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Tachi smiled。 〃Yes； well； you know far more about the Yakuza than any of my fellow oyabun would believe。〃
Nicholas paused in the shadow of the beast； his face was striped by the strips of darkness thrown from curving bones； bleached by time and the elements。 He refused to be drawn out in this manner。 〃I know that you are now one of the Kaisho's inner council。〃
〃That's right。 And you have sworn yourself to protect Mikio Okami。 But Okami may already be dead。 Some of his inner council would undoubtedly rejoice at the news； since one of them ordered his assassination。 At the very least the former Kaisho is in hiding。〃
〃Has he already been stripped of his title？〃
〃So it would seem from my limited knowledge of the current workings of the inner council。〃
This response intrigued Nicholas。 〃You don't sound as if you're really part of them。〃
〃Why would I be？ Just because I've inherited Tomoo Kozo's position？ I don't yet have his influence； though I'm working on it。〃 Tachi glanced upward to the stars。 〃I have a theory： I believe I was chosen to succeed Kozo precisely because I am young and do not yet have the influence of either Akira Chosa or Tetsuo Akinaga。 What could be better for them？ I need help and they are only too eager to provide favors； knowing that once I am in their debt； I will be tied to them forever。 The power of the Yamauchi has been effectively stifled； so they believe。〃
〃You have other plans； I take it。〃
〃I do。〃
They went on through the temple； and on the edge of a small stone garden； they sat； their legs dangling over the side of the veranda like boys at ease。 Tachi broke open a satchel； pulling out cold grilled meat； rice； and a whole baked fish。 They ate by the light of the stars and the moon； the hulking masses of the whales at their backs。
When they were finished and had packed the remains away； Tachi said； 〃My plans include you； assuming I could discover a way to interest you。〃
〃The Yakuza hold little interest for me。〃
〃I know otherwise；〃 Tachi said； rising。 〃Your father's best friend was Mikio Okami。 Through Okami he used the Yakuza to achieve certain goals。〃
〃Those years after the war were pure chaos。 Everything and anything had to be considered in order to restore political order and economic balance to Japan。 It was Occupation policy to use Yakuza on occasion。 This was part of my father's job。〃
〃Yes。 He was a great man in the founding of the new postwar Japan。 I doubt we would be where we are today without his help。〃
But from his tone Nicholas was quite certain this was not at all what Tachi had meant to say。 Shicho； the current of thought； played between them like heat lightning。 And now Nicholas saw how their elemental affinity through Tau…tau could be a two…edged sword。 While it could bring them together in spirit and purpose； like the carcasses of the leviathans arranged beneath the stars； it could also betray them； revealing more； perhaps； than either was consciously willing to divulge。
They both became aware of the figure at the same tune。 Slowly； almost hesitantly； it detached itself from the shadows of the temple columns； padding toward them。 It was small； willowy； the narrow hips swaying in an age…old rhythm that seemed out of place； even grotesque。
It was a girl； not more than nine years old； too young even for her breasts to have begun to bud。 Yet she swung her hips like any seasoned streetwalker the world over。
〃Let me handle this；〃 Tachi said as the girl held one hand out to them。 She was beautiful； if one could imagine her without the bruises on her face and bare shoulders。
She said something in Vietnamese that sounded to Nicholas like； 〃Want to fuck here？ Do it now。 Only five dollars American。〃 But he could not believe a child so young could sell herself this way。
Nevertheless； Tachi rose and； pressing several bills into her fist； bent to slip his jacket across her shoulders。 He spoke to her quietly in the same dialect she had used。 In time； the suspicion on her face dissolved enough so that she allowed herself to be led to where Nicholas was。
She sat between them； this filthy； wretched child； and ate in the large famished bites of a wild animal all the food they had left between them。 She picked the sweet meat of the cheeks from the fish's head； chewing slowly in a kind of euphoric daze。 Then she slipped the head into her mouth； devouring it pletely。 Finally she took the bones and crunched on them contentedly。
Her eyes were dark and luminous； the deep color of her skin like burnished bronze where it was free of bruises。 While her limbs were delicate； they were already developing out of the shapeless appendages of a little girl。 Her youth made her bruises and scrapes seem all the more abominable。
Between swallows she answered Tachi's gently probing questions。 Nicholas found it fascinating to watch this Yakuza boss tenderly minister to this creature of the nighttime streets。
〃She says that her father taught her how to give pleasure to men；〃 Tachi told Nicholas softly。 〃Her family is very poor； and without the money she is bringing in； they would have nowhere to live。 Her baby brother is ill； and what her father earns goes to medicine and food。〃 He looked at Nicholas。 〃In her pany it would be easy to hate such a father。〃 He reached out； wiped the child's lips free of grease。 He said something to her and received a lopsided grin in return。 Then she scrambled up and； clutching his jacket tightly around her； scampered off seemingly as carefree as any child her age into the shadows of the temple and the whales。
〃We've given her only a temporary respite from her life；〃 Tachi said sadly。 〃Tomorrow she'll be back at it； turning tricks； lying about her virginity so foreign businessmen won't worry about contracting AIDS。 No one thinks about how soon it will be until the disease finds her。〃
The night had bee very still。 The moon was turning fiery as it descended through the layers of exhausted air surrounding Vietnam's new industrial future。 Soon soot would cover this tiny garden； clinging like glue to stone and tree alike。
Shorn of his jacket； Tachi's arms were bare。 Nicholas could see a series of what appeared to be long concentric circles spiraling down his right arm。 Tachi； who had little body hair； was devoid of it on this arm。 Instead； the skin was pale and puckered； shiny as melted wax； though it was clear these scars had been inflicted long ago。
Tachi did not look at Nicholas； but continued to rummage in his satchel。 〃I imagine you're curious。 I know I would be in your situation。〃
Nicholas said nothing。 He thought of Croaker and his bio…mechanical left hand。 Fabulous as it was； Nicholas wondered whether his friend ever missed having two flesh…and…blood hands。 He missed Croaker。 They had spoken by phone earlier via the prearranged schedule they had set up； bringing one another up…to…date on the progress of their parallel missions。
〃I've been trying to make contact for two days；〃 Croaker had said； 〃signaling； then waiting for your return call。 Nothing。 What the hell happened？ Are you okay？〃
〃Just barely。 Remember Timothy Delacroix？〃
〃The arms dealer； yeah； sure。〃
〃He's in Saigon and I tried to set up a me