“You don’t appreciate it?” said Kobayashi.

“Not the way you seem to, ” the policeman replied with a shrug.

“I don’t really have the luxury for walks in the park.”

“Ah, you must make the time, Lieutenant, ” Kobayashi said. “A

man must take the time to achieve proper harmony and balance in

his life.”

“You misunderstand me. I didn’t say I didn’t have the time. I said

I didn’t have the luxury. There’s a difference. It takes a lot more

than a pretty garden and some cherry blossoms to balance off what

I see out there every night. ” He indicated the Ginza with a motion

of his head. What he left unsaid, but clearly understood, was that

much of what he saw on the streets of the Ginza every night was

the sole responsibility of Kobayashi. “Looking at flowers and

tending bonsai just won’t cut it.”

“I see, ” said Kobayashi evenly. “What will?”

“Seeing justice done, ” Fugisawa said.

Kobayashi smiled. “You’re an idealist, Fugisawa. And here I

thought you were a practical man.”

“That, too, ” said Fugisawa, “otherwise I wouldn’t be here. What

do you know about a sorcerer named Kanno?”

Kobayashi looked at him with surprise. “Surely, you’re joking.

You mean to tell me that you don’t know who he is?”

“I know who he is, ” said Fugisawa irritably. “I just want to know

what you know about him.”

“Ah. I see. Implying that there is something a man in my unique

position would know about him that others might not?”

“More or less.”

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Insofar as I know, Kanno is

perfectly respectable. A genius. A brilliant thaumatur-gic artist who

is extremely well thought of in society. I myself am fortunate to

keep two of his magenes at my home. Extraor-dinary creatures.

Living works of art. I take great pride and joy in them.”

“So when you’re saying he’s respectable, you’re saying…”

“That, to my knowledge, he has no vices. He is not known to use