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us of an indigenous anti…munist military。 His people were training Lieutenant General Arisue； former chief of military intelligence for the General Staff； to head up a contingent of his former officers within G…2； the American intelligence arm。 They had buried his protégés in the historical section where； Okami had hard evidence； the Gang was already hard at work reporting on Soviet troop movements in the area。 In a mind…boggling display of putting the tiger in with the hens； Willoughby's people had placed another notorious war criminal； Colonel Hattori； in charge of local military demobilization。 Hattori promptly returned the favor by saving his cronies from the war crimes ax。 When and if Willoughby got his sorely…wished…for go…ahead for remobilizing the Japanese military to act as an American puppet force； Hattori would oversee it。
These actions were offensive to Okami on several counts。 Besides not buying into Willoughby's munist…under…every…doormat theory； he had no wish to see his country kept on America's short leash； which rearmament would surely acplish。 Also； as the Colonel correctly pointed out； the cost for start…up and maintenance of a significant； military force would undermine everything the Colonel had been working toward： a viable economy； free of high inflation； that would get Japan back on its feet。
But； if the truth be known； Okami had another pelling reason for wanting Willoughby's plan to fail。 He held a grudge against a number of the Gang of Fifteen for their despicable orders during the last days of the war。 Their treatment of the men under their mand was abysmal； and a number of Okami's friends had suffered。 Also； his brother had died。
Okami preferred not to think of his brother； who had died before he could experience the full flower of life。 Some excused his death as being part of the caprice of war； but Okami was not fooled。 He knew who was responsible for his brother's death； and though those people were currently under Willoughby's aegis； he had devised a plan to destroy them。
This he decided to do without the Colonel's help。 For one thing； the Colonel had been inexplicably dragging his feet on the Gang of Fifteen situation。 Despite daily reminders from Okami； he had yet to act。 Lately； these reminders had degenerated into heated arguments that left Okami feeling frustrated if not betrayed。
〃Try being Japanese；〃 the Colonel had said heatedly。 〃Be patient。 There are many strands to this web。 Let them play out in their own time。〃
〃I have no time；〃 Okami had said； matching heat for heat 〃This is my country。 Until you've walked in my shoes； you've no right to tell me how to act。〃
〃Though； he could understand the Colonel's need for caution … he was working within the confines of SCAP； where Willoughby and his people currently wielded a great deal of power … Okami's burning desire for revenge required him to find his own path。
That he had done。 With the Colonel's attention directed elsewhere Okami was left with only one source。 He had spent many weeks examining the dire nature of the gamble he was being forced to take。
He would have to deal with the munists。
If they were somehow to gain knowledge of the fifteen war criminals that Willoughby and his followers had saved from the tribunals； he knew exactly what would happen。 The Russians were animals； they were big on primary responses； and on that level they were vicious。 Diplomacy was a game they could only stumble through as ineptly as children。
He was aware that Soviet agents abounded in Tokyo； some of them in higher places than the Occupation mand could imagine。 If these people were to e into possession of the right intelligence； he had no doubt they could penetrate the military's safeguards； especially if they were given a bit of clandestine help。
Yes； it would be fitting for the munists to bee the unwitting tool of my revenge； Okami had thought as he awoke on the morning the Colonel went to see Katsuodo Kozo。 Let them kill Willoughby's Gang of Fifteen and in the process avenge the deaths of my brother and my friends。
But of course he had to sell it with the proper motivation。 The munists would know him； so ideology was out。 But money wasn't。 Yakuza could be notoriously mercenary when the spirit or necessity moved them。 To this end he began to spend his late…night hours in a sleazy bar where his informants had assured him munist agents hung out。 He made a great show of getting drunk and then talking with a loose tongue； bragging to anyone who would listen that he knew about an American plot to harbor war criminals。
Eventually； a rat would e sniffing around。 Okami； who could be subtle when the need arose； had deliberately cut a wide swath through the bar。 Subtlety was not the Soviets' strong side。
One night a little； slight…shouldered Japanese man sat down next to him at the bar and said； 〃I understand you and I have a similar point of view。〃
〃Is that so？〃
〃Maybe not。 But it has e to my attention that you have information I could use。〃
〃I think I hear the rustle of money。〃
〃In that you may not be wrong。 I have a grudge to settle with some wartime officers。 I can use your help。〃
Okami grunted。 〃That depends on whether the rustle is far off or close at hand。〃
〃I assure you it's very close indeed。 Tell me； friend； how did you e by this information about the Americans？〃
Okami finished his Scotch； ordered another。 〃It's none of your business。〃
〃It is。 It's going to be my money。〃
Okami regarded the man without seeming to try to size him up。 〃I have my thumb squarely on the SCAP adjutant Jack Donnough；〃 he half…lied。 〃What's it to you？〃
〃You're spraying this all over the place。 Do you think that's wise？〃
〃Who cares？〃 Okami downed his Scotch and ordered another all in one motion。
〃I do； for one。〃
Okami cocked his head。 〃And you are？〃
〃A friend of yours。。。 maybe。〃
Okami nodded。 〃Okay； friend。 Have a drink on me。〃 He gestured to the bartender； and when the other man had gotten his drink； they went to a vacant booth in the rear of the bar。 Of course； it really didn't matter where they went； Okami's people were all around。
He knew the munists' tactics。 They would try to trap him。 It wasn't enough for them simply to trade intelligence for money； they'd insist on their pound of flesh … a sword to hold over his head so that they would be able to control him forever afterward。 It was sad as well as frightening； Okami thought as he slipped into the booth opposite the contact。 This was how the munists treated their own people； it was how their ideology had bee as intractable as iron。
The man's name was Iwanushi。 He was a factory worker； but more importantly he was a ranking member of Shin'ei Kinro Taishoto； the most virulent of the reactionary groups allying themselves with the nascent labor movement。 Uncontrollable inflation； high unemployment； the Yoshida administration's unstemmed corruption and seeming inertia in trying to overe Japan's postwar economic woes； the populace's general perception that SCAP's promises of a better life through democracy was a lie … all this was a highly flammable mix。 It was tailor…made for munist infiltration at the worker level； where frustrati