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t I know where they went。 Underground。 They became spies for the Americans。〃
〃And your brother and Colonel Linnear were involved in this scheme。〃
Ktsoko pursed her lips。 〃In a way you could never understand。〃
〃But I need to know this！〃 He was startled by the vehemence of his voice。
〃Need？ But why do you need？〃 Her kimono made a sound like angels whispering as her arms moved。 〃The oyabun mands and it is done。〃
He closed his eyes for a moment； he needed a rest from her intensity。 〃I cannot mand you； Kisoko； you know that。〃
〃No。 The Okamis are beyond even your powers。 My brother saw to that。〃
〃But Nicholas Linnear is no friend of yours。 Just answer this one question： Are you telling me that your brother and Colonel Linnear did not have a close friendship？〃
She offered him more brandy； but he declined。 〃All marriages go through their bad patches。 It's just that； in the end； some break up and others don't。〃
〃What happened to theirs？〃
〃One question； you said。〃 She put down the decanter； stood in front of him so close that he could hear her breathing。 〃If Mikio were here； you could ask him yourself。〃
Too late； Chosa understood the riddle she had presented him with。 Her hand came up； her strong fingers curling around the side of his neck so tightly he could feel the pulsing of his blood through his carotid artery。
〃But he isn't here。 He's in hiding。 Some place far away from me。。。 and from you。〃 Her eyes were fever bright； and Chosa had the curious and unpleasant sensation that at any moment she would turn into some great serpent that would unhinge its jaws and devour him whole。 This was what she had meant： that no matter what Mikio had done or would do； he was still her brother； and there were some virtues … such as the loyalty Chosa's brother had shown him； such as the loyalty she was now showing toward her brother … that overrode any other moral consideration。
〃Did you try to kill him； dear？〃
Chosa was so startled by the question that he could not make his mouth work。
〃Do you covet his power？ Do you wish to sit in the Kaisho's chair？ Do you want his influence diminished？〃 Her grip on him was inexorable。 〃You were such a sweet child； so much like your playmates。 You fit in。 I used to sing you lullabies at night。 Now look at you； part of the underworld。 Well； dear； I must say the darkness fits you like a cloak。 You grew into it； or it grew into you。〃
Chosa knew that he had gambled and lost。 He had used up the coin of the past with Kisoko； but recklessly he asked her one more question。 〃If you won't talk to me about your brother and the Colonel； would you at least confirm something about Koei。〃
〃Koei？〃 He could see that he had startled her； and her grip loosened。 〃Why would you think I would know about her？〃
Typically； they used only her first name。 With Koei； one always did。
〃It is unthinkable that you wouldn't。〃
Then he felt true pain as she dug her long nails into his Adam's apple。 〃Despicable creature！ It disgusts me to hear her name ing from your mouth！ We don't speak of Koei here。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃You disgust me。 That's your real reason for ing here。〃 Her eyes were eating him alive。 〃It wasn't about Colonel Linnear and my brother。 You thought you could get me to speak about her。〃
〃The secret … I must know …〃
〃I'd sooner see you dead …〃
〃Mother。〃
In truth； Chosa did not know what the oute would have been had Ken not rolled into the library in his wheel…chair。 He was a handsome man； with a long； brooding face and soft brown eyes that were ultimately deceiving。 This man was powerful in body： wide shouldered； deep chested。 He worked out every day in the specially made gym upstairs where he and his prize collection of ancient weapons coexisted。
〃Yes； Ken。〃 Her hand slipped from Chosa's neck； leaving a white imprint that quickly turned red。 But her eyes did not leave Chosa's for a long； disquieting moment。 Then she turned around； that benevolent smile on her face。
〃You're needed upstairs； Mother。〃
〃I see。 All right then。〃 She took a step toward her son but paused； as if remembering that Chosa was still in the room。 She said to him； 〃I trust I've been of some help。〃
Chosa； the blood pulsing heavily in his neck and the pit of his stomach； could not think of a thing to say。
〃The dead and dying are all around us； but I have saved a life。〃
Seiko stood very close to Nicholas； the peaks of her breasts warm against his tattered clothes。 She had taken him to a modern…looking apartment。 Its windows overlooked a street crowded with shops selling cheap electronics； secondhand cameras （most of them probably stolen）； and custom…made ao dais。 The scents of manioc powder and nuoc mam； the fermented fish sauce ubiquitous in Vietnamese cuisine； wafted up from a restaurant on the ground floor。
The place was decorated in a jumble of wooden furniture and handicrafts made locally； as well as those imported from Burma； Thailand； and India。 A riot of colorful silk fabrics from northern Thailand covered the walls； except one spot beyond a beaded curtain to the kitchen where a poster of Jimi Hendrix from the 1960s held sway。
〃He wanted to kill you。 Van Kiet was trembling when you went past him； the passion was in his belly。〃 As she breathed； her nostrils flared and her bowlike lips quivered。 〃You haven't bathed in a couple of days。 You smell good。〃
They had an odd history； inplete and inchoate； full of misplaced trust and repressed emotion。 Justine had been wildly jealous of Seiko； had in fact accused Nicholas of having an affair with her。 He had dismissed such paranoid speculation until； on the eve of his employment by Mikio Okami； Seiko had confessed her love for him。 But was it love or simple desire？ He suspected that even she did not know。
Her fingers pushed aside what was left of his shirt。 〃There's blood all over your skin。〃 Her nails scored parallel tracks down his chest。 〃I'd kill to get a chance to do this。〃 She leaned against him； her cheek like a silk pillow。 Then she turned her head and her teeth closed over a wedge of skin； drawing it tight。
〃What is it you want； Seiko？〃
Her teeth opened and she pressed her lips to his chest。 〃Use your tanjian eye。 You tell me。〃
But he suspected intuition would prove just as useful。 〃Did you apply for the job as my assistant because of me？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You'd seen me before。〃
〃Yes。 At Nangi's club in Shinjuku where he takes you all the time。 I was at the bar one night with my boyfriend。 He wanted to get me drunk because I was angry at him and he wanted to take me to bed。 I was halfway to being drunk when you walked in。 I thought I was having a heart attack。 There was a pain in my chest that made me dizzy。 I excused myself。 My boyfriend thought I was going to the toilet； but I was just trying to get nearer to you。〃 She was moving against him slowly； sinuously。 〃I got lost in the crush of people。 I knew you'd never see me； but I could stare at you for as long as I wanted。 I was ecstatic。 I couldn't keep the muscles in my thighs quiet and my breathing was ragged。 I fantasized。 In the end； I had an orgasm。 I simply couldn't help myself。〃
He could feel her heated body beneath the tank dress as plet