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g service。 Nicholas and Tachi moved off； down a hump and between two of the shrine buildings toward a road that wound into the rear of the valley。
Nicholas said； 〃Why did you say before that I didn't really want to talk about Seiko？ I did。〃
〃Perhaps。 But we both know what is foremost on your mind。〃
Shuken。
The word stood between them like a ghost at a feast； turning food into ash and wine into stagnant water。 Shuken was what Tachi had over Nicholas； and now a future that seemed to have had many branchings just a day ago had been narrowed to two。 Because Shuken would be present； invoked or threatened to be invoked； at every decision； confrontation； and opinion。 Everything they did now was prejudiced by it； and either they would be friends or they would be enemies。 This was what Shuken had done to their futures； there was no room for promise or a middle ground。
〃Yes；〃 Nicholas said； not wanting to utter a word。 〃Shuken。〃
〃And of course you want to know whether I will teach you how to reach the sphere。〃
Nicholas said nothing； continuing along the road that was actually no more than a dirt path。 They had quickly left the more civilized area of the shrine pound and had now plunged into the raw countryside。 Birds twittered in the tree…tops； lost in the maze of cryptomeria needles。
〃I already know your answer by what you have just said。〃 Nicholas turned to Tachi。 〃You are right。 I have no love of the Yakuza … far from it in fact。 But with you I was willing to make an exception because。。。〃 Nicholas looked into the trees； cloaked in the ing of night。 Their pitchy smell pervaded the area。 〃Because our minds touched and there was a chance we could learn from one another。 Tachi； we live such isolated lives that I。。。 I lost a wife because of that isolation。 I imagine I have lost someone else special to me for the same reason。 In my youth； the splendid isolation： of my internal art was enough for me。 But that was a long time ago； and I was another person entirely。〃 He shook his head。 〃You're right to believe that I have sought Shuken almost ever since I became aware that I was tanjian … and I have pelling reasons to seek it that you could never fully understand。 But I will not play power games with you or anyone in order to possess the integration of Akshara and Kshira。〃
Tachi was motionless as he contemplated Nicholas for a long time。 A black bird flew above their heads； disappearing into the forest of cryptomeria。 At last； Tachi said； 〃Who told you that Shuken was the integration of Tau…tau's two paths？〃
〃No one。 I just intuited。。。〃
〃The theory of integration is a myth； Linnear…san。 Do not be deluded。 Shuken exists and koryoku is its only pathway； but what Shuken does is hold the two paths； light and dark； separate in one mind。 The perfection of integration is； like any other form of perfection in human existence； an impossibility。〃 Tachi saw the look on Nicholas's face but had no inkling of what it might portend。 He could not know of the Kshira time bombs ticking away in Nicholas。 〃But I will willingly teach you everything I know。 I pledged to do as much with each tanjian I met； but even had I not； I would give you what I have been taught。 We are friends； are we not？〃
〃Yes；〃 Nicholas said； thinking of Seiko's warning about Tachi's obsession with Floating City； 〃we are。〃
They pressed on。 Niigata lived in a small cottage at the end of this lane； and up ahead they could see lights in the gloom。 Soon a small thatch…roofed house came into view。 It was hewn from timbers in the traditional Japanese…farmhouse style； all locked together by notches and dowels with no nails or glue used。
As they came up to the front door； Tachi said； 〃Let me handle this。 I know how to deal with Rock's people。〃
〃How do you know Niigata's been to Floating City？〃
Tachi slapped his belly with his fist。 〃This tells me。〃
His face was grim as he struck the door with his hand。 A moment later； a lanky man in his midsixties stood peering out at them。 He was so emaciated he recalled photos of concentration camp internees。
〃Yes？〃
His skull was absolutely hairless。 Baldness in a man his age would not be particularly remarkable except that Nicholas could see that he had no eyelashes or eyebrows。
〃Niigata…san？〃
〃Hai。〃
〃We have a message for you from a friend of yours。〃 Tachi took a step toward the threshold 〃His name is Rock。〃
Nicholas took a swift step forward； catching Niigata before he fell to the floor。 They took off their shoes； and Nicholas set the thin man on his feet。 He seemed to weigh less than a child； and his skin was red and blotchy； shiny as vinyl。
〃Forgive me；〃 Niigata said； 〃but I had never thought to hear that name again。〃
〃This man's suffering from radiation poisoning；〃 Nicholas said to Tachi； then turned to the older man。 〃Niigata…san； are you being treated？ You should be in hospital。〃
Niigata gave him a rueful smile。 〃There is no treatment for what I have。 I am better off here than being the object of scientific curiosity。〃
〃Then you've been to Floating City？〃 Tachi asked。
Nicholas was aware of Tachi's heartbeat accelerating。
〃e；〃 Niigata gestured to the dim ulterior。 〃I was just sitting down to dinner。 Won't you join me？ It's been quite some time since I had guests。 The priests visit me regularly； but they never stay。 I would wele the pany； even if Rock did send you。〃
Nicholas gave Tachi a quick glance； but the oyabun contrived to ignore it。 〃That would be most kind of you；〃 Tachi said； the urgent note in his voice undiminished。
They followed the emaciated man into the interior of the house。 As Niigata moved slowly around the sunken hibachi hearth； Nicholas said； 〃You have been to Floating City and yet you're here now。〃
〃I escaped；〃 Niigata said simply。 He stirred the root vegetables that were simmering in a soy broth。 The stew was in a large iron pot hung from a hook above the hibachi。
〃And yet you seem unconcerned about our appearance。〃
Niigata looked up。 〃I am already dead。 What more could Rock do to me？〃 He took down a stack of rough wooden bowls； ladled out generous portions of the vegetable stew。 His hands shook； and once； he almost spilled liquid onto the tatami； but neither man moved to help him。 〃Sit；〃 he manded。
The three men ate in silence。 In fact； only Nicholas and Tachi appeared to have an appetite。 Though the food was rich and flavorful Niigata barely touched it。 Nicholas was not surprised。
〃You worked on Abramanov's project； didn't you？〃 Tachi asked。
Niigata put down his chopsticks； abandoning all pretext at eating。 〃You're not from Floating City。〃
〃No；〃 Tachi said。 〃We want to stop what's going on inside it〃
〃Then you don't know。〃 Niigata's voice was abruptly so weary that Nicholas might have thought it was emanating from Methuselah。
〃The truth is we've e to find out。〃
Niigata nodded。 〃The truth is important。〃 His head came up and his fevered black eyes bored into theirs in turn。 〃I find these days nothing else has meaning。〃
〃It is the truth；〃 Nicholas said。
〃Yes。〃 Niigata nodded。 〃I suppose I have no choice but to believe you。〃 He shrugged his thin shoulders。 〃It's a good illusion； anyway。〃 Then he told them everythin