el.the miko-第51部分

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　Nangi's　gaze　moved　over　the　top　of　the　swaying　maple　to　the　brilliant　sky　swept　new　by　the　gathering　winds　swirling　aloft。　Soon　the　moon　would　rise；　showering　this　small　space　with　silver　and　blue　light。　And　through　the　open　fusuma　the　chill　of　night　would　slowly　creep　in。
　
　
　BOOK
　THREE
　K'AI　HO
　＇1。　A　gap；　an　opportunity　presents　itself；　enter　swiftly　2。　Spies＇
　
　NEW　YORK/TOKYO/KEY　WEST/YOSHINO　SPRING；　PRESENT
　His　heart　leapt　when　he　saw　her。　She　broke　through　the　cordon　of　milling　people；　her　long　legs　pumping；　and　raced　into　his　arms。
　〃Oh；　Nick；〃　she　cried　into　his　chest；　〃I　thought　you　were　never　ing　home。〃
　He　lifted　her　head　up　so　he　could　drink　in　the　colors　of　her　large　eyes；　the　swirled　sienna　and　bottle　green　that　could　have　been　hazel　but　was　not。　The　bright　crimson　motes　danced　in　her　left　iris。　He　saw　that　she　had　been　crying。
　〃Justine。〃
　His　sigh　set　her　off　again；　and　he　feh　the　slow　crawl　of　her　hot　tears　as　their　lips　crushed　together　and　her　mouth　opened　under　his；　her　sweet　warm　breath　mingling　with　his；　and　he　thought；　It's　good　to　be　home。
　〃I'm　sorry　about　how　that　call　ended；〃　she　said。　People　were　shouldering　roughly　past　them　and　he　became　aware　that　they　were　blocking　the　egress　from　the　ining　flight。　He　moved　them　quickly　off　to　the　side。
　〃So　am　I；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　distracted…there　was　so　much　to　do　over　there　and　not　enough　time　to　do　it　in。〃
　She　had　done　something　to　her　hair；　he　saw。　It　was　as　tangly　and　wild　as　a　lion's　mane。　Too；　there　were　garnet　highlights　here　and　there　as　the　overhead　lights　spun　off　it。
　〃I　like　it；〃　he　said；　his　arm　still　around　her。
　She　looked　at　him。　〃What？〃
　〃Your　hair。〃
　She　smiled　as　they　began　to　walk　toward　the　glass　doors。　〃All　that　matters　is　that　you're　home　safe　and　sound。〃　She　put　her　head　against　his　shoulder；　forcing　him　to　shift　his　bags　to　a　more　fortable　position。
　He　found　it　odd　and　somehow　unsettling　that　she　had　said　nothing　at　all　about　her　father。　But；　considering　what　was　ahead；　he　did　not　think　this　the　best　time　to　question　her。　Instead；　he　said；　〃Tell　me　about　your　new　job。　Are　you　happy　there？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　said　and　immediately　launched　into　a　description　of　the　three　major　projects　Rick　Millar　had　her　working　on。　In　so　doing　she　was　transformed　again　into　the　exuberant　little　girl　she　often　could　be。　It　was　interesting　how　all　shyness　evaporated　from　her　at　these　times。　She　seemed　supremely　self…confident　and　mature。　Nicholas　found　himself　wondering　how　a　job　could　have　changed　her　in　so　short　a　time。
　But　when　she　was　finished；　the　self…consciousness　returned。　She　could　do　more　things　with　eyes　than　anyone　else　he　knew；　and　now　as　she　lifted　her　head　and　stared　at　him；　he　saw　the　shyness　and　the　need　for　his　approval。　There　was　that　peculiar　coolness　swirling　in　the　depths　that　he　recalled　vividly　from　their　first　meetings　that　was　far　better　than　a　verbal　warning　to　keep　him　at　arm's　length。
　He　swept　her　up；　laughing。　〃But　of　course　I　think　it's　wonderful！　It's　about　time　you　came　out　of　your　shell。〃
　〃Now；　listen；　Nick；　I　didn't　say　I'd　keep　at　it　or…〃
　He　set　her　down。　〃But　you　said　that　you　enjoy　it。〃
　She　abruptly　had　an　air　about　her　so　fragile　and　insubstantial　that　he　hugged　her　to　him　as　if　she　were　a　lost　child。
　There　was　a　gleaming　silver　limousine　waiting　for　them　as　they　emerged　from　the　swinging　glass　doors。　Nicholas　stopped；　but　Justine　tugged　at　the　crook　of　his　arm。
　〃Oh；　e　on；〃　she　said。　〃I　decided　to　splurge　part　of　my　new　salary。　Indulge　me。〃
　Reluctantly；　Nicholas　gave　his　bags　over　to　the　uniformed　chauffeur　and；　ducking　his　head；　slid　into　the　plush　back　seat　next　to　Justine。　She　gave　instructions　to　the　driver　and　they　slid　out　into　the　slow…moving　traffic　on　their　way　to　the　Long　Island　Expressway。
　〃I　see　Gelda　decided　not　to　meet　her　father。〃
　Justine　looked　away　from　him。　〃You　didn't　hear　my　asking　to　look　at　the　coffin。〃
　〃That　was　all　taken　care　of　ahead　of　time。　There　was　no　reason　for　us　to　be　there。〃　Silence　in　the　car；　like　a　beaded　curtain　between　them。　〃Your　father…〃
　〃Don't　start　this　again；　Micky；〃　she　said　sharply。　Her　head　turned　and　he　saw　the　anger　in　her　eyes。　〃I　never　for　a　moment　understood　why　you　went　to　work　for　him。　My　father；　of　all　people！　He　was　such　a　despicable　man。〃
　〃He　loved　his　daughters。〃
　〃He　didn't　love　himself；　he　didn't　know　how　to　love　anyone　else。〃
　Nicholas　put　his　hands　between　his　knees　and　clasped　his　fingers。　This　might　be　a　bad　time　to　tell　her；　he　thought。　But　he　could　think　of　no　good　time。　She　had　a　right　to　know；　he　wasn't　that　Eastern　that　he　could　keep　this　from　her。
　〃Your　father　gave　me　plete　control　of　the　pany。〃
　Thrumming　of　the　powerful　engine；　deep　and　rich；　the　slide　of　Queens'　semi…urban　sprawl　drifting　by　them。　And　a　feeling　of　helplessness。
　〃That's　a　bad　joke；　Nick；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　even　make　it。〃
　Mentally　he　sighed；　steeling　himself　for　the　storm。　〃It's　no　joke；　Justine。　He　wrote　a　codicil　to　his　will　six　months　ago。　His　sixty　percent　of　the　voting　shares　makes　me　the　new　president　of　Tomkin　Industries。　Bill　Greydon　was　a　witness；　and　he　witnessed　my　signing　the　codkil　in　Tokyo。〃
　〃You　signed　the　bloody　thing？〃　She　was　twisted　around　on　the　seat；　her　back　stiff；　pressed　tightly　into　the　opposing　corner。　〃You　agreed　to　that。。。！〃　She　shook　her　head　in　disbelief；　for　the　moment　words　failing　her。　〃Oh；　Christ　but　it's　madness。〃　Her　voice　had　turned　throaty　as　if　her　throttled　emotions　were　aswim　in　her　words。
　She　put　her　hand　up　to　her　face　as　if　to　block　out　the　image　of　him　sitting　so　close　to　her；　as　if　that　would　erase　what　he　had　revealed　to　her。　〃Oh；　God；　no。　No；　it　can't　be。〃　She　tore　her　hand　away　from　her　eyes　and　glared　at　him；　her　chest　heaving　with　her　rage。
　〃I　thought　it　was　finally　over。　I　thought　my　father's　death　would　once　and　for　all　put　an　end　to　it；　that　it　would　sever　me　wholly　from　how　he　had　chosen　to　live　his　life。　Because　as　sure　as　we're　both　sitting　here；　Nick；　Tomkin　Industries　was　built　on　the　blood　and　bile　of　everyone　my　father　felt　he　had　to　defeat　in　his　climb　up　to　the　top。〃　She　gave　a　small；　bitter　laugh　and　looked　as　if　she　were　going　to　spit。　〃The　top　of　what？　Can　you　tell　me　that；　Nicky？　What　was　it　that　was　so　important　that　he　treated　my　mother　and　Gelda　and　me　as。。。　things；　useful　to　him　when　he　needed　us　but　beneath　his　notice　when　he　was　otherwise　occupied…by　getting　to　the　top。〃
　Nicholas　said　nothing；　knowing　that　his　best　bet　was　to　allow　her　to　run　her　course。
　〃And　now〃…that　laugh　came　again　so　chill　that　it　seemed　to　border　on　hysteria…〃now　when　I'm　finally　about　to　get　my　life　into　some　kind　of　order；　you　tell　me　that　I'm　again　bound　to　Tomkin　Industries　body　and　soul。〃
　〃I　only　said　that　I　had　signed　the　codicil。〃
　〃And　of　course　that　has　nothing　to　do　with　me；〃　she　cried。　〃We're　going　to　be　married　in　a　month；　or　has　going　home　made　you　forget　so　soon？〃
　〃Justine；　for　God's　sake…〃
　〃No；　no。　This　involves　me　as　well　as　you。　But　bastard　that　you　are；　that　never　occurred　to　you；　did　it？　Admit　it；　damnit！〃　Her　eyes　were　fiery　and　her　cheeks　were　pink　and　burning　with　her　anger。　〃You　know　how　I　felt　about　my　father；　you　knew　how　I　felt　about　his　pany。　I　thought　that　you　working　for　him　would　be　temporary。　I　thought。。。　Oh；　Christ！〃　She　put　her　head　in　her　hands；　her　rage　dissolving　into　tears　of　helplessness。　〃Oh；　how　I　hate　you！　Look　what　you've　done　to　us！〃
　Nicholas　put　his　head　back　against　the　plush　velvet；　closed　his　eyes。　〃It　was　supposed　to　be　temporary；　Justine。〃　His　voice　was　soft；　gentle；　assuring　as　he　used　the　opposite　side　of　kiai　to　manipulate　his　tone。　〃But　life　is　fluid；　events　cause　us　to　change　our　plans。　There's　a　flow　to…〃
　〃Oh；　don't　you　dare　start　with　your　idea　of　karma；〃　she　snapped。　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　any　of　that　obscure　mumbo　jumbo。　Try　it　out　on　your　Japanese　friends；　not　me！〃
　〃Justine；〃　he　said　simply；　〃we're　both　exhausted。　A　great　deal　of　thought　went　into　my　decision　and　I…〃
　〃But　not　about　me；　not　about　how　/　felt！〃
　〃There's　more　to　it　than　what　you　want；　Justine；〃　he　said；　abruptly　angry。
　〃Now　you　listen　to　me。　I　spent　all　my　life　listening　to　what　my　father　told　me；　listening　to　what　a　long　succession　of　boyfriends　told　me。　And　I　obeyed　them　all　just　like　a　good　little　girl　should。　But　that's　all　over　and　done　with。　Because；　you　see；　there　isn't　more　than　what　/　want。　I've　never　in　my　life　had　what　/　wanted；　I　was　always　afraid　to　try　for　it　because　of　what　my　father　told　me；　what　my　boyfriends　told　me；　how　to　behave；　what　to　do；　what　not　to　say。
　〃Now　it's　me　and　only　me。　I　control　my　own　life；　I　control　my　own　destiny；　not　my　father；　not　anyone　else。　Not　even　you；　Nicholas。〃
　She　leaned　toward　him；　moving　out　from　her　corner　of　the　seat。　Her　skin　was　red；　her　normally　full　sensual　lips　pulled　taut　and　thin。　〃At　last　I'm　free；　and　no　one　is　putting　me　back　in　my　cage　again。　I　won't　be　chained　to　anything；　especially　something　so　heinous　as　Tomkin　Industries。〃
　〃Then　we　have　something　of　an　impasse；〃　Nicholas　said。
　But　Justine　was　already　shaking　his　head。　〃Oh；　no；　Nick。　That's　your　definition　of　this　situation。　But　the　truth　is　this：　as　long　as　you're　involved　with　my　father's　pany　I　don't　want　to　see　you；　I　don't　want　to　talk　to　you。　I　don't　want　to　know　you　exist。〃
　In　the　great　spacious　hall　of　martial　arts　on　the　thirty…eighth　floor　of　the　Shinjuku　Suiryu　Building；　Masuto　Ishii　was　working　up　quite　a　sweat。　While　others　spent　their　lunch　hours　over　soba　and　Suntory　Scotch；　Ishii　used　that　time　to　give　his　physical　self　a　workout。
　Three　times　a　week　he　rose　before　dawn　to　run　ten　miles　along　twilit　streets　before　returning　to　his　tiny　bachelor's　apartment　in　the　Ryogoku　district；　showering；　and　dressing　in　impeccable　dark　suits　for　work。　The　other　four　days　he　spent　the　early…morning　hours　in　this　same　gymnasium。　Since　he　allotted　his　section　chiefs　forty…five　minutes　for　lunch；　he　felt　a　duty　to　conform　to　the　same　spartan　schedule。　That　was　too　little　time　for　a　whole　panoply　of　exercises；　so　midday　he　confined　himself　to　the　repetition　of　one　or　two　difficult　maneuvers　culled　from　the　various　disciplines　with　which　he　was　conversant。
　T