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happy。〃
〃How happy？〃
〃Excuse me； Linnear…san； but how do you know it was the munists？〃
〃How do you know you've been bitten on the ass by a hornet？〃 the Colonel said tartly。 〃Despite what you read in the papers； the blast was deliberately set beneath the buildings where the Gang of Fifteen lived。 Our people are going through the rubble now； but they've already found enough to be certain of the signature。 It was a Soviet…made bomb。〃
〃What is the problem with that？〃
〃Jesus Christ； are you dense this morning？ munists infiltrated a U。S。 government facility and murdered twenty people； five of them American guards。 That's the fucking problem。〃
Okami was silent。
In another tone entirely； the Colonel said； 〃How did they know where the Gang of Fifteen was being housed？〃
〃Why are you asking me？〃
〃Was I？ I was just thinking out loud。〃
But Okami knew better。 The Colonel had set a very clever trap for him and he had fallen into it。
〃I want to see you tonight； Okami…san。 My office。 Midnight。〃
The connection was abruptly severed。 Okami did not care for the way in which the Colonel had spoken to him。 On the other hand； he felt remorse for the five innocent guards who had been inadvertently killed。 On further contemplation； knowing the munists； perhaps it hadn't been inadvertent at all。 Angry at himself； he shoved the remains of his breakfast away from him。 Why hadn't he thought of this？
He had been so smugly pleased with himself for having had the munists do his dirty work he hadn't considered the methods they would use。 To be honest； it hadn't mattered to him。 Vengeance was all that had been on his mind。 Until now。 He did not like having the deaths of five Americans on his conscience。
He went to see Iwanushi。 Perhaps he wanted to protest； perhaps he meant to get the name of his Soviet handler。 In retrospect； he was never sure。
He arrived at the row houses near dinnertime； when he was reasonably certain that Iwanushi would be home。 He was less than a block away when he heard a low rumble on the street behind him。 He turned； saw a convoy of U。S。 Army vehicles jouncing toward him。 Pressed back into a darkened doorway； he was close enough to feel the martial stir of air as they passed。
They drew up in front of Iwanushi's house。 Military police leaped out； their weapons at the ready。 An officer rapped sharply on Iwanushi's door； and when he opened it； they asked for his name。 He gave it and the officer barked an order。 Two of the MP's bolstered their sidearms and smartly took possession of Iwanushi。
He shouted and squirmed as he was hustled toward one of the vehicles。 A tiny figure appeared in the doorway。 Seeing what was happening； Iwanushi's wife screamed and tried to rush to him。 An MP restrained her。
She kept asking； 〃Why are you taking him？ Why？ He's done nothing！〃
〃He's responsible for the deaths of twenty people； ma'am；〃 the officer said in abominable Japanese。 〃Five of them were American soldiers。 He's going to pay。〃
〃This can't be happening！〃 Iwanushi's wife wailed as tears streamed down her face。 〃It's a nightmare！〃
The officer did not answer。 Perhaps he had not understood her。 He climbed into the lead vehicle and the convoy pulled out； roaring over the dark streets； conducting Iwanushi to his destiny。
The office was filled with pipe smoke and agitation。 Okami had felt it the moment he had entered。 The Colonel； who had been pacing the floor like a caged tiger； had whirled as the door opened and he saw Okami。
〃Well；〃 he said in the kind of strangled voice he used when he was busy stepping on his rage。 Okami was not looking forward to the interview。
〃Sit down； Okami…san。〃
The Colonel spent some time knocking the dottle from his pipe； reaming it out； and repacking it with tobacco。 During this time he did not glance in Okami's direction。 When he had it going； he took several deep breaths。
〃This is the way it is；〃 he began。 〃In three days' time Donnough was to deliver to MacArthur a packet of information that would incriminate Major General Willoughby； the führer of the Gang of Fifteen； so pletely that MacArthur would have had no recourse but to move against Willoughby； and he would do it willingly。 He was beginning to see the mistake in hanging on to the Gang。 Donnough and I were going to give him the ammunition to make Willoughby the scapegoat。 Mac would have been out of it altogether； utterly blameless。〃
〃Can't you still go through with your plan？〃 In retrospect； the question was so thoughtless it was the second most serious mistake Okami made with the Colonel。
''You idiot！〃 Colonel Linnear thundered。 〃This bombing has made Willoughby into something of a hero。〃 He towered over Okami like a god over a mortal。 〃Of course Mac is relieved the potential public…relations nightmare the Gang represented is a dead issue； but there's the American servicemen to think of。 Not to mention the fact that the munists were so afraid of the Gang they decided to dispose of them。 Don't you see； the Gang's violent death gives credence to Willoughby's raging paranoia about the munist threat in Japan。 His conservative position with Mac is stronger than ever。 The movement to rearm Japan has got a shot in the arm； and you can be sure it will make our work that much more difficult。〃
〃But surely MacArthur hasn't bought into …〃
〃The fact is nobody knows how Mac feels about rearming Japan；〃 the Colonel said flatly。 〃Especially now。〃
Okami's heart was in his throat。 Stupid； he thought。 It had been just plain stupid to deal with the munists himself。 No。 His stupidity was in losing faith with the Colonel。 He vowed he would never do that again。
When he judged the dust had had time to settle； he said； 〃The Americans have arrested a Japanese national for the murders。〃
The Colonel's eyes blazed。 〃So？〃
〃He didn't do it。〃
〃You mean he's innocent？〃
How did this man know the right questions to ask every time？ Okami wondered in awe。 〃He's a socialist。 He works for the munists； but believe me when I tell you he had nothing to do with the bombing。〃
〃Do you have proof I can bring to the provost marshal？〃
〃No； but。。。〃 Okami put his head down。 〃I have nothing。〃
The row houses were dark in the moonless night。 It looked like death here； where nothing grew and even the trains did not stop。 A mangy dog ran at Okami's heels as he stood； staring at the darkened windows of Iwanushi's house。 It was a new feeling for him to be so helpless。 He listened to his heartbeat； the dog sniffing at his cuffs。
He crossed the street； knocked on the door； and a light came on almost immediately。 He could imagine her； a tiny figure sitting in the dark； listening to the soft breathing of her children； wondering where her husband was。
The door was pulled open and she looked up at him with eyes wide with anxiety and terror。 〃You！ Have you news of my husband？ Is he unhurt？〃
〃I have no news of Iwanushi…san。〃
〃Oh。〃 Her face collapsed。
〃I've e to help。〃 He took a step toward her。 〃I can …〃
〃Stay away！ I want no part of you！〃 She spat at his feet。 〃You are like an evil kami。 You are a criminal； poison。 You e into my husband's life and now the Americans have taken him。 I warned him。 I to