Free The Japanese Corpse by Janwillem van de Wetering Page B

people are dedicated to this or that and their dedication is greater than their dishonesty. My acquaintances, as you call them, are really out to get the daimyo. And I want to annoy him so much that he steps out of his lair and then..." The ambassador rolled his napkin into a tight wad and banged it on the table.
    The old waiter came running up to the table. "An insect, sir?"
    "No, Johan, I was stressing a point." The old waiter cackled. "Very well, sir."
    "I see," the commissaris said.
    "Don't worry about your safety," the ambassador said. "Even the yakusa will not easily kill a foreigner on Japanese soil. They may try to hurt or intimidate him a little, but they won't kill him. The only foreigners who were killed by criminals in Japan this year died in Kobe. Kobe has many foreign residents. But you can try to avoid the city, although it may be difficult."
    The commissaris wanted to say something, but sneezed instead.
    "Your very good health," the ambassador said, and rubbed out his cigar. "Tokyo is a dangerous place too, but you won't have anything to do there. Your plane lands in Tokyo and you can stay a few days before you go farther. The yakusa in Tokyo are not the same as the Kobe lot and they have a different daimyo. His specialty is gambling and prostitution, with a chain of supermarkets as a side line. He doesn't figure in my plan at all. It's the Kobe daimyo I am after. He is the temple thief. Perhaps you could stay in Kyoto, the temple city close to Kobe. That's where some of the stolen art may come from. It's a holy city in a way, there is much to see. Temples, gardens and so forth. I wish I could do your job but I am too well known in Japan, unfortunately."
    The commissaris' lips had formed a small o and he was exhaling with force. He was about to say something when one of the graybeards bent down reverently and whispered into his ear.
    "I have a telephone call," the commissaris said. "Please excuse me."
    He was back in five minutes and the graybeard helped him back into his chair. "It seems we have arrested the killers," the commissaris said, "the two men who, according to Miss Andrews, were sent to do away with her fiance\ They are being questioned, but so far they have denied everything. But we've got them anyway."
    "Splendid," the ambassador said. "Let's drink some of this brandy in celebration of your department's speed and efficiency. It might make your work in Japan easier, if you are willing to go there. Are you willing?"
    The commissaris didn't answer.
    "It won't be a too dangerous assignment, but I think you can take one of your men with you. Perhaps you have somebody who speaks good English and who is a bit of a fighter."
    "I have, my sergeant. He is a crack shot and is said to be proficient in judo. His English is fairly fluent."
    "The very man. Well, what do you say, commissaris? I assure you of my complete cooperation. I'll be back in Tokyo in a few days' time, but you can always reach me by phone. I have friends in Japan and I can smooth some of your path but, in all fairness, I must warn you: the yakusa aren't a bunch of white rabbits." He shook his head. "Still, it's incredible to me that they would kill here. Maybe Mr. Nagai was a lot more important than he seemed. Perhaps he was about to give the game away and Miss Andrews has understated her point. But in a way it's a good thing our friends overplayed their hand; now we have something to go on. You will be doing very valuable work in Japan. I wasn't joking when I said that we should repay Deshima. Deshima is important to Japanese thinking and Japan is an important trading partner to us now. We really need their friendship, more than they need ours. Any other country would welcome their presence. There is no reason why they shouldn't go to Brussels or Paris or London. So it's all up to you and to those who are backing you. I am backing you, and I'll have two of our ministers here supporting me. And then there is the CIA and ultimately the