Shogun (The Asian Saga Chronology) (171 page)

Now he turned his full attention on the regiment.  At his signal Yabu came forward and saluted.  He returned the salutation politely.  "So, Yabu-san!  Welcome back."

"Thank you, Sire.  May I say how happy I am you avoided Ishido's treachery."

"Thank you.  And you too.  Things did not go well at Osaka. 
Neh?
"

"No.  My harmony is destroyed, Sire.  I had hoped to lead the retreat from Osaka bringing you both your ladies safely, and your son, and also the Lady Toda, the Anjin-san, and seamen for his ship.  Unfortunately, so sorry, we were both betrayed—there and here."

"Yes."  Toranaga looked at the wreck below that was washed by the sea.  Anger flickered across his face and everyone readied for the outburst.  But none came.  "
Karma
," he said.  "Yes,
karma
, Yabu-san.  What can one do against the elements?  Nothing.  Negligence is another thing.  Now, about Osaka, I want to hear everything that happened, in detail—as soon as the regiment's dismissed and I've bathed."

"I have a report for you in writing, Sire."

"Good.  Thank you, but first I'd prefer you to tell it to me."

"Is it true the Exalted won't go to Osaka?"

"What the Exalted decides is up to the Exalted."

"Do you wish to review the regiment before I dismiss them?" Yabu asked formally.

"Why should I give them that honor?  Don't you know they're in disgrace, the elements notwithstanding?" he added thinly.

"Yes, Sire.  So sorry.  Terrible."  Yabu was trying unsuccessfully to read Toranaga's mind.  "I was appalled when I heard what had happened.  It seems almost impossible."

"I agree."  Toranaga's face darkened and he looked at Naga and beyond him to the massed ranks.  "I still fail to understand how there could be such incompetence.  I needed that ship!"

Naga was agitated.  "Please excuse me, Sire, but do you wish me to make another inquiry?"

"What can you do now that you haven't already done?"

"I don't know, Sire, nothing Sire, please excuse me."

"Your investigation was thorough,
neh?
"

"Yes, Sire.  Please forgive my stupidity."

"It wasn't your fault.  You weren't here.  Or in command."  Impatiently Toranaga turned back to Yabu.  "It's curious, even sinister, that the shore patrol, the camp patrol, the deck patrol, and the commander were all Izu men on that night—except for the Anjin-san's few
ronin
."

"Yes, Sire.  Curious, but not sinister, so sorry.  You were perfectly correct to hold the officers responsible, as Naga-san was to punish the others.  So sorry, I made my own investigations as soon as I arrived but I've no more information, nothing to add.  I agree it's
karma—karma
helped somehow by manure-eating Christians.  Even so, I apologize."

"Ah, you say it was sabotage?"

"There's no evidence, Sire, but a tidal wave and simple fire seem too easy an explanation.  Certainly any fire should have been doused.  Again I apologize."

"I accept your apologies but, meanwhile, please tell me how I replace that ship.  I need
that
ship!"

Yabu could feel acid in his stomach.  "Yes, Sire.  I know.  So sorry, it cannot be replaced, but the Anjin-san told us during the voyage that soon other fighting ships from his country will come here."

"How soon?"

"He doesn't know, Sire."

"A year?  Ten years?  I've barely got ten days."

"So sorry, I wish I knew.  Perhaps you should ask him, Sire."

Toranaga looked directly at Blackthorne for the first time.  The tall man was standing alone, the light gone from his face.  "Anjin-san!"

"Yes, Sire?"

"Bad,
neh?
  Very bad."  Toranaga pointed at the wreck below.  "
Neh?
"

"Yes, very bad, Sire."

"How soon other ships come?"

"My ships, Sire?"

"Yes."

"When—when Buddha says."

"Tonight we talk.  Go now.  Thank you for Osaka.  Yes.  Go to galley—or village.  Talk tonight.  Understand?"

"Yes.  Talk tonight, yes, understand, Sire.  Thank you.  When tonight, please?"

"I'll send a messenger.  Thank you for Osaka."

"My duty,
neh?
  But I do little.  Toda Mariko-sama give everything.  Everything for Toranaga-sama."

"Yes."  Gravely Toranaga returned the bow.  The Anjin-san began to leave, but stopped.  Toranaga glanced at the far end of the plateau.  Tsukku-san and his acolytes had just ridden in and were dismounting there.  He had not granted the priest an interview at Mishima—though he had sent word to him at once about the ship's destruction—and had deliberately kept him waiting, pending the outcome of Osaka and the safe arrival of the galley at Anjiro.  Only then had he decided to bring the priest here with him to allow the confrontation to happen, at the right time.

Blackthorne began to head for the priest.

"No, Anjin-san.  Later, not now.  Now go village!" he ordered.

"But, Sire!  That man kill my ship!  He's the enemy!"

"You will go there!"  Toranaga pointed to the village below.  "You will wait there please.  Tonight we will talk."

"Sire, please, that man—"

"No.  You will go to the galley," Toranaga said.  "You will go now.  Please."  This is better than breaking any falcon to the fist, he thought excitedly, momentarily distracted, putting his will to bear on Blackthorne.  It's better because the Anjin-san's just as wild and dangerous and unpredictable, always an unknown quantity, unique, unlike any man I've ever known.

From the corner of his eyes he noticed Buntaro had moved into the Anjin-san's path, ready and anxious to force obedience.  How foolish, Toranaga thought in passing, and so unnecessary.  He kept his eyes on Blackthorne.  And dominated him.

"Yes. Go now, Lord Toranaga.  So sorry.  Go now," Blackthorne said.  He wiped the sweat off his face and started to go.

"Thank you, Anjin-san," Toranaga said.  He did not allow his triumph to show.  He watched Blackthorne obediently walk away—violent, strong, murderous, but controlled now by the will of Toranaga.

Then he changed his mind.  "Anjin-san!" he called out, deciding it was time to release the jesses and let the killer fly free.  The final test.  "Listen, go there if you wish.  I think it better not to kill the Tsukku-san.  But if you want to kill him—kill.  Better not to kill."  He said it slowly and carefully, and repeated it.  "
Wakarimasu ka?
"

"
Hai
."

Toranaga looked into the incredibly blue eyes that were filled with an unthinking animosity and he wondered if this wild bird, cast at its prey, would kill or not kill at his whim alone and return to the fist without eating.  "
Wakarimasu ka?
"

"
Hai
."

Toranaga waved his hand in dismissal.  Blackthorne turned and stalked off northward.  Toward the Tsukku-san.  Buntaro moved out of his way.  Blackthorne did not seem to notice anyone except the priest.  The day seemed to become more sultry.

"So, Yabu-san.  What's he going to do?" Toranaga asked.

"Kill.  Of course he'll kill if he can catch him.  The priest deserves to die,
neh?
All Christian priests deserve to die,
neh?
  All Christians.  I'm sure they were behind the sabotage—the priests and Kiyama, though I can't prove it."

"You'll gamble your life he'll kill Tsukku-san?"

"No, Sire," Yabu said hastily.  "No.  I wouldn't.  So sorry.  He's barbarian—they're both barbarian."

"Naga-san?"

"If it were me, I'd kill the priest and all of them, now that I had your permission.  I've never known anyone openly to hate so much.  The last two days the Anjin-san's been like an insane man, walking up and down, muttering, staring at the wreck, sleeping there curled up on the sand, hardly eating. . . ."  Naga looked after Blackthorne again.  "I agree it wasn't just nature that destroyed the ship.  I know the priests, somehow they were behind it—I can't prove it either, but somehow. . . I don't believe it happened because of the storm.

"Choose!"

"He'll explode.  Look at his walk. . . . I think he'll kill—I hope he'll kill."

"Buntaro-san?"

Buntaro turned back, his heavy jowls unshaven, his brawny legs planted, his fingers on his bow.  "You advised him not to kill the Tsukku-san so you do not want the priest dead.  If the Anjin-san kills or doesn't kill matters nothing to me, Sire.  I care only what matters to you.  May I stop him if he begins to disobey you?  I can do it easily from this range."

"Could you guarantee to wound him only?"

"No, Sire."

Toranaga laughed softly and broke the spell.  "The Anjin-san won't kill him.  He'll shout and rave or hiss like a snake and rattle his sword and the Tsukku-san will be swollen up with 'holy' zeal, completely unafraid, and he'll hiss back saying, 'It was an Act of God.  I never touched your ship!'  Then the Anjin-san will call him a liar and the Tsukku-san will be filled with more zeal and repeat the claim and swear to the truth in his God's name and he'll probably curse him back and they'll hate each other for twenty lifetimes.  No one will die.  At least, not now."

"How do you know all that, Father?" Naga exclaimed.

"I don't know it for certain, my son.  But that's what I think will happen.  It's always important to take time to study men—important men.  Friends and enemies.  To understand them.  I've watched both of them.  They're both very important to me. 
Neh
, Yabu-san?"

"Yes, Sire," Yabu said, suddenly disquieted.

Naga shot a quick glance after Blackthorne.  The Anjin-san was still walking with the same unhurried stride, now seventy paces away from the Tsukku-san, who waited at the head of his acolytes, the breeze moving their orange robes.

"But, Father, neither is a coward,
neh?
  Why doesn't—how can they back away now with honor?"

"He won't kill for three reasons.  First, because the Tsukku-san's unarmed and won't fight back, even with his hands.  It's against their code to kill an unarmed man—that's a dishonor, a sin against their Christian God.  Second, because he's Christian.  Third, because I decided it was not the time."

Buntaro said, "Please excuse me, but I can understand the third, even the first, but isn't the real reason for their hate that both believe the other man's not Christian but evil—a Satan worshiper?  Isn't that what they call it?"

"Yes, but this Jesus God of theirs taught or was supposed to have taught that you forgive your enemy.  That's being Christian."

"That's stupid,
neh?
" Naga said.  "To forgive your enemy is stupid."

"I agree."  Toranaga looked at Yabu.  "It is foolish to forgive an enemy. 
Neh
, Yabu-san?"

"Yes," Yabu agreed.

Toranaga looked northward.  The two figures were very close and now, privately, Toranaga was cursing his impetuousness.  He still needed both men very much, and there had been no need to risk either of them.  He had launched the Anjin-san for personal excitement, not to kill, and he regretted his stupidity.  Now he waited, caught up as all of them.  But it happened as he had forecast and the clash was short and sharp and spite-filled, even from this distance, and he fanned himself, greatly relieved.  He would have dearly liked to have understood what had actually been said, to know if he had been correct.  Soon they saw the Anjin-san stride away.  Behind him, the Tsukku-san mopped his brow with a colored paper handkerchief.

"Eeeee!" Naga uttered in admiration.  "How can we lose with you in command?"

"Too easily, my son, if that is my
karma
."  Then his mood changed.  "Naga-san, order all samurai who came back with the galley from Osaka to my quarters."

Naga hurried away.

"Yabu-san.  I'm pleased to welcome you back safely.  Dismiss the regiment—after the evening meal we'll talk.  May I send for you?"

"Of course.  Thank you, Sire."  Yabu saluted and went off.

Now alone but for guards that he waved out of hearing, Toranaga studied Buntaro.  Buntaro was unsettled, as a dog would be when stared at.  When he could bear it no longer, he said, "Sire?"

"Once you asked for his head,
neh?  Neh?
"

"Yes—yes, Sire."

"Well?"

"He—he insulted me at Anjiro.  I'm—I'm still shamed."

"I order that shame dismissed."

"Then it's dismissed, Sire.  But she betrayed me with him and that cannot be dismissed, not while he's alive.  I've proof.  I want him dead.  Now.  He . . . please, his ship's gone, what use is he now to you, Sire?  I ask it as a lifetime favor."

"What proof?"

"Everyone knows.  On the way from Yokosé.  I talked to Yoshinaka.  Everyone knows," he added sullenly.

"Yoshinaka
saw
her and him together?  He accused her?"

"No.  But what he said . . ."  Buntaro looked up, in agony.  "I know, that is enough.  Please, I beg it as a lifetime favor.  I've never asked anything of you,
neh?
"

"I need him alive.  But for him the
ninja
would have captured her, and shamed her, and therefore you."

"A lifetime wish," Buntaro said.  "I ask it.  His ship's gone—he's, he's done what you wanted.  Please."

"I have proof he did not shame you with her."

"So sorry, what proof?"

"Listen.  This is for your ears alone—as I agreed with her.  I ordered her to become his friend."  Toranaga bore down on him.  "They were friends, yes.  The Anjin-san worshiped her, but he never shamed you with her, or she with him.  At Anjiro, just before the earthquake, when she first suggested going to Osaka to free all the hostages—by challenging Ishido publicly and then forcing a crisis by committing seppuku, whatever he tried to do—on that day I de—"

"That was planned then?"

"Of course.  Will you never learn?  On that day I ordered her divorced from you."

"Sire?"

"Divorced.  Isn't the word clear?"

"Yes, but—"

"Divorced.  She'd driven you insane for years, you'd treated her foully for years.  What about your treatment of her foster mother and ladies?  Didn't I tell you I needed her to interpret the Anjin-san, yet you lost your temper and beat her—the truth is you almost killed her that time,
neh?  Neh?
"