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In the purely pragmatic manner he missed Ushiba； he felt Chosa's absence as well Chosa had known the Americans； he would have proved invaluable in this changing environment。 But Chosa had been determined to oppose Akinaga and that had sealed his fate。
Perhaps it didn't matter。 Money still spoke louder than rhetoric。 Whatever lip service these so…called reformers were paying to ridding the political landscape of payoffs； mutual favors； and closed shops； the underlying realities would change little。 Bidding for jobs would bee more monplace as a sop to the public outcry and to the railing of the Americans； but already Akinaga was putting in place a system of rigging that would return the fundamentals more or less to the way they had always been。 Japan was a master of surface symbology； of seeming to change while doing just what it had always done decade after decade。
Akinaga's head turned as he heard a disturbance。 Two men dressed in suits had entered the o…furo。 They began to sprint toward Akinaga's pool。 One of his men drew a pistol； and a shot boomed through the large tiled room。 Water sloshed over the sides of the pools as bathers jumped。
Akinaga's man fell across the top edge of the birch pool； his head in the fragrant water。 His gun clattered on the tiles； skidding inches from where Akinaga's hand lay。 The o…furo was suddenly full of men in suits。 Blood began to stain the water； beginning as a bright crimson lily； then floating outward in beautiful tendrils。 Akinaga's fingers twitched as his men held their position。
〃Go ahead；〃 Tanaka Gin said； striding toward the birch…scented pool。 〃Pick it up。〃
Akinaga glared at him with basilisk eyes。 〃What is the meaning of this extreme discourtesy； Prosecutor？〃
Tanaka Gin reached down and； with a handkerchief； retrieved the gun from the fallen Yakuza。 Without looking back； he handed it to a plainclothes detective who stood almost at attention behind his right shoulder。 The o…furo was filled with policemen； some of whom had been delegated the task of clearing the room of innocent bystanders。
Tanaka Gin stared down without expression at the oyabun。 〃The media are outside； clamoring for an interview。 It's up to you whether you meet them dressed or wrapped in towels。 Either way； I'm going to parade you in the street； I'm going to make a spectacle of you。〃
Now Akinaga allowed himself a crafty smile。 〃Is this what you spend your time on； harassing citizens？〃
〃You're no citizen。〃
Akinaga raised his eyebrows。 〃That will e as news to my lawyers。 I have harmed no one； I have broken no law。 Ask your whipping boy； Yoshinori。〃
〃Yoshinori has said nothing of you or Chosa。〃
〃Then get out of here。 You have already fouled my water。〃
〃Or Ushiba；〃 Tanaka Gin said implacably。
For the first time； Akinaga's sangfroid appeared to slip momentarily。 〃The Daijin？ I don't understand。〃
Tanaka Gin said nothing。 He looked around。 Cops had Akinaga's men lined up against the tile wall； patting them down for weapons。
The blood was seeping through the water and Akinaga squirmed in the heat。 He longed to get out of the bath； but he saw this as a loss of face； and he would not give the prosecutor the satisfaction。
〃Is this why you have e here？〃 Akinaga said contemptuously。 〃On a bluff？〃
〃It's no bluff。〃 Tanaka Gin gestured。 〃Stand up。〃
〃You can't …〃
〃Do as I say！〃
Tanaka Gin's voice was so thunderous that those Yakuza closest to him started。 Akinaga rose； the pink water dripping down his naked flesh。 He was aware of the cops and his men staring at him； and he vowed to make the prosecutor pay for this humiliation。 Tanaka Gin was grandstanding。 First； taking Yoshinori into custody； and now this harassment。 Akinaga knew there were measures he could take that。。。
All thought came to an abrupt halt as he stared at what Tanaka Gin had produced。 A length of cord dangled against Akinaga's chest beaded with water and perspiration。
〃I have here a torinawa；〃 Tanaka Gin said； taking the ceremonial cord and tying Akinaga's hands behind his back。 〃I want all here to know you for the criminal you are。〃
Akinaga stared bleakly into Tanaka Gin's face； his heart full of hate。 〃What are you charging me with in this charade？〃
〃The extortion of the Daijin of MITI。 You are also implicated in the deaths of Akira Chosa and Naohiro Ushiba。〃
〃Nonsense。 They took their own lives。〃
〃Turn around and step out of the pool。〃
Akinaga stood close to Tanaka Gin； his eyes boring into the prosecutor's。 〃I don't know what you think you're up to； Gin； but I guarantee you my lawyers will have me home by midnight。〃
〃Not this time； I think。〃
〃Whatever evidence you've been given is trumped up。 My lawyers will prove …〃
〃You'll be convicted by your own words。 Now step out of the pool。〃
For a tension…filled moment Akinaga did nothing。 Then he said； in a voice so low only Tanaka Gin could hear； 〃You have this one chance。 I will accept the humiliation you have subjected me to in this room。 But if this circus gets as far as the press； I cannot be responsible。 I am warning you。 There are mechanisms in place within your own department that will lead to your destruction。 I give you this one last chance。 Take the torinawa off me and leave with your people。 Do it now and it will be as if this incident never occurred； I give you my word。〃
With a shiver of recognition； Tanaka Gin recalled Chosa saying to him； If it's corruption you're after； look to your own department； Prosecutor。 He thought of Ushiba； lying in a bloody pool in his office； released from the prison in which this man had incarcerated him； and he knew he could not waver from his purpose。
〃Step out of the pool；〃 he said without another moment's hesitation。 〃You are past due to meet your fate。〃
There was no service ladder leading down from the horizontal shaft； and Croaker； Vesper； and Serman were obliged to use their hands and knees to descend。 It was difficult work； especially since the air was rapidly being superheated as they approached the exhaust plex。
Serman was having the most difficulty。 Twice he slipped along the line of his sweat； his weight sending Croaker headlong into Vesper before Croaker's strength stopped their fall。
No one spoke； all their energy was going into movement They had no way of knowing how far down they had e or how much farther they had to go。 Serman was unsure how deep the exhaust shafts went before they ended at the vents。
Then； from just below him； Croaker heard Vesper breathe； 〃I can see the bottom。〃
At that moment； Serman slipped again。 Croaker was ready for him。 As he crashed down onto Croaker's shoulder； Croaker braced himself with both arms rigid。 But at the same time Vesper was reaching up； trying to take some of the brunt of Serman's fall。 Her fingers inadvertently closed around Croaker's left wrist； pulling it down。
He tumbled over； crashing into her； spilling a terrified Serman off his shoulder。
〃Christ！〃 Croaker shouted as he made a grab for the scientist。 But he had his own stability to think about； and Serman went through his grasp as his stainless…steel fingers drove into the metal of the shaft； holding him and Vesper aloft long enough for he