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him several years ago on Sato’s fiber-optic project in his country. He had been one of the Net’s most enthusiastic supporters from its very inception. ‘I can attest to its worth.’ He pulled out a prototype Kami. ‘After the official opening, I plan to call the prime minister himself. And I can tell you I look forward to seeing his astounded face.’
    There was general laughter and applause from the crowd.
    ‘My workload has been cut by a third because of the CyberNet,’ the Vietnamese Nguyen Van Truc chimed in. Throughout Vietnam, now there is a reliable means of communication. No more blackouts or constant busy signals or overloaded, outmoded phone lines for me.’
    ‘Now that we’ve given you the unsolicited testimonial portion of tonight’s program,’ Nicholas said lightly, ‘why don’t we get on with dinner? I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starved.’
    There was general and enthusiastic assent. The guests consulted the small cards they had been given on arriving that indicated their tables and slowly milled toward their respective places. Koei stood by Nicholas as he shook hands and mouthed pleasantries with this VIP or that. When they were, at last, alone for a moment, she took his hand discreetly and squeezed it.
    ‘Quite a good showing for someone who despises this sort of thing,’ she whispered.
    ‘Someone had to come to Tōrin’s defense. The man may be a first-rate administrator, but he’s still got a lot to learn about diplomacy.’
    ‘So, apparently, does McKnight.’
    Nicholas nodded. ‘He’s quite a bear, all right. But, in a sense, he’s only doing his job. It seems that one of the avowed goals of the current American administration is to push, bully, threaten, and goad the Japanese into opening as many of their businesses as possible.’
    Koei frowned. ‘We opened our rice market to the Americans, after months of bitter dispute and near riots by our farmers, and you’ve seen for yourself all that’s done is cause rice lines at the shops. Any more of this and we’ll turn into a third-world country just like Russia.’
    Nicholas and Koei were seated at a group of tables with many of the top Japanese politicians and bureaucrats. He wondered what their reaction would be come tomorrow morning when their prime minister delivered his resignation. Tōrin, who was with McKnight, Raya Haji, and several others some distance away, glanced darkly – and covetously – in Nicholas’s direction.
    ‘Poor Tōrin,’ Koei said as they greeted their tablemates and sat down, ‘he looks as miserable as a drenched kitten.’
    Nicholas, who assumed the seating arrangements had been decided upon by Nangi, grinned and said, ‘It’ll do him good to enter the bear’s den. He’s got to master difficult people, and sooner is always better than later. Anyway, McKnight is essentially harmless. Even if Tōrin blunders and further angers him, there’ll be no real harm done.’
    Waiters were already circulating with the first course, poached tiger prawns with Chinese-herbed aioli. The striped shells were so thin and translucent no one bothered taking them off. They all crunched down, munching heads and all. Next came wooden trays piled with fresh cold soba noodles. The pale, buckwheat pasta was something of a delicacy, and Nicholas’s guests slurped noisily and appreciatively. Sake was served, along with beer and wine.
    Following this course, the room darkened and Tōrin took his position on a spotlit area of the dance floor. Just above him, a large screen had been lowered. He looked quite dashing, tall and handsome with his thick hair slicked back and his ramrod-straight demeanor. He looked, once again, the cool, unflappable executive.
    ‘Ladies and gentlemen, much as I hate interrupting your enjoyment of the wonderful food we’ve prepared tonight, it is my pleasure to preside over the opening of Sato International and Denwa Partners’ Japanese-based TransRim CyberNet.’
    Denwa Partners?