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e is nothing they wouldn't do for one another。'
The fog closed in on them and the day turned chill。 The ferry's deep horn sounded at regular intervals； hoarse and mournful。 The gulls had gone and now it was even impossible to see the water。 They might have been skimming through the air。 The whiteness seemed stifling。 There was no breeze to speak of。 They heard voices； muffled and odd sounding； from the ferry's far side as if ing to them from across a vast and unfathomable gulf。
All at once the land loomed before them out of the intense mist and； with only a slight bump； the ferry docked against the jute…covered slip。 Nicholas wondered how the captain had seen his way across。 They could hear the creak of the pilings。 Then a dog began to bark hysterically。
To Nicholas the train ride to Kumamoto seemed interminable even though it took merely a fraction of the time it had taken for the bulk of the journey。 Perhaps the fog had something to do with it； but he felt now a kind of desperate longing to know what it was that had brought Saigo down here。 Kansatsu had been concerned about it。 He realized that now； so belatedly。 The sensei would never have e out and said such a thing； merely implied it。 But what could it be about Saigo's visits here that would be so disturbing？ And why should it concern Kansatsu at all？ These questions gnawed at him as they rode across Kyushu and he wished with all his might that he had the answers but； of course； that was a useless wish。 In fact； any wish； Cheong had told him more than once； is useless。 'If you want something badly enough；' she had said； 'then you must do it。 Those who sit and wish for things acplish nothing。'
Abruptly； he felt resentment welling up inside him for that part of him which was Western in nature。 But even so； he knew that that was his turbulent side； filled with energy and longing； impatience and changeability。 It was； in short； what made him different。
Yukio； as usual； was filled with lust and； in the jouncing； empty car； she sat on his lap； lifting her skirt up and making the hot connection。 Neither of them needed to move at all。
Kumamoto was a town that no doubt in feudal times had been dominated by the stone and mortar castle perched high on a dun…brown hill that in the spring would turn lushly verdant。 In these modern times； however； the castle； though still quite imposing； seemed overshadowed by the industrial plant flung across the valley to the northwest。 Its fifteen or so smokestacks seemed like inelegant fingers stretching themselves irreverently towards the heavens。
This afternoon； as Nicholas and Yukio stepped off the smoking train； one could not see their tops and the mist made them seem as if they had been covered by gloves。
Oddly enough； Kumamoto itself was not as modern as this new appendage might lead one to believe。 There was little evidence of Western erosion and they saw more traditional Japanese garb than they had seen anywhere else in their travels。 Even through the mist； which now appeared to be at last lifting； they could see how mountainous Kyushu was。 Dark masses loomed on every side； filling the land with a kind of undulating light and shadow pattern of the kind one might see from an airplane riding high above patchy clouds。
They booked into a hotel along the Street of the Wrestlers。 'Here；' the bustling proprietor said； flinging open the doors to their rooms； 'you will have a perfect view of Mount Aso。' He put down their bags； crossed to the window of Nicholas's room。 'Of course； you'll need a clear day but no doubt by tomorrow you will be able to view； well； perhaps not all five summits but most assuredly Nakadake。' He turned around； rubbing his palms together。 'It's actively volcanic； you know； and always smoking。' He waved one pudgy hand towards the mist outside。 'We get this kind of weather when the wind's the wrong way。〃 He walked to the door and his finger touched the knob。 'We've had ash and pumice； the sky so dark you'd think it was night； when it erupts。' He shook his head。 'Can you imagine？ ing all
that way。' He clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth。 'Still； one shouldn't plain。 Mount Aso brings many people here every year and where would I be without tourism？' He shrugged deprecatingly。 Nicholas tipped him and he gave them a rather stiff little bow。 'Anything I can do to make your stay here more pleasant；' he said； opening the connecting door between their rooms before leaving。
Nicholas phoned Saigo but he was not there。 He left a message including the hotel's number。
They spent some time searching for a stable but there seemed to be no riding； at least within the town's limits。 Yukio could not hide her disappointment。
They ate a light lunch at a tiny teahouse in a square surrounded by trees。 Birds called as they flitted from branch to branch。 The food was impeccable but Nicholas was not able to eat much。 His stomach was tense and he needed to move around。
When they left； they proceeded to walk aimlessly around； through the wide main avenues； down small shop…lined streets； filled with mingled scents and clamouring customers。
They returned to the hotel late in the afternoon with the light receding swiftly from the sky。 The mist was gone and the hard shell of the cobalt sky seemed distant indeed。
A message from Saigo was waiting for him。 Dinner。 Saigo would e to the hotel。
'How long will we be here？' Yukio asked as they were dressing。 The door between their rooms was open。
'I don't know。 I hadn't thought about it。 Why？'
'I want to leave。 That's all。'
'We've only just got here。'
'I know； but it already feels like we've been here a year。 This is an odd city。'
He laughed； pulling on his trousers。 'You just don't want to be here。 Listen； we're not so close to the water here。' He smiled。 'No chance I'll fall overboard。'
Her smile was a bit bleaker than his。 'Yes。 Yes。 I know。 But haven't you noticed？ The air here smells different； almost as if it were burnt。'
'It's only the refinery；' he said。 'Or maybe Mount Aso。 I've never been near a volcano before。 Isn't there one on Hokkaido？'
Saigo arrived promptly just after six。 Nicholas opened the door to his room。
'Well； Nicholas； I didn't …' His dark eyes slid across Nicholas's face； over his shoulder。 The colour seemed to drain from him。 'What's she doing here？' It was said in a hiss but； just as important； in a different speech mode； the polite form had been abruptly dropped。
Nicholas turned his head。 'Yukio？ She decided to e with me。 Didn't you know she was here？' But of course how could he？
Saigo's angry eyes flicked back to regard Nicholas。 The stare was hard and cold。 'You set this'up deliberately； didn't you？'
'What are you talking about？'
'You know； don't you？ Don't lie to me； Nicholas。 She told you everything。'
Nicholas felt her presence close and warm behind him。
'I told him nothing。' Yukio's tone was chill enough to freeze the blood。 'But now that you've brought it up like a hysterical child； perhaps you ought to tell him yourself。' …'Tell me what？ Hey； wait a minute！' Saigo had begun a lunge around him towards Yukio。 Nicholas stepped into his path； using his shoulder and his left arm as