Shogun

“Yes. From Yokose, after he’d seen Lord Zataki for the first time. Why did he spring the trap himself?”

“I don’t know.”

Kiri bit her lips. “I wish I knew. We’ll soon know, but I don’t think you’re telling me everything you know, Mariko-chan.”

Mariko began to bridle but Kiri touched her, again cautioning her to silence, and whispered. “His dispatch to me told me to trust you completely so let’s say no more than that. I do trust you, Mariko-chan, but that doesn’t stop my mind from working. Neh?”

“Please excuse me.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Kiri said in a normal voice. “Yes, standing up like that to Ishido and all of them. I wish I had your courage.”

“It is easy for me. Our Master said we were to leave.”

“It’s very dangerous, what we do, I think. Even so, how can I help?”

“Give me your support.”

“You have that. You’ve always had that.”

“I’ll stay here with you till dawn, Kiri. But first I have to talk to the Anjin-san.”

“Yes. I’d better go with you.”

The two women left Kiri’s apartments, an escort of Browns with them, passing other Browns who bowed, clearly enormously proud of Mariko. Kiri led down corridors, across the expanse of the great audience room, and into the corridor beyond. Browns were on guard here, and Grays. When they saw Mariko, all bowed, Browns and Grays equally honoring her. Both Kiri and Mariko were taken aback to find Grays in their domain. They hid their discomfiture and said nothing.

Kiri motioned at a door.

“Anjin-san?” Mariko called out.

“Hai?” The door opened. Blackthorne stood there. Behind him in the room were two more Grays. “Hello, Mariko-san.”

“Hello.” Mariko glanced at the Grays. “I have to talk to the Anjin-san privately.”

“Please talk to him, Lady,” their captain said with great deference. “Unfortunately we are ordered by Lord Ishido personally on pain of immediate death not to leave him alone.”

Yoshinaka, tonight’s officer-of-the-watch, strode up. “Excuse me, Lady Toda, I had to agree to these twenty guards for the Anjin-san. It was Lord Ishido’s personal request. So sorry.”

“As Lord Ishido is only concerned with the Anjin-san’s safety, they’re welcome,” she said, not at all pleased inside.

Yoshinaka said to the captain of the Grays, “I will be responsible for him while the Lady Toda’s with him. You can wait outside.”

“So sorry,” this samurai said firmly. “I and my men have no alternative but to watch with our own eyes.”

Kiri said, “I will be glad to stay. Of course someone’s necessary.”

“So sorry, Kiritsubo-san, we must be present. Please excuse me, Lady Toda,” the captain continued uncomfortably, “but none of us speaks the barbarian.”

“No one suggests you would be so impolite as to listen,” said Mariko, near anger. “But barbarian customs are different from ours.”

Yoshinaka said, “Obviously the Grays must obey their lord. You were totally correct tonight that a samurai’s first duty is to his liege lord, Lady Toda, and totally correct to point it out in public.”

“Perfectly correct, Lady,” the captain of the Grays agreed with the same measure of pride. “There’s no other reason for a samurai’s life, neh?”

“Thank you,” she said, warmed by their respect.

“We should also honor the Anjin-san’s customs if we can, Captain,” Yoshinaka said. “Perhaps I have a solution. Please follow me.” He led the way back to the audience room. “Please, Lady, would you take the Anjin-san and sit there.” He pointed to the far dais. “The Anjin-san’s guards can stay by the doors and do their duty to their liege lord, we can do ours, and you may talk as you wish, according to the Anjin-san’s customs. Neh? ”

Mariko explained to Blackthorne what Yoshinaka had said, then continued prudently in Latin, “They will never leave thee tonight. We have no alternative—except I can order them killed at once if that is thy wish.”

“My wish is to talk to thee privately,” Blackthorne replied. “But not at the cost of lives. I thank thee for asking me.”

Mariko turned to Yoshinaka. “Very well, thank you, Yoshinaka-san. Would you please send someone for incense braziers to keep away the mosquitoes.”

“Of course. Please excuse me, Lady, is there any further news of the Lady Yodoko?”

“No, Yoshinaka-san. We heard she’s still resting easily, without pain.” Mariko smiled at Blackthorne. “Shall we go and sit there, Anjin-san?”

He followed her. Kiri went back to her own quarters and the Grays stood at the doors of the audience room. The captain of the Grays was near Yoshinaka, a few paces away from the others. “I don’t like this,” he whispered roughly.

“Is the Lady Toda going to pull out his sword and kill him? No offense, but where are your wits?”

Yoshinaka limped away to check the other posts. The captain looked at the dais. Mariko and the Anjin-san were seated opposite each other, well lit by flares. He could not hear what they were saying. He focused on their lips but was still no wiser, though his eyes were very good and he could speak Portuguese. I suppose they’re talking the Holy Fathers’ language again, he told himself. Hideous language, impossible to learn.

Still, what does it matter? Why shouldn’t she talk to the heretic in private if that’s her pleasure? Neither are long for this earth. So very sad. Oh, Blessed Madonna, take her forever into thy keeping for her bravery.

“Latin is safer, Anjin-san.” Her fan sent a droning mosquito skittering.

“They can hear us from here?”

“No, I do not believe so, not if we keep our voices softened and talk as thou hast taught me with so little movement of the mouth.”

“Good. What occurred with Kiyama?”

“I love thee.”

“Thou?.?.?.”

“I have missed thee.”

“And I thee. How can we meet alone?”

“Tonight it is not possible. Tomorrow night will be possible, my love. I have a plan.”

“Tomorrow? But what about thy departure?”

“Tomorrow they may stop me, Anjin-san—please do not worry. The next day we will all be free to leave as we wish. Tomorrow night, if I am stopped, I will be with thee.”

“How?”

“Kiri will help me. Do not ask me how or what or why. It will be easy—” She stopped as maids brought the little braziers. Soon the curling threads of smoke repelled the night creatures. When they were safe again they talked about their journey, content just being together, loving without touching, always skirting Toranaga and the importance of tomorrow. Then he said, “Ishido’s my enemy. Why are there so many guards around me?”

“To protect thee. But also to hold thee tight. I think Ishido might also want to use thee against the Black Ship, and Nagasaki and the Lord Kiyama and Lord Onoshi.”

“Ah, yes, I had thought that too.”

She saw his eyes searching her. “What is it, Anjin-san?”

“Contrary to what Yabu believes, I believe thou art not stupid, that everything tonight was said deliberately, planned deliberately—on Toranaga’s orders.”

She smoothed a crease in her brocade kimono. “He gave me orders. Yes.”

Blackthorne turned to Portuguese, “He’s betrayed you. You’re a decoy. Do you know that? You’re just bait for one of his traps.”

“Why do you say that?”