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〃That's why I was trying to stop the bleeding so pletely。 He picked us up over an hour ago； when you were still gushing。 I thought if I could stop it in time he'd get tired of hanging around and go after something else。 I couldn't。〃
On the shark's third pass； a section of three tubular baffles； already weakened by the crash； broke away。 Something at least ten feet in front of the slashing dorsal fin snapped the baffles in two beneath the unquiet surface of the ocean。
Nangi began to shiver anew； and this time even Gotaro's human warmth couldn't deflect him。 His teeth began to chatter and he felt blood leaking from his ruined eye。
〃This is no way for a warrior to die；〃 he whispered。 The wind took his words； flung them away from him like a hateful child。 He put his weary head against Gotaro's shoulder and at last broke down fully。 〃I'm afraid； Sato…san。 Not of death itself。 But the manner in which it has e。 Ever since I was a child the depths of the sea have terrified me。 It is an uncontrollable fear。〃
〃Even a warrior must feel fear。〃 Gotaro's deep rumbling voice filled Nangi's ear。 〃A samurai must have his nemesis； just as he must do battle。〃 His arms closed more tightly about his friend as the bulkhead rocked and shuddered。 Metal shrieked and then was silent。 The sea climbed around them。 The fin moved away from them and swung in a tight arc。
〃This nemesis may e in many forms； many guises；〃 Gotaro continued as if nothing at all had happened。 〃He may be a human foe of flesh and blood。 Or then again he may be the force of an avenging kami。 Or even a demon。〃
Light was fast going out of the sky； the encroaching night seemed vast and close at the same time so that one had the unfortable sensations of utter isolation and intense claustrophobia at the same time。 The clouds were too near for there to be any stars visible。 The darkness； when it came； would be absolute。
〃The world is full of demons；〃 Gotaro said； his eyes on the approaching fin； 〃because life is haunted by creatures who cannot experience it as we can。 As their envy turns inevitably to hatred； they gain in evil power。〃 One hand reached out like a bar of iron to grip the bafflings as tightly as he could。 〃Or so my grandmother would tell me at night。 I could never understand whether it was to frighten me or to make me more aware that one must fight in life。 Always fight to get what one wants。〃
It was very bad this time； the bulkhead screaming and canting at an extreme enough angle to allow a wave to wash over them。 Nangi felt them sliding sideways； and beside him Gotaro desperately scrabbling to halt their slide。 Nangi； too； did what he could to help。 It did not seem much to him。
When they were righted； Gotaro gathered Nangi back to him； as protectively as a mother will a small child。 The raft still shuddered and groaned； plaining in the aftermath。
Gotaro felt for the rift forming beneath them as he said； 〃I thank God now that my younger brother； Seiichi； is being taken care of by her。 She's very old now but so very wise。 I think she's the only one with enough force of will to stop him from illegally enlisting。 He's almost sixteen； and God knows the war would chew him up and destroy him utterly。〃
Abruptly； his voice changed and he said； 〃Tanzan； you must promise me you will look Seiichi up when you get home。 My grandmother's house in Higashiyama…Ku in Kyoto； just off the southern edge of Maruyama Park。〃
Nangi's vision was going in and out of focus。 There was a pain in his head like a steel spike hammered home and it made all coherent thought an effort。 〃I know it well。 The park。〃 He could see the cryptomeria and cherry trees； youthful and vibrant； their myriad leaves shivering in the warm breeze of summer。 Bright shirts of the children contrasting with the precise patterns of kimonos and oiled paper parasols。 Music drifting over the carefully mowed grass； mingling with the laughter。
〃The Lord is my shepherd； I shall not want。'〃 Nangi heard the strange litany as if from a great distance yet he felt the vibrations from Gotaro running through him as if they were connected； and some of his terror abated； knowing that this great bear of a man was here beside him。 And he thought； Somehow； some way； we'll make it until Noguchi finds us。
〃Pray for me； my friend。〃
And abruptly Gotaro was no longer beside him。 Nangi felt the chill wind tearing at him mercilessly and he rocked alone on the baffled bulkhead。 A muffled splash came to him； and his good
eye began to burn as he turned his head this way and that。 There was just enough illumination to see the foam from Gotaro's powerful kicks as he swam away from the rocking raft。
〃e back！〃 Nangi called。 〃Oh； Sato…san； please e back！〃
Then he gasped； his ragged breath ing like fire； as he spotted the great curved dorsal fin rising out of the water。 It drew him as it repulsed him； and the fear and loathing stuck in his throat as if it were a physical thing。 He wanted nothing more in the world than to kill the monster and he cried aloud； his fists beating impotently against his useless thighs as he saw the black shape cutting through the crests of the waves。
Gotaro reared up once as the thing hit； spinning up and around； half out of the water； hurled there by the force of primitive nature。
Nangi's vision blurred with bitter tears and he struck at himself over and over as his head bent； the wind moaning in his ears like the voices of the damned。
After a long； long time he began to pray to a God he did not know or understand but to whom he now turned for solace and the continuation of life。
BOOK TWO
CHUN HSING
＇The shape of the army＇
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK/TOKYO/KEY WEST SPRING； PRESENT
C。 Gordon Minck； head of Red Station； sat a dizzying eight feet above floor level； his hydraulic crane…lift chair set at maximum。 There was nothing much between him and the fall straight down to the hardwood floor； and that was the way Minck liked it； he thought best and most creatively when there was a sense of danger。
His was the only office in the building…six short blocks from the White House…without wall…to…wall carpeting。 That was because Minck wanted nothing in here to dampen sound。 He was a fanatic on the keenness of the six senses…had been for years； ever since he had graduated at the top of his unit from the elite Fairchild Academy tucked away in rural Virginia。 Most of those who made it through its awesomely grueling curriculum called the place the Bonebreaker。
Minck was continually asked the importance of the sixth sense and his answer was always the same； 〃Intuition is everything。〃 While many of his fellow station leaders spent more and more time at their increasingly sophisticated puter consoles； Minck spent less and less。
And he could see the difference。 These other men were being gray worms； their lined； worried faces lit by the green phosphor light； racked by increasingly debilitating headaches until； made aware of the insidiously malignant effects of the consoles； they began to hire assistants to relay the puter information to them。 They apparently were not disturbed overmuch by the need to replace these assistants every six months or so； or by the rising bu