HE WATCHED Nezuma enter the restaurant and then set the camera down next to the laptop computer he had open on the back floor of the van. He connected the USB cable to the computer and downloaded the pictures he had taken moments before. Nezuma enter the restaurant and then set the camera down next to the laptop computer he had open on the back floor of the van. He connected the USB cable to the computer and downloaded the pictures he had taken moments before.

He opened his e-mail program and composed a new message. After typing in the simple one-word name, along with a subject and priority, he typed, "Identify woman and provide history."

He clicked the attachment icon and included the best close-ups he had shot. Then he clicked Send and waited.

NEZUMA WASHED DOWN the meal with a beer. The silver can was thoroughly icy and he loved the crisp taste as it followed the excellent fish tempura he'd eaten. He belched appreciatively and drank long from the gla.s.s in front of him. the meal with a beer. The silver can was thoroughly icy and he loved the crisp taste as it followed the excellent fish tempura he'd eaten. He belched appreciatively and drank long from the gla.s.s in front of him.

His cell phone purred and he opened it up.

"Yes?"

"Master." Shuko's voice licked at his ear.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes. I am in a coffee shop across the street from the train station."

"Did you get food yet?"

"Yes."

"Good, then we'll be all set for when we have to move."

She paused. "That's why I'm calling. I think you should come here as soon as you can."

"Is something wrong?"

"Not at all. I have managed to find Ogawa and the American woman Creed."

Nezuma's heart raced. "Excellent work. How did you locate them so quickly?"

"I came directly here and waited. They came in a few moments ago and ordered some food. They are at the train station now. I followed them. They purchased tickets aboard a train bound for Mie Prefecture."

"Where in Mie?"

"Iga."

Nezuma smiled. As he'd expected. "Excellent. I will be there very soon."

He clicked off his phone and gestured the waitress over. She presented him with the bill and he left a wad of cash on the table. Nezuma believed in tipping well for a great meal.

And Shuko's news was the perfect dessert.

HIS E-MAIL DINGED and he sat up, aware that he'd nodded off. He clicked the new-message icon and waited. The message filled his screen. and he sat up, aware that he'd nodded off. He clicked the new-message icon and waited. The message filled his screen.

Woman's name is Shuko. No known other names. Reported to be the only member of Nezuma's clan he trusts implicitly. No history available from usual sources. She is extremely dangerous.

He grinned. That much he already knew. But she intrigued him. People weren't born without any history. Someone must know something about her. And he wanted to know what they knew.

The reply b.u.t.ton beckoned. He clicked it and began typing up a new message.

"THEY ARE still there?" still there?"

Shuko nodded. "They just boarded the train about ten minutes ago. But it doesn't depart for another twenty minutes. We have time."

"And our tickets?"

Shuko handed him one. "The train runs express to Ueno and thereafter makes a series of local stops. It's my belief that they will get off in Ueno, however."

Nezuma nodded and scanned the train station again. "That makes the most sense. If they are attuned to their environment and suspect surveillance, they will opt to ensure they have a chance at losing us. It's what I would do."

Shuko handed him a cup. "I bought this for you."

Nezuma sniffed it. "Tea?"

"Yes."

"That was thoughtful."

She bowed. "I thought it would help make us less suspicious if we are seen as more of a couple than as a team."

He glanced at her and smiled. "I enjoy the way you think, Shuko-san."

"And I will enjoy helping you finally acquire the dorje dorje you have sought for so long." you have sought for so long."

Nezuma gestured at the train. "Let's get aboard. The sooner we find seats, the better. I don't want a crowd inhibiting our vantage points."

HE WATCHED from the concourse as Nezuma and the woman called Shuko boarded the train. His request for any information, even from questionable sources, came back with nothing. from the concourse as Nezuma and the woman called Shuko boarded the train. His request for any information, even from questionable sources, came back with nothing.

He frowned. How was it possible for someone to have no history whatsoever? Surely there was something out there he'd be able to use to his advantage.

He would need to keep using his networks to scour for information.

In the meantime, he would keep tabs on Nezuma and his escort.

Perhaps fate would dictate that he and Shuko have a face-to-face meeting sooner rather than later.

He smiled at the thought.

And then bought a train ticket.

18.

The j.a.pan Railway train shuddered along the old steel tracks, twisting through the dense rural countryside of Mie Prefecture. Annja stared out the window, wondering about what Taka had told them prior to their departure from the temple in Osaka.

The old man had collected their teacups and led them down a hallway to another room filled with maps stuffed into a honeycomb of cubbyholes. He took one of the maps-more a scroll than anything else-and unfurled it on a low table. Crude line drawings showed a detailed overlay. Taka traced his finger along what might have been contour lines.

"The yamabushi yamabushi," he said, "had a series of tunnels built into the very mountains of Iga itself. It was one such thing that helped them cultivate their aura of supernatural ability, much like the ninja."

Ken had pointed at the map. "And the vajra vajra is hidden there?" is hidden there?"

"Somewhere in there," Taka said. "The system of caves is supposedly very dense, with various traps and pitfalls to waylay the uninitiated. I doubt very much any of the yamabushi yamabushi still in the area would guide you to what you seek." still in the area would guide you to what you seek."

"I'm sure we'll be all right," Ken said. "As long as we know the general direction."

"There's more," Taka said. "An ancient guardian protects the vajra vajra and the caves." and the caves."

"What kind of guardian?" Annja asked.

"A kappa kappa," Taka said. "Swamp vampire."

Annja had smiled. "Are you kidding?"

Taka shook his head. "Absolutely not. I'm merely telling you that it is rumored to patrol the area. You would be wise to keep its presence in mind. I don't imagine you'd like to run into one of those."

Ken had waved it off. "Superst.i.tions are one thing. I'm much more concerned about the very real threats Annja and I have been facing since we started this journey together."

Taka held up one finger. "Superst.i.tions, whether you believe in them or not, exist for many reasons. Not the least of which might just be that they actually do exist regardless of what you happen to think."

"A pesky, stout dwarfish creature with a bowl of sake on his head is not going to deter me from finding what is rightfully mine to return to my family's ancestral home. I wouldn't be much of a worthy inheritor if I allowed myself to be swayed by that now, would I?" Ken shook his head. "Thank you for your hospitality and for the information. But we should be going now."

ANNJA GLANCED at Ken, who was sleeping beside her. They had walked from the temple to the train station and purchased tickets for the local train that ran northwest of Osaka into the Iga countryside. Now, as the train shot past the trees, Annja turned back to the window and could see the mountains some distance away with puffs of gray-and-white clouds hugging their peaks. at Ken, who was sleeping beside her. They had walked from the temple to the train station and purchased tickets for the local train that ran northwest of Osaka into the Iga countryside. Now, as the train shot past the trees, Annja turned back to the window and could see the mountains some distance away with puffs of gray-and-white clouds hugging their peaks.

"This is the birthplace of ninjitsu ninjitsu," he said.

She saw that Ken was now awake. "Is it really?"

He nodded. "The land here is rough. Not too many roads lead through it, even less in the old days. It made for a perfect refuge for those who practiced what many believed were dark arts. They called ninja 'sorcerers' in league with demons and various other evil creatures. In reality, the ninja used their enemies' beliefs to their advantage. Still, it's difficult to travel through this land without wondering if there really is some truth to the old legends and superst.i.tions."

"You don't think we're going to have a run-in with a sake-drinking creature, do you?"

He smiled. "Like Taka said, you never know."

"I'd prefer to imagine the yamabushi yamabushi might have better things to do with their time than invest too much in trying to make a legend come to life." might have better things to do with their time than invest too much in trying to make a legend come to life."

Ken nodded. "I'm more concerned about the traps inside the caves. We'll need some supplies."

"Those mountains look big," Annja said. "What's the weather going to be like?"

"Cold at night the higher up we go," Ken said. "We'll need extra clothing, flashlights, that sort of thing. You've done this before, right?"

"I'm no novice," Annja said. "As long as you can find us a store, we should be all set."

Ken leaned back. "We'll arrive in about forty minutes. We should get some sleep. Who knows how far we might have to hike to reach the entrance to the caves."

"That's if we find the caves," Annja said.

He grinned. "Just have some faith. I think we'll be fine."

Annja settled back and closed her eyes. She hoped Ken was right.

"I WAS VERY DISPLEASED WAS VERY DISPLEASED to learn of the potentially lethal interference brought about by the Onigawa-gumi." Nezuma spoke into the cell phone while watching Shuko as she made her way back down the train car to where he sat. to learn of the potentially lethal interference brought about by the Onigawa-gumi." Nezuma spoke into the cell phone while watching Shuko as she made her way back down the train car to where he sat.

The voice in his ear spoke for several more seconds. Nezuma sighed. "Well, let's hope there are no more complications. If the Onigawa cannot control themselves, then we may never learn where the dorje dorje is hidden. And if that happens, we are right back to where we started, which is to say nowhere." is hidden. And if that happens, we are right back to where we started, which is to say nowhere."

He disconnected and looked at Shuko. "Did you find them?"

"Two cars ahead of us. Both are asleep."

Nezuma nodded. "Good. At least they are none the worse for wear after that silly a.s.sault in Osaka."