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〃On the other hand； the Fourth Directorate handles all operations in Western Europe； the Sixth； North America； the Seventh； Asia。〃 He turned around abruptly。 〃I'm sure you get the picture。
〃The Kuriles； with their close proximity to Japan； are and always have been under the control of the Seventh Directorate。〃
Minck returned across the room to stand in front of Nicholas。
There was too much tension now in his frame to allow him to sit down。 〃Not more than ten days ago one of my young cryptographic geniuses broke one of the Soviet's new random access Alpha…three ciphers。 They're changed weekly so its usefulness is limited。 Still； he works on the Alpha…threes exclusively because only the highest priority signaling is done through them。〃
Minck stuffed his hands in his trousers pockets as if he had no idea what else to do with them。 〃Before I tell you what that signal contained； I must explain that for the past nine months we have been extending our best efforts in trying to determine who was running the Kuriles operation。
〃It should have been Rullchek； Anatoly Rullchek； the head of the Seventh Directorate。 And indeed we put a finger on his movements in and out of the Kurile Island mand post three or four times during that span。
〃But frankly； something smelled。 There was just too much GRU movement over there at the same time。 Rullchek I know well and he hates the GRU with the fierce fanaticism of the old regime。 Too； I kept getting reports of a certain Colonel Mironenko who was gradually assuming mand while Rullchek was home in Moscow seeing to his bureaucratic flank。 What was going on there that no one knew about？ I began to ask myself。
〃Was Gospadin Rullchek really running the ops； and if so； why would he cede even partial control to the GRU？ Because； Nicholas； I will tell you quite truthfully that the idea of a united KGB and GRU fills me with a deep sense of foreboding。
〃But then again the alternative； that Colonel Mironenko was running the show； seemed even more farfetched。 Surely the Kuriles ops was far too crucial to entrust to a young colonel。
〃So then what was the truth？〃
Minck now folded himself； perching on the arm of a white rattan chair。 One leg swung back and forth like a metronome as he spoke。 〃Now we return to the intercepted Signal。 It speaks of someone known as Miira。 It tells us that Miira is in place and is feeding regularly。 Which makes Control grow richer。〃
Minck withdrew his hands and pressed the palms together。 Nicholas noticed that they were sweating lightly。 〃This signal was sent from somewhere in the north of Hokkaido and was received by the Soviet Kuriles mand post。 This was at a time when Colonel Mironenko； not Gospadin Rullchek； was presiding。〃
Nicholas thought it high time he added to the proceedings。 〃And was this signal signed？〃
Minck's leg ceased its hypnotic arc for a moment and he nodded his head as if he were a professor approving of a pupil's question。
〃Oh； yes； indeed。 But we'll e to that in a moment。 First would you be so kind as to tell me if this word Miira means anything to you。〃
Nicholas thought a moment。 〃It would help if I saw the kanji character in order to be certain of which meaning was being employed。 But guessing just by the context； I would say it was Japanese for mummy。〃
〃Uhm。 Mummy。〃 Minck appeared to mull this over as if it were all new to him。 〃A mummy； you say。〃
There was no point in answering。
Minck lifted his head。 〃I'd say it was more like Dig Dug。〃
〃Dig Dug？〃
Minck seemed pleased to be able to explain something again。 〃An arcade game。 We keep a large supply two floors down to increase eye…hand coordination in stationary personnel。 The object of Dig Dug is to have your man burrow； burrow； burrow through the earth in order to score points。〃
〃You're saying that the person referred to as Miira is a mole？〃
〃In effect； yes。 The text makes sense taken in that light； doesn't it？ Miira is in place and is feeding…insert information there… regularly。 Of course Control grows richer。〃
〃But where is this mole？〃 Nicholas asked。 〃Did the signal give you a clue？〃
Instead of answering； Minck stood up。 He brushed down his trousers with his hands。 〃Tell me； did you ever wonder why Mr。 Tomkin was so insistent on the site of your proposed Sphynx plant being at Misawa？〃
Nicholas nodded。 〃Of course。 Especially when it became a source of contention in the negotiations。 I advised him to drop the idea； it was holding up consummation of the merger。 Then he gave me the facts and figures as to why we had to have the Misawa site。〃
〃Bullshit；〃 Minck said blandly。
〃What？〃
〃What he gave you…and Sato's people…is bullshit。〃 Minck lifted a hand。 〃Oh； the cost ratio study was done all right and all the figures're real。 That's just not the real reason for Tomkin's insistence on Misawa。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
'Tomkin's insistence on Misawa stemmed from the same source that caused Sato to resist giving it to you。 The pany is involved in an operation of its own。 We don't know what it is； only its name： Tenchi。 By its name alone； Heaven and Earth； we know it must be incredibly important。〃
〃And whatever Tenchi is； it's being done in Misawa？〃
〃We believe that to be so； yes。 Although the keiretsu maintains offices for a mining konzern in Misawa； we have confirmed information that there is not enough actual mining being done to warrant all the activity there。〃 Minck； the master of his profession； allowed that innocuous remark to hang before adding； 〃It's my opinion that the Russians also have this information。〃
Nicholas was instantly alert。 〃Miira？〃
〃Right now there's no way for us to know。〃 Minck stared directly into Nicholas' eyes and there was no mistaking his intent。
〃Oh； no；〃 Nicholas said。 〃That's not my line of work。〃
〃On the contrary。〃 Minck's eyes would not let him go。
〃But you have men trained for this。 Use them。〃
〃I have；〃 Minck said simply。 〃For nine months。 The last one was sent back in appalling disrepair。 There's no point in sending another of mine in； I've run out of cover。 Besides； my time's just about run out。〃
Nicholas thought about that for a moment。 〃Are you convinced that Miira is placed within the keiretsu？〃
〃Where else would the Soviets place Dig Dug to extract maximum information about Tenchi？〃
〃It's likely then that they're further along in solving the mystery than you are。〃
The ensuing pause was more forceful than anything Minck could have said。
〃Do you know anything else about the mummy？〃 Nicholas asked； knowing that he was one step closer to doing what Minck desperately wanted him to do。
〃Unfortunately； no。〃
〃Jesus； why don't you try blindfolding me； putting the donkey's tail in my hand； and spinning me around。〃
Minck stared at his polished nails。 〃I've heard it said that ninja…true ninja； that is…can kill people blindfolded； in the dark。 I've heard that they can infiltrate the most heavily guarded areas； appear and disappear at will into the night。 Disguise themselves in the most remarkable ways。〃
〃All of that's true；〃 Nicholas said。 〃But I won't do it for you。〃
〃Oh； it's not for me that you'll do it； Nicholas。 Not at all。 There is； as you call it；