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'The spirit flies； Nicholas … it is the only thing we possess which can。 It is a sin to tie it down； to deny your spirit its breath。 Life is nothing without it。 We merely survive； from day to day； in a kind of unthinking limbo。
'Does this answer your question？'
In the night…silence of the tower on Park Avenue； he sat with Raphael Tomkin。 At the moment； Tomkin was on the telephone。 Somewhere in the world； it was always some time between nine and five and that meant business was rolling。 Decisions； vital to one subsidiary or another； and thus vital to the corporation as a whole； required the' mind of the mover and the shaker。 Three continents awaited the oute of such trans…Atlantic or tram…Pacific conversations。
While Tomkin talked on in mega…figures； a kind of semi…secret corporate shorthand； Nicholas looked at the tiny bit of metal and plastic he held between his fingers。 He turned it like a miniature world； though in truth it was only a disk and thus flat； so that it caught the lamplight； its face turning to a slow dazzle。
Just possibly； he thought； this little piece of the electronicized present could be the key to it all。 The past； the present and the future。 It could end right here； if he chose。 If he chose。
And he desperately wanted it to be his decision。
He felt； quite rightly； that Saigo had taken all initiative from him and he felt stripped bare； naked and defenceless because he had not seen what was happening。
Saigo had been leading him around by the nose until he was dizzy； laughing all the way。 It was a technique from the Go Rin No Sho。 What was its name？ To Hold Down a Pillow。 Restrict the enemy's useful actions while encouraging his useless ones。 Lead him around as if he had a ring through his nose and； when he is in total confusion； strike。
'Where've you been？' Tomkin asked； cradling the phone。 He looked slightly rumpled at this time of the night； his cream…coloured linen suit wrinkled at the insides of the elbows； his medium…width grey silk knitted tie slightly askew。 The flesh of his face had lost the pink glow it maintained for most of the day； seemed pummelled into a kind of uneasy truce … submission was a flat…out impossibility … by the long hours。 Lines at the corners of his eyes had bee noticeable but they merely made him seem that much more human。 Nicholas still felt himself wondering which was the facade。
'In Chinatown。'
Tomkin grunted； swivelling round in his high…backed leather chair。 His hands played idly across his desk's electronic console as a Greek peasant might fondle his worry beads。 'Chinatown； huh？ With that bastard； Croaker； I'll bet。' He stared into Nicholas's face and his eyes； like chips of blue quartz； were merciless。 They were sailor's eyes； Nicholas thought。 The eyes of a man well seasoned to the sardonic tricks of the sea and the open sky。 They were the eyes of a survivor； shipwrecked； his crew drowned； this man would make it onto some beachy shore and； like Crusoe； vanquish time though perhaps not solitude。 'You better not get too friendly with that cop。 Just a friendly warning； 'cause I'm waiting for that motherfucker to step one inch out of line。 Then I'm gonna break him in two。'
Nicholas thought about what Croaker had told him of Gelda and he had to smile to himself。 What would Tomkin do when he found out that Croaker and his daughter were seeing each other？ Apoplexy might be an accurate term。
'That bastard's got a hard…on for me and I've got no idea why。 He's got this crazy notion that just because I was balling Angela Didion； I killed her。'
Nicholas watched him； rubbing the electronic bug back and forth between the calloused pads of his fingers。
Tomkin snorted derisively through his nostrils； giving Nicholas the image of a horse rearing。 'Hell； that broad got around； you know？ Doing people she didn't even know。 Got a kick out of that； giving rim jobs to guys she pulled off the street。 Just like that … Boom！ Only it wasn't always guys； see。 The broad was nuts。 Definitely nuts。 If I'd've known about that …you know； a closet lezzie … I wouldn't have … hell； she disguised it well enough。' He waved a hand and gold glinted。 'Anyway； it's all ancient history now … that's how I see it。 But that cop won't let it alone； you know？ He's like a fucking dog with an old bone nobody wants but him。'
'He's doing his job。'
'He ain't doing his job！' Tomkin cried。 'That's the whole goddamned issue。' He pounded the table。 'The Angela Didion thing is a dead issue for everyone on the entire fucking New York Police Force except Croaker。 What's he think he's got？ A calling from God？ Well； I'm telling you； he's got nothing。 I got his number； loves to see his name in the papers。' He swivelled back and forth in his chair； very fast； as if he had a surplus of nervous energy。 'Goddamned glory hound。 He's not gonna ride me to any headlines。 He needs to be taught a lesson； that's all。' He glanced up； no longer half…talking to himself。 'What about this guy … the ninja？'
'Well； that's what I came to talk to you about。 So far； he's been setting the pace。 What I think we have to do now is reverse the situation。 We have a chance if we can control the environment。 We have to； in other words； be on the battleground before him。'
'So？ Set it up。 That's what I'm paying you for； isn't it？'
'It's not that simple； unfortunately。'
'Well； do what you have to do。 I don't care what it is。 I want him out of the way。 Permanently。'
'It involves you directly。'
'Of course it does。 He's been sent here to kill me。〃
'He's here to kill me； too。'
'What？'
'I know this man。 There is an old score to be settled。 It's nothing to do with you。'
'I see。'
'Except that it may lead us to his entrapment。'
'How？'
'Through one of his bugs。' Nicholas lifted the tiny disk so that Tomkin could see it clearly。 'You see； this is currently inactive。 It's one of the new contact type； which simply means that once it is reapplied to a surface； it bees active again。'
A gleam came into Tomkin's icy eyes； deceit was a currency he understood。 'You mean …'
'We reactivate it。 And use it。 Chances are he'll believe there's been a minor dysfunction and …'
'What if he's smarter than that？ This guy's an expert。 I've heard stories about ninja …'
'I don't；' said Nicholas； 'think it will matter at all。 He wants us both and； if he thinks he can get us together； he'll take the chance； even if there's the suspicion of a trap。 It's one I've set up； you see。 It's a challenge and he cannot back down without losing an awful lot of face。 That he will not do。'
'It amounts to inviting him over；' Tomkin said slowly。
'Yes。'
The blue eyes regarded him cannily。 Nicholas could almost hear the sound of his mind ticking… over； weighing probabilities just as if he were making a puter…assisted business decision。 But then； in a curious kind of way； it was a business decision。
'Let's do it。' His voice rang unhesitatingly。
Afterwards； as Nicholas detached the bug and dropped it into the thick cotton bed he had fashioned for it in one of the desk drawers； Tomkin said； 'Can everything be arranged by the night after next？〃
'There won't be any problem。'
'Good。' He picked up the phone