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〃They had accidentally discovered oil off the coast of Japan where； it had been determined by a host of geologists； none could exist。
〃Excitement rose to a fever pitch as the divers rose with their news and the information was transmitted back to the Prime Minister。
〃Oceanographers as well as geologists were sent into the area。 What they came back with three weeks later was unimaginable。 It looked as if this pocket of fossil oil was set very deep。 Also； it was vast。 If the government could find a way of extracting it； they might never have to buy a barrel of crude again。 Japan would be self…sufficient。 It was an answer to many prayers。
〃But the thorn was getting it out of the rock。 Conventional methods of offshore drilling were useless because of the type of rock and its formation。 Besides； they were not all that far from a known ocean fault； and they were terrified that any undue activity in the area might cause a major earthquake。
〃And so Tenchi was born。 It has eight articulated arms and legs。 It can move over any kind of terrain no matter how rough。 It can see； hear； even smell。 It can…and will…extract the oil from the bottom of the sea； the first conduit into which billions of barrels of fuel will be pumped on its way up to the surface and a line of waiting tankers via fathoms of pipeline。〃
〃But why all this secrecy？〃 Tanya asked。 〃Surely it could have been developed in the light of day。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Nicholas conceded。 〃However； the oil reservoir is not only on Japanese soil； though they think it is。〃
〃What are you saying？〃 Tanya said； her heart in her throat。
〃The Kuriles are a source of dispute between Russia and Japan。 You know that； it's elementary。 The real question is； who owns the oil； Japan or Russia？ You'll get two different answers depending on whether you speak to a Japanese or a Russian。〃 He turned away from the mirror。 〃Now you see why Protorov was so anxious to penetrate the operation。 The Russians could also have been self…sufficient。〃
He came out of the bathroom and looked around。 But Tanya had already gone。
Moments later he was on his way out to the Shinjuku Suiryu Building； the offices of Sato Petrochemicals； when his phone buzzed。 He picked it up。 〃Yeah？〃
〃The weather was great in Key West； buddy；〃 the voice said in his ear； 〃but the pany was lousy。〃
〃Croaker！〃 Like air being let out of a balloon。 His knees felt weak and he had to sit down。 〃Lew； it can't be you！〃
〃Can； buddy…boy； and is。 I'm in the lobby。 I didn't want to give you a heart attack by ing to your door unannounced。 Can I e up？〃
〃I'm just on my way out。 I'll meet you downstairs。〃 A thousand questions chased each other through his mind。 Lew Croaker alive！ How was it possible？
〃Nah。 With what I got； I'd better e on up。〃
〃Okay。 Sure。〃
There was a pause。 〃How you been； anyway？〃 The voice had
gone gruff。
〃Nothing's the same；〃 Nicholas said。 〃But then it never is。〃 〃Hah！ Tell me about it。 I'll be right there。〃
He was a bit leaner； certainly tanner； his Robert Mitchum face seemingly far more deeply lined。 Still； he looked fine to Nicholas。
They embraced like brothers； and this time Croaker did not mind the contact。 He was amazed at just how much he had missed his friend。
He pointed。 〃What's with the bandages？〃
〃Later；〃 Nicholas said。 〃Now tell me all。〃
And Croaker did； from the moment the mysterious car had rammed him off the road in Key West； to Alix Logan's revelations。
〃So Minck sanctioned Angela Didion's death；〃 Nicholas said； wonderingly。 〃It wasn't Tomkin at all。〃
〃He only knew about it；〃 Croaker sneered。 〃He only let the killers into her apartment。 I suppose that absolves him of guilt。〃
Nicholas looked at him。 He felt a curious ache inside。 〃I'm sorry he was so weak。 He must've been thinking of the leak she represented。 National security…〃
〃He's still a murderer in my book；〃 Croaker cut in。 〃National security； my ass。 Big goddamned deal。〃
〃I disagree； Lew。〃
Croaker rounded on him。 〃What d'you mean？〃
〃You know what I mean；〃 Nicholas said softly。 〃Why are you here now？〃
Croaker thought about that。 〃National security；〃 he said at last。 It was a sigh of defeat。 〃I'm sorry； Nick。〃
〃Forget it； Lew。 It only means we can all be suckered in the name of patriotism。〃
〃Is that what really led Tomkin to let them in？〃
Nicholas looked at his friend。 〃I honestly don't know。〃
〃Well； it sure don't make a bit of difference to Angela。 One way or another； she's still six feet under。〃
〃You can't keep torturing yourself over one death； Lew。 Be reasonable。 You've done everything you could。 It's more than anyone else would've done。 I think Angela's spirit can rest now。〃
Croaker sat down heavily； his head in his hands。 〃I did nothing。 I solved nothing； I've gotten nowhere。 Just spinning my goddamned wheels in a pile of quicksand。 No one's gonna pay for Angela's death； not now； not ever。〃
Now Nicholas was concerned。 〃What happened to you down in Key West； my friend？ I mean； really。〃
Croaker's voice was muffled。 〃I don't know； Nick。 Damned if I do。〃 Nicholas said nothing； and Croaker was forced to go on to rid himself of the oppressive silence。 〃My life's e apart。 I guess。。。〃 He paused； began all over again。 〃I don't know what's happened to the kid who graduated the Academy in the top five percent of his class。 Then I had the law in one hand and my service revolver in the other。 I knew what to do with them。 I knew that I was on the right side and they； the murderers； rapists； addicts； armed robbers； muggers； were on the wrong side。
〃That was a long time ago…or so it seems。 Somewhere in the interim I seem to have lost the facility to determine the perpetrators from the law officers。 I thought sure as I'm sitting here that Tomkin killed Angela。 I was wrong。。。 or was I？ I don't know anymore。 Minck had her killed and I knew I had to confront him。 Why； I don't know。 Did I want to murder him myself？ Bee the ultimate anarchist against the law I'm sworn to uphold： a vigilante？ I knew when I stood before him that at least part of me wanted to。 Even though I know what kind of a bitch Angela was； even though I know that she could…and you're right； would have… screwed this whole spook deal Minck had cooking with Tomkin。 But the end result is that they took a human life； they played God with her。 They destroyed； Nick。〃
His head came up； and Nicholas winced at the bleakness in those red…rimmed eyes。 Perhaps he had been crying。。。 for himself； for one lost soul。 〃No matter what she was； Nick； she had a right to live。 I'm right about that； at least； aren't I？〃
Nicholas put his arm around his friend as together they sat on the edge of the bed。 〃She had a right to live； Lew。〃
Croaker gave a little bark of confused anger。 〃So instead of taking Minck out myself； I wind up working for him。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
〃Yeah； well you will in a minute； I guarantee you。〃 Croaker stood up； began to pace back and forth like a caged tiger。 He was tense and did not mind showing it。 〃Reason is； see； this Minck bastard's sanctioned someone else。 It seems that Tanya Vladi…mova's a KGB bug planted on him。 You ain't seen her skulking around here lately have you？〃
Nichola