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r and Major。 Heavy condensation occluded the windows； and the windshield wipers were on。 Croaker could hear the sound over the street noise。
〃I want to get into Malory Enterprises；〃 he said。
Major gave him a rueful smile。 〃Already been tried； old son。 Afraid it's a dead end。 I wasn't sitting idly by while you were in a faint。 The offices house a legitimate import…export business。 If anything funny's going on there； we haven't been able to find it。〃
〃I know there is。 I have to …〃
The siren was loud now as they climbed into the Daimler。 Doors slammed and the driver went around and got in。 He put the car in gear as the flanking police vehicles fired up their ignitions。
〃You're in danger here； old son；〃 Major said； settling back against the plush seat。 〃I don't know what you're really involved in； and something tells me I don't want to know。 My advice to you is to take the first flight home。〃
Again； Croaker was torn。 He was so close to finding Okami； the Kaisho was here in London； and London was where Torch would be detonated in the ides unless Nicholas could stop it from leaving Floating City。
But Croaker had lost Okami and knew it was not enough to know he was somewhere in London。 Croaker had to know where within the city the Kaisho was hiding。 Only Vesper knew that。 And again he tried to get inside her mind。 She represented an enigma so profound he was drawn inexorably toward its center。 She was like a train wreck … a mortal disaster； at once horrifying and fascinating。 She was cruel； omnivorous； heartless … and yet it seemed as if she cared about Margarite and Celeste even as she sought to manipulate them。 And over it all loomed her relationship to Okami。 Was she working for him or against him； as Dedalus's mole inside Nishiki？ Now that he knew she had direct access to the Kaisho； he had to get to her at all costs。
And yet at this moment she was on her way back to Washington to vet Serman at DARPA。
Major put a hand on his arm。 〃Lewis； you've got some very bad blokes on your back。 I haven't the time or the budget to baby…sit you while you're here。〃
If only Major knew the threat Bad Clams had made against Margarite； Croaker thought。 He debated telling Major about Torch； but what good would it do？ Major could mobilize all his forces … assuming he could get his superiors to believe in the threat … and still be unable to stop its detonation。 In the process； the news would inevitably be leaked to the media and a full…scale panic would ensue。 Besides； anything he told Major would detain him here and he was now desperate to find Vesper。 He resigned himself to keeping silent on the subject。
He concentrated on keeping his voice level； 〃Perhaps you're right。〃
〃Good lad。 Let's get you to Heathrow with all possible haste。〃
The condensation had turned to a foggy drizzle。 Through it； he could see the ambulance as it careened around a corner。 It was heading for the emergency entrance and the police cars held back； waiting for it to pass。 The Daimler's driver had already nosed out into the street； and now he stood on the brakes in order not to get clipped。
Perhaps it was the squeal of the rubber on the slick tarmac that obscured the first burst of sound。 Croaker saw the flashes as a hail of semiautomatic gunfire spewed out of the open rear of the ambulance。
Even as he threw himself sideways he saw the driver sunk against the curbside door as clots of his blood shot against the inside of the Daimler's roof。 Croaker jammed his elbow against the door handle； grabbed it； jerked it open。 He tumbled to the ground； scraping his knees as he reached up to haul Major out after him。
The car shot forward as the dead driver's foot came off the brake pedal； and Croaker's arm was almost wrenched out of its socket。 But he had hold of Major's tweed lapels with his biomechanical hand； and he torqued it with the movement of the car； knowing that if it had been flesh and blood； it would be fractured now。 But the titanium and polycarbonate； both tough and flexible； did their job； and he managed to hold on to his Mend as the Daimler shuddered； then with an almost human cry careened obliquely across the street； smashing into a pair of parked cars。
The ambulance was already gone； shooting around the far corner in a squeal of tires。 One of the police cars was puffing out in pursuit； the other was blocked by the wreck the driverless Daimler had made of itself。
Croaker could hear the shouts of the policemen and the clatter of their running feet。 The cold rain was soaking him； running down his collar and into his undershirt。 He had turned Major over； saw the mess of blood right away。
〃Ah； Christ；〃 he breathed。 And then； lifting his head； shouted； 〃A doctor！ We need a doctor！〃
A crimson swath had been stitched across Major's chest and right shoulder。 Blood was seeping everywhere； flecks of it across his cheeks and in his hair。
Major's eyes focused on Croaker； his lips moved。 〃I told you； old son。〃
〃Shut up！〃 Croaker said； holding him tight。 〃You look like the entire Green Howards trod on you。〃
Major tried to smile。 〃Feels like it。〃 His chest was fluttering。 〃You do as I say now； old son。 Get out of England before something serious happens。〃
〃I told you to shut up！〃 Major was cold； and Croaker held him tighter。 Where the hell was a doctor？ They were only yards from the hospital。
Major began to shudder。
〃Just you bloody well hang on or I'll …〃
Major's eyelids closed。 A deep rating came from inside his chest。
〃Tom！ Tom！〃
The fog obscured the rooftops； rain dripped dolefully from the bare tree branches； the smell was of scorched rubber； cordite； and death。 Sirens sounded； the crackle of radios forming like lightning； the pounding of feet across the pavement。
〃All right； it's all right；〃 someone said as hands began to gently pry Croaker away from his friend。 〃Give him to us now。〃
15
Tien Giang/Tokyo
The day was hot and still。 Out on the river； boats plied the brown water。 Workers were hunched over the banana plants； their capable fingers feeling for mature hands of fruit。 Somewhere； high up； a monkey began to chatter； setting the serpents to slithering over one another。 Perhaps they scented it。
Nicholas had e down from the veranda lost in thought。 Now he turned。 Someone had emerged from the depths of one of the sheds。 Several kraits scented her and became excited； writhing up the side of their bamboo cage before dropping again to the floor。
You must be healed。
In a sense； he knew who was waiting for him here。 Just as he had been waiting for her。
You must be healed。 He suspected that Dich had said the same thing to her。 But now； at the edge of the abyss； he hesitated； wondering if he was prepared for this confrontation。 And； e to think of it； how in hell had Dich known he would eventually wind up here？ Was this also part of the Kaisho's vast scheme； the consequence of； as Dich had said； pulling strings from the shadows of exile？
〃Why do you hesitate？〃 said the voice from his past 〃Does seeing me again seem so frightening？〃
And then he knew that the manner in which he had arrived here was irrelevant。 Kaisho's scheming or mere happenstance； what did it matt