ched herself forward。 She did not believe in ghosts； not even in the fomi of her ancestors； as tangible objects able to grasp out at the living。 Her mouth opened and she bared her teeth； ready to bite into whatever had hold of her。
She felt the solidness of pressure in front of her and bit down。 But at that moment her head was jerked backwards and upwards and her teeth snapped together painfully。
'Oh； my God！' she heard herself say。 It seemed to e from another world。
She stared into a face。 The head； as； she supposed； was the body； swathed in matt black fabric。 A tight hood and a mask that left only the eyes exposed。 These were no more than six inches from her own。 They were as dead as stones in a pond。
'Oh； my God I' She felt so vulnerable； bent back in a grip she had no hope of breaking； and this； more than anything else； terrified her。
When he moved he was upon her before she could even cry out。 She felt his grip shift and it seemed that she was in the grasp of something elemental； like a whirlwind； a force of nature。 For surely no man … nothing that was human … could have so much power。
Where his gloved fingers dug into her； they seemed to dissolve her flesh and pulverize the bone beneath。 All air was abruptly gone from her lungs； it felt as if she had been thrust to the bottom of the sea。 Her insides turned to water。 Death rose up on all sides like a spectre on an enormous poster。 Her gorge rose and she tried to vomit。 She retched pathetically against the restraint to her mouth。 She tried to swallow and could not。 Her eyes were blurry with tears。 She blinked wildly； began to choke on her own vomit。
His face was quite close to hers； but it was as if she had been attacked by an inanimate object suddenly given life。 She could smell nothing； see nothing； 'she had no clue as to what he was feeling； what he might want。 She could not even turn her head from side to side； so intense was his grip upon her。 Still she struggled merely to swallow and she did； given life once more。 But now she saw before her the sloping mountainside in the south of Japan where she had stayed as a child during the last days of the war。 She saw as clearly as if she were there again the tall stately pines swaying in the westerly winds； the straggle of soaij'm toiling up the long slope； a thin battered line； an exhausted snake that seemed to have no end； no beginning； merely one vast body。 She thought of the zosui； the vegetable stew； which had bee their staple； the taste of it was strong in her mouth； the smell of the mountain turnips filled her nostrils。 She had never thought that she would recall them with such full…bodied accuracy； it was in the nature of human beings to remember pleasure with more clarity than pain。
There was swift movement above her and her silk teddy shredded； parting from her body。 She was naked now。 Her mind was filled up with Terry now because she was quite certain that this terrifying being would rape her； this secret knowledge of why he had e outraged her and calmed her at the same time。 Death seemed to stand away； only a visitor at this feast instead of the guest of honour。
She felt his body over hers； not hot； not cool； but somewhere in between。 His was not flesh； but neither was it marble。 She felt somehow as if she were being lifted into a cradle； the position familiar。 She closed her legs； locking her ankles； resisting him still。
So it was with a great sense of shock that she felt him grasp the pool of her thick hair； pulling it up； winding it with one hand into a long twisted cord。
She stared upwards； above her head。 There was sufficient light for her to see it； standing straight as a sword； blacker than the night。
Then； guided by him； it came down； wrapped around her neck。 Until； nooselike； it began to tighten about her throat； however； she failed to understand what was about to happen。 But as she fought for every breath； her nostrils flaring because his other hand still covered her mouth； 'she knew that her body was far from his mind。 Was he hard？ Would he e？ Her mind was like a pond filled with squirming eels； monstrously debating these lewd questions while her lungs filled less and less with air。
No！ Please！ Take me； don't kill me！ Don't！ Please！ She tried to scream what her mind formed but the words only came out as animal grunts； further terrifying her。 It was as if his inhumanity had somehow managed to strip her of her humanity。
The cord of her hair tightened as he heaved on it； arcing his back precisely as if he were making violent love to her。 The muscles of her throat spasmed involuntarily； her lungs burned as if with a corrosive。 This can't be happening； she thought。 I can't die。 I won't！ No no no no … I
And then she was fighting； fighting to perform the most basic of functions which had bee as difficult as climbing a mountain。 Each breath was the most desperate of struggles。
She fought like a tigress； clawing at him with her nails； punching and slashing； using her knees and thighs in an effort to dislodge him； to deflect him from his monomaniacal purpose； but it was as useless as if she were fighting a brick wall。 She was powerless against him。 He was beyond the living。 He was death。
As she choked on her own vomit； rising again like an inexorable tsunami； before her eyes bloomed the final firestorm。 As her lungs filled with fluid； as she laboured still for life； Eileen heard clearly the whistling； abrupt and diabolical； directly over her head and； looking skyward； saw the shadow of the lone bomber； ing like an unexpected eclipse； riding before the sun； saw part of it falling away towards the earth； as if it had contemptuously defaecated on the Floating Kingdom； blossoming like a black flower in the bright blue and white sky。
Concussion。 The furnace heat of hell。 And light like the core of ten thousand exploding suns。 Oh； my poor country！
Ashes； floating in the hot wind。
Terry said sayonara to Vincent through the taxi's opened window。 The day's rain had given the city no relief from the sultry heat and humidity of midsummer。 It reminded him of Tokyo。
'I'll call you soon；' he told Vincent。
'Right。 Let me know if you have any ideas。' Vincent leaned his elbows on the sill of the window。
Terry laughed。 'I still think you and Nick are making more of this than is there。'
'We aren't making up that poison； Terry；' the other said seriously。 'Or the katana wound。'
'I don't know； buddy。 There are an awful lot of madmen in this city。 What would a ninja be doing here； anyway？'
Vincent shrugged； having no good answer。
'See？'
'Hey； Mac；' the cabdriver growled； turning around。 Time is money and I ain't got all night。 If you're gonna gab why doncha do it on the street； huh？'
'Okay；' Terry said； 'we're off。' He turned his face sideways； smiled and waved to Vincent as the cab pulled away from the kerb。
He gave the driver his address and settled back in the seat。 Somehow he regretted not telling his friend about the visitor to his dojo in greater detail。 He might have； he supposed； if they had not got so involved in this case that Vincent had been drawn into。 Trust him to fabricate something like this。 It was the kind of mystery that was just up his alley。 Vincent was； Terry suspected； quite bored。 Not so much with his job …there were； God knew； enough mysteries there to hold his attention。 No； it was more that he was bored with being in
America。 Perhaps he wanted to go home。
With this； his thoughts turned to Eileen； waiting for him at home。 At last all obstacles were washed away。 Patience； my sensei used to tell me； can often be one's most important weapon。 You are too impetuous； my boy。 Slow down and enjoy the pace which you yourself set。 Abruptly； he remembered the caviar。
He leaned forward； his mouth near the grille bolted to the thick…scarred plastic partition separating him from the driver。 'Hey I' he called。 'I forgot。 I've got to make a stop at the Russian Tea Room before you take me to the address I gave you。'
The driver cursed and shook his head。 'I'm gettin' 'em tonight all right。 Couldn't you've told me soona； fella？ Now I gotta go back down Ninth an' cut ova … right into the teeth of th' traffic。' He spun the wheel and； squ