mc.risingsun-第41节

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　Ron　sighed。　〃Typical　bullshit；〃　he　said。
　On　the　screen；　Professor　Rawlings　was　saying；　〃I　think　the　American　people　are　rather　ungrateful　for　the　help　our　country　is　getting　from　foreign　investors。〃
　Ron　laughed。　〃Rawlings　is　part　of　the　group　we　call　the　Chrysanthemum　Kissers。　Academic　experts　who　deliver　the　Japanese　propaganda　line。　They　don't　really　have　a　choice；　because　they　need　access　to　Japan　to　work；　and　if　they　start　to　sound　critical；　their　contacts　in　Japan　dry　up。　Doors　are　closed　to　them。　And　in　America；　the　Japanese　will　whisper　in　certain　ears　that　the　offending　person　is　not　to　be　trusted；　or　that　their　views　are　'out　of　date。'　Or　worse　…　that　they're　racist。　Anybody　who　criticizes　Japan　is　a　racist。　Pretty　soon　these　academics　begin　to　lose　speaking　engagements　and　consulting　jobs。　They　know　that's　happened　to　their　colleagues　who　step　out　of　line。　And　they　don't　make　the　same　mistake。〃
　Connor　came　back　into　the　room。　He　said；　〃Is　there　anything　illegal　about　this　MicroCon　sale？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Ron　said。　〃Depending　on　what　Washington　decides　to　do。　Akai　Ceramics　already　has　sixty　percent　of　the　American　market。　MicroCon　will　give　it　a　virtual　monopoly。　If　Akai　were　an　American　pany；　the　government　would　block　the　sale　on　antitrust　grounds。　But　since　Akai　is　not　an　American　pany；　the　sale　isn't　scrutinized　closely。　In　the　end；　it'll　probably　be　allowed。〃
　〃You　mean　a　Japanese　pany　can　have　a　monopoly　in　America　but　an　American　pany　can't？〃
　〃That's　the　usual　oute　these　days；〃　Ron　said。　〃But　American　laws　often　promote　the　sale　of　our　panies　to　foreigners。　Like　Matsushita　buying　Universal　Studios。　Universal's　been　for　sale　for　years。　Several　American　panies　tried　to　buy　it；　but　couldn't。　Westinghouse　tried　in　1980。　No　deal：　violates　antitrust。　RCA　tried。　No　deal：　violates　conflict　of　interest。　But　when　Matsushita　came　in；　there　were　no　laws　against　it　at　all。　Recently　our　laws　changed。　Under　present　law；　RCA　could　buy　Universal。　But　back　then；　no。　MicroCon　is　just　the　latest　example　of　crazy　American　regulations。〃
　I　said；　〃But　what　do　American　puter　panies　say　about　the　MicroCon　sale？〃
　Ron　said；　〃American　panies　don't　like　the　sale。　But　they　don't　oppose　it；　either。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Because　American　panies　feel　over…regulated　by　the　government　already。　Forty　percent　of　all　American　exports　are　covered　by　security　regulations。　Our　government　doesn't　allow　our　puter　panies　to　sell　to　Eastern　Europe。　The　cold　war　is　over　but　the　regulations　still　exist。　Meanwhile　the　Japanese　and　Germans　are　selling　products　like　mad。　So　the　Americans　want　less　regulation。　And　they　see　any　attempt　to　block　the　MicroCon　sale　as　government　interference。〃
　I　said；　〃It　still　doesn't　make　sense　to　me。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　Ron　said。　〃The　American　panies　are　going　to　get　killed　in　the　next　few　years。　Because　if　Japan　is　the　sole　source　of　chip…making　machines；　they're　in　a　position　to　withhold　the　machines　from　American　panies。〃
　〃Would　they　do　that？〃
　〃They've　done　it　before；〃　Ron　said。　〃Ion　implanters　and　other　machines。　But　the　American　panies　can't　get　together。　They　squabble　among　themselves。　And　meanwhile　the　Japanese　are　buying　high…tech　panies　at　the　rate　of　about　one　every　ten　days。　For　the　last　six　years。　We're　being　disemboweled。　But　our　government　doesn't　pay　attention；　because　we　have　something　called　CFIUS　…　the　mittee　on　Foreign　Investment　in　the　United　States　…　that　monitors　the　sale　of　high…tech　panies。　Except　CFIUS　never　does　anything。　Of　the　last　five　hundred　sales；　only　one　was　blocked。　pany　after　pany　gets　sold；　and　nobody　in　Washington　says　boo。　Finally；　Senator　Morton　makes　a　stink；　and　says　'Wait　a　minute　here。'　But　nobody's　listening　to　him。〃
　〃The　sale　is　going　through　anyway？〃
　〃That's　what　I　heard　today。　The　Japanese　PR　machine　is　hard　at　work；　cranking　out　favorable　publicity。　And　they　are　tenacious。　They　are　on　top　of　everything。　I　mean　everything…　〃
　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door；　and　a　blond　woman　stuck　her　head　in。　〃Sorry　to　disturb　you；　Ron；〃　she　said；　〃but　Keith　just　got　a　call　from　the　Los　Angeles　representative　for　NHK；　Japanese　national　television。　He　wants　to　know　why　our　reporter　is　bashing　Japan。〃
　Ron　frowned。　〃Bashing　Japan？　What's　he　talking　about？〃
　〃He　claims　our　reporter　said　on　air；　'The　damn　Japanese　are　taking　over　this　country。'　〃
　〃e　on；〃　Ron　said。　〃Nobody　would　say　that　…　on　air。　Who's　supposed　to　have　said　that？〃
　〃Lenny。　In　New　York。　Over　the　backhaul；〃　the　woman　said。
　Ron　shifted　in　his　chair。　〃Uh…oh；〃　he　said。　〃Did　you　check　the　tapes？〃
　〃Yeah；〃　she　said。　〃They're　tracing　the　download　now　in　the　main　control　room。　But　I　assume　it's　true。〃
　〃Hell。〃
　I　said；　〃What's　the　backhaul？〃
　〃Our　satellite　feed。　We　pick　up　segments　from　New　York　and　Washington　every　day；　and　replay　them。　There's　always　about　a　minute　before　and　after　that　isn't　aired。　We　cut　it　out；　but　the　raw　transmission　can　be　picked　up　by　anybody　with　a　private　dish　who　wants　to　hunt　for　our　signal。　And　people　do。　We　warn　the　talent　to　be　careful　what　they　do　in　front　of　a　camera；　But　last　year；　Louise　unbuttoned　her　blouse　and　miked　herself　…　and　we　got　calls　from　all　over　the　country。〃
　Ron's　phone　rang。　He　listened　for　a　moment；　and　said；　〃Okay。　I　understand；〃　and　hung　up。　〃They　checked　the　tape。　Lenny　was　talking　on　camera　before　the　feed；　and　he　said　to　Louise；　'The　goddamn　Japanese　are　going　to　own　this　country　if　we　don't　wise　up。'　It　wasn't　on　air；　but　he　did　say　it。〃　He　shook　his　head　ruefully。　〃The　NHK　guy　knows　we　didn't　run　it？〃
　〃Yeah。　But　he's　saying　it　can　be　picked　up　and　he's　protesting　on　that　basis。〃
　〃Hell；〃　Ron　said。　〃So　they　even　monitor　our　backhaul。　Jesus。　What　does　Keith　want　to　do？〃
　〃Keith　says　he's　tired　of　warning　New　York　talent。　He　wants　you　to　handle　it。〃
　〃Does　he　want　me　to　call　the　NHK　guy？〃
　〃He　says　use　your　judgment；　but　we　have　a　deal　with　NHK　for　the　half…hour　show　we　send　them　every　day　and　he　doesn't　want　that　risked。　He　thinks　you　should　apologize。〃
　Ron　sighed。　〃Now　I　have　to　apologize　for　what　wasn't　even　on　air。　God　damn　it。〃　He　looked　at　us。　〃Guys；　I　have　to　go。　Was　there　anything　else？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　〃Good　luck。〃
　〃Listen；〃　Ron　said。　〃We　all　need　good　luck。　You　know　NHK　is　starting　Global　News　Network　with　a　billion　dollars　in　capitalization。　They're　going　to　take　on　Ted　Turner's　CNN　around　the　world。　And　if　past　history　is　any　guide　。　。　。〃　He　shrugged。　〃Kiss　the　American　media　goodbye。〃
　As　we　were　leaving；　I　heard　Ron　say　on　the　phone；　〃Mr。　Akasaka？　Ron　Levine；　over　here　at　AFN。　Yes；　sir。　Yes；　Mr。　Akasaka。　Sir；　I　wanted　to　express　my　concern　and　deep　apologies　about　what　our　reporter　said　over　the　satellite…　〃
　We　closed　the　door；　and　left。
　〃Where　now？〃　I　said。
　
　？
　The　Four　Seasons　Hotel　is　favored　by　stars　and　politicians；　and　it　has　a　graceful　entrance；　but　we　were　parked　around　the　corner　by　the　service　entrance。　A　large　dairy　truck　was　pulled　up　to　a　loading　dock；　and　kitchen　staff　was　unloading　cartons　of　milk。　We　had　been　waiting　here　for　five　minutes。　Connor　glanced　at　his　watch。
　I　said；　〃Why　are　we　here？〃
　〃We're　plying　with　the　Supreme　Court；　kōhai。〃
　At　the　loading　dock；　a　woman　in　a　business　suit　came　out；　looked　around；　and　waved。　Connor　waved　back。　She　disappeared　again。　Connor　got　out　his　billfold　and　took　out　a　couple　of　twenties。
　〃One　of　the　first　things　I　learned　as　a　detective；〃　Connor　said；　〃is　that　hotel　staff　can　be　extremely　helpful。　Particularly　since　the　police　have　so　many　restrictions　these　days。　We　can't　go　into　a　hotel　room　without　a　warrant。　If　we　did；　whatever　we　found　in　a　search　would　be　inadmissible；　right？〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃But　the　maids　can　go　in。　Valet　and　housekeeping　and　room　service　can　go　in。〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃
　〃So　I've　learned　to　maintain　contacts　at　all　the　big　hotels。〃　He　opened　the　door。　〃I'll　only　be　a　moment。〃
　He　walked　to　the　loading　dock　and　waited。　I　tapped　the　steering　wheel　with　my　hands；　The　words　came　into　my　head：
　
　I　changed　my　mind；　this　love　is　fine。
　Goodness；　gracious；　great　balls　of　fire。
　
　On　the　loading　dock；　a　maid　in　uniform　came　out；　and　talked　to　Connor　briefly。　He　took　notes。　She　held　something　golden　in　the　palm　of　her　hand。　He　didn't　touch　it；　he　just　looked　at　it；　and　nodded。　She　slipped　it　back　in　her　pocket。　Then　he　gave　her　money。　She　went　away。
　
　You　shake　my　nerves　and　you　rattle　my　brain。　
　Too　much　love　drives　a　man　insane。
　You　broke　my　will；　but　what　a　thrill…　
　
　A　valet　came　out　onto　the　loading　dock；　carrying　a　man's　blue　suit　on　a　hanger。　Connor　asked　a　question；　and　the　valet　looked　at　his　watch　before　he　answered。　Then　Connor　crouched　down　and　peered　closely　at　the　lower　edges　of　the　suit　coat。　He　opened　the　jacket　and　examined　the　trousers　on　the　hanger。
　The　valet　took　away　the　first　suit；　and　brought　a　second　one　out　onto　the　dock。　This　one　was　a　blue　pinstripe　suit。　Connor　repeated　his　inspection。　He　seemed　to　find　something　on　the　coat；　and　scraped　it　carefully　into　a　small　glassine　bag。　Then　he　paid　the　valet　and　walked　back　to　the　car。
　I　said；　〃Checking　Senator　Rowe？〃
　〃Checking　a　number　of　things；〃　he　said。　〃But；　yes；　Senator　Rowe。〃
　〃Rowe's　aide　had　white　panties　in　his　p