"You've spoken to others far more advanced than I. What remains that I might answer?"

Observant fellow. Like Nakahatchi, he knew why I was here.

"Part of my job," I replied, "is to protect your display. I'd like to understand what makes it so important." I had no idea what Nakahatchi's agenda might be.

"As you say, I've talked to several people. But they all have their own perspectives. How do you see the situation?"

From his seat Nakahatchi watched me as if he were too Zen to shoo off a cockroach, never mind squash the pest.

Komatori looked politely quizzical.

"You want to understand the significance of the chops to Nakahatchi sensei?"

"That, too," I admitted.

"But I'd also like to know how he got them in the first place. And I'm curious how he plans to guard them after the tournament."

Which wasn't any of my business, but I didn't care.

"Axbrewder-san" apparently san came more naturally to him than mister "you'll understand that the chops were put in my master's care quite recently. Indeed, we're concerned about their safety. Perhaps you'll consent to advise us?"

Involuntarily I smiled. He couldn't have told me to keep my nose out of Essential Shotokan's affairs more courteously if he'd asked Miss Manners to translate for him.

I didn't try to match him. Cheerfully rude, I countered, "Not without getting paid for it." Then I conceded, still smiling, "I mean, I couldn't say anything useful unless I analyzed your security, saw where you're planning to keep the display, and knew how much you can afford to spend on improvements."

By tomorrow I'd be off the payroll. And I had other things to do.

Komatori withdrew the question with exquisite grace.

"As you say."

I wasn't accustomed to dealing with manners like his.

"Still," I observed, trying not to lose my way, "you've been thinking about your security. You must anticipate trouble."

He treated me to a sample of Asian inscrutability.

"It's always wise to consider trouble."

"Sure. But you must be worried about something specific. Break-ins?

General burglary?" If so, it was Lacone's problem and Watchdog's not Nakahatchi's. As long as the chops had been adequately insured.

"Or don't you trust your neighbors?"

Lacone had told me that Soon's Tae Kwon Do Academy, Gravel's Malaysian Fighting Arts, and Hong's Traditional Wing Chun occupied Martial America alongside Essential Shotokan. He'd mentioned two or three other schools, but they hadn't moved in yet.

"Axbrewder-san," Komatori replied, "is this your first experience among martial artists?" He indicated the tournament with a discreet gesture.

I nodded.

"Yet you must be aware," he went on, "that Western cultures differ from Eastern in many ways. For example, they understand honor differently.

"You're an honorable man." Giving me the benefit of the doubt.

"Nakahatchi sensei is honorable as well. Would you prefer death to dishonesty? There West and East may be similar. But would you prefer death to disrespect?"

He let his question hang delicately in the air.

That was too subtle.

"Humor me, Mr. Komatori. I'm Western. Assume I don't understand."

His tone hinted at a sigh.

"To a man like my master, your question is disrespectful. To answer it would be dishonorable."

In other words, he wouldn't say anything that might sound critical of another school.

"Thanks," I growled.

"Now I get it. I think."

"As you say," he responded, "your duties don't require you to consider these matters."

The infernally courteous sonofabitch may've been making excuses for me.

If I didn't get something concrete from him soon, I'd have to tear my hair. Groping for a crack in his demeanor, I tried a different approach.

"Maybe this will help me understand. Why didn't your sensei compete in the Masters' Kata? Was that about honor too?"

Or was it just public relations? Maybe Nakahatchi thought that sitting in judgment on the event would do more to promote his school than trying to win it.

But if Komatori's demeanor had any cracks, that sure as hell wasn't one of them.

"Indeed so," he answered smoothly.

"Competitions test individual excellence. My master wanted to express his respect for those who chose to test themselves.

"Yet competition holds no true place in the study of the martial arts.

Funakoshi sensei, the founder of Shotokan, once wrote, "The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants."

" As if that settled the matter, Komatori concluded.

"My master has no need to test his excellence."

Nakahatchi gazed down on us with the detached and benevolent sorrow of a santo. Apparently he was too busy becoming perfect to take the risks Hong and Soon did.

So much martial piety got on my nerves. Maybe I was just too Western or grubby to understand all these refinements. I considered my options for a moment. But I found that I couldn't just walk away, so I girded up my loins, as a guy I knew used to say, and made one more attempt.