el.angeleyes-第44部分

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suggested　mountains；　time；　and　great　distance。
　They　were　taken　downstairs　in　a　stainless…steel　elevator。　There　Honno　and　Big　Ezoe　split　up。　〃See　you　in　the　dojo；〃　he　said。　Honno　was　escorted　by　a　woman　attendant　into　a　rich；　cedar…lined　changing　room；　given　a　white　cotton　gi…the　traditional　martial　arts　attire；　loose…fitting　and　fortable。　She　was　shown　where　to　bathe；　and　afterward　she　returned　to　the　changing　room；　donned　her　gi。
　Big　Ezoe　was　waiting　for　her　in　a　magnificent　dojo。　The　walls　and　ceiling　were　paneled　in　kyoki　wood；　the　space　below　the　ceiling　hung　with　banners　of　the　ancient　daimyo；　the　feudal　warlords　of　old　Japan。　The　floor　was　tatami　mats；　and　the　lighting　was　indirect；　making　the　dojo　evenly　lit　wherever　one　happened　to　be　on　the　tatami。
　〃What　do　you　think　you're　doing？〃　Honno　asked。　〃How　do　you　know　I've　had　any　martial　arts　training？〃
　〃I'm　good　at　this；〃　Big　Ezoe　said。　〃Trust　me。〃　And　when　Honno　burst　out　laughing；　he　said；　〃That's　better。　Let's　get　rid　of　some　of　your　nervous　tension；　hm？〃　He　began　to　circle　her；　watching　her　react　to　him　as　he　did　so。　〃Jiujitsu；〃　he　said。　〃Some　tai　chi。　And；　judging　by　the　way　you　hold　your　hands；　some　aikido。〃
　He　moved　in　low　and　fast；　going　for　her　knees；　but　Honno　used　a　basic　irimi；　a　neutralization　technique。　Big　Ezoe　countered　this；　and　Honno　automatically　went　into　a　counterattack。　As　she　did　so；　she　felt　the　expansion　of　her　wa；　her　central　core　of　intrinsic　energy。　It　was　a　wonderful　feeling；　a　sudden　release；　an　elation　like　a　balloon　rising　into　the　air　currents　or　a　big　fish　breaking　free　of　a　line　that　had　hooked　it。
　〃That's　better；〃　Big　Ezoe　said；　attacking　again。
　Despite　his　girth；　he　was　light　on　his　feet；　agile　and　frighteningly　quick。　But　Honno　soon　had　a　handle　on　his　strategy。　He　liked　to　attack　endlessly；　giving　no　respite；　figuring　that　eventually　fatigue　would　cause　his　opponent　to　make　a　mistake。　Soon　after；　she　discovered　the　flaw　in　his　strategy。　The　endless　stream　of　his　attacks　left　minute　openings　for　a　counter。　One　had　to　be　so　quick　as　to　anticipate　his　next　attack；　or　one　would　have　no　chance　of　getting　through　before　its　onset。　But　it　could　be　done。
　Honno　bided　her　time；　using　one　irimi　after　another　to　neutralize　him；　while　dropping　her　earlier　strategy　of　counterattack…ing。　She　needed　the　extra　time　to　try　to　anticipate　his　next　move。
　She　found　him　in　a　series　of　attacks　familiar　to　her；　and　she　thought。　Now　is　the　time。　She　deflected　the　first；　the　second；　then；　anticipating　the　third　in　the　series；　launched　herself　at　the　gap　as　it　began　to　open。
　But　when；　using　the　spirit　of　dawn；　she　came　through　the　opening　in　his　defense；　she　found　him　ready　for　her。　Too　late；　she　recognized　the　trap　he　had　deliberately；　patiently　set　for　her。　She　could　only　marvel　at　his　expertise　as　he　took　her　down　to　the　tatami；　the　callused　edge　of　his　hand　against　her　throat。
　He　grunted；　came　up；　pulled　her　off　the　that　after　him。''Very　good；　Mrs。　Kansei。　But　not　good　enough。〃
　They　met　an　hour　and　a　half　later；　at　the　club's　third…floor　restaurant。　In　the　interim　Honno　had　been　bathed；　oiled；　massaged；　bathed　again。　She　had　found　her　clothes　waiting　for　her；　cleaned　and　pressed；　in　the　fragrant　changing　room。
　The　restaurant　was；　in　cool　contrast　to　the　club's　white　marble　entrance　below；　a　sea　of　gray　unpolished　granite；　almost　colorless；　but　vibrant　with　texture。　A　long　line　of　narrow　windows　that　ran　its　length　overlooked　the　rigid　grid　of　the　city；　the　restricted　view　refining　Tokyo's　geometrics　into　a　pattern　that　was　so　intense　it　became　almost　abstract；　a　kind　of　art。
　〃Has　your　office　been　in　touch　with　you　yet？〃　Honno　asked　as　she　sat　down　opposite　Big　Ezoe。
　〃You　must　learn　patience；　Mrs。　Kansei；〃　he　said。　A　uniformed　waiter　poured　chilled　white　wine　into　their　glasses。　〃It　was　your　lack　of　patience　that　betrayed　you　in　the　dojo。''
　Honno　put　aside　the　elegant　menu；　said；　〃I　want　to　know　what's　happened　to　Giin。　And　I　want　to　get　the　ledgers　back。〃
　Big　Ezoe　sipped　at　his　wine；　contemplated　her。　〃Just　so　we　get　something　clear…because　this　is　quite　important…is　it　your　late　friend　Sakata's　ledgers　you　care　about　or　this　professor　Giin's　life？〃
　〃Well；　both；　of　course！〃
　〃But　if　it　came　down　to　it；　and　you　could　only　retrieve　one；　the　ledgers　or　Giin；''　Big　Ezoe　said　as　patiently　as　if　he　were　explaining　this　to　a　child；　〃which　would　you　choose？〃
　〃Are　you　serious；〃　Honno　said；　〃or　is　this　another　one　of　your　jokes？〃
　〃I　assure　you；　I　am　quite　serious。〃
　〃But　it's　an　impossible　question　to　answer。〃
　〃It　is　not。〃
　〃What　kind　of　creature　are　you？〃　Honno　said　angrily。　Then；　〃All　right。　There's　only　one　answer　possible。　Giin's　life　is　far　more　important　than　a　couple　of　books　with　chicken　scratching　all　over　them。〃
　〃Is　that　so？〃　Big　Ezoe　eyed　her　over　the　rim　of　his　glass。　〃And　what　about　your　promise　to　Sakata…san；　Mrs。　Kansei？　What　about　giri？'
　Honno　felt　shame　flood　through　her。　In　her　anxiety　over　Giin's　safety；　she　had　pletely　forgotten　about　the　burden　of　debt　she　owed　Sakata。　〃But　of　course　this　is　a　moot　question；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　〃You're　giving　an　imaginary　example。　It　doesn't　matter　how　I　answer。''
　〃Oh；　but　it　most　certainly　does　matter。〃　Big　Ezoe　put　down　his　glass。　〃I　have　given　you　a　Zen　riddle；　and　if　you　think　answering　it　is　a　pointless　exercise　or　it　is　merely　plying　with　a　whim　of　mine；　you　are　gravely　mistaken。　Zen　riddles；　Mrs。　Kansei；　are　meant　as　doorways　through　which　one　may　resolve　the　contradictions　of　one's　own　spirit。
　〃I　told　you　earlier　that　you　must　be　prepared　for　anything。　You　assured　me　you　were；　you　gave　me　your　word。　Now；　when　we　e　to　the　first　difficult　fording　of　a　stream；　you　balk　or　give　me　an　ill…considered　reply。　This　is　not　the　way　of　the　warrior；　Mrs。　Kansei。　What　would　your　late　friend；　Sakata…san；　think　of　your　behavior？''
　With　that；　Honno　put　her　face　in　her　hands；　and　began　to　weep。　Big　Ezoe　watched　impassively　until　her　shoulders　ceased　to　shake。　Then　he　said；　〃Why　did　you　do　that？〃
　〃I　was　a　fool　to　attempt　to　act　out　of　giri；〃　Honno　said。　''The　weight　of　burden　is　not　meant　for　a　woman。　It　takes　a　man's　strength。〃
　〃Nonsense；〃　Big　Ezoe　said。　〃What　the　performance　of　giri　takes　is　a　warrior's　spirit。　And　a　warrior　is　bound　neither　by　age　nor　by　sex。　You　have　the　warrior's　spirit；　Mrs。　Kansei。　I　felt　the　expansion　of　your　wa　in　the　dojo。　I　felt　how　fiercely　you　fought。　And　I　know　just　how　much　pleasure　it　gave　you。　Because　I　feel　the　same　way。〃
　''But　poor　Giin；''　she　whispered。　''I　can't　stop　thinking　about　him。　I　can't　stop　worrying　。　。　。　What　if…〃
　〃A　warrior's　heart　is　pure；〃　Big　Ezoe　said。　〃It　is　forged　in　the　crucible　of　bat；　in　the　vise　of　giri；　in　the　glory　of　honor。　These　are　all　that　matter。　Giin　is　only　a　man。''
　〃But　I　loved　him　once　and；　yes；　perhaps　as　you　have　said；　I　still　do。　But　I　love　Eikichi　as　well。　And　I　am　married　to　him。〃
　〃Eikichi；　too；　is　only　a　man。　But　the　warrior's　ideals　are　immutable；　perfect；　pure。　Once　you　bee　one　with　them；　they　are　yours　for　all　time。　There　is　no　need　to　depend　on　anything　or　anyone　else。''
　〃But　I　am　married　to　Eikichi；〃　Honno　said　miserably。　〃I　owe　him　my　honor。''
　〃Men…and　women；　too；　Mrs。　Kansei…are　fallible。　They　lie；　cheat；　steal；　betray。　It　is　human　nature；　a　way　of　life。　To　depend　on　a　man…or　a　woman…is　to　invite　disaster。　A　warrior　avoids　this；　and　therein　lies　his…or　her…ultimate　strength。〃
　〃These　are　just　words；〃　Honno　said。　〃Hollow　words。〃
　Big　Ezoe　regarded　her　for　a　long　time。　At　last　he　said；　''You're　perfectly　right。〃　He　picked　up　his　menu。　〃And　tonight　I　think　it's　high　time　we　turned　them　into　reality。〃
　First　there　was　the　moss　garden；　verdant；　lush；　glowing　like　an　emerald　in　the　reflected　light　beneath　the　yellow　and　green　cut…leaf　maples。　Then　there　was　the　pool；　deep；　dark；　mysterious；　in　whose　depths　from　time　to　time　could　be　discerned　the　speckled　back　of　a　lazy　koi。　Like　the　arc　of　a　curve；　the　koi's　back　appeared　and　disappeared；　as　full　of　meaning　as　the　first　brush　stroke　on　rice　paper；　black　ink　spilled　across　the　white　page；　a　book　yet　to　be　written；　yet　to　be　read。
　〃Mama…san　reads　the　portents　here；〃　Big　Ezoe　said；　as　if　divin