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It became the ground she walked upon； the food she ate； the water she gulped thirstily down； the air she breathed。 It became her world and； finally； her entire universe。
Thus she listened as it spoke to her； this thing … being …which engulfed her； far larger than the diamond that shone above her head。 What he did to her was to hypnosis what the atom bomb was to bow and arrow。 Here the will of the individual did not loom like an unbreachable wall； stopping them from doing that which they could not do had 'they been conscious。 Now all was possible； for this was different。 He was ninja。 This was the Kuji…kiri and； beyond that； the Kobudera； that which even his Kan…au no； ninjutsu sense： feared。
It was magic。
He waited patiently until Nicholas set aside the sheets of rice paper； stained now with tears。 It was the end of the long steamy afternoon； the city was slowly cooling as the bloated sun slipped behind the backs of the high steel and glass buildings。 But that was outside。 In here the West could not intrude。 Here the eternalness of the East defied time； shrouding them both。 Somewhere； a runic chanting like the call of the cicadas when day is done。
'Kansatsu felt it most prudent to await this time to tell you； Nicholas。 Had you been told sooner； you would； no doubt； have sought Saigo out and you were not ready then。 He would have destroyed you as easily as he could have done that night in Kumamoto。'
'And now？' His voice was clotted with emotion。
'He may destroy you yet。 I am afraid； Nicholas； that he has gone beyond even the Kuji…kiri teachings。 He sought out sensei who； because of the nature of their teachings； would never be allowed into a ryu； not even the Kan…aka na ninjutsen。 These
were mystics steeped in the ancient lore of that portion of China … the central steppes of Mongolia … of which there is little known even today。 There is magic in him now； Nicholas； and it has taken him over pletely。'
'Well； there is a kind of magic inherent in many of our own ninjutsu teachings。'
'There are imagined magic … that is； illusion … and real magic。 The two should not be confused。'
Nicholas knew better than to argue this kind of thing with Fukashigi and he was silent all through the simple meal the sensei had prepared。 Afterwards；； in the darkness of the night； Fukashigi began the ritual that would last until morning。
'Here' … his fingertips touching the opened box lid … 'is the Kokoro。' This was a word that； like almost all Japanese words； had many meanings： heart； spirit； courage； resolve； affection； inner meaning； and more。 It could； in sum； be said to be the heart of the matter。 'It； too； is real magic。 Your mother knew this and； although she suspected your father did not； she knew that you would。 It was meant for you。' His young eyes were watchful； full of life and … something more。 'Nine is the key number； Nicholas。 There are nine emeralds here。 One to break each arm of the Kuji…kiri … nine…hands cutting。'
Saigo awoke in the hour before dawn and left his futon。 There was much to do this last day and the hours seemed to run ahead of him despite his precise organization。 He had slept soundly and dreamlessly for the first time in more than a week。
He was on the streets early。 He went deep into the East Village； to an enormous army…navy…camping store where he purchased a dark…coloured heavyweight duffel bag with a triple…weight polythene lining。 He tested the duffel bag's sling straps for strength。
Walking crosstown to the IND subway … he was most careful at this stage to take only public transport … he emerged at Forty…seventh Street and walked the block over to Broadway。 There he entered a theatrical supply house。
His third stop was at Brooks Brothers； where he purchased a lightweight tan business suit off the rack。 The jacket was perfect but he left the trousers with a tailor to be shortened。 On
his way out； he bought a muted plaid pork…pie hat which looked absurd on him in the light of day but which； he knew； would be perfect at night。
His last stop was in Chinatown； where he picked up a bamboo cane。 Then； dropping off his parcels … which included the trousers … he went out again； prowling in search of someone who looked just like him。 This was something he had scouted on first arriving in New York。 Height； weight； the physical semblance of his physique were all he was concerned with。 The face itself would not matter。 Not after he got through with it。
Croaker called in twice at half…hour intervals and it was a good thing he did。 Either they had misplaced the message the first time or it had not yet e in。
He got it on the second call in。
'Matty called。 Didn't leave his …'
〃That's okay。 I got it。'
In the traffic he began to look for a phone and when he found one； pulled over to the kerb。 He dug a dime out of his pocket and dialled。 No police lines on this call。
'Not here；' Matty the Mouth said in a very bad Italian accent。
'It's Croaker。'
'Oh。 Hi。'
*Cut the small talk。 You got it？'
'Yeah but it's worth a lotta …'
'Matty； we've already settled on a price。'
'Yeah； well； you see； Lieutenant； what we have here is a fluctuating market。'
'What are you trying to pull？〃
'The price is out of date。'
'Look…'
'The situation's changed since we last spoke； is all。 Nothing to get your bowels in an uproar about； I still got the goods。'
'I got a notion to haul your ass downtown。 How'd you feel about that？'
Matty clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth。 'Me； Lieutenant？ Well； I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't mind； 'cause I would。 But I really gotta say that you'd mind even more 'cause then you'd get zip outa me and you know there ain't anywhere
else to go on this one。'
Croaker felt a tightening in his stomach。 His heart was racing。 'What's happened？' he asked carefully。
'This must be real important to you。'
'Spill。'
'The issue；' he said； 'was cold when we first talked about it。'
'And now …'
'Now it's as hot as Lucifer's hind tit。 Lotsa nosing around on the street。 Someone else's looking for this dame； too。 As a hot item； she's on the top of everyone's list。 All of a sudden； like； y'know？'
'But you've got it all。 Name； number and address？'
'Lieutenant； when I tell you I got something； it's not on its way in from the Coast。 The information's in house。'
'So give it。'
'After we've agreed；' Matty said； 'on the new price。'
'Okay； shoot。〃
'Triple。'
'Triple！ Are you out of your …'
'Lieutenant；' Matty said reasonably； 'we're talking about my life here。 If anyone got wind …'
'Anyone like who？ Who's been asking around about this broad？'
'Don't know directly。'
Croaker sighed。 'Maybe you could find out； Matty； there's a good boy。'
'Maybe I could at that。 What about the price？ Agreed？'
'Agreed。'
'Okay； here's the diamond load。' The name Croaker got was Alex Logan。 He also got a phone number and an address in Key West； Florida。
'About the other thing；' Croaker said。 'You better get it to me real soon 'cause I'm likely to head south at any time； get me？'
'That urgent； huh？'
'I can't remember the last time I had a vacation。'
'Will do。 You know； Lieutenant； you're really okay。 No