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ts wake。
Behind them； Shimonoseki drifted away like a dream； beyond the churning white wake of the ferry。 Gulls swung gracefully across their bow； wheeling obliquely like a fighter squadron； calling plaintively to each other。
They passed； quite close it seemed in the mist； a pair of fishing boats lying low in the swells； their black nets hauled up the masts like a moron's idea of a sail。 A young boy on one of the boats waved excitedly as the ferry passed him by but there were none aboard； it seemed； inclined to return the gesture。
Nicholas's gaze shifted subtly to regard Yukio beside him。 Her head was thrown back as if to catch the wan sunlight on the wide planes of her cheekbones； her hair flying to one side； a raven's spread wing。 The long line of her neck was exposed； shadowed softly because of the thrust of her chin in this position。 The hard jut of her breasts。 Was it his imagination or could he see the slight protrusions of her nipples as they poked； erect； through the lace of her bra？
'Why is it； do you think； that Satsugai is afraid of the Colonel？'
The wind tore at her words； flinging over the ferry's side； out towards the bobbing fishing boats； mere black points now； misting to dull grey； and for a moment he was not sure he had heard her right。
'I was not aware that he was。'
She turned towards him； studied his face。 'Oh； yes。 But of course。 You mean you haven't noticed it？ Well； I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised； really。 I've spent more time with him than you have。'
They argue a lot。' He put his elbows along the railing； leaned overboard。 He felt her hand on his arm。
'Don't do that。 Please。' She laughed。 'If you fell in I'd have to go in after you and I hate the water。〃 'Water and trains。'
'Water worse than anything。 I don't mind being near it。 I like that； in fact。 I'm just terrified by the tides and undertow and that。'
'About Satsugai；' he said。 'He and my father are from the opposite sides of the tracks； politically speaking。 But that's； well； just talk。'
'Do you imagine that they would be together if it were not for Itami and your mother？'
He looked at the water； dark and light。 'No； I don't suppose so。'
'Right。 Well； I know Satsugai。 That kind of hate only stems from fear and let me tell you he is not a man who is easily frightened。 Whatever the Colonel has on him is potent indeed。'
'I think it's just that Satsugai； being in the zaibutsu； was under suspicion as a war criminal for a time。 You know； during the purges when the Americans disbanded the traditional family structure of the zaibatsu。 My father intervened on Satsugai's behalf。 I don't know the details but that kind of debt would be a heavy burden for Satsugai to bear。'
'Yes。 He prides himself on owing no one and he's more powerful now than he was during the war。' She shook her head。 'To think that's due in part to the Colonel。'
'It's family。 That's something my mother is adamant about。 Politics are relatively unimportant next to that。 Next to my father and me； Itami is her sole family。 There is nothing they wouldn't do for one another。'
The fog closed in on them and the day turned chill。 The ferry's deep horn sounded at regular intervals； hoarse and mournful。 The gulls had gone and now it was even impossible to see the water。 They might have been skimming through the air。 The whiteness seemed stifling。 There was no breeze to speak of。 They heard voices； muffled and odd sounding； from the ferry's far side as if ing to them from across a vast and unfathomable gulf。
All at once the land loomed before them out of the intense mist and； with only a slight bump； the ferry docked against the jute…covered slip。 Nicholas wondered how the captain had seen his way across。 They could hear the creak of the pilings。 Then a dog began to bark hysterically。
To Nicholas the train ride to Kumamoto seemed interminable even though it took merely a fraction of the time it had taken for the bulk of the journey。 Perhaps the fog had something to do with it； but he felt now a kind of desperate longing to know what it was that had brought Saigo down here。 Kansatsu had been concerned about it。 He realized that now； so belatedly。 The sensei would never have e out and said such a thing； merely implied it。 But what could it be about Saigo's visits here that would be so disturbing？ And why should it concern Kansatsu at all？ These questions gnawed at him as they rode across Kyushu and he wished with all his might that he had the answers but； of course； that was a useless wish。 In fact； any wish； Cheong had told him more than once； is useless。 'If you want something badly enough；' she had said； 'then you must do it。 Those who sit and wish for things acplish nothing。'
Abruptly； he felt resentment welling up inside him for that part of him which was Western in nature。 But even so； he knew that that was his turbulent side； filled with energy and longing； impatience and changeability。 It was； in short； what made him different。
Yukio； as usual； was filled with lust and； in the jouncing； empty car； she sat on his lap； lifting her skirt up and making the hot connection。 Neither of them needed to move at all。
Kumamoto was a town that no doubt in feudal times had been dominated by the stone and mortar castle perched high on a dun…brown hill that in the spring would turn lushly verdant。 In these modern times； however； the castle； though still quite imposing； seemed overshadowed by the industrial plant flung across the valley to the northwest。 Its fifteen or so smokestacks seemed like inelegant fingers stretching themselves irreverently towards the heavens。
This afternoon； as Nicholas and Yukio stepped off the smoking train； one could not see their tops and the mist made them seem as if they had been covered by gloves。
Oddly enough； Kumamoto itself was not as modern as this new appendage might lead one to believe。 There was little evidence of Western erosion and they saw more traditional Japanese garb than they had seen anywhere else in their travels。 Even through the mist； which now appeared to be at last lifting； they could see how mountainous Kyushu was。 Dark masses loomed on every side； filling the land with a kind of undulating light and shadow pattern of the kind one might see from an airplane riding high above patchy clouds。
They booked into a hotel along the Street of the Wrestlers。 'Here；' the bustling proprietor said； flinging open the doors to their rooms； 'you will have a perfect view of Mount Aso。' He put down their bags； crossed to the window of Nicholas's room。 'Of course； you'll need a clear day but no doubt by tomorrow you will be able to view； well； perhaps not all five summits but most assuredly Nakadake。' He turned around； rubbing his palms together。 'It's actively volcanic； you know； and always smoking。' He waved one pudgy hand towards the mist outside。 'We get this kind of weather when the wind's the wrong way。〃 He walked to the door and his finger touched the knob。 'We've had ash and pumice； the sky so dark you'd think it was night； when it erupts。' He shook his head。 'Can you imagine？ ing all
that way。' He clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth。 'Still； one shouldn't plain。 Mount Aso brings many people here every year and where would I be without tourism？' He shrugged deprecatingly。 Nicholas tipped him and he gave them a rather stiff little bow。 'Anything I can do to make your stay here more pleasant；' he said； opening the connecting door between their rooms before leaving。
Nicholas phoned Saigo but he was not there。 He left a message including the hotel's number。
They spent some time searching for a stable but there seemed to be no riding； at least within the town's limits。 Yukio could not hide her disappointment。
They ate a light lunch at a tiny teahouse in a square surrounded by trees。 Birds called as they flitted from branch to branch。 The food was impeccable but Nicholas was not able to eat much。 His stomach was tense and he needed to move around。
When they left； they proceeded to walk aimlessly around； through the wide main avenues； down small shop…lined streets； filled with mingled scents and clamouring customers。
They returned to the hotel late in the afternoon with