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And he well understood the wisdom of his words because he had answered。 When the game bees a burden； the rules change and the hunter is most in danger of being the tainted。 He remembered his feeling of renewed power as he had said； One is born smelling the blood。
That statement； so filled with the arrogance of youth； was simply not true。 The blood was what had made him so certain that Chosa's and Akinaga's vision of the Godaishu was sound； that their diatribes against the despotism of the Kaisho had to be acted upon。 Only now could he see how the bloodlust for power had bonded all of them。
With Chosa and Shidare gone he could not help thinking that they would not have e to these dire straits had they not made the tacit decision to do away with the Kaisho。 Mikio Okami's firm hand would have led them down an altogether different path。 It was up to him； now； to steer a dear path for the Godaishu； and the council。
〃What happened to the young oyabun？〃 he said now。
Akinaga shrugged。 〃It was not of my doing。 Shidare was struck down by an assassin in Yoshino。〃
〃Yoshino？ What was he doing there？〃
The two men were sitting in the sparely furnished main room of Tomi； the obelisklike concrete structure Akinaga had built for himself as a retreat。 It rose on a two…hundred…square…foot lot in the center of Tokyo。 Tomi； from the word meaning a kind of watchtower that could mand a wide view； was one of the oyabun's various secretive quarters。 Like a mander during wartime； he had many avenues of escape from the pressures of his world。 A set of steep stone stairs rose from street level beside a narrow parking space。 Above was the room they were in； along with a tiny kitchen。 A black iron spiral staircase in one corner led up to the bedrooms and bath。 Ushiba had never found it a fortable space； but it was efficient in a manner befitting a Spartan mander。
Blocks of beautiful kiaki … the only wood in the room … had been carved into a low table at which they knelt。 Tea and cakes had been laid out when Ushiba arrived。 Certainly； Akinaga had not prepared them； it was his subtle way of bringing to Ushiba's attention that there was someone else in the house； unseen but available if needed。
〃Shidare was in Yoshino doing his job； one suspects；〃 Akinaga said。 〃Tracking down Nicholas Linnear in order to kill him。 It seems that； like Tomoo Kozo； Shidare was unsuccessful。〃
〃Now we're in for it；〃 Ushiba said。 〃If Linnear knows Shidare was Yakuza and； further； a member of the inner council； he cannot fail to know where to e next。〃
〃Don't you find it interesting；〃 Akinaga said； shrewdly changing the subject； 〃that Linnear would be in Yoshino？ Why？ Perhaps that is where the Kaisho is in hiding。〃
〃Our first concern should be Linnear。 Because of Chosa's foolhardy act Linnear is sure to e to Tokyo looking for you。 I can help with… 〃
〃I think you have done just about enough； Daijin。〃
Ushiba looked in mute disbelief at Akinaga。
〃With Chosa and Shidare gone； there is only me； Chief Minister。〃 The oyabun leaned over the kiaki table。 〃Your position on the inner council was always of an advisory nature； but over the past year it has not been lost on me that your attendance； opinions； and influence have been on the rise。 It began even before we drove Okami from the Kaisho's position； and ever since then you seem bent on gaining power exponentially。〃 Akinaga's face twisted。 〃You see； that's what this little exercise has been in aid of。〃
〃What exercise？〃 A rime of ice was forming in Ushiba's lower belly。
〃I gave you Chosa on a platter； and much to my satisfaction you ate him whole。〃 Akinaga gave a booming laugh。 〃Imagine！ I turned you against your friend！ Amazing； really。〃
Ushiba was ashen faced 〃You'd better explain yourself。〃 He could not quite manage to hold his voice steady。
〃It was I who acted on the plot to assassinate the Kaisho。 That weakling Chosa tried to steal my thunder。〃
〃But the plot failed。〃
〃It drove the Kaisho into hiding； it stripped him of all power and influence；〃 Akinaga spat。 〃Okami might as well be dead； the result is the same。〃 He took out a cigarette； lit up leisurely。 〃Then I suborned Shidare。 I convinced him that he had no power unless he aligned himself with a member of the inner council。 He was a pragmatic young man and he agreed。 So I sent him off to do away with Linnear。〃
〃You！〃
〃Of course！ I knew that Shidare was tanjian。 Only another tanjian had a chance to destroy Linnear； but I suppose I discounted Shidare's youth。 He failed。〃
〃But Chosa …〃
〃Ah； Chosa！〃 Akinaga luxuriated in the smoke from his cigarette。 〃Chosa and I were due to e to blows sooner or later。 His ambition was to take over the Kaisho's position … and so is mine。 The inner council wasn't big enough for the both of us。〃
〃But he had too much power for you to go after him yourself。〃
〃Precisely。 I let you do it for me。〃
〃But Yoshinori told me …〃
〃Yoshinori told you what I wanted him to tell you。 The old boy always does what I ask。 We have an understanding that goes back decades。 We could always count on one another。〃
〃And I believed him。〃
〃Why shouldn't you？ I would have； in your place。〃 Now； to Ushiba's fury； Akinaga gave him a passionate look。 〃He was such a consummate actor。 It was his hobby； you see； acting； a kind of grand passion。 He loved it so！〃
Akinaga rose； went to one of the small windows buried in the rough concrete wall。 He stared down onto the narrow street where traffic whizzed by。
〃Now I have what I want。 With Chosa and Shidare gone； there is nothing to stop me from succeeding Okami as Kaisho。〃
〃But Okami still lives。〃
〃Yes； he does。〃 Akinaga was truly terrifying in his calmness。 〃But I know； more or less； where he's hiding。 And when I take possession of Torch from Floating City； Okami will be nothing more than a cinder floating above the rooftops； and Rock will have ringing validation of the power of Torch。 Our partnership will be extremely fruitful。〃
〃So this is why you lobbied so hard for the Floating City partnership；〃 Ushiba said； stunned。 〃You had made a private deal with Rock and Mick Leonforte for Torch。〃
The ghost of a smile on Akinaga's face was positively eerie； and as Ushiba struggled to his feet； he could feel the chill of fear creeping through him。 They were now in the situation that Okami had forestalled in being Kaisho： a despotic leader； one Japanese voice controlling the Godaishu。 It was intolerable。 〃This grasping for control won't succeed。 I'll do everything in my power to stop you。〃
Akinaga turned to look at Ushiba。 〃Chief Minister； I fear you are overstepping yourself。 You have no power。〃
〃By God； you've got nerve。〃
〃I've got more than that；〃 Akinaga's smile turned serpentlike。 〃I feel sorry for you； Chief Minister； I really do。 We're of the same generation； we enjoy many of the same sensibilities； but over the course of tune I've sounded you out。 You've changed since Okami was banished。 Sometimes； I've been astonished when； talking to you； I've thought the Kaisho resurrected。 I've e to the sad conclusion you're too much like him。〃
〃What if I am？ There's nothing you can do about it。〃
〃Oh； but there is。〃 Akinaga stubbed out his bu