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The two men walked beneath the banners of the fallen heroes； feeling the weight and obligation of that most ambivalent of Japanese concepts； the nobility of failure。
〃I have a great deal of respect for you； Daijin。〃 Akinaga nodded his head。 〃Six months ago you informed me that you would be able to reverse the stock market slide。 That was good news for me because many of the banks I control are heavily invested in Nikkei stocks。 But the truth is I did not believe you。 Government manipulation is one thing； but what you have done since then is nothing short of a miracle。 In that time； the Nikkei has risen five thousand points。 My banks' books are in some semblance of restoration； there is order out of chaos。〃
〃It has not been easy； I admit；〃 Ushiba said； 〃and there is a great deal of peril in the government's pouring so much of its pension…plan money into stocks in order to increase share demand and raise prices。 We've directed a number of rumors to run the price up on several large issues that were particularly sick。 Also； we've had a lot of pressure for blocking all the new equity offerings for the past six months。 Of course； we needed to do all this； the less amount of shares floating； the bigger the demand must be。〃
〃And it's worked to perfection。〃
〃But once again it's artificial； like the real estate boom we created。 Our manipulations may have a serious downside none of us can see at the moment。〃
Akinaga smiled。 〃History is on your side； Daijin。 I have faith that the market will sot buckle。 I'm convinced that we have seen the lows and are now firmly on our way out of our recession。〃
Brought together by their profound appreciation of the past； the two men were reluctant to begin their painful business together。 They lived simultaneously in the past and in the future。 For them； the present was insubstantial； existing solely as a bridge from one reality to the other。
〃The question I have raised in council and will continue to do；〃 Akinaga said at length； 〃is whether we can trust this other Mafia oyabun。 The American mob is in serious decline。 The sense of honor and tradition that made their bosses accessible to us has been seriously undermined by those willing to turn state's evidence because of revenge； frustration； or because they are soft。〃
Ushiba nodded。 〃We must deal with Caesare Leonforte now。 He's a hothead； he does not possess the cool； calculating mind of the brilliant don Dominic Goldoni。 But； as we see it； that is to our advantage。 We tried but could not control Goldoni … neither； it seems； could the representatives of the American government with whom he was supposedly working。〃
Akinaga appeared unimpressed。 〃What troubles me is not merely Leonforte but the number of unreliable and therefore dangerous individuals with whom we are obliged to deal in order to make the Godaishu work。 The Mafia； the elements within the American government； even our longtime connection in Vietnam … these iteki make me nervous because we don't fully understand them in the way that Okami did。〃
Akinaga shook his head。 〃Even worse for us； Chosa doesn't see the terrible risks we are taking to attain our goal。 His eyes are closed to the possibility of destruction … the horrible holocaust that might result from an error in judgment among people who are essentially alien to one another。〃
Akinaga's face darkened and the interior was abruptly filled with menace。 〃My worst fears have been realized。 Chosa has bee too close to the Americans。 These iteki have no idea of our goals … their sole concern is money； the tons of it the Godaishu is reaping on every continent。 They are mercenaries without honor or ideology。 Even a momentary lapse could cause them to turn on us like rabid dogs。〃
〃And yet consider what we have just gone through；〃 Ushiba said。 〃The unthinkable almost happened when Okami and Goldoni betrayed us。 But you have seen for yourself the safeguards we have put in place。 Goldoni is dead and Okami has disappeared。 There is no need for concern。 We are on course toward our glorious destiny。〃
〃Of course they were neutralized；〃 Akinaga said sharply。 〃I saw to it Okami was far too dangerous。 He possessed koryoku … the Illuminating Power；〃
Ushiba； stunned that first Chosa and now Akinaga were taking credit for the plot to murder the Kaisho； managed to restore his equilibrium in time to say； 〃Koryoku； I've never heard of it。〃
〃I'm hardly surprised。〃 Akinaga put his hands behind his back； giving him the aspect of a professor。 〃I only learned of it by accident； overhearing Okami speak of it one day long ago。 I did some subsequent research。 It is a kind of deep meditation； and yet it must be much more … how shall I say it； a kind of second sight which allows the practitioner to achieve a synthesis of motive； intent； and intuition that creates its own opportunity。 In one as clever and as ambitious as Okami it became a strategic edge。 I'm convinced koryoku is what allowed Okami to operate with the Mafia don Goldoni for so long without our knowing。〃
〃This koryoku would explain much of Okami's power and influence。 After all； he's over ninety now。〃
Akinaga screwed up his eyes。 〃But what were he and Goldoni up to？ We've put our best agents into the field in order to find the answer； with no success。〃
At last Ushiba found himself on familiar ground； this had been a most disconcerting meeting so far。 Akinaga had been busy condemning Chosa； and he； Ushiba； had found no sound rebuttal。 〃Perhaps they have been looking in the wrong places。〃
Akinaga was brought up short。 He was not a man who tolerated failure。 〃What precisely do you mean； Daijin？〃
〃I have learned that Okami discovered your plot to assassinate him。 In response； he sought the aid of Nicholas Linnear。〃
Akinaga's hand cut the air in a gesture of disgust。 〃Nonsense。 Linnear's antipathy toward Yakuza is beyond debate。 Where on earth did you hear this fairy tale？〃
〃From Akira Chosa。 And before you reject the theory outright； I urge you to consider … it could very well be true。 The history of Japan teaches us that the espousal of enmity is the best cover for friendship； neh？〃 The living truth of that statement was； for Ushiba； a guiding example of how the past inflected the present。
〃Perhaps；〃 Akinaga said； clearly unconvinced； 〃but the enmity Chosa harbors toward Linnear is well documented。 It is clearly to his benefit to put forward this theory。 That way； even if he is wrong； he will have his revenge on Linnear。〃
Ushiba； seeing in the days since the Kaisho disappeared disunity beginning among the members of the inner council； struggled to continue his role of peacemaker。 〃While no one； least of all Chosa； will deny his hatred of Linnear； I have brought your charge to him myself and he has denied it outright。 Besides； if Linnear's enmity toward the Yakuza were genuine； what was he doing last month in Venice； where Okami has his headquarters？〃
As Ushiba had foreseen； this revelation brought Akinaga to silence。 〃All right；〃 he said at last 〃I'll accept this judgment for now。 But I warn you； Ushiba； I do not stand idly by and allow Chosa his personal revenge； Linnear needs to be dealt with； on that I agree； because he alone has it wit