Fishing for Stars

by Bryce Courtenay

  Like all imagined outcomes it immediately sounded plausible and I felt buoyed by the idea that Anna would handle herself calmly and intelligently. Money, as Anna so often said, makes everything possible. We would offer money, heaps of the filthy stuff.

  When I arrived at Fuchida-san’s, I was met by two yakuza and they escorted me in the usual manner up to the penthouse apartment. The lift door opened and Fuchida-san, smiling broadly, met me, with Miss Sparkle standing several feet behind him alongside an elderly Japanese man. ‘Welcome, Duncan-san!’ he cried, and to my surprise stepped forward and hugged me, then slapped me on the back, smack on my wound. I’m not sure how I restrained myself from crying out, though I could feel my eyes watering.

  I smiled, bowed deeply, then said, ‘I owe you a great debt, one I cannot possibly repay, Fuchida-san.’

  ‘Nonsense!’ he bellowed happily. He turned and indicated the elderly man. ‘Kinzo-san phoned to tell us of your need for a doctor. This is Dr Honda. He will dress your wounds.’ He looked at Miss Sparkle. ‘Mama-san, take our honoured guest to the room where he can be treated.’ He bowed slightly towards the doctor, indicating he should follow us. ‘We have much to discuss, Duncan-san. I must know everything, and I have news of my own. Mama-san, bring our guest green tea. Maybe something to eat?’

  ‘No cold fried fish and rice,’ I grinned.

  ‘You do not like fried fish and rice?’ Fuchida-san exclaimed, surprised.

  ‘Not eight meals in a row delivered through the bars of my cell in a bento box.’

  He laughed. ‘I see! For me, it has been a long time since I have suffered the delights of holding-cell food. I had forgotten.’

  Dr Honda did not question how I had obtained such a peculiar set of wounds but simply dressed them and tut-tutted briefly over my swollen testicles. ‘It is too late for ice,’ he remarked, then wrote a prescription for painkillers and another for antibiotics. With his bag repacked he bowed. ‘I will visit you at the Imperial Hotel if you wish,’ he said, bowing again and handing me his card.

  ‘I haven’t paid you, Honda-san. What do I owe you?’

  ‘That won’t be necessary,’ he replied.

  I thanked him and he departed. Turning, he bowed yet a third time as he left the room. One would not want to suffer from lumbago in Japan.

  Seated on two cushions, I ate a light lunch with Fuchida-san (I admit I could have eaten more), who seemed to know all about the incident in Konoe Akira’s home and apologised profusely for the existence of the secret alarm. ‘We had a technician cut the phone lines; he should have checked for the alarm. You may be assured he will be sent away to collect a butterfly specimen in a very remote region,’ he promised darkly.

  He then explained that they’d had barely sufficient time to get away before the police team arrived. ‘When those SWAT bastards get called out in that embassy area and in the vicinity of the Imperial Palace they are trigger-happy. It is not the time to stand and argue. My greatest relief came when I discovered you were not dead.’ He then made me tell him of my experience at the Kasumigaseki Police Complex, questioning me in detail, often making me go over some minor matter. In particular the good-guy bad-guy routine during the interrogation. ‘Hai! You did well, Duncan-san, you told them nothing. You would make an excellent yakuza oyabun.’ He laughed. ‘You were a hero to the other prisoners, Duncan-san.’

  Puzzled, I asked him how he knew this. I’d mentioned the punch in the back and the subsequent kick in the scrotum but not the reaction of the prisoners.

  ‘Caretaker’s eyes, the same as with the photographs,’ he replied with a shrug. Finally he asked, ‘Did you get the names of the two special agents who interrogated you?’

  ‘Yes, Razan and Tanaka.’

  ‘Good!’ he said. ‘They did their job well.’

  I looked at him somewhat bemused. ‘Yes, it wasn’t pleasant.’

  The yakuza boss looked at me steadily. ‘Duncan-san, I apologise, it was necessary.’

  ‘What, you had me roughed up?’ It wasn’t possible to conceal my surprise.

  ‘We had everything covered except the possession of a firearm by a foreigner,’ he explained. ‘Japan has very severe penalties for any unauthorised or unlicensed possession of a firearm. Those convicted of an offence usually receive from one to ten years. We had to ensure that the prosecutor and the two government officials appreciated the need to keep the existence of the gun secret. To ensure this, it was necessary to have leverage – photographic evidence of a foreign prisoner being tortured by the Japanese First Intelligence Division – which we could threaten to release all over the world if necessary.’

  ‘You could have spared me the kick in the balls!’

  ‘I assure you that was not in the plan. Those two are not yakuza eyes or ears but had to be bribed. Razan is a nasty piece of work, a bully and a scoundrel; Tanaka is weak.’

  There seemed no point in asking him how they had persuaded two special service officers to cooperate. I had long since realised that the inter-relationships of organisations in Japan, honest and otherwise, were beyond questioning. ‘I find myself painfully aware that I am greatly in your debt once again, Fuchida-san. You must allow me to repay you the bribe money.’

  ‘That was very cleverly said, Duncan-san. You are not in my debt, painfully or otherwise; it was a matter of honour. It was I who gave you the Browning pistol in the first place.’

  I then asked if I might inquire about the matter of Anna’s release.

  ‘Of course,’ Fuchida-san replied. ‘What is your understanding of the situation?’

  ‘I understand that Konoe Akira would have refused to ask the Shield Society to release Anna while his mother was still missing and the hearing was still underway. But now that the old lady is returned and the case has been hushed up and won’t cause him any embarrassment, will he not simply request Anna’s release?’

  ‘Hai! I hope so. There is no reason to hold her any longer. But there is more. Kinzo-san and Saito-san are visiting Konoe Akira later today. Let us see what comes from this afternoon’s meeting, eh, Duncan-san?’

  ‘There may be one issue,’ I replied.

  ‘What?’

  ‘The vase. It was evidently very valuable, but I am prepared to pay despite the deal not to bring charges against Staff Sergeant Goto in return for my release from having to pay compensation for the vase. Kinzo-san says it may help him to save face.’

  Fuchida-san burst into laughter. ‘That is a very good idea, but also a very bad waste of money. I do not think it will be necessary. First let us see what comes from today’s meeting.’

  ‘Yes, but if I offer to pay – for the vase and for Anna’s release – this will save everyone a great deal of trouble.’

  Fuchida-san looked shocked at the suggestion. ‘I would like nothing more than trouble with the Shield Society. It would allow us to clean out the bastards.’

  ‘But this way Anna will be safe,’ I said, adding, ‘The money doesn’t matter.’

  ‘That is a very honourable sentiment, but money always matters, Duncan-san. I hope she is worth it, this Anna who is a heroin addict. Does she have something over you? We can always —’

  ‘No, no . . . please! To me she is worth everything I possess.’

  ‘Hai!’ He clapped his hands, delighted. ‘At last we discover your weakness!’

  Despite myself, I grinned foolishly, then tried to explain. ‘As a matter of fact, Konoe Akira is indirectly responsible for her becoming an addict, among several other destructive things I’ve previously explained to you.’

  ‘Then he should not be rewarded. Leave everything as it is. Saito-san will call me after the meeting this afternoon. Then we will know more. We know already that Konoe Akira is not necessarily a member of the Shield Society.’

  ‘How can we be sure?’ I asked, then added, ‘And if so, why then did he use them to kidnap Anna?’

  ‘Hai! Funny you should say that. The mama-san asked me the same question. So I told her to call the
Jade Mistress to see what she could discover. According to her, Konoe Akira’s original plan was to hire us, the yakuza, to do the kidnapping. It was only when he learned about your friendship with me from the Jade Mistress – no doubt thanks to information from Anna-san herself – that he turned to the Shield Society. It was a better option than employing freelance criminals, low-lifes who couldn’t be trusted.’ He grinned. ‘I think maybe the Jade Mistress belongs to the Shield Society, but we can never be certain. If so, I feel sure a generous donation was encouraged and forthcoming.’

  I sighed. It all sounded increasingly complicated.

  Fuchida-san continued. ‘It is highly unlikely he could arrange any of this without someone’s help. Konoe Akira knows the Jade Mistress can be trusted – he is an old and valued customer. Mama-san tells me he has a special room in the establishment he paid for himself. These places never talk about their clients. As you saw, the Jade Mistress told me nothing about him when we visited the Jade House, only about the kidnappers. But it appears he wanted Anna-san held for several hours to demonstrate his power and to caution her not to try anything. He professes to be very excited about meeting her again after all these years.’

  ‘How do we know all this?’

  ‘Kinzo-san, when he negotiated the deal with him to drop the charges in exchange for the return of his mother, and then the matter of the vase in return for not charging . . . what was his name . . . the manservant?’

  ‘Goto,’ I said.

  ‘That’s right, Staff Sergeant Goto, who could have been charged with grievous bodily harm. Also Oyabun Saito learned a little when he returned the old crone. Konoe Akira seemed anxious to talk, to attempt to make amends.’

  ‘So, you are in a position to make a deal this afternoon?’ I asked anxiously.

  ‘No deal! No money! But, yes, now that Konoe-san knows he’s in the clear it is most likely, Duncan-san. You mentioned the private talk you and Kinzo-san had had with the prosecutor and the two officials this morning at the hearing. Well, I received a call from a contact I have in the First Intelligence Division shortly afterwards. We are free to see Konoe Akira and get him to okay the release of Anna. That is the reason for this afternoon’s meeting.’

  ‘Thank God!’ I exclaimed, hugely relieved.

  ‘Pity though. Those Shield Society bastards get a big donation when rightly they should be severely punished.’ He hesitated momentarily. ‘Duncan-san, we had to guarantee that neither you nor your partner would ever reveal any of the details once she is freed. You must understand, you will tell everyone who asks that you attended the Expo in Osaka.’

  ‘Of course, I will say nothing, nor will Anna. I give you my solemn promise.’

  ‘Hai, your word has been tested, but a woman’s tongue is designed for spilling secrets!’

  ‘Not in this case, Fuchida-san. It is the secrets she refuses to tell that are destroying our lives.’

  ‘I will accept your word, Duncan-san. I trust you as I would one of my oyabun. Thank you. I would lose my credibility with the authorities if you ever spoke about what has happened.’

  ‘Thank you for your trust, Oyabun Fuchida, it is not misplaced.’

  ‘You must stay here until Anna-san is released so you can go back to your hotel together. Perhaps you would like to rest. The room Dr Honda used to treat you is ready. I will call you if I receive any news.’

  Miss Sparkle received a call from Saito-san at four o’clock and called Fuchida-san to the phone, then came to my room to ask me to go to Fuchida-san’s study. He was waiting for me, wearing a grim expression, and moments later Miss Sparkle brought in green tea. ‘The news is not good, but also not bad,’ he said. ‘The Shield Society wants an additional ransom to release Anna-san. They have doublecrossed Konoe Akira. If he doesn’t pay, they have threatened to kill her.’

  ‘Jesus no! We’ll pay! How much?’

  ‘Twenty-five thousand American dollars.’

  ‘I will arrange it. I will have to call my bank in Port Vila.’

  Fuchida-san began to laugh. ‘That is the bad news, you haven’t heard the good.’

  ‘Oh yes I have, she’s going to be freed!’

  ‘Whoa, steady on! Konoe Akira has agreed to pay the ransom.’

  ‘What? Why would he do that? He’s in the clear with the authorities. We are forbidden to do anything to him.’

  Fuchida-san smiled like the godfather I suppose he was. ‘Nevertheless, Duncan-san, there is no need for you to pay the ransom. Konoe is very wealthy. His family have been prominent in the fishing industry for five generations. He is a veritable giant in that business, but it is one with many vendettas where memories are long and old conflicts persist. He has been persuaded that if he doesn’t pay up, a leak here and there, a rumour circulated, a slip of the tongue in the right place and he will lose credibility in the business world. Any suggestion that he is a rightwing fanatic will harm him, and there is proof that he gave a donation to the Shield Society for kidnapping Anna-san. As he will not wish to be accused of kidnapping a Westerner, it can easily be made to look as if it was a large gratuitous donation. It is much better that it is his own money.’

  ‘This is Kinzo-san’s doing?’ I asked. ‘He is a genius!’

  ‘He is not too bad,’ Fuchida-san agreed. ‘You must not be so eager to pay, Duncan-san. If you had persisted, I would have been forced to keep your money so you didn’t lose face,’ he laughed.

  ‘When will the ransom be paid and Anna released?’ I asked.

  ‘Tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Will Konoe Akira himself make the payment?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Who then?’

  ‘Kinzo-san. He is a much respected lawyer, acceptable to the Shield Society.’

  ‘Will Anna be present when the payment is made?’

  ‘No, they may be rightwing fanatics, but they are not stupid. She will be hidden elsewhere and released only when the money is paid.’

  ‘Cash?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘But do we know we can trust them?’

  It was obvious the yakuza boss was not accustomed to being closely questioned, but I told myself I couldn’t take any risks with Anna’s safety, despite knowing I wasn’t in control and that there was nothing much I could do to affect the result. Fuchida frowned. ‘Kidnapping is always risky; things go wrong, plans don’t work, people panic,’ he explained. ‘But, fortunately in this case everyone wants it to go well. There is no point in attempting another doublecross. The only danger to the Shield Society is if the police are involved and it is for this reason they will be taking such precautions with the handover. They are, of course, unaware that they are completely safe from police involvement or that we are involved.

  ‘The plan they have agreed to with Kinzo-san is simple, and simple plans are the ones that work. He will appoint someone both sides can trust to take custody of Anna. This person will be given the exact location where Anna is being held an hour before the ransom is exchanged.’

  ‘Isn’t an hour too much time? I mean, if there was to be any trouble, an hour is plenty of time for a rescue force to act.’

  ‘Good question. The hour’s notice tells us that Anna is held captive at an address just short of an hour’s drive from Kinzo-san’s office in Central Tokyo.’

  ‘You say the person who will collect Anna must be trusted by both Konoe Akira and the Shield Society. Will it not be difficult to find someone who fits the requirement and can also be absolutely trusted?’ I was being paranoid as usual.

  Fuchida-san spread his hands. ‘A careful man asks lots of questions, but,’ he grinned, pointing a diamond-ringed forefinger at me, ‘I don’t think you would be good at taking orders. You would be a good oyabun, but would find it difficult to come up through the ranks where instant and unquestioning obedience is required.’

  I realised that I was much too uptight and tried to laugh it off, but found myself trying to justify my paranoia. ‘It was not how I was trained in the war, Fuchida-san
. I think the difference between the Japanese soldier and the Australian was not courage – your men showed too much of that; it was instant and unquestioning obedience. They never questioned their leaders. It is one of the reasons we won the war. Such unquestioning obedience leaves men unable to think for themselves. In jungle fighting that doesn’t always work. I run a shipping line in the tropics, in the islands, where a storm can blow up at any time in an apparently calm sea, so it is necessary to question everything,’ I concluded. This somewhat critical analysis of the Japanese fighting man was an attempt to justify my obvious anxiety and my need to double-check that everything had been thought of in regard to Anna’s rescue. I shrugged. ‘Most big plans fail because small details have been neglected. “For want of a nail the shoe was lost”,’ I quoted. He looked puzzled. ‘It is a proverb,’ I explained. ‘“For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the knight was lost. For want of a knight the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.”’

  ‘I will remember that,’ Fuchida-san said, nodding his head. ‘You are right, we Japanese are too respectful of authority. We have our own old saying: “The nail that sticks up will be hammered down”. We respect authority, and that is precisely why both sides have agreed to this particular third party taking custody of your partner. He is an outstanding citizen and is known and respected throughout Japan and is not identified with any side or faction. He is the principal of the Kyumeikan Kendo Dojo.’

  I laughed. ‘Oyabun Saito! Of course, who else?’ I exclaimed, smiling broadly.

  ‘Duncan-san, you know too much. I did not tell you about his involvement with the kendo institute, did I?’