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ht。 He rose； excusing himself。
When they were alone； Nicholas said； 〃If it's of any consolation； I was involved with your daughter； I cared for her。〃
Now Dich swung his head in Nicholas's direction。 〃So you say you cared for Seiko； Chu Linnear。 Did you protect her？〃
〃In the end I think she protected me。〃
Dich stood up。 〃I need to go to make my rounds。 Will you acpany me？〃
They went through the open French doors out onto the terra…cotta terrace。 The wet smell of the plantation was everywhere。 Dich led them down brick steps and along a path that wound its way through a garden of colorful flowering plants。
At the end there was another set of steps that led down to an area of hard…packed earth。 No foliage grew here； and despite the early hour； the sun beat down on them without mercy。
They came upon a series of wooden sheds within which were stacked bamboo cages of all sizes and shapes。 Creatures writhed within them coiling and uncoiling； though some slept like the dead。
〃This snake farm is my hobby；〃 Dich said。 〃I e here to unwind from the tensions of the day or night。〃
Was he kidding？ Nicholas recognized cobras； kraits； puff adders； but there were all manner of Viperidae that he could not identify。 As they moved through the sheds； Nicholas saw huge aquariums filled with venomous marine snakes； appearing from behind rocks； undulating through thickets of translucent vegetation。
〃We make all sorts of sera here；〃 Dich said。 〃Cures for ague； fever； anesthetics for surgery； and suppressants for coughing fits and hyperventilation。 We extract not only the venom but the blood； gallbladder； brain gland； and flesh； which we desiccate and grind into powder to increase and sustain sexual energy。〃 Dich went from cage to cage。 〃In a way； these are like children。 You feed them； house them； raise them in most instances； and if you are not painstakingly cautious； they will sink their fangs into your flesh。〃
〃Seiko asked me to e see you。〃
Dich stared into the sun。 〃So at last I understand something about my daughter。〃
〃Do you know she was involved with a Yakuza oyabun named Tachi Shidare？〃
〃I know something of Shidare；〃 he said nonmittally。
〃She believed he had made a deal with another； more powerful oyabun in order to gain influence quickly in Tokyo。〃
〃Yes。 Foolishly； Shidare had done just that。〃 Dich led him farther into the estate； where rows of magnificent orchids rose from the dark； rich earth。
Nicholas； surrounded by the almost unearthly beauty of the exotic flowers； felt a tightness in his belly。 Now he had confirmation he had been seeking that Seiko had told him the truth。 You cannot forgive me for saving you from Tachi！ He was filled with rage and frustration。 He wanted her back； alive again and reunited with her father。 He saw now that this would have been the only way to heal them both。
〃Which oyabun was it？〃 he asked。 〃Chosa？〃
Dich； who was squatting beside a violet specimen speckled with gold； said； 〃The older； more experienced； more devious of the two。〃 He checked the earth around the flower stem。 〃Tetsuo Akinaga。〃
When Nicholas heard the name； he knew in his heart the enemy was Akinaga。 The brother of his childhood friends； the son of the man who had been his second father； who had introduced him to Koei。 Now Akinaga wanted him dead。 And this simple truth lay at the core of his hatred for the Yakuza。 It was what he could not tolerate and never forgive … that those who were closest to you were often your most implacable foe。
〃Tetsuo was always the brilliant tactician；〃 he said。 〃The Shikei clan was perennially second…best when he ascended to oyabun； but he soon rectified that situation。〃
Dich rose； dusted off his hands。 〃Do you know why he would want you dead？〃
〃I loved his father； Tsunetomo。 He was like a second father to me。 I know though Tetsuo outwardly revered his father； he was secretly contemptuous of his business acumen。 He couldn't wait for Tsunetomo to die so he could assume control。〃
〃Could that be the entire explanation for why he's e after you now？〃
Nicholas considered this。 Perhaps it explained why the attack came in the devious and oblique fashion typical of Tetsuo； Nicholas thought； but it didn't answer the question of why。 Was Tetsuo still jealous of his relationship with his father； or had there been some connection between Tsunetomo and the Colonel of which Nicholas was not aware？ He knew there was a great deal about his father's life in postwar Tokyo he knew nothing about。 He also realized this was because of deliberate actions on his father's part。 Why？ Too many questions he could not yet answer。
〃I think this is a question of no little import；〃 Dich said； sensing Nicholas's confusion。 He indicated they should walk along a path of flat stones that wound through the forest of orchids。 〃It's all a matter of allegiance； you see。〃 Dich hurried along the path at his peculiar pace。 〃Once； this was a simple affair。 You joined forces with someone and then honor dictated that you upheld that alliance until the end。 Now honor is a word that has been deleted from the current lexicon。 It seems as if it's every man for himself and a knife in the back for whoever does not e in first。 As a result； relationships slither away even before they can be formed。 They have bee； like Japan； superficial symbols； anachronisms that are manipulated like chess pieces to gain advantage。 And like chessmen they are often expendable。〃
Dich suggested they return to the veranda of the main house for drinks。 They sat at a round bamboo table； drinking icy beers。
〃It's a pity you're not here on business； Chu Linnear；〃 Dich said。 〃After decades of intolerable strife Vietnam now has a legitimate chance to bee a thriving business environment for panies of all nations。 I have nothing but optimism for the future。 It's just too bad that others here do not share my enthusiasm。〃
〃Do you think the munists will try again to dominate the south？〃
〃Absolutely not；〃 Dich said flatly。 〃They are in retreat； economically and morally。 They no longer； have a core； or a reason for being。 The people have seen their lies put into practice。〃 He shook his head。 〃No； Vietnam is safe from its old enemies。 It is its new foes which worry me。〃
As Dich continued to speak easily of his role in the new； open Vietnam； Nicholas could not shake the feeling that this mysterious man whom both Seiko and Tachi had been reluctant to talk about was the glue that held these particular dramatis personae together in a kind of magnetic frisson。 How and why were the mysteries Nicholas suspected he'd be well advised to solve before he made his final assault on Floating City。
Dich extracted two more beers from an ice chest； opened them； and slid one over。
〃I cautioned Seiko not to bee involved with the oyabun Tachi Shidare； but as you no doubt gathered； she was a willful child and often did not know what was best for her。〃
Dich drained his beer。 〃I know who you are； Chu Linnear； and I have a message for you。 It is from your friend Mikio Okami。〃
〃Okami…san is alive？〃
Dich smiled thinly。 〃Yes。 But for now he must remain in hiding； the danger to him still exists。 In fact； in some ways； it is greater