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ix inches in front of her face and erupted with the noise of the death of the world。
Croaker got off the phone and said； 〃We're to stay right here until Minck's support crew does what it has to。〃 He eyed Nicholas。 〃The police have already been contacted。 No one's going to make a move against us。〃
Nicholas said nothing。 He was staring down at the covered corpse of Tanya Vladimova。 Cops were already on the scene； separating the observers from the participants。 Moments ago Nicholas had spoken briefly to a young sergeant in rapid Japanese。 There were still a battery of formalities to go through。
But he was thinking of other matters。 He was thinking again of what his father had said about taking life and eradicating evil from the world。 That was the dilemma； he saw now。 Why was it that to do the one you had to do the other？ Wasn't there any other way？ Hadn't there been with Tanya？
There had been no other way with Protorov； he knew； with Akiko as well。 Karma。 He knew that he had still not yet learned to accept life on its own terms。 He felt too much for others。 Or was it only that he was reluctant to relinquish that degree of control？ It was a myth； anyway。 Life could never be controlled。 And yet he continued to try。
Perhaps it was time to end all that； he thought。
At the Shinjuku Suiryu Building； Nicholas saw Tanzan Nangi first； even though he had been told on his arrival that Justine was there； waiting for him。 He did so because he wanted at least one major element in his life settled before he saw her again。 He wanted his mind totally free so that he could concentrate fully on whatever it was she intended。
He had spent three hot and sticky hours scouring the city after he left Croaker； and now he carried with him a silk…covered package。
He was shown into Sato's huge office without undue delay。 They bowed。
〃Linnear…san； please sit down。〃
〃If you don't mind；〃 Nicholas said； 〃I'd prefer the next room。〃
Nangi's eyes opened wide and he hesitated a moment as if Nicholas' request had disrupted a pattern set inside him。 He nodded； recovering quickly。 〃Of course；〃 he murmured。
They walked through the narrow passageway housing the to…konoma； its slender vase holding one purple peony。 Nicholas read the poem on the scroll just above： 'Wo rainfalls/Without bringing life/To blossoms/On mountainside or vale。〃
Nangi led him past the small alcove and into another； smaller room that was not an office at all。 It was a space that Nicholas had not seen before but had known must be there。
Just before the threshold； the two of them removed their shoes。 It was a twelve…tatami room。 The walls were shoji screens； though undoubtedly they covered plaster and lathe。 Cool light； indirect and dim； played over the expanse； and from somewhere came the silvery tinkle of water through a streambed。
There was a low lacquer table in the center of the room； several Chinese…red kansu chests along the wall； a cedar desk with phone。 A hard cedar chair。
They knelt down on opposite sides of the gleaming black table。 Nicholas looked away to admire the room as Nangi spent some time and considerable energy in getting his ruined legs to bend beneath him。
〃I have e to report my failure； Nangi…san；〃 Nicholas said after a time。
Nangi was curious。 〃How so； Linnear…san？〃
〃While you were away； Sato and I struck a bargain。 He wished the merger to go through with all good speed； I wished to aid him…and you as well…against the Wu…Shing。〃
〃You and Seiichi…san felt that we both had something to fear from these heinous crimes； then？〃
〃Eventually； yes。 We both felt that you and he were to be the final targets。〃
〃Had you any proof？〃
〃It was Sato…san's belief that something in your past had triggered this vendetta。〃 When Nangi said nothing； Nicholas went on。 〃I swore to protect him； Nangi…san。 It is why I went with him to the rotenburo in Hokkaido to find the ninja Phoenix。 But Koten betrayed us to the Russians。 They killed the ninja； and they killed Sato…san。〃 He went on to relate what had happened next at Pro…torov's safe house。 He said nothing of what had happened after his winged escape。
〃Phoenix was from the Tenshin Shoden Katori。〃 Nangi's voice was deliberately calm。 〃Was anything put into the Soviets' hands？〃
〃For a moment they had it。 But they had no one to translate the kanji cipher。〃
〃I see。〃 The relief flooding out of Nangi was palpable。
〃I read the document； Nangi…san。 I have penetrated to the core of Tenchi。〃
There was no sound in the room now but that of the flowing water； unseen and constant。
Nangi's eyes closed finally。 He felt enormously tired； like a long…distance runner who had just expended his last ounce of gallant reserves to embrace the finish line only to be told that the course has been extended another mile。
His dark； avian eyes opened and in a voice like tissue paper he said； 〃And now that you have the leverage you need； what will you do with this information if I do not accede to your demands regarding the terms of the merger？〃
〃I have had a call from a man named C。 Gordon Minck； Nangi…san。 He is in the United States Government。 I know him somewhat。 I have run a certain errand for him。。。 because it suited my purposes。 Because I wished to save Tenchi。〃
Nangi nodded。 〃Save it from the Russians。 I understand。 You are an American citizen。 And now the American secret service establishment knows our deep secret。 They can keep us under their thumb forever。〃
〃Nangi…san；〃 Nicholas said softly； 〃I told Minck that the Soviets had not penetrated Tenchi and neither had I。 Sato…san once told me that he feared the Americans penetrating Tenchi almost as much as the Russians。 I did not understand what he meant then； but I know now。 America would not wish for Japan to bee independent of it。 I agree with him。〃
For Nangi； Nicholas could not have uttered more startling words。 〃But this is impossible；〃 he said； for once flustered。 〃You are an American。 You are…〃
〃Iteki？ Isn't that how you've seen me from the first； Nangi…san？ As a barbarian； a half…breed。〃
Nangi's eyes lowered to the tabletop； but all he saw there was his own reflection。 I hate this man； he thought； and I don't know why。 He has suffered for this keiretsu； has kept its secrets； has almost died for it。 He is loyal beyond question。 He tried to save Seiichi…san's life。 At the thought of his dead friend； a knife went through Nangi's insides and he was shaken anew by his rage against this man。 Yet he struggled with himself to understand。
〃My spirit is Japanese；〃 Nicholas said softly。 〃You have only to feel my wa to know that。 It was not so hard for Sato…san to accept me； to befriend me。〃
〃Sato…san possessed a number of bad habits；〃 Nangi snapped。 Immediately； he bowed his head all the way to the lacquer。 He was terribly ashamed。 〃Forgive me； Linnear…san。〃 His voice was a cracked whisper； filled with pain and self…loathing。 〃You deserve only my abject gratitude for what you have done to protect my keiretsu and preserve Tenchi。〃
〃I am truly sorry that you cannot give it。〃 Nicholas' face was sad as he rose。 〃The pledge of merger was with Sato…san。 I will not insist that you be bound by it。〃
〃Linnear…san。〃 Nangi's