ericlustbader.the ninja-第57章

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　'Sensei。'
　'All　right；　whatever。　They　said　this　man　was　the　best　they　had　ever　seen。　Afterwards；　he　had　a　kendo　match　with　Terry。　Vincent　told　me　Terry　had　been　troubled　by　it　when　they　had　dinner　together。　That　was　the　night　of　the　double　murder。'
　Nicholas　looked　at　him；　ignoring　the　paper　in　his　hand。　It　was　thin　and　limp；　seeming　to　be　stained　with　sweat。　'What's　the　punch…line？'
　'This　Japanese　gave　his　name　as　Hideoshi。'
　Nicholas　looked　away　for　a　moment；　out　over　the　cemetery。　The　white　marble　headstones　were　brilliant　in　the　burning　sun　and　even　。the　dark　grey　or　striated　stones　seemed　as　light　as　feathers；　threatening　at　any　moment　to　shake　free　of　their　moorings　and　float　away　into　the　sky　as　serenely　as　clouds。　It　was　the　middle　of　the　week；　there　was　little　movement　along　the　neat；　narrow　paths；　the　close…cropped　lawns。　Bright　blobs　of　colour；　flowers　placed　precisely　at　the　doorways　to　heaven；　gave　the　panorama　a　rather　false　festiveness　as　if　they　stood　in　the　middle　of　a　newly　abandoned　state　fair。　At　the　periphery　of　his　vision；　a　yellow　bulldozer　moved　fallow　earth。　Beyond；　the　highway　arched　in　a　steel　and　stressed…concrete　rainbow；　its　traffic　so　muted　its　hiss　seemed　like　the　sigh　of　endless　surf。
　'In　1598；'　Nicholas　said；　'Hideoshi；　the　Kwambaku；　he　who　controlled　all　the　warring　daimyo　of　Japan；　died。　It　is　monly　believed　that　he；　being　a　far…sighted　man；　bequeathed　his　power　to　leyasu　Tokugawa；　the　strongest　member　of　the　governing　council。　This　is　not　so。　Hideoshi's　mistress　was　Yodogimi　and　she　had　given　him　a　son。　He　loved　them　both　and　wished；　above　all　else；　to　have　his　heir　one　day　rule　Japan。　Just　before　his　death　he　asked　to　see　a　close　friend；　Mitsunari　the　policeman。　He　told　him　in　strict　secrecy　to　guard　Yodogimi　and　his　son。　In　effect；　he　set　Mitsunari　against　leyasu。　〃Mitsunari；　my　friend；〃　he　said；　〃leyasu　exults　in　my　death　though　you　will　see　him　act　otherwise。　Do　not　be　deceived。　leyasu　is　as　clever　as　he　is　dangerous。　He　will；　within　a　short　time　of　my　death；　seek　to
　bee　Shogun。　Mitsunari；　my　friend；　you　must　oppose　this　with　all　your　might　for；　to　do　this；　leyasu　must　destroy　Yodogimi　and　the　true　heir。〃
　'Then；　just　moments　afterwards；　Hideoshi　received　leyasu。　〃You　are　the　strongest　of　the　council；〃　he　told　him。　〃Thus　you　must　take　over　the　reins　of　power　after　I　am　gone。〃　〃Do　not　speak　of　such　sad　matters；　Kwambaku；〃　leyasu　said；　but　Hideoshi　waved　him　to　silence。　〃Listen　to　what　I　have　to　say。　There　is　little　time。　When　I　am　gone；　there　will　be　anarchy　among　the　council　members。　Undoubtedly　they　will　split　into　factions　and　the　country　will　be　plunged　back；　into　civil　war。　This　must　be　avoided　at　all　costs。　You　must　seize　power；　leyasu。　Those　other　three　daimyo　are　as　nothing　to　you。　Sweep　them　aside；　rule　to　forestall　a　civil　war　which　would　rip　Japan　asunder。〃　And　leyasu　Tokugawa　bowed　his　head　in　acquiescence。
　〃Thus　did　Hideoshi　set　in　motion　at　the　very　moment　of　his　death　a　plex　plan　for　the　eventual　succession　of　his　heir；　thus　he　hoped　to　manipulate　the　destiny　of　Japan　even　from　…beyond　the　grave。　He　knew　that　the　moment　of　his　death　was　most　inopportune。　His　son　was　still　far　too　young　to　be　able　to　defend　himself　or　to　hold　for　long　the　loyalty　of　all　but　a　tiny　fraction　of　those　who　were　loyal　to　him。　He　knew　of　leyasu's　ambition　to　bee　Shogun　and　this　he　would　not　permit。　That　honour　must　go　to　his　own　heir。'
　Off　to　their　left；　a　small　funeral　procession　made　its　lenti…tudinous　way　from　the　black　macadam　road　from　which　heat　waves　rose；　along　one　of　the　narrow　paths　towards　an　open　grave。　The　gleaming　casket　was　already　in　place；　surrounded　by　garlands　of　flowers。　The　mourners　were　forming　up　and　a　slight　motion　began　as　one　of　the　family　members　collapsed。　Distance　and　the　heaviness　of　the　air　dampened　the　sound　so　that　it　appeared　as　if　they　were　viewing　a　mime　show。
　'Was　Hideoshi　successful？'　Croaker　asked　after　a　time。
　'No；'　Nicholas　said；　'he　wasn't。'　He　was　still　watching　the　crowd　of　people。　The　person　…　a　woman；　it　appeared　…　had　recovered　and　the　service　menced。　'For　one　thing；　leyasu　Tokugawa　was　far　too　clever　and　powerful。　For　another；　Mitsunari　gathered　a　coalition　of　daimyo　around　him　who　were　just
　not　up　to　the　task　of　defeating　leyasu。　In　1615　leyasu　led　his　forces　against　those　who　sought　to　protect　Yodogimi　and　the　heir。　They　had　retreated　into　the　nearly　invulnerable　castle　at　Osaka。　On　June　fourth　of　that　year；　leyasu's　forces　breached　the　castle's　defences　but　by　that　time　both　Yodogimi　and　the　young　heir　were　already　dead；　she　had　killed　her　son　and　then　mitted　seppuku。'
　'Is　there　a　villain　in　this　story　？'
　There　came　a　flash　in　the　sky　and　a　drone；　heavy　with　vibration；　as　a　747　headed　in　to　Kennedy。
　'I　suppose　it　depends　on　your　point　of　view；'　Nicholas　said。　'But　I　can　tell　you　that　leyasu　was　one　of　the　greatest　leaders　in　the　history　of　Japan。　Whether　Hideoshi　understood　those　qualities　in　leyasu　is　open　to　debate。　In　any　case；　they　were　two　different　kinds　of　men；　and　it　is　impossible；　I　think；　to　make　an　overwhelming　case　for　one　against　the　other。　They　were　both　crucial　to　the　development　of　their　country。'
　'Yet；　in　the　end；　Hideoshi　is　the　loser；'　Croaker　pointed　out。　'His　line　died　with　him。'　Nicholas　said　nothing。　There　was　a　kind　of　stillness　over　the　cemetery。　People　looked　like　statues；　caught　within　a　moment　as　if　part　of　an　old　photograph。　The　hazy　spires　of　Manhattan；　sitting　astride　the　horizon　in　the　West；　seemed　out　of　place；　dropped　there　by　mistake　by　some　drunken　stage　hand。　Croaker's　voice　had　lowered　in　volume　when　next　he　spoke。　'Why　would　this　man　take　Hideoshi's　name　…　we　can　be　certain　it's　not　his　own　…　when　that　man　failed？'
　Nicholas　smiled　thinly；　turned　to　look　at　Croaker's　face。　Odd；　he　thought。　Depending　on　the　intensity　of　the　light　and　which　way　it　struck；；　one　could　see　his　face　as　either　nigged　or　battered。　But　perhaps　they　were　the　same；　after　all。　'That's　a　totally　Western　way　of　viewing　history；'　he　said　softly。　'In　Japan　there　is　what　we　call　the　nobility　of　failure。　Many　of　our　greatest　heroes　failed　in　their　ultimate　objectives。　But　their　vision　was　heroic；　as　were　their　subsequent　actions。　In　the　West；　you　revere　only　the　victorious。　That's　a。　pity；　don't　you　think　？'
　Croaker　squinted　against　the　glare　of　the　sun。　'You　mean　this　Hideoshi　was　a　hero。'
　Nicholas　nodded。　'Yes。'
　'What　about　the　other　names　on　the　list？　How　would　they　fit　in　here？'
　'Frankly；　I　don't　know；　but　Terry　wasn't　just　doodling。'　He　handed　the　paper　back　to　Croaker。
　'Well；　I　don't　get　it。'
　'Neither　do　I；'　Nicholas　said。
　There　was　a　kind　of　stillness　in　the　air　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　sadness　and　death　and　defeat。　Nicholas　thought；　won…deringly；　that　it　had　been　some　time　indeed　since　he　had　felt　as　close　to　another　man　as　he　did　nqw　to　Lew　Croaker。
　'You　know；'　he　said；　'when　I　came　to　this　country　years　ago；　I　deliberately　put　aside　a　certain　part　of　my　life。　That　is　not　an　easy　thing　to　do　…　for　anyone　…　but　especially　for　someone　brought　up　in　Japan。　There　was　a　debt　I　felt　I　owed　to　my　father　…　to　the　West；　really　…　where　it　resided　inside　myself。'　Croaker's　eyes　seemed　silvery　with　the　sunlight　as　he　regarded　Nicholas　silently。　He　had　e　to　understand　the　immense　importance　of　this　gesture。
　'But；　abruptly；　I　stopped。　Just　like　that。　It　was　as　if　I　had　suddenly　awakened　from　a　long　dream…filled　sleep。　What　had　I　been　doing　all　these　years　here？　What　had　I　acplished？　I　would　not　have　myself；　feel；　as　my　father　had…at　his　death；　as　if　I　had　squandered　the　time　allotted　to　me。　It　was　enough　that　I　had　been　enpassed　by　his　sorrow；　his　bitterness。　I　could　not　countenance　the　same　thing　happening　to　me。'
　They　were　silent　for　a　time；　listening　perhaps　to　the　unsteady　wind　reaching　the　elms。　The　sun　was　very　hot。
　'And　now？'　Croaker　said　with　a　hint　of　hesitation；　he　was　still　in　unfamiliar　territory。　'Has　anything　changed？'
　Nicholas　laughed；　not　unkindly　but　with　a　sword…sharp　edge。　'My　whole　world　has　turned　upside　down。　It's　as　if　the　intervening　years　since　I　came　here　had　never　occurred。'
　'I'm　trying　to　imagine　something　like　that　happening　to　me。'
　Nicholas　looked　at　him　for　a　moment　in　pleasure。
　As　if　by　mutual　consent；　they　began　to　walk　slowly　down　the　path　towards　Croaker's　waiting　car。　Both　seemed　somehow　reluctant　to　be　on　their　way；　as　if　dreading　the　frenzy　of　the　city。　Just　before　they　reached　the　car；　Croaker　said；　'What's　your
　opinion　of　Justine's　old　man？'
　Nicholas　looked　at　him。　'That's　an　odd　way　to　put　it。'
　Croaker　shrugged。　'A　figure　of　speech。'
　But　Nicholas　suspected　his　friend　of　having　inserted　a　subtle　warning。　'I　started　out　by　hating　his　guts；'　he　said　slowly　as　if　formulating　his　thoughts　as　he　spoke。　'But　dial's　hardly　surprising；　given　Justine's　point　of　view　and　the　way　he　and　I　first　met。　He's　deliberate　and　heavy…handed　and　used　to　getting　everydiing　he　wants。　I　don't　like　any　of　dial。'
　'I　hear　a　〃but〃　hanging　around　there　some　place。'
　Nicholas　stopped　and　faced　Croaker。　'Look；　it　would　be　very　easy　…　and　expedient　for　us　all　…　to　write　him　off　as　a　rich　villain　out　of　some　dime…store　novel　but　it's　not　as　simple　as　all　that。'
　'He's　a　murderer；　Nick。'
　'He's　vulnerable　…'
　'Oh；　Jesus…'
　'He　loves　his　girls；　no　matter　what　they　think　of　him。　He'd　do　anydiing　to　protect　them。　And　he's　not　as　sure　of　himself　as　he　ought　to　be。　There's　something　…'
　'It's　the　grand　act　he's　putting　on　for　you。　He　needs　your　help　and　he　knows　you're　no　dummy。'
　'I　really　think　you're　wrong。　He's　not　as　two…dimensional　as　you　make　him　out　to　be。'
　'All　right。　Your　ninja　goes　out　and　kills　people；'　Croaker　said。　'But　there　must　be　someone　somewhere　who　he　es　home　to　and　loves。　He　is　still　what　he　is。'
　'You're　ignoring　the　plexities　…'
　'He's　a　fucking　shark；　man。　You'd　better　face　up　to　it。'
　'You're　looking　at　it　from　only　one　point　of　view。'
　Croaker　shook　his　head。　'No；　Nick。　I've　just　known　him　longer；　dial's　all。'
　On　the　way　into　the　city；　Croaker　told　Nicholas　all　he　knew　about　the　circumstances　of　Vincent's　death。　It　wasn't　much。
　He　dropped　Nicholas　at　Tomkin's　building　on　Park　and　continued　downtown。　At　the　office　the　M。E。's　report　on　Vincent　was　waiting　for　him。　He　slung　his　sopping　jacket　over　the　back
　of　the　grey　and　dull　green　chair；　took　a　MintyPick　out　of　his　breast　pocket；　flipped　it　into　his　mouth　　and　opened　the　folder。
　What　he　saw　brought　the　sweat　out　on　his　forehead　and　along　the　line　of　his　upper　lip。　He　ran　a　hand　through　　his　thick　hair　and　swore　under　his　breadi。　Then　he　reached　for　the　phone。　There　was　the　minimum　of　delay。
　'Nate？'　he　said　when　he　got　the　M。E。　on　the　line。　'Croaker。　Thanks　for　the　report　on　Vincent　Ito。　Someone　must　have　broken　his　back　to　get　it　here　so　soon。'
　'I　did　it　myself。'　Graumann's　voice　sounded　tired。　'We're　all　still　a　bit　stunned　here　and　…'。
　'Hey；　Nate；　I'm　working　on　it。'
　'What's　up？　And　don't　give　me　any　schmeer？
　'Not　much；'　Croaker　admitted。　'Only　dial　it　seems　related　to　the　deaths　of　Terry　Tanaka　and　Eileen　Okura。　They　were　friends　of　Vincent's。'
　'Yeah；　I　remember　the　files。　Vincent　did　the　autopsies　himself。　But　how？　There's