第95节

here's been a change of plan,' he said, through gritted

teeth.

'Are we talking about the Consul-General?"

'We are."

'What's happened? Did someone cancel the trip?"

'No. It's still on. He's even been boasting about it."

'Then he'll be taken care of."

'That wasn't the deal, Brickman. You know what my client's wishes

were. It was to be in the air. The way you showed me."

'Yeah, well, due to circumstances beyond our control, it's not going to

be quite like that. But don't worry, he's still going off the top

board."

'Do you mind telling me how?"

'I can't explain how. You wouldn't understand. But since your friends

won't let me fly, I'm having to use a device powered by the Dark

Light.

Okay? All I can say is you won't be disappointed. And I won't have to

explain how I accidentally lost a very important passenger." He

shrugged. 'So it works out fine for both of US."

'Oh, Brickman..." breathed Toshiro.

'Yeah,' said Steve. 'I know how you feel. But why speil all the runT'

The atmosphere became electric as they stared each other out.

Cadillac, Jodi and Kelso kept their heads down. The two Trackers had a

feeling they'd seen the Jap before, but they didn't know who he was or

why Steve was courting death by facing him down at such a crucial

moment, or what was going to happen next. Just when the suspense was

becoming unbearable there was another timid knock on the door.

A wavering voice addressed the Herald in Japanese.

Toshiro responded with a gruff command. The door slid open to reveal

the two house-women kneeling outside, then Clearwater - still masked

appeared between them and stepped through into the room.

Steve's heart leapt, but he didn't let it show in case the Herald got

the wrong idea. 'What kept you?"

Toshiro, who didn't realise that the question was rhetorical, answered

for her. 'I think you'll find her porters had to step aside to let the

procession pass."

Clearwater didn't say anything. The only time she had met the Herald

he had been swathed in black from head to toe. Although she had

encountered him on the road and his voice was vaguely familiar, she

didn't know who this imposing figure was or what he was doing there.

But since Steve was on his feet she stayed on hers.

The two house-women, crouched low over bent knees, shuffled in and

deposited Clearwater's luggage: a cloth bundle and a bag.

Toshiro issued some kind of order in Japanese. One of the house-women

picked up the bag and came forward on her knees to hand it to him. He

gave them another order which they both acknowledged with a grovelling

bow then backed out of the room, sliding the door shut behind them.

Steve heard their cottoned feet beat a hasty retreat down the corridor

as Toshiro turned and tossed him the bag.

'The leaves you've been asking me for. That wraps up my half of the

deal. Make sure you deliver yours."

Steve nodded. 'Nice doing business with you. Better go out the back

way. If you were to be -' Toshiro cut him short. 'Brickman, advice

from you is one thing I don't need. I thought it would have been clear

by now you weren't dealing with an amateur."

Steve bowed politely.

Neither are you, gorgeous. Neither are you . . .

Seated with their chief lieutenants in the centre of the grandstand and

separated from the other spectators by a three-deep wall of their own

samurai, Lords YamaShita and Min-Orota surveyed their surroundings.

Immediately below them, hidden by the canopy erected to shield the