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。 Now she channelled her excess energy into her body； adoring the concept of controlled rhythm； the duality of tension and relaxedness that dance afforded her。
Yet it was not only the dance but also its prelude which fascinated her。 Her instructor believed in the discipline of t'ai
chi as a warm…up exercise。 With this fundamental core assimilated； Justine found to her delight that she could move into virtually any area of dance she chose； from modern to ballet。
She had been at it for just over a year when her instructor said to her； 'You know； Justine； if you had begun the dance when you were a child； you'd be a great dancer today。 I say this to you only to give you an accurate idea of where you stand now。 You are one of my best pupils because not only is your body responsive but your spirit is within the dance。 The greatness is there； Justine； but one unfortunately cannot overe the advance of time。'
She was filled with pride and happiness。 But just as importantly； she knew why。 For the first time in her life she felt that she had control of herself as a person； she no longer felt tossed to and fro by the whims of the world。 Here； at last； was a control that she could feel directly； that had real meaning for her。
Within the month she had left her full…time job at the agency and had gone into business for herself。 The agency still wanted her and she acmodated it。 But she was free now to pick and choose the jobs she wanted。 She found that within six months of setting up shop she was pulling down three times her old salary in independent billings。
And then she had decided on this house in West Bay Bridge。
And had met Nicholas。
7 can't do it。 I can't。
She stood up and reeled drunkenly out of the bathroom； down the hallway； using her hands； palms outstretched like a blind person； to guide herself through the house。 In the living…room she bumped into the bubbling fish tank。 All the bright denizens of the deep swam there； tranquil as if anaesthetized … blind； deaf and dumb … as beautiful and as unthinking as the vegetation reaching towards the winking surface。 She felt another wave of nausea hit her and she turned away； heading for the front door。
I can't mat（e…the mitment。 I can't trust him。 Oh； my God！ Oh； my God！
She stumbled out into the rain； tripping down the wooden
steps； falling to her knees in the wet sand。 It felt like dough； clinging to her jealously。
She crawled a few feet； then； regaining her balance； ran all the way home。
Not long afterwards； Nicholas returned from the beach area where they had found the second body。 This time they had waited for him。
It was one cut。 Do you understand？ Vincent had said over the phone。 He did indeed understand what that meant。 The cut of a katana。
The white…skinned corpse was^slit from the right shoulder； obliquely down to just above the left hip。 One swing； one cut from the finest blade ever known to man。 It could easily slash through armour； flesh and bone were as paper to a katana wielded by a master swordsman。 Ancient blades had been preserved for a thousand years by succeeding generations of warriors； losing not a bit of their original sharpness or effectiveness； and even today no arsenal in the world could claim such a magnificent weapon as the Japanese katana。
This was how the second man had died。 He lay； as he had been found； cradled by the soft surf and sand。 He had not been in the water very long。 There was absolutely no question of his being drowned。
But now they had to revise their conclusions radically。 Barry Braughm had obviously not been the ninja's only target。 But there seemed； on the surface； nothing to connect the two victims。 This man was a worker for Lilco … the Long Island power pany … blue…collar； lower…middle…class background。 Nothing in mon； nothing at all。
Yet the ninja was abroad； still killing。
Inside； Nicholas threw off the lightweight khaki slicker。 His sneakers and his jeans up to the knees were soaked。 But this was of only peripheral interest to him。 He was thinking of Justine and the thing that had crashed through her kitchen window in the night。 He did not dare to think of what it might be。 Besides； it made no sense。 Still； he had asked her to stay inside his house and not return home。
She was not there。
He cursed softly and； returning through the living…room；
scooped up his slicker and headed out of the door。
No one answered his knock but； ing down the beach； he had seen the lights burning at the back of the house through the bedroom windows。
He knocked again and； fearful now； tried the door…knob。 It gave and he twisted it； went through into the house。
He stopped still as a statue just over the direshold； listening and watching the shadows。 Someone was home； there was no intruder。 These things he ascertained immediately and simultaneously； his training needed no conscious cueing。
He called her name： 'Justine。'
It was not just the one cut that worried him。 Both Doc Deerfordi and Vincent had missed the other thing。 At least； they had not recognized it for what it was。 In leaning over the body； he had chanced to see the top of the left shoulder。 The bruise had just begun to darken。 He touched it。 Below the flesh the clavicle was fractured。 Instantly； he was on guard； he had not wanted to alarm the others； even Vincent。 If what he believed now was； in fact； the case 。。。
There had been a man。 Miyamoto Musashi。 Perhaps Japan's greatest warrior。 Among other things ； he founded the Niten or Two Heavens school … or ryu … of kenjutsu。 It taught the art of wielding two swords at once。 Another aspect of Musashi； known as Kensei； the Sword Saint； was that he used botyen … wooden swords … in actual bat … claiming that he did so because they were invincible。
What all this musing was leading up to was this： the man had been struck two blows； not one as Vincent believed。 One had been the cut of the steel katana； ripping him open； the second had simultaneously crushed his collarbone； this had e from a bol（kfn。
'Justine； it's Nick。〃 There was some movement now from the back of the house。
He was beginning to feel as if； having once been surrounded by confetti floating through the air； he was being confronted by a slowly emerging pattern as the scraps fell to the ground。
And what he saw shook him to his core。
Justine became visible； limned in the light from behind her； sweeping through the half…open bedroom door。
'What are you doing here？'
'Justine？' He knew it was she； just did not believe her tone of voice。
'Why did you e？'
'I told you to stay at my house； away from here。' He tried not to think of the black furry thing full of blood on her kitchen floor。 Tried to calm himself； to ignore the fact； as mere coincidence； that it was an animal used by ninja as a ritual warning。 It did not work。
'I got claustrophobic； all right？ I told you I get that way every once in a while。'
'It's not safe here。'
'What are you talking about？ I'm fortable here。 This is my house。 My house； Nick。' With the light bursting through all around her like an aurora； he could not see her gestures。 He did not need to。
'I don't think you understand。'
'No；' she said sadly。 'I'm a