"It was mutually satisfactory, I understand."
"Ah! Then she had no difficulty."
"No, Sire."
"But he's in proportion?"
"The girl said, 'Oh very yes.' 'Lavish' was the word she used."
"Excellent. At least in that his karma's good. That's the trouble with a lot of men - Yabu for one, Kiyama for another. Small shafts. Unfortunate to be born with a small shaft. Very. Yes." He glanced at the scroll, then closed his fan with a snap. "And you, Mariko-san? What about you?"
"Good, thank you, Sire. I'm very pleased to see you looking so well. May I offer you congratulations on the birth of your grandson."
"Thank you, yes. Yes, I'm pleased. The boy's well formed and appears healthy."
"And the Lady Genjiko?"
Toranaga grunted. "She's as strong as always. Yes." He pursed his lips, brooding for a moment. "Perhaps you could recommend a foster mother for the child." It was custom for sons of important samurai to have foster mothers so that the natural mother could attend to her husband and to the running of his house, leaving the foster mother to concentrate on the child's upbringing, making him strong and a credit to the parents. ."I'm afraid it won't be easy to find the right person. The Lady Genjiko's not the easiest mistress to work for, neh?"
"I'm sure you'll find the perfect person, Sire. I'll certainly give it some thought," Mariko replied, knowing that to offer such advice would be foolish, for no woman born could possibly satisfy both Toranaga and his daughter-in-law.
"Thank you. But you, Mariko-san, what about you?"
"Good, Sire, thank you."
"And your Christian conscience?"
"There's no conflict, Sire. None. I've done everything you would wish. Truly."
"Have any priests been here?"
"No, Sire."
"You have need of one?"
"It would be good to confess and take the Sacrament and be blessed. Yes, truthfully, I would like that - to confess the things permitted and to be blessed."
Toranaga studied her closely. Her eyes were guileless. "You've done well, Mariko-san. Please continue as before."
"Yes, Sire, thank you. One thing - the Anjin-san needs a grammar book and dictionary badly."
"I've sent to Tsukku-san for them." He noticed her frown. "You don't think he'll send them?"
"He would obey, of course. Perhaps not with the speed you'd like."
"I'll soon know that." Toranaga added ominously, "He has only thirteen days left."
Mariko was startled. "Sire?" she asked, not understanding.
"Thirteen? Ah," Toranaga said nonchalantly, covering his momentary lapse, "when we were aboard the Portuguese ship he asked permission to visit Yedo. I agreed, providing it was within forty days. There are thirteen left. Wasn't forty days the time this bonze, this prophet, this Moses spent on the mountain collecting the commands of 'God' that were etched in stone?"
"Yes, Sire."
"Do you believe that happened?"
"Yes. But I don't understand how or why."
"A waste of time discussing 'God-things.' Neh?"
"If you seek facts, yes, Sire."
"While you were waiting for this dictionary, have you tried to make one?"
"Yes, Toranaga-sama. I'm afraid it's not very good. Unfortunately there seems to be so little time, so many problems. Here - everywhere," she added pointedly.
He nodded agreement, knowing that she would dearly like to ask many things: about the new Council and Lord Ito's appointment and Naga's sentence and if war would be immediate. "We're fortunate to have your husband back with us, neh?"
Her fan stopped. "I never thought he'd escape alive. Never. I've said a prayer and burnt incense to his memory daily." Buntaro had told her this morning how another contingent of Toranaga samurai had covered his retreat from the beach and he had made the outskirts of Osaka without trouble. Then, with fifty picked men and spare horses, disguised as bandits, he hastily took to the hills and lesser paths in a headlong dash for Yedo. Twice his pursuers caught up with him but there were not enough of the enemy to contain him and he fought his way through. Once he was ambushed and lost all but four men, and escaped again and went deeper into the forest, traveling by night, sleeping during the day. Berries and spring water, a little rice snatched from lonely farmhouses, then galloping on again, hunters always at his heels. It had taken him twenty days to reach Yedo. Two men had survived with him.
"It was almost a miracle," she said. "I thought I was possessed by a kami when I saw him here beside you on the beach."
"He's clever. Very strong and very clever."
"May I ask what news of Lord Hiro-matsu, Sire? And Osaka? Lady Kiritsubo and the Lady Sazuko?"
Noncommittal, Toranaga informed her that Hiro-matsu had arrived back at Yedo the day before he had left, though his ladies had decided to stay at Osaka, the Lady Sazuko's health being the reason for their delay. There was no need to elaborate. Both he and Mariko knew that this was merely a face-saving formula and that General Ishido would never allow two such valuable hostages to leave now that Toranaga was out of his grasp.
"Shigata ga nai," he said. "Karma, neh?" There's nothing that can be done. That's karma, isn't it?
"Yes."
He picked up the scroll. "Now I must read this. Thank you, Mariko san. You've done very well. Please bring the Anjin-san to the fortress at dawn."
"Sire, now that my Master is here, I will have-"
"Your husband has already agreed that while I'm here you're to remain where you are and act as interpreter, your prime duty being to the Anjin-san for the next few days."
"But Sire, I must set up house for my Lord. He'll need servants and a house."
"That will be a waste of money, time, and effort at the moment. He'll stay with the troops - Or at the Anjin-san's house - whichever pleases him." He noticed a flash of irritation. "Nan ja?"
"My place should be with my Master. To serve him."
"Your place is where I want it to be. Neh?"
"Yes, please excuse me. Of course."