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w； and took the dai…katana up。
He kissed Justine hard on the lips。 〃I'll be back in a little while。 Wait for me； listen to the birds； watch the sunlight drift through the leaves。〃
He went away from her up the small grassy knoll and down toward the lake。 The water sparked and danced as ripples creased its surface。 Water lapped softly at his feet； running into his socks。 It felt good on his feet； and he waded in up to his thighs； unmindful of his clothes。
There was a pain like a stone in his throat。 Iss…Hogai had been the Colonel's gift to him to memorate his passage from child to man。
But； he thought now； there was another passage he must make that came after that one。 He was ready for it now； prepared in every way he could imagine。 Yet it would still hurt； he knew。 Not as much as his hurt for his friend； but it would be bad enough。
〃Thank you； father；〃 he mouthed as he lofted the dai…katana high over his head in his good hand and threw it with all his strength out into the middle of the lake。
It hit the surface point on； and there was no splash at all。 Soundlessly； it disappeared into the depths。
For a long time after that Nicholas stood thigh deep in the cool water； feeling its life…giving lap surrounding his body。 He breathed deeply of the air； heard birds calling behind him。 He saw a pair of snowy herons lift off from the water's surface and wheel into the white sky。 He watched their flight until they； too； were lost to sight。
He recognized the lightness in his spirit when it came； like a fresh breeze after a humid summer's day。 It had been time to put away the lethal toys that had dominated his life for so long。 It was time to get on with living。
He turned at last and waded the short distance to shore。 Just beyond the small crest of the knoll； Justine waited for him。 His heart expanded at the knowledge。
As he went toward her； he thought that she might be right after all； just as Nangi had been right。 Japan was his home。 Did he really want to leave it now？
For the first time he could feel the real force of the calmness he experienced in Itami's chano…yu room。 There his spirit was truly at rest。 He could imagine tsukimi…moon viewing…there； celebrating New Year's with traditional mochi rice cakes； hanami in April when the cherry blossoms fell rich and radiant； reminders of all that life was： exquisite and fleeting。 Sakura were； after all； as mortal as men and women。
In Itami's house…his house； should he wish it…the modern…day Japan had not yet e。 The feudal kami still resided there； proud and splendid and eternally victorious。 Honor lived there； as well as courage。
Nicholas； taking Justine's hand in his； thought it would be the perfect spot to teach a new spirit what life was all about。
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ERIC VAN LUSTBADER was born； raised and educated in Greenwich Village。 He graduated Columbia College in 1968； majoring in Sociology。 While there； he founded an independent music production pany； a move which led to a fifteen…year involvement in the entertainment industry。 That involvement enpassed work in journalism； marketing； seeking out new talent； graphic design； and publicity。 He has worked for Cash Box magazine； Elektra Records； CBS Records； Dick James Music； USA； and has written and field…produced a profile on rock star Elton John for NEC…TV's 〃Nightly News。〃
Since 1979 Mr。 Lustbader has devoted his full time to writing。 He is the author of three previous internationally best selling novels； The Ninja； Sirens； and Black Heart。
He lives in New York City and Southampton with his wife； free…lance editor Victoria Schochet Lustbader。