ericlustbader.the ninja-第94部分

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mps　in　Nantucket。　I　should；　she　thought；　have　been　born　a　Starbuck。
　And　that　was　how　Saigo　found　her；　alone　and　dazzled；　lost　within　her　imagination。　She　never　knew　that　she　had　passed　into　unconsciousness　or　that　anything　was　done　to　her　while　she　was　out。　She　might　have　been　sleeping。　But　she　was　not。
　He　worked　over　her　for　fifteen　minutes；　one　ear　alert　for　the　minutest　sound　that　might　herald　an　interruption。　He　could　not　afford　that　now。　He　hoped　that　it　would　not　occur　because　it　would　necessitate　dragging　her　away　from　here　and　this　he　did　not　want　to　do。　She　was　relaxed　here；　it　was　a　place　she　trusted。　That　made　what　he　had　to　do　that　much　easier。
　During　this　time；　Justine's　eyes　were　open　and　it　could　even　be　said　that　she　saw；　in　a　manner　of　speaking。　But　what　she　saw　was　only　his　face；　transfigured；　like　a　geological　fault　line　after　an　earthquake。　There　was　only　a　little　familiarity　among　the　change。　It　had　bee　a　face　that　was　more　than　human。
　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　hard　feelings；　huh？　Business　is　business；　you　know？'
　'Yeah。　Thanks　for　the　vote　of　confidence。　I　have　a　feeling　I'm　gonna　need　it。'
　'Tell　me　something。'　There　was　an　edge　to　his　voice　now　as　if　he　had　just　woken　up。　'How　big　is　this　thing？'
　'What's　it　to　you？'
　'Huh！　I'm　involved；　ain't　I？　Sure。　Right　up　to　my　armpits。　I　just　wanta　know　whether　I'm　standing　in　a　pile　of　dogshit　or　…'
　'I　really　can't　say　yet。　The　jury's　still　out。　But　it　just　could　be。'
　'Maybe　I　oughtta　fade；　then。'
　'Strictly　up　to　you。　Might　not　be　such　a　bad　idea。'
　'Preciate　it；　Lieutenant。'
　'I　don't　want　my　wells　drying　up。　Like　a　Texan　that　way。〃
　Matty　the　Mouth　laughed；　a　dry　rasp　like　a　metal　file　going　over　an　unstripped　log。　'Uh　yeah！　What　I　am　today　I　owe　to　you。'
　'Just　keep　it　up；　Matty。　Just　keep　it　up。'
　Back　in　the　car；　he　headed　towards　the　office。　Finnigan；　the　fat　mick；　would　not　be　at　all　happy　to　see　him　this　morning。
　Well；　to　hell　with　him。　Croaker　braked　savagely；　jammed　the　heel　of　his　hand　against　the　horn　rim；　stood　on　the　gas。　He　only　hoped　that　when　he　returned　from　Key　West　with　Alix　Logan　in　tow；　the　bastard　would　have　a　stroke。
　If　he　could　get　her　to　talk。　Fear　was　a　most　effective　weapon　wielded　by　a　knowing　hand。　Unless　he　was　severely　mistaken；　his　little　outburst　in　Tomkin's　face　had　had　its　desired　effect。　A　dead　issue　had　bee　abruptly　hot。　Now　there　would　be　a　direct　link　between　Alix　Logan　and　Raphael　Tomkin。　For　a　moment　he　debated　bringing　Vegas　in　on　this。　It　would；　after　all；　be　helpful　to　have　someone　here　to　round　up　whoever　it　was　who　was　nosing　around；　while　he　was　down　in　Key　West。　But　he　dismissed　it　almost　at　once。　It　wasn't　fair　to　drop　such　a　heavy　bag　of　shit　in　Vegas's　lap。　No；　he'd　just　have　to　look　after　both　ends　himself。　Timing。　He'd　need　timing。
　And　a　good　deal　of　luck。
　'I　saw　Justine　off　yesterday；'　Nicholas　said。　'I　asked　her　to　go　back　out　to　West　Bay　Bridge　until　this　is　all　over。'
　Croaker　slammed　the　door　to　his　car；　came　around　to　the　front　where　Nicholas　was　standing。　'Good　idea。