ericlustbader.the ninja-第42节

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　Nicholas's　call　made　Doc　Deerforth　uneasy；　and　while　Nicholas　had　been　brief；　he'd　given　more　than　enough　for　Doc　Deerforth　to　chew　on。
　He　had　appointments　until　twelve…thirty　but　directly　his　last　patient　said　good…bye；　he　left　the　office　and　drove　out　to　Dune　Road。　He　had　been　in　constant　touch　with　Ray　Florum；　of　course；　but　there　had　been　no　progress　on　the　two　murder　cases　and；　reluctantly；　he　had　had　to　let　the　county　detectives　in。　Not　that　it　would　do　any　good；　Doc　Deerforth　thought　sourly　as　he　drove　across　the　steel　drawbridge　onto　Dune　Road：　the　county　people　were　like　the　Keystone　Kops；　all　gung…ho　and　no　expertise。
　He　turned　right　and　settled　back。　Gulls　rose；　wheeling　over　the　water　on　his　left；　circling　about　the　two　stories　of　The　Crosstree；　Dune　Road's　newest　condominium。　It　was　tan　and　dark　brown　with　a　maze　of　outside　staircases　on　this；　the　landward　side。　Soon　the　condominiums　gave　grudging　way　to　private　houses。
　The　thought　of　the　ninja　haunted　him　all　the　way　out　to　Justine's　house。　Ever　since　he　had　bee　aware　of　the　evidence；　he　hadn't　had　a　decent　night's　sleep。　In　dreams　he　would　return　to　the　steaming　jungles；　to　the　mortar　fire　by　day；　the　snipers'　fire　by　night。　But　it　was　one　specific　night　he　dreaded　most　of　all　and　even　in　his　dreams　he　fought　against　remembering。　Soon；　he　knew；　he　would　have　to　resort　to　chloral　hydrate　to　knock　himself　into　a　dreamless　abyss。
　He　parked　the　car　on　the　side　of　the　house；　took　the　elevated　slatted…wood　pathway　over　the　dunes　and　scrub　grass　to　the　beach。　He　went　up　the　stairs；　knocked　on　the　screen　door。　Behind　him　the　water　surged　and；　down　the　beach；　he　could　hear　the　cries　of　children　as　they　ran　into　the　surf。　A　shaggy　dog　barked；　leaping　along　the　sand　in　pursuit　of　a　wobbling　Frisbee。　The　sand　was　a　patchwork　of　oiled　bodies；　brightly　coloured　blankets　and　striped　sun　umbrellas。　A　cool　breeze　blew　in　off　the　water　and；　for　a　moment　at　least；　there　came　the　drone　of　an　airplane。
　Justine　came　to　the　door；　opened　it。　She　smiled。　'Hi。　What　brings　you　out　here？'
　'Nothing　special；'　Doc　Deerforth　lied。　'I　was　out　this　way　and　thought　I'd　say　hello。　Haven't　seen　you　since　the　beginning　of　the　summer。'
　Justine　laughed　as　she　stepped　back　to　let　him　in；　Thank　God　that　allergy　doesn't　last　for　long。　I　couldn't　endure　it　all　summer。'　She　went　into　the　kitchen。　'Would　you　like　a　drink？'　And　when　he　nodded；　she　added；　'Gin　and　tonic？'
　'Fine。'
　She　went　about　fixing　it。
　'Seems　quiet　around　here；'　he　said。　'Had　any　visitors？'　'What？'　she　said　over　the　sound　of　cracking　ice。　'I　can't　hear　you？'
　He　went　into　the　kitchen。　'Any　visitors　lately？'　She　handed　him　his　drink；　began　to　make　hers。　'Only　Nicholas。'　She　tasted　it。　'Umm。　But　that's　the　way　I　like　it。　I've　never　been　fortable　with　a　lot　of　people；　not　at　home　at　least。'　They　went　into　the　living　room；　sat　on　the　sofa。　'In　business；　it's　different。　I　don't　like　to　mix　the　two。'
　Doc　Deerforth　nodded。　'I　know　what　you　mean。　I　don't　like　to　either。〃
　She　regarded　him　over　the　rim　of　her　tall　glass。　She　pressed　the　condensation　against　her　lip；　rolling　the　glass。　'Tell　me；　Doc；'　she　said。　'You　didn't　e　all　the　way　out　here　to　exchange　pleasantries；　did　you？'　'I　came　to　see　how　you　were。'　'I'm　not　ill；'　she　pointed　out。
　Doc　Deerforth　smiled。　'I　didn't　say　anything　about　that。　This　isn't　a　business　call。'
　'I　see。'　Her　eyes　wouldn't　let　him　get　away。　'Did　Nicholas　call　you？'
　He　laughed；　relieved。　'You　know；　you　remind　me　of　Kathy；　my　youngest。　Nothing　gets　past　her；　either。'　He　shook　his　head。　'Nicholas　called　this　morning。'
　'I　wish　he'd　called　me　instead；'　Justine　said。　'I　wish　he　hadn't　gone　into　the　city。'
　'He　had　to；　from　what　I　gathered。'　Doc　Deerforth　put　his　drink　down。　'Anyway；　you　could've　gone　in　with　him。'
　She　shook　her　head。　'Too　much　work　and；　besides；　they　were　his　friends。　I'd　just　be　out　of　place。　I've　got　no　desire　to　tag　along　after　him。'　She　took　a　sip。　'We　each　have　our　own　lives。　Where　they　touch；　well　…　that's　where　we　love。　The　involvement　…　we're　like　two　fiercely　spinning　wheels；　each　with　its　own　orbit。　We　lean　towards　each　other；　we　touch　hesitantly；　we　calculate　how　far　each　of　us　can　go　without　disturbing　the　orbits；'
　'What　happens　if　you　go　too　far；'　Doc　Deerforth　said；　'and　your　…　orbits；　as　you　put　it　…　are　disturbed？'
　Justine　unfolded　herself；　went　across　the　room　to　stare　out　at　the　hot　beach　and　the　cool　curling　surf。　'In　that　event；'　she　said；　her　voice　as　thin　as　a　ghost's；　I'm　　afraid　it　would　be　disastrous。'
　'The　girls　will　take　care　of　you；　m'sieur。'　The　maitre　d'　hotel　moved　a　little　to　his　right；　lifting　an　arm　towards　the　steep；　dark　staircase。　He　touched　his　thin　moustache　with　a　forefinger；　stroked　it。
　'You　know；　I　thought　you'd　take　me　to　that　place　on　Park；'　Nicholas　said。　'You　know；　downtown。'　They　were　in　the　low　Fifties　on　the　East　Side。
　'You　mean　the　Belmore　Cafeteria？'　Croaker　said。　'Jesus；　I　leave　that　to　the　undercover　bastards。　Christ；　I　wouldn't　go　there　for　a　proper　meal。'
　It　was　quiet　on　the　second　floor；　only　a　table　near　the　door　was　occupied。　The　far　end　of　the　room　was　on　an　elevated　platform　beside　a　row　of　windows。
　The　two　waitresses　were　pretty。　They　wore　dark　tops　and　short　skirts。　They　spoke　with　accents。
　Croaker　requested　a　window　table　and　one　waitress　led　them　up　the　steps。　She　left　them　with　menus　after　taking　their　drink　order。
　'How　long　did　you　know　Tanaka？'　Croaker　asked。　His　eyes　scanned　the　opened　menu。
　'About　six　years；'　Nicholas　said。　'We　met　in　kenjutsu　class。'
　'Here？'
　'Yeah。　I　still　go　there。　I'll　take　you　after　lunch。'
　Tart　of　my　education；　huh？　Humm；　I　think　I'll　take　the　bacon　and　eggs。'　The　girl　came　up；　placed　their　drinks　on　the　table；　a　Kir　for　Nicholas；　a　dark　Myer's　rum　on　the　rocks　for　Croaker。　Croaker　gave　her　his　order；　Nicholas　ordered　the　same。　When　she　had　left；　he　continued。　'This　dojo。　Where'd　Tanaka　get　the　bread　for　it？'
　'Worked　mostly；　I　expect。'　Nicholas　took　a　long　swallow　of　the　Perrier。　'And　I　think　he　had　a　bit　of　money　when　he　came　over　here。　His　mother　had　left　him　some　before　she　died。'
　'How　much？'
　Nicholas　shrugged。　'I　have　no　idea。　His　family　was　wealthy　but　there　are　nine　children。'
　'Where　are　they？'
　'As　far　as　I　know；　they're　all　in　Japan。　Terry　was　the　only　one　who　left。'
　'And　the　father？'
　'Killed　during　the　war。'
　'Um　hum。'　Croaker　shook　his　head。　'Still；　it　takes　an　awful　lot　of　cash　or　collateral　to　open　up　a　business　here。'
　'What　are　you　getting　at？'
　Croaker　shrugged；　took　a　pull　of　his　drink。　'You　know　about　bread。　You　need；　you　get。　Sometimes　it　isn't　so　easy　to　pay　it　back。　People　get　antsy；　they　don't　want　to　wait。'
　Nicholas　shook　his　head。　〃The　only　business　partner　Terry　had　in　the　dojo　was　Chase　Manhattan　and　he　paid　them　off　nine　months　ago。　The　dojo　was　thriving。'
　'Someone　wanted　in。'
　'Uh　uh。　Lieutenant　…'
　Croaker　lifted　a　hand；　palm　outward。　'Just　going　over　all　the　possibilities。　You　so　sure　he　was　straight？　I　mean；　you　weren't　with　him　twenty…four　hours　a　day。'
　'I　didn't　have　to　be。　I　knew　him。　Believe　me；　there's　no　illegal　involvement。　At　least；　not　in　the　way　you　think。'
　'Which　leads　us　back　to　bushido；　right？'　He　was　interrupted　by　the　food。　He　waited　until　the　waitress　had　gone　before　he　said；　'You　know；　Linnear；　for　those　two　stiffs　being　your　friends　you　certainly　aren't　broken　up　about　it。'
　Nicholas　sat　perfectly　still。　A　pulse　beat　strongly　in　the　side　of　his　neck；　a　cool　wind　seemed　to　blow　through　his　brain。　There　were　haunting　echoes；　as　if　he　were　hearing　the　words　of　his　ancestors　carried　to　him　through　the　corridors　of　time。　Beneath　the　table；　his　fingers　were　as　stiff　as　knives；　his　thigh　muscles　like　steel。　He　required　no　blade；　no　concealed　weapon。　There　was　only　himself；　as　deadly　a　killing　machine　as　ever　was　created　in　any　country　at　any　time。
　Croaker　was　staring　into　his　eyes。　'It's　all　right；〃　he　said　softly。　He　gestured　with　the　tines　of　his　fork；　laced　with　running　yolk。　'Your　food's　getting　cold。'　He　went　to　work　on　his　own　and　never　knew　just　how　close　he　had　e　to　being　killed。
　There　was　anger　and　then　there　was　anger。　Just　as　there　were　insults　and　there　were　insults。　Lew　Croaker　was　just　another　dumb　Westerner；　Nicholas　told　himself　as　he　ate。　He　had　no　idea　what　he　was　doing　or　what　effect　his　words　would　have。　He　had　said　what　he　had　in　order　to　find　out；　to　read　their　effect　in　Nicholas's　face。　There　should　have　been　no　reaction　at　all。　Bujutsu　had　taught　him　that。　But　it　had　been　a　long　time　and　he　had　been　off　his　guard　because　he　had　been　with　a　Westerner。
　Which　just　goes　to　show　you；　Nicholas　thought。　Danger　es　cloaked　in　many　forms。　Not　that　he　thought　of　Lew　Croaker　as　any　kind　of　danger；　far　from　it。　But；　he　realized；　ignorance　brings　its　own　kind　of　danger　and　Croaker　had　unwittingly　put　his　head　on　the　block。
　Croaker　glanced　up　at　him　from　time　to　time　as　they　ate；　as　Nicholas　tried　to　define　the　plex　concept　of　bushido　to　him。　Obedience　might　be　the　basis　but；　to　Western　minds　at　least；　that　word　had　such　a　pejorative　nature　that　it　seemed　like　the　wrong　beginning。　Because　bushido　was　defined　not　only　by　sociology　and