"In my briefcase."
"Then let's get the hell out of here. Noda's going to figure out what happened any second now and go totally bananas."
"I doubt he will be pleased."
"Tell you one thing, that silver case has got to disappear, fast. Or we're likely to vanish ourselves. We may anyway." I quickened my pace toward the parking lot. "You know, I've got a wild hunch what's in that box. But whatever it is, I do know for sure we'd better get the thing somewhere for safekeeping. Quick."
"Should we tell Tamara?" He glanced down at the smoke- smeared briefcase in his hands, as though holding a cobra.
"She's got to know everything. For her own safety."
"Matthew," he said, looking at me. "You're supposed to be an authority. So tell me the truth. You were behaving strangely in there. It's a fake, isn't it?"
"Ken, during the Middle Ages about fifty different monasteries in Europe possessed the authentic, consecrated relic of Christ's circumcision. Who's to say? Remember Francis Bacon's 'What is truth?' Japan's emperor is now and forever. That's the only 'truth' that matters."
"What are you saying?"
"That sword belongs to the people of Japan. Ask them if it's real."