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the seeds of his revenge for his friend's murder at Tomkin' s behest。 And yet。。。 There were qualities about the man that had begun to affect Nicholas。 For one thing； he was fiercely loyal。 He would try to bring the sun down from the sky for one of his people who was legitimately in trouble。 For another； his abiding love for both his daughters； but especially Justine； was touching。 It was in the nature of the man that he could not very well express that love。 But his understanding of his troubled younger daughter and； just as importantly； his acknowledgement…at least to himself and to Nicholas…of his plicity in her emotional state was laudable。
Though Tomkin could often be loud and crude； these abrasive qualities hid a man of much emotion。 Indeed； in private moments； many of which he had chosen to share with Nicholas； when his guard was down and he was relaxed； he could be an engaging； even a charming； panion。
Nicholas looked down at the gray； deflated face。 Devoid of animation； Tomkin had the countenance of an overused wax doll。 He recalled Tomkin's sadness over Justine's relationships； how he had ached for her when she had been used by Chris； the final anger that had both saved her and caused her to turn away from him。
Nicholas recognized that Justine should be here； perhaps only he knew how much solace her presence would bring to Tomkin now。 Ultimately； it was his family that was Tomkin's weak spot。 It seemed cruel indeed that he should die here so far from home and his daughters； all that he loved。 Facing death； Nicholas felt always slightly diminished。 He understood dimly that that was a Western facet of his personality； a legacy from the Colonel。 His Eastern half understood fully that death was integrated with life； the two the same； really。 If you were one with all things； then death was one of them。 That； at least； should be some solace to him now。
Nicholas saw the eyes flutter open； the brown of the irises dirty and almost gray。 Breath was an enormous effort； the dry…lipped mouth was half open。
〃I called Greydon；〃 he said。 〃He's just outside。〃
But there seemed no recognition at all in the eyes as they drifted； drifted across the room。 Outside； day had died and the nighttime splendor of Tokyo was a blaze of neon fire； holding back the darkness with its multicolored shell。
Tomkin turned his head； and Nicholas followed his gaze。 There was nothing there； a blank wall。 What did Tomkin see there that held the last of his attention？ Only cats sat and stared at nothing。
Then a shadow passed across the wall； and as if it were somehow connected to him； Tomkin shuddered once and Nicholas said； 〃Doctor？〃 though it was merely a formality； he knew death when he saw it。
〃Mr。 Linnear？〃
Nicholas rose slowly and turned to see the worried face of Greydon； Tomkin's attorney。
〃How is he？〃
〃Let the doctor tell you。〃 Nicholas suddenly felt tired。
Taki knelt beside Tomkin's form with his stethoscope； listening intently。 After a moment； he pulled the instrument from his ears。 〃He's expired； I'm afraid。〃 He stood up and began to write in his notepad。
Greydon wiped at his face with a linen handkerchief。 〃This is so sudden；〃 he said。 〃I never。。。 well； I never suspected it was so close。〃
〃You knew about Tomkin's illness？〃 Nicholas said。
Greydon nodded distractedly。 〃Yes。 Dr。 Kidd； his personal physician； and I were the only ones。〃 Then his eyes seemed to focus and he looked at Nicholas。 〃Tomkin had to e to me for the will； you see。 I had to know。〃
He took a deep breath。 〃Would anyone mind if I had a whiskey and soda？〃
〃Excuse me；〃 Sato said。 〃The circumstances。。。〃 He went quickly to the bar and made Greydon his drink； gave it to him。 He made something for Nangi as well； who was looking very pale。
Greydon took a long pull at his drink and touched Nicholas on the elbow。 〃Please；〃 he said quietly； 〃e with me。〃
Away from the others； Nicholas stopped。 〃What is it？〃 he said shortly。 His mind was elsewhere。
Greydon snapped open his black lizardskin attache case。 〃There are certain matters which must be…〃
〃Not now；〃 Nicholas said； putting his hand on Greydon's arm。 〃There'll be plenty of time for formalities later on。〃
The lawyer looked up at him from his half…bent position。 〃I'm sorry； Mr。 Linnear； but I have explicit instructions。 Mr。 Tomkin was quite clear on this point。〃 His hand dipped into the case； extracted an oversized buff envelope。 Nicholas' name was on the front。 The flap was sealed with a blob of red wax。 He handed it over。 〃Mr。 Tomkin requested that immediately upon his death you be hand…delivered this envelope and that you read it and sign it in my presence。〃
Numbly Nicholas looked down at the envelope。 〃What's in it？〃
〃It's a codicil。〃
〃A codicil？〃
〃To Mr。 Tomkin's will。〃 Greydon's face was anxious again。 He touched Nicholas on the wrist。 〃You must read it now； Mr。 Linnear。 It was Mr。 Tomkin's express wish。〃 His eyes seemed large and moist。 〃Please。〃
Nicholas turned the envelope over； broke the seal。 He lifted the flap； took out several sheets of paper。 The top one was in Tomkin's unmistakable oversized scrawl。 He began to read。
Nicholas；
You are no doubt slightly bewildered by recent events。 That is only natural。 I must confess to wishing that I knew just what emotions are dominant in you now。 I only know that were I there now I would never be able to tell them from your face。 In many ways you have been even more of an enigma to me than my daughters。 I suppose that is only right； since you have e to seem like a son to me。
Actually I think that is only fitting。 Wasn't it Oedipus who wished to kill his father？ Oh； yes； I know。 Because I have e to know you。 I have done many foolish things in my life； things on which I have little desire to dwell。
I had an unquenchable desire for power； and toward that end I destroyed people； whole panies even； to achieve my desires。 But； in the end； life has a way of making fools of us all； and why should I be any different？
Meeting you changed my life； I can't deny that。 Oh； at first not at all。 I was too iron…willed for that。 But I remember that long night while both of us waited for Saigo to e。 You were there to protect me yet； in my fear and desperation； I spoke to him； offering to sacrifice your life for mine。
It was only later that I realized how foolish I had been。 And I suspected that you had overheard me。 I'm right； aren't I？ Well； it doesn't really matter much to me now。 Only to say that after that night I began to understand you。 Some quality within you that I am still at a loss to define； began to creep through me like a mist。 I'm glad you came to work for me； just as I'm glad you will marry my daughter。 That； too； is fitting。
There are； perhaps； many reasons why you would want to kill me。 But perhaps the most insistent is for what happened to your friend； Lewis Croaker。 He thought I murdered Angela Didion； and you thought I had him killed。
You're wrong。 And you're right。
I'm truly sorry； but I cannot be more specific。 I've perhaps already said more than I should。 To business：
On the next sheet of paper you will find a legal document。 It assigns you sixty percent of the voting shares fo