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Hagura's head was down； his eyes would not meet Nangi's own。 〃A report has just e over the wire from our Hokkaido office。 There has been some kind of。。。 well。。。 an accident； perhaps。 No one is quite certain as yet。〃
Nangi sat forward； his pulse accelerated。
〃What sort of accident； Hagura…san？ How bad was it？ Who was involved？〃
〃I am afraid that it concerns Sato…san。〃 Hagura's voice was faltering just as if he had contracted laryngitis。 〃There has been some form of automotive accident。〃
〃And Sato…san？〃 There was a catch to Nangi's voice。 〃How is he？〃
〃There was no chance for anyone；〃 Hagura said。 He did not want to say the word； as if his reluctance would make all of this mere speculation rather than fact。
〃Hagura…san；〃 Nangi manded。
The senior vice president closed his eyes in acquiescence to the inevitable。 〃Sato…san is dead； sir。〃
Nangi was careful to let nothing show。 Face was all important now； he knew。 This kobun was like a samurai in the employ of the Shogun。 It was absolutely mitted to its course。 It could only march forward； never retreat。 Even to falter was forbidden。 And Tenchi could not wait。
〃Thank you； Hagura…san。 I appreciate how difficult this must have been for you。〃
Hagura bowed； accepting the pliment。 〃It was my duty； Nangi…san。〃 Inside he was mightily impressed with Nangi…san's wa。 He felt the harmony still pervading the room； lending it power。 In the face of his tragic and totally unexpected news this was heartening indeed。 The news of what had happened in here would spread through the kobun； Nangi's heroism and iron determination offsetting some of the void all must feel at Seiichi Sato's passing。
Alone in the office after Hagura's departure； Nangi broke apart。 Tears filled his eyes； there was a fist in his throat that made swallowing painful。 He stared out through the high panes of glass。
First Gotaro； he thought。 Then Oba…chama； Makita。 But not Seiichi； never Seiichi。 How many people in one's life were there who one could talk to？ How many were there in a lifetime who understood him？ One or two； a handful if one were exceptionally fortunate。
Who would he talk to now？ Nangi asked himself。 Who would he confide in； formulate plans with； gloat over his recent triumph in Hong Kong with？ All of this had fallen to Seiichi。 Now there was no one。
There was anger as well as a deep and abiding sadness within him now。 For this time he turned his love around and hated the God in whom he believed； in whom he put all his trust； and into whose care he had delivered his immortal soul。
How could you do such a thing？ he railed inside。 Where is the sense of it？ There was only a perception of harsh cruelty； of an unfairness so huge as to be overwhelming。 They had been like twins； Tanzan and Seiichi； knowing each other's heart； trusting each other's spirit through all their squabbles； arguments； disagreements。 And as in every good marriage； those battles had been ironed out in the end to the satisfaction of both of them。 No more。 Why？
Had Nangi been able to see himself objectively at that moment he would have understood that he had lost more than the friendship he held most dear。 He had also lost the Eastern sense of acceptance and resignation； that belief in the course of a cosmic sense of life。 He had lost his place in the scheme of things； and that was a serious matter； indeed。
His mask slipped back on his face when Craig Allonge brought Justine into the fiftieth…floor garden where Nangi wished to receive her。 The Tomkin Industries executive did not remain long。 He made the introductions； then left for his business lunch。
So； Nangi thought； looking her over； this is Raphael Tomkin's daughter。 Is she still in love with the gaijin Linnear？ he wondered。 He had heard about their icy demeanor at Tomkin's funeral。
〃May I offer my personal condolences； Miss Tomkin？〃 Nangi said； inclining his head。 〃I knew your father personally and admired him greatly。〃
Justine almost said； That's Miss Tobin； but already the distinction she had created herself years ago seemed artificial and meaningless。
Instead； she nodded。 〃Thank you； Nangi…san。 Your generous bouquet was most appreciated。〃 She looked around。 〃It's beautiful here。〃
He nodded in return。 〃May I get you a drink？〃
〃A gin and tonic would be nice；〃 she said； sitting down on one of the chairs near a stand of green bamboo。 What's going on here？ she asked herself。 He seems old and shaken。 She knew from Nicholas that she could not ask a direct question。
She sipped at her drink； studiously ignoring Nangi's limp as he went from the bar to a chair near her。
〃It is somewhat of a surprise to see you here in Tokyo；〃 he said after he had seated himself。 〃Is there something specific I can help you with？ You have only to ask。 I will assign a young lady to take you shopping to all the finest stores。 At night； a male escort will take you…〃
〃I've e here to see Nicholas；〃 she said； stopping him in midsentence。 She resented the assumptions he had made about her simply because she was female but she had the presence of mind to show none of this。 On the exterior she was cool and calm and thus； in Nangi's eyes； gained enormous face。
He was impressed despite himself。 〃I see。 Well； that is an admirable reason for traveling all this distance。〃
And as he paused； Justine felt her insides go cold。 How she longed to scream out； What's happened？ Is he all right？
〃Do you know where he is at the moment？〃 She was quite surprised to find that her voice was steady。 Nicholas would be proud of her。 But with that thought； tears brimmed her eyes。 What has happened？ she asked herself again。
〃Unfortunately； no；〃 Nangi said。 〃I myself have just returned from a lengthy business trip。 I am being filled in now as to events that have transpired in my absence。〃
He's so damned calm； Justine thought。 How does he do it？ She was unaware that she was matching Nangi stride for stride。
Every moment that Nangi sat talking with this gaijin his respect for her increased； grudgingly at first； then more freely。 Because of her wa； he decided to tell her what she would otherwise find out hours from now。
〃I am afraid that there has been some sort of mishap； Miss Tomkin。 In my absence Sato Seiichi〃…he used the Japanese form… 〃has been killed in an auto crash。〃
〃Oh； my God。〃 Justine's hands gripped each other in her lap； her drink forgotten beside her。 〃Was he。。。 alone？〃 Her voice had gone quite low。
〃I understand your concern；〃 Nangi said。 〃And； yes； my information is that he was alone in the car at the time of the mishap。〃
Justine's eyes closed； a muscle tic beginning in one eyelid。 Mishap； she thought。 He uses the word like doctors use the word expired； to tidily explain away something dreadful。
〃I'm。。。 I'm terribly sorry； Nangi…san；〃 she said。 〃Please accept my condolences。 I have heard many stories of Sato…san's prowess in business and personal life。〃
Nangi stared openly at her； amazed。 Where was the gush of disgusting emotionalism he had expected from this barbarian？ Where was the embarrassing reference to Sato and Nangi's closeness that would have humiliated him？ Neither had e。 Instead she had expressed the proper sentiments in t