ericlustbader.the ninja-第39部分

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　It　was　cool　and　dry　inside　without　the　benefit　of　artificial　air…conditioning。　It　was　as　if　they　were　far　below　the　surface　of　the　earth　where　it　was　naturally　cool。　The　summer　sun　could　not　penetrate　this　far。
　The　walls　were　of　enormous　stone　blocks；　quite　thick；　so　as　to　be　able　to　retain　the　coolness　even　on　the　hottest　of　days；　there　was　a　second　storey　to　take　the　brunt　of　the　sun。
　Over　the　sounds　of　their　movement；　Croaker　could　hear　faint　echoes；　like　calm　voices　heard　at　the　bottom　of　a　pond　through　the　intervening　water；　he　could　not　understand　the　words　but　he　knew　they　were　there。　As　they　moved　closer；　he　could　begin　to　discern　other　sounds　as　well：　wordless　noises　as　precise　as　close…order　army　drill；　recalling　to　him　the　long　days　of　basic　training　in　that　remote；　dusty　town　in　Georgia。
　'Film　and　television　discovered　the　martial　arts　some　years　ago；'　Nicholas　said　as　they　proceeded；　'and　turned　them　into　a　circus　entertainment。　As　a　result；　they're　taken　about　as　seriously　as　professional　wrestling　over　here。　At　best；　they　are　quite　misunderstood　by　Americans。'　Nicholas　stopped　and　turned　to　Croaker。　'The　Way　is　not　mere　killing。　That　is　a　purely　Western　notion。　You　pull　out　a　gun　and　boom！　you　destroy　life。　That　is　not　the　Way。　The　basis　of　all　bujutsu　is　internal。'
　They　began　to　walk　again　and　the　sounds　came　nearer　now。　Croaker　thought　he　heard　the　rhythmic　slap　of　bare　feet　against　wood；　the　crack　of　wood　against　wood　as　if　a　giant　were　playing　an　outsized　percussion　instrument。
　'Bujutsu　is　not　something　to　be　taken　lightly；　Lieutenant；　I　assure　you；'　Nicholas　continued。　'It　is　neither　a　conjurer's　trick　nor　a　parlour　game　amusement；　but　deadly　serious。'　He　turned　his　head。　'I　trust　I'm　not　being　redundant。　I'm　merely　being　careful。　You　see；　the　average　Westerner　will　never　see　nor　even　hear　about　the　true　bujutsu　adept。　Why　should　he；　since　the　adept　neither　wishes　for　nor　gets　any　kind　of　publicity。
　'Despite　its　violent　nature；　bujutsu　is　more　in　synch　with　religion　…　Zen　and　Shinto　specifically　…　than　it　is　with；　say；　sports。　It　is　a　way　of　life；　governed　by　bushido。　An　adept　would　mit　seppuku　…　ritual　suicide　…　rather　than　break　the　code。　Everything　in　life；　Lieutenant　…　every　thing　…　is　subject　to　bushido。　I　hope　you　can　understand　that。'
　'I'm　not　certain　that　I　do；'　Croaker　said　truthfully。　Yet　something　swam　at　the　edge　of　his　consciousness；　tantalizing　him。　He　wondered　what　it　was；　then　shrugged　mentally；　left　it　alone。　Straining　after　it；　he　knew；　would　only　push　it　further　away。
　'It's　not　surprising。'　Nicholas　gave　him　a　bleak　smile　that　contained　no　warmth。　'For　some　Westerners　it　takes　years　to　understand。'　He　was　a　bit　ahead　of　Croaker　now。　'For　others'　…he　shrugged　…　'It　never　es　at　all。'
　There　was　nothing　in　the　world　that　could　make　Gelda　Tomkin　Odile　cry；　yet　she　felt　close　to　tears　now。　She　stood　in　the　coolness　of　her　Sutton　Place　apartment；　looking　out　at　the　bright　sunshine　turning　the　East　River　solid。　It　might　have　been　a　river　of　salt　for　all　the　reality　it　had　for　her。　The　familiar　view　looked　as　flat　as　a　painting　and　as　unappetizing。　Perhaps　it　was　a　painting；　after　all；　she　thought；　but　she　knew　that　she　was　not　thinking　clearly。　That　was　the　one　thing　she　was　happy　about；　what　she　had　been　searching　for。　The　Chivas　was　no　longer　sufficient；　and；　she　thought　wryly；　it's　bad　for　business。　Grass　was　no　damn　good。　She　had　found　that　out　a　long　time　ago。　Because　she　could　control　it　and　she　needed　something　that　controlled　her。　Hallucinogens　were　useless　to　her　and　opium　merely　knocked　her　out。　Then　she　had　found　that　codeine　pills　in　conjunction　with　the　whisky　were　just　what　the　doctor　ordered。　She　laughed　sardonically　at　that。
　The　phone　rang　in　the　room　behind　her；　a　soft　burring　that　was　as　much　a　part　of　the　atmosphere　of　the　place　as　was　the　long　leather　couch　whose　surface；　could　only　be　warmed　by　contact　with　naked　flesh。
　Gelda　stared　out　of　the　window；　in　no　hurry　to　answer　the　phone；　it　would　continue　to　ring　until　she　picked　it　up；　if　she　were　not　at　home　or　did　not　want　to　be　disturbed；　the　machine　would　have　intercepted　the　call　after　the　first　ring。　It　was　Pear　who　needed　her。　She　could　afford　to　wait。
　She　wished　now　that　she　could　cry；　but　even　through　the　mist　of　the　spirits　and　the　drug　she　found　herself　dry；　her　interior　as　sere　and　forbidding　as　a　desert　bleached　by　the　sun。
　She　turned　and　walked　silently　across　the　deep　sapphire　wall…to…wall　carpet　of　the　bedroom。　Through　the　open　door　she　saw　the　vast　expanse　of　the　umber　leather　couch　and　the　terracotta　carpet　which　dominated　the　living…room　…　or　her　workroom　as　she　preferred　to　call　it：　they　rarely　wanted　to　use　the　bed　any　more。
　Her　thick　hair　was　like　honey　and；　as　she　passed　through　a　bar　of　sunlight；　it　took　on　the　lustre　of　rich　silk。　She　wore　a　forest…green　natural　satin　robe；　loosely　belted；　which　clung　to　her　like　a　second　skin；　showed　off　her　ample　cleavage；　her　long　legs；　but　which　concealed　those　parts　of　her　body　which；　in　her　most　private　thoughts；　she　despised。　There　was　not　a　single　mirror　in　the　entire　apartment；　not　even　over　the　basin　in　the　bathroom；　yet　she　had　a　cupboard　full；　stashed　away；　it　was　a　popular　item。
　She　picked　up　the　phone。　'Yes。'
　'Darling；　what　took　you　so　long？'　Pear　said　in　her　ear。　'Something　horribly　naughty？'
　'Not　naughty　enough。'　Gelda　closed　her　eyes。
　Pear　chuckled。　'That's　my　girl。'　Her　voice　changed　gear　abruptly。　'G；　are　you　all　right？'
　'Sure；　why？'
　'You　haven't　been　out　much　lately。　Some　of　the　girls　were　asking；　that's　all。　They　miss　you。'
　'I　miss　them；　too；'　Gelda　said；　wondering　whether　she　meant　it　or　not。　'I've　been　thinking　a　lot；　Pear。'
　'My　dearest　darling；'　Pear　said　patiently；　'you　know　that　thinking　is　no　good　for　the　soul。　You've　got　to　get　out　more；　go　to　a　couple　of　parties。'
　'You　know　I　don't　do　that　sort　of　thing；'　Gelda　snapped。
　'Please。　I　wasn't　soliciting。'　Pear's　voice　seemed　pained　now。　'My　darling；　I　care　about　you。　Genuinely　care。'
　'I'm　worth　a　lot　to　you。'
　'Now　you　forget　that　kind　of　talk。　G。'　It　was　Pear's　turn　to　snap。　'You　are　just　being　contrary。　I　know　that　and　I　forgive　you　that　statement。　There　aren't　many　people　I　care　about　in　this　world　…　Lord　knows；　none　of　the　girls　…　but　you're　one　of　them。'
　Tm　one　of　your　girls；'　Gelda　said　stubbornly。
　She　heard　Pear's　exasperated　sigh　on　the　other　end　of　the　line。　'Darling；　need　I　remind　you　again　that　it　was　you　who　sought　me　out？　Yes；　I　provide　your　clientele；　but　they're　a　very　special　breed；　you　don't　need　me　to　tell　you　that。　One　thousand　dollars　a　night　is　nothing　to　look　down　your　nose　at。　You　could　perhaps　make　more　by　the　hour　but　what's　the　point；　darling？　That　won't　make　you　happy　and　this　does。　But　I　can　hardly　say　that　you　are　one　of　my　girls。　My　God；　what　a　difference！　People　ask　for　you；　my　darling。　That's　the　difference。'
　'Do　you　have　something　for　me？'　Gelda　asked　woodenly。
　Pear　sighed　again；　giving　up　for　the　moment。　'Yes。　Dare。　The　actress。　You　remember　…'
　'I　remember。'
　'She　only　wanted　you。'
　'All　right。'
　'Do　you　have　everything　you　need？'　Pear　inquired。
　Gelda　thought　for　a　minute。　'The　chaps　were　just　cleaned　but　the　silk　…'
　'I'll　have　Lawless　e　by　with　it　this　afternoon。　Anything　else？'
　Gelda　was　thinking　about　the　enormous　Remington　Navy　six…shooter　with　the　long　octagonal　barrel　and　the　polished　hardwood　stock　under　her　expert　guidance。　It　wasn't　called　a　six…shooter　for　nothing。　'Yes；'　she　said　dreamily；　'a　half　pound　of　lox　and　four　bagels。'　She　paused　for　a　moment。　'Pear；　be　sure　you　tell　him　no　onions；　not　when　I'm　working。'
　Pear　laughed　in　her　ear。　'That's　more　like　it。　You　know　tonight's　going　to　be　more　pleasure　than　business。'
　There　was　that　to　look　forward　to　at　least。　She　turned　to　look　out　of　the　window　at　the　bright　brittle　sunshine。　The　phone　slid　from　her　grip。　The　river　of　salt　winked　at　her；　dazzling。
　The　room　itself　was　constructed　entirely　of　wood。　Only　wooden　pegs　and　glue　had　been　used　in　the　laying　of　the　boards；　shiny　with　clear　lacquer。
　It　was　a　rectangle；　wider　than　it　was　deep；　with　a　high　ceiling。　The　light　was　soft　and　well　defined　in　every　corner　of　the　room。
　It　had　the　look　of　a　gymnasium　save　for　the　raised　dais　with　its　low　wooden　railing　that　ran　across　the　width　at　the　rear　of　the　room。　Otherwise　it　was　devoid　of　furniture　or　other　accoutrements。
　There　were　a　dozen　men　in　white　cotton　leggings　and　shirts；　lined　up　six　against　six　opposite　each　other。　Each　held　a　polished　wooden　stick；　round　with　a　shallow　hilt　guard。　Croaker　would　have　thought　of　them　as　swords　had　it　not　been　for　a　total　lack　of　cutting　edge　or　sharp　point。　The　men　were　maskless。　All　were　Japanese。　Most　were　in　their　early　or　middle　twenties　though　he　saw　one　teenager　and　two　who　were　obviously　nearer　forty。
　A　man　dressed　in　grey　stood　between　these　two　groups；　near　the　stairs　leading　up　to　the　low　dais。　He　was　small　in　stature。　He　was　hairless；　making　a　judgement　of　his　age　somewhat　more　difficult。　Croaker　put　it　somewhere　between　forty　and　fifty。　The　man　gave　a　piercing　cry　and　the　two　lines　advanced　two　quick　steps；　engaging　each　other　in　what　looked　to　him　like　ritualized　bat　using　the　wooden　sticks。
　'This　is　a　kenjutsu　class；　Lieutenant；'　Nicholas　said。　〃The　finest　in　the　Western　Hemisphere　and　parts　of　the　East　as　well。'　Croaker　watched；　fascinated；　as　the　men　advanced　and　retreated；　attacked　and　parried；　crying　out　in　unison。　But　it　all　seemed　so　slow　and　methodical　that　he　could　not　see　how　any　of　it　could　be　at　all　useful　in　a　fight。
　In　moments　there　came　a　soft　bell　tone　and；　at　a　sharp　mand　from　the　sensei；　the　men　stepped　back　and；　lifting　their　swords　in　unison；　bowed　deeply　to　each　other。　Then　they　wheeled　and　broke　up　into　quiet　groups。　Some　walked　to　the　sides　of　the　dojo　and　sat　on　their　thighs；　others　bent　and　stretched　where　they　were。　All　seemed　totally　involved　in　these　minute　actions。　/
　Nicholas　took　Croaker　across　the　polished　floor　to　where　the　kenjutsu　master　stood。　He　bowed　and　said　some　things；　in　Japanese；　to　the　small　man；　who　bowed　again　and　extended　his　hand　towards　Croaker。
　Uncertain；　Croaker　took　it。　It　was　as　ha