my understanding that you are looking for an entree into that charmed circle。
〃Sphynx's non…volatile RAM is your key。 My sources tell me that MITI has ordered a project meant for pletion by 1990： a machine capable of performing ten billion operations a second； which would make it a hundred times faster than the state…of…the…art superputer Cray Research currently has on the market。 MITI has allocated up to two hundred million dollars a year for the project。〃
He paused。 Neither of the Japanese had made a move； and Tomkin knew he had scored with them。
〃Further；〃 he said； 〃we know of another ministry…financed project to build a superputer capable of understanding human speech； making it incredibly easy to use。〃 He laced his fingers together。 〃Now let's get down to the bottom line； which is that our non…volatile RAM would give Sato the edge in both projects。 MITI would be forced to e to you for help； and that would mean the big six over here would bee the big seven。〃
He looked from one foreign face to another； one bleak； forbidding countenance to the next。 They're just businessmen； he told himself。 Nothing more。 Nangi said nothing； which； in Tomkin's opinion； was a giant step forward。
〃Proposals and counterproposals must not be made in haste；〃 Sato said。 〃The war is often lost through the impulsiveness of an intemperate nature。 As Sun Tzu so wisely tells us； 'When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey； it is because of timing。'〃
He stood up and bowed as Nicholas and Tomkin rose automatically。 Nangi rose awkwardly； stood swaying slightly。 〃At tomorrow afternoon's meeting；〃 Sato continued； 〃we will discuss this further when associates and legal counsel are all present to add their wisdom to our own。 For now； I would hope you will find time to enjoy our city。〃 They murmured their assent and he said； 〃Good。 My car will be at the Okura at two P。M。 tomorrow to bring you here。〃
He bowed again； formally； and Nangi did the same。 〃Until tomorrow； gentlemen。 I wish you a restful evening。〃 Then he took Nangi out of the room before another word could be spoken。
〃That goddamned sonuvabitch Nangi。〃 Tomkin paced his hotel room。 〃Why didn't my people brief me about him？〃 Back and forth while Nicholas watched。 〃That bombshell he laid on us about having been a MITI vice…minister； Christ。 Do you think he'll actually block the merger？〃
Nicholas ignored Tomkin's agitated state。
Tomkin answered his own question。 〃I know he's for sure gonna try to sweeten their percentage。〃
Nicholas had picked up a large square buff envelope off the writing desk。 He flicked its stiff corner with a fingernail。
〃Stop playing and tell me what you think； goddamn it。〃
Nicholas looked up。 〃Patience； Tomkin；〃 he said softly。 〃I told you in the beginning that pulling this merger off would require patience…perhaps more patience than you have。〃
〃Bullshit！〃 Tomkin came over to where Nicholas was standing。 His eyes narrowed。 〃You saying they're outmaneuvering me？〃
Nicholas nodded。 〃Trying to； at least。 The Japanese are never open about negotiation。 They won't e to terms until the very last instant because they're looking to see what will happen in the interim。 Nine out of ten times； they feel； something will occur to their benefit。 So until then； they'll do their best to keep us off balance。〃
〃You mean like Nangi；〃 Tomkin said thoughtfully。 〃Put a fox in the henhouse。〃
〃And see what evolves。〃 Nicholas nodded again。 〃Quite right。 Perhaps； they reasoned； the friction would bring out your real anxiety in making the deal and they could negotiate better terms tomorrow or Monday。〃 He tapped the envelope against his finger。 〃The Japanese knew that you never e to a negotiation showing your true nature。 To deal effectively with you； they must find this out。 It's called To Move the Shade。 It's from the warrior Miyamoto Musashi's guide to strategy。 He wrote it in 1645 but all good Japanese businessmen apply his principles to their business practices。〃
〃To Move the Shade；〃 Tomkin said thoughtfully。 〃What is it？〃
〃When you cannot see your opponent's true spirit； you make a quick decisive feint attack。 As Musashi writes； he will then show his long sword…today we can transform that into meaning his negotiation spirit…thinking he has seen your spirit。 But you have shown him nothing of value and he has instead revealed his inner strategy to you。〃
〃And that's just what happened a few minutes ago with Sato and Nangi？〃
Nicholas shrugged。 〃That depends on how much they actually drew you out。〃
Tomkin touched the tips of his fingers to his temple。 〃Well； it doesn't matter worth a damn；〃 he said a little breathily。 〃I have you； Nick； and between us we're gonna squeeze these bastards into the box I have waiting for them…Musashi's strategy or not。〃
〃Like the disparity in profit figures？〃 Nicholas said sardonically。 〃You told me Sphynx's share would e to a hundred million but the figures you gave Sato indicate that Sphynx and the Sato kobun will be splitting a hundred and fifty million between them。〃
〃Ah； what's fifty mil more or less；〃 Tomkin said； massaging his temple with some force。 He grimaced。 〃Goddamn migraines。〃 He looked at Nicholas wearily。 〃My doctor says it's purely a product of the world I live in。〃 He made a rueful smile。 〃You know what he prescribed？ A permanent Palm Springs vacation。 He wants me to rot by the side of a pool like the rest of those flyblown palms。〃 He winced at the pain。 〃But he ought to know； all right。 He's writing a book called Fifteen Ways to a Migraine…Free Life。 He thinks it's going to be a bestseller。 'Everyone gets migraines these days；' he says。 'God bless stress。'〃
Tomkin went and sat down on the edge of the plush sofa。 He opened the small refrigerator just beyond； poured himself a drink。 〃What've you got there？〃
〃It's a hand…delivered invitation。 I got one as well。〃
Tomkin put down his drink。 〃Let's see it。〃 He tore open the flap； pulled out a stiff； engraved card。 〃It's in goddamned kanji〃 he said angrily； pushing it back at Nicholas。 〃What's it say？〃
〃You and I； it seems； are invited to Sato's wedding。 It's on Saturday。〃
Tomkin grunted； downed the remainder of his drink in one gulp。 〃Christ；〃 he murmured； 〃just what we need now。〃 He looked up as he poured himself another。 〃How about you？〃
Nicholas shook his head and Tomkin shrugged。 〃Just trying to get your liver in shape。 These sonsabitch。es drink their Suntory Scotch like it was water。 You go out with them of an evening； you'd better be prepared for the onslaught。〃
〃I wouldn't worry about that；〃 Nicholas said coldly。 〃I'm well aware of their habits。〃
〃Sure； sure；〃 Tomkin said。 〃Just trying to be friendly。 You did all right on the battlefield with those two jokers。〃 He gestured with his glass。 〃You speak to Justine yet？〃
Nicholas shook his head。 〃She didn't want me to take this trip at all。〃
〃Well； that's only natural。 I'm sure she's missing you。〃
Nicholas watched Tomkin wade through his second Scotch on the rocks and wondered if that was an antidote to his migraines。
〃It's more than that；〃 he said slowly。 〃When Saigo got to her he used saiminjutsu on her； a little…known art even am