el.angeleyes-第77节

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　〃Sensitive　guy。〃
　〃The　odd　thing　was；　he　was　sensitive；〃　Ton　said。　〃Just　selectively　so。　He　was　like　a　searchlight。　Whatever　was　illuminated　by　his　attention　was　so　well　taken　care　of。　But　as　soon　as　the　beam　moved　on；　the　subject　was　left　alone　in　the　dark。〃
　〃Like　Fukuda。〃
　Tori　nodded。　''Yen　said　the　affair　was　winding　down；　at　least　as　far　as　he　was　concerned。　It　was　fun；　he　admitted；　getting　off　on　the　danger。　Until　it　got　too　intense。　Perhaps　that　was　his　way　of　giving　me　a　warning　for　what　I　might　conceive　of　as　our　future　together。〃
　〃In　other　words；　there　wasn't　to　be　any；〃　Russell　said。
　〃Not　necessarily。　I　think　he　was　saying　there　was　going　to　be　a　future　only　if　he　wanted　it。〃
　〃Nice。〃
　''But　isn't　that　typical　of　men？''
　〃Tori；　don't　start。　Most　women　have　minds　of　their　own；　too。〃
　〃Yes；　but　it's　what's　been　drummed　into　those　minds　that　troubles　me。〃　She　shrugged。　〃Anyway；　as　far　as　Yen　was　concerned；　he　wanted　us　to　start　where　we　left　off　that　afternoon　in　the　Kokedera。　I　did　my　best　to　dissuade　him。''
　〃I'll　bet。〃
　〃All　right。　Part　of　me　wanted　to　be　with　him。　I've　never　aspired　to　sainthood。　What　possible　good　would　it　do　me？　I'm　only　human。〃
　〃From　this　confession　can　I　assume　that　you　allowed　the　affair　to　continue？''
　Tori　was　silent　for　some　time。　''In　a　matter　of　speaking；''　she　said　after　a　while。
　〃You're　going　to　have　to　do　better　than　that；〃　Russell　said。　But　there　was　no　edge　to　his　voice；　for　which　Tori　was　grateful。
　〃The　affair　continued；〃　she　said；　〃only　under　my　conditions。　Which　were　that　we　not　be　seen　in　public　together；　and　that　I　never　under　any　circumstances　e　to　his　house。　And　it　worked；　for　a　while。　I　continued　to　mind　the　business　aspect；　hoping　at　some　point　to　hint　to　him　my　interest　as　an　investor　in　unconventional　multinational　deals。
　〃I　never　got　the　chance　to　make　my　pitch。　A　territorial　war　erupted　between　Hitasura　and　Big　Ezoe。　Fukuda　was　recalled　from　Kyoto；　where　she　had　been　managing　a　large；　plicated　arms　deal　for　Big　Ezoe；　and　that　was　that。
　〃Within　twenty…four　hours　of　Fukuda　setting　foot　in　Tokyo；　she　knew　Yen　was　seeing　someone　else。　Within　forty…eight　hours；　she　had　discovered　that　that　someone　was　me。〃
　〃Efficient　bitch；〃　Russell　said。
　〃You　don't　know　the　half　of　it；〃　Tori　said。　〃She　methodically　tracked　me　down。　She　had　more　contacts　than　I　had；　and　a　great　deal　more　obsessiveness。　In　the　end；　it　was　Deke　who　warned　me；　but　by　then　it　was　too　late。　Fukuda　was　locked　on　to　me；　and　I　couldn't　shake　her。〃
　〃What　happened？〃　Russell's　expression　showed　that　he　was　plainly　fascinated　by　this　dance　of　death。
　Tori　described　the　confrontation　in　the　tunnels　below　Tokyo。　〃When　the　explosive　she　threw　tore　open　my　hip；　Fukuda　knew　I　was　helpless。　Then　she　heard　the　train　ing；　and　she　left　me　on　the　tracks　to　die。''
　〃Stupid　of　her。〃
　〃Yes。　Hitasura　got　to　me　before　the　train　did。〃
　〃That's　too　bad　for　Fukuda；〃　Russell　said。
　Tori　couldn't　help　laughing　at　his　bravado；　even　though　she　knew　that　where　Fukuda　was　concerned；　nothing　was　amusing。
　Then　he　said；　〃Damnit；　you　should　have　told　me　all　this　at　your　original　debriefing。''
　〃You　wouldn't　have　listened；〃　Tori　said。　〃At　that　point　in　time　you　weren't　interested　in　my　views　about　anything。〃
　〃That　judgment　wasn't　for　you　to　make。〃
　〃It's　the　truth。〃
　〃You　were　under　discipline；〃　Russell　said。　〃The　truth　has　absolutely　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃
　He　was　right；　of　course；　but　Tori　was　damned　if　she　was　going　to　give　him　the　satisfaction　of　eliciting　an　apology　from　her。
　〃Hitasura　is　ing；〃　Big　Ezoe　said　in　Fukuda's　ear。
　〃I　can　see　the　vehicle　now；〃　she　said　into　the　pinpoint　mike　wrapped　around　her　head。
　''Where　are　you？''
　''At　the　Kinji…to；''　Fukuda　said。　It　was　amazing；　she　thought；　what　the　new　fiber　optics　could　do。　Big　Ezoe　sounded　as　if　he　were　inside　her　head　instead　of　some　miles　away。
　〃Good；〃　the　voice　in　her　head　said。　〃Everything　is　ready。　You　are　the　guide。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Fukuda　said。　She　could　see　the　moving　van　ing　her　way；　and　she　stepped　inside　the　glass…doored　entrance　to　the　Kinji…to。　〃That　is　what　you　trained　me　to　be。〃
　〃Hitasura　has　an　ally。''
　〃From　your　tone　of　voice；〃　Fukuda　said；　〃I'm　sure　it's　someone　I　know。''
　〃Tori　Nunn。〃　。
　There　was　an　exhalation　from　Fukuda；　soft；　but　with　an　instant　sense　of　forewarning；　〃In　that　event；〃　she　said；　〃don't　bring　Koi　in　too　quickly。　I　want　my　chance。〃
　〃Last　chance；〃　Big　Ezoe　said。
　〃Not　mine。　Tori's。〃
　Hitasura　said；　〃We're　here。〃
　〃Where's　here？〃　Russell　asked。
　The　moving　van　had　pulled　over　to　the　curb；　and　Hitasura　was　ushering　them　out　of　the　mobile　living　room。　He　pointed　upward　as　they　climbed　off　the　rear　of　the　van。　They　were　parked　in　front　of　a　massive　postmodern　structure　that　soared　upward　in　pyramid　fashion；　an　artistic　chunk　of　twisted　chromium；　steel；　orange…rusted　iron；　all　dominated　by　enormous　green…tinted　windows。
　At　this　time　of　the　night　the　building　acted　like　a　mirror；　reflecting　the　spectroscopic　patterns　of　the　city's　skyscrapers；　neon　lights；　the　movement　of　its　traffic　in　odd；　skewed　angles。
　〃This　is　the　Kambata　Museum；〃　Hitasura　said。　〃But　for　obvious　reasons；　everyone　calls　it　the　Kinji…to；　the　pyramid。〃　He　began　walking　toward　it。　〃It's　new　since　you　were　last　here；　Tori。　It　houses　quite　an　amazing　array　of　martial　arts　antiquities。〃　He　glanced　at　the　entrance。　〃It's　Monday。　The　museum's　closed　to　the　public。〃
　〃This　is　where　Fukuda　was　last　seen？〃　Russell　asked。
　〃It's　where　she　is；〃　Hitasura　said。
　〃Then　she's　here　for　a　reason；''　Tori　said。
　Hitasura　nodded。　〃You're　the　expert　on　Fukuda。〃
　〃Do　you　think　there's　any　chance　she's　been　tipped　off　that　we're　after　her？〃　Russell　asked。
　Tori　looked　at　Hitasura；　who　shrugged。　''In　the　end；　it　doesn't　matter；〃　she　said；　moving　up　the　granite　and　steel　front　steps。　〃We've　got　to　go　in　and　get　her。〃
　But　Russell；　right　behind　her；　caught　her　shoulder；　spun　her　around。　''You're　wrong。　Tori；''　he　said。　''It　matters　a　great　deal。　If　she　knows　we're　ing；　there's　a　good　chance　she's　prepared　for　us。　Knowing　that　should　change　our　strategy。〃
　''Okay；''　Tori　said；　''how　should　it　change？''
　〃I'd　like　to　get　more　people　here；　for　one　thing。〃
　Tori　shook　her　head。　〃We've　got　to　make　as　little　noise　as　possible。　The　more　of　Hitasura's　people　we　call　in；　the　better　chance　we　have　of　bringing　the　Tokyo　Metropolitan　Police　down　on　us。〃
　Russell　thought　about　this　for　a　moment　as　his　eyes　searched　hers。　At　last　he　said；　so　that　only　Tori　could　hear　him；　〃I　don't　like　being　involved　in　vendettas。　They're　invariably　unhealthy　from　any　point　of　view。''
　Tori　gave　him　a　brief　nod。　''I　understand。〃　Then；　for　just　a　moment；　her　expression　softened；　and　she　said；　〃Russ；　did　you　ever　have　an　itch　you　couldn't　get　to？　Tell　me；　what　would　you　do　if　you　suddenly　got　a　chance　to　scratch　an　itch　like　that？〃
　Russell's　hand　fell　away　from　her　shoulder。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　''at　least　you'll　have　me　to　look　after　you。''
　Tori　grinned　at　him；　and　the　three　of　them　went　up　the　steps。　The　front　doors　were　closed　but　unlocked。　Russell　looked　briefly　at　the　lock　to　see　if　it　had　been　jimmied　open；　there　was　no　damage　that　he　could　see。　Had　Fukuda　picked　the　lock　or　did　she　somehow　have　a　key？
　Clandestinely；　Russell　checked　his　armaments：　。32　caliber　Colt；　lightweight　titanium…handled　boot　knife；　garroting　wire　with　wooden　handles。　Everything　checked；　but　somehow　he　did　not　feel　all　that　much　better。　This　Fukuda　sounded　more　like　a　ghost　than　any　woman　he　had　ever　met。　He　could　feel　the　fear　emanating　from　both　Hitasura　and　Tori；　and　it　worried　him。
　Tori；　leading　them　slowly　into　the　interior　of　the　Kinji…to；　was　thinking　of　Sun　Tzu。　If　you　cannot　choose　the　ground　for　war；　he　had　written；　make　certain　you　choose　the　time。　Tori　wondered　whether　she　would　have　that　option。　Not；　she　knew；　if　Fukuda　had　anything　to　say　about　it。
　They　were　moving　through　the　vast　hall　that　made　up　the　centerpiece　of　the　museum's　main　space。　Enormous　slabs　of　green…tinted　glass　hung　suspended　three　stories　over　their　heads。　Their　intervals　and　angles　brought　to　mind　a　futuristic　version　of　the　assembly　of　war　banners　arrayed　in　the　great　rooms　of　medieval　castles。
　On　either　side　of　the　central　aisle　down　which　they　made　their　way；　the　hall　was　filled　with　exquisite　examples　of　armor　from　as　far　back　as　the　tenth　century　all　the　way　to　the　early　nineteenth　century。
　Tori；　Hitasura；　and　Russell　moved　through　this　thrilling　yet　somber　reminder　of　Japan's　past；　a　unique　entity　in　which　the　lines　of　history　and　myth　were　often　blurred　and；　more；　exchanged　places。
　Tori　paused。　She　could　hear　what　at　first　sounded　like　the　rough　soughing　of　a　storm　wind　through　pine　boughs。　Then；　as　she　listened　more　closely；　as　the　sound　built；　guttural；　throaty；　it　became　the　noise　of　the　stalking　lion；　a　great　predatory　beast　about　to　open　wide　its　jaws　as　it　came　upon　the　exposed　flank　of　its　prey。
　〃What　in　God's　name　is　that？〃　Russell　said。　The　short　hairs　at　the　back　of　his　neck　had　begun　to　stir。
　〃She's　here　somewhere；〃　Hitasura　whispered。
　〃Yo…ibuki；〃　Tori　said　to　Russell。　〃In　karate　there　are　two　forms　of　breathing。　Yo…ibuki