society in many ways. The founders had initially considered combating the opposition publicly – for instance, by forming a new, clean political party and lobbying for change in some of the structures. They'd soon realized that the forces they were up against were too strongly entrenched. Head-on attacks would be fruitless and could indeed be counterproductive. Instead, they'd decided to work completely behind the scenes and, in the main, through others. It had proved to be a fruitful strategy.
Some of their more notable successes to date had come by applying the principles of martial arts – in particular, the principle of using the strength and momentum of an opponent to defeat himself. The technique's secret lay in applying a small amount of leverage at the right place and the right time.
The photograph of just such a lever was flashed up on the giant central screen. It was of a foreigner, a gaijin, a good-looking man with steel-gray hair worn en brosse, and gentle eyes in a strong, well-proportioned face. He looked to be in his early forties, perhaps younger.
The photo was captioned ‘Hugo Fitzduane.’
One of the gathering, using a laser pointer, commenced the briefing. The dossier was extensive.
12
Fitzduane's Island, Ireland
May 28
After a couple of months at Duncleeve, eating well, resting, exercising, and enjoying the beauty of his island, Fitzduane was starting to feel human again and ready for the next phase. He was looking forward to the arrival of his friend.
Kilmara flew in and landed on the new airstrip that Fitzduane had arranged to have constructed down the center of the island.
The strip was short, but hard-surfaced and well-drained and entirely adequate for both the aircraft the Ranger general was using and the new machine that Fitzduane had purchased. Both were Pilatus Norman Britten Islanders, sturdy aerial workhorses capable of carrying up to nine passengers or over a ton of cargo.
Fitzduane ushered Kilmara into a black-painted Hughes helicopter and they took off immediately, as if leaving a hot landing zone.
'Sometimes it's useful having money,' said Fitzduane over the intercom. 'I got started on this on my second week in the hospital. Let me give you the rationale and the grand tour. As you'll see, I have made a few changes.'
They flew over Fitzduane's castle. Fitzduane pointed. Kilmara could clearly see the saucer shape on top of the gatehouse.
'I like the isolation here,' Fitzduane continued, 'but this business has made me face up to the fact that being cut off from the world has its downside. You can do nothing today without communications, so I put in a satellite dish and a slew of extra lines. We can now talk to anyone anywhere in the world without fucking with the local exchange. And we can transfer computer data the same way, using high-speed modems.
'Next on the list was the requirement to get people and goods in and out fast. This machine and the Islander now mean we can link up with Dublin in less than two hours. In addition, both aircraft are fitted with FLIR modules and other observation equipment and can retransmit that information in real time to the ground.'
The helicopter looped around Duncleeve. Kilmara looked at the FLIR screen as instructed. He could just make out a series of metal posts well spaced apart.
'Microwave fencing, TV cameras, and other similar goodies,' said Fitzduane. 'Surprisingly affordable technology these days. No system is foolproof, but the castle itself is now almost impossible to approach undetected, and we have radar to keep an eye on the sky.'
The pilot banked and flew out to sea and followed the coastline to the sprawling Victorian Gothic castle that had been the school known as DrakerCollege. When Kilmara had last seen it, it had been boarded up. Now the windows glistened with fresh paint, the grounds had been tidied up, and there were cars parked in the courtyard. It, too, was surrounded with microwave fencing and other detection equipment.
'You've had your beady eye on the island for training the Rangers for some time,' said Fitzduane. 'Fair enough. You've got a deal. I need security and you need space. You can hang your hat in a wing of Draker and train to the seaward end of the island.'
'What about rent?' asked Kilmara, ever conscious of budgets.
'Peppercorn – as long as you're running the Rangers. The whole deal is cancellable at a month's notice. I get to keep any improvements. You guys have to make good any damage. Oh, yes – and the whole island gets classified as a restricted military area. I want to do some building and I don't want to get delayed by filing planning applications.'
He spoke into his intercom, and the helicopter banked and headed low and fast toward Duncleeve. 'We'll talk later. Our visitors are due soon.'
They landed in the courtyard of the castle. Shortly afterward, a Range Rover pulled up from the airstrip and out stepped three Japanese.
The first was Yoshokawa. The second, a short, distinguished-looking man, was a stranger to Fitzduane. The third visitor was an extremely attractive woman.
The second man was introduced as Saburo Enoke, the Deputy Superintendent-General of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, better known to his men as the Spider.
The woman was a Miss Chifune Tanabu. She was just presenting her card when the heavens opened and sheeted rain poured down on the exposed group. They fled inside.
The Great Hall had been equipped for the briefing. Various audio-visual aids were in place. Pinboards on wheeled stands lined one wall.
Outside, the skies had darkened and rain lashed against the long glass wall. Fitzduane suggested sliding shut the shoji screens to keep out the beautiful but depressing picture, but his visitors smiled and shook their heads.
'We're used to the restricted landscape of an urban environment,' said Yoshokawa. 'The sight of the open sea is a rare pleasure – whatever the weather.'
The assembled group took their seats, and Yoshokawa addressed the meeting.
'This is an exceptional gathering,' he said, 'because matters will be discussed here today which normally would never be communicated between parties of such differing backgrounds. National interests are involved, and no nation wishes to air its flaws and deficiencies in public. However, we are confident that we are dealing with people we can trust and that we have a mutual interest. I now defer to Enokesan, the Deputy Superintendent- General.'
The Spider stood up. He spoke excellent English with a strong American accent. He spoke slowly, and in such a manner that it was clear what he said was carefully considered.
'We have much to be proud of in Japan, but like every country, we have situations and elements which are an embarrassment. Naturally, we do not like to publicize those negative elements. Nonetheless, in this case it is clear that there are advantages in cooperation. It has taken us some time to reach this conclusion. I regret that it has taken so long, and I can assure you all there that there will be no delays in the future. We are committed to see this matter through to a successful conclusion.
'I will now give you back to General Kilmara. He has been conducting the investigation here and is best qualified to present our mutual findings. But before I do' – he bowed deeply to Fitzduane – 'I would like to apologize on behalf of our countrymen for the injuries you have suffered, Fitzduane- san. Activities of this dissident minority are a source of great embarrassment to us. We are deeply sorry.'
Fitzduane, sitting at the head of the table, acknowledged the bow and smiled. Privately, he was getting impatient. He already knew some of the pieces, but he wanted to know more. Above all he wanted content, not platitudes. He hoped his guests had flown twelve hours or more for more than a few elegantly delivered words of
