Shogun_ A Novel of Japan Part 143

"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 be going to do?" Toranaga asked.

"Kill. Of course he'll kill if he can catch him. The priest deserves to die, neh? neh? All Christian priests deserve to die, All Christian priests deserve to die, neh? neh? All Christians. I'm sure they were behind the sabotage-the priests and Kiyama, though I can't prove it." 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 s.h.i.+p. 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 G.o.d. I never touched your s.h.i.+p!' 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 G.o.d'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 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? neh? Why doesn't-how can they back away now with honor?" 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 G.o.d. 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 wors.h.i.+per? Isn't that what they call it?"

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

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

"I agree." Toranaga looked at Yabu. "It is foolish to forgive an enemy. Neh 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 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?" 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 s.h.i.+p'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 Yokose. I talked to Yos.h.i.+naka. Everyone knows," he added sullenly.

"Yos.h.i.+naka saw saw her and him together? He accused her?" 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?" neh?"

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

"A lifetime wish," Buntaro said. "I ask it. His s.h.i.+p'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 wors.h.i.+ped 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 Is.h.i.+do 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?" neh? Neh?"

"Yes-please excuse me."

"The time had come to finish that marriage. I ordered it finished. Then."

"She asked for divorce?"

"No. I decided and I ordered it. But your wife begged me to revoke the order. I refused. Then your wife said she would commit seppuku at once without my permission before she would allow you to be shamed in that way. I ordered her to obey. She refused." Toranaga continued angrily, "Your wife forced me, her liege lord liege lord, to withdraw my legal order and made me agree to make my order absolute only after Osaka-both of us knowing that Osaka for her meant death. Do you understand?"

"Yes-yes, I understand that."

"At Osaka the Anjin-san saved her honor and the honor of my ladies and my youngest son. But for him, they and all all the hostages at Osaka would still be in Osaka, I'd be dead or in Ikawa Jikkyu's hands, probably in chains like a common felon!" the hostages at Osaka would still be in Osaka, I'd be dead or in Ikawa Jikkyu's hands, probably in chains like a common felon!"

"Please excuse me ... but why did she do that? She hated me-why should she delay divorce? Because of Saruji?"

"For your honor. She understood duty. Your wife was so concerned for your honor-even after her death-that part of my agreement was that this was to be a private affair between her and you and myself. No one else would ever know, not the Anjin-san, her son, anyone-not even her Christian priest confessor."

"What?"

Toranaga explained it again. At length Buntaro understood clearly and Toranaga dismissed him and then, at long last alone for the moment, he got up and stretched, exhausted by all his labor since he had arrived. The sun was still high though it was afternoon now. His thirst was great. He accepted cold cha from his personal bodyguard, then walked down to the sh.o.r.e. He stripped off his sopping kimono and swam, the sea feeling glorious to him, refres.h.i.+ng him. He swam underwater but did not stay submerged too long, knowing that his guards would be anxious. He surfaced and floated on his back, looking up into the sky, gathering strength for the long night ahead.

Ah, Mariko, he thought, what a wondrous lady you are. Yes, are are, because you will certainly live forever. Are you with your Christian G.o.d in your Christian heaven? I hope not. That would be a terrible waste. I hope your spirit's just awaiting Buddha's forty days for rebirth somewhere here. I pray your spirit comes into my family. Please. But again as a lady-not as a man. We could not afford to have you as a man. You're much too special to waste as a man.

He smiled. It had happened at Anjiro just as he had told Buntaro, though she had never forced him to rescind his order. "How could she force me to do anything I didn't want?" he said to the sky. She had asked asked him dutifully, correctly, not to make the divorce public until after Osaka. But, he a.s.sured himself, she would certainly have committed seppuku if I'd refused her. She would have insisted, him dutifully, correctly, not to make the divorce public until after Osaka. But, he a.s.sured himself, she would certainly have committed seppuku if I'd refused her. She would have insisted, neh? neh? Of course she would have insisted and that would have ruined everything. By agreeing in advance I merely saved her unnecessary shame and argument, and myself unnecessary trouble-and by keeping it private now, as I'm sure she would have wished it, everyone gains further. I'm glad I conceded, he thought benignly, then laughed aloud. A slight wave chopped over him and he took a mouthful of sea water and choked. Of course she would have insisted and that would have ruined everything. By agreeing in advance I merely saved her unnecessary shame and argument, and myself unnecessary trouble-and by keeping it private now, as I'm sure she would have wished it, everyone gains further. I'm glad I conceded, he thought benignly, then laughed aloud. A slight wave chopped over him and he took a mouthful of sea water and choked.

"Are you all right, Sire?" an anxious guard, swimming nearby, called out.

"Yes. Of course yes." Toranaga retched again and spat out the phlegm, treading water, and thought, that will teach you to be smug. That's your second mistake today. Then he saw the wreck. "Come on, I'll race you!" he called out to his guard.

A race with Toranaga meant a race. Once one of his generals had deliberately allowed him to win, hoping to gain favor. That mistake cost the man everything.

The guard won. Toranaga congratulated him and held onto one of the ribs and waited until his breathing was normal, then he looked around, his curiosity enormous. He swam down and inspected the keel of Erasmus Erasmus. When he was satisfied he went ash.o.r.e and returned to the camp, refreshed and ready.

A temporary house had been set up for him in a good position under a wide thatched roof that was supported with strong bamboo posts. Shoji walls and part.i.tions were set on a raised deck flooring of wood and tatamis. Sentries were already stationed, and rooms were also there for Kiri and Sazuko and servants and cooks, joined by a complex of simple paths, raised on temporary pilings.

He saw his child for the first time. Obviously the Lady Sazuko would never have been so impolite as to bring her son back to the plateau at once, fearing that she might intrude in important matters-as she would have done-even though he had happily given her that opportunity.

The child pleased him greatly. "He's a fine boy," he boasted, holding the infant with practiced a.s.surance. "And, Sazuko, you're younger and more attractive than ever. We must have more children at once. Motherhood suits you."

"Oh, Sire," she said, "I was afraid I'd never see you again, and never be able to show you your newest son. How are we going to escape the trap ... Is.h.i.+do's armies...."

"Look what a fine boy he is! Next week I'll build a shrine in his honor and endow it with ..." He stopped and halved the figure he'd first thought of and then halved that again. "... with twenty koku a year."

"Oh, Sire, how generous you are!"

Her smile was guileless. "Yes," he said. "That's enough for a miserable parasite priest to say a few Namu Amida Butsu, neh?" Namu Amida Butsu, neh?"

"Oh, yes, Sire. Will the shrine be near the castle in Yedo? Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if it could be on a river or stream?"

He agreed reluctantly even though such a choice plot would cost more than he had wanted to spend on such frippery. But the boy's fine, I can afford to be generous this year, he thought.

"Oh, thank you, Sire ..." The Lady Sazuko stopped. Naga was hurrying over to where they sat on a shaded veranda.

"Please excuse me, Father, but your Osaka samurai? How do you want to see them, singly or all together?"

"Singly."

"Yes, Sire. The priest Tsukku-san would like to see you when convenient."

"Tell him I'll send for him as soon as possible." Again Toranaga began to talk with his consort but, politely and at once, she asked to be excused, knowing that he wanted to deal with the samurai immediately. He asked her to stay but she begged to be allowed to go and he agreed.

He interviewed the men carefully, sifting their stories, calling a samurai back occasionally, cross-checking. By sunset he knew clearly what had happened, or what they all thought had happened. Then he ate lightly and quickly, his first meal today, and summoned Kiri, sending all guards out of hearing.

"First tell me what you did, what you saw, and what you witnessed, Kiri-chan."

Night had fallen before he was satisfied, even though she was perfectly prepared.

"Eeeeeee," he said. "That was a near thing, Kiri-chan. Too near."

"Yes," Kiri replied, her hands folded in her ample lap. Then she added with great tenderness, "All G.o.ds, great and small, were guarding you, Sire, and us. Please excuse me that I doubted the outcome, doubted you. The G.o.ds were watching over us."

"It seems that way, yes, very much." Toranaga watched the night. The flames of the flares were being wafted by the slight sea breeze that also blew away the night insects and made the evening more comfortable. A fine moon rode the sky and he could see the dark marks on its face and he wondered absently if the dark was land and the rest ice and snow, and why the moon was there, and who lived there. Oh, there are so many things I'd like to know, he thought.

"Can I ask a question, Tora-chan?"

"What question, Lady?"

"Why did Is.h.i.+do let us go? Really? He needn't have, neh? neh? If I'd been him I wouldn't have done it-never. Why?" If I'd been him I wouldn't have done it-never. Why?"

"First tell me the Lady Ochiba's message."

"The Lady Ochiba said, 'Please tell Lord Toranaga that I respectfully wish there was some way that his differences with the Heir could be resolved. As a token of the Heir's affection, I'd like to tell Toranaga-sama the Heir has said many times he does not want to lead any armies against his uncle, the Lord of the Kwan-'"

"She said that!"

"Yes. Oh yes."

"Surely she must know-and Is.h.i.+do-that if Yaemon holds the standard against me I must lose!"

"That's what she said, Sire."

"Eeeeeee!" Toranaga bunched his great calloused fist and banged it on the tatamis. "If that's a real offer and not a trick I'm halfway to Kyoto, and one pace beyond." Toranaga bunched his great calloused fist and banged it on the tatamis. "If that's a real offer and not a trick I'm halfway to Kyoto, and one pace beyond."