Behind the general offices were a few executive offices. Nogi headed straight for a door marked President. A tough-looking individual in a security uniform sat at the secretary's desk. He nodded to Nogi and pressed a concealed buzzer, admitting them to the president's office.
Nogi walked through the empty office and used a key to open what appeared to be a closet door. Lyons followed him through that into the back half of the building, the world of the Harassment Initiation Team.
Nogi led him to a long room filled with double bunk beds. About two dozen were occupied; the same number were empty, a tribute to the effectiveness of Able Team. Nogi unlocked a supply room and loaded Lyons with bedding, a toothbrush, a disposable razor, and a karate gi, or fighting uniform, with a white belt.
"Wear these and report to the dojo with the rest, tomorrow morning," he ordered. He then left without another word.
Lyons considered exploring during the night but decided against it. He was willing to bet that someone was waiting for him to do just that.
Lyons took his sleep while he could get it. He made sure that he was neither the first man to do anything, nor the last. He rose, shaved, showered, and put on the supporter, giand sandals provided.
"You're new?" someone asked.
"Last night. When do we eat?"
"Not until after the first workout."
Lyons cocked an eyebrow at the pimply youth who was speaking to him. The boy's yellow belt looked unsoiled. Lyons guessed that he had just been promoted from white and was feeling kindly disposed to lesser creatures.
"We have three workouts a day and one two-hour session in a classroom. How well you do determines how much time you get off. Each new belt means we get paid more money. Same thing goes for marksmanship.
"I'm afraid I'm never going to get a raise for my shooting," the yellow belt confessed.
Ever since Lyons had been given the gi, he had been chewing on the problem of going through karate classes without showing his own proficiency. Perhaps if he stuck close to the yellow belt and imitated his mistakes, he could cover himself.
"I'm not too bad with guns," Lyons said. "I'll give you some tips, if you'll show me some of this judo stuff."
"First, it's not judo, it's karate. Don't let Mr. Nogi catch you making that mistake. He'll cuff you around and make you do fifty push-ups or sit-ups or something."
"That little Nip better keep his hands off me," Lyons muttered, thinking he had better get back into character.
Pimples turned pale. "Don't let him hear you say that," he whispered. "Mr. Nogi can smash bricks with his bare hands. He's murder on anyone who doesn't show the proper respect.
"Some guy failed to bow when he came into the dojo two days in a row. He beat him so thoroughly that the guy had to be taken to the hospital. We never saw him again, but you better believe everyone who saw that bows when Mr. Nogi comes in."
"Never saw the guy again," Lyons mused.
"Naw. He must have been booted out."
Probably buried, Lyons thought, but said nothing.
"You going to show me the ropes?" he asked.
"Ahh, we'll see. I got to go now."
The kid hurried away, leaving Lyons with a distinct impression that alliances in HIT depended on how favorably the candidate was viewed from above.
Lyons had to prevent himself from bowing to the dojo when he entered. No one had told him to do so; it would have been a giveaway. He took five paces into the large room with the bare floors before he was hit on the back of the head with sufficient force to throw him on his face.
"Bow when you enter a dojo," Nogi told him.
It would have been easy to slap the floor and roll when he was hit from behind, but Lyons knew that would give away his training. So he absorbed most of the fall with his arms. His palms stung and he was face down and helpless. Nogi placed his bare foot on the back of his neck and shoved his face into the floor.
"You bow when you enter a dojo, any dojo. Is that understood?"
Lyons twisted his head to one side. "What the hell are you talking about?" he asked.
Nogi kept his foot on Lyons's neck.
"Class," he called in an authoritative voice.
Lyons could see that mostly female students answered the master's call. He was surprised to see one platinum blonde, who looked as if she would be more at home in a massage parlor. She was looking at Lyons's face and smirking as she approached.
When the class was assembled, Nogi spoke.
"This worm was told to bow to the dojo. He has asked what the hell I am talking about. Because this is his first time here, I will be too lenient and explain. All of you listen. I shall not explain again."
"Are you going to let me up for the lesson?" Lyons asked.
Nogi put enough pressure on the neck to cause pain. "Shut up and stay where you belong, worm.
"Always you will bow to the dojo when you enter and when you leave. In future, you will receive a severe beating if you forget. I will not tolerate such disrespect. You will also bow whenever your senseienters or leaves the room. You will also bow whenever a black belt enters and the senseihas not got your attention. Is that clear?"
Lyons said nothing.
Nogi pressed on his neck with his bare sole causing excruciating pain along the top of the vertebrae.
"It would be so easy to break your neck. Answer when spoken to."
"Yes, I understand," Lyons said. Inside he was telling himself that this was part of the price to pay for penetrating HIT.
"Here you answer the question by saying, 'Sensei!' The tone of voice will tell me whether you mean 'yes,' 'no' or are asking a question. Can you grasp that, worm?"
"Sensei," Lyons grated. The foot eased slightly.
"You are still thinking of revenge. That is good. We like angry people here. They make fine fighters. Good luck with your revenge," Nogi said.
"Now I will tell you why you bow to the dojo, to the black belts, and above all to the sensei. The senseihas power, so you bow to that power. The black belts have acquired some of that power, so you bow out of respect for the power they have acquired. You bow to the dojo, because it is the place where power is transferred from master to student. Treat the dojo with respect because it is here that you will acquire the power which earns you respect."
Lyons wondered how a person who had gone through the years of vigorous mental and physical discipline necessary to become proficient in the martial arts, could use that discipline to subjugate and terrorize others. As he thought, he relaxed.
Nogi took his relaxing as a sign of submission and removed his foot. Lyons remained on the floor until he was told to get up.
"Although we mix the sexes for training," Nogi announced, "I usually make it a practice to match training partners of the same sex."
He grabbed Lyons by the collar and flung him into the arms of the surprised platinum blonde.
"You two are partners, because women should train with women," Nogi said.
The blonde looked angry. The rest of the class tried to hold back laughter.
"Why do I get stuck with a womanwho can't take care of herself?" the blonde demanded.
Nogi's tone was heavy with sarcasm. "You have showed me how great a warrior you are. I'm afraid to give you anyone more valuable. You might damage someone that matters."
When the laughter died down, Nogi added, "Take this worm and teach him fundamental manners and how to stand up. He seems to spend too much time on the floor."
The blonde shrugged and headed for one corner of the room. Lyons followed, content to be inside and in one piece.
6
July 12, 1004 hours, Santa Clara, California
Gadgets dropped the half-eaten doughnut back onto the table and stared morosely into his third cup of coffee.