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was a human being； just like all us slobs。 What I'm doing。。。 Well； I figure it's something she deserves。 If she can't get justice； then no one at all deserves it。〃
What Croaker termed justice Nicholas knew as honor。 Croaker knew where his duty lay and he had died in that pursuit。 It was a samurai's death； Nicholas knew that very well； but it somehow did not ease the sadness that welled up in him in odd quiet moments or erase the emptiness he felt inside him； as if a vital part of him had been abruptly severed。
〃Nick； you and Craig Allonge get along well。〃 Tomkin was speaking of the pany's chief financial operations officer。 〃You know that 1 rely on him a great deal。 Besides me； he knows more about the real running of Tomkin Industries than anyone。 He's close to its heart。〃 If Tomkin was trying to make a point； he did not finish。 Instead； he seemed to veer onto a tangent。 〃Craig's going through a particularly hard time now。 He's moved out of his house。 He and his wife aren't quite seeing eye to eye since she told him about her lover。〃
Tomkin moved involuntarily and sucked in his breath with the searing heat。 〃It's a helluva situation。 Craig told me he wanted to move into a hotel in town； but I wouldn't hear of it。 He's staying with me until he decides what to do。 I told him I'd help him with the divorce if that's what he wanted。 I'll also pay for a counselor if he thinks there's any chance of a reconciliation。〃 He closed his eyes。 〃But； more important for the moment； he needs a real friend。 I'm his boss； I can't be his friend； too； not in this way。 You like him； and I know he thinks the world of you。 And you know the real meaning of friendship。〃
Nicholas settled back in the scalding water； thinking； Westerners are so unpredictable。 They bluster one minute； insensitively ignoring civilized courtesies； then the next； show an inordinate amount of insight and caring。 〃I'll do what I can as soon as we get back；〃 he said。
At length； Tomkin turned his head toward Nicholas； and when he spoke his voice had unaccountably softened。
〃Nicky；〃 he said； 〃are you going to marry my daughter？〃
Nicholas； half…dreaming； nevertheless heard the touch of desperation in the other man's voice and wondered at it。 〃Yes；〃 he said immediately。 〃Of course。 As soon as we get back to the States。〃
〃You've discussed it with Justine？〃
He smiled。 〃You mean have I proposed？ Yes。〃 He heard Tomkin exhale deeply and opened his eyes； looked at the other man。 〃We have your blessing？〃
Tomkin's face darkened and he gave a harsh bark that Nicholas recognized as an anguished laugh。 〃Oh； yes； for all the good it might do you。 But don't tell Justine。 Christ； she might decide not to marry you just to spite me。〃
〃I think those days are over。〃
〃Oh； you're wrong about that。 Nothing will ever be right between me and my daughters again。 There's too much bitterness on their part； too much resentment of the way they think I've interfered in their lives。 Rightly or wrongly。 I'm not even sure I know which now。〃
Time to break the mood； Nicholas thought； and he clambered slowly out of the tub。 Tomkin followed； and they went through another door into a steam room。 They sat on hexagonal tiles while the long vertical pipe coughed and belched pockets of water that ran down； gurgling into the drain。 Then； with a great gout of sound； the steam began to shout from the open end of the pipe and talk became impossible。
Precisely five minutes after they entered； a warning bell rang。 They could no longer see one another though they sat fairly close together。 Periodically； the pipe running along the tiled wall to their left screamed like a banshee； delivering forth a new cloud of steam which wrapped itself around their shoulders with a new wave of heat。
Nicholas touched Tomkin on his beefy shoulder； and they went out through the second door set into the far wall。
They were in a fairly large； dimly lighted room that smelled faintly of birch and mentholated camphor。 Four long padded tables were aligned along the periphery of the room。 Two tables were occupied by dark lumps that they soon could make out as bodies。 A young woman stood by each table。
〃Gentlemen。〃 A male figure sat up on the table to their right。 He bowed slightly。 〃I trust you are more relaxed than when you entered our doorway。〃
〃Sato；〃 Tomkin said。 〃It took you…〃 But feeling the pressure of Nicholas' hand on his arm； he changed in midsentence。 〃This's a helluva way to greet us。 The Okura couldn't've done as well。〃
〃Oh； no； we cannot e up to that standard。〃 But Seiichi Sato nodded his head in acknowledgement of the pliment。 〃Linnear…san；〃 he said； turning slightly； 〃it is an honor to meet you at last。 I have heard much about you。〃 He swung his legs around； lay back down。 〃Tell me； are you pleased to be back home？〃
〃My home is now America； Sato…san；〃 Nicholas said carefully。 〃Much has changed in Japan since I left； but I trust there is more that has remained the same。〃
〃You missed your calling； Linnear…san；〃 Sato said。 〃You should have been a politician。〃
Nicholas wondered who was lying on the table against the far wall。
〃Lie down； please； gentlemen；〃 Sato said。 〃You have not yet pleted your course in relaxation。〃
They did as he bade； and immediately two more young women emerged from the semidarkness。 Nicholas felt the splash and roll of oil； then skilled hands kneading his muscles。
〃Perhaps you are already wondering why these girls are not Japanese； Linnear…san？ J3o not think I am not nationalistic。 However； I am a realist as well。 These girls are from Taiwan。〃 He chuckled。 〃They're blind； Linnear…san； could you tell that？ The prevailing explanation is that their affliction allows them a more sensitive sense of touch。 I am inclined to agree。 Ever since my first trip to Taiwan in '56； I have dreamed of bringing Taiwan masseuses here to Japan。 What do you think； Linnear…san？〃
〃Superb；〃 Nicholas grunted。 The girl was turning his rocklike muscles to butter beneath her talented fingers and palms。 He breathed deeply into the expansion； experiencing an almost dizzying sense of exhilaration。
〃I was obliged to remain in Taiwan for ten days while we jury…rigged a deal that was falling through。 I assure both you gentlemen that the only worthwhile features of that country are its cuisine and its extraordinary blind masseuses。〃
For a time then there was only the soft somnolent slap of flesh against flesh； the sharp camphor smell of the liniment that somehow increased the overall sense of drowsiness。
Nicholas' mind returned to the mysterious fourth man。 He was well acquainted with the convoluted byways of Japanese business structure； so different and alien to Westerners。 He knew that despite the fact Sato was this keiretsu's…enterprise group's…president； still there were many layers； many men in power； and there were those in the highest reaches of power in Japan who the outsider and even most Japanese never saw or knew about。 Was this one of those men？ If so； Nicholas had to believe Tomkin's admonition of extreme care on the long trip across the Pacific。 〃This deal with Sato Petrochemicals is potentially the biggest I've ever put together； Nick；〃 he had said。 〃The merg