按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Everything's all right；〃 he said into the phone。 〃But I miss you。〃 He put down the phone and began to cry。
TOKYO SUBURBS SPRING； PRESENT
On a clear day in late spring； three weeks after the incident at the dojo； Nicholas and Justine returned from jampacked Narita； where they had seen Lew Croaker off to America。
His arm was healing well。 The operation； an attempt to sew back the hand that had been so cleanly sliced off； had been a failure。 Too much time had elapsed。 But otherwise the news had been good。 No plications； no infections。 The tourniquet he had fashioned from strips of cloth blouse had quite possibly saved his life； the surgeon had said。 He was very encouraged about the prognosis。
Instead of heading back into the choking riot of Tokyo； Nicholas drove them northwest； skirting the city itself。 In the backseat of the Nissan sedan Iss…Hogai lay scabbarded and quiescent； its presence an ever…constant weight。
They went past the lake above which Sato had gotten married； where Akiko had first revealed herself； where Yukio had returned from the grave。 Bright sunshine turned the water to gold and glass。 Herons rose near the inlet to the stream that fed the lake； their white bodies bright and sharp against the deep translucent blue。
〃What a beautiful place！〃 Justine exclaimed。 Nicholas said nothing。
Just outside the gate to Itami's property he stopped the car and they got out。 He wanted to walk the rest of the way。 It was as if the modern conveyance did not belong there； he felt strongly that he would defile the grounds by driving in。
Together they strolled down the flagstone path； Justine holding lightly to his left hand。
〃How are your fingers today？〃 she asked。
〃Better；〃 he said。 It was what he always told her。
〃Has feeling e back yet？〃
〃They're better。〃 His voice was gentle。 〃Just better。〃
Justine looked at him； wondering what it might take now to set his spirit at rest。
They passed a stone basin in the shape of an old coin。 It was round； carved on its top with one character at each cardinal direction。 Rock。 Rain。 Fire。 Cloud。
Justine wanted to walk over to it and they went off the path。 Water filled its square central well； a handmade bamboo ladle resting on the stone。
〃I'm thirsty；〃 she said； and Nicholas took up the ladle。 They both drank from it。 The water was cold and sweet。 For a moment the well was less than full； and as Nicholas bent to return the ladle to its resting place； he saw that there was an ideogram carved into its bottom。 Michi。 A path； also a journey。
Miraculously； the house and grounds had sustained no major damage in the aftermath of the earthquake。 One outer wall at the southerly end of the house had collapsed； and several trees nearby had been split。 But that was all。
Still； it was hardly the same。 Without Itami and her legion of servants the place seemed deserted indeed。 She had died sometime during the day and a half he had been at the hospital。 The funeral had taken place two days later； when Nicholas was healed sufficiently to attend。 She was buried in a plot quite near Cheong's and the Colonel's； as she had wished。
There had been no pain in her dying； the white…haired physician had told Nicholas。 He had attended to Itami's medical needs for more than thirty years。 〃One moment she was there；〃 he said。 〃The next she was gone。〃 Nicholas was at least grateful for that。
Justine watched him as he wandered the house。 Something had e over him the moment he had alit from the car。 She had felt it when she had taken his hand； when she had looked at his strong； handsome profile as they had walked the gravel path to the house。
In the small room where only chano…yu had been performed； he sank down onto his knees。 He winced a bit as pain flicked through his shoulder。 Then； by some process that was totally mysterious to Justine； he flicked it off； and his face cleared。
She knelt at his side； bending her head a bit to see more of the beautiful garden than the half…screen permitted。 〃Why is it like that？〃 she said。 〃There's so much more to see out there。〃 But even when he explained it to her； she was not certain that she understood。 If it's there； she thought； why not take advantage of it？
〃I've met with Nangi several times；〃 he said； his voice drifting。 〃He's anxious that we stay； at least for a time。 There's so much to do。〃 He turned his head。 〃Would that be okay with you； a month or six weeks？ Tokyo's not so bad once you get used to it。〃
〃I don't mind；〃 she said； watching him still。 There was a wistful look on his face； and a calmness young boys have after a long day's exertion； when； happily exhausted； they return home to a secure rest。
〃Well； really； he'd like us to stay here permanently。 I told him that that was out of the question。〃
〃Why did you do that？〃
He looked at her quickly。 〃Why？ It's not possible。 And you wouldn't like it。 You'd miss New York。 And your new job。〃
〃I'd miss you more if we went back to the States and I saw you longing to be here。 Besides； I think I could talk Rick into letting me start up a branch office in Tokyo。 He's fascinated by Japanese ad methods。〃
〃I don't want to be here；〃 he said。 〃Besides； where would we live？〃
She smiled at him。 〃Why not right here？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 he said immediately。 〃There are too many memories here。 The past's all around； hanging in every corner like a spider web。〃
〃I like it here；〃 she said； regaining her feet。 〃I'm sorry that you don't。〃
On the way back； they stopped by the side of the lake。 The birds were trilling sweetly； and the air smelled very fresh。
Justine gently stroked the back of his injured hand。 〃Why won't you smile； Nick。 You've been brooding for weeks。 It worries me to see you like this。〃
Nicholas spread out his hands； palms up。 〃I look at these； Justine； and wonder what they're for besides inflicting pain and death。〃
She put one of her hands in his。 〃They're also gentle hands； Nick。 They caress me and I melt inside。〃
He shook his head。 〃That's not enough。 I can't help thinking what they've done。 I don't want to kill。〃 His voice trembled。 〃I don't believe that 1 ever could have。〃
〃You never sought out death； Nick。 You've always killed in self…defense。〃
〃Yet I sought out the training； first bujutsu； then ninjutsu。 Why？〃 His eyes were pleading。
〃What answer do you think will satisfy you？〃 she said softly。
〃That's just it；〃 he cried in anguish。 〃I don't know！〃
〃I think that's because there is no answer。〃
His head went down and he said in a muffled voice； 〃Then I have no answer for how I maimed my friend。〃
〃Oh； Nick；〃 she said； pressing her lips against his cheek； 〃Lew doesn't blame you； why blame yourself？〃
〃Because without me he'd still have two hands！〃
〃No； without you he'd be dead。 And he'd never have found out who really murdered Angela Didion。〃 Nicholas had told her as much as he could during their long vigil during Croaker's operation。 〃You know how obsessed he was over that。〃
With a little cry Nicholas tore himself away from her loving embrace。 He went around the car； reached into an open back window； and took the dai…katana up。
He kissed Justine hard on the lips。 〃I'll be back in a little whi