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down his throat。 To asphyxiate is far from pleasant； but to die in that way is monstrous。〃
Irina shuddered。 But the fact was； she was fascinated。 〃Do you know what happened to the hafnium？''
〃That is； as the Americans say； the six…hundred…million…dollar question。〃 Mars sat beside her。 He was staring at her nakedness； and she could clearly see the effect she was having on him。 She could feel his tension like a song in the darkness。 ''It was logical to assume that terrorists from another nation had seized the hafnium； but inquiries were made； and this avenue of speculation eventually came to a dead end。 That was three weeks ago。〃
〃Then where is it？'' Irina closed her fingers around the thickening snake between his thighs。 She leaned over； kissed his nipple。 〃You know； don't you？〃
〃I do；〃 Mars said thickly。 〃And I don't。〃 He closed his eyes。 〃The hafnium is here； inside Russia。〃 his breath quickened。 〃But oddly； frighteningly； we do not know who has it。〃
Honno Kansei had promised herself that she would never see Big Ezoe again； but converging events now dictated that she must。 Karma。
Big Ezoe inhabited a large； almost warehouselike space on the eastern edge of Tokyo。 Honno knew that he must be very rich to be able to have so much room around him。 That was unsurprising； since Big Ezoe was oyabun； overlord； of Tokyo's most powerful Yakuza family。 The Yakuza were gangsters； turning the shadowed alleyways of Tokyo into their own private underworld。 But they were also close…knit families of gamblers； eternal losers when it came to tossing the dice of heaven； and thus； among the Japanese； they had attained something of the status of myth。
If the Yakuza inhabited an almost mythical underworld； then Big Ezoe was their Charon； for he had so many fingers in a multitude of legitimate pies that surely he had ferried more unsuspecting souls across the River Styx into the dangerous land the Yakuza controlled than anyone else。 One of those unfortunates had been Honno Kansei's father。
Honno could never be certain； but she suspected that Big Ezoe had killed her father。 Not directly； perhaps； but what did that matter？ Honno's father had been an inveterate gambler。 Nothing she or her mother could say had any effect on him。 He gambled at the Yakuza parlors and lost。 And when； at length； he had lost so much that he could not possibly repay them； he had slipped…or； Honno suspected； was pushed…off a crowded curb into the path of an oning bus。 He had ended up beneath the wheels with his back broken and his blood running in a river along the gutter。 He had died before the ambulance could get him to the hospital。
As Honno approached Big Ezoe's place； she could remember vividly their first…and only…meeting。 She had walked meekly into the place； asked politely to see Big Ezoe。 When she was refused； she said； 〃Tell him that Noboru Yamato's daughter is here to repay his debts。〃
Three minutes later she was shown into Big Ezoe's office。 He had a huge smile on his face。 Honno had stood in front of him； drinking in the sight of the man she believed to be her father's murderer。 Then； her heart hammering painfully in her chest； she had pulled out a small pistol； aimed it at Big Ezoe's head。
Big Ezoe never ceased to smile； not even when she said； 〃You broke my father's back and his spirit。 Why are you smiling at me？〃
Big Ezoe said； 〃To show fear in the face of death would be shameful。〃
And it was at that moment that Honno had understood the full ramifications of what she was about to do。 And； simultaneously； she knew that she could not do it。 As much as she mourned the unnecessary death of her father； she could not avenge it in this way； by taking the life of another。 She had lowered the gun； placed it on Big Ezoe's desk。
Now； just a year later； desperation had driven her to return here； the last place on earth she wanted to be。 It sickened her to have to e here； but Big Ezoe had a power she needed。 He was a monstrous creature and； like a mythical dragon； an unpredictable one。
As Honno entered the warehouse； she had a sense of displacement； as if she were returning to the past and； in so doing； everything else was about to be lost to her。
A garden had grown up in her absence。 A skylight had been installed in the center of the high ceiling； and below it a perfect square was displayed： a pebble stream with a steep rock bank on one side； a grouping of ferns； hostas； a dwarf maple on the other side。 A mini…stand of emerald…green moso bamboo filled one corner； creating asymmetry； the tension a counterpoint to the repose that was essential for contemplation。
Honno was taken past the garden； down the warren of corridors； into Big Ezoe's office。 He regarded her silently as she was ushered in； left alone with him。 The room was filled with rarities： antiques both delicate （a translucent Chinese celadon vase） and earthy （a magnificent suit of seventeenth century samurai armor）； a wood…block print of the Great Wave by Hokusai； tran…scendant with power； hanging above a monumental black stone Noguchi fountain that gleamed magically with an endless rippling of water that appeared as black as the stone。
Honno took this all in； thinking。 How could a man as base as he is have the good taste to surround himself with elements of such ethereal beauty？
It was a long time before Big Ezoe moved。 When he did； it was to open a drawer； reach inside； and place on the desk the pistol Honno had aimed at him one year ago。
〃I suppose；〃 he said； 〃that you've returned for this。〃
Honno stared at the gleaming face of the pistol。 Big Ezoe had carefully turned the barrel away from her。 She saw in the bits of chrome and steel the mirror of her past； and the wound of her father's death seemed fresh and raw again。
〃If the hate is still inside you；〃 Big Ezoe said placidly； 〃you have another chance to act on it。''
But Honno saw only another chance at damnation。 〃You keep it；〃 she said thickly。 She regained control of herself slowly and painfully。 〃Perhaps you'll find some use for it。〃
Big Ezoe nodded。 〃As you wish。〃 his huge hand covered the pistol； and he opened the chambers for her to see。 〃It wasn't loaded； but you thought it was。 And that let me see what was in your heart。'' He laughed。 ' 'Is that all？ 〃
Honno lifted her gaze； stared into his eyes。 She took a deep breath； said； 〃May I have some tea？〃
Big Ezoe arched an eyebrow； but all he said was； 〃Yes； of course。〃 Depressing a toggle on his inter； he spoke quietly into the speaker。 Then； sitting back； he said to Honno； 〃If you continue to frown like that； you will be old before your time。 I used to hear my mother instructing my ex…wife on how to smile。'' A laugh escaped him。 ''Perhaps I should take you home to meet my mother。〃
The tea arrived。 Big Ezoe served it himself。 When it was poured； the first cup consumed； the refills steaming； Honno said； ''I need your help。''
Big Ezoe seemed sad。 〃My hands are dirty。 I am a gangster。 You are convinced that I had your father murdered。 What could I possibly assist you with？'' He shook his head。 〃You have e to the wrong place。 I think it is the police you want。 Or perhaps theTokuso。〃
So he knows about my marriage to Eikichi； Honno