Duncan 2 - Fishing for Stars by Bryce Courtenay

Author:Bryce Courtenay [Courtenay, Bryce]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781743109397
Published: 2011-05-20T04:15:15+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

‘Bravo! If you’d stayed in the hotel to arrange the ransom rather than galloping off on your white charger to rescue me, I could have bought my way out unharmed in a couple of hours.’

Anna, Tokyo

WHILE SHE HADN’T COME out directly and advised me on what to do about Anna’s determination to see Konoe Akira, the meaning of Miss Sparkle’s final words was nevertheless unmistakable. I needed to, in her opinion, allow Anna to see her mentor without opposition. I had to trust her strength and her love – our love – to survive whatever might come of that meeting.

I wasn’t at all sure that this was sound advice or that I was able to cope with it emotionally. I told myself that I knew a great deal more about Anna’s psychology than anyone else, that by giving in and not resisting I would, potentially, be partly responsible for more harm and a fresh set of problems.

However, I also knew that whether or not I was able to stop Anna from seeing Konoe Akira, I was risking our future together by my vehement opposition. After all, it had originally been my idea she visit him. If she went ahead despite my resistance, there would be no way I could back down gracefully.

It had all seemed so neat. In my fevered imagination she would confront a pathetic old pervert of no substance and instantly slough off his influence; before my very eyes, she would be miraculously restored to health.

This was classic Nick Duncan mind-shit. The events of the past few days had proved how ridiculous and inappropriate this excremental notion was. Here I go again, heads I lose, tails you win, I thought, feeling a tad sorry for myself.

When I arrived back upstairs Anna was showered, dressed and sitting at the mirror brushing her hair. ‘Good morning, gorgeous boy!’ she called. ‘Where you bin? I’ve missed yah,’ she quipped.

I walked over and she kissed me warmly. ‘Downstairs,’ I said, surprised at her ebullience. ‘Sleep well?’

She grinned. ‘Like a log . . . sorry about last night.’

I wasn’t sure whether this was an apology for the fight we’d had or for her panic attack. ‘That’s not necessary. You were under a fair bit of strain. I’m glad you’re feeling better, darling,’ I said, in this way accommodating either possibility.

She continued brushing her hair. ‘Who was downstairs?’ she asked casually.

‘A messenger from Fuchida-san – they’ve found Gojo Mura,’ I said, putting one and three together.

Anna turned. ‘Oh, Nick, how exciting for you! When can we meet him?’

I hesitated momentarily. ‘I’m not sure. It was arranged for this morning, but I postponed it.’

Anna was not fooled. ‘Because of me?’

‘Well, yes. Unavoidably. Doctor’s orders.’

Lowering the hairbrush she turned to face me. ‘Doctor? What doctor?’

‘You don’t remember?’

‘Remember what? We had an awful row. I remember that. I’m awfully sorry, Nicholas,’ she repeated, head to one side, her beautiful violet-blue eyes regretful.

‘Darling, you had a panic attack during the night . . . early morning,’ I corrected.

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