el.the miko-第62部分

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t　by　the　time　she　did　that　number　she　realized　that　she　would　have　to　go　back　to　the　apartment　after　all　for　some　essentials　she　just　could　not　buy　duplicates　of。　She　made　it　as　quick　a　stop　as　she　could。　But　still　she　was　struck　by　the　difference。　It　no　longer　felt　like　home。　Everything　seemed　out　of　place　or　missing。　The　fortable　had　bee　disquieting　and　sad。　She　wiped　the　tears　away　and　got　out　of　there；　locking　up　as　if　she　were　going　away　forever。
　It　was　only　when　she　was　already　airborne；　on　her　way　to　Honolulu　and　thence　Maui；　that　she　realized　that；　indeed；　one　item　had　been　missing　from　the　apartment。
　The　long　black　lacquer　scabbard　that　sheathed　Nicholas'　prized　dai…katana；　the　supreme　long　sword；　was　gone　from　its　spot　on　the　bedroom　wall。　So；　of　course；　was　the　deadly　weapon。
　Instinctively；　something　inside　her　began　to　wail。
　Minck　saw　the　concern　on　Tanya's　face　as　she　returned　from　putting　Linnear　back　on　his　flight　east。　She　had　heard　and　seen　everything；　secreted　behind　the　panel　of　the　mirror　that　was；　in　the　adjoining　room；　a　rectangle　of　one…way　glass。
　〃Carroll；　I　don't　understand　what　you're　doing；〃　she　said。　〃You've　as　good　as　killed　him；　sending　him　against　Protorov　like　that。　That　wasn't　the　plan。。。　unless　I　missed　something。〃
　Minck　was　not　in　a　good　mood；　despite　his　success　with　Nicholas。　〃e　with　me；〃　he　said　brusquely。　He　led　her　through　to　the　opposite　end　of　the　rambling　house。　Here；　in　an　area　that　was　restricted　even　to　some　of　his　own　staff；　Minck　took　her　through　several　windowless　laboratories　and　into　a　steel…walled　cubicle。　It　was　very　cold　in　there。
　He　flipped　on　the　fluorescent　overhead　light。　Tanya　squinted　in　the　harsh　purple…blue　illumination。　Still；　she　saw　the　draped　corpse　immediately。　It　would　have　been　hard　to　miss　since　its　bulk　dominated　the　small　room。
　Carefully　she　strode　over　to　the　head　and　pulled　back　the　white　muslin　cloth。　〃Oh；　God；〃　she　whispered。　〃It's　Tanker。〃　That　was　not　his　real　name。　She　turned　to　Minck。　〃When　did　he　e　in？〃
　〃While　you　were　out。〃
　She　came　away　from　the　blued　body。　〃I　wondered　why　you　created　that　'signature。'　Anyone　with　a　knowledge　of　how　it　all　works　would　have　known　that　in　signals　only　code　names　are　used；　not　real　ones。〃
　'Then　let's　be　thankful　that　that's　one　area　in　which　our　Mr。　Linnear　is　ignorant；〃　he　said　acidly。　〃Because　of　this　beauteous　package　dropped　on　our　doorstep　in　Honshu　I　now　have　to　deal　with　our　brother　services　who　were　obliged　to　transfer　Tanker　here。〃
　They　stood　in　the　dim　hallway　with　the　door　closed　at　their　backs。　〃We　now　know　that　Croesus　is　Protorov's　code　name；　however。〃
　〃Tanker　was　the　only　one　close；〃　she　said。
　〃Obviously　he　got　too　close。〃　Minck　closed　his　eyes。　〃Now；　like　it　or　not；　we　must　make　do　with　Mr。　Linnear。〃
　〃Do　you　think　that's　wise？〃
　〃That　remains　to　be　seen。　But　wise　or　not；　our　time　has　run　out。　I'm　afraid　that　were　we　not　to　send　Mr。　Linnear　into　the　lion's　den；　the　lion　would　eat　us　all　for　supper。〃
　〃He　may　still　do　that。〃
　For　a　time　Minck　was　silent。　〃I　take　it；　then；　that　you　disapprove　of　my　improvisation。〃
　Tanya　knew　that　she　was　on　thin　ice　here　and　she　thought　her　words　out　carefully。　〃I　think　he's　an　amateur。　Amateurs　have　proven　in　the　past　to　be　highly　unreliable　as　well　as　disconcertingly　unpredictable。　They're　not　under　discipline。〃
　〃Uhm。　True　enough。　But　that's　also　one　of　his　great　advantages。　Protorov　cannot　connect　him　with　us　as　he　did　Tanker　or　as　he　would　you。〃　Minck　had　the　manner　of　a　country　yokel；　sitting　on　his　back　porch　of　a　Sunday；　sleepily　passing　the　time　with　a　neighbor。　It　was　as　if　nothing　of　moment　was　in　the　air。　〃And　after　all；　he's　quite　frightening；　you　know。〃　He　seemed　to　be　musing。　〃Up　close　like　that　I　believe　he'd　frighten　the　devil　himself。〃　His　eyes　opened　and　he　looked　at　her。　〃Even　kill　him　if　he　was　given　just　cause。　If　he　or　those　around　him…those　he　cared　about…were　put　in　jeopardy。　Mr。　Linnear　strikes　me　as　an　extremely　loyal　fellow　as　well　as　a　deadly　one。〃
　〃You　think　he'll　be　provoked　enough　to　bring　Protorov　down。〃　It　occurred　to　Tanya　that　this　had　been　his　goal　all　along。
　〃Yes；〃　Minck　said。　〃I　have　sent　our　Mr。　Linnear　out；　rather　cleverly　I　might　add；　to　bring　me　Viktor　Protorov's　head；　to　end　our　feud　once　and　for　all。　I　don't　like　this　KGB　connection　with　Colonel　Mironenko。　In　fact；　it　scares　me　like　a　rattling　skeleton　at　my　door。　I　begin　to　imagine　the　connection　between　Protorov　and　Mironenko　as　being　highly　significant。　The　paranoid　in　me　sketches　out　a　scenario　wherein　the　KGB　and　the　GRU　would　somehow　unite。〃
　〃Impossible！〃　Tanya　exploded；　but　her　ashen　face　betrayed　her　own　fright。　〃There　are　too　many　points　of　contention；　far　too　much　bad　blood　between　the　two。〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　Tanya；　my　dear。　We're　all　well　acquainted　with　that　line　of　thought。〃　Minck　seemed　inordinately　pleased　with　himself。　〃Still　I　can　imagine　the　attempt　being　made；　I　can　especially　imagine　Viktor　Protorov　spearheading　that　attempt。　He's　got　a　vicious　mind；　he's　not　a　bureaucrat。　That's　a　particularly　noxious　bination　in　an　enemy。〃
　He　stirred。　〃In　any　case…whether　this　is　all　imagination　or　frightening　reality…the　time　has　e　for　Protorov　to　die。　Mr。　Linnear　will　be　my　terrible　swift　sword。　I　have　quite　a　bit　of　faith　in　him　even　if　you　do　not。〃
　〃I　didn't　say　that。〃
　〃Not　in　so　many　words；　no。〃　He　contemplated　her　as　if　she　were　an　entree　set　before　him。　He　rose。　〃But　just　in　case　you're　right　in　your　assessment；　I'll　be　sending　you　after　him　in　a　few　days'　time。　Timing's　crucial　so　you'll　have　to　be　ready　immediately。　The　beeper'll　signal　you　if　you're　out　of　the　building。　Tickets　will　be　waiting　at　Pan　Am；　the　rest's　standard　procedure。〃
　〃What　about　Linnear？〃
　Minck　looked　at　her　cynically。　〃The　first　priority…absolutely　the　first…is　Protorov。　If　you　and　Mr。　Linnear　can　e　to　terms　and　team　up；　so　much　the　better。〃
　〃And　if　not？〃
　〃If　not；〃　Minck　said；　moving　away；　〃if　Linnear　bees　a　hindrance；　you'll　just　have　to　dispose　of　him。〃
　Seiichi　Sato　possessed　big　hara。
　Kneeling　across　the　low　lacquer　table　from　Nicholas；　he　had　already　taken　the　top　off　one　of　the　small　dishes　and　with　artful　dexterity　was　using　his　chopsticks　to　serve　his　honored　guest。
　Hara；　strictly　speaking；　was　the　Japanese　word　for　stomach；　but　it　was　also　the　symbol　of　a　man　being　well　integrated　with　all　the　aspects　of　life。
　One　of　the　primary　lessons　of　all　martial　arts　required　the　student　to　find　that　deep　well　of　reserves　of　inner　strength　that　resided　in　everyone　just　below　the　navel。　It　was　known　as　tan　tien　by　the　Chinese　and　tanden　by　the　Japanese。
　Both　physical　and　spiritual　power　dwelled　there。　A　man　with　big　hara　was　centered　within　himself；　grounded　to　the　elements　of　nature。　Japanese　often　observed　that　Westerners　〃bounced　along〃　as　they　walked；　evidence　that　they　were　centered　only　in　their　minds　and　therefore　not　attuned　at　all　to　the　world　around　them。　Japanese；　on　the　other　hand；　walked　with　a　heavier　stride；　their　gait　flowing　smoothly　from　hips　and　pelvis；　a　certain　sign　that　they　possessed　hara。
　Nicholas　was　intrigued　by　Sato's　big　hara；　it　was　a　great　pliment　to　pay　any　Japanese。　He　had　flown　the　trail　of　〃the　endless　night；〃　as　the　Japanese　call　it；　chasing　the　darkness　for　twenty…one　hours；　leaving　Washington　at　night；　arriving　at　Narita　the　same　night；　one　day　later。
　Mr。　Sabayama；　one　of　Sato's　many　minions；　had　been　waiting；　bleary…eyed；　for　hours　at　the　airport。　He　murmured　away　Nicholas'　apologies　and；　taking　their　bags；　led　them　through　the　terminal　to　the　waiting　car。　Nicholas　asked　Mr。　Sabayama　if　he　would　take　care　of　Craig　Allonge　at　the　Okura。　Mr。　Sabayama　assured　Nicholas　that　there　was　someone　already　at　the　hotel　to　see　to　all　their　needs；　he　would　acpany　Nicholas　out　to　Sato…san's　house　on　the　edge　of　Tokyo。
　Outside　the　hotel　Nicholas　spoke　quietly　to　Allonge。　〃I　may　be　out　of　touch　for　several　days；　Craig。　Even　as　much　as　a　week。　I　want　you　to　stay　in　touch　with　New　York　and　keep　things　running　smoothly。　We've　already　had　enough　of　a　shakeup。〃
　Now　Nicholas　could　hear　the　boughs　of　the　boxwood　scraping　against　the　side　of　the　wood　and　tile　house。　The　air　outside　was　clean　and　clear。　On　the　rain…soaked　streets；　the　pedestrians　bowed　before　the　wind；　only　partially　protected　by　their　ama…gasa。　Briefly　he　saw　the　high　arc　of　the　Nihon…bashi　as　they　crossed　the　river　that　flowed　into　the　wider　Sumida。　Parasols　over　the　span　reminded　him　of　Hiroshige's　prints；　the　great　artist's　images　speaking　to　him　from　another　age。
　The　summons　to　Sato's　house　came　as　no　surprise　to　Nicholas　considering　the　high…pitched　tone　of　the　Telex　he　had　received　from　the　man。　Three　murders；　unexplained　and　bizarre；　were　more　than　enough　reason　for　this　late…night　rendezvous。　The　Japanese　were　a　practical　people　and　in　times　of　emergency　even　politeness　might　be　bypassed　for　efficiency's　sake。
　But　for　Nicholas　the　summons　held　other　echoes；　ones　that　Sato　could　not　know　about　or　understand。　Being　at　the　industrialist's　home　meant　that　Nicholas　would　see　Akiko　again　and　if　his　luck　held　even　get　to　speak　to　her。
　He　remembered　the　gilt　and　crimson　fan　trembling　like　a　flower　in　that　extended　split　second　just　before　she　began　to　lower　it　and　changed　his　life　forever。　For　it　seemed　clear　to　him　now　that　everything　he　had　done　after　seeing　Akiko's　face；　every　decision　he　had　made；　had　been　so　that　he　could　see　her　again。
　He　was　drawn　to　her　as　a　moth　is　to　a　flame；　without　reason　or　logic；　with　even　some　atavistic　knowledge　that　the　journey　might　end　in　destruction。
　Nicholas　was　no　longer　the　person　he　had　once　been　when　he　and　Yukio　had　been　so　madly　in　love。　Yet　there　was　a　piece　of　that　madness　still　burning　within　him。　And　he　knew　that　he　could　not　get　on　with　his　life；　could　not　fulfill　his　karma；　without　first　investigating　this　last　blind　spot　within　himself。　His　entire　life　had　been　spent　in　the　pursuit　of　pushing　back　the　darkness。　He　had　found　that　he　could　control　the　chaos　of　life　through　the　mastery　of　the　martial　arts。　Through　that　powerful　conduit　he　had　not　only　learned　how　to　channel　the　natural　forces　which　he　had　hitherto　found　frightening…for　they　were　the　forces　whic