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which seemed sunken in soft folds of meaty flesh。
Nangi expressed none of his dismay in either tone or movement； merely bowed formally as he introduced himself。
Makita nodded absently； said； 〃Good of you to e；〃 as if he knew precisely why Nangi had shown up。 〃It is time for my exercise。〃 He waved a hand in an aimless gesture。 〃I hope it will not inconvenience you overmuch if you acpany me outside。〃
Sugamo's version of 〃outside〃 was a narrow strip of courtyard between two buildings that rose up； bricked and barred； on either side of the lane。 At one end was a brick wall too high for any human being to climb but crowned with corkscrews of barbed wire all the same。 At the other end was a glassed…in guard tower。 The tarmac on which they walked was hard and unyielding。
〃Please excuse my silences；〃 Makita said。 〃I am no longer used to talking except to myself。〃 He walked with his hands clasped behind the small of his back； his enormous head down。 Already he evinced the shuffle of an old man。
Nangi was no longer certain of his course。 Could this burned…out husk of a man actually bee his sempai？ It seemed unlikely now that he had e in physical contact with him。 It seemed as if his best days were behind him。 Nangi was about to excuse himself； saying it was all a mistake； and accept his loss of face as karma； when Makita turned to him。
〃So what is it about me that has caused you to seek me out here in the depths of the netherworld； young man？〃
〃Kanryodo。〃 Nangi said it automatically； without thinking。 〃I am seeking my way in the new Japan。〃
〃Indeed。〃 Makita said nothing more for the moment； but his head had e up。 They menced walking again。
〃You work for which ministry？〃
〃MCI； Makita…san； in the Minerals Bureau。〃
〃Uhm。〃 Makita seemed lost in thought； but Nangi noticed that he was no longer the shuffling old man he had been at the outset of the walk。 〃I'll tell you what is most interesting to me； Nangi…san。 The Americans are now more interested in the burgeoning worldwide munist threat than they are in us as a defeated power。
〃When SCAP first set up shop here they were adamant about one point。 They claimed that since we had brought on our own economic woes； the Allies were not going to be responsible for setting us back on our feet； so to speak。
〃Interesting； Nangi…san； because as soon as they found out that due to the plete collapse of our international trade that tack would only ensure a munist revolution here； they switched one hundred eighty degrees and insisted that the state take plete control of all economic measures。
〃Good for us who practice kanryodo。 But even better； they removed the largest thorn in our side； the zaibatsu。 As you know； Nangi…san'； these giant cartels were our biggest rivals before and during the war。 They snatched economic power from us bureaucrats as often as they could。 But by doing this they ensured their own destruction。 SCAP rightfully decided that the zaibatsu were responsible for our wartime economy； and they have been banned。 The ministries have their power now； and it must be like having stepped into the promised land。
〃Now Japan is perceived as a bulwark for America against the further spread of munism in this part of the world。 As such it has e to my attention that SCAP's first priority is to make our postwar economy viable。〃 Makita stopped and turned to Nangi。 〃And do you know how they propose to do that； young man？〃
〃I'm afraid I don't； sir。〃
〃International trade； of course。〃 They began walking again； up and down beneath the gaze of the guards and the fulminating sky。 〃And that being the case； it seems obvious to me that the Ministry of merce and Industry has outlived its usefulness。〃
There was silence for a time。 It seemed to Nangi that outside the prison walls the wind had picked up； but it was difficult to
tell。 Certainly the sun had been occluded by dense； dark gray clouds。 He swallowed； aware that the barometer was falling。 A storm was ing。
〃Everyone at MCI is split into two camps；〃 Nangi said。 〃Half believe in the seisanfukka setsu； reconstruction through production； and the mitment to heavy industry buildup； the other half are advocates of the tsuka kaikaku setsu； the control of inflation and a mitment to light industries that would take immediate advantage of our cheap and large labor pool。〃
Makita laughed。 〃And which side do you adhere to； my advocate of kanryodo？〃
〃Actually to neither side。〃
〃Eh？〃 Makita stopped and peered at Nangi in the gathering gloom。 〃Explain yourself； young man。〃
Nangi steeled himself。 This was just one of the ideas he had been formulating that he could not articulate to anyone at the ministry。 Now he would see if Oba…chama had been right in guiding him to Makita。
〃It seems to me that we must devote ourselves to the expansion of heavy industry； if only for the greater value of the finished products。 But to ignore currency reform would； in my opinion； be a grave error； for if inflation is allowed to spread out of control it won't matter what kind of industry we are beginning to build。 It will all collapse like a house in an earthquake。〃
Makita stood up straight； and Nangi got the impression that the other man was looking at him as if for the first time。 In the ensuing silence； a rumble of thunder could just be discerned； muffled as it was by the high walls。 Once trapped in there； however； it reverberated in blurred overlapping waves like the echo of a temple gong； calling the gods for supplication。 It was very dark now； a premature evening or the first slide into an eclipse。 Nevertheless； Makita's eyes glittered fiercely like diamonds at the bottom of a well。
〃An interesting theory； Nangi…san。 Yes。 But to carry it out we would need a ministry that went beyond MCI； the Board of Trade； or any other now in existence； do you not agree？〃 Nangi nodded。 〃We would need a ministry with broader powers。 A large ministry whose primary function was the manipulation of international trade。〃 His head came around like that of a great predator。 〃Do you see that； Nangi…san？〃
〃Hai。 So desu。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because of the Americans；〃 Nangi said immediately。 〃If they are suddenly in such desperate need for us to bee a viable country again…to protect their Far East flank…then it will be their international trade which must pull us up。 Nothing else will work as quickly or as pletely。〃
〃Yes； Nangi…san。 It is the Americans we must make our closest； though unwitting； allies in this venture。 For SCAP will help us create a ministry able to wield denka no hoto； the samurai sword。 That status accorded us will bend both government and industry to our will。〃
Then rain came with a great surge of moisture and almost no wind because of the narrowness of the space。 Within moments they were drenched； but neither seemed to mind。
Makita came closer to Nangi and said； 〃We are from the same prefecture； Nangi…san。 That is as good as a blood bond。 No； better。 If I cannot trust you then I can trust no one； not even my wife； for her second cousin married one of my chief rivals not more than two weeks ago。〃 He huffed。 〃So much for loyalty among family。〃 The rain pattered against the tarmac； soaking their socks and making thei