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〃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；〃 Dich said softly。 〃But； for now； that is beside the point。 Listen to what I say。 There are events that must occur before he can return。 These events would not be happening had he stayed in place as the Kaisho。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
Dich inclined his head。 〃I think you understand quite a bit more than you're letting on。 You know something of how Okami thinks。 How could you not？ He learned it from your father。〃
Nicholas said nothing； and Dich was content … even determined … to press on while they were alone together。
〃Like the Colonel； Okami thinks in great leaps … leaps of faith； some have called it。 He is a strategist of the highest order。 When he determined the strength of the plot against his life and that of his partner Dominic Goldoni； he developed a counterplan。 He was too late to save Goldoni； which was a tragedy for all of us。〃
Nicholas noted the 〃us；〃 and now … had Dich been right about this？ … he began to see the skein forming； a widening web that overlapped cultures； national boundaries； even ideology。 Something extraordinary was out there； spinning in the darkness； and he was acutely conscious that he was at last being given access to it。
〃You're a third partner； aren't you？ It was Okami； Goldoni； and you against the Godaishu。〃
Dich nodded； almost impatiently。 〃Of course。 My relationship with Okami goes back many years； but for now that is irrelevant。 Okami saw the changes being wrought in the Godaishu。 It was his creation； after all； so he could see the corruption beginning like veins of bacteria in tissue。 The power of the Kaisho was being eroded from within the inner council； but there was no way of determining the enemy without bringing total civil war within the Godaishu and the Yakuza。 This consequence was anathema to Okami； who had agreed to ascend to the level of Kaisho precisely to keep the peace among warring oyabun。
〃So he disappeared。 He knew the consequences of his absence； he could sense it through his ability with koryoku。 But he also determined that he could more effectively pull the strings that needed to be pulled from the shadows of exile。
〃His enemy will be revealed。 The misshapen power politics that has infected the inner council will be purged； and the office of the Kaisho will be restored。〃
〃How can you be certain of all this？〃
Dich pretended not to hear Nicholas。 〃I know where you are headed and I want to do what I can to prepare you。〃
〃Prepare me？ I don't understand。〃
〃You are going where no one has gone unbidden and survived。 Before you make such an attempt you must be healed。〃
Nicholas felt a kind of electric crackling along his arms and spine。 Tiny hairs fluttered at the base of his neck。 Why didn't he ask Dich what he was talking about？ Was it because part of him already knew？
Dich glanced at his watch。 〃I am required in another part of the estate for a little while。 I could see you liked my children。 Go to the snake farm； you know the way。 You need to satisfy your curiosity。〃
〃You look like a regiment of the Green Howards trod on your face。 I told you to be careful； old son。〃 Tom Major； in tweed overcoat and porkpie hat； stood in the hospital room； looking at Croaker like a nanny whose charge has been extremely disobedient。 A bination of concern and relief was on his face。
〃So you did； dad。〃 Croaker threw the covers off his lower body。 〃Why don't you make yourself useful and exert your influence to get me the hell out of here。〃 His body ached all over as if he had been thrown from a speeding semi； but his ribs had sustained no fracture； and all in all； he was in one piece。
〃Already organized。〃 Major took Croaker's clothes from the closet； handed them to him。 〃You'd bloody well make it quick。 The hospital has had several inquiries after your health by people you're not up to dealing with right now。〃
Croaker； perched on the edge of the high bed； groaned as he lifted each leg to insert them into his trousers。
〃Need any help； lad？〃 Major said jovially。
〃Don't you dare。〃 Croaker gingerly put on his shirt； then buckled his belt。 〃What kinds of inquiries are we speaking of？〃
〃The worst land； I'm afraid。〃 Major shifted from one foot to another； either unfortable with the subject or anxious to be moving。 〃Lewis； you aren't involved with someone in the American underworld； are you？〃
〃Why would you say that？〃
〃Because I know at least one of the blokes who's so concerned about your health。〃 Major held up Croaker's overcoat so he could get into it easily。 〃He works for Caesare Leonforte； the same person who employed the man with whom you had your run…in in Holland Park。〃
〃Run…in？〃 That classic British understatement。 〃I killed the bloody bastard〃
〃That you did。〃 Major led the way to the door； held it open。 〃But you must be getting old； in the process he almost did you in。〃
They went down the quiet hallway； past open doors。 You could smell the sickness along with the nauseatingly sweet scent of anesthetic。 Major pressed the button for the elevator。
〃What aren't you telling me； Lewis？〃
〃Everything that might promise you；〃 Croaker said； stepping into the vast elevator。 A man on a gurney was being handled by an orderly。 He was hooked up to blood and saline。 Just ing down from surgery。 Croaker surmised。 He didn't look in particularly great shape。
〃Say no more；〃 Major said as the doors dosed and they began to descend。
The elevator stopped at the recovery…room floor and the orderly rolled the gurney out。 Two men stepped in。 The doors closed。
Major stood with his back against the rear wall； the two men stood in front of the doors。 Out of the corner of his eye Croaker saw Major's hand unobtrusively disappear into the pocket of his tweed overcoat； and his attention concentrated on the two men。 They were tall and broad…shouldered in tan winter Burberry storm coats with the cashmere linings showing around the collars。 One had a bald spot much like a monk's tonsure。 They didn't talk to one another； but stood silent； their hands jammed into their pockets。
Croaker was aware of an electrical charge in the air； he could feel the tension e into Major's torso； and he silently extruded the stainless…steel nails in his biomechanical fingers。 Major gazed straight ahead at the backs of their necks； as if he could bore a hole in their flesh。
The door opened on the main floor and the men got out。 They did not turn around but headed straight for the exit。 Croaker and Major followed at a discreet distance。
〃Anyone you know？〃 Croaker asked。
〃Just playing it safe；〃 Major said； relaxing somewhat。 He signaled to several plainclothesmen with electronic earbuds in place。
Outside； traffic whizzed by。 A duty wind was gusting； and Croaker could hear a siren wailing as it came closer； and he was back again lying in Holland Park while the white…faced bobby said to him； A police ambulance is on its way。
Two London City police cars were bracketing a shiny black Daimler。 A uniformed driver held open the rear door for Croaker and Major。 Heavy condensation occluded