el.the miko-第5部分

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th　its　deep　maroon　string　tie　at　the　tiny　rounded　collar。　On　one　lapel　she　wore　a　discreet　gold　and　lacquer　pin　emblazoned　with　the　feudal　design　of　Sato　Petrochemicals。　On　the　lobes　of　her　ears　were　gleaming　emerald　studs。
　〃It　must　feel　good　to　be　home　again；　Linnear…san；〃　she　said；　pronouncing　it　〃Rinnearu。〃
　It　would　not　have　been　good　manners　for　Nicholas　to　have　acknowledged　her　oblique　reference：　she　had　cleverly　told　him　that　she　had　been　briefed　on　his　background　without　ever　having　said　it　outright。
　He　smiled。　〃The　years　have　melted　away；〃　he　said。　〃Now　that　I　am　back　it　seems　only　moments　since　I　left。〃
　Miss　Yoshida　turned　her　beautiful　face　away　from　him。　Junior　was　emerging　from　the　terminal；　loaded　down　with　their　luggage。　Her　eyes　returned　to　his　and　her　voice　lowered；　became　less　formal　for　an　instant。　〃There　will　be　a　car　for　your　use；〃　she　said；　〃should　you　desire　to　light　joss　sticks。〃
　Nicholas　struggled　to　hide　his　surprise。　He　now　knew　the　extent　of　the　briefing　Miss　Yoshida　had　been　given　on　him。　Not　only　had　she　said　that　Sato　would　provide　transportation　for　him　if　he　chose　to　visit　his　parents'　graves　but　also　that　he　would　want　to　light　joss　sticks　on　his　mother's　stone。　It　was　not　widely　known　that　Cheong　had　been　at　least　half　Chinese；　〃joss　stick〃　was　a　peculiarly　Chinese　term；　though　the　Japanese；　being　also　Buddhist；　lit　incense　at　the　graves　of　family　and　friends。
　Miss　Yoshida's　eyes　lowered。　〃I　know　I　have　no　right　to　offer；　but　if　it　will　be　easier　for　you　to　be　acpanied　on　such　a　journey　I　would　make　myself　available。〃
　〃That　is　terribly　kind；〃　Nicholas　said；　watching　Junior　approach　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　〃but　I　could　not　ask　such　an　enormous　inconvenience　of　you。〃
　〃It　is　no　bother；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　a　husband　and　a　child　buried　not　far　away。　I　would　go　in　any　case。〃
　Her　eyes　met　his　but　he　could　not　say　whether　she　was　telling　the　truth　or　simply　employing　a　Japanese　lie　in　order　to　make　him　feel　more　fortable　with　her　offer。　In　either　case　he　determined　he　would　take　her　up　on　it　when　a　lull　in　the　negotiations　permitted　it。
　〃I　would　be　honored；　Miss　Yoshida。〃
　Inside　the　car；　as　Junior　hurled　them　into　the　stifling　traffic　on
　the　outskirts　of　the　city；　Tomkin　leaned　forward；　staring　out　the　gray…tinted　windows　at　the　growing　expanse　of　the　steel　and　glass　forest　rising　from　the　borders　of　the　farmers'　green　fields。　〃Jesus；〃　he　said；　〃it's　just　like　New　York。　When　the　hell're　they　gonna　stop　building？　I　e　twelve　thousand　miles　and　I　feel　like　I　never　left　home。〃　He　sat　back　with　a　sudden　lurch；　a　smirk　on　his　face。　〃Except；　of　course；　that　you　and　I're　the　tallest　creatures　for　a　thousand　miles；　eh；　Nick？〃
　Nicholas　gave　his　employer　the　semblance　of　a　nod　and　in　the　…same　motion　said　to　Miss　Yoshida　in　the　front　of　the　car；　〃Gaijin　are　often　rude　without　meaning　to　be；　eh？〃　He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃What　else　can　you　expect　from　ill…bred　children。〃
　Miss　Yoshida　covered　her　bowlike　lips　with　the　palm　of　her　hand；　but　her　mirth　was　obvious　in　her　sparkling　eyes。
　〃What　the　hell're　you　two　chattering　about？〃　Tomkin　growled；　feeling　left　out。
　〃Just　informing　the　natives　that　it　isn't　only　height　that's　out…sized　on　foreign　devils；〃　Nicholas　lied。
　But　he'd　struck　the　right　chord。　〃Hah！〃　Tomkin　guffawed。　〃You're　damn　straight！　Very　good；　Nicky。〃
　Just　over　an　hour　later；　the　three　of　them　stepped　off　the　high　speed　elevator　at　the　summit　on　the　triangular　Shinjuku　Suiryu　Building。　All　of　Tokyo　lay　shimmering　like　a　dusky　multifaceted　jewel　beneath　them。　Suspended　six　hundred　and　sixty　feet…fifty…two　stories…in　the　air；　Nicholas　was　amazed　at　the　profusion　of　ultra…modern　skyscrapers　that　had　sprung　up　in　his　absence。　They　shot　from　the　bedrock　pavement　like　a　Mandarin's　glittering　fingernails；　lifting　the　Shinjuku　District　of　downtown　Tokyo　into　the　dome　of　the　heavens。
　Tomkin　grimaced　as　he　stopped　them　and；　pulling　Nicholas　close　beside　him；　whispered；　〃ing　here　always　reminds　me　of　cod　liver　oil。　When　I　was　a　kid　my　father　insisted　I　take　two　spoonfuls　every　morning。　He　kept　telling　me　it　was　for　my　own　good；　just　like　he　did　when　he　beat　me　if　he　found　me　dumping　the　stuff　down　the　toilet。　Then　I'd　have　to　gag　on　that　vile　stuff　anyway。〃　He　grunted　heavily。　〃Huh；　you　can　eat　your　raw　fish　with　these　barbarians；　Nick。　I've　still　got　the　taste　of　cod　liver　oil　in　my　mouth。〃
　Miss　Yoshida　led　them　through　a　set　of　wood…paneled　doors；　the　oversized　knobs　carved　into　the　Sato　crest。　Down　a　corridor　softly　lit　by　indirect　lighting。　Edo　period　ukiyo…e　prints　by　Hiro…shige；　the　master　of　rain；　Hokusai；　the　master　of　the　countryside；　and　Kuniyoshi；　the　master　of　Japanese　myth；　hung　on　the　walls。　A　dove　gray　carpet　was　beneath　their　feet；　acting　as　a　damper　for　the　bustle　of　work　going　on　all　around　them；　drifting　out　from　a　multitude　of　office　doorways。　Teletypes　chattered　softly；　and　in　another　section　a　battery　of　electronic　typewriters　were　going　full　speed。
　Miss　Yoshida　stopped　them　before　another　set　of　doors。　These　were　of　thick　slabs　of　ash　burl　fitted　together　with　wide　wooden　pegs　in　the　traditional　Japanese　manner。　The　handles　were　of　roughly　worked　black　wrought　iron；　reminding　Nicholas　of　the　riakon…the　inns　of　the　countryside…he　had　stayed　in。
　〃Mr。　Sato　knew　you　would　have　a　strenuous　trip；〃　Miss　Yoshida　said。　〃Such　a　journey　is　fatiguing　even　to　the　strongest　of　constitutions。　That　is　why　Junior　has　gone　on　to　the　Okura　with　your　luggage。　He　will　see　to　your　rooms。〃　Her　arm　raised；　her　hand　held　palm　upward。　It　was　a　simple　gesture；　yet　elegant　for　all　that。　〃Here　you　may　relax　without　concern　or　worry。〃　Now　her　cherry　blossom　lips　pursed　in　a　smile。　〃If　you　will　be　so　kind　as　to　follow　me。〃
　Tomkin's　angry　voice　checked　her。　〃What　the　hell's　going　on　here？〃　His　eyes　were　belligerent。　〃I　didn't　e　halfway　round　the　world　to　scorch　my　flesh　in　some　sitz　bath　while　the　big　man　goes　about　his　business。〃　He　tapped　his　black　crocodile　attaché　case。　〃I've　got　a　merger　to　consummate。〃　He　snorted。　〃This　other　stuff　can　wait　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。〃
　Miss　Yoshida's　face　showed　nothing　of　what　she　must　be　feeling。　The　smile　was　still　on　her　face　and　to　her　credit　it　had　not　frozen　there。　〃Mr。　Tomkin。〃　she　began；　〃let　me　assure　you　that…〃
　〃Sato！〃　Tomkin's　strident　voice　overrode　her　quiet　controlled　tones。　〃I　want　to　see　Sato　now。　He　can't　keep　me　cooling　my　heels　like　some　goddamned　functionary。　Raphael　Tomkin　waits　for　no　one！〃
　〃I　assure　you；　Mr。　Tomkin；　no　disrespect　is　intended；〃　Miss　Yoshida　pressed　on；　struggling　to　contend　with　this　irrational　outburst。　〃My　task　is　to　serve　you；　to　help　you　relax；　to　put　your　mind　into　the　proper　frame　of…〃
　〃I　don't　need　you　or　anyone　else　to　tell　me　what　my　frame　of　mind　is！〃　Tomkin　thundered；　taking　a　step　toward　her。　〃Now　you　get　Sato　in　here　or…〃
　Nicholas　stepped　forward；　ing　between　them。　He　could　see　that　despite　herself　Miss　Yoshida's　face　had　gone　ashen　beneath　the　artful　cosmetics。　Her　hands　were　shaking。
　〃What　d'you　think　you're　doing；　Nick？〃
　Nicholas　ignored　Tomkin；　using　his　own　powerful　frame　to　move　his　employer　back。　At　the　same　time　he　posed　his　face；　smiling　easily；　projecting　his　own　relaxation　in　order　to　short…circuit　the　woman's　obvious　alarm。
　〃Please　excuse　the　gaijin；〃　he　said　in　Japanese；　not　wanting　to　use　Tomkin's　name。　〃He's　had　a　long；　unfortable　trip。〃　He　lowered　his　voice　and　went　on；　keeping　the　pressure　on　Tomkin　as　he　did　so。　〃The　truth　is；　Miss　Yoshida；　his　piles　are　bothering　him　and　he's　like　a　dog　who's　sat　on　a　warrior　anthill。　He　snaps　at　anyone　and　everyone。〃　He　grinned。　〃And　he　hasn't　the　sense　to　be　cordial　to　so　dutiful　a　blossom　but　in　his　pain　seeks　out　to　blindly　crush　the　beauty　before　him。〃
　Miss　Yoshida　gave　Tomkin　a　wary　look　before　she　bowed；　thanking　Nicholas。　〃Sato…san　will　be　with　you　shortly；〃　she　said。　〃His　wish　is　only　for　your　fort　and　ease　before　the　rigors　of　negotiations　begin。〃
　〃1　understand　pletely；　Yoshida…san；〃　Nicholas　said　kindly。　〃It　is　most　thoughtful　of　Sato…san　to　be　concerned　with　our　total　well…being。　Please　be　so　kind　as　to　extend　our　pliments　to　him。〃　He　bumped　his　muscular　shoulder　against　Tomkin's　struggling　form。　〃And　as　for　the　gaijin；　leave　him　to　me。〃
　Miss　Yoshida　bowed　again；　relief　flooding　her　face；　this　time　she　made　no　attempt　to　mask　her　feelings。　〃Thank　you；　Linnear…san。　I　cannot　think　what　Sato…san　would　say　to　me　if　he　knew　I　had　not　performed　as　he　had　anticipated。〃　Half　running；　she　squeezed　by　them　both　and　hurried　back　down　the　corridor。
　Tomkin　felt　a　lessening　of　the　awesome　pressure　brought　to　bear　on　him　and　broke　away。　His　face　flushed。　He　raised　a　sau…sagelike　finger。　〃You　owe　me　an　explanation；　Nick；　and　it　goddamned　well　better　be　a　good　one　or…〃
　〃Shut　up。〃
　It　was　not　said　particularly　loudly；　but　some　hidden　tone　seemed　to　strike　Tomkin's　nervous　system。　His　mouth　snapped　shut。
　〃You've　done　enough　damage　to　us　already；〃　Nicholas　said；　struggling　as　Miss　Yoshida　had　to　keep　his　emotions　under　control。
　〃Damage？　What　are　you…〃
　〃You　lost　us　incalculable　face　with　that　woman。　We'll　both　count　ourselves　lucky　if　she　hasn't　gone　straight　to　Sato　with　the　affront。〃　The　last　was　a　lie。　Miss　Yoshida　was　so　frightened　of　offending　the　guests　she'd　do　no　such　thing。　But　Tomkin　would　never　know　that；　and　some　fear　was　good　for　him　right　now。
　Nicholas　pushed　by　him。　He　found　himself　in　a　rather　small；　dimly　lighted　room　with　a　cedar　slat…boarded　floor。　Along　one　wall　was　a　row　of　spacious　metal　lockers。　He　went　over　to　one　and　opened　it。　Inside　he　found　not　only　a　terry…cloth　robe　but　b　and　brush；　an　entire　array　of　toiletry　items。　Off　to　the　right　an　open　archway　led　into　a　mirrored　bathroom　with　sinks；　urinals；　and　a　row　of　toilet　stalls。
　Nicholas　could　hear　the　muffled　sounds　of　water　dripping；　as　if　within　the　walls。　To　the　left　of　the　row　of　lockers　was　a　plain　wooden　door。　The　baths；　he　surmised；　must　be　beyond。　The　air　was　moist　and　warm；　decidedly　inviting。　He　began　to　disrobe。
　Tomkin　came　in　behind　him。　He　stood　rigidly　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　glaring　at　him；　willing　Nicholas　to　face　him。　Nicholas　went　methodically　on　with　what　he　was　doing；　his　l