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her suffering。 Grasping the haft of the bolt； he jerked it free of the tree and of her。 With a gasp； she collapsed。
He held her； and she did not try to push him away。 He pressed his hand over the wound； but with his tanjian eye he could feel the life leaving her。 With her psychic sensitivity she knew it； too。
〃Hold on。 I'll get you to a hospital。〃
〃No。 Don't lie to me。 Not now。 Not ever。〃
〃No lies。〃 He brushed a strand of hair from her damp cheek。 Her eyes closed for a moment； and he bent down； kissed her gently on the lips。 Her lids fluttered open。
She stared up at him； and at last； her eyes focused。 What had she seen in that moment before she saw him？
〃Nicholas；〃 she whispered。 〃Go see my father。 He'll tell you what you need to know。〃
She was fighting to hold on。 Her head lay on his shoulder as if they were simply lovers； sharing an intimate moment beneath the stars。 Her eyes dulled over and she began to pant heavily。 Her eyes closed and her lips parted。
〃Remember me； that's all I ask。〃
DOWN IN THE DEAD ZONE
Man must sit in chair with mouth open for
very long time before roast duck fly in。
… Chinese proverb
Tokyo
Summer 1947
〃I think I've found our man；〃 Mikio Okami said。
〃Really？〃 Col。 Denis Linnear looked up from his mass of paperwork from which； it seemed； he was as loathe to part as Okami would be from a lover's arms。 The Colonel rarely slept these days and only occasionally returned to his bed； as if home had bee a vacation spot to visit now and again。
〃Yes。〃 Okami nodded。 〃He's perfect。〃
〃No one's perfect。 Least of all a potential murderer。〃
The Colonel sat back in his chair； loaded his pipe as he watched Okami move nervously around the small； stuffy room。 It was early summer； but already stiflingly hot。 If this heat kept up； he shuddered to think what Tokyo would be like in August。
〃Let's take a walk；〃 the Colonel said； firing up his pipe。
Outside； Tokyo was a morass of destruction。 Entire sections of the city would have to be rebuilt from the foundation up； and some felt the past had been incinerated along with lives and property。 The economy was shaky； inflation was running rampant； and the munists were on the rise … all destabilizing elements that made the country ripe for lawlessness。
The Colonel knew he and Okami were running out of time。 Maj。 Gen。 Charles Willoughby and his group were busy debriefing the cream of Japan's military generals； men whom they had saved from the war crimes tribunals in order to 〃train〃 them as American spies and to head up a new rearmed Japanese army that would bee America's watchdog against the spread of munism in the Pacific。
The Colonel was absolutely certain that this fascistic plan would bring ruin on a Japan struggling for economic survival and redefinition in the postwar world； and diplomatic and public relations nightmares to a United States already under the gun for unleashing two atomic bombs on its former enemy。 A country that could hardly put rice on the table could ill afford the onerous expenditures rearmament would incur。
〃All right；〃 he said at length； 〃who's our pigeon？〃
〃Tokino Kaeda。 He's a key man in the Yamauchi clan； an underoyabun whose ruthlessness and ambition has of late made him Katsuodo Kozo's favorite。〃 Okami stopped； bought a bag of sweets from a street vendor。 〃His ambition makes him both approachable and reliable。〃 Okami shrugged。 〃Power over honor。 This； I fear； is to be the nature of the new world you have brought us。〃
〃Yes； the world has changed irrevocably；〃 the Colonel said thoughtfully。 〃It's too bad your lot came down on the wrong side of the war。 Who is to blame for this wreckage？〃 They turned a corner； went down the street toward the Sumida River。 〃But now is not the time for bitterness or recriminations。 We must look to the future in order to make the present secure。 I am convinced that the future of the world's merce lies here in the Pacific。 Between Japan and China； we have the collective will and the sheer population to create economic miracles。 We've made it our mission； Okami…san； to ensure that Japan； at least； gets a chance。 Life from the ashes of defeat； eh？〃
They reached the bank of the river； which was slung like a boa around the shoulders of an insolent woman。 Tokyo was that woman； maimed； violated； and starving。 But at least she was still on her feet； and recovering from the worst of her wounds。
〃Katsuodo is our first obstacle。〃 Okami leaned against the black iron railing； staring into the brown； sluggish water。 〃He's dead set against any Yakuza involvement with the Americans。 It's his belief that the Occupation mand is using us as a shield to do the dirty work the American military prefers not to do themselves。〃
〃He's right； in a way。 But it's myopic thinking。 The Yakuza have as much to fear from munist incursions into Japan as the Americans do。 Why shouldn't they crack a few heads in public for the Americans？ They're being paid handsomely for what they do so well anyway。〃
Okami grunted。 〃Dismiss what Katsuodo says。 He's oyabun of the Yamauchi clan and he fears my power。 Don't forget that I was the one who brought him to power。 Now I see what a mistake that was。 He's using this issue as a dye marker to test the waters。 Which oyabun will side with me； which with him？ This is why he's been so intractable in his position against us。 And now； to further his cause of total isolationism； he's instigated incidents of violence between the clans。 We can't afford this kind of divisive behavior。 This is just the kind of situation Japan was in at the end of the sixteenth century when lyeyasu Tokugawa came to power as shogun。 If only we had a modern…day shogun to unite all the oyabun and keep them under control。〃
The Colonel sucked on his pipe。 〃An interesting idea； my friend。 But； as yet； no one oyabun could mand such allegiance。〃 He blew out a cloud of smoke； watched it dissipate along the riverbank。 〃But as for the future。。。〃 He seemed intrigued by this notion。 After a time； he said； 〃You know； even the rumor of such a person would enhance the Yakuza status。 That might be helpful to all of us。〃
Once more Okami was dazzled by the Colonel's ability to take a simple idea and spin it out to its ultimate potential。 In this way； he was truly able to make wheat into gold。
The Colonel reversed his pipe； knocked the dottle out of the bowl。 〃Food for thought。 But for now let's return to the problem at hand。〃
〃Katsuodo must be dissuaded； permanently；〃 Okami said。 〃That's where Tokino Kaeda es in。 He's guaranteed me a foolproof method for Katsuodo's demise。 It seems the oyabun can't swim。 This is a closely guarded secret； but of course； as Katsuodo's most trusted underoyabun； Kaeda is privy to the information。 A week from now Katsuodo's body will be found floating here in the Sumida； and we can get on with dealing with Willoughby and his cabal of war criminals。〃
The Colonel nodded； reloading his pipe。 Okami watched him from the corner of his eye； wondering what was flashing through that magnificent brain。 He had to admit； much as he tried； he could never quite keep up with the Colonel's mind。 If he had chosen to play chess； Okami had no d