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〃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 everything he knew。 How Rock had picked Abramanov out of the South China Sea in November of 1991； and how Abramanov had persuaded him to return to the site the following spring； when Abramanov's wounds had sufficiently healed； in order to retrieve the Russian's precious cargo。 How Rock then built the lab with its hot cell for Abramanov's experiments with the highly toxic radioactive isotope。
〃Just how powerful is this 114m？〃 Tachi asked。
〃How to answer that？〃 Niigata's head bobbed on his stalk of a neck。 〃No one really knows。 Even Rock dares not test it inside Vietnam； so the prototype has been made on pure speculation。 I know firsthand that the isotope is more chemically toxic than plutonium。 It's a nightmare material。 Direct contact with particles is invariably fatal。 Since fine particulates are always present on its surface because of oxidation and surface instability； extreme contamination controls are essential。 So it is handled within a negative…pressure…ventilated hot cell with an inert atmosphere of argon to prevent oxidation。 But not always； and this gives rise to the transport of toxic dust。 Then there is the gamma radiation to worry about。 Element 114m is such an energetic gamma emitter that standing unshielded within ten meters of it for five minutes is lethal。〃
〃If it's such a nightmare； why bother with it at all？〃 Tachi asked。
〃Several reasons。 Element 114m has a very high cross…section for thermal neutrons； making it a most potent fissile material。 It has a critical mass far below that of either uranium or plutonium。 Plus； its half…life is exceptionally long。 Do you know what all this means？〃
〃I think I can guess。〃 Nicholas felt chilled through to his bones。 〃The isotope that Abramanov discovered will make an excellent weapons material。〃
Niigata nodded。 〃That's right。 Abramanov claims that the criticality factor is so high that if one were foolish enough to bring two small bricks of the isotope … say five inches by eight by one … within three feet of one another； spontaneous fission would initiate a full…scale criticality event。〃
〃A fission chain reaction。〃 Nicholas's throat seemed filled with lead。 〃How large？〃
〃With just those two small bricks Abramanov estimates four square city blocks。〃
〃Good God。〃
The three men sat in silence for some time。 A bird sang in a branch just outside the window and then fell still。 It was so quiet they could hear the rushing of the stream some distance away。 Niigata stirred； moving his stiff limbs about。 He was obviously in pain。
〃The isotope was too hot even for the hot cell；〃 Nicholas said。
〃Yes。 We had to train locals； mountain tribesmen。 It's exacting work； and we did not have enough time。 Mistakes were made … small ones … but with 114m they were enough。 While I was there； fifteen men died of radiation poisoning。 You can see how its extreme toxicity makes it inappropriate for mercial use。〃 Niigata shook his head。 〃Such a shame。 Otherwise； Abramanov would have fulfilled one of mankind's most cherished dreams： a safe； cheap； virtually inexhaustible fuel。〃
Tachi leaned forward； the firelight licking at his taut face。 〃Is Abramanov being held against his will in Floating City？〃
〃Yes and no。〃 Niigata stirred the wood with a poker； put another log on。 He had great difficulty handling the wood； but again neither man would shame him by offering to help。 〃I don't believe Rock is keeping him captive； he doesn't have to。 Abramanov is doing a first…rate job of it himself。〃
In the flickering light it appeared as if all flesh had been stripped from Niigata and what now sat before them was an animated skeleton； yellow bones still shining with the remnants of a lost life。
〃Abramanov has convinced himself of the worthiness of his work at Floating City。 The project； which Rock has called Torch； is the price he believes he must pay for continuing his life's work。 Like a lunatic； he listens to Rock and does his dirty work。 A highly pact； portable； clean nuclear device。 It makes the blood run cold。 But Abramanov is oblivious。 He is fixated on one point on the horizon； and it is this for which he lives … the eventual recognition he will receive from mankind。〃
So this has been Okami's objective for me all along； Nicholas thought。 Floating City is making the nuclear device； and it's almost certain that someone plans to use it against him on the fifteenth of March。 But where was Okami； and who was buying Torch from Rock？
〃But doesn't he see the terrible inevitability of its use for destruction？〃 Tachi was asking Niigata。
〃What scientist does？ Did the team at Los Alamos allow such considerations to deter them on the Manhattan Project？〃 Niigata stared at the charcoal that coated his fingertips。 〃I assure you that the nature of the beast does not allow for such rational thought。〃
Nicholas addressed Niigata。 〃Do you know who is buying the first Torch？〃
〃A Japanese；〃 Niigata said without hesitation。 〃I overheard Rock at one point。 He mentioned the Yakuza。 An oyabun。〃
〃Which oyabun？〃 Nicholas's heart was pounding heavily in his chest。
〃I don't know。 But he did mention the Kaisho。〃
Nicholas's voice was abruptly hoarse。 Okami was Torch's intended target。 That meant whoever was buying it knew where he was hiding。 〃I believe I know the target；〃 he said。 〃Why would they use Torch in this way？〃
Niigata shrugged。 〃My guess is it's twofold。 First； the location of the target has been established but not pinpointed。 With a weapon like Torch； identifying the target's location in a particular house or even on a block is unnecessary。 The entire neighborhood will go。 Second； the resulting disaster in the heart of a densely populated urban center will send the most potent message imaginable to all potential buyers。 Torch's price will skyrocket。 And； believe me； every terrorist； warlord； and ethnic cleanser will fall all over himself to purchase it。〃
Nicholas shivered at the thought。 He had to find out where Okami was hiding。 〃I have information that Torch's detonation will be in a major city。 Have you any idea which one？〃
Niigata's breathing was being labored。 〃I doubt that even Abramanov knows。 Only Rock。 And； of course； his partner。 But my advice would be to get to Torch before the fifteenth。 Once it leaves Floating City the chances of finding it … especially in a big city … are virtually nil。〃
〃His partner？〃 Tachi whispered； ignoring the terrifying implications of what Niigata had just said。
'Tachi's voice was so strangled Nicholas threw him a sharp look。
〃Rock's partner is alive？〃 he asked again。
〃Of course he's alive；〃 Niigata said。 〃Nothing short of being too close to the Torch detonation is going to kill that bastard。 Mick； Rock calls him。〃
〃Yes； Mick。〃 An eerie light had e into Tachi's eyes； and his frame was vibrating so violently that even Niigata had bee aware of it。 〃You fucking sonuvabitch； I have you now； Michael Leonforte。〃
13
London/Tokyo/Yoshino
The sleet had stopped； and silvery light from a full moon sliding through the last of a low…ridin