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he； Protorov； was still alive； chest heaving； mouth dry； pulse thundering； and the bile rushing upward into his throat； bitter and searingly acidic。
All at once his extremities began to shake uncontrollably and all warmth left him。 He stared down at the humped thing he straddled and thought； wonderingly； This was once a human being。 An enemy of the State； they had told him。 Yes； he reiterated； an enemy。 An enemy。
〃。。 。time that's left。〃
With a start that no one could see； Protorov came out of his memories。 〃What's that？〃 His voice was sharp； making certain the doctor understood that it was his fault Protorov had not heard what he had said。
〃We've used up all the time that's left； rade。〃
〃Do we have anything？〃 Protorov wanted to know。 〃Anything at all？〃
〃The tape machines have every word；〃 the doctor said and Protorov thought； I have your number； rade。
〃There is one positive element。〃
Protorov turned his attention to the young lieutenant； seeing something of himself in the younger man。
〃We now know that the Americans are no closer to Tenchi than we are。 In fact； I would venture a guess that we have more penetration at this moment。〃
Protorov considered this。 The lieutenant was； of course； correct。 But Protorov also knew that there was a second positive element to this； and that was the subject himself。 Or； more accurately； who the subject belonged to。
〃All right；〃 Protorov said in his dismissive tone； 〃wrap up the corpse and deliver him back to his kennel on Honshu。 I want the Americans made aware of their error immediately。〃
When he was again alone in the odd windowless room； he turned on the powerful fans to rid the space of the cloying after…scents of drugs and death。 Then he lit up。
Switching on his lamp； he once more pored over the readouts from Sakhov IV。 He was closer to Tenchi now than he ever had been。 He could feel it。 His eyes roved the folded sheets。 Was it already here？ Why couldn't he see it then？
With a deep growl of disgust； he swept the useless sheaf into the hopper beside his desk and turned the shredder to autofeed。 The deep whine of scissoring steel teeth filled the air。
Thoughts of feeling the cold and the grisly package that would soon be delivered to the enemy's doorstep led to his concern over Sakhov IV。 Even with all its ultrasophisticated equipment； he had found it to be a dismal failure。 But then again； it was only a machine； it could only do what men had programmed it to do。 Nothing more。 Or perhaps there had been a malfunction somewhere within the miles of multimillion…dollar circuitry。
No matter。 Protorov had his own human satellite； and it was still functioning perfectly。
〃Now；〃 Akutagawa…san said from out of the mist； from out of Nicholas' memory； 〃we will begin。〃
〃But how；〃 Nicholas said。 〃I can see nothing。〃
〃Did you never in Kansatsu's ryu train with the blindfold？〃
〃Of course。 But that was within the boundaries of the dojo。 The space was precise and uncluttered with trees； stones； and underbrush the configurations of which I am unfamiliar with。〃
〃This vapor；〃 Akutagawa…san continued as if Nicholas had not spoken； 〃is like the darkness but far more difficult to negotiate。 In the darkness you may be guided by albescence； a sliver of moon； the patch of a household lantern； even the glitter of the stars。 But here there is nothing but the mist。〃
〃I cannot even see you。〃
〃But you can hear me。〃
〃Yes。 Quite well。 You sound as if you are in my left ear but I shall discount the peculiar acoustics。〃
〃Never discount acoustics；〃 Akutagawa…san said。 〃Rather strive to understand them so that they will bee another weapon in your arsenal。〃
Nicholas said nothing； but tried to concentrate on gaining his bearings in the valley in Yoshino。 Finally he decided that were it not for the jonin's forting presence he would be totally lost。
〃You have heard； I imagine； that much of the Kuji…kiri derives its power from jaho； magic。 Tell me； Nicholas； do you believe in 'magic'？〃
〃I believe in what is； sensei； and discount what is not。〃
For a time there was silence。 〃That is a very wise answer from such a young man。 Now I want you to listen to me closely。 There is； in all people； a layer…a middle layer of being…that lies between the conscious and the subconscious。 It is a land where the imagination reigns。 It is where daydreams originate； where quick； overblown fears are created。 It is where day…to…day anxiety is manufactured。
〃It is not magic； nor is it an extrasensory layer。 Rather； its origins are quite primitive。 Our early ancestors required the active assistance of this layer to heighten their perceptions in order for them to survive： against wild animals； marauding bands of other primitive men who sought their women or the shelter of their home caves。
〃Oh； yes； caves。 That is how far back in time I speak of now。 But with the ing of so…called civilization this middle layer's reason for existence slowly atrophied。 With houses and apartments locked and bolted； with man's utter dominance over all other life forms on the planet； what use was this layer？
〃And yet it refused to die out。 Instead it became the creator of small fears： anxieties at work； fear of dismissal； fear of rejection in love； petty jealousies regarding other workers； all blown up out of proportion； meant to keep the organism alert and functioning at peak efficiency for its survival。 And yet survival is no longer the issue from day to day。 Rather it is betterment。 And so the supposed sharpness turns to anxiety； the modern ailment。
〃Now I reiterate to you； Nicholas…san； that there is nothing mystic about this layer。 It is not meditation。 We are not now speaking of the province of the holy man； for you and I are certainly not that。 We are both men of the world and have not the time nor the inclination to give up the plethora of worldly appetites the holy man must divest himself of in order to reach these exalted states。
〃Getsumei no michi； the moonlit path； is open to you now； Nicholas。 You must find it and learn to sink into it。 I cannot help you in this other than by alerting you to its existence； but it may be of some help to daydream and then follow that daydream home。〃
〃How will I know getsumei no michi； senseil〃
〃By two things。 One is that you will feel all sensation gained in weight and resonance。〃
〃Do you mean that I will hear better？〃
〃Yes； but only in a certain way。 Do not confuse weight with amplification。 You will not； as you say； hear any better。 You will hear differently。 The second sensation will be the awareness of light even when there is none in your immediate surroundings。〃
〃Forgive me； sensei； but I do not understand that。〃
〃It is not necessary to understand； Nicholas。 Merely to remember。〃
At the last Akutagawa…san's voice had begun to fade； and now Nicholas feared that he was all alone on the lower slope of the hillside。 He was a long way from the ryu and the mist had damped his usually reliable directional facilities。
He felt the first hard pangs of panic welling up in his chest。 He found he had an overpowering urge to cry out to Akutagawa…san but the acute loss of face involved not only for him but； even more importan