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Nicholas sat silently with his scabbarded katana across his knees。 He put his head back and closed his eyes。
'And we can talk；' Tomkin continued； 'about you staying on in the firm。'
'I'm not interested；' Nicholas said。 Thanks just the same。'
'Oh now； I wouldn't make a decision like that so hastily。' His voice had lightened somehow。 But it was still as deep； ringing with sincerity。 'I could use you。 Somewhere high up。 You've got remarkable talents。' Tomkin was silent for a time。 Even with his eyes closed； Nicholas could tell that he was studying him。 'How'd you like to go back to Japan？'
Nicholas opened his eyes； stared directly ahead at the plastic partition。 'I don't need you for that；' he said slowly。
'No；' Tomkin admitted。 'Decidedly not。 You could jump on a plane tonight and be there in ten hours。 But if you went with me； it would mean a minimum of； oh； say； a quarter of a million dollars；'
Nicholas turned to look at Tomkin。
'Oh； I am perfectly serious。 Just because this ninja has been killed doesn't mean my problems over there are solved。 Far from it。 I need an expert who …'
Nicholas raised a hand。 'Sorry； Tomkin。'
The other man shrugged。 'Well； you think about it； anyway。 There's plenty of time now。'
Behind them； Nicholas could see Croaker climbing into his car。
Tomkin spoke to Tom。 'Let's go over to Third。 I want to get a bite to eat before we drop Mr Linnear off。'
The limo started up； heading left on Park； around the median so that they could take the eastbound street fronting the south side of the tower。 Nicholas saw Croaker right behind them as he prepared to head back downtown to file his report before driving out to LaGuardia。
'How is Justine？' Tomkin asked。
He really is beneath contempt； Nicholas thought。 He wanted to get home so that he could call her。 'Did you have me followed to the disco？'
Tomkin tried to laugh。 'No； no。 I knew I could never get away with that。 No。 Just a father's intuition。'
If it had not been so sad； it might have been funny； Nicholas reflected。 He just does not understand。 'She's fine。' 'Good。 I'm glad。'
The light changed and they went across the avenue。 Tomkin cleared his throat。 He almost said something； then seemed to change his mind。 They came abreast of the tower。 The last few patrolmen were grouped on the broken sidewalk； talking amongst themselves。
'Nick； I know you don't like me much but … still … I'd like to ask you a favour。'
Nicholas said nothing。 He watched as through the window the tower began to slide by。
'I want … that is； I don't want Justine to be estranged from me。 I've done … well； I don't know what to do any more and I thought maybe you could help … bring us together …'
This side of the building was filled with trucks and； midway along the block； a metal and wooden overhang three storeys high that jutted out past the kerb； used to manoeuvre the enormous panes of tinted glass into place。
'I think；' Nicholas said； 'that that has to be between the two of you。'
'But you're already involved；' Tomkin said in his million…dollar…deal voice。
The limo passed beneath the overhang and the night seemed to darken。
Nicholas turned away from the window to look at Tomkin。 'By the way；' he said； 'I haven't seen Frank around for a couple of days。 Where is he？'
There came； at that moment； a tremendous crash as the left side of the windshield shattered inwards。 Tom seemed to leap from behind the wheel as if he were a speared marlin。 He slammed backwards with such force that the plastic partition cracked。 His arms fluttered like wings and Nicholas heard a soft moaning sound like a child sick with fever。
Abruptly； Tom's suit jacket ripped and fully three inches of steel rammed itself past his spine。 Blood spurted like a geyser and a terrible stench invaded the limo's interior。
'Oh； my God！ What …？' Tomkin's face was pale。
The limo continued to head east along the street； passing the corner and crossing Lexington Avenue。
A great thrashing was ing from the front seat but Tom no longer screamed。 Something or someone was squirming its way inside through the great rent in the windshield。
Driverless； the limo wandered to the left； running up on the kerb until its front end smashed into a light stanchion that was part of the new building on the corner。
Blackness in the front of the limo as if the night itself had stolen in。
Nicholas had already taken the katana off his lap and was holding it in his left hand。 No use drawing it in such a confined space。 Beside him； Tomkin was scrabbling at the door handle but it would not open。 The automatic door locks were controlled from up front。 It had been a security precaution。 Now Tomkin cursed it。
Tom's corpse was flung to one side。 The smell was so overpowering； it seemed as if there was nothing else in the world。
Something dark pounded at the cracked partition；… vibrating it。 Nicholas waited until the third blow； timing it in his mind。 Then as the fourth blow came he met it with a powerful kick with both feet flat against the plastic。。 The partition came apart at the force of the blow and Nicholas leaped into the front of the limo。
Saigo had e off the face of the tower； sliding carefully along the narrow ledge from which he had thrown the already dead body。
He had stayed in place long enough to ascertain that the decoy had worked； then slowly made his way within the shadows down the face of the building。 Even those few cops still looking up at the shattered window in Tomkin's top…floor office had not seen him。 Only Nicholas； had he been down on the street； would have had a chance。
Crouching in the blackness； he had cursed silently for now he felt the sudden touch of fear。 Nicholas a ninja I His mind reeled and he popped another rough brown cube into his mouth； chewing on it to make it work all the faster。
Soon the psychedelic was flowing through his system； speeded by the out rush of adrenalin pumping through his veins。 Now the sky seemed to explode in a crimson and black mushroom cloud； his muscles bulged； his neck swelled with the power and his vision dazzled as it reached his brain。 He was frying in energy。
Then the voices began in his left ear and he lifted one hand； touching a forefinger to the side of his head to settle more fortably the electronic receiver in his ear canal。 He heard Tom…kin and Nicholas talking； heard 'Third Avenue' and moved immediately towards the south side of the building where he knew the overhang jutted out into the street。 When the limo passed by he swung down so silently and with such remarkable balance that no one inside knew。
He crouched on top and； unsheathing his katana； the night wind in his hair； thrust it down and inwards through the windshield；… screaming in ecstasy as the car beneath him shuddered like big game being brought down。
Croaker had been about to head south on Park when he thought he saw some movement near Tomkin's limo as it went east。 A sound came to him then。 He could not identify it but he nevertheless braked hard； swinging the wheel abruptly to the left。
Tyres screeched and his back end skidded outwards。 For a long moment he concentrated on holding the turn and not crashing into the median。 Horns honked and he cursed softly； fighting the centrifugal force。
Then he was screeching uptown on Park back towards the tower。
In the first moments of shock he was at a distinct disadvantage。 Saigo knew this and used it。 He ducked under the initial force of Nicholas's lunge and； twisting round； began the kansetsu…waza … the dislocation … with the point of his left elbow。
Nicholas； above Saigo； felt rather than saw the lack of resistance and immediately went into the osae…waza … the immobilization … defence and got it； deflecting Saigo's elbow while； simultaneously； going on the offensive。
For an instant； Saigo had a short blade free。 Then his hand clamped down and they were locked together； joined by the honed steel that was an extension of themselves … the most holy of holies； without which their lives themselves could have no meaning。
Muscles rippled along their hunched backs； sweat streamed from them。 Saigo gritted his teeth。 Nicholas pressed downwards。 It was as if the sun