“Damn!”, cursed Daniel under his breath. He wasn’t even sure he trusted Nobutoshi any more. He closed the locker and rested his forehead on its door. With a deep breath he decided he had no choice but to risk the truth.

“I was trying to leave unseen with the sword in my possession, Nobutoshi-san. It’s seems our opponent is a far better player than I. An important stone has been captured, and this is the only liberty that remains.”

Nobutoshi was silent for a time, causing Daniel to look up. He was simply standing there calmly, looking back. Finally, he spoke.

“Go is a complex game. The victor is often not clear until the last stone is placed,” then, as he turned and walked from the room, he added, “the sword was always yours to take.”

Riddles on top of riddles, but Daniel could not stop to ponder their significance. He opened the locker and took the case.

Walking back the way he came, he flipped open his phone.

“It’s all right, Lucas, come pick me up at the front door.”