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〃Well；〃 Kusunoki said evenly； 〃isn't that what we are also talking about？〃
Tsutsumu felt his heart skip a beat and it was with a great personal effort that he kept himself calm。 〃War？ Forgive me； sensei； but I do not understand。〃
Kusunoki's face was benign as he thought； And Sun Tzu also wrote that those skilled in war can make themselves invincible but cannot cause an enemy to be vulnerable。 〃There are many faces war may take on； many guises。 Is this not so？〃
〃It is； sensei；〃 Tsutsumu said； his pulse in his throat。
〃We can ask； what war can be made here〃…his arm drifted through the air like a cloud； describing an arc toward the wonder and peace of the wooded hillsides visible through the window… 〃in Yoshino where the history of Japan lives and thrives。 One might think war an outmoded concept here among the cherry trees and the cedars。〃
His great black eyes fixed on Tsutsumu； and the pupil felt a muscle along his inner thigh begin to tremble。 〃Yet war has e to this indomitable fortress of nature。 And thus it must be dealt with。〃
Now Tsutsumu was truly terrified。 This was no ordinary invitation to sit at the sensei's feet and sip tea while speaking of mundane matters； the substance of daily lessons。
〃There is a traitor here in Yoshino；〃 Kusunoki said。
〃What？〃'
〃Yes； it is true。〃 Kusunoki nodded his head sadly。 〃You are the first I have spoken to about it。 I observe you in class。 You are quick； quick and intelligent。 Now you will work with me on this matter。 You will spy for me among the students。 You will begin now。 Have you observed anything out of the ordinary that might help us in identifying the spy？〃
Tsutsumu thought furiously。 He was not unaware of the amazing opportunity being afforded him and was immensely grateful for it。 He felt as if a great weight had been taken off his chest。 Now he must make the most of this opening。 〃I seem to remember；〃 he began。 〃Yes； yes。 There is something。 The woman〃… he used a most unflattering inflection…〃has been seen here late into the evening hours。〃
〃What has she been doing？〃 There was no need to name her。 The dojo contained only one woman…a choice of the sensei that was not popular with his pupils though none dared voice their displeasure where he could hear。 Nevertheless； he knew about it。
Tsutsumu shrugged。 〃Who knows； sensei？ Certainly she was not practicing。〃
〃I see。〃 Kusunoki seemed engulfed in thought。
Tsutsumu sought to press his advantage。 〃Of course there has been much talk lately concerning her； a great deal of talk。〃
〃She is not liked。〃
〃No； sensei〃 Tsutsumu confirmed； 〃most of the students do not feel she has a place here within the sanctity of the dojo。 It goes against tradition； they feel。 This kind of。。 。ah。。 。training should not be open to a woman； they believe。〃 The student bowed his head as if reluctant to go on。 〃Forgive me； sensei； but there has even been some talk that her presence here was the reason that you left your high position within the Gyokku ryu。 They say she came to you there； that on her behalf you went to the council of jonin and sought their vote for her entry into the ryu。 They say it is because you could not muster enough votes within your own council that you left。〃 His head raised。 〃All because of her。〃
Invincibility lies in the defense； Kusunoki thought。 The possibility of victory is attack。 To his pupil； he said； 〃It is true that I was once jonin in the Gyokku ryu； that much is mon knowledge。 But the reasons for my departure are my own； no one else knows them； not even the other members of the council。 My great…great…grandfather was one of the founders of Gyokku； it took much thought on my part to make the decision。 It took much time。〃
〃I understand； sensei；〃 Tsutsumu said； thinking that what he had just been told was an utter lie。 He was certain within his own heart that Kusunoki had； indeed； jeopardized his entire career for this one woman。 Inexplicably。
〃Good。〃 Kusunoki nodded。 〃I thought you might。〃 The black eyes closed for a moment； and the student breathed an inaudible sigh of relief。 He felt a trickle of sweat creeping like an insect down the indentation of his spine and he struggled to keep his body still。 〃Perhaps I have been wrong about her； after all；〃 the sensei said。 With a great deal of elation； Tsutsumu recognized the sadness in the other's voice。 〃If what you have gleaned is indeed the truth； then we must deal with her swiftly and ruthlessly。〃
Tsutsumu's head swung around at the mention of the word we。 〃Yes； sensei；〃 he said； thinking； Softly； softly now； knowing he was moving in； trying to keep his jubilation in check。 〃Any way I may serve you is an honor。 That is why I first came here； and I have not wavered in that resolve。〃
Kusunoki nodded。 〃It is as I suspected。 There are few one can trust even in this day and age。 When I ask for your opinions now； when I ask for you to take action； both of these must be given willingly and faithfully。〃
Tsutsumu could barely contain his euphoria； outwardly he showed nothing。 〃You have but to ask me；〃 he said。
〃Muhon…nin〃 Kusunoki said； leaning forward； 〃this is all I ask。〃
The word traitor had only begun to register on Tsutsumu's brain when he felt the incredible pain engulf him and； looking down； saw the sensei's hand gripping him just below the collarbone。 It was not a strike he had yet mastered and； staring bewil…deredly at it； trying to fathom its secrets； he died； a froth of pink saliva bubbling between his trembling lips。
Kusunoki； watching life escape like a puff of invisible smoke； took his hand away from the corpse。 Without his support； it swayed and fell to one side； the pink drool staining the tatami on which Tsutsumu knelt。
Behind the sensei a shadow appeared to move behind the shoji and then a figure emerged。 Hearing the pad of bare feet； the sensei said； 〃You heard it all？〃
〃Yes。 You were correct all along。 He was the traitor。〃 The voice was light； pleasingly modulated。 Female。
She wore a dark brown kimono； designed with gray plovers within circles of black。 Her gleaming black hair was drawn tightly back from her face。
Kusunoki did not turn around at her silent approach。 Instead； he was staring at the rice…paper scroll hung in a niche along one bare wall。 Just below it was an earthenware bud vase in which he had placed one perfect day lily。 At dawn this morning； as he did every morning of his adult life； he had gone walking in the wilderness； strolling the slopes； through glades still dark and misty with remnants of the night； past rushing streams etched with the last silvered thorns of moonlight； in search of this one flower that would reflect its mood of peace and contemplation all through the day。 Plucking it carefully； he had made his way back to the precincts of his dojo。
On the rice…paper scroll a Zen master of the eighteenth century had written in flowing characters： 〃Rock and wind/only they remain/through generations。〃
〃But you allowed him to get so close to you。〃
Kusunoki smiled up at her and said； 〃I allowed him the luxury of cutting his own throat。 That is all。〃 He watched her as she sank down on her knees。 He was conscious of the fact that she chose a spot near his right