Hino Saburo was not a real friend of the Tenou family, nor were they really in his political orbit, but he knew them--Old Hino liked to think that he had at least a passing acquaintence with everyone who was most important in the functioning of Japan. He didn't; he especially tended to undervalue scientists, engineers, and military men. But he had enjoyed pleasant if somewhat distant relations with Tenou Hideki in the past.

Things had grown cooler and more distant over the years. For some reason unknown to Hino Saburo, Tenou-san's wife had taken a dislike to him. Tenou-san was approachable enough on his own, but getting to Tenou-san nearly always involved people who were sympathetic to, or afraid of, or both, of Tenou-san's wife and her family. When the issue was important to him, Tenou-san would contact Hino. Once the matter of the moment was settled, it would generally be months before they made contact again.

But now the wife had to be dealt with directly. Tenou-san was laid low by a stroke, and while it seemed he would survive, he was a total invalid, unable even to speak. As ever with Japanese physicians, it was difficult to get a diagnosis that was not rose-colored, but from what they refused to say, it was clear enough to Hino-san that Tenou Hideki would never recover. How much of his mind was left behind his blank eyes? This Hino Saburo contemplated as he left Tenou's private room.

"Doesn't Tenou-san's wife visit often?" Hino asked the charge nurse. This was his third visit and he hadn't come across her yet.

"She usually comes after hours," replied the nurse in diplomatic tones.

"Well, I'm sure she must be very busy now," remarked Hino-san. "I would have thought he would have more visitors."

The charge nurse piped up a little defensively. "His daughter was here this morning. And some people from America, too."

<Haruka . . . could she be the reason why?> "From America? Who would know Tenou-san from America?"

Tenou Musako consented to see Hino, of course. Whatever distaste she could have indulged in as Tenou-san's wife, she now had to take the reigns more directly, and could not afford to avoid a man as useful as Hino. That was the judgement of Rei's father, and like nearly all his judgements about politics and money, accurate.

A lady from an august old family married into another did not entertain a gentleman alone, so Hino was not surprised to see a third party with hm. But the identity of the person discomfited him: She was young Tenou's widow. <Why?> mused Hino while they traded through the meaningless courtesies. And there was fourth: Kaidou-san's wife. <Here on her own? Or is she here on her father's behalf?>

Hino was wearing kimono, a sober robe but not quite somber enough for a funeral or a wake. He had expected to find Tenou Musako in kimono as well, but she and her companions were dressed western-style. As she conducted him into a parlor room that could have been transported from some French chateau (and perhaps had been--the wealth of her family and her husband's could easily afford such extravagances) Tenou Musako said to him, "I thought you might be more used to Western furnishings after your long stay in America with your daughter, Hino-san. I must confess, I like chairs better and better as I grow older. You know, we are supposed to be taller now because we spend more time sitting in chairs. There are other factors, of course; improved diet and planned physical activities in shools, but still, I think chairs have added a centimeter or more to the national stature."

"I will take your word for it, Tenou-san. I am sadly ignorant of scientific matters," said Hino. "But as long as I know men and women of science like yourself, I can muddle through." She was reminding him that she had a genuine education, versus four years of recreation and making forging personal contacts at Tokyo University. But of course, being who she was, she did not need to seek contacts; anyone of importance would seek her . . . or so she would assume.

"How is your daughter, Hino-san?" asked Kaidou Yoko, Prime Minister Matsudaira's only legitimate child.

"She is still recovering from her injuries," said Hino. He decided to add something more, rather than let Yoko draw out the matter still further. "And she is having a difficult pregnancy. As you know, my daughter practices law in America. She has been turning many of her clients to other attorneys. But she is handling the unfortunate matter with Mrs. Urawa and the American holy man."

"Perhaps it would be better if she handed that case over as well," said Tenou Musako.

"Hai," he responded. "I suppose your daughter Haruka has told you something about the situation?"

Tenou Musako responded with no more than the icily polite smile she had been wearing all along.

A servant girl materialized with a serving cart. She was very young, darker in complexion than most Japanese--<from the Philippines or Indonesia most likely>, thought Hino. Her headcloth probably meant she was a Muslim; such girls were becoming very popular as servants now, especially among the more conservative old families. Ethnic Koreans were less and less willing to stay in their appointed place; Okinawans were also growing restive; and as for finding a true Japanese girl to do domestic work these days at what Tenou Musako would consider a reasonable wage . . .

The servant girl carried out her chore, saying nothing, never meeting his eyes. Matsudaira's daughter exchanged some words with young Tenou's widow, but only a few, and he was not able to make them out. He still had most of his sharp sight, but his hearing was beginning to fade. <Perhaps I should learn to read lips at last,> he mused half-seriously as he waited for the domestic to leave and the silence to end.

When the girl was gone at last, Hino made some polite remarks about the refreshments and gave the elder Mrs. Tenou a chance to re-open the conversation. He did have some advantage; he was here because she needed something from him. But what was it?

She exchanged some trivialities with her companions about the servant girl instead. Hino had the minor satisfaction of having his guess about the girl confirmed: She was a Javanese, one of too many children of some back-country farmer who'd lost his land to one of the agribusinesses which were quietly modernizing Indonesia's most populous island--and turning surplus peasants out. It was a familiar pattern. Hino did know some history and sociology; they were, after all, relevant to politics. Japan had been a nation of peasants not that long before his own time . . . of course, a lot of the money behind the agribusinesses really came from Japan, from the Tenou's phantom kairetsu and from other discrete sources . . .

But that was hardly relevant now. Hino got the point the elder Mrs. Tenou was making. She would not be seen to need his services. So he must seem to need hers if anything useful was to come out of this meeting. "May I speak of necessary matters?" he said. "First, let me assure you that any arrangements I have made with your husband will continue, despite his illness. That is, unless your family wishes to change them?"

That was more aggressive than it would have sounded to a gaijin. While being scrupulously polite, Hino had brought up a sticking point. By saying "family" instead of addressing Tenou Musako directly, he reminded her of a crucial question. Who would control Tenou-san's portion of the kairetsu now? What would Haruka do? <Her mother hasn't responded to my remark about her . . . simple disappointment in Haruka's lifestyle? Or something more . . .>

"Our present arrangements seem satisfactory," said Tenou Musako. "My husband's first concern was the soundness of our business interests. I see no need for making great changes now, simply because he is incapacitated."

"Have you come to ask for help in the Urawa matter?" piped up Matsudaira's daughter. "Your daughter must keep it on your mind."

"Your guess is correct, Kaidou-san," said Hino to his old protégé’s wife. "About my daughter's interest. I happen to agree with her on a personal level. I've made inquiries. The natural mother of the children is not someone I would trust with a goldfish. The woman is by nature a fanatic, liable to justify anything according to her latest faith. The children were quite happy with Mrs. Urawa. However," he paused, taking a long sip of his English-style tea for a coda, "Unfortunately American law seems to support the natural mother. My daughter has always admitted that. Thank you for offering your support, Kaidou-san, but the best that can be hoped for is that the American holy man will tire of the game before we are forced to take regrettable actions. If the birth mother is really exposed by the media for what she really is, I think this man will give up his crusade." He took a noisy sip to provide some emphasis for his next remark. "But of course, you seem to be assuming like so many that Urawa-san is actually here in Japan. Of course, should she be discovered here, I would appreciate very much any help you could give me for my daughter's friend and her children."

Matsudaira's daughter gave him a polite nod, no more. But both the Tenou wives showed deeper understanding in their eyes. More to the point, they both stole quick glances at Kaidou's wife. <Whatever it is that they want, it is important enough to pressure Matsudaira . . . but why is Yoko so hostile to me?> Hino had noticed Kaidou Yoko's feelings at the White House. <What am I missing? . . .>

<No more about that.> To the old master manipulator, the two other women were clearly attuned to the tension between himself and Matsudaira's daughter. <They think they know something . . . > Hino broke the short but thick silence with a return to the real point of the meeting. "If there are no great changes to be made, perhaps a small one, Tenou-san? Or is there something you wish to know more of?"

Tenou Musako froze her face into a pleasant mask that would have fooled any gaijin and most of the men he had known well. "A foreign man, most likely an American, has been making inquiries into matters we would rather not be publicized."

"An American?" recapitulated Hino slowly and clearly. "Tenou-san has never had any trouble with Americans that I've heard of. Did he acquire some American firm of importance recently?"

"It is an American who is asking questions here in Nihon," said the younger Mrs. Tenou.

<Something in her voice . . .> "This man has approached you?"

The widow nodded, but her mother-in-law resumed speaking. "We think he is working for the holy man."

"One of his fanatics?"

Tenou Musako shook her head. "No."

"So you have also seen this man also?"

"I have seen and heard enough to know he is a professional at what he does."

"He speaks Japanese," said the young widow. "With a horrible accent but fluently. And Vietnamese. Better than his Japanese, according to my maid."

"That is interesting," said Hino, and added some genuine insight. "He was an older man, wasn't he? Close to my age?"

Both the Tenou women nodded.

"Probably some kind of intelligence man from the American's war with Vietnam. I have encountered quite a number of them over the years. Some of them even work for Japanese clients . . . But you are convinced he works for this so-called holy man?"

This time the elder Mrs. Tenou did the nodding. "His questions were a message. He is suggesting that he already has information that could damage our family's interests."

<What is she afraid the holy man knows?> Turning back to the widow who had actually seen the agent, he asked her as directly as a policeman might, "Did he make a demand? Ask for payment?"

The widow shook her head once again. "He did neither."

"Ne-e-eh," muttered Hino. "Then he is smart enough not to say anything unwise that might be recorded. Not the kind of man I would let go if I was running their CIA," he mused. "He frightened you?"

"Hai," admitted the widow.

"Tenou-san," he said, somehow conveying that he meant Haruka's mother, "Have you already attempted any special measures to deal with this man?" <That is, have you sent any Yakuza to remind him that Americans should stick to their own business in Japan.>

The not-quite-widow nodded slowly and firmly. "Unfortunately the measures were not effective."

"That is interesting," said Hino. <An old agent who could deal with fit young Yakuza toughs, and could frighten young Tenou’s wife. She is not one to frighten easily, > he thought. "Does the man have a name?"

"Patterson was what he called himself," said the widow.

Matsudaira's daughter spoke again. "If he is working for this American holy man, perhaps your daughter knows of him?"

"My daughter has never mentioned anyone of that name to me," said Hino. "But perhaps he did not use the name he uses here. Your husband could be useful here. If he entered Nihon legally, we will have some information on him. At least a photograph and a thumbprint."

"He did use that name on his passport," said Kaidou's wife.

<So she has already looked into this herself . . . through Kaidou or her father?> "That will be useful," said Hino. He made a show of pouring a fresh cup of the English-style tea, adding cream and sugar, and selecting another tea biscuit. After taking a bite of the biscuit and a drink from his cup, he brought up his next point. "So, our Prime Minister is aware of this new problem now?"

Old Tenou's wife nodded, not Matsudaira's daughter.

"But he is not aware of the matter you would rather not be made public?"

Again, it was old Tenou's wife that responded. "There are some aspects he may not be aware of."

"So I take it you want old Hino-san to make sure he does not become aware of more than he must."

"My father had no involvement in the matters," said Kaidou's wife, "Before Tenou-san asked for his help."

"And he would rather old Hino-san handle it now. Discretely, very discretely . . . so discretely he will not speak to me directly about it?"

None of the women said or did anything.

Hino let the silence build as he nibbled at his biscuit and drank his tea awhile. Then he said, "I will help you. However, it will be necessary for me to know something of what you wish to conceal . . ."

"ERIC BLAIR PATTERSON," read Kaidou from the papers he had brought. "He entered perfectly legally. No record of any crime from America or Interpol. He has made quite a number of visits to Japan, usually with our 'holy man' Mr. Swainson but not always." He handed the papers off to Hino, and waited in silence while Hino looked through them.

"Nothing about his Vietnam service."

"Not among the records I would be carrying around on paper," said Kaidou.

"And among the records you are carrying in your brain?"

"Not a great deal more. But you are right, he was involved in covert operations associated with the conflicts in Southeast Asia."

"On whose side?" remarked Hino.

"Presumably he worked for the Americans," said Kaidou, either missing the joke or refusing to acknowledge it. "But we are not sure what agency he really worked for. Officially at the time he was in their State Department."

"Diplomacy and espionage are very old bedfellows, Kaidou-san, even among the sons of Nihon . . . go on. You must have more."

"Nothing substantial," said Kaidou rather more carefully than seemed warrented.

"But?"

"The Americans made an error in making his 'legend,' Hino-san. They said that from 1975 to 1979 he served as a passport control officer in La Paz, Bolivia before leaving the State Department. But there was no American Embassy in Bolivia during part of that time. The Americans withdrew diplomatic recognition after a coup early in 1978 and did not restore it until 1981 when another President changed policies. [Note: This event did not really happen in our world, but it is typical of the contrast between the policies of Carter and Reagan regarding the importance of human rights vs. American strategic and economic interests.]

"Couldn't it just be a clerical error?" asked Hino. "Someone put in a '9' instead of an '8'?"

"I suppose."

"But you feel it is not. Why?"

Kaidou shook his head. "I think the date was changed afterward. When people make mistakes about years, they make them a year earlier, not a year later. It may have been only on the computer records. But getting to the paper records would attract attention." He shook his head again. "Not warranted. Not yet . . ."

<What is he thinking about now?> Hino wondered. <Something besides this trouble with the 'holy man' . . .> "Kaidou-san, have you by chance heard anything from my daughter?"

The younger man was unbalanced for a moment. "I know about the trouble she is having with this 'holy man.' Since she is involved, I have asked her to tell me as much as she can about him and his organization."

"So you have made another intelligence asset of my daughter," said Hino.

"Intelligence is mostly keeping your ears and eyes open, Hino-san."

"Even I know that," said Hino. <a fast recovery . . . too fast?> Hino decided to let that pass and get back to the matter at hand. "Rei has never mentioned this man to me. Has she said anything to you about him?"

"No."

<That's the truth, but would she tell Kaidou-san if he did threaten her? . . .> "I will ask her directly."

Kaidou nodded.

Hino pressed on to his next concern. "Mrs. Tenou is very concerned about something involving the late Professor Tomoe and Mugen Gekuan. I've heard some rather outlandish tales over the years about that matter. I'm sure you have heard them also."

"Of course."

"But Mrs. Tenou is worried about something worse than bad publicity. I would like to know what that something is."

"Tomoe did operate some kind of cult. We still have had inquiries from the relatives of foreigners who became members and disappeared. But you got to know his daughter, didn't you?"

"She was a small child when this happened."

"Yes . . . I suppose."

Hino became irritated. Kaidou was holding back again. "I've become more interested in the funds Tomoe received. Large amounts from the Tenou keiretsu and larger amounts from various Ministries. I suspect even more reached him and his various organizations that I haven't identified."

"You must have known about this for a long time, sensei. You have a nose for finding money."

"Yes, I have known of it. But I'm beginning to change my mind about what it meant," said Hino. "Mrs. Tenou is worried about more than her husband being discovered thieving. I had assumed it was simply a way for Tenou-san and his friends to make even more money, tax-free. But now I think there was something more to it."

"What do you think that might be?"

"I don't know. Something important enough to bring down the Tenou keiretsu, at the least. Perhaps something important enough to bring down our party. I am most curious why I do not know of such a thing, Kaidou-san. Most curious."