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ithin his means to destroy the Godaishu。
〃But I have no illusions about Linnear。 I am aware of his strengths。 My father knew Colonel Linnear in the terrible years after our defeat。 More than once the two of them called upon each other in difficult circumstances。 I； myself； recall the Colonel with a great deal of affection。 I remember his funeral well It was the first and only time I saw my father shed a tear。 No one else saw。 He wore dark glasses and it was only because I stood at his side that I was aware of the depth of his feeling。〃
Akinaga； gazing at the bloody banners of the kamikaze hanging over their heads； gave a little smile。 〃But I know that the son is not the father。 The Colonel understood the expediency of elasticizing the codes of American law； but I question whether Nicholas Linnear would be able to do the same。 His is a rigid code of honor。 If he had been a seventeenth…century samurai； I believe that he would refuse to hire ninja to circumvent the laws of Bushido。 He would have perished in the political imperatives of infighting。〃
〃Still； I would urge extreme caution with Linnear；〃 Ushiba said。 〃There are stories that he is even more powerful man we believe。 Stirring up a Demon Spider from slumber is not usually the best strategy。 At this crucial tune when the Godaishu is in its final phase of consolidating its power； it would be better to do nothing to arouse his suspicions。〃
〃Perhaps。 But when I hear arguments such as yours； Daijin； I am reminded of the hero Yoshitoshi； who set out to destroy the great Demon Spider that had slain nine thousand and ninety heroic men。 When he found the hideous monster； it was sick and in pain because of the many wounds it had suffered at the hands of these heroes。 It was incapable of defending its nest where its young lay sleeping。〃 His eyes； now seeming even more sunken into his face； were sad。 〃The truth isn't always as we perceive it or wish it to be； Daijin。〃
Ushiba nodded； thinking of Chosa's promise that he had found Linnear's Achilles' heel。 〃Yes。 I suppose even Demon Spiders can be destroyed〃 He gazed upward at the bloody banners of the kamikaze and thought again of the Demon Spider and his brood。 Akinaga had meant the myth to be illustrative of Nicholas Linnear； but Ushiba suspected that it could equally exemplify his father； Colonel Linnear。 Nicholas Linnear had within him the true nature of the legendary Japanese hero； a moral center holding fast in the face of overwhelming odds。
〃You don't sound convinced。〃
Ushiba drew his shoulders up； trying to warm himself。 He would have loved a heavier coat； but he was determined not to show signs of weakness among these jackals。 To do so would surely undermine his plex position of counselor with them。 〃Akinaga…san； I spend half my days with the iteki Americans so I can say with an authority you lack that I cannot respect them。 Unlike Chosa； I see their culture as a corruptive influence on Japan。 But Nicholas Linnear is no iteki。 In fact； I am convinced that he is not like other men。 Chosa does not understand this。〃
〃Huh； Chosa。〃 Akinaga made a face as if being offered spoiled fish。 〃I think he aspires to ascend to the Kaisho's throne even while he so artfully argues that the very idea of Kaisho is unacceptable since it puts too much power in the hands of one individual。 I don't approve of his rashness； but I can certainly understand it。 Imagine the stature of the man who destroyed Nicholas Linnear。 I see this excuse to destroy Linnear as another attempt on Chosa's part to gain influence over the rest of us。〃
So Akinaga did not see the danger in involving Nicholas Linnear either。 Like Chosa； he was too wrapped up in the personal maneuvering for power among the remaining oyabun of the inner council to consider the long…term ramifications of another abortive attempt on Linnear's life。 Ushiba was abruptly weary of the constant infighting between these oyabun。 How he missed the Kaisho； who； whatever his faults； had kept them united and equal。 Since Mikio Okami's disappearance； it seemed every issue was viewed in terms of how it would impact the individual members of the council。 Still Ushiba was surprised that he missed Okami； someone who； just months ago； he had wanted out of office。
〃I swore an oath； as we all did。 My duty to the Godaishu conies first。〃 Ushiba's hands； jammed deep in the pockets of his overcoat； were clenched into fists。 〃The Godaishu is of paramount importance to me because I have seen that it can acplish what our government never will … mastery over international trading in everything from puter chips to arms dealing； petrochemicals to drug traffic。〃
Ushiba grunted。 〃The time of the Godaishu is here at last。 Our economy is in a shambles。 Profits across the board are down； and many major keiretsu have given in to the unthinkable： downsizing operations by laying off employees and abandoning factories。 Most troubling； the extent of the damage to our banking structure is still unknown。 How many more will fail before we have seen the end of the disaster？ And the crafty Americans are determined to see a strong yen。 They claim it helps their trade deficit with us； but I know the real reason： they know that a strong yen cripples our recovery because it erodes our sales in all overseas markets。 The Americans have us down and mean to keep us there for as long as they can。〃
〃Ah； but all of this havoc plays right into the hands of the Godaishu；〃 Akinaga said。 〃The chaos of financial disaster is the perfect environment for us to flourish and expand； don't you agree？〃
Ushiba nodded。 〃Yes； I do。 But this is all the more reason for the council to strive to work toward the one goal of the Godaishu： total global economic domination。〃
The night sky was red and purple； as if it had undergone a savage beating。 In a moment； Nicholas understood that this weird illumination came from the convoy of vehicles that straddled the last section of road toward Cu Chi。 He cupped his hands around his eyes； saw to his horror not merely police cars but army mobile troop carriers。
〃They've called out all the dogs；〃 he said softly。
〃That's right；〃 Bay said。 〃You must have some very powerful enemies； Chu Goto。〃
〃Perhaps we both do。〃
Bay gave him a hard look。 〃I pay a great deal of money each year to make certain I don't。〃 She turned away； slid back down the hillock against which they had flung themselves。
They were perhaps three hundred yards from the road。 Already Nicholas could see the bus they had been on stopped at the checkpoint。 The driver； hands on his head； was being questioned by an officer while a squad of soldiers swarmed over the vehicle like ants over a cube of sugar。
〃There are too many of them；〃 Bay said as if to herself。 〃We'll never make it overland to Cu Chi。〃
〃Let's get back to Saigon； then。〃
〃Impossible。 It's already past three in the morning。 It will be light before we can get there on foot and we'd be without cover。 Besides； I have a feeling we'd run right into another checkpoint long before then。〃
〃Shouldn't we at least try？〃
Bay shrugged； and they headed over the hillock； back toward Saigon。 But within a hundred yards； she pushed him to the damp earth；