el.angeleyes-第76部分

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　Koi　slipped　out　of　the　car；　walking　toward　a　young　man　in　an　impeccable　three…piece　suit　who　was　approaching　the　front　gate　of　Yasuwara's　house。　She　had　not　said；　〃That's　him；〃　but　had　moved　on　her　own；　as　if　once　having　been　given　the　objectives　by　Big　Ezoe；　she　was　now　making　her　own　way　toward　them　without　seeking　his　counsel。　Big　Ezoe　again　thought　of　the　water　tap　that　would　not　turn　off。
　Koi　stopped　Yen　Yasuwara。　He　did　not　seem　pleased　to　be　intercepted。　Koi　said　something　to　him；　and　Big　Ezoe　saw　the　young　lawyer's　face　go　white。　Big　Ezoe　smiled。　A　moment　later　Koi　had　put　Yasuwara　into　the　backseat　of　the　Mercedes；　slid　in　beside　him。
　〃You're　a　very　handsome　man；　Mr。　Yasuwara；〃　Big　Ezoe　said　as　he　threw　the　Mercedes　in　gear；　pulled　out　into　the　street。　〃You　must　attract　many　women。〃
　〃Who　are　you　people？〃　Yen　Yasuwara　said　in　a　tense　voice。　〃What　do　you　want？　〃
　Big　Ezoe　noticed　that　Yasuwara　could　not　take　his　eyes　off　Koi。　All　the　better；　he　thought。　I　want　to　remain　as　invisible　as　possible。　It's　Koi's　job　to　take　the　heat　of　any　fallout　that　might　result　from　this　interview。
　Big　Ezoe　said；　〃It　is　my　opinion；　Mr。　Yasuwara；　that　being　handsome　is　something　of　a　gift。　It　shouldn't　be　taken　for　granted。〃
　''What　nonsense　are　you　talking？''　Yen　Yasuwara　was　trying　to　seem　angry；　but　he　only　succeeded　in　sounding　more　frightened。
　Next　to　him；　Koi　hooked　a　bloodred　fingernail；　jabbed　it　into　the　center　of　his　cheek。　Yasuwara　yelped；　jumping　in　shock　and　pain。　But　Koi's　left　hand　was　already　clamped　firmly　on　his　shoulder。　She　twisted　her　fingernail　in　Yasuwara's　flesh。
　〃You　。　。　。〃　he　wailed。　〃You；　what　is　this？〃
　''It's　a　picnic；　Mr。　Yasuwara；''　Big　Ezoe　said　in　a　jaunty　tone。　〃At　least　it　is　for　us。　We're　out　for　a　little　fun。〃
　Koi　slit　open　the　lawyer's　cheek　so　that　blood　ran　down　his　neck；　soaking　into　his　neat　white　shirt　collar。　Eventually　it　began　to　dribble　onto　his　blue　and　cream　tie；　beading　on　the　expensive　silk　like　tears。
　〃Oh；　God；〃　Yen　Yasuwara　said。
　〃This　might　be　an　appropriate　moment　to　begin　our　talk；〃　Big　Ezoe　said。
　〃Talk？　Is　that　what　you　want　to　do？　Why　didn't　you　say　so　at　the　beginning？''
　Big　Ezoe　said；　''We　wanted　you　to　understand　the　seriousness　of　our　intent；　Mr。　Yasuwara。　I　make　money　from　information；　and　today　you　are　going　to　make　me　rich。〃
　〃I　think　you're　mistaken。　You　must　have　the　wrong　man。　These　things　happen。〃
　Big　Ezoe　ignored　him。　〃You　are　doing　business　with　two　men；　Kunio　Michita　and　Fumida　Ten；　chairman　of　Kaga。　Is　that　not　so？〃
　〃You're　Yakuza；　aren't　you？〃　He　stared　in　morbid　fascination　as　Koi　lifted　her　bloody　fingernail　in　front　of　his　face。　It　was　as　curved　as　a　hawk's　talon。
　〃It　makes　no　difference　who　we　are；〃　Big　Ezoe　said；　〃especially　to　you。　Now；　I　have　asked　you　a　question。　I　expect　a　prompt　answer。''
　Yen　Yasuwara　said；　〃Let　me　go。　I　don't　know　either　of　those　men。〃
　Koi's　fingernail　again　buried　itself　in　his　cheek。　This　time　she　did　not　wait　to　drag　it　all　the　way　down。　Now　there　were　two　bloody　parallel　furrows　along　his　right　cheek。　They　could　hear　his　gasping　breath　in　the　car。
　Big　Ezoe　said；　''Michita　and　Ten。　They　are　clients　of　yours。''
　〃Yes；〃　Yen　Yasuwara　said　immediately。　his　eyes　were　almost　crossed　in　their　attempt　to　keep　sight　of　the　bloody　talon。
　〃What　do　you　know　of　a　West　German　firm　owned　by　an　Argentine　named　Estilo？〃
　〃Look；〃　Yasuwara　said；　〃I　could　get　into　trouble　if　I　answered　that。''
　Big　Ezoe　laughed。　''Mr。　Yasuwara；　you　could　not　be　in　more　trouble　than　you　already　are。〃
　''But　you　don't　underst…''　his　words　were　cut　off　in　a　scream　as　Koi's　fingernail　pierced　his　flesh　just　beneath　his　right　eye。　Yen　Yasuwara　gave　a　reflexive　jerk；　but　Koi　held　him　fast。
　〃Yes；　yes；〃　he　cried。　His　right　eye　was　bloodshot；　and　tears　were　streaming　from　it。　〃All　right。　Estilo's　firm　employs　me　to　facilitate　moving　unusual　cargo　from　place　to　place。〃
　〃By　unusual；〃　Big　Ezoe　said；　〃I　take　it　you　mean　illegal。　By　place　to　place　I　take　it　you　mean　across　international　frontiers　without　being　monitored　by　customs。〃
　Yen　Yasuwara　said　nothing　until　Koi　dipped　her　fingertip　into　his　blood；　smeared　it　across　his　dry　lips。　Then　he　whimpered；　said　〃Yes；〃　in　a　voice　made　hoarse　by　fear。
　When　Koi　said；　〃Where　does　Estilo's　hafnium　e　from？〃　Yen　Yasuwara　jumped。　Perhaps　he　had　not　expected　that　she　could　speak。
　〃Please；　please；　please；〃　he　said。
　Koi　leaned　toward　him；　and　Yen　Yasuwara　began　to　tremble。
　〃Estilo　buys　all　his　hafnium　from　a　French　firm；　named　La　Lumiere　d'Or；''　he　said。　〃It　is　a　privately　held　French　pany；　but　its　parentage　is　American。''
　Koi　said　immediately；　〃Is　the　American　who　acpanied　Kunio　Michita　in　his　dealings　with　Kaga　the　owner　of　this　French　firm？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃But　he　might　have　been。''
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Yen　Yasuwara　said。　〃I　could　tell　the　American　was　in　control；　although　the　two　of　them　took　pains　to　disguise　the　fact。　I'm　far　too　knowledgeable　about　such　things　for　me　to　have　been　fooled。　No；　La　Lumiere　d'Or　is　simply　the　conduit　through　which　the　hafnium　flows。　This　man；　you　could　see；　was　not　a　businessman。〃
　Koi　was　thinking　that　Yasuwara　was　the　second　man　who　had　said　the　mysterious　American　didn't　give　the　appearance　of　being　a　businessman。　The　Kaga　vice…president　had　made　the　same　observation。　In　a　moment　she　said；　〃Does　Kaga　buy　the　hafnium　outright　from　Estilo？〃
　〃No。　That's　part　of　why　I　was　retained。　Michita　buys　the　hafnium　from　the　West　German　firm　by　withdrawing　funds　from　a　blind　offshore　trust　held　at　a　bank　on　the　Caribbean　island　of　Monserrat。　I　found　a　way　for　Michita　to　be　involved　without　him　having　any　connection　with　the　account。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Big　Ezoe　said。　〃He　has　to　make　the　deposits。〃
　〃He　doesn't；〃　Yen　Yasuwara　said。　The　sweat　was　streaming　down　his　face；　mixing　unhealthily　with　the　coagulating　blood。　''That　is　taken　care　of　by　a　third　party。''
　〃Yeah？''　Big　Ezoe　said。　　''Who？''
　Yen　Yasuwara　hesitated　only　long　enough　to　see　Koi's　talon　e　up　to　the　level　of　his　eye。　He　blinked　furiously；　swallowed　hard。　〃Hitasura。〃　He　said　it　as　if　it　were　a　sigh　and　all　the　air　was　escaping　from　inside　him。
　There　it　is；　Big　Ezoe　thought。　The　link　no　one　wanted　to　admit　to；　the　one　even　Kakuei　Sakata　had　not　dared　mit　to　print　in　his　ledgers。
　Big　Ezoe　looked　at　Yen　Yasuwara　in　the　rearview　mirror。　The　lawyer's　terror　filled　the　interior　of　the　Mercedes　like　a　perfume。　He　said　to　Koi；　〃Can　you　believe　this？　Hitasura；　Michita；　and　Kaga　are　all　in　on　this　sweet　deal。〃
　He　turned　his　gaze　back　to　Yen　Yasuwara。　〃Why；〃　he　said　carefully；　〃are　Michita　and　Hitasura　using　illegal　offshore　profits　to　fund　the　manufacture　of　nuclear　reactors　no　one　knows　about？〃
　〃Because　of　the　strict　laws　here　against　atomics；〃　Yen　Yasuwara　said。　〃Also；　they're　building　them　for　export。〃
　〃Selling　them　to　the　highest　bidder；　right？〃
　〃No。　It's　on　consignment　for　a　single　vendor。〃　There　was　a　weariness　now　in　Yen　Yasuwara's　voice；　as　if　he　had　seen　the　future　and　understood　that　it　held　nothing　for　him。　〃I　put　the　deal　together；　so　I　should　know。　The　items　are　being　shipped　to　Russia。　To　an　anti…Russian　underground　organization　there　known　as　White　Star。''
　The　lights　had　gone　down　in　a　simulacrum　of　night；　but　in　the　starless　darkness　Irina　could　see　Odysseus　all　the　better。　It　was　as　if　his　skin；　luminous　during　the　〃day；〃　picked　up　a　phosphorescence　in　the　absence　of　light。　Irina；　fortable　in　the　saltwater　pool　with　the　Hero　and　his　blue　dolphin；　scissor…kicked　slowly；　languidly。
　〃I　have　to　warn　you；〃　Odysseus　said；　〃I've　been　irradiated。　I　was　exposed　to　cosmic　radiation　while　I　rode　between　the　stars。〃
　〃Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　even　heaven　has　its　pitfalls？〃
　The　Него　gave　her　an　ironic　smile。　''You're　not　concerned？''
　〃Why　should　I　be？〃　Irina　said。　〃Lara　and　Tatiana　certainly　aren't。〃
　〃It's　their　job　to　be　with　me；〃　Odysseus　said　seriously。　〃They're　prepared　for　the　consequences。〃
　Irina　touched　him。　〃I'm　sorry　I　was　so　flip。〃
　〃Don't　be。〃　She　could　see　his　smile　widening；　and　it　was　like　the　sun　striking　water。　''I　miss　humor　so　much　here。''
　〃I'm　afraid　that　is　a　failing　of　Mars's。〃　She　gave　a　little　squeal　as　Arbat；　the　blue　dolphin；　raced　between　her　treading　legs。
　〃She　likes　you；〃　Odysseus　said。　〃Odd。　I'd　have　thought　she'd　be　jealous。〃
　Arbat　surfaced；　clicking　furiously；　and　Irina　put　her　hand　on　the　bottle　snout。　''She　knows　I　don't　want　to　take　you　away　from　her。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Odysseus　said。　〃She　knows。〃
　Waves　lapping　all　around　them。　The　scent　of　salt　and　phosphorous。　Irina's　mind；　in　proximity　with　this　astounding　human　engine；　had　begun　to　unfold　in　skeins；　stretching　itself　like　a　hermit　at　last　emerging　from　her　cave。
　''What　else　does　Arbat　know？''
　Odysseus's　eyes　were　pale　against　his　pale　skin。　''Did　Volkov　tell　you　to　ask　me　that？''
　〃No。　Why　would　he？〃
　There　was　a　silence　for　a　time；　even　Arbat　was　quiescent。
　〃No　reason；〃　Odysseus　said　at　last。
　〃You　don't　like　him　much。〃
　〃Let's　not　talk　about　rade　Volkov；〃　Odysseus　said。　〃The　subject's　so　tiresome。''
　Irina　tried　to　accept　this。　〃Tell　me　how　you　know　Natasha　Mayakova。〃
　〃In　the　early　days　after　my　return　from　space；　there　was　no　pool；　no　Arbat。　I　was　bored；　so　I　was　taken　into　Moscow；　often　to　the　theater。　I　saw　Natasha　in　The　Seagull。　I　was　quite　moved；　and　asked　if　I　could　go　backstage　to　meet　her。　I　was　taken　with　her　right　away。〃
　〃Yes；　indeed；〃　Irina　said。　〃I　thought　at　first　that　I　was　going　to　dislike　her；　but　then　people　have　a　way　of　fooling　you　once　you　get　to　know　them。〃
　〃And　others；〃　the　Hero　said；　〃only　fool　themselves。〃
　Irina　swam　closer　to　him。　〃Is　there　anybody　here　with　us？〃
　〃Volkov's　gone。　Lara　and　Tatiana　are　sleeping。　There's　only　us；　and　of　course　the　monitors。　But　they　can't　pick　up　anything　that　goes　on　in　the　pool　except　for　Arbat's　clicking；　and　the　technicians　can't　make　heads　or　tails　of　that。〃
　''I　think　it's　awful　that　you　have　to　be　monitored；''　Irina　said。
　〃Join　the　line。〃
　〃I'll　ask　Mars　if　he　can　do　something　about　it。〃
　Odysseus　threw　his　head　back　and　laughed。　〃You　do　that；〃　he　said。　〃I　only　wish　I　could　be　there　to　hear　his　reply。〃
　〃Why　do　you　laugh？　Mar