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'What's the matter？ Is your stomach turning at the thought？〃 He smirked。 'Does she disgust you now that you know what kind of woman she really is？ Do you hate yourself for ever getting involved with her？'
'It doesn't matter what she did in the past；' Nicholas said slowly。 'And unless she's living in the past； it has no bearing on either of us。' He stared at Tomkin； at the sweating face hovering close in front of him。 'I know what kind of person Justine is； Tomkin。 I just wonder whether you do。〃
For just a moment； Tomkin's eyes seemed to bulge。 Then； abruptly； he seemed in total control of himself once again and all signs of anger slipped away from him。 He smiled； clapped Nicholas on the back。 'I don't suppose I can be condemned for making certain； can I？'
Nicholas realized just how weak Tomkin was。 That was why he made such an overt show of disfranchising his daughters； because they were so important to him … his immortality。 Nicholas wondered whether he was reconciled to not having a son to carry on the line。
Oddly； it was this weakness which prevented Nicholas from disliking the man。 He had been taught； at the Itto ryu； to seize upon an opponent's weakness and thereby bring him crashing down。 But outside the dojo； Nicholas had learned that people often lived their lives； or at least a good part of them； out of weakness。 It was what made them human； what made them vulnerable； what made them interesting。 Take Musashi； for example。 If one believed entirely the Go Rin No Sho； one saw not a man but a steel monument； invincible and emotionless。 However； there were many stories concerning Musashi。 The one Nicholas never forgot was the one where Musashi was defeated by a ninja using a paper fan。 Ninja were notorious for their harnessing of odylic forces and this； it was monly believed； was what made Musashi's defeat so effortless。 Nicholas； of course； knew that there was more to it than that。 Still； it warmed him to know that the great Musashi； the Sword Saint； had after all tasted defeat。
It would be all too easy； Nicholas knew； to dismiss Tomkin as villainous and have nothing more to do with him。 But people's facades were all too often just that。 He had touched a nerve and had glimpsed for an instant something else in the man； a spark that humbled him； made him human。 Moreover； Tomkin was intelligent enough to realize that he had given away this advantage to Nicholas and now Nicholas was intrigued enough to try to find out why。 He did not have long to wait。
'I want you to work for me；' Tomkin said easily。 'I want you to find out what's going on。 I know all about the Yakuza！ I've even had a brush with Shoto。 You've heard of him； no doubt？' Nicholas nodded and he went on。 'Tough cookie； that one。 But I managed。' He put his finger and thumb up； pinched his lower lip thoughtfully。 'Don't know anything about ninja； though； and what I… don't know about myself I give over to experts。〃 He stabbed a forefinger。 'You're an expert on these bastards； isn't that right？〃
'You could say that。〃
'Well； I want to hire you； then。 Find out what this is all about。' He produced the folded sheet of rice paper with the ninja crest painted on it； waved it。 'Take the goddamned thing。 I don't want it。〃
Nicholas did not move。 'When did you get it？' he said。
'Like I said； came in the Japan pouch； let me see； oh； about a week ago。〃
A week； Nicholas thought。 It could not be a coincidence。 Barry's body had been found about that time。 Then he had been right。 Tomkin was the target。 'I think you've been marked for assassination；' he said。
Tomkin did not even blink。 'All right。 It's happened before。'
'Not with a ninja。'
'No；' Tomkin admitted。 'But I told you I've had a spot of Yakuza trouble。 Nothing I couldn't handle。'
'This is different。'
'How so？ He'll never get to me。'
'There are a thousand ways he could do it but don't waste your time trying to figure out how。 You'll never do it。'
'Is this a sales pitch？' Tomkin's eyes had gone hard。 'A little something you just dreamed up to give yourself a raise before you've even started work？'
'I never said I'd take the job。'
Tomkin shrugged。 'Suit yourself。 I've got Frank and Whistle there。 I'm not worried。'
Nicholas did not even look at them。 'Tomkin； if indeed a ninja has been contracted to assassinate you； he'll go right through those two as if they were stalks of wheat。'
'Like I said； that's some sweet sales pitch you've got。'
'It's no pitch at all。 You've made me late for an important appointment。 I'm not inter …'
He missed the signal but they were on him； one on each side。 Frank's hands hung loosely at his sides； the fingers slightly curled。 Whistle's gun was already out。 It was a snub…nosed 。38 not so good at long range but brutal within fifteen yards。 They were way inside that now。
Nicholas was in the classic first position of yoroi kumi…uchi； originally grappling in armour but today used quite effectively when one was dressed in Western street clothes。
Whistle's revolver was at the horizontal； his forefinger beginning to squeeze inwards on the trigger。 Nicholas stepped forward； jammed his right foot into the man's left instep while at the same time slamming the muzzle of the gun away with the edge of his left hand。 There was an explosion and the bullet whined off the inner wall； leaving a grey scar against the blue。
Whistle dropped the useless gun； bringing his right hand upward towards Nicholas's abdomen。 He watched it； wide…eyed； as it was halted in mid…flight as if it had e up against a concrete barrier。 He winced in pain as it was twisted hard round； felt a hot tearing and then a whip like snap。 At the same instant； Nicholas's left hand smashed into his collarbone and he went down； unconscious。
Frank moved in。 He made no move towards the gun under his armpit。 His fingers were as straight as boards as he whipped forward。
Nicholas stood motionless； watching the unfolding of the assault。 There was plenty of time。 He is left…handed； Nicholas thought； and he's expecting karate。
At the point of Frank's attack； Nicholas moved almost languidly； separating the deadly hands。 To Tomkin； watching interestedly from the sidelines； it appeared as if he had not moved at all； merely pushed his elbows into Frank's rib cage almost gently。 Frank collapsed onto the concrete floor。
'I knew you were good；' Tomkin said excitedly。 'I knew it。 The reports said so； but you often can't trust them。 Take other people's work for granted and you find yourself in a hole。 Happens all the goddamned time。' He stared down at his two incapacitated bodyguards。 'Fucking great； that's all。' He looked up； extended a hand。 'Glad to have you aboard； Nick。'
Nicholas stared at Tomkin's face as he moved away down the corridor towards the elevator。 'I told you； I'm not interested in working for you。〃 He pressed the button and it glowed。 The elevator began its ascent。 'You have no respect for people。' Tomkin came towards him； stepping over the fallen bodies。
'It's not like that。'
'Sure it is。 I don't like being manipulated。 Any more than I imagine Justine does。 I don't owe you a thing； Tomkin。 You have no claim over me。'
Behind him the elevator doors opened