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“They want more information. Such as, why do we want to meet with Aomame?
Why are we seeking a truce? What exactly are we hoping to negotiate?”
The fact that they want to learn more means they don’t have any solid information
.
“Exactly. But we don’t have any solid information about them, either. We still
don’t even know the reason they went to all the time and trouble to concoct a plan to
murder Leader.”
Either way, while we wait for their reply, we have to keep on searching for
Aomame. Even if it means stepping on somebody’s tail
.
Buzzcut paused a moment, and then spoke. “We have a close-knit organization
here. We can put a team together and get them out in the field in no time at all. We
have a sense of purpose and high morale. People are literally willing to sacrifice
themselves, if need be. But from a purely technical perspective, we’re nothing more
than a band of amateurs. We haven’t had any specialized training.
Compared with us,
the other side are consummate professionals. They know what they’re doing, they
take action calmly, and they never hesitate. They seem like real veterans. As you’re
aware, Mr. Ushikawa was no slouch himself.”
How exactly do you propose to continue the search?
“At present I think it’s best to pursue the
valuable lead
that Mr. Ushikawa himself
unearthed. Whatever it may be.”
Meaning we don’t have any valuable leads of our own?
“Correct,” Buzzcut admitted.
No matter how dangerous it might become, and what sacrifices have to be made,
we have to find and
secure
this woman Aomame. As quickly as possible
.
“Is this what the voice has directed us to do?” Buzzcut asked. “That we should
secure Aomame as quickly as possible? By whatever means necessary?”
His superior didn’t reply. Information beyond this was above Buzzcut’s pay grade.
He
was not one of the top brass, merely the head foot soldier. But Buzzcut knew that
this was the final message given by
them
, most likely the final “voice” that the shrine
maidens had heard.
As Buzzcut paced in front of Ushikawa’s corpse in the freezing-cold room, a thought
suddenly flashed through his head. He came to an abrupt halt, frowning, his brow
knit, as he tried to grab hold of it.
The moment he stopped pacing, Ponytail moved. A
fraction. He let out a deep breath, and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
Koenji
, Buzzcut thought. He frowned slightly, searching the dark depths of
memory. Ever so cautiously, he pulled at a thin thread, tugging it toward him.
Somebody else involved in this affair lives in Koenji. But who?
He took a thick, crumpled memo pad out of his pocket and flipped through it.
Tengo Kawana. His address was in Koenji, Suginami Ward. The same exact address,
in fact, as the building in which Ushikawa died. Only the apartment numbers were
different—the third floor and the first floor. Had Ushikawa
been secretly watching
Tengo’s movements? There was no doubt about it. The two of them living in the same
building was too big a coincidence.
But why, in this situation, did Ushikawa have to trace Tengo’s movements?
Buzzcut hadn’t recalled Tengo’s address up till now because he was no longer
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concerned about him. Tengo was nothing more than a ghostwriter. There had been
nothing else about him that they needed to know. Sakigake’s interest was now
entirely focused on locating Aomame. Despite this, Ushikawa had focused all his
attention on the cram school instructor, setting up an elaborate stakeout. And losing
his own life in the bargain.
Why?
Buzzcut couldn’t figure it out. Ushikawa clearly had some sort of lead. He must
have thought that sticking close to Tengo would lead him to Aomame—which is why
he went to the trouble of securing that apartment, setting up
a camera on a tripod, and
observing Tengo, probably for some time. But what connection could there be
between Tengo and Aomame?
Without a word, Buzzcut left the room, went into the room next door—which was
heated—and made a phone call to Tokyo, to a unit in a condo in Sakuragaoka in
Shibuya. He ordered one of his subordinates to immediately go back to Ushikawa’s
apartment in Koenji and keep watch over Tengo’s movements. Tengo is a large man,
with short hair, so you can’t miss him, he instructed him. If he leaves the building, the
two of you are to tail him, but make sure he doesn’t spot you. Don’t let him out of
your sight. Find out where he’s going. At all costs, you’ve got to keep him under
surveillance. We’ll join you as soon as we can.
Buzzcut went back to the room that held Ushikawa’s body
and told Ponytail they
would be leaving right away for Tokyo. Ponytail gave a slight nod. He didn’t ask for
an explanation. He grasped what was asked of him and leapt into action. After they
left the room, Buzzcut locked it so that no outsiders would have access. They went
out of the building and chose, from a line of ten cars, a black Nissan Gloria. They got
in, and Ponytail turned the key, already in the ignition, and started the engine. As per
their rules, the car’s gas tank was full. Ponytail would drive, as usual.
The license
plates for the Gloria sedan were legal, the registration clean, so even if they exceeded
the speed limit a bit, it wouldn’t be a problem.
They had been on the highway for a while by the time it occurred to Buzzcut that
he hadn’t gotten permission from his superiors to go back to Tokyo. This could come
back to haunt him, but it was too late now. There wasn’t a moment to lose. He would
have to explain the situation to them after he got to Tokyo. He frowned a bit.
Sometimes the restrictions disgusted him. The number of rules increased, but never
decreased. Still, he knew he couldn’t survive outside the system.
He was no lone
wolf. He was one cog among many, following orders from above.
He switched on the radio and listened to the regular eight o’clock news. When the
broadcast was done, Buzzcut turned off the radio, adjusted his seat, and took a short
nap. When he woke up he felt hungry
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