it."
"Dr. Richardson, since I am no longer directly affiliated with MITI, I
am not in a position to speak for every proposition arising there.
However, we both know that the ministry's responsibility is to provide
long-range industrial planning. They often circulate scenarios for
comment. It's part of their job."
We were rapidly losing our footing. Noda was top-ranked swordsman. He'd
kept his discipline and revealed nothing. He was telling us we hadn't
found an opening. He was right. It was a classic standoff.
Or it should have been. Strategically, we should have taken that moment
to back away and analyze Noda's style, searching for his weakness. But
instead Tam made what turned out to be a fatal move. She struck,
exposing herself.
"Since according to you MITI is not involved in this program, there
should be no problem if I contacted them directly and talked this over.
In Japan."