Nicholas stared at the sign。 Where had he seen that before？ Surely he had … a ryu。 It was a ryu。 But which one？ He had seen this sign quite recently。 Just before he had left Tokyo； in fact。 A regional offshoot； perhaps。 Or …
Abruptly； he reached for Yukio's hand； backing away。
'What is it？' she whispered。 'Where are we？'
'e on；' he said。 And then； jerking her along with him； 'e on！'
Outside in the street he found that he still could not breathe。 He began to run down the street with her in tow。 The night seemed terribly still； Kumamoto deserted； and he had the impression that they were the only people abroad that night that they fled through a dreamscape from which they might never emerge。
His head pounded as if it might burst and a kind of fever careened through him。 His mind whirled uncontrollably and he only vaguely heard Yukio's panting questions。
He had recognized the sign on the door and； with it； both the reason he had e here after Saigo and the nature of his immediate future。
Back at the hotel； he left Yukio to go to her room alone。
'Won't you tell me anything？'
'In a while；' he said； still half distracted。 'Take a bath or something。 I'll be in a little while。'
'You're not going out again；' she said worriedly。 'I don't want to be here alone。'
'Don't worry。 I'll just be in the next room。'
Once inside； he crossed to the window。 The darkness seemed absolute。 But still； perhaps only because the proprietor had mentioned it； he thought he could see the white plume of pumice belching from Nakadake； Mount Aso's fifth column。
There was no doubt in his 'mind now why Saigo had travelled such a distance to bee part of this particular ryu； for there were none such as this in the Tokyo area。 Kansatsu's words haunted him now with intensity impossible to ignore： There are many ryu in Japan； Nicholas。 Among these； the variety of disciples taught is virtually limitless。 Good and evil are sometimes produced indiscriminately。
No wonder Saigo had been so furtive in his movements： so careful to backtrack。
It would be a natural precaution for a ninja。
For that is precisely what he had bee。 This Kumamoto ryu was no regional offshoot but a centre。 The centre； to be more accurate。
The Ninja are not bound by the Way； Kansatsu had said； and that was correct。 Yet ninjutsu was more plex than that and； as in bujutsu itself； there were many types propounded and taught。 Good and evil。 The black and the red。 Kansatsu himself had shown it to Nicholas before he had left Tokyo。 Of the red； he had said； far and away the most dangerous； the most virulent ryu is the Kuji…kiri； 'It is the Chinese word for the 〃nine…hands cutting〃； the basis for much of the ninja's real or imagined power。 It is said by many that these hand signs are the last remaining vestiges of magic in the world。 As for me； I cannot say； but as you yourself have e to understand； there are times when the dividing line between imagination and existence can disappear。' That was when Kansatsu had shown him the symbol of the Kuji…kiri ryu。 It was the one he had seen on the warehouse door just moments ago。
He heard the water running in the bath next door； Yukio disrobing。
A suspicion was forming in his mind now and the more he thought about it the more certain he became。 Had Kansatsu known what it was he would find here？ Perhaps he had only suspected。 But why was Kansatsu involved at all？
Abruptly； Nicholas had the cold sensation of being manipulated by forces he had not even suspected of existing。 It was certain that Kansatsu knew quite a bit more about this situation than he had told Nicholas。 Why hold back？
Outside； the moon had slipped its cloud mooring and now rode； unbridled； in the sky。 The world was tinged with a blue light； cold and harsh and monochromatic。 Far on the horizon … he was certain now … he could make out the rising oblique volcanic cone； its pale umbrella billowing like the aftermath of an explosion seen in slow motion。 The still air held the pumice dust in languid suspension like a decadent sprawled across his silk…covered settee。
It seemed to him now that the lines of his life had already been drawn by some other hand at a time when he had been looking elsewhere。 As he had said to Yukio this afternoon； he was mitted。 They had been set against one another； he and Saigo； from the moment they had first met。 For what reason he could not yet say； yet it was a reality with which he must now deal。
What to do now？
He knew。 He knew。 And it 〃terrified him。
The bath water had drained some time ago。 He got up from where he had been sitting in the window…bay and opened the connecting door into Yukio's room。
He paused on the threshold。 The lights were extinguished and all seemed still。
He called her name softly。
Blue moonlight was awash along part of the floor； interlaced with the oblique bars of shadow from the casement。
'Yukio？'
He went silently into the room。
And immediately stopped。 Haragei。 Someone else was in the room。 He turned his head without moving his body。 Saw Yukio lying on the bed； a last bit of light outlining the bridge of her nose。 She was on top of the covers。 The other side of the double bed had blanket and sheets drawn down。 An impression had been made there； as if by another body。 She was naked。 Her breasts and belly rose and fell in even breathing。
'Wele； Nicholas。' He turned his head。 The chair in the far corner； facing into the room。 Moonlight fell part way along its back； its face was in shadow。 'So nice of you to join us。'
'Saigo。 How did you get in here？'
'How do you think； Nicholas？ How do you think？'
'I imagine there are many ways … for a ninja。'
He seemed unperturbed。 'Quite so； oh yes。 But； you see； I didn't need any of them。' He waited a beat。 'Yukio let me in herself。'
'Yukio。。。〃 He took two steps towards her。
'It won't do any good； Nicholas。 She can't hear you。'
'She …'
'Oh no； no no； nothing like that。 She's merely sleeping。 That's a waste of time。 You won't be able to wake her。 But don't fret； she's perfectly safe。'
〃Wake her up；〃 Nicholas said。 He was sitting on the bed。 Her flesh felt cold； raised in goose bumps； but she seemed to be breathing normally。
'I don't think so。 At least not yet； anyway。' At last Saigo stood up。 He was dressed in a black raw silk suit； rather old…fashioned； somewhat like the ones Chinese mandarins used to wear on formal occasions。 His hair had been cut so short that he looked almost bald； the black stubble seemed somehow far more ominous。 'The obvious thing to say now is that I'm sorry to be proved right。 About you； I mean。 But that would be a lie。 I'm not in the least sorry。 In fact； I'm delighted。 I was right about you all the time。 So was my father。' He went into the centre of the room and Nicholas followed him with his eyes。
Saigo shook his head。 'How you ever found out I cannot imagine。 I have to give you credit for that。'
'What；' said Nicholas； 'are you talking about？'
Saigo's eyes flashed and his lips curled in a snarl just as if Nicholas had struck him。 He flew across the room； grabbed Nicholas by the shirtfront。 'All right；' he whispered savagely； 'I'm through being courteous to you。 I see there's no point。 Did you really think I didn't know that you were following me？
Do you think you could have if I hadn't wanted you to？ You really are a fool。'
Nicholas reached up； slammed Saigo's fists from him。 They stood； a little apart； eyeing each other； controlling their breathing； like two titans about to do battle over dominion of the world。
'What do you think you're doing to yourself？'
Tm saving myself；' Saigo said。 'I would have thought it was obvious。 I have been accepted into the elite。 Beyond bushi； Nicholas。 Way beyond。' He took a step forward。 'And you can join me。'
'What？'
'Why did you think I asked you down here？ This is no vacation spot。 And then you show up with her。 Idiot 1'
'I love her。'
'Forget about her。 She's nothing。 Less than nothing。 A whore。
Fucking …'
'Shut your bloody …1〃
'Yes； I forget about your English heritage。 So chivalrous！' He took another step forward so their chests almost touched。 'So。 Whatever she is or isn't。 She no longer exists