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etermined he would take her up on it when a lull in the negotiations permitted it。
〃I would be honored； Miss Yoshida。〃
Inside the car； as Junior hurled them into the stifling traffic on
the outskirts of the city； Tomkin leaned forward； staring out the gray…tinted windows at the growing expanse of the steel and glass forest rising from the borders of the farmers' green fields。 〃Jesus；〃 he said； 〃it's just like New York。 When the hell're they gonna stop building？ I e twelve thousand miles and I feel like I never left home。〃 He sat back with a sudden lurch； a smirk on his face。 〃Except； of course； that you and I're the tallest creatures for a thousand miles； eh； Nick？〃
Nicholas gave his employer the semblance of a nod and in the …same motion said to Miss Yoshida in the front of the car； 〃Gaijin are often rude without meaning to be； eh？〃 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃What else can you expect from ill…bred children。〃
Miss Yoshida covered her bowlike lips with the palm of her hand； but her mirth was obvious in her sparkling eyes。
〃What the hell're you two chattering about？〃 Tomkin growled； feeling left out。
〃Just informing the natives that it isn't only height that's out…sized on foreign devils；〃 Nicholas lied。
But he'd struck the right chord。 〃Hah！〃 Tomkin guffawed。 〃You're damn straight！ Very good； Nicky。〃
Just over an hour later； the three of them stepped off the high speed elevator at the summit on the triangular Shinjuku Suiryu Building。 All of Tokyo lay shimmering like a dusky multifaceted jewel beneath them。 Suspended six hundred and sixty feet…fifty…two stories…in the air； Nicholas was amazed at the profusion of ultra…modern skyscrapers that had sprung up in his absence。 They shot from the bedrock pavement like a Mandarin's glittering fingernails； lifting the Shinjuku District of downtown Tokyo into the dome of the heavens。
Tomkin grimaced as he stopped them and； pulling Nicholas close beside him； whispered； 〃ing here always reminds me of cod liver oil。 When I was a kid my father insisted I take two spoonfuls every morning。 He kept telling me it was for my own good； just like he did when he beat me if he found me dumping the stuff down the toilet。 Then I'd have to gag on that vile stuff anyway。〃 He grunted heavily。 〃Huh； you can eat your raw fish with these barbarians； Nick。 I've still got the taste of cod liver oil in my mouth。〃
Miss Yoshida led them through a set of wood…paneled doors； the oversized knobs carved into the Sato crest。 Down a corridor softly lit by indirect lighting。 Edo period ukiyo…e prints by Hiro…shige； the master of rain； Hokusai； the master of the countryside； and Kuniyoshi； the master of Japanese myth； hung on the walls。 A dove gray carpet was beneath their feet； acting as a damper for the bustle of work going on all around them； drifting out from a multitude of office doorways。 Teletypes chattered softly； and in another section a battery of electronic typewriters were going full speed。
Miss Yoshida stopped them before another set of doors。 These were of thick slabs of ash burl fitted together with wide wooden pegs in the traditional Japanese manner。 The handles were of roughly worked black wrought iron； reminding Nicholas of the riakon…the inns of the countryside…he had stayed in。
〃Mr。 Sato knew you would have a strenuous trip；〃 Miss Yoshida said。 〃Such a journey is fatiguing even to the strongest of constitutions。 That is why Junior has gone on to the Okura with your luggage。 He will see to your rooms。〃 Her arm raised； her hand held palm upward。 It was a simple gesture； yet elegant for all that。 〃Here you may relax without concern or worry。〃 Now her cherry blossom lips pursed in a smile。 〃If you will be so kind as to follow me。〃
Tomkin's angry voice checked her。 〃What the hell's going on here？〃 His eyes were belligerent。 〃I didn't e halfway round the world to scorch my flesh in some sitz bath while the big man goes about his business。〃 He tapped his black crocodile attaché case。 〃I've got a merger to consummate。〃 He snorted。 〃This other stuff can wait as far as I'm concerned。〃
Miss Yoshida's face showed nothing of what she must be feeling。 The smile was still on her face and to her credit it had not frozen there。 〃Mr。 Tomkin。〃 she began； 〃let me assure you that…〃
〃Sato！〃 Tomkin's strident voice overrode her quiet controlled tones。 〃I want to see Sato now。 He can't keep me cooling my heels like some goddamned functionary。 Raphael Tomkin waits for no one！〃
〃I assure you； Mr。 Tomkin； no disrespect is intended；〃 Miss Yoshida pressed on； struggling to contend with this irrational outburst。 〃My task is to serve you； to help you relax； to put your mind into the proper frame of…〃
〃I don't need you or anyone else to tell me what my frame of mind is！〃 Tomkin thundered； taking a step toward her。 〃Now you get Sato in here or…〃
Nicholas stepped forward； ing between them。 He could see that despite herself Miss Yoshida's face had gone ashen beneath the artful cosmetics。 Her hands were shaking。
〃What d'you think you're doing； Nick？〃
Nicholas ignored Tomkin； using his own powerful frame to move his employer back。 At the same time he posed his face； smiling easily； projecting his own relaxation in order to short…circuit the woman's obvious alarm。
〃Please excuse the gaijin；〃 he said in Japanese； not wanting to use Tomkin's name。 〃He's had a long； unfortable trip。〃 He lowered his voice and went on； keeping the pressure on Tomkin as he did so。 〃The truth is； Miss Yoshida； his piles are bothering him and he's like a dog who's sat on a warrior anthill。 He snaps at anyone and everyone。〃 He grinned。 〃And he hasn't the sense to be cordial to so dutiful a blossom but in his pain seeks out to blindly crush the beauty before him。〃
Miss Yoshida gave Tomkin a wary look before she bowed； thanking Nicholas。 〃Sato…san will be with you shortly；〃 she said。 〃His wish is only for your fort and ease before the rigors of negotiations begin。〃
〃1 understand pletely； Yoshida…san；〃 Nicholas said kindly。 〃It is most thoughtful of Sato…san to be concerned with our total well…being。 Please be so kind as to extend our pliments to him。〃 He bumped his muscular shoulder against Tomkin's struggling form。 〃And as for the gaijin； leave him to me。〃
Miss Yoshida bowed again； relief flooding her face； this time she made no attempt to mask her feelings。 〃Thank you； Linnear…san。 I cannot think what Sato…san would say to me if he knew I had not performed as he had anticipated。〃 Half running； she squeezed by them both and hurried back down the corridor。
Tomkin felt a lessening of the awesome pressure brought to bear on him and broke away。 His face flushed。 He raised a sau…sagelike finger。 〃You owe me an explanation； Nick； and it goddamned well better be a good one or…〃
〃Shut up。〃
It was not said particularly loudly； but some hidden tone seemed to strike Tomkin's nervous system。 His mouth snapped shut。
〃You've done enough damage to us already；〃 Nicholas said； struggling as Miss Yoshida had to keep his emotions under control。
〃Damage？ What are you…〃
〃You lost us incalculable face with that woman。 We'll both count ourselves lucky if she hasn't gone straight to Sato with the af