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smart move on my part。〃 He contemplated the glowing tip of the cigar。 〃But all marriages fall apart； all empires crumble； and the future awaits。 Rock is like most men； he lives in the present because he is fortable with it； even when it is only a dream or a memory； a reflection of the golden past into which he has sunk。〃
Mick stood up abruptly。 〃Well； I for one have enjoyed this little chat。 We must do it again sometime。〃 He flicked ash away and laughed； disappearing across the pound。
Nicholas watched him until he went through a door in one of the buildings。 He lay on the ground； collecting his thoughts； working on several questions。 Why had Mick e to see him？ To gloat？ Unlikely。 He wasn't the type； Rock was。 Perhaps Mick had been telling the truth … he was motivated by curiosity。 But there was more。 Amid his ramblings on philosophy； the deconstruction of the past； and the astonishing revelation of the Colonel's supposed role in the creation of MITI； he had revealed that he and Rock were no longer seeing eye to eye。 Mick was ready to move on。 Empires crumble。
Trucks rumbled through the pound； their headlights cutting swaths through the darkness。 Nicholas carefully turned his head。 Men had begun loading equipment in crates or covered in tarps。
Torch was ready to move。 And so was Mick Leonforte。
With that one stroke of genius the Colonel set in motion countless events that continue their impact to this day。 What had Mick meant by that？ He seemed to be hinting at some vast plan ticking away through time that was still on course。 Was such a thing possible； or was Mick simply mad？ Mick and Rock had amassed a fortune beyond imagining by working the arms and drug trade from the inside out。 They had a proprietary edge over every petitor； many of whom had fallen by the wayside； as a result of either that edge or Rock's LAW。 They were hooked into the U。S。 government via Dedalus and the Japanese government via the Godaishu。 Now Mick said he was moving on。 To what？ What could be bigger than the deal they already had going？ Before he left Floating City； Nicholas knew he'd have to find out。
He checked the position of his guards。 Then； closing his eyes； he sank down and touched kokoro。 He began the tolling； the beating against the membrane of kokoro that would summon Tau…tau。
Now； for the first time； he could feel the split inside him。 Akshara and Kshira flowed like two rivers … one light； the other dark and terrifying； twisting and turning upon one another。
The theory of integration is a myth； Tachi had said that night in Yoshino； Do not be deluded。 Shaken exists and koryoku is its only pathway； but what Shuken does is hold the two paths； light and dark； separate in one mind。
Nicholas tried to separate them into parallel streams； but without koryoku he could only hold them apart for seconds at a time； and this took so much psychic energy he soon gave it up。 But in that time； he had his first glimpse of Shuken from the inside； and it showed him many truths。 For one thing； it confirmed that he was still damaged … his tanjian training diabolically sabotaged。 Having once been so close to Shuken with Tachi； he now knew it was imperative for him to separate the two paths of Tau…tau in his mind。 Without Shuken； Kshira would eventually overwhelm Akshara； the darkness of evil consuming him as it had Kansatsu； his tanjian master。
Curled in a ball； he lay on the ground； picturing in his mind where each of his four guards was。 The smell of Mick's cigar was still in his nostrils； coyingly rich … too strong to be。。。
He carefully turned his head； saw the butt on the ground just outside the cage； its end glowing redly with promise。
。。。 the true nature of the present situation。 I own you； Daijin； and believe me； I plan to milk your influence and contacts for all they're worth。 Within thirty hours Mikio Okami will be dead and my triumph will be plete。 You will be my loyal right hand。 I will give the orders and you will carry them out in the arena of international economics both at MITI and in the Godaishu； Is all this quite clear； Daijin？
Yes。
Tanaka Gin watched the young man named Yukio Haji as his finger depressed the stop button on the portable cassette recorder。 For a long time； Tanaka Gin said nothing。 His memory kept repeating the moment he had walked into Ushiba's corner office at MITI； responding to an urgent call。 Outside； all work had e to a bait； and everyone was standing at attention at their desks or in the hall as if frozen in time。 It was as if he alone possessed the power of motion。 He saw again the body of Ushiba crumpled on the floor。 Yukio Haji had been standing over him； and Tanaka Gin's first word was 〃Sit！〃 as if to an obedient dog。 Then he had turned； closed the office door； and called his office。 Soon the police would be all over the place and Ushiba's final peace would be shattered。
〃What happened here？〃 he had said softly。
He had listened to Haji's account。 Then； he had moved to the window and； staring out at the city； had said almost to himself； 〃Why did he take his life？〃
〃I think I know；〃 Haji had said； and then began to play the tape。
〃How did you e by this tape？〃 Tanaka Gin said。 〃Did the Daijin ask you to give it to me after his death？〃
〃No。 The Daijin had no knowledge of it。 I …〃
Holding up his hand； Tanaka Gin said in a moment of insight； 〃What you say next might incriminate you。 You might forfeit your job； your career； everything。〃
But Haji was shaking his head。 〃The Daijin was my mentor； Prosecutor。 He taught me that kanryodo is all that matters。〃
Peering at the young man in a different light； Tanaka Gin nodded curtly。 〃Very well。 Proceed。〃
〃Several months ago I was approached by one of Tetsuo Akinaga's people。 You see； I have a gambling problem； Prosecutor。 I play the stock market； and of late； I have had serious reversals。 I have had to close out positions I have held on margin。 You understand。〃
〃You needed more money than you made at MITI。〃
Haji nodded。 He sat very straight； his head held high。 Tanaka Gin understood。 In other circumstances such a confession would have brought him only shame； but now his pain had metamorphosed into sacrifice。 Tanaka Gin admired this man's strict sense of honor。
〃Somehow； Akinaga got wind of my circumstances； and in a foolish moment； I took his money。 I settled my debts and began searching for a night job so that I could pay him back。 That was when I understood how foolish I had been。 Akinaga himself came to see me。 He didn't want his money back。 Instead； he wanted me to report on the Daijin's doings。 He wanted me to spy for him。〃
〃You have told me that Ushiba was your mentor。 You would not have been at MITI without him。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then Akinaga put you in a most unfortunate position。〃
〃That was what I at first thought I tossed and turned all night in a frenzy of indecision。 Then something odd hit me full force。 What would Akinaga want with information on the Daijin unless there was some connection between them？ And if there was a connection； what mischief was Akinaga up to wanting me to spy on Ushiba…san？ I made my pact with the demon。 I accepted Akinaga's form of repayment〃
At that moment； there wa