ericlustbader.the ninja-第113部分

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　'You　should　have　cut　me　when　you　could；'　he　said。　'Your　spirit　was　not　resolved；　the　Kobudera　consumed　you　and　you　slashed　me　instead。　You　see　what　one　cut　can　do。'
　Saigo　staggered。　'What　is　that　you　say；　cousin？　e　closer　still。　I　cannot　hear　you。'　He　grimaced　in　pain；　a　fleet　passing　cloud；　and　then　it　was　gone；　hidden　behind　all　the　layers　that　they　had　both　acquired。　This　was；　perhaps　more　than　any　other　thing；　what　set　Japan　apart　from　the　rest　of　the　world；　this　bit　of　hard；　unflinching　stone　beneath　all　the　wrappers　…　the　many；　many　layers　…　of　distilled　duty　and　filial　love。　This　was　why　they　must　go　forward　always　and　never　take　a　step　back。　But；　O　Amida；　their　memories　were　long　indeed；　stretching；　it　was　said　in　many　tales；　beyond　the　grave　itself。
　Nicholas　wanted　to　sleep　now。　His　body　had　dealt　with　the　shock　and　now；　as　it　damped　down　on　the　pain；　he　was　calming。　A　kind　of　lassitude　was　running。。。
　'You　think　that　you　have　won　but　you　haven't；'　Saigo　gasped　out。　A　thin　trickle　of　blood　was　seeping　from　one　corner　of　his　mouth。　His　busy　tongue　flicked　at　it；　as　an　adder's　might；　tasting　it。　'I　see　that　I　had　better　get　on　with　it。。。　But　won't　you　e　one　step　closer；　cousin　so　that　I　don't　have　to　shout？　Good。'　His　eyes　burned　coldly。　'You　believe　that　Yukio　is　alive；　somewhere；　living　the　life　of　a　married　lady　perhaps；　and　thinking　every　so　often　of　the　old　days　with　you。　But；　oh　no；　this　is　not　so！'　He　began　a　laugh　which　ended　in　a　ragged　cough。　He　hawked　and　spat　pinkly　between　them。　He　looked　into　Nicholas's　eyes　as　he　said；　'She　lies　at　the　bottom　of　the　Straits　of　Shimonoseki；　cousin；　precisely　where　I　dumped　her。
　'She　loved　you；　you　know。　With　every　breath　she　breathed；　with　every　word　she　spoke。　Oh；　I　could　drug　her　as　I　did　that　night　with　you　and；　for　a　time；　she　would　forget　you。　But　each　time　she　would　awake　and　it　would　be　as　before。
　'At　last　it　drove　me　out　of　my　mind。　She　was　the　only　woman；　the　only　one　。。。　for　me　and　without　her　there　were　only　men　and　more　men　and　still　more。。。〃　His　eyes　blazed　like　coals；　red…rimmed　and　mad。　The　trickle　of　blood　had　thickened；　running　like　heavy　drops　from　a　careless　painter's　brush；　darkening　the　water。
　'You　made　me　kill　her；　Nicholas；'　he　said　in　sudden　accusation。　'If　she　had　not　loved　you　…'
　'If　life　was　not　the　way　it　was　…'　Nicholas　said　harshly。　His　arms　were　already　in　motion　and　the　katana　was　a　crescent　of　living　light；　as　if　he　were　the　Lord's　true　messenger；　whirring　like　a　living　entity　through　the　hot；　wet　air。
　In　a　bright　arc；　Saigo's　head　sailed　upwards；　tumbling　over　and　over　on　its　final　journey　like　a　miniature　planet；　a　crimson　streamer　like　a　kite's　or　a　et's　tail　laced　behind　it。　Over　the　edge　it　went；　bouncing　downwards　across　the　white　steps；　a　child's　lost　ball；　ing　to　rest　at　last　at　the　bottom　of　the　waterfall　：　on　the　ninth　step　from　the　top。
　'…　but　it　is；'　Nicholas　said；　finishing　the　sentence。　At　his　feet；　the　water　spun；　rocking　gently　as　if　on　a　faraway　tide；　shivering。　Caressing　Nicholas's　spread　legs。
　Of　course；　after　it　was　all　over　Croaker　wanted　to　know　just　how　he　had　done　it；　so　he　made　Nicholas　e　down　to　the　morgue　with　him　to　look　at　the　body。
　'Can't　tell　a　goddamned　thing　from　this；'　he　said。　'Christ　on　a　crutch；　we'd　never　have　known。'
　Nicholas　looked　down　at　the　battered　and　broken　body。　It　was　Japanese；　the　same　height　and　weight　as　Saigo。　An　exhaustive　autopsy　would　turn　up　the　difference　in　the　musculature；　of　course；　this　man　could　not　have　been　trained　as　Saigo　had　been。　But　dial　would　have　happened　only　if　you　were　looking　for　a　difference。
　He　reached　out；　turned　the　head　to　one　side；　peered　at　the　neck；　touched　the　side　with　his　fingertips。　'There；'　he　said。
　'What？'　Croaker　looked　at　the　spot。　'His　neck's　broken。　So　what？　Happens　all　the　time　in　a　fall。'
　'No；　Lew。　It's　the　way　the　neck　was　broken。　I've　seen　that　done　before；　years　ago。　Bones　sheared　through　as　if　someone　had　used　a　surgical　scalpel。　No　fall　can　do　that。　It's　koppo；　Lew。　A　ninja　technique。'
　'Christ；'　Croaker　said。　'He　killed　a　man　just　to　snooker　us。'
　Nicholas　nodded。　'Plans　within　plans。'
　He　listened；　with　nothing　but　the　screen　door　between　him　and　the　coolness　of　the　evening；　to　the　quiet。　To　the　breakers　sighing　as　they　rose；　curled；　and　fell　again　and　again　like　his　own　tidal　breathing。
　He　was　thinking　of　Japan。　Of　the　Colonel；　of　Cheong；　of　Saigo；　and　especially　of　Yukio。　。
　All　in　their　　　　　rightful　places　now；　the　revenge　done；　all　the　impossibly　tangled　cords　laid　out　in　their　skeins；　just　as　they　had　once　started　out；　dying　as　they　had　been　born。
　The　rage　which　had　filled　him　up　when　Saigo　had　told　him　seemed　like　yesterday's　ember　now。　He　recalled　his　dream　and　the　faceless　woman　was　no　longer　faceless。　Only　now　was　he　ing　truly　to　understand　the　enormity　of　Yukio's　sacrifice。　She　could；　at　almost　any　time；　have　run　away　from　Saigo。　And　where　do　you　think　she　would　go？　Where　she　wanted　to　be；　at　his　side。　And　Fukashigi　had　said：　You　were　not　ready　then。　He　would　have　destroyed　you　。。。　Nicholas　knew　the　full　measure　of　the　truth　of　those　words。　By　staying　with　Saigo；　Yukio　knew　she　held　in　check　a　measure　of　his　deep　anger；　at　least　he　had　her　and　Nicholas　had　not。　She　gave　her　life　for　me。　Migawari　ni　tatsu。
　Why　do　you　weep　so　bitterly　my　lady？　What　ill　has　befallen　you？　A　most　dishonorable　death；　sir；　and　until　it　is　avenged；　my　spirit　must　wander　…　wander　here。
　But　no　more。
　He　felt　Justine　ing　quietly　up　behind　him　and　he　felt　a　vast　peacefulness；　like　ing　upon　one's　own　stone　cottage　at　the　edge　of　the　sea；　guarded　by　the　tall　pines　one　knew　so　well　from　infancy。　A　warm　wind　blew　through　his　soul　and　he　closed　his　eyes　as　he　felt　her　arms　steal　about　him；　her　lips　trace　the　contours　of　his　cheek。
　'Are　you　all　right？'
　'Y〃s。　Yes。'　They　stirred　together　like　two　leaves　on　a　branch。　'The　sea　is　so　blue　now。　Bluer　than　the　sky。'
　'Because　the　sky　is　mirrored　in　it。　See　how　they're　both　there？'
　'It's　the　artist　in　you。　You　see　in　colours。'
　'But　you　see　it　too；　don't　you？'
　'Now　you've　pointed　it　out；　yes。'
　She　put　her　cheek　against　his　shoulder。　'I　miss　Doc　Deerforth。'
　'So　do　I。'　He　looked　out　to　sea。　'His　daughters　will　be　here　soon。'
　'Saigo　must　have　been　at　Gin　Lane　looking　for　Father；　but　why　Doc？'
　'I　don't　know；'　Nicholas　said　softly。　'Perhaps　he　saw　him　and　became　suspicious。'　But　his　thoughts　were　far；　far　away。
　After　a　long　time；　they　made　dinner　and　ate　it　outside　on　his　porch；　and　the　wind；　taking　her　hair　and　pulling　it　to　one　side　as　a　gentle　mother　might；　whirled　their　paper　napkins　out　across　the　dunes　to　disappear　in　the　surf；　platinum　and　mauve。
　A　couple　walked　hand　in　hand；　their　bare　feet　scuffing　the　sand；　leaving　a　trail　of　their　passage　like　a　pair　of　crabs。　A　sleek　Irish　setter；　its　glossy　coat　burnished　crimson　by　the　setting　sun；　ran　ahead；　barking　happily　at　them；　its　long　tongue　lolling　as　it　danced　at　the　edge　of　the　sea。
　'Do　you　want　to　go　back；　now？'　she　asked；　her　hand　in　his。　To　Japan。'
　He　looked　at　her　and　smiled。　He　thought　about　her　father's　offer。　'I　don't　think　so。'　He　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　it　creaked　a　little；　a　forting　sound　like　the　rattle　of　lines　in　the　wind　aboard　ship。　'Oh；　one　day；　perhaps　…　We'll　both　go　to　have　a　look；　as　tourists　might。'
　'You　could　never　be　a　tourist　there。'
　'I　could　try。'
　On　the　near　horizon；　boats　were　running　back　for　shore；　their　sails　high　and　billowing。　It　might　have　been　a　regatta　except　for　the　time　of　day。　Music　came　from　somewhere　down　the　beach　and　was　abruptly　cut　off；　as　if　a　door　had　slammed。
　Justine　began　to　giggle。
　'What　is　it？'　He　was　smiling　already　as　one　does　sometimes；　in　anticipation　of　a　funny　story。
　'I　was　just　remembering　how　you　came　and　took　me　out　of　the　disco　that　night。'　Her　face　abruptly　sobered。　'I　wish　you'd　told　me；'　she　whispered；　'all　about　it。'
　'I　saw　no　point　in　frightening　you。'
　'I　only；'　she　said；　'would　have　been　frightened　for　you。'
　He　stood　up；　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　a　very　Western　stance。
　'It's　all　over　now；　isn't　it？'　She　was　looking　up　at　him；　her　face　tilted　so　that　the　last　of　the　light　reflected　off　the　water；　toned　her　skin；　cooling　it；　making　it　glow。
　'Yes；'　he　said；　rubbing　his　bandaged　arm。　'It's　all　over　now。'
　He　was　on　his　side；　half　dreaming；　when　Justine　came　out　of　the　bathroom。　She　turned　off　the　light　and；　to　him；　it　seemed　as　if　the　moon　had　sunk　beneath　the　rim　of　the　horizon。
　He　felt　her　silently　get　into　bed；　moving　her　pillow　to　a　more　fortable　position；　then　the　warmth　of　her　body　close　against　him：　the　line　of　her　spine；　the　soft　curve　of　her　buttocks；　her　knees　against　his　thighs。　Electricity　seemed　to　flow　from　one　to　the　other。
　He　thought　of　Yukio；　as　the　exhaustion　rose　like　fluid；　suffusing　his　limbs　and　beginning　on　his　torso。　He　knew　now　that　his　fear　was　the　same　as　his　love　for　her。　Her　purely　elemental　sexuality　was　what　drew　him　to　her；　what　continually　aroused　him　when　he　was　with　her。　But　he　had　been　unwilling；　and　thus　afraid；　to　acknowledge　the　balancing　half　of　the　equation；　that　there　was；　to　him　also；　an　elemental　sexuality。　That　Yukio　had　been　ab