el.angeleyes-第22部分

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down　his　throat。　To　asphyxiate　is　far　from　pleasant；　but　to　die　in　that　way　is　monstrous。〃
　Irina　shuddered。　But　the　fact　was；　she　was　fascinated。　〃Do　you　know　what　happened　to　the　hafnium？''
　〃That　is；　as　the　Americans　say；　the　six…hundred…million…dollar　question。〃　Mars　sat　beside　her。　He　was　staring　at　her　nakedness；　and　she　could　clearly　see　the　effect　she　was　having　on　him。　She　could　feel　his　tension　like　a　song　in　the　darkness。　''It　was　logical　to　assume　that　terrorists　from　another　nation　had　seized　the　hafnium；　but　inquiries　were　made；　and　this　avenue　of　speculation　eventually　came　to　a　dead　end。　That　was　three　weeks　ago。〃
　〃Then　where　is　it？''　Irina　closed　her　fingers　around　the　thickening　snake　between　his　thighs。　She　leaned　over；　kissed　his　nipple。　〃You　know；　don't　you？〃
　〃I　do；〃　Mars　said　thickly。　〃And　I　don't。〃　He　closed　his　eyes。　〃The　hafnium　is　here；　inside　Russia。〃　his　breath　quickened。　〃But　oddly；　frighteningly；　we　do　not　know　who　has　it。〃
　Honno　Kansei　had　promised　herself　that　she　would　never　see　Big　Ezoe　again；　but　converging　events　now　dictated　that　she　must。　Karma。
　Big　Ezoe　inhabited　a　large；　almost　warehouselike　space　on　the　eastern　edge　of　Tokyo。　Honno　knew　that　he　must　be　very　rich　to　be　able　to　have　so　much　room　around　him。　That　was　unsurprising；　since　Big　Ezoe　was　oyabun；　overlord；　of　Tokyo's　most　powerful　Yakuza　family。　The　Yakuza　were　gangsters；　turning　the　shadowed　alleyways　of　Tokyo　into　their　own　private　underworld。　But　they　were　also　close…knit　families　of　gamblers；　eternal　losers　when　it　came　to　tossing　the　dice　of　heaven；　and　thus；　among　the　Japanese；　they　had　attained　something　of　the　status　of　myth。
　If　the　Yakuza　inhabited　an　almost　mythical　underworld；　then　Big　Ezoe　was　their　Charon；　for　he　had　so　many　fingers　in　a　multitude　of　legitimate　pies　that　surely　he　had　ferried　more　unsuspecting　souls　across　the　River　Styx　into　the　dangerous　land　the　Yakuza　controlled　than　anyone　else。　One　of　those　unfortunates　had　been　Honno　Kansei's　father。
　Honno　could　never　be　certain；　but　she　suspected　that　Big　Ezoe　had　killed　her　father。　Not　directly；　perhaps；　but　what　did　that　matter？　Honno's　father　had　been　an　inveterate　gambler。　Nothing　she　or　her　mother　could　say　had　any　effect　on　him。　He　gambled　at　the　Yakuza　parlors　and　lost。　And　when；　at　length；　he　had　lost　so　much　that　he　could　not　possibly　repay　them；　he　had　slipped…or；　Honno　suspected；　was　pushed…off　a　crowded　curb　into　the　path　of　an　oning　bus。　He　had　ended　up　beneath　the　wheels　with　his　back　broken　and　his　blood　running　in　a　river　along　the　gutter。　He　had　died　before　the　ambulance　could　get　him　to　the　hospital。
　As　Honno　approached　Big　Ezoe's　place；　she　could　remember　vividly　their　first…and　only…meeting。　She　had　walked　meekly　into　the　place；　asked　politely　to　see　Big　Ezoe。　When　she　was　refused；　she　said；　〃Tell　him　that　Noboru　Yamato's　daughter　is　here　to　repay　his　debts。〃
　Three　minutes　later　she　was　shown　into　Big　Ezoe's　office。　He　had　a　huge　smile　on　his　face。　Honno　had　stood　in　front　of　him；　drinking　in　the　sight　of　the　man　she　believed　to　be　her　father's　murderer。　Then；　her　heart　hammering　painfully　in　her　chest；　she　had　pulled　out　a　small　pistol；　aimed　it　at　Big　Ezoe's　head。
　Big　Ezoe　never　ceased　to　smile；　not　even　when　she　said；　〃You　broke　my　father's　back　and　his　spirit。　Why　are　you　smiling　at　me？〃
　Big　Ezoe　said；　〃To　show　fear　in　the　face　of　death　would　be　shameful。〃
　And　it　was　at　that　moment　that　Honno　had　understood　the　full　ramifications　of　what　she　was　about　to　do。　And；　simultaneously；　she　knew　that　she　could　not　do　it。　As　much　as　she　mourned　the　unnecessary　death　of　her　father；　she　could　not　avenge　it　in　this　way；　by　taking　the　life　of　another。　She　had　lowered　the　gun；　placed　it　on　Big　Ezoe's　desk。
　Now；　just　a　year　later；　desperation　had　driven　her　to　return　here；　the　last　place　on　earth　she　wanted　to　be。　It　sickened　her　to　have　to　e　here；　but　Big　Ezoe　had　a　power　she　needed。　He　was　a　monstrous　creature　and；　like　a　mythical　dragon；　an　unpredictable　one。
　As　Honno　entered　the　warehouse；　she　had　a　sense　of　displacement；　as　if　she　were　returning　to　the　past　and；　in　so　doing；　everything　else　was　about　to　be　lost　to　her。
　A　garden　had　grown　up　in　her　absence。　A　skylight　had　been　installed　in　the　center　of　the　high　ceiling；　and　below　it　a　perfect　square　was　displayed：　a　pebble　stream　with　a　steep　rock　bank　on　one　side；　a　grouping　of　ferns；　hostas；　a　dwarf　maple　on　the　other　side。　A　mini…stand　of　emerald…green　moso　bamboo　filled　one　corner；　creating　asymmetry；　the　tension　a　counterpoint　to　the　repose　that　was　essential　for　contemplation。
　Honno　was　taken　past　the　garden；　down　the　warren　of　corridors；　into　Big　Ezoe's　office。　He　regarded　her　silently　as　she　was　ushered　in；　left　alone　with　him。　The　room　was　filled　with　rarities：　antiques　both　delicate　（a　translucent　Chinese　celadon　vase）　and　earthy　（a　magnificent　suit　of　seventeenth　century　samurai　armor）；　a　wood…block　print　of　the　Great　Wave　by　Hokusai；　tran…scendant　with　power；　hanging　above　a　monumental　black　stone　Noguchi　fountain　that　gleamed　magically　with　an　endless　rippling　of　water　that　appeared　as　black　as　the　stone。
　Honno　took　this　all　in；　thinking。　How　could　a　man　as　base　as　he　is　have　the　good　taste　to　surround　himself　with　elements　of　such　ethereal　beauty？
　It　was　a　long　time　before　Big　Ezoe　moved。　When　he　did；　it　was　to　open　a　drawer；　reach　inside；　and　place　on　the　desk　the　pistol　Honno　had　aimed　at　him　one　year　ago。
　〃I　suppose；〃　he　said；　〃that　you've　returned　for　this。〃
　Honno　stared　at　the　gleaming　face　of　the　pistol。　Big　Ezoe　had　carefully　turned　the　barrel　away　from　her。　She　saw　in　the　bits　of　chrome　and　steel　the　mirror　of　her　past；　and　the　wound　of　her　father's　death　seemed　fresh　and　raw　again。
　〃If　the　hate　is　still　inside　you；〃　Big　Ezoe　said　placidly；　〃you　have　another　chance　to　act　on　it。''
　But　Honno　saw　only　another　chance　at　damnation。　〃You　keep　it；〃　she　said　thickly。　She　regained　control　of　herself　slowly　and　painfully。　〃Perhaps　you'll　find　some　use　for　it。〃
　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　t