beforehand. They weren’t geniuses, John, and nor were they simply relying on luck. They were informed, and as a result, they knew things others didn’t.” He then went into details about how Big Oil, electronic companies, Big Pharm, and the FMCG industries had been built on advance knowledge they had about what products to work on, when they should work on them, and where they should sell them. Yaturo provided numbers, names, and specific examples. He then described how many political decisions and wars were based on information about the future.
John listened, and he was used to collecting information from sources, but he felt like he was simply hearing conspiracy theories about the CIA or the Mafia. Yaturo’s reports, however, seemed to be backed by facts and true outcomes, and it was almost too heavy for John to handle, just as Yaturo had warned it might be.
Yaturo sensed that John was a bit overwhelmed. “Perhaps you must see in order to believe,” he said to John.
“Perhaps that would help,” John agreed.
“Well, my friend, there is no better place than my home. You will gain a better understanding there, I am sure.”
”You mean the mansion on the hill? The place where you met your daughter yesterday?” John asked smartly.
“ Yes,” replied Yaturo. “The same one you and your driver Takishi were parked fifty meters from,” he added, and they both shared a laugh.
Yaturo’s mansion was a palace. The garden stretched all the way from the outdoor entrance to the main house, which sat on a full two acres of land. The main driveway was lined with trees, arranged in a most welcoming way. The house, complete with Roman columns, was a five-story palace. Its most attractive architectural feature were the two big balconies on each side and the small terrace garden separating them on the fourth floor. Just outside the entrance was an impressive fountain; the sculpted horses and floating cherubs gave off the impression that it might be an artifact of historical significance from some Roman museum. On the inside, the house was even more impressive. From the marble floors covered by the Persian carpets to the beautiful Italian sculptures, Austrian crystal chandeliers, and rare antiquities, it was breathtaking. The walls were adorned with pricey paintings, from Picasso to Monet. Clearly, Mr. Yaturo Hitari had taste—and the money to finance it.
Yaturo took John to his library, which was like none John had ever seen before. It was Victorian in style, and there seemed to be well over 1,000 books in his private collection. Yaturo explained that some of them were worth a lot. Rare prints and first editions, worth a considerable fortune.
After the two had tea, one of his household staff returned with a tray bearing some tablets and an injection.
Yaturo then showed John his collection of trophies from college. He was sure John had read about him and his athletic awards, but he couldn’t resist the chance to show them off.
After Yaturo felt he had calmed John a bit, he returned to his talk about the knowledge of the future and how much credit had been given to the people who knew it. Once he felt John was buying it a bit more, he was eager to show John his true trophy collection. He removed one of the books from one of the shelves and put his hand inside to press a button. The shelf moved slowly, revealing a secret door—a thick metal one with a digital screen and a keypad like the one used for hotel safes. He took something out of his pocket that almost identically resembled the ring John had found in the green box. Before using it, Yaturo said, “John, this ring is made of special components. The symbol and the metal must match, or it will not work to open this passage. There are three of these rings in existence. You have one, and I have possession of the other two,” Yaturo added. He placed the ring into the proper slot, and the screen switched on. After Yaturo
John listened, and he was used to collecting information from sources, but he felt like he was simply hearing conspiracy theories about the CIA or the Mafia. Yaturo’s reports, however, seemed to be backed by facts and true outcomes, and it was almost too heavy for John to handle, just as Yaturo had warned it might be.
Yaturo sensed that John was a bit overwhelmed. “Perhaps you must see in order to believe,” he said to John.
“Perhaps that would help,” John agreed.
“Well, my friend, there is no better place than my home. You will gain a better understanding there, I am sure.”
”You mean the mansion on the hill? The place where you met your daughter yesterday?” John asked smartly.
“ Yes,” replied Yaturo. “The same one you and your driver Takishi were parked fifty meters from,” he added, and they both shared a laugh.
Yaturo’s mansion was a palace. The garden stretched all the way from the outdoor entrance to the main house, which sat on a full two acres of land. The main driveway was lined with trees, arranged in a most welcoming way. The house, complete with Roman columns, was a five-story palace. Its most attractive architectural feature were the two big balconies on each side and the small terrace garden separating them on the fourth floor. Just outside the entrance was an impressive fountain; the sculpted horses and floating cherubs gave off the impression that it might be an artifact of historical significance from some Roman museum. On the inside, the house was even more impressive. From the marble floors covered by the Persian carpets to the beautiful Italian sculptures, Austrian crystal chandeliers, and rare antiquities, it was breathtaking. The walls were adorned with pricey paintings, from Picasso to Monet. Clearly, Mr. Yaturo Hitari had taste—and the money to finance it.
Yaturo took John to his library, which was like none John had ever seen before. It was Victorian in style, and there seemed to be well over 1,000 books in his private collection. Yaturo explained that some of them were worth a lot. Rare prints and first editions, worth a considerable fortune.
After the two had tea, one of his household staff returned with a tray bearing some tablets and an injection.
Yaturo then showed John his collection of trophies from college. He was sure John had read about him and his athletic awards, but he couldn’t resist the chance to show them off.
After Yaturo felt he had calmed John a bit, he returned to his talk about the knowledge of the future and how much credit had been given to the people who knew it. Once he felt John was buying it a bit more, he was eager to show John his true trophy collection. He removed one of the books from one of the shelves and put his hand inside to press a button. The shelf moved slowly, revealing a secret door—a thick metal one with a digital screen and a keypad like the one used for hotel safes. He took something out of his pocket that almost identically resembled the ring John had found in the green box. Before using it, Yaturo said, “John, this ring is made of special components. The symbol and the metal must match, or it will not work to open this passage. There are three of these rings in existence. You have one, and I have possession of the other two,” Yaturo added. He placed the ring into the proper slot, and the screen switched on. After Yaturo
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