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But the Colonel could not give up； even now； it was simply not in his nature to contemplate such a thing。 He had thought that he had been cleverer than all the rest； he had an ace to play； after all； that the others knew nothing about。
It seems； he thought； that I've played the game and lost。 The fox somehow outsmarted me。 But it's not over yet。 It can't be。 I won't let it。
The germ of the idea had e to him the day after Satsugai had been arrested by the SCAP Military Police late in 1946。 Ostensibly； there was nothing the Colonel could do about it。 Satsugai was well known in Japan； a powerful reactionary who was head of one of the monstrous zaibatsu bines。 It was inevitable that he should e under suspicion and； subsequently； be arrested as a war criminal。
Itami withstood the shame stoically； as she withstood everything else in life。 But Cheong was hysterical。 That night； as they lay in bed； she pleaded with the Colonel to intervene。 He was high up in the SCAP hierarchy； an adviser to General MacArthur himself。 Surely there was some way he could help Satsugai。
'My darling；' he had said； 'matters are not as simple as that。 This is a highly charged time。 Besides；' he added reasonably； 'Satsugai may indeed be guilty of all they say he is。'
But this only served to infuriate Cheong further。 'It does not matter；' she said simply。 'He is family。'
'You mean therefore he is no criminal？'
'Yes。'
'Darling； you're talking foolishness。'
'Maybe so。' Her voice was quite serious； containing the undercurrent of strength the Colonel recognized。 'But I tell you that your duty is to your family and if there is a way to help Satsugai you must do it。 Kakujin wa hombun wo tsukusa neba narimasen。' Everyone must do his duty。
Cheong is a most intelligent person； the Colonel thought； but she can be inordinately stubborn at times。 He had known there was no way to deflect her from her purpose； knew； too； that there would be no peace for him at home until he had proved to her that he had done his best to enforce his influence。
He had fallen asleep with that thought in his mind and had awakened just before dawn with the idea blooming already。
There was a way to free Satsugai； he was quite certain of that now； but to implement the plan would involve tremendous risk。 He had no doubt that he could talk the SCAP tribunal into going along with him。 It was purely a matter of whether he wanted to go ahead with it。
In the end； he knew he had little choice。 He already understood the precariousness of the advisory board of which he was a member and now he thought of his plan as a kind of insurance policy against the day his job should go sour。
He knew a good deal about Satsugai's background； in fact a good deal more than Satsugai himself was aware。 The Fukuoka connection was too obvious to ignore。 The Genyosha had never been an outlaw organization in Japan； records were not too difficult to unearth。 The Colonel had taken a clandestine trip south to Kyushu and had found out the truth。 Satsugai was a Genyosha leader。
At this particular point in time； that sort of information was incendiary。 If it came to the attention of the SCAP tribunal； it would not matter how many incriminating documents Satsugai had destroyed in time； he would be executed。
However； the Colonel had absolutely no intention of divulging that piece of information to anyone。 In any event； Satsugai's death would serve no purpose。 The society would simply elevate another member and go on with its work。 That work was totally counterproductive to what the Colonel perceived as the correct course towards Japan's future。 He wanted the Genyosha destroyed。 If Satsugai were exonerated； he would be a dog on a leash … the end of which the Colonel had firm hold of。 Sooner or later； Satsugai would lead the Colonel home to the centre of the Genyosha。
The Colonel turned his gaze from the weeping glass into the warmth of his study。 He watched the slanted Mongol eyes of his adversary； so well trained that he could see nothing below the surface； nothing that the man did not want him to see。
It seems a long time ago； the Colonel thought now； that I let him go and he has led me nowhere。 He has known from the beginning。 He knew what I wanted。 I have managed to neutralize him as a force but he has otherwise stymied me。 The Colonel felt a deep sadness inside himself。 It was always his game to win； he thought。 I was a fool to think otherwise。
That Satsugai hated him came as no surprise to the Colonel。 After all； they were from opposite sides of the political spectrum。 And while the Colonel understood better than any Westerner in Japan the importance of the maintenance of its traditions； its heritage； knowing that without those things the country would disintegrate； yet he also understood that the kind of traditionalism that Satsugai represented was as evil and self…serving as anything in Japan could be。 This was a country of heroes； he knew； not of villains。 Those were few and far between。 At that moment； as he stared into those baleful eyes across the warm expanse of his study； the Colonel knew that he had missed something elementary in the puzzle。 There was a piece missing that was； he was convinced； the key to it all。 He had believed that he had pierced Satsugai's secret life many years ago and all his actions since then had stemmed from that assumption。 He now suspected that assumption； was angry at himself for having been so easily fooled。 He played with me as if I were a child； the Colonel thought furiously。
It gave him little fort at the moment that； by his intervening； he had put Satsugai in an agonizing situation。 He was in debt to the Colonel； a man he despised。 It was an intolerable situation for a Japanese； yet Satsugai bore it well。 I have to give him that； the Colonel thought。
My God； he thought； what is it that he has hidden from me all these years？ The old warrior is shrewd yet。 And then the Colonel understood what he must do。 There had already been too much time wasted in an obviously fruitless plot。 He had； as Satsugai himself had just said； to face reality。 And the reality of this situation was that he must break the stalemate in whatever way was possible。 There was only one way now。
The Colonel knew only too well that； as far as Satsugai was concerned； he was invulnerable。 He could； for instance； insult Satsugai and the other would not … could not … take action against him。 There was an obligation to be met。 Satsugai must grin and bear it。 The reverse； however； did not hold true。
For a brief moment； the Colonel was filled with a deep regret。 Nicholas was still so young。 There had been so little time and there were promises he had made that could not now be kept。
The Colonel stared out at the wide expanse of his property； the trees dripping with moisture； bending in the wind。 He looked for the wren but it had long gone； perhaps preferring the storm to idleness。 So much beauty out there； but this day he could feel no joy。
'What have you learned from the Go Rin No Sho？' Kansatsu said one day at the dojo。
'Some of it is obviously quite useful；' Nicholas said； 'though it's mostly mon sense。'
'Many consider it a revelatory work。' Kansatsu's tone was entirely neutral； giving Nicholas no clue as to whether or not he thought。 it was so important。 His eyes glittered like glass； quite opaque。 Behind him the long afternoon slid into the muffled mauve of twilight。 The sun was lost in a steep bank of haze； the resulting light； reflective and diffuse； suffused the sky； laminated the trees until the world seemed monochromatic。
'I almost wish you hadn't given it to me。'
'Could you be more specific？'
'Well； there is something … I don't know … disturbing about it。'
Kansatsu said nothing； merely stood waiting。 Behind him； the soft clash of bokken； the exhaled breaths in unison； filled the place。
'Some might say its purity is its ultimate virtue；' Nicholas said carefully。 'But； to me； it's more of a monomania。 There is something intrinsically dangerous in that。'
'Can you tell me what； precisely？'
'Exclusion。'
As if he had been thinking of this all the time； Kansatsu said；。' Do you know anything of the life of Musashi？'
'Not real