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the Japanese will whisper in certain ears that the offending person is not to be trusted； or that their views are 'out of date。' Or worse … that they're racist。 Anybody who criticizes Japan is a racist。 Pretty soon these academics begin to lose speaking engagements and consulting jobs。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