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After a time； Nicholas rose。 His face was calm； posed；
and his mind felt clear； free of the ropy restraints of a half hour before。 He went back to where Greydon was standing patiently holding the documents； and took them from him。 He read the letter all over again； fascinated anew by Tomkin's insight； he had obviously understood far more than his ugly American exterior had indicated。
When Nicholas got to the paragraph about Angela Didion； he paused。 Was Croaker right or wasn't he？ he wondered。 How could it be both？ Shock after shock。 Wheels within wheels。 The letter's overall tone was curiously Oriental in its acute introspection； its hints at deeper developments。
For a long time Nicholas stared at the letter。 He had long ago ceased to read。 His eyes might even have seemed blank to an uninitiated observer。 But the fact was he had begun to look beyond the words； to find the Void； and； in that peculiar form of meditation open only to the greatest of the world's warriors of the East； the answer to perhaps the largest change in his life。
Abruptly he looked up； and when his eyes made contact with Greydon's they were focused and sharp。 He carefully folded the letter and put it away in his inside jacket pocket。 〃What happens if 1 don't sign？〃 he said quietly。
〃It's all in the will；〃 Greydon said。 〃I cannot tell you the details； that would violate my trust。 I am authorized to say only that the board of directors will decide on the new president。〃
〃But who will it be？〃 Nicholas asked。 〃Will he be a good man？ Will he be in favor of this merger？ Will he manage the pany as Tomkin wanted？〃
Greydon smiled thinly。 〃What would you have me say； Mr。 Linnear？ Obviously Mr。 Tomkin wanted you to make your decision without such knowledge。〃 He looked at Nicholas for a moment。 〃However； just by your asking those questions I believe you have already e to a decision。〃 He produced a fountain pen and uncapped it。 Its gold nib shone in the light like a sword…blade。
〃Tomkin said there was something I must do。。。 if I sign。 You know what it is。〃
Greydon nodded。 〃That's correct。 As the new president of Tomkin Industries you are required to seek an interview with a man in Washington。 His name is C。 Gordon Minck。 I am in possession of his private number。〃
〃Who is he？〃
〃I have no idea。〃 The pen was waiting； hanging in the air。 Nicholas took it； noting its weight and balance。 He put the codicil down on Sato's desk and wrote his name on the designated line。
Greydon nodded his head。 〃Good。〃 He took the codicil； waved it about until the ink dried； then folded it away。 〃You will receive a copy after the will is read。〃 He stuck out his hand。 〃Good luck； Mr。 Linnear。〃 He ducked his head。 〃Now it's time I notified the pany and began to see to funeral arrangements。〃
〃No；〃 Nicholas said； 〃I'll do that。 And； Greydon； please wait until I speak to his daughters before informing the office。〃
〃Of course； Mr。 Linnear。 As you wish。〃 He left the room。
Nicholas looked across the expanse of Sato's office。 The others were discreetly not looking at him。
He went across to them and said； 〃Sato…san； Nangi…san； Ishii…san；〃 bowing formally； 〃I have been named to succeed Tomkin。 His pany is now mine。〃 He lifted his eyes to see their reaction； but they were being very careful and circumspect。 Too much had already happened today。
Sato spoke first。 〃Congratulations； Linnear…san。 I am so sorry that your good fortune es through these tragic circumstances。〃
〃Thank you。 Your concern is greatly appreciated。〃
Ishii also expressed his concern in a manner that managed to be sincere without being inquisitive。 Nangi said nothing。 That was all right。 Now it was time to forge ahead。 〃Unfortunately； I will be forced to return to the States immediately to see to the last rites。 Our discussions must be postponed。〃 They bowed all around。
〃Karma〃 Sato said。
〃But I have no wish to forestall our merger；〃 Nicholas said。 〃And I will be returning as soon as is proper。 But toward that end； I find I must leave with you some information； bizarre though it may seem to you。〃 Now he had their undivided attention。 Good； he thought。 Here goes。
〃I had decided not to bring it up now because I felt some more evidence was needed。 I thought I could be of some help in this。 Now； however； circumstances dictate otherwise。 Because I am leaving； because I hold sacred our mutual pact and do not want anything to disrupt it； I must now answer Nangi…san's question fully。
〃He asked if I had any knowledge of death linked to the Wu…Shing。 I said truthfully that I had never seen such a thing。 And yet I have heard of it。〃
〃In what circumstance？〃 Sato asked。 〃What happened to Ka…gami…san； truly？ We must know。〃
And Nicholas told them the ancient legend he had recounted to Tomkin。 Quiet electricity built itself in the air。
〃I think it's time for all of us to go；〃 Nangi said from out of the silence。
Uniformed attendants； called by the doctor； had arrived； and now they began to wrap Raphael Tomkin in silver…gray plastic swaddling。
Ishii left。 Then Sato and the doctor filed past but Nangi； his face as pale as a geisha's white rice…powdered visage； held back； his dark eyes locked on Nicholas' face。
They stood side by side。 〃In three days；〃 Nangi said； 〃the cherry blossom springs to life； blooming like a mystic cloud； heaven e to earth for a brief moment。 In its opening we find joy； in its fading we console ourselves with the richness of memories。
〃Is that not the way of all life？〃
With a dry crinkle； the silver…gray plastic enwrapped Raphael Tomkin's face in its code of eternal silence。
KYOTO/TOKYO SPRING 1946…AUTUMN 1952
When Tanzan Nangi returned from the consequences of war； released from the military hospital in which he had recovered while his country slowly lost the initiative in its desperate struggle against the West； he tried to go home。
He was set free of his antiseptic bed on March 11； 1945； almost a year to the day since he had been rescued from his makeshift raft。 The hospital had claimed him； the surgeon's scalpel probing his flesh time and time again in attempts to repair the nerve and muscle damage done to him。 Sight in his damaged eye was totally gone and there was nothing they could do but sew the lids in place to stop the interminable tic that had plagued him。
With his legs it was another matter entirely。 Three lengthy operations returned partial use of his limbs to him。 He would not； as the doctors had at first feared； be subjected to the indignity of amputation。 But； they told him； he would have to learn to walk all over again； and it would be a slow； painful process。 Nangi did not care。 He was grateful to the God Jesus to whom he had prayed in his darkness and who had seen fit to preserve his life。
Travel in those times was difficult for a civilian； even a hero of the war。 If you did not wear a uniform； if you were not on your way to a mobilization center； you were largely ignored。
Japan； in dire straits； had more on its mind。 The bureaucratic war machine's hegemony over the country was stronger than ever。
But the spirit of togetherness beneath the billowing clouds of war was everywhere and Nangi found a