Zero Sum Game Read Free Page A

the kindness and whims of strangers for money instead of directly asking for what they wanted. Pathetic.
    The monk stepped in front of him. "Money, sir. A bill, a coin, anything you can spare."
    This surprised Fujiya, most monks he had seen never talked to passers-by. "Get out of my way," Fujiya said. He moved, but the man followed.
    "Please, anything you can give I'd appreciate. I'm sure you're a hard-working man with little to spare, but if you could, help me out." The man spoke calmly, keeping his hands in his sleeves. But he continually blocked Fujiya's attempts to pass him.
    "I said I don't have anything," Fujiya repeated, and tried to push past the man.
    The monk's demeanor changed in a flash. "I'm desperate. You have to help me out. I need this. If you don't…" A large wad of spittle landed on Fujiya's chest. "If you don't, I don't know what I'll do." The monk's eyes had a predatory and crazy quality. He struggled with Fujiya, one hand clutched the collar of his overalls while the other reached behind Fujiya's waist, going for the wallet. Fujiya pushed back; the two men were locked onto one another, weaving and shuffling in circles as they struggled.
    Angry, Fujiya grabbed the homeless man by the collar of his grimy shirt. He twisted and spun, then pushed outwards, flinging the man away. The man's feet left the sidewalk and he sailed through the air, hitting the wall of the AHI building. His head made a sick cracking sound as it connected with the concrete. He slid to his butt, legs splayed out. His large bamboo hat hung to one side.
    Fujiya, huffing in anger, glared at the nearby pedestrians who had witnessed the struggle. He stalked towards the entrance to Amano Heavy Industries, and the crowd parted before him. Today , he thought, is not going to be a simple day .
     

CHAPTER 3
    Ichihara entered the small restaurant situated in a narrow side street. "Where's your bathroom?" he asked the clerk. She pointed to a small corner in the back. He entered and locked the door. He gazed at himself in the mirror; his large hat now sat straight on his head. Brown and orange robes replaced his business suit. Even his dress loafers were gone: split tabi socks and sandals adorned his feet. His head hurt from hitting the building. He turned on the faucet and washed his face.
    After leaving the bus stop, Ichihara had walked past the monk, who remained in his original place near the convenience store, still motionless except for the shaking of his staff. He ordered Dolim to scan him and replicate the man's clothes. He headed down an alley to avoid anyone seeing him change, then took a back street to AHI.
    Then he had waited outside Amano's headquarters, confident Fujiya would arrive because he often visited the headquarters during the day. A few hours had passed, and Ichihara had seen Fujiya stomping his way down the street. Then he did his monk performance.
    "Analysis, Dolim?" he asked his battle suit.
    "Conclusion: Shota Fujiya is a Noigel," replied Dolim.
    Ichihara smiled. He had been certain of it too. That meant Fujiya had to be the contact here on Earth. He needed to figure out Fujiya's plan to get the planet ready for terraforming and stop it. An easy sounding task in theory, but rather vague in practice. "Is there any chance you can identify who it is?"
    "Yes," replied Dolim. "Tyren Dolok. He was rumored to have been sent to this sector. Tyren is somewhat large for a Noigel, and this would fit with the larger man we saw."
    "That can't be right," Ichihara said. He lowered the toilet lid and sat. Dolim must have had the wrong identification. "No. It can't be Tyren. Are you sure it's him?"
    "The identification accuracy is over ninety percent," replied Dolim. Its voice held no condescension, it was stating a fact. "Is the name familiar to you?"
    "Yes." The ID hit him like a boxer's blow. "We were in the service together. I…I don't believe he'd go along with mass genocide. It doesn't seem like him."
    "This is a fight for