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Big Ezoe nodded。 〃As you wish。〃 his huge hand covered the pistol； and he opened the chambers for her to see。 〃It wasn't loaded； but you thought it was。 And that let me see what was in your heart。'' He laughed。 ' 'Is that all？ 〃
Honno lifted her gaze； stared into his eyes。 She took a deep breath； said； 〃May I have some tea？〃
Big Ezoe arched an eyebrow； but all he said was； 〃Yes； of course。〃 Depressing a toggle on his inter； he spoke quietly into the speaker。 Then； sitting back； he said to Honno； 〃If you continue to frown like that； you will be old before your time。 I used to hear my mother instructing my ex…wife on how to smile。'' A laugh escaped him。 ''Perhaps I should take you home to meet my mother。〃
The tea arrived。 Big Ezoe served it himself。 When it was poured； the first cup consumed； the refills steaming； Honno said； ''I need your help。''
Big Ezoe seemed sad。 〃My hands are dirty。 I am a gangster。 You are convinced that I had your father murdered。 What could I possibly assist you with？'' He shook his head。 〃You have e to the wrong place。 I think it is the police you want。 Or perhaps theTokuso。〃
So he knows about my marriage to Eikichi； Honno thought。 She knew she shouldn't be surprised。 Information was Big Ezoe's business； among other things。
She steeled herself。 ''Neither the police nor the Tokuso would be appropriate in this instance；'' she said。 ''You are my one and only avenue。 I want to do the right thing； but I am afraid。 I am bound by giri； but I am a woman in a man's world。 Will you help me？〃
Big Ezoe gazed at her for a long time。 He was a large man in his early fifties who was so muscular that he seemed to be bursting out of his silk suit。 He had a wide； open face that； oddly enough； inspired confidence。 But there was also an aggressiveness about his mouth and chin。 He had bristly； short…cropped hair； a neat mustache with just a hint of silver in it。 He looked more like a law enforcement officer than a Yakuza oyabun。
He opened his huge hands。 ''Forgive me；'' he said；' 'but why should I help you？〃
Honno was prepared for this。 〃What's in it for you；〃 she said； opening her pocketbook。 〃I understand。〃 She withdrew an envelope thick with yen。 〃I have money here。 As much as I can afford。〃
Big Ezoe scowled。
〃It isn't enough？〃 Honno said with a sinking heart。
〃Put that away。 I do not take money from nice young girls who should know better。〃
〃Must you make a joke of everything？〃 Honno felt desperation grip her。 If Big Ezoe would not help her； what would she do？ 〃Your help…〃
Big Ezoe came around from behind his desk。 〃My help； my dear Mrs。 Kansei； is not bought。 It is earned。〃 He looked into her eyes。 〃You said it yourself。 You are a woman in a man's world。 It is like my mother used to say to my ex…wife： I think you must convince me that you belong here。 If I agree to help you； I take on an obligation。 This is a serious matter for both of us； and I suggest you consider this thoroughly before you continue。〃
〃I have already considered it；〃 Honno said。 〃If you agree to help me； I am in your debt。 You have no concept of how violated that makes me feel。〃
〃Now you insult me。 You have a peculiar methodology for asking for help。〃
〃I am obligated to carry out a samurai's dying wish；'' Honno said fiercely。 〃He was a friend。 He was honorable； and I helped him the with honor。 Now he has asked a service of me； and I am bound by honor…his honor as well as my own…to carry it out for him。 I know I haven't the means to acplish this on my own。 That is why I am here。''
〃A samurai； you say。〃 Big Ezoe pulled at his lower lip。 He appeared intrigued。 〃Are you saying that you were Kakuei Sa…kata's second at Sengakuji？ You pulled the blade across his belly when he could not？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I see。〃 He was wreathed in thought。 〃A Yakuza taking up the fallen banner of a samurai。 Now that is a fascinating situation。〃
〃You will help me； then？〃
Big Ezoe's eyes focused on her again。 〃You know； Mrs。 Kansei； I had a feeling you'd be back。 A year ago you walked in here and pointed a gun at my head。 That was something I thought I'd never see a woman do。 Maybe you were too dumb to know better。 On the other hand； you were smart enough not to try to pull the trigger。 Had you tried； my men would have killed you。 And now 。 。 。〃
〃I will do whatever I have to；〃 she said。
〃Will you？ I wonder。 I question whether you have any notion of what your boast might entail。〃 Big Ezoe looked at her thoughtfully for a moment； then he laid her pistol in the flat of his hand。 〃Who knows where this path will lead you； or what may be required of you along the way？〃 He came around from behind his desk。 〃It is not for a small matter that a samurai takes his own life。 You are about to take your first step into the darkness。 Unknown forces undoubtedly lie in wait。 Powerful； malignant forces； I suspect。 You must be prepared to defend yourself against them。〃 He hefted the pistol； curled his finger around the trigger。 〃What do you think now？ It is not too late to change your mind。''
Honno took out the key Kakuei Sakata had mailed her。 She showed it to Big Ezoe and said； 〃This is where we begin。〃
THREE
VIRGINIA COUNTRYSIDE/MACHINE…GUN CITY
Russell Slade picked Tori up in his custom armor…plated limousine。 It was still dark outside； even the birds barely awake。
In his arrogance； he had been at the Los Angeles airport； waiting for her to call。 Russell had one of these cars… bulletproof； capable of running at 150 mph； filled with the most advanced munications center imaginable…in Washington； New York； and Los Angeles。 They were a necessary…one could say vital…part of his work； a mobile office where； more often than not； he ate and slept while missions were running。 Russell had an almost pathological dislike for being in one place for too long。 He had； no doubt； picked up this peculiarity from Bernard Godwin； who had survived a KGB assassination attempt in his hotel room in Bonn。 Russell detested hotels； principally because it was virtually impossible to arrange decent security inside them。 There were far too many personnel to vet； too many passageways； deliveries； passkeys； people going in and out at all hours of the day and night to make even a token stab at keeping a room safe。
The only thing in Russell's favor was that he had not gloated； but had accepted her presence as a natural occurrence； which；
once Tori took the time to think about it； said as much about him as she wished to know。
She had plenty of time to think on the flight back to Washington。 Russell had his own private jet； of course。 There were so many antihijacking devices； the Mall was obliged to order a 727 instead of a far smaller Lear jet。 She wanted to sleep； but every time she drifted off； she was back in the same dream cycle； in Ariel's house on Russian Hill； on the couch when the explosion hit； the pain recalled from the other explosion； the one that had ripped apart her hip； when she had stared into the hideous eyes of death 。 。 。
She snapped awake each time； her heart hammering in her ears。 She sat up straight； watched Russell sitting across from her as he sent and received faxes from the Mall's situations room； buried far beneath the emerald Virginia hills。 When she had known him； he had smoked； but now he confined himself to gnawing at the cap of a plastic pen。
Somewhere over Ohio or Missouri they were served sandwiches and coffee； for which Tori was grateful。 She had no wish to return to her nightmare landscape； locked in an endless circle of fear and pain。
When they were finished eating； Russell said； 〃You still hooked into Japan's version of la Famiglia？'
Tori did not care for his sarcastic tone； she thought of him sitting in his limousine； so arrogant； so certain that she would call him and capitulate that he hadn't bothered to board his plane。 She had the urge to hit him in the face； instead； she concentrated on her plan。 Somewhere near dawn she had e to the conclusion that there was a way in which she could get everything she wanted for herself： reinstatement in the Mall on her own terms； and revenge on Russell Slade for severing her。 What she would do to Slade would be a far better…and more fitting…fate for him than a mere broken face； although the picture of Slade with his jaws wired together did have a certain charm。
She smiled。 〃If you're talking about the Yakuza； yes； I still have my contacts。〃
Russell nodded； almost as if she had passed some kind of test。 〃Good；〃 he said。 〃Because the Yakuza are involved up to their bushy little eyebrows。〃
〃Are you talking about Ariel Solares's murder？〃
Russell pushed the swivel light away from him； pressed the tips of his fingers against his eyelids。 His face had retreated into
the shadows。 Outside； the clouds streamed by below them； rent asunder by their screaming passage。
〃Remember the Yakuza assassins you and Solares overheard in the Argentine tunnels？〃 he said。 〃Well； they're just a tiny part of what is ing our way； and I'm afraid they've got something particularly nasty in store for us。〃
Tori said； 〃If the Japanese are involved in a big way； I can see why you came to see me yourself。 You need my expertise。'' She peered into his face with mock concern。 〃That