el.the miko-µÚ101²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡not¡¡so¡¡far¡¡from¡¡priestly£»¡¡though¡¡in¡¡a¡¡manner¡¡he¡¡could¡¡never¡¡prehend£»¡¡munism¡¡was¡¡as¡¡blind¡¡in¡¡its¡¡moral¡¡rectitude¡¡as¡¡was¡¡Catholicism¡£
¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡tell¡¡me£»¡¡Gospadin¡¡Protorov£»¡¨¡¡Nicholas¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡provide¡¡you¡¡with¡¡no¡¡coherent¡¡answer¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Can¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡that¡¡you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡recognize¡¡these¡¡contours¡¡as¡¡they¡¡might¡¡appear¡¡from¡¡afar£¿¡¨¡¡Protorov¡¡brandished¡¡the¡¡sheets£»¡¡flailing¡¡his¡¡tail¡¡behind¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨Say£»¡¡35£»888¡¡kilometers¡¡above¡¡the¡¡earth's¡¡surface¡£¡¡That¡¡would¡¡give¡¡it¡¡a¡¡synchronous¡¡orbit£»¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡stationary¡¡over¡¡this¡¡one¡¡spot¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Pacific¡£¡¨
¡¡Protorov¡¡stepped¡¡closer¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡see¡¡this£»¡¡Gospadin¡¡Linnear£¿¡¡The¡¡Straits¡¡of¡¡Nemuro¡£¡¡An¡¡international¡¡boundary¡¡between¡¡Japan¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Soviet¡¡Union¡£¡¨¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡fever¡¡bright¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡do¡¡you¡¡further¡¡see¡¡the¡¡area¡¡marked¡¡in¡¡red£¿¡¡It¡¡is¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Straits£»¡¡in¡¡Japanese¡¡territory¡£¡£¡£¡¡and¡¡in¡¡ours£¡¡¨
¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡nod¡¡and¡¡Nicholas¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡was¡¡ing¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡he¡¡could¡¡do¡¡for¡¡his¡¡body¡¡now£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡another¡¡matter¡£¡¡The¡¡gleaming¡¡steel¡¡needle¡¡entered¡¡his¡¡upper¡¡arm¡¡a¡¡scant¡¡centimeter¡¡from¡¡where¡¡the¡¡first¡¡shot¡¡had¡¡been¡¡administered¡£¡¡His¡¡skin¡¡ballooned¡¡outward£»¡¡fluid¡¡swamping¡¡the¡¡bellows¡¡of¡¡his¡¡lungs¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡drowning£»¡¡it¡¡made¡¡him¡¡want¡¡to¡¡cry¡¡out¡£¡¡His¡¡heartbeat¡¡accelerated¡¡wildly¡£
¡¡Discipline¡£
¡¡He¡¡took¡¡his¡¡consciousness¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡as¡¡a¡¡father¡¡will¡¡his¡¡frightened¡¡child£»¡¡and¡¡entered¡¡a¡¡place¡¡that¡¡held¡¡no¡¡fear¡£¡¡Getsumei¡¡no¡¡michi¡£
¡¡Somewhere¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡him¡¡Protorov¡¡called¡¡in¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡turned¡¡aqueous¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡of¡¡Tenchi£¿¡¡How¡¡much¡¡does¡¡Minck¡¡know£¿¡¡You¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡that£»¡¡Gospadin¡¡Linnear¡£¡¡Before¡¡you¡¡die¡¡you¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡that¡¡much£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Will¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡now¡¡why¡¡you¡¡really¡¡followed¡¡me¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Hawaii£¿¡¨
¡¡Rick¡¡Millar¡¡sat¡¡at¡¡one¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clear¡¡plastic¡¡raft¡¡they¡¡had¡¡rented¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡beach¡¡shack¡£¡¡His¡¡long£»¡¡tanned¡¡legs¡¡dangled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water¡£¡¡He¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡surfer's¡¡brief¡¡bathing¡¡suit¡¡he¡¡had¡¡bought¡¡in¡¡Lahaina¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡already¡¡know¡¡the¡¡answer¡£¡¨
¡¡Justine¡¡smiled¡£¡¡Her¡¡heart¡¡felt¡¡lighter¡¡than¡¡it¡¡had¡¡in¡¡many¡¡months¡£¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡flattered¡¡that¡¡you¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡seduce¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡Millar¡¡laughed¡¡good¡naturedly¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡wasn't¡¡all¡¡lust£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¡I¡¡do¡¡want¡¡you¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡firm¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡what¡¡happens¡¡between¡¡us¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨It's¡¡already¡¡happened£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡glad¡¡you¡¡came£»¡¡actually¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡watched¡¡a¡¡school¡¡of¡¡small¡¡golden¡¡fish¡¡race¡¡by¡¡just¡¡above¡¡the¡¡reef¡¡over¡¡which¡¡they¡¡bobbed¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡must¡¡love¡¡him¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡loyal¡£¡¨
¡¡What¡¡Justine¡¡thought¡¡about¡¡most¡¡now£»¡¡what¡¡she¡¡held¡¡most
¡¡closely¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡waking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡anxious¡¡and¡¡afraid£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡able¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡out¡¡to¡¡touch¡¡Nicholas'¡¡hand¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡like¡¡no¡¡other¡¡she¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡encountered£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡lie¡¡there¡¡stroking¡¡its¡¡bottom¡¡edge£»¡¡hard¡¡with¡¡cast¡iron¡¡callus¡£¡¡Like¡¡hugging¡¡a¡¡Teddy¡¡bear£»¡¡the¡¡motion¡¡would¡¡calm¡¡her¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡she¡¡would¡¡slip¡¡back¡¡to¡¡sleep¡£
¡¡But¡¡those¡¡were¡¡the¡¡old¡¡days¡¡and¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Justine¡£¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡anxiety¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡her¡¡life¡¡any¡¡longer¡£
¡¡Staring¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡sun¡drenched¡¡Molokai¡¡Channel¡¡where¡¡the¡¡humpback¡¡whales¡¡broke¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡water¡¡in¡¡white¡¡and¡¡black¡¡splendor£»¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡her¡¡immaturity¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡part¡¡of¡¡another¡¡person£º¡¡clearly£»¡¡objectively¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡already¡¡separate¡¡from¡¡her¡£
¡¡She¡¡supposed¡¡now¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡always¡¡been¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡love¡£¡£¡£¡¡true¡¡love¡¡such¡¡as¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡for¡¡Nicholas¡£¡¡Her¡¡entire¡¡adult¡¡life¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡encounters¡¡with¡¡males¡¡who¡¡could¡¡not¡¡possibly¡¡give¡¡her¡¡the¡¡stability¡¡of¡¡a¡¡twined¡¡life¡£¡¡Rather¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡attracted¡¡to¡¡men¡¡lusting¡¡to¡¡use¡¡her£»¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡her£»¡¡to£»¡¡in¡¡effect£»¡¡return¡¡her¡¡to¡¡a¡¡lone¡¡state¡¡where¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡more¡¡secure£»¡¡more¡¡the¡¡little¡¡girl£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡¡this¡¡being¡¡the¡¡most¡¡astonishing¡¡revelation¡¡of¡¡all¡she¡¡would¡¡be¡¡assured¡¡of¡¡her¡¡father's¡¡intervention£»¡¡his¡¡protection£»¡¡and£»¡¡yes£»¡¡a¡¡manifestation¡¡of¡¡his¡¡love¡¡for¡¡her¡£
¡¡It¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡her¡¡that¡¡she¡¡herself¡¡had¡¡provoked¡¡what¡¡she¡¡had¡¡deluded¡¡herself¡¡into¡¡thinking¡¡was¡¡his¡¡meddling¡¡in¡¡her¡¡life¡£¡¡She¡¡understood¡¡now¡¡that¡¡this¡¡very¡¡meddling¡¡had¡¡served¡¡as¡¡an¡¡assurance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡little¡¡girl¡¡inside¡¡her¡¡that¡¡he¡¡still¡¡loved¡¡her£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡cared¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡break¡¡away¡¡from¡¡his¡¡all¡consuming¡¡work¡¡to¡¡do¡¡something¡¡for¡¡her¡£
¡¡Stunned£»¡¡she¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Hawaiian¡¡sunshine£»¡¡staring¡¡blindly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡island¡¡that¡¡formerly¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡home¡¡for¡¡lepers¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡ironic¡¡and¡¡somehow¡¡proper¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡have¡¡e¡¡all¡¡this¡¡way¡¡to¡¡be¡¡near¡¡Molokai¡£¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡she¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡now¡¡of¡¡just¡¡why¡¡she¡¡had¡¡e¡¡here¡£¡¡She¡¡ws¡¡six¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡home£»¡¡give¡¡or¡¡take¡¡a¡¡couple£»¡¡three¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Pacific¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡that¡¡much¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡Japan£»¡¡and¡¡Nicholas¡£
¡¡¡¨Would¡¡you¡¡like¡¡to¡¡go¡¡for¡¡a¡¡swim£¿¡¨¡¡Millar¡¡asked¡¡gently¡£
¡¡Justine¡¡reached¡¡out¡¡and¡¡squeezed¡¡his¡¡arm¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡go¡¡if¡¡you've¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡to¡£¡¡I'll¡¡join¡¡you¡¡in¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡or¡¡two¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡nodded¡¡and¡¡slipped¡¡over¡¡the¡¡raft's¡¡side£»¡¡moving¡¡in¡¡a¡¡slow£»¡¡easy¡¡crawl¡¡away¡¡from¡¡her£»¡¡all¡¡his¡¡muscles¡¡working¡¡in¡¡concert¡£
¡¡She¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡idly¡¡with¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡detached¡¡contentment¡¡she¡¡had¡¡never¡¡before¡¡thought¡¡she¡¡could¡¡feel¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡handsome¡¡man£»¡¡desirable¡¡in¡¡all¡¡ways¡£¡¡How¡¡many¡¡of¡¡her¡¡women¡¡friends£»¡¡unattached¡¡or¡¡otherwise£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡given¡¡their¡¡eyeteeth¡¡to¡¡be¡¡in¡¡her¡¡position¡¡now¡£¡¡She¡¡laughed¡¡out¡¡loud¡£¡¡It¡¡felt¡¡good¡¡to¡¡be¡¡wanted¡¡by¡¡such¡¡a¡¡man¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡even¡¡better¡¡to¡¡revel¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pleteness¡¡of¡¡her¡¡love¡¡for¡¡Nicholas£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡sensed¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wonderful¡¡intensity¡¡Nicholas'¡¡spirit£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡he¡¡who¡¡swam¡¡so¡¡near¡¡her¡£
¡¡Their¡¡fight¡¡now¡¡seemed¡¡trivial¡¡and¡¡ridiculous¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡whereas¡¡before¡¡it¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡on¡¡the¡¡titanic¡¡proportions¡¡of¡¡an¡¡Olympian¡¡struggle¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡because¡¡she¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡battling¡¡Nicholas¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡but¡¡herself¡£¡¡From¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡she¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡panic¡¡with¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡greeted¡¡his¡¡announcement¡¡because¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡quite¡¡certain¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡the¡¡man¡¡she¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡reincarnation¡¡of¡¡her¡¡father¡£
¡¡Now¡¡she¡¡understood¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡only¡¡because¡¡an¡¡unconscious¡¡part¡¡of¡¡her¡¡had¡¡wanted¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡Nicholas¡¡was¡¡not¡¡her¡¡father£»¡¡what¡¡he¡¡would¡¡do¡¡with¡¡his¡¡life¡¡had¡¡only¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡£¡£¡¡and¡¡now¡¡Justine¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡their¡¡own¡¡lives¡¡to¡¡lead¡£¡¡How¡¡would¡¡Nicholas¡¡put¡¡it£¿¡¡They¡¡had¡¡their¡¡own¡¡karma¡£¡¡She¡¡smiled¡¡again¡¡at¡¡that¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡karma¡£
¡¡And¡¡her¡¡karma¡¡dictated¡¡that¡¡she¡¡be¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side£»¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡be¡¡as¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡Tomkin¡¡Industries¡¡or¡¡anywhere¡¡else¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡giving¡¡her¡¡heart¡¡away¡¡to¡¡another¡¡human¡¡being£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡spending¡¡her¡¡life¡¡with¡¡someone¡£¡¡In¡¡fact¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡that¡¡was¡¡precisely¡¡what¡¡she¡¡did¡¡want¡£
¡¡In¡¡the¡¡water¡¡she¡¡stroked¡¡easily¡¡toward¡¡where¡¡Rick¡¡was¡¡floating¡¡as¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡antics¡¡of¡¡the¡¡leviathans¡¡far¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡channel¡£
¡¡¡¨Finished¡¡cogitating£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡lightly¡£
¡¡¡¨Cogitating¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡laughed¡¡joyfully¡£¡¡¡¨That's¡¡an¡¡adult¡¡activity£»¡¡isn't¡¡it£¿¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡catching¡¡up¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡eyed¡¡her¡¡warily£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡changed¡¡from¡¡a¡¡puppy¡¡into¡¡a¡¡Doberman¡¡instantaneously¡£¡¡¡¨Will¡¡you¡¡e¡¡back¡¡and¡¡be¡¡my¡¡creative¡¡design¡¡v¡£p¡££¿¡¨
¡¡Justine¡¡sobered¡£¡¡¡¨Rick£»¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡have¡¡some¡¡reassurances¡¡from¡¡you¡¡before¡¡I¡¡make¡¡any¡¡decision¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨Whatever¡¡I¡¡can¡¡do£»¡¡I¡¡will¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Good¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡speculatively¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡dashed¡¡away¡¡so¡¡fast¡¡that¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡have¡¡the¡¡time¡¡to¡¡connect¡¡with¡¡Mary¡¡Kate£»¡¡though¡¡I¡¡left¡¡a¡¡message¡¡with¡¡her¡¡service¡£¡¡That¡¡means£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡at¡¡least£»¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡have¡¡to¡¡trust¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡paused¡¡deliberately¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡he¡¡would¡¡defend¡¡himself£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡he¡¡said¡¡nothing¡¡she¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡summarily¡¡dismissed¡¡her¡¡against¡¡her¡¡will£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡leveraged¡¡me¡¡into¡¡her¡¡spot¡¡before¡¡that¡¡happened£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you¡¡before£»¡¡I¡¡want¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the¡¡job¡£¡¡That's¡¡absolutely¡¡final¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Okay£»¡¡granted¡£¡¡I've¡¡received¡¡your¡¡message¡¡loud¡¡and¡¡clear¡£¡¡Mary¡¡Kate¡¡wasn't¡¡happy¡¡with¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reverse¡¡was¡¡true¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡ing¡¡to¡¡a¡¡mutual¡¡parting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ways¡¡when¡¡I¡¡met¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡help¡¡her£»¡¡Justine¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡her¡¡to¡¡work¡¡out¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡is£»¡¡she¡¡didn't¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡smart¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it£»¡¡that's¡¡all¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨So¡¡you¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡about¡¡her¡¡leaving¡¡before¡¡you¡¡had¡¡that¡¡first¡¡lunch¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Rick£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡extremely¡¡important¡¡to¡¡me¡¡so¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡any¡¡mistake¡¡made¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡One¡¡call¡¡to¡¡Mary¡¡Kate¡¡is¡¡all¡¡it'll¡¡take¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Then¡¡I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡should¡¡call¡¡her£»¡¡Justine¡£¡¡I'd¡¡like¡¡you¡¡to¡¡trust¡¡what¡¡I'm¡¡telling¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡can¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡you¡¡might¡¡have¡¡doubts¡£¡¡There's¡¡nothing¡¡your¡¡friend¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡haven't¡£¡¡Period¡£¡¨
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡time¡¡to¡¡break¡¡the¡¡tension£»¡¡Justine¡¡decided¡£¡¡She¡¡smiled¡¡and¡¡splashed¡¡water¡¡on¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨Then¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I'll¡¡take¡¡your¡¡offer¡£¡¨¡¡They¡¡bobbed¡¡together¡¡like¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡corks¡¡as¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡tide¡¡rushed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡coral¡¡reef¡¡like¡¡an¡¡enemy¡¡on¡¡the¡¡march£»¡¡dissipating¡¡itself¡¡along¡¡the¡¡spiky¡¡ridge¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡right¡¡now¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡Japan¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡that¡¡meant¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡told¡¡him¡¡about¡¡Nicholas£»¡¡about¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was¡¡and¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡between¡¡them¡£¡¡He¡¡smiled£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡trace¡¡of¡¡wistfulness¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡smile¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡fisherman¡¡will¡¡give¡¡a¡¡valiant¡¡marlin¡¡that¡¡outfought¡¡him£»¡¡snapping¡¡the¡¡cable¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡£¡¡He¡¡might¡¡rue¡¡not¡¡making¡¡the¡¡catch¡¡but¡¡he¡¡admired¡¡the¡¡creature¡¡that¡¡had¡¡deprived¡¡him£»¡¡might¡¡even¡¡be¡¡glad¡¡that¡¡independence¡¡had¡¡won¡¡that¡¡day¡£
¡¡¡¨You¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I've¡¡been¡¡envious¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Japanese's¡¡advertising¡¡methods¡¡for¡¡years¡£¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡you'll¡¡e¡¡back¡¡with¡¡a¡¡portfolio¡¡full¡¡of¡¡their¡¡trade¡¡secrets¡£¡¨
¡¡They¡¡both¡¡laughed¡¡at¡¡that¡£
¡¡Fortuitous¡¡Chiu¡¡made¡¡no¡¡answer¡¡but¡¡to¡¡put¡¡his¡¡forefinger¡¡up¡¡against¡¡his¡¡lips¡¡and¡¡sign¡¡for¡¡Nangi¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡him¡£¡¡A¡¡block¡¡up¡¡Po¡¡Shan¡¡Road£»¡¡the¡¡highrise¡¡housing¡¡structures¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mid¡Levels£»¡¡built¡¡for¡¡Hong¡¡Kong's¡¡wealthy£»¡¡loomed¡¡all¡¡about¡¡them£»¡¡giving¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡moving¡¡through¡¡some¡¡enormous¡¡spectral¡¡forest¡£
¡¡Mist¡¡hung¡¡heavy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡stars¡¡or¡¡moon¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡£¡¡Nangi¡¡was¡¡grateful¡¡for¡¡this£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡think¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡be¡¡spotted¡¡prowling¡¡around¡¡the¡¡Colony¡¡at¡¡four¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡£
¡¡Fortuitous¡¡Chiu¡¡took¡¡them¡¡quickly¡¡off¡¡the¡¡sidewalk¡¡as¡¡they¡¡approached¡¡one¡¡towering¡¡structure¡£¡¡Silently¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡moved¡¡down¡¡a¡¡narrow£»¡¡shadow¡shrouded¡¡alleyway£»¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡garbage¡¡cans¡¡and¡¡other¡¡refuse¡£
¡¡Down¡¡a¡¡short¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡concrete¡¡steps¡¡and¡¡through¡¡a¡¡metal¡paneled¡¡door¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡building£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡basement¡£¡¡Light¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡low¡wattage¡¡bare¡¡bulbs¡¡strung¡¡from¡¡flex¡¡along¡¡the¡¡concrete¡¡ceiling¡£¡¡Two¡¡young¡¡Chinese¡¡were¡¡playing¡¡Fan¡¡Tan¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corridor¡£¡¡They¡¡looked¡¡up£»¡¡apparently¡¡recognized¡¡Fortuitous¡¡Chiu£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡their¡¡game¡£¡¡Not¡¡a¡¡word¡¡was¡¡uttered¡¡by¡¡anyone¡£¡¡Nangi¡¡did¡¡