Rebels of Gor (68 page)

“It is a lofty, mighty, and beautiful holding,” said Nodachi.

“Walls will crumble, the mountaintop will be black, ashes will blow out to sea,” said Lord Yamada.

“Does the great lord not fear the tarn cavalry?” asked Nodachi.
 

“No longer,” said Lord Yamada. “The iron dragon can burn it out of the sky.”

I feared this was true.

No sooner than Nodachi, Pertinax, Tajima, Haruki, and I had been admitted through the great portal we had been set upon by dozens of waiting Ashigaru, purportedly placed to lead us into the presence of Lord Yamada.

We were swiftly subdued and bound.

“This, I take it,” had said Lord Yamada, when we were brought, helpless, before him, “is the remarkable swordsman of whom you spoke?”

“It is, Lord,” said Katsutoshi, captain of the shogun’s guard.

“An unprepossessing fellow,” had commented the shogun.

“But dangerous, Lord,” said Katsutoshi. “The sword is as his hand, the blade like the stroke of lightning, a flash, and the matter is done.”

“You slew Izo,” said Lord Yamada, “the first sword in my guard.”

“He was angry,” said Nodachi. “One’s anger is often the friend of one’s foe.”

“In all my lands,” said Lord Yamada, “I myself am the finest sword.”

Nodachi, in his bonds, bowed.

“It might be sport to try your skills,” said Lord Yamada.

“This humble one, great lord,” said Nodachi, “is ever at your service.”

“What sport that might be,” said Lord Yamada, “but,
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, it is regrettable, a penalty of the shogunate. The shogun does not cross swords with upstarts, vagabonds, mountebanks, magicians, common warriors.”

“Propriety is understood,” said Nodachi, again bowing.

“Perhaps the shogun is afraid,” I said.

Lord Yamada looked at me, hurt.

“Forgive me, Lord,” I said. “I spoke foolishly.”

“It is pleasant to see you in the palace once more,” said Lord Yamada, “but one might have hoped for happier circumstances.”

“True,” I said.

“I had high hopes for you,” he said.

“I fear I have disappointed you,” I said.

“I liked you,” he said.

“And I you,” I said.

“And yet you would kill me?” he said.

“If it should prove practical,” I said, “quite possibly.”

“Such is war,” he said.

“True,” I said.

“I no longer need the tarn cavalry,” he said.

“I understand,” I said.

“I now have the iron dragon,” he said.

“I saw it,” I said, “at the holding of Temmu.”

He then turned aside from me. “And here we have two fine young officers,” he said, “one barbarian, one Pani, this one Pertinax, that one Tajima.”

Both Pertinax and Tajima bowed, politely, in their ropes.

“Perhaps one of you interfered with an execution,” he said.

“Perhaps,” said Pertinax.

“Where is Sumomo?” asked the shogun.

“Sumomo no longer exists,” said Tajima.

“She is dead,” said Lord Yamada.

“No,” said Tajima, “she has been renamed; she is now in the collar of a slave.”

“Excellent,” said Lord Yamada. “Was it you who fastened the collar on her neck?”

“And pressed the burning iron into her thigh,” said Tajima.

“Excellent,” said Lord Yamada. “And do you derive great pleasure from the use of her body?”

“Yes,” said Tajima.

“You make her leap and squirm, and moan and cry out, as a slave in your arms?”

“Yes,” said Tajima, “as the slave she is.”

“Splendid,” said Lord Yamada. “I always thought she had the belly of a slave, but then, do not all women, properly handled?”

“You are not angry?” said Tajima.

“No,” he said, “the execution was to serve a political purpose, which no longer exists. All that is now wiped away. Other things being equal, it is a waste to feed a beautiful young thing to ignorant, unappreciative, voracious fish. It is much better to have it in a collar, trembling at your feet.”

“It is unfortunate,” said Pertinax, “that we had no opportunity to return golden chains, Tajima one, I, two.”

“Do not concern yourselves,” said Lord Yamada. “They are yours, all yours, and delightedly bestowed.”

“Thank you, Lord,” said Tajima.

“Thank you, Lord,” said Pertinax.

“Besides, with the fall of the house of Temmu, I might well recover them, and surely much more.”

“Yes, Lord,” said Tajima.

“Yes, Lord,” said Pertinax.

Lord Yamada then turned to Haruki.

“The garden misses you,” he said. “The garden is one of my pleasures, and since your departure a hundred tiny flaws have asserted themselves, unnoted by your inept successors.”

“I fear so, Lord,” he said. There were tears in his eyes.

Lord Yamada then turned back to Nodachi. “It is my understanding,” he said, “that you are keen of eye and quick of body.”

Nodachi was silent.

“Tomorrow,” said Lord Yamada, “we will test your skills on the archery range.”

“I do not know the bow,” said Nodachi.

“Nor, I suspect,” said the shogun, “the arrow.”

“I see,” said Nodachi.

At the time I did not understand this brief exchange. But, tomorrow, apparently, it was to become clear.

The shogun then turned, again, to me. “I am sure you did not trek south,” he said. “Therefore, there will be tarns about. I do not think they could be concealed in the vicinity, but, rather, are some pasangs away. It does not matter. We will find and acquire them.”

I did not respond to this.

Lord Yamada was, of course, substantially correct. Some pasangs from the palace, in a deep draw, Ichiro had concealed four tarns, his, and three others, those with which Pertinax, Tajima, and I, Haruki behind the saddle of Tajima, had flown south. I had no doubt, as we had been captured, the countryside would soon be examined, that such mounts might be discovered. Hopefully, Ichiro could make away before he, and the mounts, might fall into the hands of the enemy. What particularly concerned me was that Ichiro would be unaware of our plight. We had contacted him and informed him of our plan before approaching the palace. We did not know, of course, at that time, if we would be called to the palace or not, and, if so, if we were to be allowed to approach the shogun, when that would be. We had not been in touch with him for some five days now. We had given the slave, Aiko, into his keeping, as there seemed no part for her in our plan, even if we had been willing to risk her in so dubious and hazardous a venture.

* * *

“It is the test of twelve arrows,” had said Lord Yamada. “You have perhaps heard of it.”

“Yes,” had said Nodachi, “and that none have survived it.”

There were several in the exercise yard, a length of which served as an archery range. I recalled I had once been called to attend on Lord Yamada here, and had been apprised of his skill with the great Pani bow. It was here, too, that Tyrtaios had brought his tarn down, delivering the unsuspecting Sumomo to the mercies of her father.

Amongst those present were some five or six officers, some warriors, and several Ashigaru, some with glaives, others with bows, mostly small bows, some with quivers behind their left shoulder, some with quivers at their left hip. The daimyos of Lord Yamada were apparently north, with his generals, supervising the siege. Tajima, Pertinax, Haruki, and I were bound, our arms tied behind us. Each of us wore a leather collar, with a metal ring in the back. Through this ring a rope was threaded, and knotted about each ring. Each end of this rope was in the keeping of an Ashigaru.

Lord Yamada wore a white exercise smock, as before. Several paces behind us, some forty paces, for it had been paced out, was an arrow stand. In this stand were twelve long arrows. Beside it, in a bow rack, resting horizontally, on projections, were four great bows, unstrung. This stand and the rack were flanked by two Ashigaru.

“It will be interesting,” said Lord Yamada, “to see the outcome of our test. As you are doubtless well aware, it is not unknown in the islands. It has been used both in courts of law as a procedure for deciding guilt or innocence, and, more commonly, as an amusing manner of execution, in which the naive subject tortures himself into hoping that he may survive. As you are obviously of low birth, a simple, honorable beheading would not be appropriate. But, too, in virtue of your alleged skills, and my own curiosity pertaining to the accounts I have of you, we are putting aside the straw jacket, crucifixion, and such.”

“This humble one is honored, great lord,” said Nodachi.

“To the best of my knowledge,” said Lord Yamada, “no subject, at any time in the islands, has survived this test.”

“That, too, great lord,” said Nodachi, “is my understanding.”

“What are we to make of that?” asked Lord Yamada.

“Perhaps,” said Nodachi, “that many were guilty.”

“Or insufficiently skilled,” said Lord Yamada.

I supposed the matter was much the same, in either case.

“I have performed this test eleven times,” said Lord Yamada. “No one survived more than the second arrow.”

Nodachi bowed, politely, slightly, acknowledging this intelligence.

“Katsutoshi, captain of my guard,” said Lord Yamada, “will remain at hand, to supply the companion sword.”

Nodachi bowed again.

“Come, friends,” said Lord Yamada, “let us withdraw.”

The crowd, including we four prisoners, then withdrew from the post to which Nodachi was bound, his hands free.

We then arranged ourselves in the vicinity of the arrow stand and the bow rack.

“Do not fear,” said Tajima.

“There is much to fear,” I said.

“He is Nodachi,” said Tajima.

“Do not be naive, my dear friend,” I said.

“He has meditated,” said Tajima. “The arrow is known to him. The bow, as well. Do not fear. All are friends.”

“I do not understand,” I said.

“He is as the arrow,” said Tajima. “He shares its flight, its swiftness, its intended destination.”

I did not respond to this.

Pertinax was obviously concerned.

Lord Yamada selected the first bow, the highest bow, and strung it. As the bow was large, I had not expected it to be strung so easily. Lord Yamada had performed this action fluidly. I then realized he was much stronger than I had understood. The Ashigaru nearest the arrow stand then handed him one of the long arrows.

“Are you ready?” called Lord Yamada to Nodachi.

“Yes, Lord,” called Nodachi.

Lord Yamada then put the arrow to the string. “Arm him,” he called to Katsutoshi, who then handed the companion sword to Nodachi, and stepped to the side.

“The distance is forty paces,” said Lord Yamada. “It is my hope that he will survive the first arrow.”

“He will do so,” said Tajima.

I saw the large bow lifted, and then lowered, being trained on the target. Again, I was impressed, in spite of myself, with the combination of grace and elegance, with menace.

I had had ample evidence before of the skill of Lord Yamada with the implement in hand, though before he had placed himself considerably farther from the target.

I lifted my head a little.

I did not think there was any wind.

The arrow flashed from the bow.

There was a cry of surprise, and pleasure from the crowd.

“Splendid!” called Lord Yamada.

Nodachi inclined his head, bowing.

He had struck the arrow away with a tiny flick of the companion sword.

Lord Yamada extended his hand, in which the Ashigaru placed another arrow.

“Let us hope well for him,” said Lord Yamada. “One once managed two arrows, but none three.”

“Superb!” called Lord Yamada, clearly impressed, as the parts of the second arrow skittered to the side.

“High fortune to you!” called Lord Yamada. “May you do well!”

I heard bets being taken, some amongst officers, others amongst Ashigaru.

The crowd then cried out with amazement, and pleasure.

A new record had been set, apparently, at least with respect to previous outcomes of this sport on the grounds of Lord Yamada.

“It is enough!” I cried, astonished, laughing. “Free him!”

“One other did nearly as well,” said Lord Yamada.

“No!” I cried, in misery.

An Ashigaru strung the second bow, the draw of which, I feared, was stronger than the first. This bow was strung with some difficulty. I gathered Lord Yamada did not wish to weary or strain himself with preparing the bow, but preferred to accept it, set for use.

He then advanced to a marker farther down the court, which would be not forty, but thirty, paces from the target.