〃Would you like coffee； or tea？〃
〃No； thank you；〃 Connor said。 〃We are here in an official capacity。〃
〃I understand。〃 He gestured for us to sit down。
〃We would like to talk to you about the purchase of MicroCon。〃
〃Ah； yes。 A troubling matter。 But I am not aware that it should involve the police。〃
〃Perhaps it doesn't；〃 Connor said。 〃Can you tell us about the sale； or is the agreement sealed？〃
Mr。 Yoshida looked surprised。 〃Sealed？ Not at all。 It is all very open； and has been from the beginning。 We were approached by Mr。 Kobayashi； representing Darley…Higgins in Tokyo； in September of last year。 That was the first we learned the pany was for sale。 Frankly； we were surprised that it would be offered。 We began negotiations in early October。 The negotiating teams had the basis of a rough agreement by mid…November。 We proceeded to the final stage of negotiations。 But then the Congress raised objections； on November sixteenth。〃
Connor said； 〃You said you were surprised that the pany would be offered for sale？〃
〃Yes。 Certainly。〃
〃Why is that？〃
Mr。 Yoshida spread his hands on his desk and spoke slowly。 〃We understood that MicroCon was a government…owned pany。 It had been financed in part by funds from the American government。 Thirteen percent of capitalization； if I remember。 In Japan； that would make it a government…owned pany。 So naturally we were cautious to enter into negotiations。 We do not want to offend。 But we received assurance from our representatives in Washington there would be no objection to the purchase。〃
〃I see。〃
〃But now there are difficulties； as we feared。 I think now we make a cause for Americans。 In Washington； some people are upset。 We do not wish this。〃
〃You didn't expect Washington would make objections？〃
Mr。 Yoshida gave a diffident shrug。 〃The two countries are different。 In Japan we know what to expect。 Here； there is always an individual who may have another opinion； and speak it。 But Akai Ceramics does not wish a high profile。 It is awkward now。〃
Connor nodded sympathetically。 〃It sounds as if you want to withdraw。〃
〃Many in the home office criticize me； for not knowing what would happen。 But I tell them； it is impossible to know。 Washington has no firm policy。 It changes every day； according to the politics。〃 He smiled and added。 〃Or； I would say； that is how it seems to us。〃
〃But you expect the sale to go forward？〃
〃This I cannot say。 Perhaps the criticism from Washington will be too much。 And you know the Tokyo government wants to be friends with America。 They give pressure on business； not to make purchases that will upset America。 Rockefeller Center and Universal Studios； these purchases that make criticism for us。 We are told to be yōjinbukai。 It means 。 。 。〃
〃Discreet；〃 Connor said。
〃Careful。 Yes。 Wary。〃 He looked at Connor。 〃You speak Japanese？〃
〃A little。〃
Yoshida nodded。 For a moment he seemed to consider switching to Japanese； but did not。 〃We wish to have friendly relations；〃 he said。 〃These criticisms of us； we feel they are not fair。 The Darley…Higgins pany has many financial difficulties。 Perhaps bad management； perhaps some other reason。 I cannot say。 But that is not our fault。 We are not responsible for that。 And we did not seek MicroCon。 It was offered to us。 Now we are criticized for trying to help。〃 He sighed。
Outside； a big jet took off from the airport。 The windows rattled。
Connor said； 〃And the other bidders for MicroCon？ When did they drop out？〃
Mr。 Yoshida frowned。 〃There were no other bidders。 The pany was privately offered。 Darley…Higgins did not wish to make known their financial difficulties。 So we cooperated with them。 But now 。 。 。 the press makes many distortions about us。 We feel very 。 。 。 kizu tsuita。 Wounded？〃
〃Yes。〃
He shrugged。 〃That is how we feel。 I hope you understand my poor English。〃
There was a pause。 In fact； for the next minute or so； nobody said anything。 Connor sat facing Yoshida。 I sat beside Connor。 Another jet took off； and the windows vibrated again。 Still nobody spoke。 Yoshida gave a long sigh。 Connor nodded。 Yoshida shifted in his chair； and folded his hands over his belly。 Connor sighed； and grunted。 Yoshida sighed。 Both men seemed to be entirely focused。 Something was taking place； but I was not clear what。 I decided it must be this unspoken intuition。
Finally； Yoshida said； 〃Captain； I wish no misunderstanding。 Akai Ceramics is an honorable pany。 We have no part in any 。 。 。 plications that have occurred。 Our position is difficult。 But I will assist you in whatever way I can。〃
Connor said； 〃I am grateful。〃
〃Not at all。〃
Then Yoshida stood up。 Connor stood up。 I stood up。 We all bowed； and then we all shook hands。
〃Please do not hesitate to contact me again； if I can be of assistance。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Connor said。
Yoshida led us to the door to his office。 We bowed again； and he opened the door。
Outside was a fresh…faced American man in his forties。 I recognized him at once。 He was the blond man who had been in the car with Senator Rowe the night before。 The man who hadn't introduced himself。
〃Ah； Richmond…san；〃 Yoshida said。 〃Very good luck you are here。 These gentlemen are just asking about MicroCon baishū。〃 He turned to us。 〃Perhaps you will like to talk to Mr。 Richmond。 His English is much better than mine。 He can give you many more details you may wish to know。〃
〃Bob Richmond。 Myers； Lawson； and Richmond。〃 His handshake was firm。 He was suntanned； and looked as though he played a lot of tennis。 He smiled cheerfully。 〃Small world； isn't it？〃
Connor and I introduced ourselves。 I said； 〃Did Senator Rowe get back all right？〃
〃Oh yes；〃 Richmond said。 〃Thanks for your help。〃 He smiled。 〃I hate to think how he's feeling this morning。 But I guess it's not the first time。〃 He shifted back and forth on the balls of his feet； like a tennis player waiting for a serve。 He looked slightly concerned。 〃I must say； you two are the last people I ever expected to see here。 Is there anything I should know about？ I represent Akai in the MicroCon negotiations。〃
〃No；〃 Connor said mildly。 〃We're just getting general background。〃
〃Is this to do with what happened at Nakamoto last night？〃
Connor said； 〃Not really。 Just background。〃
〃If you like； we can talk in the conference room。〃
〃Unfortunately；〃 Connor said； 〃we're late for an appointment。 But perhaps we can talk later。〃
〃You bet；〃 Richmond said。 〃Happy to。 I'll be back in my office in about an hour。〃 He gave us his card。
〃That's fine；〃 Connor said。
But Richmond still seemed worried。 He walked with us to the elevator。 〃Mr。 Yoshida is from the old school；〃 he said。 〃I'm sure he was polite。 But I can tell you he is furious about what happened with this MicroCon thing。 He's taking a lot of heat from Akai Tokyo。 And it's very unfair。 He really was sandbagged by Washington。 He got assurances there would be no objection to the sale； and then Morton pulled the rug out from under him。〃
Connor said； 〃Is that what happened？〃
〃No question about it；〃 Richmond said。 〃I don't know what Johnny Morton's problem is； but he came right out of left field on this。 We made all the proper filings。 CFIUS registered no objection until long after the negotiations were concluded。 You can't do business like this。 I just hope John sees the light； and lets this thing go through。 Because at the moment it looks pretty racist。〃
〃Racist？ Really？〃
〃Sure。 It's exactly like the Fairchild case。 Remember that one？ Fujitsu tries to buy Fairchild Semiconductor in eighty…six； but Congress blocks the sale； saying it's against national security。 Congress doesn't want Fairchild sold to a foreign pany。 Couple of years later Fairchild is going to be sold to a French pany； and this time there's not a peep from Congress。 Apparently； it's okay to sell to a foreign pany … just not a Japanese pany。 I'd say that's racist policy； pure and simple。〃 We came to the elevator。 〃Anyway； call me。 I'll make myself available。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Connor said。
We got on the elevator。 The doors closed。
〃Asshole；〃 Connor said。
？
I was driving north toward the Wilshire exit； to meet Senator Morton。 I said； 〃Why is he an ass