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And yet； how could he have not known？ I can't say I blame him。 His own words condemned him。 He knew Chosa too well。 The man was too deeply spiritual to allow himself to be paraded through the media； humiliated in court； and confined in prison。 Given the choice； Ushiba knew that he himself would have chosen seppuku … ritual suicide。 To die in one's own way at one's own time had about it a dignity impossible in other circumstances。 To be at the mercy of one's enemy； to have life reduced to the space of a barred cell； was unthinkable。
I've killed him。 The thought was like a knife blade in his bowels。 Chosa had betrayed their friendship； yes； he had betrayed the inner council and endangered the Godaishu； all in his pursuit of retribution against Nicholas Linnear。 But was that enough to sentence a man to die？ It had to be。 Too late to believe anything else now。 Too late。。。
〃Ushiba…san？〃
With an effort； the Daijin turned away from the darkness。 He blinked in the light of the kitchen。
〃It's very late and I am exhausted from a long day。〃
Ushiba nodded； knowing that Tanaka Gin said this for his benefit。 Tanaka Gin would never shame him by asking； Are you all right？
〃I； too； am exhausted。 But these days sleep escapes me。 It is as if I've forgotten how。〃
Tanaka Gin poured himself another drink。 〃I go through periods where rest seems as remote as a vacation in Paris。〃 He shook his head。 〃I am a poor host。 Can I get you something？〃
〃I'm afraid nothing appeals。〃
They went into the living room； Tanaka Gin lighting lamps as he went； he would permit no overhead lighting in the apartment because； he said； it provided no warmth。 They sat facing each other in deep Western…style chairs。
Ushiba watched Tanaka Gin's face； which was gaunt and pale。 〃You think you've failed。 That you should have been more vigilant； but how can you know what is in a man's mind？〃
〃Yes； of course。〃 Tanaka Gin took some Scotch into his mouth； shuddered； 〃Oblivion。 When you witness another's death； you see reflected in it your own end。〃
Ushiba； with sudden insight into this formidable man； said； 〃It's only when you fear something too deeply that it can harm you。〃
〃Perhaps。 But all too often it seems that one has no choice。〃
Now he was convinced that Tanaka Gin had unwittingly disclosed his reason for being a prosecutor。 It was the same reason that some men went to sea as a way of life： they feared it； and in seeking to master their dread； they contrived to control the circumstances of it。 The prosecutor's morbid fear of death was bridled by his daily proximity to it。
〃Was it bad？〃 Ushiba asked after a small silence。
〃Death is always bad。 No matter the person or the circumstance。〃
Ushiba thought that an interesting response from a Tokyo prosecutor； especially one such as Tanaka Gin； who had brought many a dangerous malefactor to justice。
〃But perhaps this case proves the exception to your rule。〃
Tanaka Gin looked up from his Scotch。 〃How so？〃
〃I had always suspected that Chosa was being slowly corrupted by American ethics； American values。 I've no doubt you saw the Marilyn Monroe replica in his apartment。 That dress is the original。 It was made for her。 It cost Chosa more than your yearly salary。 Chosa； I feared； was being cynical of the new Japan。 The land of the empty symbol； he used to call it。 I thought he'd lost faith in it。〃
〃I see。 So the way he chose to die … his last gesture； in effect … affirmed his faith。〃
〃Yes。 He chose to the like a modern…day warrior。 Death before dishonor。〃
〃And that makes his death； what？ More bearable or understandable？〃
Ushiba could see Tanaka Gin struggling with the philosophical understanding of Chosa's death … and with that single ending a perception of death itself。 Ushiba could see that his answer might be of profound import to this man。 〃Neither；〃 he said simply。 〃But it does give it form and substance。 It wasn't just an empty symbol。〃
16
Virginia/Tokyo/ Vietnamese Highlands
The DARPA laboratory for experimental nucleonics in which Douglas Serman worked was in the wilds of rural Virginia。 Fifty acres assured the government a minimum of nosy neighbors； and for those curiosity seekers on the main road； the discreet sign for THE KNIFE RIVER RIDING ACADEMY； BY APPOINTMENT ONLY kept everyone else at bay。 Of course a quarter of Washington knew a DARPA facility existed out here； but few asked questions about it。
In the seventies； at the height of the war in Vietnam； some arm of the federal government now long buried in a firestorm of red tape had conducted plex experiments in chemical warfare on animals here； mainly rats； but also； it was rumored； on a number of unwitting armed…services personnel。 At that time； six separate lines of electrified barbed wire ringed the perimeter of the facility； which was patrolled by guard dogs and armed troops。 In that department； at least； nothing much had changed； and it was a foolhardy individual who considered breaking into the place。 In fact； no one had； not even during the worst moments of the now defunct Cold War； and the zealots involved in the hot war of global terrorism were； frankly； more concerned with the high…profile destruction of public buildings and priceless artwork than they were with top…secret installations where a total news blackout would negate their raison d'être。
Deplaning； Croaker had wanted nothing more than to sleep for a week； but there were only thirty…six hours to the fifteenth。 Besides； he was too busy keeping an eye out for Bad Claim's people to be inclined to stay in one spot for very long。
A colleague of Major's had promised to radio the plane the moment Tom had emerged from surgery and was stable； and an hour before they had touched down in Washington； while those around him were lined up for the lavatory； a fresh…faced flight attendant had handed him a folded slip of paper with the news。 It had been too soon for a long…range prognosis； however。
Croaker had phoned Margarite from the gigantic octopus of Duties Airport。
〃Lew； what …〃
〃No time； honey；〃 he had said breathlessly。 〃I want you to get Francie and get on the road。〃
〃But I …〃
〃Do as I say！〃 It had taken all his willpower not to shout it at her。 His heart was hammering in his chest。 If Bad Clams had made an attempt to hit him in London； could his threat to take Margarite's life be far behind？ He didn't know； but he could not take the chance。 〃Take a couple of muscle boys with you。〃
〃Lew； you've got to tell me something。〃
〃Margarite …〃
〃For the love of God； Lew； are you all right？〃
〃For the moment； but let's just say your enemy has bee my enemy。〃
〃Caesare？〃
〃Bingo。 Please； Margarite； do as I ask。〃
〃Yes； of course； but； Lew …〃
〃Give my love to Francie；〃 he said hurriedly as he quartered the terminal again with his eyes。 〃When you get to wherever it is you're going； call me and leave a message。〃 He gave her the Looking…Glass phone number。 〃But don't leave an address。 Find a phone booth and leave its number along with a time each day when you'll be there； okay？〃
〃Yes； yes； but Lew … God； don't hang up yet。 Lew？〃
He could hear her quick breathing。 He had frightened her。 Good。