ericlustbader.the ninja-第113章
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'Migaurari ni tatsu？'
'Yes； that's it。'
'Are you certain？ Really certain？〃
'Yes。 Absolutely。 You said it more than once。 What does it mean？'
'Well； literally； it means； 〃to act as a substitute〃。'
'I don't understand。'
'In Japanese folklore there is the belief that a person may give his or her life in order to save another's。 It needn't even be a person。 It could be a tree； just about anything。'
'What were you dreaming about？〃
'I am not certain。'
'Nicholas；' she said with her typical objective intuition； 'did someone give their life for you？ … In the dream； I mean？'
He looked at her； put his hand up to her cheek； but it was not her soft flesh he seemed to stroke； certainly not her voice he heard in his head then。
In that heated room of perfect death with his toes touching the hem of his mother's exquisite； perfectly folded kimono and； just a little way beyond； the rivulets of blood dropped like rubies along the floor； Itami said； 'We both must leave now； Nicholas。 There is nothing left here for outsiders such as ourselves。'
'Where will you go？' His voice was as dull as lead。
'To China。'
His eyes tracked upward to her white face。 'To the munists？'
She shook her head slightly。 'No。 There are others there …who were there long before the munists。 Your grandfather； So…Peng； was one such。〃
'You would leave Saigo？〃
Her eyes were as bright as a bird's。 'Nicholas； did you ever wonder why I had but one child？ But no； why should you？' Her lips were turned in a grim smile that chilled him。 'I can only say that with me … with me … it was totally a matter of choice； though Satsugai believed otherwise。 Oh yes； I lied to him。 Willingly。 Are you surprised？ Well。' She stirred slightly like a sapling in a sudden gust of wind； giving way； giving way minutely。 'I would not have another like him。〃 Her dark eyes were slits now。 'Do you understand me？ I trust you do。'
She looked down briefly at her katana； standing on its bloody point。 'Do you hate me？ I would not be surprised 。。。 But no； I see that you do not。 That gladdens my heart； I cannot tell you how much。
'I love you； Nicholas。 Were you my own I could not love you more but I think you already knew that deep inside yourself。' Her head jerked as if she had been abruptly reminded of something。 'These days of kwaidan pass through my fingers like so much sand。 Time is short and I have much to do。'
He stood in front of her； pale and drawn。 He shivered once though no breeze stirred in the room。
'Will you tell me；〃 he said； 'what honour there is in this？'
'What honour there remains in all the world；' Itami said sadly； 'resides in this room。 There is little enough； I fear。 Little enough。'
'You must tell me。 You must。' His voice was almost a cry and he was certain then he saw tears standing out like soft pearls at the inner corners of her eyes。
'Ah； Nicholas。 These tales are not so easily told。 You ask me to expose the soul of Japan。 I could sooner rip a blade into my own belly。' Her eyes squeezed shut as if she were attempting to brush away a vision from her mind。 Her…voice was a whisper。 'Ask me anything else。 Anything。'
'What will bee of you … Aunt？'
Her eyes flew open and she smiled kindly。 'In China I shall travel until I reach the place Cheong bade me go to in her last breath。 I will not be there long。' Her hand tightened on the hilt of her katana； another drop of blood rolled from the blade's smooth steel surface onto the bare wooden floor。
I must see Fukashigi； Nicholas thought now； staring at Jus…tine in the semi…darkness； time to renew the old vows。 And she must leave here； she must be out of harm's way。 Aa i ninjutsu was the only way now the forces of Kan…aku na ninjutsu were stirring； readying themselves to e against him： ancient； implacable enemies arrayed on a modern battlefield。 He would need； he knew； all the fearful shades of steel to be victorious this one last time。
When Saigo awoke he was； for just an instant； convinced that it was into death's dark realm。 Death held no horror for him but this might only be because life held so little for him。 It was the meanest of gifts and； therefore； it meant nothing for him to part with it。
Then he remembered that he had not yet killed Nicholas and he knew that this was life only into which sleep had yet again deposited him。
There was much to be said for revenge； yes。 It was all that kept his heart pumping now。 He thought of all the money in his swollen bank accounts； the vast acres of land； the four small but rapidly growing electronics konzerns。 What did it all amount to？ Not even a part of the smallest steel filing from a master sword smith's forge … ah； no！
Money was merely the sere gateway to power； and power； well； all that was good for was manoeuvrability。 Once you could manoeuvre in this atom age； you could acplish anything。
Yet there was but one thing that Saigo now wished to acplish and that was to seek out and expunge a life。
Tonight； he thought savagely； lying naked on the futon。 Pale grey light filtered through the blinds； traipsing across the ceiling like an itinerant priest； his korom torn and tattered； its ragged ends taken by the wind。
He marvelled at the weakness of Americans。 Such cowards； they surely could not have powerful spirits。 How they had won the war he still could not imagine。 It would give him great pleasure to see the look on Raphael Tomkin's face as he died beneath the blade of steel。 To think that he believed a deal could be so easily arranged。 No deal； was possible； not after the mencement of a buy。
No； death would e to him tonight； just as it would e to Nicholas。
Perhaps； even； there would be a stalemate between them and death would e to both。 This did not concern him。 On the contrary； he might have even looked forward to it； knowing that the importance of death lay not in the dying itself but in the manner of one's death。 How one died was recorded by history and one was remembered as much for the manner of one's death as for one's life。
For Saigo； as for all Japanese warriors from time immemorial； there were only two honourable ways to die： in battle or by one's own hand with calmness and ritual。 To the otherwise would mean terrible； insupportable shame throughout eternity； an awful karma brought into the next life or； far worse； carried into the infinity of limbo。
This intimate thanatopsis had made him hard and he almost regretted having killed the Chinese boy。 He had been so good。 But there had been no choice just as； long ago； there had been no choice …
Somewhere in the night he had been full of hate； a pernicious boiling that had all but swamped in his long； exquisite training。 It is a true measure of how emotions can warp the soul； he told himself now； sitting up on his single black futon； and he cursed the day that Yukio had e into his life。 O Amida！ he cried silently。
But this early hour was like crystal for him。 He had thought； in the dark； to blunder into them tonight。 To move fast； fast； fast； to catch them both quickly； Nicholas and Tomkin。 But while he had slept in the land of death； his mind had been at work and now he knew that there might be more for him than just the death of those two。 He thought of the straits and shuddered。 Voices seemed to fill his mind； screaming louder as he inhaled； moaning like the autumn wind as he exhaled。 He held his breath； squeezed his eyes shut for long moments until the voices faded。
Yes； he thought； rising and beginning to bathe； his training had taught him that there were things far worse for an enemy than merely slitting his belly。
The world； he knew； was one great wheel； an ellipse one was bound to by karma。 Wheels within wheels； plans within plans。 By day's end； his mind would be tranquil。 Then； if death should e； he would fling wide his arms and wele it。
It was a splendid day； clear and still cool with just a few touches of gauzy cirrus clouds high up in the west。 Far too splendid to spend hanging around the house； Justine thought； as she threw her bags on the bed。
The beach on Dune Road looked inviting as she went round the side of the house and took the car out on to the road。
She went east on the highway； having no specific desti
