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he dohyo。〃 Iss…Hogai swept through the air left to right； then abruptly reversing course； swiping at Nicholas' feet。 〃You thought ozeki made no noise during a match。 The audience figures they grunt like territorial animals。〃 Blur of blade again。 〃That is the secret of sumo's popularity。 Beneath the formal rituals； the veneer of dignity and civilization； the audience is excited by what they believe they are seeing。 Antlered stag going at it with instantaneous savagery。〃
Koten's bead eyes were bright as his massive legs powered him forward； as his bare soles beat the floor in a thunderous tattoo。 〃But within that space of time…thirty seconds； no more…I learned to make my opponents scream。 The thunder of the crowd was such that only I heard； locked against his sweating body。〃
Nicholas feinted right； then came in beneath Koten's guard。 But the sumo let go of the blade with his left hand； slamming the forearm into Nicholas' chest。 Nicholas hit the floor hard。
Koten laughed again。 〃I didn't hear you scream that time； barbarian； but you will soon。〃 The dai…katana swooped down； its finely honed tip splintering the polished wooden boards at Nicholas' feet。
Nicholas knew what all this bantering was in aid of。 It was Koten's aim to make Nicholas e against him； to make Nicholas use whatever he might know of oshi； drawing Nicholas into his own strength。
I might as well give him what he wants； Nicholas thought。 It is time To Pass On to Koten that which he wants most。
Koten laughed as Nicholas came at him； a human mountain attacked by an insect who possibly could sting； but nothing more。
He countered Nicholas' oshi； using the hilt of the sword instead of； as Nicholas had expected； returning oshi for oshi。 Nicholas felt the crushing blow on the point of his shoulder； felt the resulting grinding of bone and the audible pop of dislocation。 Pain ran like fire down his arm； rendering his right side totally useless。
〃This is what Musashi called Injuring the Corners； barbarian；〃 Koten gloated。 〃I'll beat you down in small strokes。 I'll make you scream yet。〃
He ran at Nicholas； feinting with the long sword； employing oshi now to throw Nicholas hard onto the floor。 He knelt over him on one knee。 The blade sizzled downward； cutting a vicious arc through the air。
Desperately Nicholas twisted； raising his left arm upward so that it broke inside Koten's upraised arm； deflected the blow out and away from him。 But because of the injuries to shoulder and fingers he was unable to plete the suwari waza move as he would have wanted to。
Instead he was obliged to release Koten's arm prematurely to deliver an atemi； a percussive strike； with his left elbow。 Heard the answering crack as ribs caved in beneath the blow。
Koten cried out； twisting his body up and away； at the same time slashing back toward Nicholas' body with the dai…katana。
Two attacks at once and Nicholas was able to handle only one at a time。 The steel blade was his first priority。 He made contact with Koten's forearm； gliding his left hand along the flesh。 At the point of the bone protrusion along the bottom side of the wrist； he broke inward； twisting with the fingers of his left hand。 Because it was aikido； he was bining his own strength with that of Koten's own momentum。 It was power enough to snap the bone。
Now they were even in a way； Koten was obliged to drop the two…handed grip on the sword； his right arm hanging loose at his side as the broken joint began to swell。
But his second attack could not be stopped； and he used a shoulder throw to Nicholas' right side。 This time Nicholas cried out with the pain directed at his dislocated shoulder。
He rolled away； scrambling。 He knew that he would be done for if he allowed Koten's bulk to dominate him while he was off his feet。 This was the danger with sumai； and it was enormous。 Their territory was bringing their weight and strength to bear in an area close to the ground。
Nicholas was moving away when he felt the presence of the blade swooping after him。 He leaped aside； directly into a powerful tsuki that forced all the air from his lungs。 His head went down and he began to wheeze reflexively as his lungs tried desperately to regain the oxygen denied them。
A second vicious tsuki to his sternum rocked him backward awkwardly so that he sprawled on the floor。 In an instant Koten was over him； his weight pressing oppressively on Nicholas' chest； further denying him air。 Nicholas began to cough； bile rising into his throat。
Koten brought long； gleaming Iss…Hogai crosswise along Nicholas' chest； drawing a horizontal line； peeling back his black cotton blouse。
〃The next stroke will pierce skin； drawing blood；〃 Koten said； his voice silky。 〃Stupid iteki Protorov wouldn't let me at you in Hokkaido。 Lucky for you； unlucky for him。 But now I have you。 Unlucky for you； lucky for me。〃 Koten leaned forward； bringing more pressure down on Nicholas' chest。 〃Next this katana of yours will slice through flesh。 Finally； bone and organs。〃 He grinned fiercely。 〃Tell me； barbarian； how does it feel to know that you are going to die by your own dai…katana？〃
Beginning the first cut； skin rupturing； peeling back like the rind of a fruit。 Blood welling； dark and hot。
Nicholas' mind was screaming for surcease。 Reaching back for the 〃no mind〃 of the Void； he allowed the organism to work on its own。 His left arm shot straight up； the fingers together and as rigid as any swordblade ever forged。 Into the soft spot of flesh joining Koten's chin with throat。
Nicholas struck as he had been taught kenjutsu； as he would have done a sword strike： with all his muscle； mind； and spirit。 He thought not of Koten's flesh but rather of what lay beyond it。
The kite struck through flesh and cartilage； ripping through Koten's larynx； his mouth and sinuses。
The sumo's eyes opened wide； more with shock than with fear。 There was no time for anything else。 He was dead before sensation could reach the brain and register。
Sirens screaming。 Inside the ambulance； Lew Croaker lay on a stretcher unconscious； in mild shock。 The paramedics had kept the makeshift tourniquet he had fashioned； afraid to remove it lest the bleeding begin again。
Nicholas sat next to him； one shoulder lower than the other。 He had refused a shot and now sat staring at his stricken friend and his ruined left hand that was no more than a stump。
Across his lap lay Iss…Hogai in its black lacquer scabbard。 He gripped it so hard his left hand was white。 For life。 Its name seemed ironic to him now。 There's magic in a Japanese forged blade； he had once told Justine。 But what use was magic that could do this？
At the hospital he climbed painfully down after Croaker had been wheeled inside the emergency room。 Leaning the dai…katana against a pale green cinderblock wall； he dug a coin out of his pocket and dialed the hotel。
〃Justine；〃 he said wearily when the connection was made； 〃e and get us。 We're at Toranomon Hospital。〃 He put his forehead against the cool wall。 An intern was calling urgently to him； ing across the crowded corridor to take him away。
〃Everything's all right；〃 he said into the phone。 〃But I miss you。〃 He put down the phone and began