Mariko explained to Blackthorne about the wine.
"How long will it take to get more?"
"Not long. Perhaps you'd like to bathe now. I'll see that sakd's sent the instant it arrives. "
"Did Toranaga say anything about my plan before he left? About the navy?"
"No. I'm sorry, he said nothing about that." Mariko had been watching for the telltale signs of drunkenness. But to her surprise none had appeared, not even a slight flush, or a slurring of words. With this amount of wine consumed so fast, any Japanese would be drunk. "The wine is not to your taste, Anjin-san?"
"Not really. It's too weak. It gives me nothing."
"You seek oblivion?"
"No - a solution."
"Anything that can be done to help, will be done."
"I must have books and paper and pens."
"Tomorrow I will begin to collect them for you."
"No, tonight, Mariko-san. I must start now."
"Lord Toranaga said he will send you a book - what did you call it? - the grammar books and word books of the Holy Fathers."
"How long will that take?"
"I don't know. But I'm here for three days. Perhaps this may be a help to you. And Fujiko-san is here to help also." She smiled, happy for him. "I'm honored to tell you she is given to you as consort and she-"
"What?"
"Lord Toranaga asked her if she would be your consort and she said she would be honored and agreed. She will-"
"But I haven't agreed."
"Please? I'm sorry, I don't understand."
"I don't want her. Either as consort or around me. I find her ugly." Mariko gaped at him. "But what's that got to do with consort?"
"Tell her to leave."
"But Anjin-san, you can't refuse! That would be a terrible insult to Lord Toranaga, to her, to everyone! What harm has she done you? None at all! Usagi Fujiko's consen-"
"You listen to me!" Blackthorne's words ricocheted around the veranda and the house. "Tell her to leave!"
Mariko said at once, "So sorry, Anjin-san, yes you're right to be angry. But-"
"I'm not angry," Blackthorne said icily. "Can't you . . . can't you people get it through your heads I'm tired of being a puppet? I don't want that woman around, I want my ship back and my crew back and that's the end of it! I'm not staying here six months and I detest your customs. It's God-cursed terrible that one man can threaten to bury a whole village just to teach me Japanese, and as to consorts - that's worse than slavery - and it's a goddamned insult to arrange that without asking me in advance!"
What's the matter now? Mariko was asking herself helplessly. What has ugliness to do with consort? And anyway Fujiko's not ugly. How can he be so incomprehensible? Then she remembered Toranaga's admonition: 'Mariko-san, you're personally responsible, firstly that Yabu-san doesn't interfere with my departure after I've given him my sword, and secondly, you're totally responsible for settling the Anjin-san docilely in Anjiro.' 'I'll do my best, Sire. But I'm afraid the Anjin-san baffles me.' 'Treat him like a hawk. That's the key to him. I tame a hawk in two days. You've three.' She looked away from Blackthorne and put her wits to work. He does seem like a hawk when he's in a rage, she thought. He has the same screeching, senseless ferocity, and when not in rage the same haughty, unblinking stare, the same total selfcenteredness, with exploding viciousness never far away.
"I agree. You're completely right. You've been imposed upon terribly, and you're quite right to be angry," she said soothingly. "Yes, and certainly Lord Toranaga should have asked even though he doesn't understand your customs. But it never occurred to him that you would object. He only tried to honor you as he would a most favored samurai. He made you a hatamoto, that's almost like a kinsman, Anjin-san. There are only about a thousand hatamoto in all the Kwanto. And as to the Lady Fujiko, he was only trying to help you. The Lady Usagi Fujiko would be considered . . . among us, Anjin-san, this would be considered a great honor."
"Why?"
"Because her lineage is ancient and she's very accomplished. Her father and grandfather are daimyos. Of course she's samurai, and of course," Mariko added delicately, "you would honor her by accepting her. And she does need a home and a new life."
"Why?"
"She is recently widowed. She's only nineteen, Anjin-san, poor girl, but she lost a husband and a son and is filled with remorse. To be formal consort to you would give her a new life."
"What happened to her husband and son?"
Mariko hesitated, distressed at Blackthorne's impolite directness. But she knew enough about him by now to understand that this was his custom and not meant as lack of manners. "They were put to death, Anjin-san. While you're here you will need someone to look after your house. The Lady Fujiko will be-"
"Why were they put to death?"
"Her husband almost caused the death of Lord Toranaga. Please con-" "Toranaga ordered their deaths?"
"Yes. But he was correct. Ask her - she will agree, Anjin-san."
"How old was the child?"
"A few months, Anjin-san."
"Toranaga had an infant put to death for something the father did?"
"Yes. It's our custom. Please be patient with us. In some things we are not free. Our customs are different from yours. You see, by law, we belong to our liege lord. By law a father possesses the lives of his children and wife and consorts and servants. By law his life is possessed by his liege lord. This is our custom."
"So a father can kill anyone in his house?"
"Yes."
"Then you're a nation of murderers."
"No."
"But your custom condones murder. I thought you were Christian."
"I am, Anjin-san."
"What about the Commandments?"
"I cannot explain, truly. But I am Christian and samurai and Japanese, and these are not hostile to one another. To me, they're not. Please be patient with me and with us. Please."
"You'd put your own children to death if Toranaga ordered it?"