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？ I made my pact with the demon。 I accepted Akinaga's form of repayment〃
At that moment； there was a sharp knock on the door。 Tanaka Gin barked a mand and a pair of plainchlothes detectives entered the room。 Tanaka Gin flashed his credentials； gave them a brief rundown of what had occurred； then hustled Haji out of there； claiming him as a material witness in his ongoing investigation of Yoshinori's activities。 As they went out； he pocketed the cassette recorder with the tape Haji had made of the last conversation between Ushiba and Akinaga。
Outside； in the street； Tanaka Gin said； 〃Have you any knowledge of Floating City or Torch？〃
〃None。 I was mystified by that section of the conversation。〃
〃Akinaga spoke of killing Mikio Okami。 You know nothing of this； either？〃
〃No； sir。〃
It was clear that the young man was telling the truth。 〃Why did you throw in with Akinaga？〃
〃To help the Daijin； of course。 I figured if I could find out what Akinaga was up to； I could warn the Daijin。〃
Tanaka Gin snapped the tape out of the machine。 〃Did Akinaga have you attend other meetings with Ushiba…san？〃
〃No。 This was the first。 He seemed to gain some perverse pleasure in it I didn't understand why until I heard how he had gained control over the Daijin。〃
Tanaka Gin knew this was why Ushiba had taken his life。 It had not been the cancer。 He had told him the disease was in remission； been in remission； and in any event； Ushiba had mentally mastered the disease。 He knew from their talks that Ushiba would choose his own way to die。 He could not bear being forced into a prison； which was what Akinaga had done。
〃One other thing；〃 Tanaka Gin said now。 〃Does the word Godaishu mean anything to you？〃
〃No。〃
Tanaka Gin nodded。 〃You've done well； Haji…san。 Your Daijin would have been proud of you。 But if I am to arrest and indict Akinaga； I can do nothing to shield you。 Everything you have told me and perhaps more will e out。 Your career at MITI is over。〃
Haji gave a small bow。 〃Thank you for your kind words； Prosecutor。 In the days to e I shall not forget them。〃
〃You're Mikio Okami's mole buried deep inside Dedalus's machine；〃 Croaker said。
He could sense Vesper smiling at him。 〃The detective at work。〃
〃I had it all worked out the other way around。〃
〃It's a good thing for you you were wrong。 Dedalus sent me over here to the Knife River DARPA lab to find out what you were up to。 But he neglected to inform me he was ing himself。〃
〃Then you've put yourself in extreme jeopardy。 Once Dedalus figures out you've helped me your cover is blown。〃
〃We've got to get out of here first。 But the truth is； once you'd penetrated DARPA by asking him about Serman； all our fates were set He decided to trap you here； and I knew I had to get you and Serman out of the facility。 Once Dedalus got his hands on the doctor here； everything was going to blow up in my face anyway。〃
They were still in their dark lair inside the experimental nucleonics plex。 No sounds had e from the storeroom for some time。 Serman had begun to shiver。 This was not his métier； and he was clearly frightened； but he was doing his best to hold himself together。
Croaker moved a bit away from the scientist； and intuiting his intent； Vesper followed him。 〃Okami's in the gravest danger；〃 he said。 〃I think Caesare Leonforte knows he's in London。 One of Bad Clams's thugs followed me while I was shadowing you。 I took care of him； but later I was almost killed and I suspect Leonforte was behind the attempt。〃
Vesper's voice seemed unsteady。 〃Christ； if you're right I think now Okami will be killed along with countless Londoners unless your partner； Nicholas Linnear； is able to keep Torch from leaving Floating City。〃
〃We've got to get out of here and back to London as quickly as we can。〃
〃Dedalus will never allow that to happen。〃
〃Fuck Dedalus。〃 Croaker was worried about Serman。 He did not like how nervous the scientist had bee。 〃We've got to back Nicholas up； whatever the cost。 If he fails to stop Torch in Vietnam； it'll be up to us to do it inside London。〃
〃I agree； but we've got to be careful as we go along。 Remember； the people who took this route before us never made it out。〃
〃What the hell are you two talking about？ We'll never make it； either。〃
〃Keep a stiff upper lip； Doctor；〃 Croaker whispered。 To Vesper； he said； 〃What did you mean before when you said Dedalus will never allow us to get to London？〃
〃Dedalus along with Caesare Leonforte and the Yakuza oyabun Tetsuo Akinaga want Okami dead； each for his own reasons。 We now know that Akinaga lusts to be Kaisho； Caesare believes that killing Okami will stop the intelligence passed through the Nishiki network and cut off the Goldonis' main source of influence； and Dedalus； no doubt； has some nasty skeletons in his closet he doesn't want exposed。〃
〃You mean they're all involved with Floating City and Torch because they're all part of the Godaishu。〃
Vesper nodded。 〃That's the mon denominator。〃
〃So this is what Okami has been maneuvering towards： flushing all his enemies out into the open。〃
〃Yes。 He suspected that Floating City and its Torch weapon would provide too pelling a lodestone … their greed bined with their enmity to make them move precipitously against him。 Now he's marked them all。〃
Croaker could only marvel at the audacity and the scope of the plan。 〃But putting himself squarely in the crosshairs …〃
〃It was the only way to get them to e into the light。〃
〃But Goldoni lost his life because of it。 This was a desperate gamble on the Kaisho's part。〃
Vesper shook her head。 〃I think calculated is a more accurate description； it was absolutely vital that we identify the person inside the inner council who was undermining the Kaisho's authority。 The stakes are as high as they can get … Dominic Goldoni knew that when he and Okami formulated that plan together。〃
On that point； Croaker could not argue。 He scuttled over to where Serman huddled； spoke to him quietly for a moment before returning。
〃Is he all right？〃 Vesper asked。 〃He seems frightened out of his mind。〃
〃That's about the size of it。 But he'll make it。〃 Croaker lowered his voice as he returned to their original subject。 〃One thing still disturbs me。 How would Okami； a Japanese； be privy to the secrets he passed on through the Nishiki network？〃
〃A good question。 Someone is supplying him with the dirt。〃
Croaker was stunned。 〃Then Okami is not the source of the Nishiki intelligence。〃
〃Contrary to what Caesare and everyone else believes； no。 But certainly it's his contacts who are providing him … and the Goldonis … with their leverage in Washington。〃
They were heading down the dark shaft on all fours。 Croaker kept one eye on Serman； who still appeared dazed by terror。 He wondered what the scientist must be making of this conversation。 Perhaps he was not even listening。
The air was clean； if not fresh； and they could hear the whir of the exhaust turbines。 Vesper was leading them toward the sound； and Croaker understood what she had in mind。 The turbines vented air from the labs； they had to do that on the outside of the building。 Had the tunnelers had the same thought？ If