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for minutes at a time； but he had yet to figure out a way to avoid them at work。
The feeling of vertigo subsided slowly； and he came back to himself。 He began to focus his mind on why he had asked for this meeting。 Now was the time； he could feel it。 If he was going to tread this new path； this was the moment to take the first step。 Again； he felt the absence of Mikio Okami more acutely than he did his present surroundings。 How present events would have been altered had the Kaisho been here now。 Of all the decisions in his life； Ushiba regretted most his acquiescence to the plan to oust Okami。 If he had known someone … Chosa or Akinaga … would take it one step further and try to assassinate the Kaisho； he would never have agreed。 But he hadn't； and now； with Chosa and Akinaga； the two powerhouses of the inner council； apparently at each other's throat； he felt increasingly helpless to stem the rising tide of an internecine war。 This feeling had been the prime motivating factor in his ing down on Akinaga's side when Chosa had overstepped his authority by enlisting the council's third oyabun； Tachi Shidare； to destroy Nicholas Linnear。 The power…grabbing had to end。 Mikio Okami had known that when he had set himself up as Kaisho； and now Ushiba knew as well。 He just prayed he hadn't learned the lesson too late。
〃Gin…san；〃 he said slowly； 〃I have been thinking about what you have just told me。 I have knowledge of a tangible connection between Yoshinori and the Yakuza。〃
Tanaka Gin half…turned toward him on the seat。 His face was very grave。 〃Chief Minister； if this is the case； then I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never fully repay。〃
〃Repayment is not at issue。〃 Ushiba could feel his world sliding away from him。 What would ensue from this moment he could not say； but certainly a new order was about to take hold。 〃What I can tell you is that Yoshinori has had direct business dealings with Akira Chosa； oyabun of the Kokorogurushii clan。〃
In the expression on Tanaka Gin's face； he could see it was done： their fates had now been set in stone； and they all trod upon a path strewn with unknown consequences。
〃It's painfully simple；〃 Tachi said to Nicholas。 〃Michael Leonforte killed my father。〃
Niigata had gone out to the toilet on unsteady legs。 The radiation had made his bones brittle as well as hollow。
〃Three years after I left； I returned home from Kumamoto to make my peace； to show my father who I had bee。 To this day I don't know whether he understood what it is I do。 Perhaps it is better that way； he lived his life in the way he had to。 In any case； what was important to him was my one act of rebellion at school。 He never looked at my arm； but I knew he was aware of the scars there and he was proud of how they had e to be there。〃
Tachi kept an eye on the back door； watching； Nicholas supposed； for Niigata to return。 〃My father had many business interests in Vietnam。 He used to take me with him when he went。 It would drive my mother to distraction because it was so dangerous。 'Danger；' my father always said； 'is a beast best mastered at an early age。' And he was right。 I learned from him how to protect myself； how to lay low and how to retaliate。 I learned to negotiate … which is retaliation's brother … and to promise when the need arose。 The best thing my father ever did for me was to put eyes in my back。〃
The fire cracked and sparked； licking at the cast iron pot in which the remains of dinner simmered happily away。 The escaping steam sounded like a disapproving parent。
〃My father was always expanding in Vietnam。 He saw what others had not … that Southeast Asia was a shell in which pearls could be harvested at a fraction of the cost they could at home。 He bought textile panies and electronics firms； fertilizer bines and interests in the old hotels of Saigon； when everyone else considered them worthless。 And he bought land。 This was how he came in contact with Leonforte。
〃Michael Leonforte was also buying up real estate； through a dummy corporation owned by him and Rock。 What it came down to was they both wanted the same plot of dirt。
〃For once； my father forgot his own rules。 He would not back down and neither would Leonforte。 Leonforte threatened him； but my father would not be baited。 Then Leonforte came after me and my father went after Leonforte。 He forgot to watch his back。 I saw Leonforte shoot him down like a dog in the street。 What's more； Leonforte liked it。 He licked his lips and howled in glee； he did a little dance over my father's body before dragging it into the jungle。〃
Nicholas watched Tachi as the painful memories worked their way through the muscles of his face like a paroxysm。 In this； at least； Seiko had not lied。 Tachi was indeed obsessed with infiltrating Floating City。
Nicholas leaned over； poured Tachi a cup of tea； pushing it across the tatami； into the oyabun's hands。 Briefly； he touched Tachi's fingers； which were very cold。
With the contact； Tachi's eyes refocused on Nicholas's face； then down at the cup of tea。 He nodded in gratitude； took the cup in trembling hands； drank slowly。 When he was finished； his fingers were steady again。
〃Niigata hasn't forgotten how to make tea；〃 he said softly； and Nicholas gave him a small smile。
〃Niigata escaped from Floating City； so it's logical to assume that he knows a way in。〃 Nicholas took the empty cup from Tachi。 〃You'll get your chance now。〃
Tachi nodded wordlessly as Niigata returned； and they began the last phase of the interview。
They left Niigata as they had found him； silhouetted in the open doorway； but to Nicholas he seemed more frail； as if the sickness were aging him at an impossibly rapid rate。 He was not far wrong。 Niigata estimated that he had outlived normal expectancy。 〃Every morning when I open my eyes；〃 he told them； 〃it is a surprise； and not always a pleasant one。〃 He did not have to go into the particulars of his somatic breakdown。
Outside； the cryptomeria swayed to the vagaries of the evening breeze。 It had turned cold； and they hurried down the path toward the distant lights of the shrine pound； which glowed intermittently through the forest。 At night； they were even more aware of the depth of the valley。 The black hillsides loomed over them with a far different feeling from what they had in the benign twilight。
Perhaps it was what they had learned from Niigata that chilled them so； but both were sober and unmunicative as they reached the small clearing beyond which was the bridge to the shrine。 The shrine itself was deserted； the corners of the red…lacquered wood structures burnished with light from hanging lanterns。
Still； the moonlight was strong； and as they moved forward； it seemed to shimmer； rising up from the damp ground as if with a life of its own。 It swirled in the night like mist； coalescing around a central point so that it seemed about to take on a specific shape before collapsing back on itself。
In the far distance； Nicholas heard a rhythm at once familiar and new。 The heat of it fired his blood。 He turned to see Tachi staring at him； and now he heard the beating at kokoro； the ancient magic of Tau…tau causing the transformation of thought into d