ericlustbader.the ninja-第109部分

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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　where　a　fire　burned　already。
　Then；　in　less　time　than；　it　seemed　to　him；　the　blink　of　an　eye；　the　ninja　was　knocked　sideways；　across　the　floor　towards　the　windows。
　Nicholas；　his　right　shoulder　lowered；　ran　lightly　after　the　spinning　body；　his　tytana　held　before　him　in　a　two…handed　grip。
　Saigo　tumbled　head　over　heels；　came　up　on　his　feet　facing　Nicholas。　He　withdrew　his　own　katana　with　his　left　hand；　made　a　flicking　movement　with　his　right。
　Nicholas　ducked　and　leapt　at　the　same　time。　Something　no　more　than　the　size　of　a　pea　arced　high　into　the　air。　It　bounced　once　on　the　floor　directly　in　front　of…the　desk。　But　Saigo　had　been　slightly　off　balance　when　he　had　tossed　it　and；　on　the　rebound；　the　thing　hit　the　overhang　of　the　desk　top　and；　instead　of　landing　behind　it；　bounced　back　in　front　of　it。
　As　it　was；　the　mini…blast　blew　Nicholas's　katana　from　his　grasp　as　it　tore　away　most　of　the　front　of　the　desk；　ripping　up　the　carpeting。
　Immediately　Saigo　hurled　himself　towards　Nicholas；　who　was　still　scrambling　away　from　the　percussion　of　the　explosion。
　In　the　periphery　of　his　vision；　Nicholas　saw　Saigo　ing。　He　was　vulnerable　and　he　knew　it。　No　textbook　defence　was　possible　from　his　position；　not　against　someone　as　skilled　as　Saigo。　His　decision　was　made　in　a　split　second。　He　propelled　his　body　obliquely　upwards；　using　his　palms；　arms　and　shoulders　for　power；　and；　twisting；　his　soles　caught　Saigo's　fingers　as　they　curled　around　the　hilt　of　his　tytana。　The　angle　added　to　the　natural　force　of　the　blow　and　the　weapon　spun　out　of　his　grip　and　away。
　Saigo　landed　with　the　claw　first　and　Nicholas　countered　with　sword…strikes　to　the　liver　and　spleen；　missing；　but　deflecting　the　attack　at　the　same　time。
　It　was　the　heart…kite　Saigo　immediately　strove　for。　Beside　the
　fact　that　it　was　lethal；　it　had　the　added　advantage　of　forcing　a　break　in　a　stalemate；　a　situation　that　would　benefit　Nicholas　more　because　of　the　time　factor。　Every　added　second　that　Saigo　took　here　made　the　get…out　that　much　more　difficult。
　Saigo　ignored　the　serpent…str