el.angeleyes-第35部分
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an exception？
He had to have a weakness； some crack； no matter how tiny； in the armor of his power。 But what could it be？ Irina stared out the window into the blackness of the Moscow night。 The air was thick and heavy； almost as cloying as the atmosphere in the lobby of the old Moscow Arts Theater。
And Irina； in sudden inspiration； knew just where to start。 Her name was Natasha Mayakova。
Honno said； 〃What if Giin is already dead？〃
〃Then we'll hold a funeral；〃 Big Ezoe said。
Looking into her face； he laughed。 ''You know； being in love does something to you。〃
''I 'm not in love with Giin； if that's your implication；'' Honno said。 〃Have you forgotten Eikichi？ 〃
Big Ezoe said； 〃You're the one married to Eikichi Kansei； yet you aren't in love with him。''
〃Don't be an idiot；〃 she snapped。 〃Anyway； why are we talking about me when Giin and Sakata…san's ledgers are missing？〃
〃Because my men are doing everything possible to find both。 We have some time now。 Just the two of us。〃
〃Your tone is most offensive；〃 Honno said。 〃Do all Yakuza deal in innuendo？〃
〃Our stock in trade； Mrs。 Kansei。〃 He grinned。 〃Sit down。 If you keep pacing like that； you're apt to get a heart attack。''
Honno stopped in her tracks。 She was about to say something acid； realized how useless her sarcasm would be on him； sat down instead。
They were in Big Ezoe's office。 There was a great deal of activity outside in the warehouselike space。 Honno hoped at least some of it was related to the search for Giin and the ledgers。 She knew there were bodyguards around； but suspected that she would never quite manage to spot them all。
Honno had already spent two evenings out of the house； and； before Eikichi got suspicious； she knew she had to take some steps to ensure that she had uninterrupted time with Big Ezoe。 Accordingly； she took a few days off her job at Michita Industries。 She had to arrange for two women at Michita to cover her work while she was gone。
Eikichi often worked so late that rather regularly he went out afterward with some of his fellow prosecutors to eat； drink； and unwind。 But on the nights he was home at a more or less normal time； he expected his dinner to be prepared and waiting for him when he walked in。 If it was not there and； worse； neither was she； no explanation would be adequate。
Consequently； Honno told Eikichi that she was going to Osaka for several days to visit her aunt who was taken ill。 Eikichi knew that this aunt was Honno's favorite relative； the only member of her family with whom she had a normal relationship； and he had not questioned her decision。
Big Ezoe shook his head。 〃You look even more nervous sitting down than you did pacing about。〃 He came around from behind his desk。 〃This isn't the place for us。〃 He touched his hip beneath his suit jacket。 〃I have a beeper。 As soon as anything breaks； I'll be notified。 In the meantime； let's go somewhere where you can get rid of some of that excess energy。''
He took her in his gray steel…plated Mercedes to the Ginza； not to the great wide avenues clogged with tourists and traffic； enormous department stores； and neon signs； but to a quiet side street lined with ginkgo trees and wooden walls。 Behind one wall Honno found a minuscule garden； immaculate； with a stand of mini…bamboo； moss…laden rocks and a wellspring of tinkling water。
This was the home of Tokyo's most exclusive club； on a street of exclusive clubs。 There was a great deal of bowing and deferential treatment from the staff and from the managing director himself； who was immediately summoned from his inner sanctum on the second floor； which overlooked a stunning diamond…shaped atrium posed entirely of white marble slabs。
A man in a tuxedo was playing Erik Satie on a white concert grand piano。 An enormous spray of red peonies was artfully arranged in a white porcelain vase on the piano's top。 Behind him a very modern bination of glass and rice paper and ash shoji screens gave way to an inner courtyard of water； moss； ferns； and dwarf azalea； all amid rocks that suggested mountains； time； and great distance。
They were taken downstairs in a stainless…steel elevator。 There Honno and Big Ezoe split up。 〃See you in the dojo；〃 he said。 Honno was escorted by a woman attendant into a rich； cedar…lined changing room； given a white cotton gi…the traditional martial arts attire； loose…fitting and fortable。 She was shown where to bathe； and afterward she returned to the changing room； donned her gi。
Big Ezoe was waiting for her in a magnificent dojo。 The walls and ceiling were paneled in kyoki wood； the space below the ceiling hung with banners of the ancient daimyo； the feudal warlords of old Japan。 The floor was tatami mats； and the lighting was indirect； making the dojo evenly lit wherever one happened to be on the tatami。
〃What do you think you're doing？〃 Honno asked。 〃How do you know I've had any martial arts training？〃
〃I'm good at this；〃 Big Ezoe said。 〃Trust me。〃 And when Honno burst out laughing； he said； 〃That's better。 Let's get rid of some of your nervous tension； hm？〃 He began to circle her； watching her react to him as he did so。 〃Jiujitsu；〃 he said。 〃Some tai chi。 And； judging by the way you hold your hands； some aikido。〃
He moved in low and fast； going for her knees； but Honno used a basic irimi； a neutralization technique。 Big Ezoe countered this； and Honno automatically went into a counterattack。 As she did so； she felt the expansion of her wa； her central core of intrinsic energy。 It was a wonderful feeling； a sudden release； an elation like a balloon rising into the air currents or a big fish breaking free of a line that had hooked it。
〃That's better；〃 Big Ezoe said； attacking again。
Despite his girth； he was light on his feet； agile and frighteningly quick。 But Honno soon had a handle on his strategy。 He liked to attack endlessly； giving no respite； figuring that eventually fatigue would cause his opponent to make a mistake。 Soon after； she discovered the flaw in his strategy。 The endless stream of his attacks left minute openings for a counter。 One had to be so quick as to anticipate his next attack； or one would have no chance of getting through before its onset。 But it could be done。
Honno bided her time； using one irimi after another to neutralize him； while dropping her earlier strategy of counterattack…ing。 She needed the extra time to try to anticipate his next move。
She found him in a series of attacks familiar to her； and she thought。 Now is the time。 She deflected the first； the second； then； anticipating the third in the series； launched herself at the gap as it began to open。
But when； using the spirit of dawn； she came through the opening in his defense； she found him ready for her。 Too late； she recognized the trap he had deliberately； patiently set for her。 She could only marvel at his expertise as he took her down to the tatami； the callused edge of his hand against her throat。
He grunted； came up； pulled her off the that after him。''Very good； Mrs。 Kansei。 But not good enough。〃
They met an hour and a half later； at the club's third…floor restaurant。 In the interim Honno had been bathed； oiled； massaged； bathed again。 She had found her clothes waiting for her； cleaned and pressed； in the fragrant changing room。
The restaurant was； in cool contrast to the club's white marble entrance below； a sea of gray unpolished granite； almost colorless； but vibrant with texture。 A long line of narrow windows that ran its length overlooked the rigid grid of the city； the restricted view refining Tokyo's geometrics into a pattern that was so intense it became almost abstract； a kind of art。
〃Has your office been in touch with you yet？〃 Honno asked as she sat down opposite Big Ezoe。
〃You must learn patience； Mrs。 Kansei；〃 he said。 A uniformed waiter poured chilled white wine into their glasses。 〃It was your lack of patience that betrayed you in the dojo。''
Honno put aside the elegant menu； said； 〃I want to know what's happened to Giin。 And I want to get the ledgers back。〃
Big Ezoe sipped at his wine； contemplated her。 〃Just so we get something clear…because this is quite important…is it your late friend Sakata's ledgers you care about or this professor Giin's life？〃
〃Well； both； of course！〃
〃But if it came down to it； and you could only retrieve one； the ledgers or Giin；'' Big Ezoe said as patiently as if he were explaining this to a child； 〃which would you choose？〃
〃Are you serious；〃 Honno said； 〃or is this another one of your jokes？〃
〃I assure you； I am quite serious。〃
〃But it's an impossible question to answer。〃
〃It is not。〃
〃What kind of creature are you？〃 Honno said angrily。 Then； 〃All right。 There's only one answer possible。 Giin's life is far more important than a couple of books with chicken scratching all over them。〃
〃Is that so？〃 Big Ezoe eyed her over the rim of his glass。 〃And what about your promise to Sakata…san； Mrs。 Kansei？ What about giri？'
Honno felt shame flood through her。 In her anxiety over Giin's safety； she had pletely forgotten about the burden of debt she owed Sakata。 〃But of course this is a moot question；〃 she said hurriedly。 〃You're giving an imaginary example。 It doesn't matter how I answer。''
〃Oh； but it most certainly does matter。〃 Big Ezoe put down his glass。 〃I have given you a Zen riddle； and if you think answering it is a pointless exercise or it is merely plying with a whim of mine； you are gravely mistaken。 Zen riddles； Mrs。 Kansei； are meant as doorways through which one may resolve the contradictions of one's own spirit。
〃I told you earlier that you must be prepared for anything。 You assured me you were； you gave me your word。 Now； when we e to the first difficult fording of a stream； you balk or give me an ill…considered reply。 This is not the way of the warrior； Mrs。 Kansei。 What would your late friend； Sakata…san； think of your behavior？''
With that； Honno put her face in her hands； and began to weep。 Big Ezoe watched impassively until her shoulders ceased to shake。 Then he said； 〃Why did you do that？〃
〃I was a fool to attempt to act out of giri；〃 Honno said。 ''The weight of burden is not meant for a woman。 It takes a man's strength。〃
〃Nonse
