ericlustbader.the ninja-第8部分

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　'Morning；　Vincent；'　he　called。
　'Morning；　Nate。'　He　hurried　across　the　room　to　the　high　metal　dome　of　the　coffee　machine　standing　like　a　doge's　palace　amid　the　clutter。　Hold　the　sugar；　hold　the　half…and…half；　he　thought　gloomily。　I　need　my　caffeine　straight　this　morning。
　'Stay　a　minute；　Vincent；'　Graumann　said；　as　the　assignment　meeting　broke　up。
　Vincent　sat　in　a　green　chair　across　from　the　littered　desk　and　handed　over　the　cases　he　had　picked　out　when　Graumann　asked　to　see　them。
　They　were　friends；　away　from　their　labours　here；　but　those　times　had　seemed　to　shrink　over　the　years。　Graumann　had　been　deputy　M。E。　when　Vincent　had　first　arrived　here　and；　it　seemed；　there　had　been　more　time　then。　Or　perhaps　it　was　just　that　there　had　been　more　money。　Their　workloads　increased　as　the　fiscal　crunch　fell　like　the　side　of　a　mountain　upon　them。　The　city　had　much　larger　problems　than　worrying　about　the　people　who　were　daily　bludgeoned；　knifed；　strangled；　drowned；　asphyxiated；　shot；　mangled　and　blown　apart　on　the　city's　streets　or　in　the　bodies　of　water　throughout　its　environs。　Eighty　thousand　people　die　each　year　in　New　York　City　and　we　get　thirty　thousand　of　them；　he　thought。
　'What　d'you　have　on　at　the　moment？'　Graumann　said。
　'Uhm。　The　Morway　thing；'　Vincent　said；　his　brow　furrowing　in　thought；　'and　the　Holloway　knifing　…　I'm　due　in　court　on　that　any　moment。　The　Principal　case　is　about　closed　…　just　a　few　odds　and　ends　left　to　tie　up　for　the　D。A。　…　the　blood　analysis　should　be　in　this　afternoon。　And　then；　oh　yeah；　Marshall。'
　'What's　that？'
　'Came　in　late　yesterday　afternoon。　McCabe　said　it　couldn't　wait　so　I　began　working　on　it　right　away。　Drowning　in　the　reservoir。　McCabe　thinks　he　might　have　had　his　head　held　under。　They're　holding　someone　on　suspicion；　that's　why　she　needs　the　goods　right　away。〃
　Graumann　nodded。　'Full　load；　huh？'
　'More　than。'
　'I　want　you　to　go　〃out　to　the　Island　for　a　couple　of　days。'
　'What？　In　the　middle　of　all　this？'
　'If　it　weren't　important　I　wouldn't　be　asking；'　he　said　patiently；　'would　I？'
　'But　what　about　…？'
　'I'll　look　after　your　cases　in　progress　personally。　And　these'　…he　picked　up　the　two　manila　folders；　tapping　their　bottoms　on　the　desk　top　several　times　as　if　straightening　them　out　…　I'll　give　to　Michaelson。'
　'Michaelson　is　an　idiot；'　Vincent　retorted　hotly。
　Graumann　regarded　him　placidly。　'He　goes　by　the　book；　Vincent。　He's　steady　and　dependable。'
　'But　he's　so　slow；'　Vincent　moaned。
　'Speed　is　not　everything；'　Graumann　reminded　him。
　'Tell　that　to　McCabe。　She's　got　the　whole　office　on　our　case；　lately。　All　those　goddamn　assistant　D。A。s　wheedling　their　way　in　here　mucking　things　up。'
　'It's　what　they're　paid　to　do；　I'm　afraid。〃
　'So　what　am　I　doing　out　on　the　Island？〃
　'Paul　Deerforth　called　late　yesterday；'　Graumann　said。　'You　remember　him？'
　'Sure。　We　met　last　year　when　I　came　out　to　visit　you　for　a　couple　of　days。　West　Bay　Bridge；　right？'
　'Uhm；　hmm。'　Graumann　sat　forward。　'He's　apparently　got　a　problem　that's　over　his　head。　He　has　ancillary　ties　to　the　Suffolk　County　M。E。's　office。'　He　looked　down　at　his　steepled　nails；　back　up　to　Vincent's　face。　'He　asked　for　you　specifically。'
　There　was　a　great　fish　tank　along　the　left…hand　brick　wall　of　the　living　room　of　Nicholas's　house。　It　was；　he　estimated；　big　enough　to　hold　fifty　gallons　of　water。　But　its　denizens　were　no　ordinary　guppies　or　gouramis；　for　the　owners　had　left　to　him；　the　summer's　tenant；　the　care　of　a　multitude　of　salt…water　fish　whose　brilliant　colours　electrified　the　surrounding　water　just　as　if　they　were　a　flock　of　boldly　plumaged　birds　flitting　through　some　dense　tropical　world。
　He　watched　Justine's　form　through　this　aqueous　lens　like　a　primitive　peeping　through　the　foliage　at　an　intruding　mem…sahib。
　She　wore　a　red　bathing　suit　cut　high　along　the　thighs　to　resemble　a　dancer's　leotard　and　thus　accentuate　her　long　legs。　She　had　a　white　towel　around　her　neck　as　if　she　had　just　e　from　a　gym。　She　licked　at　a　running　egg　yolk　between　her　fingers　as　she　mopped　at　the　plate　with　a　last　bite　of　toast　in　her　other　hand。　Popping　this　into　her　mouth；　she　turned　to　look　at　him。
　'Those　aren't　yours；　are　they？'　she　asked。
　He　had　finished　feeding　them　but　unaccountably　remained　in　his　crouched　position；　fascinated　perhaps　by　the　distortions　of　the　soft　currents　created　by　the　fish　and　the　bubbling　aerator。　A　certain　air　of　unreality　was　forting　although　he　might　be　more　inclined　to　think　of　it　as　an　aspect　of　fantasy。
　'Not　mine；　no；'　he　said　from　behind　the　barrier　reef。　'They　are　the　house's　true　owners。'　He　laughed　and　straightened　up。　'More　so　than　I；　at　any　rate。'
　She　stood　up；　brought　the　plates　to　the　kitchen。　'Christ；　it's　raining。'　She　leaned　on　the　sink　with　her　elbows；　stared　out　of　the　window。　'I　wanted　to　work　outside　today。〃
　The　rain　pattered　lightly　against　the　living…room　windows；　the　flat　roof；　ing　in　from　the　sea。　The　light　was　cold　and　dark；　as　patchy　as　marble。
　'Do　it　here；'　he　said。　'You've　got　your　stuff　with　you。'
　She　came　out　into　the　living　room；　dusted　her　hands。　'No；　I　don't　think　so。　If　I　have　to　be　inside；　I　might　as　well　use　the　board。'
　She　confounded　him；　and　doing　nothing　was；　in　it's　way；　just　as　bad　as　taking　the　wrong　turn。　He　despised　hesitation。
　'Have　you　brought　any　sketches　with　you？'
　'Yes；　I　…'　She　glanced　away　towards　the　large　canvas　bag　by　the　side　of　the　sofa。　'Of　course。　Yes。'
　'I'd　like　to　see　them。'
　She　nodded；　reached　out　a　large　blue…paper…covered　tablet；　handed　it　to　him。
　She　wandered　around　the　room　while　he　went　from　page　to　page。　The　bubbling　of　the　tank。　The　muted　hiss　of　the　surf。
　'What's　this？'
　He　looked　up。　She　was　standing　in　front　of　a　low　walnut　breakfront；　hands　clasped　loosely　behind　her　back。　She　meant　the　objects　he　had　hung　on　the　wall　one　above　the　other；　a　pair　of　scabbarded；　gently　curving　swords。　The　top　one　was　perhaps　thirty　inches　long；　the　one　beneath　perhaps　twenty。
　He　watched　the　shadowed　line　of　her　spine　for　a　moment；　pared　it　with　the　one　in　the　sketch　he　held　in　front　of　him。　'They　are　the　ancient　swords　of　the　Japanese　samurai；'　he　said。　'The　longer　one　is　the　katana；　the　killing　sword；　the　other；　a　wakizashi'
　'What're　they　used　for？'
　'bat　and　seppuku：　ritual　suicide。　In　ancient　times；　only　the　samurai　were　allowed　to　wear　and　use　the　daisho；　the　two　blades。'
　'Where　did　you　get　them？'　Still　she　had　not　taken　her　eyes　off　them。
　'They're　mine；'　he　said。
　She　turned　her　head　and　smiled。　'You　mean　you're　a　samurai？'
　'In　a　way；'　he　said　seriously　and　got　off　the　couch。　He　stood　beside　her；　thinking　about　the　three　hours　a　day　he　practiced。
　'Can　I　see；'　she　said；　'the　long　blade？'
　Carefully　he　reached　up；　took　the　katana　off　the　wall。　'I　shouldn't　do　this。'　One　hand　on　the　sheath；　fingers　of　his　right　hand　wrapped　around　the　long　hilt。
　'Why　not？'
　He　pulled　slowly；　its　shining　length　revealed　in　a　four…inch　span。　'The　katana　should　be　drawn　only　for　bat。　It's　sacred。　Given　in　the　manhood　ceremony；　christened　with　its　own　name；　it　is　the　heart　and　soul　of　the　samurai。　This　is　a　dai…katana；　longer　than　the　standard　sword。　Don't　touch　it；'　he　said　sharply　and　she　withdrew　the　extended　finger　in　alarm。　'It　would　sever　your　finger。'

　He　saw　her　reflection　in　the　blade；　eyes　opened　wide；　lips　slightly　parted。　He　could　hear　her　breathing　beside　him。
　'Let　me　see　a　little　more　of　it。'　She　brushed　a　stray　lock　of　hair　out　of　her　eyes。　'It's　beautiful。　Has　it　a　name？'
　'Yes；'　he　said；　thinking　of　Cheong　and　Itami。　'Iss…hogai。　It　means　〃for　life。〃'
　'Did　you　name　it？'
　'No；　my　father　did。'
　'I　like　the　name；　it　fits；　somehow。'
　〃There's　magic　in　a　Japanese…forged　blade；'　he　said；　replacing　the　dai…katana　in　its　scabbard。　'This　particular　sword　is　almost　two　hundred　years　old　yet　its　manufacture　is　so　superb　that　it　does　not　show　even　a　year's　wear。'　He　replaced　the　weapon。　'The　finest　blade　the　world　has　ever　known　or　ever　will　know。'
　The　phone　rang　and　he　went　to　it。
　'Nick。　It's　Vincent。'

　'Hey。　How　are　you？'
　Tine。　Actually；　I'm　on　my　way　out　to　your　neck　of　the　woods　…　or　shore；　as　it　were。'
　'The　Island？'
　'Better　than　that。　West　Bay　Bridge。'
　'Hey；　that's　great。　I　haven't　seen　you　since　…'
　'March；　if　you　want　to　know。　Listen；　I'm　going　to　be　staying　at　Doc　Deerforth's　in　town。'
　'No　you're　not。　You're　staying　out　here　by　the　beach。　There's　plenty　of　room；　you　can't　swim　in　town。'
　'Sorry；　but　this　isn't　a　vacation；　and　until　I　find　out　what's　going　on　I'd　better　plan　to　stay　with　the　doc。'
　'How's　Nate？'
　'As　usual　or　thereabouts。　There's　too　much　work　there　for　all　of　us。'
　Nicholas　glanced　at　Justine；　who　was　leafing　through　her　sketchbook；　one　hand　run　through　her　thick　hair。　While　he　watched；　she　leaned　across　the　sofa；　reached　out　a　pencil　from　her　bag；　began　to　continue　the　unfinished　sketch　she　had　been　contemplating。
　'Someone　there　with　you？'
　'Yes。'
　'I　see。　Well；　I'll　be　out　late　this　afternoon。'　He　laughed；　his　voice　sounding　for　the　first　time　thin　and　strained。　'It　must　really　be　something。　Graumann's　given　me　the　car　and　Tommy。　All　I　have　to　do　is　sit　in　the　back　seat　and　take　a　nap。'　He　sighed。　'Poor　me。　A　few　years　ago；　before　the　fiscal　crunch；　I'd　be　ing　out　in　a　Lincoln。　Now　I　have　to　be　content　with　a　diarrhea…tan　Plymouth。'
　Nicholas　laughed。　'Give　me　a　ring　when　you're　settled　in　and　you'll　e　over　for　a　drink。'
　'Right。　'Bye。'
　He　cradled　the　receiver；　sat　down　next　to　Justine。　His　eyes　traced　the　new　lines　she　had　made　but　his　mind　was　far　away。
　'I　think　I　see　now　why　you　asked　for　me　to　e　out；〃　Vincent　said。
　'You　know　what　this　stuff　is？'　Doc　Deerforth　said。
　Vincent　rubbed　at　his　eyes　with　thumb　and　forefinger。　The　harsh　fluorescent　lights　hurt　his　eyes。　He　reached　up；　pulled　the　gooseneck　incandescent　lamp　closer　to　the　sheets　of　paper　he　had　been　reading。　'I　don't　quite　know　what　to　think；　to　be　honest。'
　'The　man　we　just　saw　downstairs　did　not　die　of　drowning。'
　'Of　that　there　is　no　doubt。'　Vincent　nodded　his　agreement。　'Whatever　he　died　of；　it　wasn't　asphyxiation。'
　'As　you　can　see；'　Doc　Deerforth　said；　indicating　the　contents　of　the　folder　in　Vincent's　ha