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ighly flammable mix。 It was tailor…made for munist infiltration at the worker level； where frustration was at high tide。 The Soviets were adept at using unionists and reactionary elements such as Iwanushi's organization as stalking horses to further their own ends。 It was another example of how they used their obdurate ideology as a whip to exhort their disciples into what they so quaintly … and misleadingly … called 〃revolutionary fervor〃。
Iwanushi was typical of his kind： browbeaten； self…righteous； impatient； smug in the security that socialism was the key to a new and better world； if only he were in power。 But； as Okami knew； the Iwanushis of the world would never be allowed to gain power。 Either the forces they sought to bring down would disperse them or the masters who controlled them now would continue to do so in a new world order。 The simple fact was that people like Iwanushi had no clear idea of their own policy once the old guard was disposed of。 And； of course； this was just how the munists had planned it； because they were ready； willing； and all too eager to impose the munist way of life on Japan。
Okami did not hate Iwanushi； he pitied him。 Someone had to。 Neither the munists nor the Yoshida government were in the least interested in the personal plight that had driven him into poverty and anger。
〃You are Yakuza；〃 Iwanushi said when they had settled themselves。 〃You are a collaborator working with SCAP。 You are an enemy of the people so please do not expect me to be sympathetic。 Information for money。 I wish to engage in a simple business arrangement。〃 Knowing this would be anything but simple； Okami said； 〃I mend you for volunteering to get your hands dirty； rade。〃
Iwanushi gave him a hard look。 〃I wish I had your ability at levity。 You who live like a shogun cannot know our hard life。 Try not to judge us。〃
〃It seems to me that a bit of levity would do you a world of good。 It would help you step back and evaluate your situation。〃
〃Food is my situation or； rather； the lack of it。 Also； a job。 While you get rich and fat in the black market； my family and countless others like mine starve。 This is how today looks from my perspective。 Is it any wonder that I am； fixated on making tomorrow better？〃
〃Better for whom？ Your family or the munists？〃
〃It's one and the same；〃 Iwanushi said with such conviction that Okami knew he had him。
The next evening Okami arrived unannounced at Iwanushi's house。 He carried with him gifts of food and drink： fresh fruit； vegetables； and fish that he knew were unavailable to the family。 The place was tiny and ramshackle； a row house standing near enough the railroad tracks that the thin walls shook each time a train rushed past。
Iwanushi； glassy…eyed but polite； ushered him inside。 It was just before the dinner hour and the entire family was home： Iwanushi's tiny graying wife and their three children。 The place stank of boiled root vegetables。
Iwanushi bowed； accepting Okami's gifts mutely； but when he took them into the kitchen； Okami saw Iwanushi's wife throw them into the garbage。 There was a brief argument。 He heard her speaking in a hiss； could make out the word shameful and the awful epithet futei； which Prime Minister Yoshida had used to describe the unionists in a recently broadcast speech。 The word meant 〃subversive〃。
When Iwanushi returned； he said； 〃Perhaps we should go outside。 The children must be fed and my wife cannot serve both us and them at the same time。〃
〃Yes； of course；〃 Okami said。 〃It was thoughtless of me to e at this hour。〃
〃Not at all。 We're used to inconvenience。〃
Okami found himself unprepared for Iwanushi's implacable discourtesies； but he took them as object lessons。 He felt it important that he understand what it was about these people that made them so vulnerable to the influence of a pipe dream like socialism； which had no chance of survival in a world ruled by the human race。 Humans were defined by the seven deadly sins。 Only saints and ascetics could rise above those flaws； and some of those were themselves frauds。 The territorial imperative was bred into humans as deeply as was their need for oxygen and water。 The adjunct to territory was the need for influence； status； power。 Besides； there was always someone who was certain his way was better … or more righteous … than all the others； and though it had many faces； this was the sole seed of war。
〃As you can see； we have nothing；〃 Iwanushi said。 〃We need everything。〃
Perhaps； Okami thought； this defined him as well as anything else。 He was a have…not； and in a way； he reveled in his poverty； using it as both a club and a cloak to manufacture something out of nothing。 In a strange way； Okami could relate to this； since as a Yakuza he had no status in the mainstream of society。 Whatever prestige he maintained in his munity was also formed out of nothing。
〃Perhaps the government does not know this；〃 Okami said。
〃I do not think that the government cares one way or another。 They exist to feed one another and they are doing an admirable job of it。 In times of prosperity their sins would go unnoticed because there would be enough to feed everyone； but now when starvation and unemployment squat like swordsmen of the Apocalypse astride Japan； they appear naked in their gluttony； greed； and sloth。〃
〃You must be a Catholic to talk in such terms；〃
〃I have read my wife's texts； but what of it？ There is no God in this world。 Look around you。 How could there be？〃
Spoken like a true munist； Okami thought。 This was going to be a pleasure。
〃Since it's clear we're not going to be the best of friends；〃 he said； 〃I think it would be best if we consummated our transaction as quickly as possible。〃
〃That will suit me。 What about tonight？〃
〃I don't know。 I have a previous engagement。〃
Iwanushi stared at him in that curiously defiant manner people who have nothing conjure up。
〃All right。 Tonight。〃 Okami wrote down an address on a slip of paper。 〃Meet me here at midnight。〃
Midnight came and Iwanushi arrived at the betting parlor； that was Yakuza owned … in fact； Okami was the proprietor； but Iwanushi and his crowd wouldn't know that； no one did except the tightly knit Yakuza circle and the Colonel。 Okami was playing karuta； recklessly and losing。 While Iwanushi looked on； rapt； Okami lost the equivalent of 10；000。 He then proceeded to have a nasty altercation with the manager regarding his ability to pay the debt。 When Iwanushi saw that Okami couldn't pay； his heart was wanned because he had been trained to look for just such vulnerabilities in his contacts。 He now had his sword to hold over Okami's head。
''It looks like you need money more than I do；〃 Iwanushi said when Okami led him out into the street。
〃I'll pay；〃 Okami said sourly。 〃I always manage to find a way。〃
〃But you are Yakuza。 You have power。〃
〃That man's oyabun has the power；〃 Okami lied； 〃not me。〃
〃What a revelation！ Even outlaws experience the inequities of the downtrodden。〃
It took some effort for Okami not to laugh in the face of his naiveté。
Iwanushi appeared to be sunk deep in thought for some time。 At length； he said； 〃What if I could guarantee you enough m