el.the miko-第61部分

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　With　a　curt　nod　he　set　himself　to　reading　the　vertical　lines　of　ideograms。　Why　not？　He　had　certainly　earned　the　privilege。　For　fully　half　an　hour　he　pored　over　the　text；　substituting　kanji　for　the　ryu's　plex　ciphers；　and　as　he　did　so　his　heart　began　to　pound　within　his　chest；　his　pulse　rate　shot　up；　and　he　found　he　had　to　fight　to　control　his　breathing。　Buddha！　he　thought。　What　have　I　stumbled　onto？　His　fingers　trembled　when　he　thought　of　the　overriding　implications　for　Japan。
　And　so　engrossed　was　he　in　his　reading　that　he　did　not　notice　until　it　was　very…close　a　small　bobbing　light　flitting　like　a　will…o'…the…wisp　through　the　trunks　of　the　cedars。　Immediately；　he　doused　the　pencil　flash；　but　it　was　already　too　late。　The　light　had　stopped　its　rhythmic　movement　and　now　shone　still　and　fierce　at　a　spot　on　the　path　directly　below　where　he　sat。
　Cursing　the　excitement　that　had　narrowed　his　normally　keen　senses；　he　refolded　the　papers；　stuffing　them　back　into　his　jacket。　He　hid　the　flash　and；　climbing　down　off　the　rock；　moved　slowly　off　the　slope。　Far　better；　he　felt；　to　emerge　himself　from　the　forest　than　to　have　the　source　of　the　light　e　up　to　find　him。　Especially　if　it　was　one　of　the　sensei　from　the　dojo。　Tengu　girded　himself　for　such　an　eventuality；　bringing　his　ki　up　to　a　sufficient　level　so　that　he　could　call　upon　its　power　at　a　split　second's　notice。
　But　as　he　emerged　onto　the　serpentine　pathway　he　saw　that　it　was　no　sensei　who　had　inadvertently　seen　his　light　but　merely　a　young　girl。
　She　was　dressed　in　a　gray　and　green　kimono；　rope　geta　on　her　otherwise　bare　feet。　She　carried　a　small　kerosene　lantern　in　one　hand；　a　janomegasa；　a　brightly　colored　rice…paper　parasol；　in　the　other。
　Moisture　beaded　his　face　and　he　became　aware　of　the　soft　pattering　of　the　rain。　He　had　not　felt　it　at　all　within　the　sheltering　arbor　of　the　forest。　He　saw　the　rain　in　beads；　sliding　down　the　oiled　rice…paper　janomegasa；　dripping　dolefully　into　the　earth。
　〃Pardon　me；　madam；〃　he　said；　bowing　mainly　to　hide　the　flood　of　relief　in　his　eyes。　〃I　hope　my　light　did　not　frighten　you。　I　was　out　collecting　wild　mushrooms　when　I…eh…？〃
　She　had　taken　a　quick　step　toward　him；　raising　the　level　of　the　lantern　so　that　its　pact　glow　spread　upward　across　her　face。
　With　a　quick　painful　lurch　of　his　heart　he　recognized　her。　It　was　Suijin；　the　female　student　from　the　dojo。　What　was　she　doing　here？　he　wondered　even　as　his　small　blade　snickered　out　into　his　right　palm。
　But　the　lantern　was　already　falling；　Suijin's　now　free　hand　gripping　the　bottom　of　the　janomegasa's　lacquered　bamboo　haft；　pulling　it　down　and　away　from　the　spread　top　in　a　blurry　glitter。
　His　eyes　only　had　time　enough　to　register　the　transformation　from　harmless　bamboo　to　thousand…layered　steel　edge　before　the　foot…long　blade　pierced　his　chest　and；　slashing　downward；　rent　his　heart　in　two。
　Suijin　watched　only　his　face　as　ponent　by　ponent　it　fell　apart　and　his　hot；　pumping　blood　spilled。　His　eyes　showed　bewilderment；　rage；　shame；　then　they　crossed　and　all　human　emotion　was　wiped　from　the　slate　of　his　face。　Like　the　small　and　defenseless　warrior　she　had　as　a　child　once　made　out　of　mud；　twigs；　and　lichen；　he　flopped　this　way　and　that；　without　coordination；　without　the　divine　spark。　Now；　as　then；　she　placed　the　flat　of　her　hand　across　the　tautness　of　her　lower　belly；　wondering　what　magic　lay　within　her　womb；　the　anvil　of　creation。
　Now　there　was　only　a　twisted　mass　at　her　feet；　a　waxy　parody　of　what　had　once　been　alive。　She　stuck　the　point　of　the　blade　into　the　wet　earth　to　free　her　hands　as　well　as　to　clean　the　gleaming　surface；　black　with　blood。
　Raindrops　pattered　all　about　her　as　she　dropped　down。　Her　nostrils　dilated　as　she　caught　the　freshening　scent　of　the　wood；　the　spoor　of　animal　life。　The　rain　fell　heavier；　turning　the　traitor's　cheeks　to　putty。
　She　had　suspected　that　there　might　be　another　one；　even　at　the　moment　of　Tsutsumu's　death。　Strictly　speaking；　it　should　have　been　none　of　her　business　at　that　point。　Her　mastery　over　her　sensei；　Masashigi　Kusunoki；　had　been　her　graduation　from　the　dojo；　and　if　experience　had　taught　her　anything；　it　was　never　to　look　back。　Acplishments　were　strictly　the　province　of　the　present。　Those　who　sat　back　to　gloat　over　their　achievements　often　died　with　those　thoughts。
　And　yet　despite　this　knowledge；　she　had　returned。　Studying　the　contents　of　the　traitor's　pockets　and　experiencing　again　the　feeling　of　outrage　that　had　fired　through　her　breast　when　she　had　observed　him　this　morning　rifling　the　sensei's　most　closely　guarded　secrets；　she　knew　that　somehow　Kusunoki　had　been　different。　He　had　gotten　to　her　in　some　way　she　was　at　a　loss　to　explain。　She　felt　keenly　his　loss；　and　all　at　once　in　the　midst　of　this　vast　mountainous　forest　he　had　loved　so　dearly；　with　only　the　gusting　wind　and　the　swirling　rain　for　panions；　she　was　weeping　silent　tears；　her　chest　constricted　and　her　heart　full　of　an　unnameable　anguish；　a　burden　abruptly　too　terrible　to　bear。
　When　the　spasm　subsided…for　that　was　how　she　thought　of　it　the　next　day…she　pleted　her　meticulous　search　of　the　corpse。　She　found　the　sheaf　of　papers　half　stuck　to　the　traitor's　hip　and　she　had　to　be　extremely　careful　in　peeling　the　top　sheet　away　from　the　damp　skin。
　Quickly　now；　protecting　the　papers　from　the　wet；　she　refolded　them；　put　them　away　in　a　dry　place　within　her　kimono。　Kusunoki's　violation　had　bee　her　own。　She　did　not　look　at　the　papers；　she　had　no　interest　in　them。　They　were　the　property　of　her　sensei；　and　whether　he　was　dead　or　alive　their　place　was　still　where　he　had　put　them。
　She　stood　and　pulled　her　blade　from　the　earth。　It　was　clean　and　shining　again。　She　reattached　it　to　the　top　of　the　janomegasa　and　with　it　disappeared　into　the　wood　above　to　change　into　her　student's　gi　for　the　last　time。　The　glowing　lights　of　the　dojo　beckoned　her；　or　was　it　Kusunoki's　kamil　She　did　not　know。　The　papers　were　safe　with　her；　and　soon　they　would　be　back　in　their　rightful　place。
　Justine　had　a　surprise　waiting　for　her　at　Millar；　Soames　&　Robberts　when　she　returned　there　the　morning　after　the　funeral。　Mary　Kate　Sims　was　no　longer　in　her　large　corner　office。　In　fact；　Mary　Kate　Sims　was　no　longer　a　vice　president　at　the　advertising　firm。
　She　was　about　to　go　and　see　Rick　Millar　to　get　an　explanation…　neither　Min　nor　anyone　else　she　knew　at　all　seemed　to　be　around…　when　he　strode　into　her　bare　office。
　〃I'd　heard　you　just　came　in；〃　he　said；　a　concerned　look　on　his　face。　〃I　thought　I　told　you　to　take　a　couple　of　days　off。　There's　no　need　for　you　to…〃
　〃Work's　the　best　tonic　for　me　right　now；〃　she　cut　in。　〃I　hate　hanging　around　the　house　staring　at　shadows。　I'm　always　afraid　I'll　turn　into　a　cat。〃
　Rick　nodded　his　head　deferentially。　〃Okay。　It's　just　as　well　you're　here　anyway。　I've　got　something　to　show　you。〃　He　began　to　propel　her　out　the　door。
　〃Just　a　minute；〃　she　began；　〃there's　something…〃
　〃Later；〃　he　said；　taking　her　down　the　hall　toward　the　elevators。　〃This's　more　important。〃
　A　floor　above；　he　led　the　way　around　a　turning。　〃Here　it　is。　What　d'you　think？〃
　Oh；　holy　Jesus；　Justine　thought。　It　can't　be。　〃What　the　hell　is　my　name　doing　on　Mary　Kate's　door？〃
　〃Your　office　now；　Justine。　That　spare　office　downstairs　was　just　temporary。　Surely　you　knew　that。〃
　She　turned　on　him；　flaring。　〃Temporary　until　you　got　rid　of　Mary　Kate。〃
　〃Absolutely　not。　She　left　of　her　own　accord。　She　tendered　her　resignation　at　closing　yesterday。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　you；〃　Justine　said　hotly。　〃If　she　were　thinking　of　leaving　she'd've　told　me。　We're　friends；　remember？〃
　〃Let's　go　into　the　office；　shall　we？〃　Rick　prompted。　He　closed　the　door　after　them。
　〃You'll　damn　well　tell　me　the　truth　or　I'll　walk　out　of　here　right　now！〃　Justine　shouted。　On　top　of　what　had　happened　to　her　father；　what　had　happened　with　Nicholas；　this　was　just　too　much　to　take。　It　was　all　piling　up　like　the　weight　of　the　world。　Her　head　was　spinning　and　she　found　herself　holding　onto　the　edge　of　the　knurled　wooden　desk　with　white　knuckles。
　〃The　truth　is　Mary　Kate　wasn't；　er；　well；　working　out。　She　had　gotten　into　a　number　of　scraps　with　the　senior　executives。　I　had　spoken　to　her；　of　course。。。　more　than　once。　But〃…he　shrugged…〃Well；　you　know　Mary　Kate。〃
　〃I　know　she　wouldn't　take　too　much　of　your　bullshit；　Rick。〃　Justine　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　believe　this。　What　you're　telling　me　is　that　you　had　every　intention　of　firing　her　when　we　had　lunch　together。　You　were　interviewing　me　for　her　job！〃
　Rick　shrugged　again。　〃It　happens　all　the　time；　Justine。　And；　anyway；　what're　you　so　steamed　about？　The　better　girl　won。　You　can　run　rings　around　Mary　Kate。　You　should　be…〃
　〃What　a　bastard　you　are　to　do　that　to　me！〃　She　stepped　up　to　him　and　slapped　him　across　the　face。　〃To　us！〃　She　gathered　up　her　things。　〃You'd　better　find　someone　else　to　do　this　kind　of　shit；　because　it's　not　going　to　be　me！〃
　〃Nice　touch；〃　Rick　said；　smiling。　〃If　you're　angling　for　more　money；　I'll　go　along　with　it。　I'll　have　to　twist　some　arms　but　there　won't　be　any…〃
　〃Are　you　out　of　your　mind？〃　Justine　backed　away　from　him；　heading　toward　the　door。　〃I　don't　want　one　dollar　from　your　firm。　Get　the　hell　out　of　my　life！〃
　Downstairs　on　the　milling　sidewalk；　she　realized　that　she　had　nowhere　to　go。　She　couldn't　face　the　apartment；　empty　and　lonely；　most　of　all　couldn't　face　the　clothes；　the　belongings；　the　photos　of　Nicholas　there。　She　could　not　think　of　going　to　Gelda's；　that　kind　of　depression　would　put　her　over　the　edge。　And　as　for　returning　to　her　own　free…lance　business；　the　idea　of　starting　up　again　seemed　beyond　her　at　the　moment。
　Confused；　she　crossed　the　avenue　and　went　into　a　coffee　shop。　She　could　not　taste　the　coffee　set　before　her；　which　was　perhaps　just　as　well。　Tears　slid　down　her　cheeks　as　she　stared　at　the　blurs　of　color　hurrying　by　outside。　I've　got　to　do　something；　she　told　herself。
　She　went　to　the　closest　branch　of　her　bank　and　withdrew　five　thousand　dollars。　She　kept　half　as　cash；　the　rest　she　converted　into　traveler's　checks。　She　did　some　clothes　shopping　after　that；　stopping　into　a　luggage　store　to　buy　a　lightweight　suitcase。　She　charged　everything。　Cosmetics　were　no　problem；　but　by　the　time　she　did　that　number　she　re