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Seiichi Sato possessed big hara。
Kneeling across the low lacquer table from Nicholas； he had already taken the top off one of the small dishes and with artful dexterity was using his chopsticks to serve his honored guest。
Hara； strictly speaking； was the Japanese word for stomach； but it was also the symbol of a man being well integrated with all the aspects of life。
One of the primary lessons of all martial arts required the student to find that deep well of reserves of inner strength that resided in everyone just below the navel。 It was known as tan tien by the Chinese and tanden by the Japanese。
Both physical and spiritual power dwelled there。 A man with big hara was centered within himself； grounded to the elements of nature。 Japanese often observed that Westerners 〃bounced along〃 as they walked； evidence that they were centered only in their minds and therefore not attuned at all to the world around them。 Japanese； on the other hand； walked with a heavier stride； their gait flowing smoothly from hips and pelvis； a certain sign that they possessed hara。
Nicholas was intrigued by Sato's big hara； it was a great pliment to pay any Japanese。 He had flown the trail of 〃the endless night；〃 as the Japanese call it； chasing the darkness for twenty…one hours； leaving Washington at night； arriving at Narita the same night； one day later。
Mr。 Sabayama； one of Sato's many minions； had been waiting； bleary…eyed； for hours at the airport。 He murmured away Nicholas' apologies and； taking their bags； led them through the terminal to the waiting car。 Nicholas asked Mr。 Sabayama if he would take care of Craig Allonge at the Okura。 Mr。 Sabayama assured Nicholas that there was someone already at the hotel to see to all their needs； he would acpany Nicholas out to Sato…san's house on the edge of Tokyo。
Outside the hotel Nicholas spoke quietly to Allonge。 〃I may be out of touch for several days； Craig。 Even as much as a week。 I want you to stay in touch with New York and keep things running smoothly。 We've already had enough of a shakeup。〃
Now Nicholas could hear the boughs of the boxwood scraping against the side of the wood and tile house。 The air outside was clean and clear。 On the rain…soaked streets； the pedestrians bowed before the wind； only partially protected by their ama…gasa。 Briefly he saw the high arc of the Nihon…bashi as they crossed the river that flowed into the wider Sumida。 Parasols over the span reminded him of Hiroshige's prints； the great artist's images speaking to him from another age。
The summons to Sato's house came as no surprise to Nicholas considering the high…pitched tone of the Telex he had received from the man。 Three murders； unexplained and bizarre； were more than enough reason for this late…night rendezvous。 The Japanese were a practical people and in times of emergency even politeness might be bypassed for efficiency's sake。
But for Nicholas the summons held other echoes； ones that Sato could not know about or understand。 Being at the industrialist's home meant that Nicholas would see Akiko again and if his luck held even get to speak to her。
He remembered the gilt and crimson fan trembling like a flower in that extended split second just before she began to lower it and changed his life forever。 For it seemed clear to him now that everything he had done after seeing Akiko's face； every decision he had made； had been so that he could see her again。
He was drawn to her as a moth is to a flame； without reason or logic； with even some atavistic knowledge that the journey might end in destruction。
Nicholas was no longer the person he had once been when he and Yukio had been so madly in love。 Yet there was a piece of that madness still burning within him。 And he knew that he could not get on with his life； could not fulfill his karma； without first investigating this last blind spot within himself。 His entire life had been spent in the pursuit of pushing back the darkness。 He had found that he could control the chaos of life through the mastery of the martial arts。 Through that powerful conduit he had not only learned how to channel the natural forces which he had hitherto found frightening…for they were the forces which had robbed him of his father and mother…but also the spiritual forces whirling within himself。
Yukio's power over him was obvious。 She had spoken to his spirit before he had even known fully of its existence。 Her attraction had bypassed his conscious mind； the rational decision…making sector on which he had e to rely so heavily。 He was drawn to her and he did not know why。 He had bee frightened of her and of himself。 Oddly； this had served only to deepen his love； to etch it on his heart like a black tattoo that could never be erased。
As he raced through the rain…filled Tokyo night； spangled with pink and orange neon； he was conscious only of nearing Yukio again。 Impossible but true。 Which was the dream and which reality？ His body had quivered with the certain knowledge that soon he would find out。
But to his bitter disappointment Sato had told him in response to his query that Akiko was still away in Kyushu； visiting her infirm aunt。 He saw only Koten； the sumo bodyguard； lurking in the background like a well…trained Doberman。
Drinks first； then food。 At night tea was subordinate to liquor for the modern Japanese。 For this； too； they had the West to thank。
Nicholas thought Suntory Scotch vile but he drank it anyway； grateful that Allonge； half Scotch； was not here to witness firsthand what had been done to his nation's most treasured asset。
As was the habit of the Japanese； they spoke of everything but what was on their minds。 That would e later。 Sato mentioned that Nangi…san was on his way to Hong Kong to close an important business deal。
〃Would you consider it impolite；〃 Nicholas inquired； 〃if I told you that my opinion is that Nangi…san does not see this merger in a favorable light？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 Sato said。 〃We are drinking together； Linnear…san。 This makes us friends。 This binds us more than our business ever will。 Businesses are not like marriages； you know。 They rise and fall of their own accord。 The whims of the market。 Economic factors that have nothing to do with us。〃
Sato paused for a moment。 〃But you must try to understand Nangi…san。 The war left its imprint on him like a tiger's clawing。
Each day he wakes he cannot forget that we live with the atomic sunshine。 You understand me。 The fallout's effects seem never…ending。 He is childless and therefore without any true family but me because of it。〃
〃I am sorry； Sato…san；〃 Nicholas said。 〃Truly。〃
Sato eyed him； his wooden chopsticks suspended above the steaming food； three kinds of cooked fish； sashimi； glass noodles； steamed rice； cucumber； and sea urchin in sweet rice vinegar。
〃Yes； I'm sure you are；〃 he said at last。 〃I see quite a bit of your father in you。 But then there is the other side。 That part I do not know。〃 He resumed serving his guest。
For a time they ate in silence； with rapid； economical movements。 Sato drank more than he ate and he ate quite a bit。 It was obvious he wanted to talk openly and without restraint。 That was quite impossible to d