ericlustbader.the ninja-第89章

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　the　glass　was　in　place　here。
　He　could　hear　the　sound　of　Tomkin's　heavy　breathing；　as　if　he　were　an　asthmatic　with　his　mouth　partly　open。　Where　he　sat；　behind　his　desk；　he　was　in　total　shadow。
　'Move　a　bit　to　your　right；'　Nicholas　said　softly。　'No；　with　the　chair。　That's　right。'　He　turned　his　head。　'Now　keep　still。'　A　bar　of　light　shone　over　a　portion　of　the　steel…grey　hair；　quartering　the　head。
　The　place　was　alive　with　them。
　But；　of　course；　that　was　to　be　expected。
　Two　at　the　entrance　to　the　stairwell；　three　more　guarding　the　cage　elevator。　He　had　not　even　considered　using　the　main　elevator　bank。
　The　easiest　thing　would　have　been　to　use　hypnosis。　The　。plan　was　practical　as　well　as　amusing。　The　idea　of　having　one　of　those　plain…clothesmen　shepherding　him　skyward　in　the　elevator　appealed　to　him。　But　that　would　depend　on　a　very　specific　set　of　circumstances。　Given　time；　he　had　no　doubt　that　he　could　execute　them。　He　did　not；　at　this　point；　think　that　he　had　the　time。　They　would　have　begun　to　sort　things　out　down　there。　They'd　turn　on　the　lights；　tot　up　the　casualty　figures　and　send　for　reinforcements。　He　did　not　want　to　risk　a　get…out　through　a　cordon　of　a　score　of　men　all　on　the　hair…trigger　lookout　for　one　thing　and　one　thing　alone。
　Not　that　he　could　not　do　it　but　it　was　foolish　to　take　such　risks　when　there　was　absolutely　no　need　to。
　In　the　shadows；　he　reached　out　four　pads　from　his　belt。　These　he　carefully　tied；　one　on　each　soft…soled　shoe　and　over　the　palm　of　each　hand。　He　slung　his　katana　obliquely　across　his　back。　He　could　take　no　step　now　without　attracting　attention；　for　sprouting　from　the　outer　side　of　the　pads　were　two…inch　steel　spikes　set　in　a　plex　pattern。
　Saigo　unwrapped　from　his　waist　a　long　nylon　cord；　weighted　on　one　end　by　a　small；　sharp　triangular　hook。　He　looked　up；　studying　the　sides　of　the　atrium　though　he　already　knew　them　quite　well。　He　found　what　he　was　looking　for　and　began　to　twirl　the　weighted　cord　about　his　head。
　He　let　it　go　and　it　shot　high　into　the　atrium；　arcing　around　a
　transverse　iron　beam。　It　was　close　enough　to　the　wall　so　that；　as　he　flung　himself　upwards；　he　was　swung　inwards　by　his　momentum。　He　drew　his　legs　up　so　that　the　soles　of　his　shoes　faced　outwards。　He　felt　the　impact　as　the　spiked　foot　pads　dug　into　the　pitted　face　of　the　pseudo…marble　facing。
　This　was　one　of　the　most　ancient　of　ninjutsu　techniques；　used　for　centuries　in　infiltrating　an　enemy's　castle　stronghold。　Mere　walls；　no　matter　how　sheer；　could　not　confound　a　ninja。
　Upwards　he　went　with　appalling　rapidity。　A　fly　on　the　wall；　he　was　quite　invisible　to　those　below；　even　had　they　chanced　to　look　this　far　up。　He　had；　once　again；　total　security。
　To　the　shocked　and　bewildered　men　on　the　atrium's　floor　it　was　as　if。　he　had　vanished　into　thin　air　and　this　was　what　they　reported　to　Croaker　via　walkie…talkie。
　The　hallucinogen　was　raging　full　force　within　him。　His　involvement　with　his　immediate　environment　was　total。　He　could　see…smell…taste…hear…feel　simultaneously　as　he　crawled　up　the　wall。
　Small　sounds；　brittle　and　three…dimensional；　drifted　to　him　from　below；　funnelled　by　the　peculiar　acoustics。　It　was　curious　because　he　could　hear　specific　sounds　with　more　clarity　from　this　vantage　point　than　he　might　have　if　he　were　still　down　below：　voices　talking；　shoes　pounding　against　the　cool　flooring　as　they　called　for　the　ambulances。　Do　you　no　good；　he　thought。　Talking；　unanswered。　The　walkie…talkie；　he　thought。　No　matter。
　The　fine　dust　of　his　passage　took　to　the　slowly　swirling　air；　a　minute；　ineffectual　cyclone　passing　through　the　light。
　There　was　silence　on　the　top　floor；　this　was　Nicholas's　doing；　this　was　why　he　had　insisted　that　none　of　Croaker's　men　be　on　the　floor。　Sound　was　his　greatest　potential　enemy　now。
　'I　want　you；'　he　had　said　to　Tomkin　some　time　before；　'to　face　away　from　him　when　he　es。　Do　you　think　you　can　do　that　？'　Because　it　was　a　most　difficult　thing　to　turn　your　back　on　someone　who　meant　to　kill　you。　But　this　was　essential。　Nicholas　was　afraid　of　what　the　Kuji…fyri　might　do　to　Tomkin。　Kick　out　the　glass　and　take　one　last　step　down；　that　was　only　one　possibility。
　'Yes；　I　can　do　it。'
　He　heard　the　fear　shivering　Tomkin's　voice　and　wondered　again　at　it。
　'Is　that　where　you're　going　to　stand　when　he　es？'
　'Don't　worry　about　that。　Just　remember　what　I've　told　you。　If　you　do　anything　else；　chances　are　you'll　be　dead　before　you　know　it。　This　is　no　time　to　think　about　being　in　control。'
　'What　can　you　know　about　that？'　Part　of　his　fear；　Tomkin　realized　belatedly；　was　that　somehow　he　had　recognized　a　kind　of　a　kindred　spirit　in　Linnear。　He　had　neither　the　knowledge　nor　the　insight　to　understand　in　what　way　this　was　so；　only　knew　that　it　was。　This　was　a　deadly　man；　a　sort　of　a　raw　animal　spirit　held　in　check　by　a　thin　veneer　of　civilization。　Tomkin　shuddered　to　think　of　what　might　happen　if　that　veneer　should　crack　apart。　Perhaps　that　was　why　he　wanted　to　trust　Linnear　with　his　secrets　yet　could　never　bring　himself　so　to　unburden　himself。　Kindred　they　were　and　he　judged　Nicholas　in　the　same　light　as　he　judged　himself。　He　would　do　anything　to　preserve　himself　thus　…
　'I　know　all　about　that。　I've　been　too　much　in　control　all　my　life。　That's　hard　to　take。　Callouses　don't　grow　on　hands。'
　'What　do　you　mean？'　But　already　he　suspected　that　he　knew。
　'I　feel　like　my　head's　been　full　of　novocaine　for　years。'　He　paused　for　a　moment；　his　head　cocked　at　an　angle　as　if　listening　to　a　far…off　sound；　and　Tomkin　felt　his　guts　turn　to　water。　Was　he　ing　already？　Dear　God　but　he　wanted　to　make　a　break　for　the　bathroom　1
　'Your　daughter's　a　very　special　person。'
　'Who；　Justine？'　Tomkin　snorted；　feeling　better　now　that　he　was　on　safe　ground　again。　'Sure；　if　you　call　loony　special。　I　don't。'
　'You　really　are　a　fool；　aren't　you？'　There　was　a　small　silence　as　they　glared　across　the　darkened　room　at　each　other。　Nicholas　wondered　if　Croaker　had　overheard　all　of　this　and　was　chuckling　to　himself。
　'It's　all　a　matter　of　opinion；　isn't　it？'　Tomkin　said；　backing　off　somewhat。　It　would　not　do　to　have　Linnear　angry　with　him　now。　'I　mean；　I've　been　through　a　lot　with　her。　You've　only　known　her　a　short　time。　But；　listen　'　…　he　tapped　a　forefinger　on　the　desk　top　…　'I　told　you　where　she　was；　didn't　I？　I　helped　you　find　her。　I　want　you　two　to　make　it。　I've　told　you　that　and　I
　mean　it。　You're　good　for　her。　Your　strength　can　keep　her　from　going　back　…'
　'You　don't　know　her　at　all；'　Nicholas　said。　'She's　got　more　strength　than　a　lot　of　men　I　know。'　He　let　that　hang　in　the　air。　Had　it　been　a　glove　thrown　down　at　Tomkin's　feet？　If　so；　Tom…kin　chose　to　ignore　it　as　such。
　'Perhaps　there　has　been　some　change。　I　haven't　seen　her　for　some　time；　I'll　grant　you　that。　I　suppose　I　still　think　of　her　as　the　baby　of　the　family。　Gelda；　my　oldest；　always　seemed　so　much　more　capable　of　taking　care　of　herself；　even　when　they　were　both　much　younger。　She　was　always　so　much　more　social　than　Justine。'　Oh　yes；　social。　He　had　to　laugh　at　that。　Women　fucking　women。　My　God；　where　had　she　picked　that　up？　'I　am　afraid　we　aren't　exactly　a　closely　knit　family。'　How　in　hell　could　we　be？　'There　is　little　sense　of　family　loyalty　among　my　daughters。　I　regret　that　most　bitterly　but　it's　to　be　expected；　I　suppose。　When　there　is　not　enough　time'　…　Nicholas　could　sense　the　shrug　in　the　dark　of　the　office　…　'the　children　inevitably　turn　away　from　their　parents；　find　others　who　can　satisfy　their　needs。'　The　finger　stopped　tapping；　hung　suspended　for　a　time　in　the　air。　'I　imagine　you　could　say　that　both　my　daughters　are　arrested　adolescents　in　a　sense。　Ah　well。'
　No　one　had　uttered　a　word　for　some　time。　The　silence　seemed　absolute；　totally　antithetical　to　what　one　es　to　expect　in　any　big　city。　The　outside　did　not　exist　for　any　of　them。　Here　they　were　sealed　into　a　violent　world　of　their　own　manufacture　where　the　laws　of　the　world　did　not　apply。　Now　dark　and　bloody　gods　stalked　these　corridors　as　they　did　the　warren　chambers　of　the　Great　Pyramid　of　Cheops。　Years　falling　away　like　crimson　leaves　whirled　in　an　autumn　storm。
　ing；　thought　Nicholas。　At　last　he's　ing。
　He　was　born　into　the　element　earth。　Dai…en…tyo…chi；　as　the　Aty　i　ninjutsu　had　taught　him：　'Great…round…mirror…wisdom。'　This　was　his　strength　and　he　began　the　Shit…ji；　the　seed…word　mantra　that　would　bring　him　to　the　final　state　of　preparedness；　the　death…and…night…and…blood　that　was　ninjutsu　bat。
　And　in　the　instant　following　the　tiny　sound　of　Saigo's　leap　onto　the　top　floor；　he　heard　that　most　unique　sound　in　all　the　world　as　he　drew　his　katana　from　its　sheath。
　Croaker；　you　bastard；　Nicholas　thought；　you　had　better　stay　out　of　this。　You　have　been　warned。　This　is　between　Saigo　and　me　and　God　help　anyone　who　gets　in　the　way。
　Movement　on　the　floor。　No　one　heard　but　Nicholas。　Haragei。　He　could　feel　the　adept's　approach。　Like　an　itchy　finger　in　the　night；　his　senses　felt　the　approach。　He　wore　only　a　light…weight　black　silk　shirt　and　cotton　trousers。　He　gripped　the　katana　with　both　hands；　standing　in　the　attitude　of　Happo　Biral^i；　'Open　on　all　eight　sides'；　a　technique　developed　by　Miyamoto　Musashi　more　than　three　centuries　before。　There　was　no　possible　ken…jutsu　opening　for　attack。　This　had　been　proved　long　before　he　had　been　born。
　Energy　flowed　through　him　like　the　current　from　a　generator。　The　night　beat　on　like　a　separate　heart；　with　a　will　of　its　own；　following　a　destiny　no　one　could　yet　know。
　He　saw　everything　now　as　segments　of　a　whole；　parts　fitting　into　the　topography　of　the　floor。　The　furniture：　height；　length；　depth；　fixtures；　hangings；　the　world　shrunken　into　a　series　of　severely　confined　spaces　within　which　would　now　take　place　the　dance　of　death　begun　so　many　years　ago。
　A　shadow　shifted　and　Nicholas　knew　that　Saigo　was　in　the　narrow　hall。　He　leaped　across　the　room；　his　katana　held　high　above　his　head；　a　scream　beginning　in　the　recesses　of　his　chest。
　His　nostrils　flared　and　in　mid…air　he　tumbled　head　over　heels　away　from　the　hallway　opening。　He　had　caught　the　smell　of　it　even　before　he　had　heard　the　soft　click　as　it　rolled　along　the　floor。
　The　bathroom　door　was　open　and　he　used　that。　There　was　very　little　light　but　the　percussion；　abetted　by　the　confined　space；　was　awesome。　He　sensed　Tomkin　leaping　to　his　feet；　turning　around。
　Saigo　was　already　in　the　room；　moving　at　full　velocity；　using　the　noise　of　the　blast　for　cover。　He　headed　straight　for　Tomkin。
　'Get　away　from　me！'　Tomkin　cried；　raising　his　hands　defensively。　He　could　be　dead　ten　different　ways；　he　realized；　before　he　could　draw　and　fire　his　gun。　'He's　over　there！'　He　pointed　frantically　to　where　Nicholas　was　standing。
　Saigo　said　nothing；　but　his　eyes　blazed　with　a　kind　of　cold　fury　that　sent　a　tremor　of　terror　through　Tomkin's　thighs。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　contemplated　the　ing　of　death　as
　a　real　and　substantial　force。　I　am　already　dead；　he　thought；　seeing　an　element　in　Saigo's　face　which；　perhaps；　had　no　place　in　this　world。　It　might　have　been；　had　he　believed　in　such　a　thing；　Lucifer　himself　e　to　snatch　him。　He　saw　the　terrible　glint　of　light　off　the　steel　claws；　extending　from　the　left　hand　which　was　raised；　beginning　its　thrust　forward　towards　his　chest