mc.risingsun-第42章

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　Connor　nodded。　〃Then　perhaps　he　was　taking　pictures；　after　all。　But　it　was　clear　to　me　that　his　picture…taking　was　just　an　excuse　to　allow　him　to　walk　on　the　other　side　of　the　yellow　line。〃
　〃Ah；〃　Theresa　said；　nodding。
　I　said；　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃
　〃Think　back；〃　Connor　said。
　
　I　had　been　standing　facing　Ishiguro　when　Graham　yelled：　Aw；　Christ；　what　is　this？　And　I　looked　back　over　my　shoulder　and　saw　a　short　Japanese　man　about　ten　meters　beyond　the　yellow　tape。　The　man's　back　was　turned　to　me。　He　was　taking　pictures　of　the　crime　scene。　The　camera　was　very　small。　It　fitted　into　the　palm　of　his　hand。
　〃Do　you　remember　how　he　moved？〃　Connor　said。　〃He　moved　in　a　distinctive　way。〃
　I　tried　to　recall　it。　I　couldn't。
　Graham　had　gone　forward　to　the　tape；　saying：　For　Christ's　sake；　you　can't　be　in　there。　This　is　a　goddamned　crime　scene。　You　can't　take　pictures！　And　there　was　a　general　uproar。　Graham　was　yelling　at　Tanaka；　but　he　continued　to　be　entirely　focused　on　his　work；　shooting　the　camera　and　backing　toward　us。　Despite　all　the　yelling；　Tanaka　didn't　do　what　a　normal　person　would　do　…　turn　around　and　walk　toward　the　tape。　Instead；　he　backed　up　to　the　yellow　stripe　and；　still　turned　away；　ducked　his　head　and　went　under　it。
　I　said；　〃He　never　turned　around。　He　backed　up　all　the　way。〃
　〃Correct。　That　is　the　first　mystery。　Why　would　he　back　up？　Now；　I　think；　we　know。〃
　〃We　do？〃
　Theresa　said；　〃He　was　repeating　the　walk　of　the　girl　and　the　killer　in　reverse；　so　it　would　be　laid　down　on　videotape　and　he　would　have　a　good　record　of　where　the　shadows　in　the　room　were。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Connor　said。
　I　remembered　that　when　I　protested；　Ishiguro　had　said　to　me：　This　is　our　employee。　He　works　for　Nakamoto　Security。
　And　I　had　said：　This　is　outrageous。　He　can't　take　pictures。
　And　Ishiguro　had　explained：　But　this　is　for　our　corporate　use。
　And　meanwhile　the　man　had　disappeared　in　the　crowd；　slipping　through　the　knot　of　men　at　the　elevator。
　But　this　is　for　our　corporate　use。
　〃Damn　it！〃　I　said。　〃So　Tanaka　left　us；　went　downstairs；　and　removed　a　single　tape；　because　that　tape　had　a　record　of　his　own　walk　across　the　room；　and　the　shadows　he　cast？〃
　〃Correct。〃
　〃And　he　needed　that　tape　to　make　changes　in　the　original　tapes？〃
　〃Correct。〃
　I　was　finally　beginning　to　understand。　〃But　now；　even　if　we　can　figure　out　how　the　tapes　were　altered；　they　won't　stand　up　in　a　court　of　law；　is　that　right？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Theresa　said。　〃Any　good　lawyer　will　make　sure　they're　inadmissible。〃
　〃So　the　only　way　to　go　forward　is　to　get　a　witness　who　can　testify　to　what　was　done。　Sakamura　might　know；　but　he's　dead。　So　we're　stuck　unless　we　can　somehow　get　our　hands　on　Mr。　Tanaka。　I　think　we　better　get　him　in　custody　right　away。〃
　〃I　doubt　that　will　ever　happen；〃　Connor　said。
　〃Why　not？　You　think　they'll　keep　him　from　us？〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　they　have　to。　It　is　very　likely　that　Mr。　Tanaka　is　already　dead。〃
　
　
　Connor　immediately　turned　to　Theresa。　〃Are　you　good　at　your　job？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。
　〃Very　good？〃
　〃I　think　so。〃
　〃We　have　little　time　left。　Work　with　Peter。　See　what　you　can　extract　from　the　tape。　Gambatte：　try　very　hard。　Trust　me　that　your　efforts　will　be　rewarded。　In　the　meantime；　I　have　some　calls　to　make。〃
　I　said；　〃You're　leaving？〃
　〃Yes。　I'll　need　the　car。〃
　I　gave　him　the　keys。　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　〃I'm　not　your　wife。〃
　〃I'm　just　asking；〃　I　said。
　〃Don't　worry　about　it。　I　need　to　see　some　people。〃　He　turned　to　go。
　〃But　why　do　you　say　Tanaka　is　dead？〃
　〃Well；　perhaps　he's　not。　We'll　discuss　it　when　there　is　more　time。　Right　now；　we　have　a　lot　to　finish　before　four　o'clock。　That　is　our　true　deadline。　I　think　you　have　surprises　in　store　for　you；　kōhai。　Just　call　it　my　chokkan；　my　intuition。　Okay？　You　have　trouble；　or　something　unexpected；　call　me　on　the　car　phone。　Good　luck。　Now　work　with　this　lovely　lady。　Urayamashii　ne！　〃
　And　he　left。　We　heard　the　rear　door　close。
　I　said　to　Theresa；　〃What　did　he　say？〃
　〃He　said　he　envies　you。〃　She　smiled　in　the　darkness。　〃Let's　begin。〃
　She　pressed　buttons　on　the　equipment　in　rapid　succession。　The　tape　rolled　back　to　the　beginning　of　the　sequence。
　I　said；　〃How　are　we　going　to　do　this？〃
　〃There　are　three　basic　approaches　to　learn　how　video　has　been　doctored。　The　first　is　blur　and　color　edges。　The　second　is　shadow　lines。　We　can　try　to　work　with　those　elements；　but　I've　been　doing　that　for　the　last　two　hours；　and　I　haven't　gotten　very　far。〃
　〃And　the　third　method？〃
　〃Reflected　elements。　I　haven't　looked　at　them　yet。〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃Basically；　reflected　elements　…　REs　…　are　portions　of　the　scene　that　are　reflected　within　the　image　itself。　Like　when　Sakamura　walks　out　of　the　room；　and　his　face　is　reflected　in　the　mirror。　There　are　almost　certainly　other　reflections　in　that　room。　A　desk　lamp　may　be　chrome；　and　it　may　show　the　people；　distorted；　as　they　pass。　The　walls　of　the　conference　room　are　glass。　We　may　be　able　to　pull　a　reflection　off　the　glass。　A　silver　paperweight　on　a　desk；　with　a　reflection　in　it。　A　glass　vase　of　flowers。　A　plastic　container。　Anything　shiny　enough　to　make　a　reflection。〃
　I　watched　her　reset　the　tapes；　and　prepare　to　run　forward。　Her　one　good　hand　moved　quickly　from　one　machine　to　the　next　as　she　talked。　It　was　odd　to　stand　next　to　a　woman　so　beautiful；　who　was　so　unselfconscious　of　her　beauty。
　〃In　most　images；　there　is　something　reflective；〃　Theresa　said。　〃Outside；　there　are　car　bumpers；　wet　streets；　glass　windowpanes。　And　inside　a　room　there　are　picture　frames；　mirrors；　silver　candlesticks；　chrome　table…legs　。　。　。　。　There's　always　something。〃
　〃But　won't　they　fix　the　reflections；　too？〃
　〃If　they　have　time；　yes。　Because　now　there　are　puter　programs　to　map　an　image　onto　any　shape。　You　can　map　a　picture　onto　a　plicated；　twisted　surface。　But　it　takes　time。　So。　Let's　hope　they　had　no　time。〃
　She　started　the　tapes　forward。　The　first　portion　was　dark；　as　Cheryl　Austin　first　appeared　by　the　elevators。　I　looked　at　Theresa。　I　said；　〃How　do　you　feel　about　this？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Helping　us。　The　police。〃
　〃You　mean；　because　I　am　Japanese？〃　She　glanced　at　me；　and　smiled。　It　was　an　odd；　crooked　smile。　〃I　have　no　illusions　about　Japanese。　Do　you　know　where　Sako　is？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃It　is　a　city　…　a　town；　really　…　in　the　north。　In　Hokkaido。　A　provincial　place。　There　is　an　American　airfield　there。　I　was　born　in　Sako。　My　father　was　a　kokujin　mechanic。　You　know　that　word；　kokujin？　Niguro。　A　black　man。　My　mother　worked　in　a　noodle　shop　where　the　air　force　personnel　went。　They　married；　but　my　father　died　in　an　accident　when　I　was　two　years　old。　There　was　a　small　pension　for　the　widow。　So　we　had　some　money。　But　my　grandfather　took　most　of　it；　because　he　insisted　he　had　been　disgraced　by　my　birth。　I　was　ainoko　and　niguro。　They　are　not　nice　words；　what　he　called　me。　But　my　mother　wanted　to　stay　there；　to　stay　in　Japan。　So　I　grew　up　in　Sako。　In　this　。　。　。　place　。　。　。〃
　I　heard　the　bitterness　in　her　voice。
　〃You　know　what　the　burakumin　are？〃　she　said。　〃No？　I　am　not　surprised。　In　Japan；　the　land　where　everyone　is　supposedly　equal；　no　one　speaks　of　burakumin。　But　before　a　marriage；　a　young　man's　family　will　check　the　family　history　of　the　bride；　to　be　sure　there　are　no　burakumin　in　the　past。　The　bride's　family　will　do　the　same。　And　if　there　is　any　doubt；　the　marriage　will　not　occur。　The　burakumin　are　the　untouchables　of　Japan。　The　outcasts；　the　lowest　of　the　low。　They　are　the　descendants　of　tanners　and　leather　workers；　which　in　Buddhism　is　unclean。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　〃And　I　was　lower　than　burakumin；　because　I　was　deformed。　To　the　Japanese；　deformity　is　shameful。　Not　sad；　or　a　burden。　Shameful。　It　means　you　have　done　something　wrong。　Deformity　shames　you；　and　your　family；　and　your　munity。　The　people　around　you　wish　you　were　dead。　And　if　you　are　half　black；　the　ainoko　of　an　American　big　nose　。　。　。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃Children　are　cruel。　And　this　was　a　provincial　place；　a　country　town。〃
　She　watched　the　tape　go　forward。
　〃So　I　am　glad　to　be　here。　You　Americans　do　not　know　in　what　grace　your　land　exists。　What　freedom　you　enjoy　in　your　hearts。　You　cannot　imagine　the　harshness　of　life　in　Japan；　if　you　are　excluded　from　the　group。　But　I　know　it　very　well。　And　I　do　not　mind　if　the　Japanese　suffer　a　little　now；　from　my　efforts　with　my　one　good　hand。〃
　She　glared　at　me。　The　intensity　turned　her　face　to　a　mask。　〃Does　that　answer　your　question；　Lieutenant？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃It　does。〃
　〃When　I　e　to　America；　I　think　the　Americans　are　very　foolish　about　the　Japanese　…　but　never　mind。　Here　is　the　sequence　now。　You　watch　the　top　two　monitors。　I　will　watch　the　bottom　three。　Look　carefully　for　objects　that　reflect。　Look　closely。　Here　it　es。〃
　
　？
　I　watched　the　monitors　in　the　darkness。
　Theresa　Asakuma　was　feeling　bitter　about　the　Japanese；　but　so　was　I。　The　incident　with　Weasel　Wilhelm　had　made　me　angry。　Angry　the　way　somebody　who's　scared　can　be　angry。　One　sentence　he　had　said　kept　ing　back　to　my　mind；　again　and　again。
　Under　the　circumstances；　don't　you　think　the　court　made　a　mistake　in　granting　you　custody　of　your　young　daughter？　
　I　never　wanted　custody。　In　all　the　turmoil　of　the　divorce；　of　Lauren　moving　out；　packing　up；　this　is　yours；　this　is　mine　…　in　all　that；　the　last　thing　I　wanted　was　custody　of　a　seven…month…old　baby。　Shelly　was　just　starting　to　move　around　the　living　room；　holding　onto　the　furniture。　She　would　say　〃Mama。〃　Her　first　word。　But　Lauren　didn't　want　the　responsibility　and　kept　saying；　〃I　can't　handle　it；　Peter。　I　just　can't　handle　it。〃　So　I　took　custody。　What　else　could　I　do？
　But　now　it　was　almost　two　years　later。　I　had　changed　my　life。　I　had　changed　my　job；　my　schedule。　She　was　my　daughter　now。　And　the　thought　of　giving　her　up　was　like　twisting　a　knife　in　my　stomach。
　Under　the　circumstances；　Lieutenant；　don't　you　think　。　。　。　
　On　the　monitor；　I　watched　as　Cheryl　Austin　waited　in　the　darkness　for　the　arrival　of　her　lover。　I　watched　the　way　she　looked　around　the　room。
　The　court　made　a　mistake　。　。　。
　No；　I　thought；　the　court　didn't　make　a　mistake。　Lauren　couldn't　handle　it；　and　had　never　been　able　to　handle　it。　Half　the　time；　she　skipped　on　her　weekends。　She　was　too　busy　to　see　her　own　daughter。　Once　after　a　weekend　she　returned　Michelle　to　me。　Michelle　was　crying。　Lauren　said；　〃I　just　don't　know　what　to　do　with　her。〃　I　checked。　Her　diapers　were　wet　and　she　had　a　painful　rash。　Michelle　always　gets　a　rash　when　her　diapers　aren't　changed　promptly。　Lauren　hadn't　changed　her　diapers　often　enough　during　the　weekend。　So　I　changed　her；　and　there　were　streaks　of　shit　in　Michelle's　vagina。　She　hadn't　cleaned　her　own　daughter　properly。
　Don't　you　think　the　court　made　a　mistake？　
　No；　I　didn't。
　Under　the　circumstances；　don't　you　think　…
　〃Fuck　it；〃　I　said。
　Theresa　stabbed　a　button；　stopped　the　tapes。　The　images　froze　on　the　monitors　all　around　us。　〃What　is　it？〃　she　said。　〃What　did　you　see？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　She　looked　at　me。
　〃I'm　sorry。　I　was　thinking　of　something　else。〃
　〃Don't。〃
　She　started　the　tape　again。
　On　multiple　monitors；　the　man　embraced　Cheryl　Austin。　Images　from　the　different　cameras　were　coordinated　in　an　eerie　way。　It　was　as　if　we　c