"Thank you, Anjin-san." She translated and Buntaro bowed and thanked him for the compliment.
"Sake!" Blackthorne ordered.
They drank more. Much more. Buntaro quaffed his carelessly now, the wine taking him. Blackthorne watched him covertly then let his attention wander away as he wondered how the man had managed to line up and fire the arrows with such incredible accuracy. It's impossible, he thought, yet I saw him do it. Wonder what Vinck and Baccus and the rest are doing right now. Toranaga had told him the crew were now settled in Yedo, near Erasmus. Christ Jesus, I'd like to see them and get back aboard.
He glanced across at Mariko, who was saying something to her husband. Buntaro listened, then to Blackthorne's surprise, he saw the samurai's face become contorted with loathing. Before he could avert his eyes Buntaro had looked at him.
"Nan desu ka?" Buntaro's words sounded almost like an accusation. "Nani-mo, Buntaro-san." Nothing. Blackthorne offered everyone sake, hoping to cover his lapse. Again the women accepted, but just sipped their wine sparingly. Buntaro finished his cup at once, his mood ugly. Then he harangued Mariko lengthily.
In spite of himself, Blackthorne spoke out. "What's the matter with him? What's he saying?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Anjin-san. My husband was asking about you, about your wife and consorts. And about your children. And about what happened since we left Osaka. He-" She stopped, changing her mind, and added in a different voice, "He's most interested in you and your views."
"I'm interested in him and his views, Mariko-san. How did you meet, you and he? When were you married? Did-" Buntaro overrode him with a flurry of impatient Japanese.
At once Mariko translated what had been said. Buntaro reached over and sloshed two teacups full of sake, offered one to Blackthorne and waved at the women to take the others.
"He - my husband says sometimes sake cups are too small." Mariko poured the other teacups full. She sipped one, Fujiko the other.
There was another, more bellicose harangue and Mariko's smile froze on her face, Fujiko's also.
"Iye, dozo gomen nasal, Buntaro-sama," Mariko began.
"Ima!" Buntaro ordered.
Nervously Fujiko started to talk but Buntaro shut her up with one look.
"Gomen nasai," Fujiko whispered in apology. "Dozo, gomen nasai. "
"What did he say, Mariko-san?"
She appeared not to hear Blackthorne. "Dozo gomen nasal, Buntaro-sama watashi-" Her husband's face reddened. "IMA!"
"So sorry, Anjin-san, but my husband orders me to tell - to answer your questions - to tell you about myself. I told him that I did not think that family matters should be discussed so late at night, but he orders it. Please be patient." She took a large sip of the sake. Then another. The strands of hair that were loose over her ears waved in the slight current made by Fujiko's fan. She drained the cup and put it down. "My maiden name is Akechi. I am the daughter of General Lord Akechi Jinsai, the assassin. My father treacherously assassinated his liege lord, the Dictator Lord Goroda. " "God in heaven! Why'd he do that?"
"Whatever the reason, Anjin-san, it is insufficient. My father committed the worst crime in our world. My blood's tainted, as is the blood of my son."
"Then why-" He stopped.
"Yes, Anjin-san?"
"I was only going to say that I understand what that means . . . to kill a liege lord. I'm surprised that you were left alive."
"My husband honored me-" Again Buntaro viciously interrupted her and she apologized and explained what Blackthorne had asked. Contemptuously Buntaro waved her on.
"My husband honored me by sending me away," she continued in the same gentle way. "I begged to be allowed to commit seppuku but he denied me that privilege. It was . . . I must explain, seppuku is his privilege to give, or Lord Toranaga's. I still humbly ask it once a year on the anniversary of the day of the treachery. But in his wisdom, my husband has always refused me." Her smile was lovely. "My husband honors me every day, every moment, Anjin-san. If I were he I would not be able to even talk to such a . . . befouled person."
"That's why - that's why you're the last of your line?" he asked, remembering what she had said about a catastrophe on the march from Osaka Castle.
Mariko translated the question for Buntaro and then turned back again. "Hai, Anjin-san. But it wasn't a catastrophe, not for them. They were caught in the hills, my father and his family, by Nakamura, the general who became the Taiko. It was Nakamura who led the armies of vengeance and slaughtered all my father's forces, twenty thousand men, every one. My father and his family were trapped, but my father had time to help them all, my four brothers and three sisters, my - my mother and his two consorts. Then he committed seppuku. In that he was samurai and they were samurai," she said. "They knelt bravely before him, one by one, and he slew them one by one. They died honorably. And he died honorably. My father's two brothers and one uncle had sided with him in his treachery against their liege lord. They were also trapped. And they died with equal honor. Not one Akechi was left alive to face the hate and derision of the enemy except me - no, please forgive me, Anjin-san, I'm wrong - my father and his brothers and uncle, they were the real enemy. Of the enemy, only I am left alive, a living witness to filthy treachery. I, Akechi Mariko, was left alive because I was married and so belonged to my husband's family. We lived at Kyoto then. I was at Kyoto when my father died. His treachery and rebellion lasted only thirteen days, Anjin-san. But as long as men live in these islands, the name Akechi will be foul."
"How long had you been married when that happened?"
"Two months and three days, Anjin-san."
"And you were fifteen then?"
"Yes. My husband honored me by not divorcing me or casting me out as he should have done. I was sent away. To a village in the north. It was cold there, Anjin-san, in Shonai Province. So cold."
"How long were you there?"
"Eight years. The Lord Goroda was forty-nine when he committed seppuku to prevent capture. That was almost sixteen years ago, Anjin-san, and most of his descen Buntaro interrupted again, his tongue a whip.
"Please excuse me, Anjin-san," Mariko said. "My husband correctly points out it should have been enough for me to say that I am the daughter of a traitor, that long explanations are unnecessary. Of course some explanations are necessary," she added carefully. "Please excuse my husband's bad manners and I beg you to remember what I said about ears to hear with and the Eightfold Fence. Forgive me, Anjin-san, I am ordered away. You may not leave until he leaves, or passes out with drink. Do not interfere." She bowed to Fujiko. "Dozo gomen nasai."
"Do itashimashite."
Mariko bowed her head to Buntaro and left. Her perfume lingered. "Sake!" Buntaro said and smiled evilly.
Fujiko filled the teacup.
"Health," Blackthorne said, in turmoil.
For more than an hour he toasted Buntaro until he felt his own head swimming. Then Buntaro passed out and lay in the shattered mess of the teacups. The shoji opened instantly. The guard came in with Mariko. They lifted Buntaro helped by servants who seemed to appear out of nowhere, and carried him to the room opposite. Mariko's room. Assisted by the maid, Koi, she began to undress him. The guard slid the shoji closed and sat outside it, his hand on the haft of his loosened sword.
Fujiko waited, watching Blackthorne. Maids came and tidied up the disorder. Wearily Blackthorne ran his hands through his long hair and retied the ribbon of his queue. Then he lurched up and went out onto the veranda his consort following.
The air smelled good and cleansed him. But not enough. He sat ponderously on the stoop and drank in the night.
Fujiko knelt behind him and leaned forward. "Gomen nasai, Anjin-san," she whispered, nodding back at the house. "Wakarimasu ka?" Do you understand?
"Wakarimasu, shigata ga nai." Then, seeing her untoward fear, he stroked her hair.
"Arigato, arigato, Anjin-sama."
"Anatawa suimin ima, Fujiko-san," he said, finding the words with difficulty. You sleep now.
"Dozo gomen nasai, Anjin-sama, suimin, neh?" she said, motioning him toward his own room, her eyes pleading.
"Iye. Watashi oyogu ima." No, I'm going for a swim.
"Hai, Anjin-sama." Obediently she turned and called out. Two of the servants came running. Both were young men from the village, strong and known to be good swimmers.
Blackthorne did not object. Tonight he knew his objections would be meaningless.
"Well, anyway," he said aloud as he lurched down the hill, the men following, his brain dulled with drink, "anyway, I've put him to sleep. He can't hurt her now." Blackthorne swam for an hour and felt better. When he came back Fujiko was waiting on the veranda with a pot of fresh cha. He accepted some, then went to bed and was instantly asleep.