el.the miko-第119部分

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s　safe　house。　He　said　nothing　of　what　had　happened　after　his　winged　escape。
　〃Phoenix　was　from　the　Tenshin　Shoden　Katori。〃　Nangi's　voice　was　deliberately　calm。　〃Was　anything　put　into　the　Soviets'　hands？〃
　〃For　a　moment　they　had　it。　But　they　had　no　one　to　translate　the　kanji　cipher。〃
　〃I　see。〃　The　relief　flooding　out　of　Nangi　was　palpable。
　〃I　read　the　document；　Nangi…san。　I　have　penetrated　to　the　core　of　Tenchi。〃
　There　was　no　sound　in　the　room　now　but　that　of　the　flowing　water；　unseen　and　constant。
　Nangi's　eyes　closed　finally。　He　felt　enormously　tired；　like　a　long…distance　runner　who　had　just　expended　his　last　ounce　of　gallant　reserves　to　embrace　the　finish　line　only　to　be　told　that　the　course　has　been　extended　another　mile。
　His　dark；　avian　eyes　opened　and　in　a　voice　like　tissue　paper　he　said；　〃And　now　that　you　have　the　leverage　you　need；　what　will　you　do　with　this　information　if　I　do　not　accede　to　your　demands　regarding　the　terms　of　the　merger？〃
　〃I　have　had　a　call　from　a　man　named　C。　Gordon　Minck；　Nangi…san。　He　is　in　the　United　States　Government。　I　know　him　somewhat。　I　have　run　a　certain　errand　for　him。。。　because　it　suited　my　purposes。　Because　I　wished　to　save　Tenchi。〃
　Nangi　nodded。　〃Save　it　from　the　Russians。　I　understand。　You　are　an　American　citizen。　And　now　the　American　secret　service　establishment　knows　our　deep　secret。　They　can　keep　us　under　their　thumb　forever。〃
　〃Nangi…san；〃　Nicholas　said　softly；　〃I　told　Minck　that　the　Soviets　had　not　penetrated　Tenchi　and　neither　had　I。　Sato…san　once　told　me　that　he　feared　the　Americans　penetrating　Tenchi　almost　as　much　as　the　Russians。　I　did　not　understand　what　he　meant　then；　but　I　know　now。　America　would　not　wish　for　Japan　to　bee　independent　of　it。　I　agree　with　him。〃
　For　Nangi；　Nicholas　could　not　have　uttered　more　startling　words。　〃But　this　is　impossible；〃　he　said；　for　once　flustered。　〃You　are　an　American。　You　are…〃
　〃Iteki？　Isn't　that　how　you've　seen　me　from　the　first；　Nangi…san？　As　a　barbarian；　a　half…breed。〃
　Nangi's　eyes　lowered　to　the　tabletop；　but　all　he　saw　there　was　his　own　reflection。　I　hate　this　man；　he　thought；　and　I　don't　know　why。　He　has　suffered　for　this　keiretsu；　has　kept　its　secrets；　has　almost　died　for　it。　He　is　loyal　beyond　question。　He　tried　to　save　Seiichi…san's　life。　At　the　thought　of　his　dead　friend；　a　knife　went　through　Nangi's　insides　and　he　was　shaken　anew　by　his　rage　against　this　man。　Yet　he　struggled　with　himself　to　understand。
　〃My　spirit　is　Japanese；〃　Nicholas　said　softly。　〃You　have　only　to　feel　my　wa　to　know　that。　It　was　not　so　hard　for　Sato…san　to　accept　me；　to　befriend　me。〃
　〃Sato…san　possessed　a　number　of　bad　habits；〃　Nangi　snapped。　Immediately；　he　bowed　his　head　all　the　way　to　the　lacquer。　He　was　terribly　ashamed。　〃Forgive　me；　Linnear…san。〃　His　voice　was　a　cracked　whisper；　filled　with　pain　and　self…loathing。　〃You　deserve　only　my　abject　gratitude　for　what　you　have　done　to　protect　my　keiretsu　and　preserve　Tenchi。〃
　〃I　am　truly　sorry　that　you　cannot　give　it。〃　Nicholas'　face　was　sad　as　he　rose。　〃The　pledge　of　merger　was　with　Sato…san。　I　will　not　insist　that　you　be　bound　by　it。〃
　〃Linnear…san。〃　Nangi's　back　was　rigid。　〃Please　sit　down。〃　And；　when　Nicholas　made　no　move；　〃I　beg　of　you。　Do　not　add　to　the　disgrace　I　have　already　heaped　upon　myself。　If　you　walk　out　now；　I　can　never　regain　face。〃
　Nicholas　folded　his　legs　beneath　him。　〃I　have　no　wish　to　disgrace　you；〃　he　said　softly；　remembering　all　Sato　had　told　him　of　this　man。
　〃Whatever　accord　you　had　with　Seiichi…san　you　have　with　me。　We　are　one　and　the　same　entity。　1　wish　to　honor　his　word。〃　He　passed　a　hand　across　his　eyes。　〃I　was　brought　up　with　kanryodo。　I　hated　foreigners　as　if　they　were　a　disease。〃
　〃Some…perhaps　most…are　like　that；〃　Nicholas　said。
　Nangi　looked　at　him　curiously。　〃In　truth；　1　think　I　never　bothered　to　understand　you。　I　saw　what　I　wanted　to　see。〃　His　eyes　slid　down　again。　〃And　I　resented　you　your　easy　rapport　with　my　friend。〃
　〃He　could　love　you　no　less　for　it。　But　that　is　obvious。〃　Nicholas　raised　his　cup。　〃If　you　wish；　we　will　light　incense　on　Seiichi…san's　grave　together。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Nangi　said；　and　he　was　no　longer　ashamed　to　drape　his　voice　in　sadness。　His　good　eye　was　moist。　He　raised　his　glass。　〃To　departed　friends；　missed　and　honored　for　all　the　days　of　our　lives。〃
　They　drank。
　〃Now　what　of　the　Wu…Shingl〃　Nangi　asked。
　〃The　threat　of　the　Wu…Shing　is　gone。　You　have　nothing　more　to　fear　from　that　quarter。　Vice…Minister　Shimada's　daughter　has　been　silenced；　she　has　been　taken　by　the　earth。　Her　revenge　is　inplete。〃
　Nangi's　face　seemed　to　collapse。　His　voice　was　a　whisper。　〃Shimada…san　had　a　daughter？　I　know　only　of　his　two　sons；　who　were　killed　overseas　in　a　plane　crash。　A　daughter！〃
　〃By　a　tayu　oiran　of　the　Yoshiwara。〃
　〃Oh；　my　God！〃　A　tic　had　begun　beneath　Nangi's　good　eye。　〃I　recall　some　information　I　amassed　on　him。　There　was　mention　of　a　courtesan　mistress。　But　that　she　bore　him　a　child！〃
　〃It　gets　worse；　I'm　afraid。〃
　〃I　don't　see　how。〃
　〃Shimada…san's　daughter　was　Akiko　Ofuda　Sato。〃
　〃Oh；　Madonna；　no！　It's　impossible。〃　He　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　face。　〃Did　Seiichi…san　know？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Thank　God　for　that　small　blessing。　She　must　have　planned　it　all…the　courtship；　the　wedding。　How　Seiichi…san　loved　her！〃　He　watched　his　hands　shake；　fascinated　that　he　had　lost　this　much　control。　He　looked　up。　〃She's　gone；　you　say？〃
　Nicholas　nodded。　〃Swallowed　up　in　the　recent　earthquake。〃
　〃She　could　have　destroyed　everything。　Everything！〃
　〃It　was　close；〃　Nicholas　acknowledged。
　〃The　Russians　and　the　Americans　aren't　the　only　ones　interested　in　Tenchi；〃　Nangi　said　after　a　moment。　〃Now　that　we　are　partners；　I　have　an　obligation　to　tell　you　why　I　went　to　Hong　Kong。　I　deliberately　did　not　speak　of　it　to　Seiichi　before　I　left　because　I　had　no　way　of　knowing　the　oute　in　advance　and　I　did　not　want　him　to　worry。〃
　Nicholas　listened　with　growing　interest　to　Nangi's　tale　of　intrigue。
　〃But　I　won　everything；〃　Nangi　concluded。
　Nicholas　was　silent　for　a　time；　digesting　all　that　he　had　heard。　〃I　wonder；〃　he　said　at　last。
　〃What　do　you　mean；　Linnear…san？〃
　〃Would　Lo　Whan　have　any　reason　to　lie　to　you　about　his　motives？〃
　Nangi　shook　his　head。　〃No。　It　cost　him　too　much　face。　He　was　begging　me　for　Tenchi's　secret。〃
　〃I　think　we　should　give　it　to　him。〃
　〃What？〃　Nangi　exploded。　〃After　all　you've　said？　You　must　be　mad！〃
　〃Oh；　I　don't　mean　right　away。　Within　thirty　days　Tenchi　will　be　under　way；　the　oil　will　be　flowing；　nothing　can　stop　us　then。　Tell　Lo　Whan　that　he　will　have　what　he　wants　within　a　month's　time。〃
　〃But　that's　treason！　The　munists…〃
　〃Would　you　rather　have　the　Russians　link　arms　with　China？　What　kind　of　position　do　you　think　that　would　put　Japan　in？　I　don't　think　even　America's　might　could　save　us　then。〃　He　spread　his　hands。　〃Don't　you　see；　Nangi…san？　By　providing　this　faction　with　a　unique　kind　of　ammunition；　you　will　ensure　that　Russia　and　China　stand　apart；　and　you　will　gain　an　incredibly　direct　foothold　into　Peking；　the　Forbidden　City。　Lo　Whan's　faction　will　owe　us　much。　And　in　time　they　will　have　to　repay　that　debt。　The　price　will　be　up　to　us　to　negotiate。〃
　〃But　they　are　Chinese；〃　Nangi　protested。　〃They　are　munists。〃
　〃They're　also　Asian。〃
　Nicholas　turned　and　brought　up　the　silk…covered　package。　This　he　put　on　the　table。　〃This　is　for　you；〃　he　said。　〃In　light　of　this　discussion　I　think　it　doubly　apt。〃
　Nangi's　good　eye　opened　wide　and　again　he　bowed　until　his　gleaming　forehead　touched　the　black　tabletop。
　Carefully　he　opened　the　wrapping。　An　oiled　boxwood　container　was　underneath。　He　lifted　the　lid　and　peered　inside。　Age　seemed
　
　to　dissolve　off　his　face。　With　great　tenderness；　he　reached　inside　and　took　out　the　two　cups。　They　were　of　the　most　exquisite　translucent　porcelain。
　〃Tang　Dynasty；〃　he　breathed。　He　watched　the　light　enter　them；　thinking　of　Oba…chama。　〃Domo　arigato；　Linnear…san。〃　It　would　have　been　unseemly　to　have　said　more。
　He　looked　at　his　new　partner；　and　perhaps；　as　he　was　learning；　his　friend。　〃I　will　consider　your　suggestion。〃　There　was　the　ghost　of　a　smile　on　his　lips。　〃I　for　one　would　wele　constructive　talks　leading　to　an　Oriental　Alliance。〃
　Slowly；　like　the　cool　tendrils　of　the　sea；　Nangi　felt　a　return　of　a　certain　centrism　he　had　possessed　all　his　life　but　which　had　been　ripped　from　him　by　the　news　of　Seiichi's　death。　Without　thinking；　he　hugged　this　core　of　fort　about　him　like　a　robe　around　a　blue…lipped　bather。　It　took　him　a　while　to　reach　the　conclusion　that　this　miracle　of　sorts　had　e　about　because　he　had　allowed　himself　to　trust　another　spirit。　Gotaro；　Oba…chama；　Makita；　Sei…ichi。　And　now　Nicholas　Linnear。　With　a　sharp　pang　of　excitement；　he　felt　the　rhythm　start　up　inside　him　again；　a　powerful　engine　roaring　in　his　ears。
　When；　sometime　later；　he　was　about　to　leave　and　they　were　standing　side　by　side　at　the　door；　Nicholas　said；　〃This　kobun　no　longer　manufactures　petrochemicals；　does　it；　Nangi…san？〃
　Nangi　laughed。　〃Ah；　Linnear…san；　I　believe　I　am　going　to　enjoy　our　partnership　immensely！　If　only　you　were　going　to　stay　here　instead　of　returning　to　America。　It　is　here　that　you　belong；　truly。　Japan　is　your　home；　eh。　But　I　tell　you　nothing　that　you　do　not　already　know　in　your　heart。〃
　He　smiled　again。　〃But　to　give　you　an　answer：　no。　Sato　Petrochemicals　was　what　it　was　when　Seiichi…san　began　this　kobun。　But　after　the　oil　shock　of　1973；　he　perceived　that　petrochemicals　would　rapidly　bee　a　declining　industry　in　this　country。
　〃The　government；　in　the　form　of　MITI；　stepped　in。　That　was　me；　of　course；　since　I　was　still　vice…minister　of　the　ministry。　Before　Fujitsu；　Matsushita；　NEC；　and　the　rest　got　into　artificial　intelligence　and　robotics；　Seiichi…san　and　I　spoke　of　such　futuristic　concerns。
　〃Slowly；　so　as　not　to　bring　any　attention　to　our　movements；　we　began　to　shift　goals　and　priorities　from　past　industry　into　future　ones。　We　kept　the　old　name　as　camouflage。　And　when；　years　later；　the　government　began　the　Tenchi　project；　we　were　in　a　unique　position　to　help　them。〃
　He　opened　the　door。　〃You　must　e　up　to　Misawa　one　day　and　see　Tenchi　herself。　You've　earned　the　right。〃
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　Nicholas　found　Justine　on　the　fiftieth　floor；　near　the　pool　wh