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ainst two walls； on which were trays with tea and ice water； cups and glasses。 The room was windowless and chilly。
〃I was told you wished to see me。〃
〃The worst has happened； Ushiba…san。〃
Yoshinori collapsed into a chair。 He took out a cigarette and lit up。 The ambient smoke was already irritating Ushiba； and he went to one of the credenzas； poured himself some water。
〃I have pulled all the strings I have left；〃 Yoshinori said； 〃but times have changed。 The LDP is no longer what it once was … a bastion of sanity against the munists and Socialists。 It seems our entire raison d'être no longer exists。 Once the LDP was the only choice for voters wanting a free…market economy。 We were installed thirty…nine years ago as a bulwark for the people； to ensure their freedom and prosperity … for the good of Japan！ Now； there are splinter parties to the right and left。 There are many choices for voters； but is that good？ I doubt it。 Politically； Japan now may well go the way of Italy： a revolving door of weak parties trying to muster alliances that will allow them majority rule。〃
He shook his gray head like a wounded animal。 〃There is bitterness all around me。 And； of course； that great beast envy。 I do hot think I will escape Tanaka Gin this time。〃
〃Do not give up hope that easily。〃
Yoshinori gave him a wry smile。 〃If I am to fall upon the sword； I wish to do so with a pure heart。〃
Ushiba took his glass and sat down near Yoshinori。 The watery eyes could still blaze with the old energy when needed； and as Yoshinori pushed fingers through his tousled hair； a semblance of the man he used to be even a decade ago began to break through the bleak visage of the tiger in winter。
〃People are expecting a political revolution here now that the LDP has lost its majority； but I know the truth；〃 Yoshinori said。 〃These reformers have e from our ranks； they have suckled at the breast of 'money politics；' they have participated in government by bribe。 It is all they know。 I am not naive enough to believe people … especially politicians … can change in the blink of an eye。〃
Yoshinori turned away for some time in silence。 At length； he took a deep breath。 〃I； too； have done questionable things；〃 he said in a reedy voice just above a whisper； 〃and mitted what some might think unpardonable sins。 My break with you； for instance。〃 He pulled on his cigarette thoughtfully； let out the smoke in a hiss。 〃Sitting here alone at the end of a long and eventful life sets one to contemplation。 For instance； let us take love。 Such a plex emotion； so riddled with； at times； affection； guilt； and unbridled lust。 But what is love's other； darker side？ What happens when love is poisoned； affronted？ It seems to me now that the deeper one loves； the greater is one's potential to hate。 Now isn't this what happened with us？〃
Yoshinori took another drag on his cigarette； and for a moment the glowing end of it was the brightest light in the room。 When it had waned to gray ash； he continued； 〃It isn't whether we hated one another； is it； Ushiba…san； but how deeply we came to hate one another。〃 He stubbed out the butt； lit another。 〃A sad ending for an uncle and his nephew； don't you agree？ I never forgave you for not backing me； not donating your share to my coffers。。。 and you？〃 He shrugged his thin shoulders。 〃I can only speculate； but knowing you as I do； you disapproved of how I did business。 You no doubt called it corruption； just as Tanaka Gin does。〃 He smiled； not unkindly。 〃In many ways； the two of you are similar。 It's quite extraordinary； really。 Being taken into custody by him； I thought of you and I knew what I had to do。〃
He smoked for some time in silence； apparently gathering his thoughts。 Ushiba rose； poured himself more water。 While his back was to Yoshinori； the old man said； 〃Of all the questionable acts or supposed sins I have mitted； I regret only one。 It was something I did only days ago； and I did it against my better judgment simply because of my hatred for you。〃
Ushiba put down his glass and turned around。
〃As I said； I want the end to e with my heart pure。 I have to exorcise the poison of my hate。。。 Tonight； I have forgiven myself for hating you； but I know more is required of me。 I must confess this one act to you。〃
〃So that I will forgive you？〃
Now Yoshinori did smile。 〃That is not required of you； nephew。 I only want you to listen。 Several days ago； Akira Chosa came to me。 We have done business together for many years。 You never suspected； did you； Daijin？ Well； no matter。 Chosa and I are partners in gambling parlors； insurance and construction panies。 We've made fortunes together； so when he wanted a favor from me； I was inclined to grant it。 He of course knew of the enmity between us and used that。 He said he wanted this favor to use a certain man as a weapon to get to an enemy's Achilles' heel。 Does this sound familiar？〃
〃Yes；〃 Ushiba said； thinking of Chosa's vow to find a way to destroy Nicholas Linnear。
〃He said you were against his plan。 Is this true？〃
〃It is。〃
Yoshinori's eyes had begun to tear； perhaps because of the acrid smoke。 〃Because of that I granted him that favor。 I allowed him to use my influence to convince the newly appointed oyabun of the Yamauchi clan； Tachi Shidare； to bee this weapon。〃
6
Vung Tau/Washington
The skeleton was enormous； over thirteen feet long； Nicholas estimated。 Firelight flickered off the glass case in which it was housed； causing odd shadows and distended fingers of light to play over the rib bones。
〃This one was caught in 1868；〃 Tachi said。 〃All the whales here at Lang Ca Ong have a special significance。〃 Lang Ca Ong； the Temple of the Whales； was built in 1911 and had about it a distinctly non…Buddhist air； with its cases of cetaceous skeletons。 The whale cult； to which Lang Ca Ong was consecrated； was appropriated by the Vietnamese from the Champa； one of the indigenous peoples they had defeated in founding their nation。
〃Whales have for centuries played the part of savior in local folklore。〃 Tachi put the flat of his hand against the glass case。 〃Not surprising in a nation of fishermen。〃
The sky was bright with stars； and a moon the color of bananas floated in the sky like a ship one could imagine setting sail against the shadows cast by the ghostly skeletons of these enormous beasts。
〃What time did Van Kiet say he'd meet us？〃
Tachi looked at Nicholas。 〃Have patience。 We are here early for several reasons。 I wanted you to see this place because it is unique in Vietnam。 I also wanted us to catch a scent of the meeting ground。 It's not that I don't trust the chief inspector； I don't trust any Vietnamese。 I think they've learned to lie to everyone … including themselves。〃
They walked through the temple grounds。 Surrounded by the massive forms of the whales； Nicholas felt the spatial harmony of life。 The great sea mammals provided a kind of context that made the stars seem less remote； the moon appear closer。
〃From what I know of the Yakuza it's unusual for someone so young to be made oyabun of a full clan。〃
Tachi smiled。 〃Yes； well； you know far more about the Yakuza than any of my fellow oyabun would believe。〃
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