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immediate consequences。 Ushiba nodded。 He was prepared for whatever lay ahead。 Akira Chosa's betrayal of their special friendship had sealed all their fates。 Now； in a way； their karma had been intertwined with Tanaka Gin's。 As improbable as that would have seemed to him even a month ago； it was now reality。 But that was all right。 He had bee Daijin not merely because of his intelligence； ingenuity； contacts； and good fortune。 He had also proven himself adaptable to all kinds of situations and pressures。 And he would adapt again； as the need arose。
They moved along the food courts； pausing here and there as Tanaka Gin saw fit。 As for himself； Ushiba ate nothing。 He rarely did these days； and when he managed to get something down； it came right up again an hour later。 His body； racked by disease； was beginning to reject the staples of life。 There was nothing to be done now but to play out the string。 He was grateful that Tanaka Gin did not ment on his lack of appetite or on his increasingly gaunt countenance。 He had long ago put away all mirrors in his house； refusing to watch himself waste away day after day。 But perhaps that had been a mistake； because this morning when he had caught a glimpse of himself in the polished marble of his office lobby； he had started as if he had seen a ghost。 In a very real way； he had； for he had been shocked to see how much like a cadaver he already looked； as if a good part of his physicality were already locked away beneath the ground； embalmed and entombed。
〃I wonder if you would entertain a request；〃 Tanaka Gin said。 〃Over the next weeks we will have much to discuss； and the long hours may prove inconvenient for me because you and I live on opposite sides of the city。 I wonder if you would consent to be my guest for this time。 I have a large house with a separate wing for guests。 You could have absolute privacy； but I could have access to you when I need to take down your testimony or have you look over the depositions of others。 How does this arrangement sound to you？〃
Ushiba could not help closing his eyes for an instant。 He was abruptly dizzy； and he hoped without the prosecutor's knowing； he moved closer to a stall dispensing bento boxes of sushi so he could grip its side to steady himself。
Of course he understood why Tanaka Gin was making this offer。 It was to help Ushiba； not himself。 He was well aware of how far along Ushiba was。 He knew Ushiba lived alone； and that at the end he might not want to be。 Tears welled behind Ushiba's eyes before he gathered the strength to clear them without a drop escaping。 It was an odd thing to contemplate； but at the end of his life of power and influence it just might be that Tanaka Gin … a man who was an enemy of the Godaishu … might turn out to be his only true friend。
〃I couldn't possibly inconvenience you to that extent；〃 Ushiba said； watching Tanaka Gin take up a pinch of gray baby eels and munch on them。 〃My presence would throw your household into chaos。〃
〃Hardly； Daijin。 Since I live alone； and have a cleaning woman in twice a week； your stay would be no inconvenience whatsoever。 The woman has barely enough to keep her busy as it is。 Besides； she's something of a show…off。 She's always plaining I have no pany she can cook for。〃
Ushiba waited until they had moved to the next stall before bowing in acquiescence。 〃In that case； I accept your generous offer。 But only because it will make your job easier。〃
Tanaka Gin smiled。 〃Of course。 It is gracious of you to acmodate me in this way。〃
This rather formal dance of words was necessary to save face all the way around。 Ushiba could not disclose his gratitude for a gesture that Tanaka Gin could not admit existed； if he did expose his true reason for making the offer； he would admit to Ushiba's humiliating weakness； and this was unthinkable。
〃I've got a great deal of work ahead of me； and frankly； considering how overworked my staff is； I'm going to have to rely on you； Ushiba…san。〃 He wiped his hands； turned to face the Daijin。 〃To be pletely honest； now that the door has been breached； the skeletons are going to tumble out at an astonishing rate。 The tentacles of Yoshinori's octopus are far…reaching。 We are now not only piling evidence implicating politicians and financial houses in illegal donations for favors rendered； but systematic bid…rigging with construction panies who paid Yoshinori to keep them working on the vast public…works contracts that the Americans have wanted in on for years。 The Americans have accused us of running a closed shop； and they've been right。 And it's being increasingly clear that this is just the beginning。 We're very likely to find the same dirty situations in wholesale markets and retail franchises。〃
Tanaka Gin glanced around the crowded food court with the kind of forced casualness that gave Ushiba the impression he was concerned about security。 Perhaps his suggestion that they meet here was not such an arbitrary decision。
〃In fact； Daijin； I admit to having a personal reason for enlisting your help。 One of my lieutenants has uncovered a document in Yoshinori's home。 I know it is just one document in a sea of paperwork； but this one is different。 It is a personal letter from Yoshinori to one of his political party precinct bosses。 It makes reference to an entity called the Godaishu。 Does this name mean anything to you？〃
〃It doesn't； no；〃 Ushiba said with his heart beating so loudly he was terrified Tanaka Gin would hear it。
〃I'm not surprised。 It doesn't to me。 The references were vague； but my lieutenant thinks he overheard Yakuza using that word。 If we can tie Yoshinori and his branch of the Liberal Democratic Party in to the Yakuza； it would mean a major breakthrough in cracking the Yakuza's stranglehold on legitimate business。〃
Ushiba said nothing for some time。 They had left the food courts and were riding the silent escalators up to street level。 The Ginza was filled with sunlight； neon； and a heady surge of shoppers； tourists； and hurrying businessmen。 None of this panoply seemed alive to Ushiba； who； increasingly； felt as if the world were closing down； his senses； if not his mind； diminishing to the point where someone would have to thrust a tanto into his chest in order for him to feel anything。 For a long time now； the only taste he could recall was that of his own blood。
Tanaka Gin had a car waiting for him to take him back to his office。 〃Will you ride with me； Daijin？ My driver will take you anywhere you want to go。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Ushiba said； ducking down to enter the car's interior。 〃I need to return to my office for the rest of the afternoon。〃
Tanaka Gin settled in beside him。 〃I can have my driver be at your home anytime you wish this evening to help you in packing。〃
〃Eight would be convenient。〃 Ushiba closed his eyes for a moment as the force of the vehicle's acceleration dizzied him。 He was finding that sudden shifts in gravity； no matter how incremental； were affecting him substantially； causing him to feel as if he were falling into a great abyss。 He now found elevators a menace； disorienting him for minutes at a time； but he had yet to figure out a way to avoid them at work。
The feeling of