ericlustbader.the ninja-第100章
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At last he climbed out of the car； shut the door behind him with a soft thunk。 The night seemed terribly still。
He went silently around to the side of the house； found the small pile of leaves Ataki had left for the morning's burning。 Kneeling down； he set it to flame； listening meditatively to the crisp crackle； inhaling the pungent odour。
He stared into the fire。 Odd what one remembers； he thought； in times like these。 Like a submarine suddenly surfacing； the memory came to him of the bright summer afternoon when he had been locked in the crucial meeting with Prime Minister Yoshida； debating the specific consequences of the Korean War with John Foster Dulles； General Bradley and Defence Secretary Johnson。 Dulles was in Tokyo because among the first American troops being sent into Korea were those who had been occupying Japan since 1945。 But that left the bases and approximately a quarter of a million U。S。 dependants left unprotected in Japan。 The Americans were； of course； against this and they proposed the mencement of a Japanese military。 It was a bombshell proposal because such a force would be in direct violation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution written in 1947： 'Land； sea； and air forces； as well as other war potential； will never be maintained。'
In the best of American traditions； Johnson assailed Dulles's stance and the P。M。 reacted negatively to Dulles's plea for Japanese remilitarization。 However； it was clear that something had to be done。 The Colonel proposed that the existing Japanese； police force be expanded to approximately 75；000 men； calling it a National Police Reserve。 'We will have an effective army i without having to call it mat；' the Colonel had said。
For Dulles； of course； this was not enough； but Yoshida； seeing that the Colonel had given him a way out without any loss ｜ of face； readily agreed。 The plan would have to be； by definition；
Top Secret。 Even the recruits； Yoshida insisted； must not know the true purpose for which they were being trained。
The P。M。 then set up the Annex of Civil Affairs Section within the existing bureaucracy to be responsible for recruitment and training； and an American officer was put in charge。
Afterwards； Yoshida had asked the Colonel to remain。 Tension still laced the room like rancid fruit and the P。M。 suggested they take a walk in his gardens。
'I owe you a great debt of thanks；' he had said after the usual amount of conversational courtesies which； even in such a signal situation； could not be ignored。
'The problem is； sir； that the Americans still do not understand us。' He saw Yoshida glance sideways at him。 'Perhaps they never will。 They have been here a long time。'
The Prime Minister smiled。 'Remember； Colonel； that there was a time when we did not understand the Americans。'
'But there is； I think； in Japan； a greater ability for cultural absorption。'
Yoshida sighed。 'Yes。 Perhaps that is so。 But； in any event； I'm most grateful to you。 Mr Dulles was most anxious to back me into a corner。 What he was no doubt leading up to was a Japanese involvement in the Korean War。 Why else ask for a sudden enormous military build…up here？' He shook his head； his small hands clasped behind his back。 'It is unthinkable； Colonel； for us to send troops into Korea。'
Unthinkable； the Colonel thought now； kneeling in the brittle night。 That time we avoided the unthinkable； by the grace of God。 Now it had happened。
The fire was going strong。 He reached the cord out of the pocket of his dark nylon jacket； dropped it into the centre of the tiny conflagration。
He was not surprised to see that the knot in its centre was the last to blacken and fall into ashes。
Said goodbye to Mount Aso； hello to Mount Fuji。
It rained most of the way back； drops beading the windowpane； streaking in fat rivulets as they bined。 The low sky was black； filled with evil； fulminating clouds。 A stiff wind out of the north quarter plummeted the temperatures； winter was here at last。
Nicholas shifted unfortably from one buttock to another； finding it painful to sit normally。 Someone farther along the car kept fiddling with the tuning dial of a transistor radio： brief bursts of rock music interspersed with a dry； cultured voice announcing the news。 Saburo； the leader of the Japanese Socialist Party； was under fire again for his 'structural reform' policies which the Party had adopted a little over two years ago。 Speculation was that he would be out soon。
Just north of Osaka； the rain turned to hail； pattering against the windows as it tap…danced along the hull of the train。
Nicholas； scrunched down in the seat； shivered slightly despite the adequate heating。 Vaguely； as if the feeling belonged to another person and he had； perhaps； got his lines crossed； he felt hungry。 But he had not left his seat since he had boarded this train at Osaka； had collapsed into it。 Any movement at all seemed a chore to him now。 Perhaps； before they pulled into the station at Tokyo； he would be obliged to relieve himself。 He preferred not to think about that now。 But then any kind of thought was difficult at the moment。 His mind was a wind tunnel； leaves whirled by the same currents； creating precisely the same patterns no matter how many times the tune was replayed。
Hear the groaning； feel the heat on his face： the light … shade off the lamp？ Shadows moving； rising； falling； larger than life。 Saigo； oddly； making the bed。 Yukio； dressed in skirt and blouse； packing rather mechanically。 He tried to say something but it was as if his mouth had been packed with dry sand。 Was his larynx paralysed as well？
Saigo took her by the arm； bag in her other hand。 They both had to step over him to reach the door。 Lay there like a quadriplegic； eyes blinking salt sweat and tears。 He strained to see her face but it was in partial shadow； her long hair swinging across her cheek。
Saigo stopped her with a word in her ear； leaned backwards and down； his face； shiny with sweat； hovering just over Nicholas's。
'You see how it is now； don't you？ There's a good boy。' He sneered。 'And don't bother ing after； him？ There's really no point。 Because this is good…bye。 No sayonara this time。 Get it？' He reached out； patted Nicholas's cheek almost tenderly。
'If we ever meet this way again； I'll kill you。'
Shadows looming … were they really people？ … and then gone； just the after…image； dark on his retinas。 He closed his eyes at last and concentrated on breathing。
The paralysis began to fade some time after dawn； he estimated。 He could not be certain of the time because he must have fallen asleep at some point。 Only knew that when he awoke just before eight； he could move his fingers and toes。
Within the hour he could stand and even walk steadily。 He went into his own bathroom and stayed there for a long time。
His first stop was the warehouse。 The character of the street was totally different in the daytime。 This was near the centre of the business district and during the day the area was jammed with traffic and pedestrians。
He tried the front door but it was locked。 After two plete circuits of the place； he was convinced that there was no other way in。 Picking the lock was out of the question。
He went into a near…by teahouse for breakfast； sitting at a table that gave him an oblique but clear view of the building's front！ He drew a blank and after an hour gave up。
While paying the bill； he asked directions to the local police station。 It proved to be a short walk away。 He was sent up to the second floor of the wood and brick buildings。 The place smelled of cement and turpentine。
The sergeant on duty sat behind a desk that was as battered and scarred as a war veteran。 He was a small man； rather young； with a very yellow plexion and a wide moustache meant to disguise his splay teeth。 His uniform was so neat that Nicholas could see the creases in his blouse。
He seemed sympathetic； even helpful。 He took down all the particulars； including the address' of the warehouse。 But his eyebrows shot up when Nicholas told him what was behind the red lacquered door on the third floor。
'A ninjutsu ryu？ Young man； are you certain this isn't some sort of prank？ … a college hazin
