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Big Ezoe must have already ordered； because breakfast arrived； American…style： orange juice； eggs； bacon； corn muffins； black coffee。 Honno had never seen so much food at breakfast； but she found that she was famished。
She should have been surprised by what Big Ezoe was telling her； but somehow she seemed inured to surprise。 The warrior's spirit； having surfaced； was now gaining ascendancy。
〃Giin merely used the kidnapping as a way to disappear for a little while without you clinging to his coattails；〃 Big Ezoe continued。 〃When he had made his plans and was ready to implement them； he surfaced。 In the middle of my world。 That was the easiest part； since he was already something of an habitue。〃
Big Ezoe looked at her。 〃You're taking this news with a great deal more equanimity than I expected； Mrs。 Kansei。 Didn't Giin swear to you that he had given up gambling； that he had put his past behind him？〃
〃He did。 But then my father said the same thing to my mother。 Many times。〃
''You seemed more than willing to believe your friend several nights ago。〃
Honno considered this。 It occurred to her that several nights ago seemed more like a lifetime ago。 She looked at Big Ezoe； said； 〃He wants to sell back the Sakata ledgers he stole from me。〃
〃Yes；〃 Big Ezoe said。 〃And no。 I think he wants…needs…money very badly。 His debts in my gambling houses have mounted of late。 But I also think he's too smart to give up the ledgers for one score。 He's had a chance to decipher Sakata's code。 That's why it took him this long to surface with an offer。 Now he knows what the ledgers contain； and he has no doubt discovered that they're far too valuable for him to give up。〃
〃What does he plan to do？〃
〃Figure it out；〃 Big Ezoe said。 〃It isn't so difficult。〃
Honno thought for a moment。 〃He's going to try to take our money and give us nothing…or； perhaps； just a little…in return。〃
Big Ezoe said； 〃Like all amateurs； Giin believes that he can outsmart the professional。 That's a proven fact。 Why else would he e back night after night to my gambling houses？ He has set up a meeting for eight this morning； in the center of the Nihonbashi bridge。 I will bring him the money； and he will give me one deciphered page from the ledgers。 Then； when I'm satisfied as to their value； he'll give me an address where I'll supposedly find the entire ledgers； along with the rest of the decoded pages。 Only they won't be there； and he'll begin the process of bleeding me dry。〃
〃But that's so terribly dangerous for him。〃
〃It certainly is；〃 Big Ezoe said； 〃but in a way he doesn't yet begin to suspect。 He's chosen to deal with me。 That's because he knows me…or； at any rate； he thinks he does。 In fact； he's very close to the edge； and in danger of falling a long； long way。
〃You see； Mrs。 Kansei； what Giin hasn't counted on is you。〃
''You loved Giin； once；'' Big Ezoe said in the tone one would use when beginning a fairy tale。 〃But now your warrior spirit has shown you that it wasn't Giin you loved at all； but an image of Giin。 An image your own needs； desires； and misconceptions created。 Just as they created the Eikichi Kansei you thought you had married。 There； too； the truth was something altogether different。〃
Honno and Big Ezoe were in his limo； on their way to Nihonbashi。 They passed through a city that looked as if it were waking up from a long； troubled slumber。
〃What do you plan to do？〃 Honno said。
〃I？〃 Big Ezoe looked at her。 〃I plan to do nothing at all。〃
The limo pulled into the curb； and the driver got out。 In a moment Honno's door was opening。 The driver handed her a slim attache。 It came as no surprise to this new Honno。 She emerged into the busy street。
She said； 〃What is in the case？ 〃But； really； it was a question to which she already had the answer。 She could hear Fukuda saying。 Whatever you want to be in there； and the warrior with Honno's voice repeated the answer out loud。
Behind her； she heard Big Ezoe's voice saying； 〃I will remain here until the matter is resolved。〃
Without a backward glance； Honno walked onto the bridge。 Centuries ago the Nihonbashi had been the starting point of the Tokaido； the main road between the capital…Edo； now Tokyo… and Kyoto。 She recalled as a child seeing the stylized rendition of the Nihonbashi in a woodblock print by Hiroshige。 Perhaps it was at that moment； engulfed by the beauty of the artist's work； the point where myth and reality converged； that she had fallen in love with Tokyo。
Eight o'clock。 Giin was at the center of the bridge's are； waiting。 Behind him all of Honno's beloved Tokyo was arrayed like a set of runes whose meaning she had at last begun to decipher。
He saw her ing and his face went white。 He turned to run； then he hesitated； his greed gaining the upper hand； and he turned back。 And Honno was already there。
〃Why did you run？〃 she asked turn。 〃Why did you steal the ledgers？〃
''You don't understand；'' Giin said hurriedly。 ''I need money。 Desperately。〃
'' You could have asked me for money。''
He laughed。 ''Don't be absurd。 I need a great deal more than you could ever have。''
〃How do you know that？〃 She saw Giin pause。 〃You should have asked。〃
Giin gave her a tentative smile。 He bobbed his head。 〃Yes。 I suppose I should； now that I think about it。 But it was such a shock to see you； and I…well； I found myself so smitten again。 It didn't matter that you'd married。 I wanted everything to be perfect this time。 For you； only for you； Honno。 That's why I need the money。 I need to get this behind me…this emergency… and then everything will be perfect。〃
Honno seemed not to have been listening。 〃You're still gambling。〃
〃But I do not！ I told you…''
〃Why are you lying to me？〃
〃I swear…〃
〃You've always lied to me。〃
〃'Honno； what's happened to you？〃
〃Nothing；〃 she said。 She lifted the attache case that contained nothing。 〃Money；〃 she said。 〃To give you your perfect ending。〃
Giin nodded uncertainly。 He handed a sheet of paper to Honno。 〃The information contained in the ledgers is fantastic。 I can hardly believe it's true。 But it must be。 Every entry is cross…referenced several ways。 Look。 Times； places； numbers of meets； amounts transferred。 The ledgers detail an entire network of bribes； extortion； a web of corruption so wide it's almost inconceivable。〃
〃But to what end？〃
Giin's smile widened。 He sensed that for all this woman's new strangeness； he had regained the upper hand。 〃Ah； that will have to remain a mystery until I have the money； and you get the balance of the decoding。''
〃I want it all now。〃
〃Huh？〃
〃I want everything you've decoded；〃 Honno said。 Without warning； she reached out； brought Giin toward her with such fierceness that his teeth raided。 〃You'll tell me now； before the transfer of money； as an act of contrition for lying to me； and for stealing what is mine。〃
〃You're mad；〃 Giin said。 〃Absolutely mad。 I've made my deal。〃
〃You'll tell me what I want to know；〃 Honno said。 〃Or I'll kill you right here； right now； as a public lesson； a reminder to those who lie and cheat and steal。〃
〃I don't…〃
〃Your particular obsession has ended right here。〃 Honno stuck her forefinger into that soft