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〃I'll look into it immediately； sir。〃
〃Good。〃 Oda seemed genuinely pleased。 〃My secretary will provide you with all the information you need on your way out。〃 He sipped at his tea again。 He had ceased to watch Nangi with such scrutiny and； in fact； had turned partially away from him to watch the busy streets through the window behind his desk。
〃Tsushd daiichi…shugi。〃 He said it softly； almost as if he had forgotten Nangi's presence。 〃An admirable goal。。。 and a necessary one。 But； really； it seems to me that in this new atmosphere of what we must term high…speed growth we will require an entirely new ministry。〃 He spun around to face Nangi suddenly； his eyes dark and …penetrating。 〃What do you think of that idea； Nangi…san？〃
〃I。。。 would have to hear more about it； sir；〃 Nangi said； to cover his shock。
Oda waved a meaty hand。 〃Oh； you know； a ministry whose primary function was to oversee and control all foreign trade； technology。 It would have the power to dispense preferential financing to those industries the government had chosen for development； and to grant those industries tax breaks to make their growth easier and speedier。〃 Oda was back to his careful inspection of Nangi。 〃Does this kind of ministry sound feasible to you； Nangi…san？〃
Nangi was caught between a rock and a hard place。 How should he answer？ Was Oda…san friend or foe？ Certainly he was an enemy of Nangi's superiors at MCI； but that was not really the issue at hand because from the moment he and Makita had formulated their long…range plans in the prison courtyard； Nangi had for all intents and purposes ceased to work for MCI。 At least in his heart。
The issue now was whether or not Oda was inimical to their plans。 He could be an enormous aid to Nangi and Makita if he agreed with their theories。 However； if Nangi leaked any part of the plan to this man and Oda turned out to be antagonistic to it； he would certainly destroy the nascent plot immediately。
What to do？
〃It seems clear to me；〃 Nangi said cautiously； 〃that until the Occupation Forces leave Japan we are bound to them hand and foot。 However； I have heard rumblings from Korea。 If the munists there carry out their threats to reclaim all of their country； I believe America will drag us into that conflict with them。〃
〃Oh？〃 Oda's eyes were heavy…lidded and the overhead lighting made it impossible now to see them clearly。 Nangi made a mental note to remember the effect。 〃How so？〃
〃I think they will have no choice； sir。 Obviously they will need all the paraphernalia of war： uniforms； vehicles； munication equipment； ammunition； and so forth。 Korea is a long way from America。 We are close。 It is my opinion that they will use our economy and put it to work for them。〃
〃That will be good for us。〃
〃Yes and no；〃 Nangi said； knowing he was taking a chance。
〃What do you mean？〃 Oda's face was absolutely impenetrable； and Nangi cursed the lighting。
〃Precisely this； sir： of course the business we will get will be good for our economy because there will be a high degree of turnover and therefore profits will blossom like cherry petals in April。 However； there is a danger inherent in the very speed required。 Our panies are all undercapitalized； and it seems to me that even a six months' delay in payment will be enough to send them into bankruptcy。 The business could kill us。〃
〃More tea？〃 Oda was refilling his own cup。 Nangi shook his head； he had already done his duty on that score。
Oda slowly stirred his tea with a tiny filigreed spoon。 〃How would you avoid the； er； negative aspects of this situation； Nangi…san？〃
〃Your new ministry would do nicely； sir。〃 There； it was done； Nangi thought； willing himsejf not to sweat。 It had been said yet not been said。 Now it was Oda…san's move； and depending on what it was； Nangi would have his answer。
〃You know； young man； that your own Vice…Minister Shimada would oppose the creation of a new ministry。〃
〃He is no longer my vice…minister； sir；〃 Nangi said； neatly sidestepping the trap。
〃Ah； yes。〃 Oda put down his cup。 〃Of course that is true。 It had slipped my mind for the moment。〃
And now Nangi had his answer and his heart soared。 Carefully he kept his surging emotions off his face。 〃The ministers of MCI struck me as perhaps a trifle overzealous in their protection of their own power。〃
〃Perhaps they have a right to be； Nangi…san。 Those most afraid of losing their power are always the most； er； sensitive about supposed threats to its security。〃
He and Yoshida are thinking of closing down MCI！ Nangi thought。 It was the only possible explanation for the line of this conversation。
〃If you were in my shoes； Nangi…san；〃 Oda said； his voice neutral； 〃who would you choose to be the chief of this new ministry dealing with international trade？〃
Now Nangi had to make his decision。 He had to decide for himself whether Oda was friend or foe； for he knew that once he answered the question there would be no turning back。
Nangi knew that there was no one in MCI he could turn to； knew； too； that as many friends as Makita had； their influence would not be enough to project him into the center of this new ministry without the blessing of Oda and Yoshida。
All of a sudden he felt released； his decision made for him。 〃My choice would be Yoichiro Makita；〃 he said without hesitation。
For a time there was silence in the office。 Oda tapped the bottom of the spoon against his pursed lips。 At last he said； 〃Vice…Minister Shimada would never stand for such a thing。〃
〃He won't be happy about the formation of the new ministry； either；〃 Nangi pointed out。
〃Oh； but this is different； Nangi…san。 Shimada and Makita are bitter enemies。 Creating the new ministry is one thing。 Installing Makita at its center is quite another。〃
〃May I inquire； sir； as to whether Makita…san would meet with your approval。〃
〃Well； it hardly matters； Nangi…san； you can see that。 There are things we all would wish for but cannot have。 One must learn to flow with the tide lest one be pulled out to sea and bee lost to land。〃
In the gathering gloom of the late afternoon outside； Nangi thought of his mabiki file and the list of incriminating evidence he had amassed against Shimada。 〃Correct me if I am wrong； sir； but in kanryodo there is a continual weeding…out process。〃
〃At the lower levels； yes； of course；〃 Oda said。 〃The outgoing vice…minister selects his replacement； and all others at the ministry from the new man's university class resign in order to give him a clear field of unquestioned authority。〃
〃And yet；〃 Nangi said carefully； 〃at the upper echelons there is； from time to time； also mabiki。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 Oda said； 〃but there we are generally talking of a scandal of some major proportions。 I can recall a time when those things could be manufactured。。。〃 A small smile creased his face。 〃There were artists for everything in those days。〃 His expression sobered and he shrugged。 〃But in the present there is always the Occupation Forces； and like hawks in the sun they are ever over our left shoulders； hovering； scrutinizing。〃 He shuffled some papers。 〃In any event； all the old artisans are gone。〃
〃If I understand you correctly；〃 Nangi said；