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t has yet to realize it…is in our people。 The Soviet peoples。 The longer we suppress their individual freedoms； the more we keep them at arm's length。 We imprison them； rather than embracing them。 White Star could change all that； given half a chance。 I think it's worth the risk to give them that chance。〃
Irina looked into Mars's dark eyes。 〃It happens that I agree with you。〃
Mars smiled。 ''I knew you would。'' He wiped water droplets from her cheek。 〃Now I'm certain you'll agree to help me find White Star and talk to their leaders。''
〃Me？ How on earth could I possibly help？〃
〃Well； it occurred to me that while you were on one of your trips to America； you might have stumbled across a White Star supporter or two。 It seems apparent to me that elements inside America would be only too eager to give what they could： money； arms； what…have…you； to White Star's cause。〃
〃That may be true；〃 Irina said； 〃but I never met any。〃
〃Hmm。 Well； it was just a thought；〃 Mars said。 He smiled； and wriggled closer to her。 〃I'll just have to muddle along on my own； then。〃
〃Why？〃 Irina reached under the water for him。 〃When we can muddle along together；〃 she said。
Irina awoke with a start。 It was very dark in the room。 She could hear Mars's even breathing as he slept beside her。 She lay for a time watching a pattern of pale light spiderweb the ceiling。 Then she rose without a sound and padded over to the window。
She thought deeply for some time； her mind turning over the possibilities her power opened to her。 She took her time； forcing back the desire to race ahead。 At last she came to the conclusion that she would； indeed； help Mars in his quest to find White Star。 The dissident nationalist organization seemed to loom with greater importance。 Both Mars and Valeri were interested in finding White Star； each for his own reasons。 But Mars wanted to help White Star； while Valeri was most concerned with the smuggled hafnium。
And now she could feel White Star exerting its own magnetic pull on her。 It was fate that Mars had opened himself up to her tonight； a sign。 I need to help him； Irina decided。 The way each man has reacted to White Star has given me a regained sense of right and wrong。 And perhaps in helping the peoples of White Star gain their freedom； I will find the purpose in life that has been missing ever since I returned from Cambridge。
She nodded to herself； beginning at last to see a way out of her terrible dilemma。 She would continue to spy on Mars for Valeri； but now it would be a facade。 Her facade。 She would pass on to Valeri only what she wanted to； only enough to keep him from getting suspicious。 In the meantime； she would work on Valeri like an archaeologist at a dig。 She would find out all he knew about White Star。 But first she needed some kind of insurance。
She did not delude herself。 Turning on Valeri Denysovich Bondasenko would be dangerous； if she were not very careful； it could have dire consequences for her。 She thought of her dream of the Siberian winter and shuddered； because she knew that Valeri could send her there with no more than a wave of his hand。 No one would dare raise his voice in protest。 There could be no help for her； no reprieve； even from Mars。
She was smart enough to know that there was a personal element in this decision。 To deceive Valeri as he was deceiving her would； in some measure； make up for the hurt he had caused her by seeing another woman。 Again； part of her wondered why she should feel so hurt by Valeri； and why she felt it necessary to exact a measure of revenge。 After all； it wasn't as if she did care for him； was it？
Insurance。 Irina knew she would need it。 Some kind of leverage； should Valeri ever find out what she was doing。 Power was the only currency Valeri traded in； and Irina knew she needed to make a deposit before she set out against him。
She would have to follow him。 Valeri had claimed that he had no secrets； Irina was convinced this must be a lie。 Everyone had a secret or two that he or she did not want made public。 Why should Valeri be an exception？
He had to have a weakness； some crack； no matter how tiny； in the armor of his power。 But what could it be？ Irina stared out the window into the blackness of the Moscow night。 The air was thick and heavy； almost as cloying as the atmosphere in the lobby of the old Moscow Arts Theater。
And Irina； in sudden inspiration； knew just where to start。 Her name was Natasha Mayakova。
Honno said； 〃What if Giin is already dead？〃
〃Then we'll hold a funeral；〃 Big Ezoe said。
Looking into her face； he laughed。 ''You know； being in love does something to you。〃
''I 'm not in love with Giin； if that's your implication；'' Honno said。 〃Have you forgotten Eikichi？ 〃
Big Ezoe said； 〃You're the one married to Eikichi Kansei； yet you aren't in love with him。''
〃Don't be an idiot；〃 she snapped。 〃Anyway； why are we talking about me when Giin and Sakata…san's ledgers are missing？〃
〃Because my men are doing everything possible to find both。 We have some time now。 Just the two of us。〃
〃Your tone is most offensive；〃 Honno said。 〃Do all Yakuza deal in innuendo？〃
〃Our stock in trade； Mrs。 Kansei。〃 He grinned。 〃Sit down。 If you keep pacing like that； you're apt to get a heart attack。''
Honno stopped in her tracks。 She was about to say something acid； realized how useless her sarcasm would be on him； sat down instead。
They were in Big Ezoe's office。 There was a great deal of activity outside in the warehouselike space。 Honno hoped at least some of it was related to the search for Giin and the ledgers。 She knew there were bodyguards around； but suspected that she would never quite manage to spot them all。
Honno had already spent two evenings out of the house； and； before Eikichi got suspicious； she knew she had to take some steps to ensure that she had uninterrupted time with Big Ezoe。 Accordingly； she took a few days off her job at Michita Industries。 She had to arrange for two women at Michita to cover her work while she was gone。
Eikichi often worked so late that rather regularly he went out afterward with some of his fellow prosecutors to eat； drink； and unwind。 But on the nights he was home at a more or less normal time； he expected his dinner to be prepared and waiting for him when he walked in。 If it was not there and； worse； neither was she； no explanation would be adequate。
Consequently； Honno told Eikichi that she was going to Osaka for several days to visit her aunt who was taken ill。 Eikichi knew that this aunt was Honno's favorite relative； the only member of her family with whom she had a normal relationship； and he had not questioned her decision。
Big Ezoe shook his head。 〃You look even more nervous sitting down than you did pacing about。〃 He came around from behind his desk。 〃This isn't the place for us。〃 He touched his hip beneath his suit jacket。 〃I have a beeper。 As soon as anything breaks； I'll be notified。 In the meantime； let's go somewhere where you can get rid of some of that excess energy。''
He took her in his gray steel…plated Mercedes to the Ginza； not to the great wide avenues clogged with tourists and traffic； enormous department stores； and neon signs； but to a quiet side street lined with ginkgo trees and wooden walls。 Behind one wall Honno found a minuscule garden； immaculate； with a stand of mini…bamboo； moss…laden rocks and a wellspring of tinkling water。
This was the home of Tokyo's most exclusive club； on a street of exclusive clubs。 There was a great deal of bowing and deferential treatment from the staff and from the managing director himself； who was immediately summoned from his inner sanctum on the second floor； which overlooked a stunning diamond…shaped atrium posed entirely of white marble slabs。
A man in a tuxedo was playing Erik Satie on a white concert grand piano。 An enormous spray of red peonies was artfully arranged in a white porcelain vase on the piano's top。 Behind him a very modern bination of glass and rice paper and ash shoji screens gave way to an inner courtyard of water； moss； ferns； and dwarf azalea； all amid rocks that 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 ledg