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ard the beating at kokoro； the ancient magic of Tau…tau causing the transformation of thought into deed。
It was koryoku； the Illuminating Power； the sole path to Shuken。
〃Open your mind； Nicholas；〃 Tachi whispered。 〃Here is everything you've wanted。 Here is koryoku。〃
So close to his dream Nicholas hesitated。 Could he trust Tachi this far？ If he opened his mind； he would be vulnerable to a psychic attack by Tachi； who was also a tanjian。 But if he did not take the chance； then the threat of the Kshira teaching in his mind increased exponentially。 He had no choice。
He drew his essence inward toward kokoro； the cosmic membrane； and he began the ancient rhythms of Tau…tau。 The cryptomeria forest exploded into columns of smoke； obscuring the moonlight。 The world canted over on its side as the present slipped out of focus； loosed from the yoke of time。 Now he dwelled in the ether of magic where horizons were unknown and arbitrary man…made laws ceased to exist。 Only the cosmos swelled and breathed all around him like a gigantic engine。
He became aware of another psychic presence on the opposite side of the glittering column of light。 Tachi。
Koryoku stood between them like a charismatic lodestone toward which they both moved。 The danger increased as both men approached the central column of light。 Nicholas's mind was open wide。 He could feel Tachi's essence and get a sense of its texture but not its substance。 If Tachi was his secret enemy； this would be a perfect place for him to ambush Nicholas； now when he was engrossed in koryoku； dazzled by it； when his psychic defenses were folded away to allow the lesson of the Illuminating Power to flow through him。
He felt a ripple outside time； like a loop pleting itself； and he once more experienced shicho； that peculiar and remarkable current of thought emanating from Tachi。
Now both men were so close to the coruscating column of light that Nicholas could see Tachi's face through it； illuminated by it； transfigured by it。 He felt the other man's urging； and he reached out with his mind。 Closer and closer he came to the glittering； mysterious column until he could sense the surge of ionized particles； feel the prickling sensation of then excitation on the surface of his mind。
Then something curious happened。
Nicholas heard Tachi in his mind。
I can't； Tachi said。
Can't what？
For an instant； the image of Tachi behind the column of light winked out and Nicholas sensed he was alone in Tau…tau。 Then Tachi reemerged into the light thrown off by koryoku。
Tachi； what is it？
Something。。。 I don't know。。。 There was an odd look on his face。 The Kshira is so strong。。。
My Kshira？ Nicholas thought。 Is my Kshira so strong it won't allow me to reach koryoku？ What else could Tachi mean？
Then Tachi's presence winked out again and Nicholas knew he was not ing back。 He took one last lingering look at the column of light。 Without Tachi's presence it was already beginning to break up； swirling ever more slowly like an engine without an energy source； and Nicholas pulled himself out of Tau…tau。
He found himself back near the shrine。 He looked around。
Tachi was crossing over the bridge to the shrine； but he was not headed for the steep stairs that would take him back to the village。 Nicholas was crossing the bridge after him when he heard a sharp sound ing from the nearest of the shrine buildings to their right。
He paused； peering into the lantern…lit gloom； but could see nothing。
Tachi had already entered the shrine。
〃Tachi！〃
〃There's someone here。〃 Tachi's voice was breathless。
〃It's just a priest or the caretaker。〃
But Tachi shook his head。 〃It's someone who does not belong here。〃
He disappeared around a corner and Nicholas went over the bridge after him。 The interior of the shrine was open； as was the custom。 There were small covered areas； and a sacred fountain in the shape of the coiled serpent Noten O…kami。 A small bamboo ladle lay along the stone basin； and it was this simple symbol of purity that Nicholas would remember long after that night was over。
〃Tachi；〃 Nicholas said again。 He caught sight of the oyabun in an open field facing the last building in which stood a series of stone statues of the venerable priests who founded this shrine centuries ago。 They were set into the steep forested hillside into which the stone steps had been laboriously cut。
〃Here！〃 Tachi said； pointing to a gap between two of the statues。 He took a step up the slope； then abruptly spun around。 What at first appeared to be a black rope arced out from him； his arms were flung wide； and he hit the ground。
Nicholas was already more than halfway to him。 He saw； as he approached； the fletched end of the steel bolt that had pierced Tachi's heart。 And along the sward； the black rope draped； a long； thick line of Tachi's blood。
〃Tachi！〃
He knelt beside the oyabun； put his hand to the side of his head。 Tachi's eyes were open； an expression in them somewhere between surprise and outrage。
〃What did you see？〃 Nicholas whispered； but Tachi was past hearing anything。 Shicho； the current of thought that had run between them； had been severed； and he felt its absence like the loss of a hand。
Nicholas rose； leaping over the dead oyabun； and； grasping the rough； lichen…studded surface of one of the statues； leaped upward into the first line of trees。 He raced silently through the thickets of the forest； listening to the immediate environment as he went。 A full moon rode in a sky rid at last of the mist of the day； and its light cast everything in an eerie chiaroscuro。
His ears detected a small sound； then a series； like leather struck against stone； and he changed directions； sprinting in an oblique direction to his left； toward the stone steps。 His stride lengthened and his blood pumped。 It felt good to rise to motion after the long hours inside Niigata's stupefying catafalque。
He could see the line of stone steps now； gleaming as whitely as bones … Niigata's scantly covered bones …in the milky werelight。
Someone was on them； running upward； and he changed direction again； paralleling them； keeping to the shadows of the cryptomeria。 It was difficult going； much of the hillside was scree； friable rock thickly carpeted with gnarled roots； lichen； and moss； treacherous underfoot。
Where the stairs turned forty…five degrees and the massive bronze image of Yoshitsune's sword rose from its stone bed； he broke cover； ing obliquely toward the running figure。 He could see that the lightweight titanium…and…boron hunting crossbow was loaded with another steel bolt。 It was leveled at him； but as he approached； the figure dropped the weapon to its side。 The next moment； it moved again； this time into a patch of moonlight； and Nicholas saw the face。
He almost stumbled as he came up short on the steep； rocky slope of the hillside。
Seiko！
〃Christ； what have you done？〃
〃He was poison；〃 she managed between teeth clenched in rage。 Her eyes were darting this way and that。 〃He would have destroyed everything。〃
〃You're wrong； he …〃
〃He would have taken you away！〃 she shouted； and lifted the crossbow：
Nicholas whirled and； with his muscles pop