"Oh! I understand. Yes."
"No one could unwind her knot . . . could satisfy her."
"Not even Toranaga?"
"He never pillowed her, Anjin-san," she had said, quite shocked. "Of course, after the marriage he had nothing to do with her, other than give her a castle and retainers and the keys to his treasure house - why should he? She was quite old, she'd been married twice before, but her brother, the Taiko, had dissolved the marriages. A most unpleasant woman - everyone was most relieved when she went into the Great Void, even the Taiko, and all her stepdaughters-in-law and all of Toranaga's consorts secretly burnt incense with great joy."
"And Toranaga's first wife?"
"Ah, the Lady Tachibana. That was another political marriage. Lord Toranaga was eighteen, she fifteen. She grew up to be a terrible woman. Twenty years ago Toranaga had her put to death because he discovered she was secretly plotting to assassinate their liege lord, the Dictator Goroda, whom she hated. My father often told me he thought they were all lucky to retain their heads - he, Toranaga, Nakamura, and all the generals - because Goroda was merciless, relentless, and particularly suspicious of those closest to him. That woman could have ruined them all, however innocent they were. Because of her plot against Lord Goroda, her only son, Nobunaga, was also put to death, Anjin-san. She killed her own son. Think of that, so sad, so terrible. Poor Nobunaga - he was Toranaga's favorite son and his official heir - brave, a general in his own right, and totally loyal. He was innocent but she still embroiled him in her plot. He was only nineteen when Toranaga ordered him to commit seppuku."
"Toranaga killed his own son? And his wife?"
"Yes, he ordered them onward, but he had no choice, Anjin-san. If he hadn't, Lord Goroda would correctly have presumed Toranaga to be part of the plot himself and would have ordered him instantly to slit his belly. Oh yes, Toranaga was lucky to escape Goroda's wrath and wise to send her onward quickly. When she was dead her daughter-in-law and all Toranaga's consorts were very much ecstatic. Her son had had to send his first wife home in disgrace on her orders for some imagined slight - after bearing him two children. The girl committed seppuku - did I tell you ladies commit seppuku by slitting their throats, Anjin-san, and not their stomachs like men? - but she went to death gratefully, glad to be freed from a life of tears, as the next wife prayed for death, her life made equally miserable by her mother-in-law...."
Now, looking at Midori's mother-in-law, the tea dribbling down her chin, Blackthorne knew that this old hag had power of life or death, divorce or degradation over Midori, provided her husband, the head of their house, agreed. And, whatever they decided, Omi would obey. How terrible, he told himself.
Midori was as graceful and youthful as the old woman was not, her face oval, her hair rich. She was more beautiful than Mariko, but without her fire and strength, pliant as a fern and fragile as gossamer.
"Where are the small foods? Of course the Anjin-san must be hungry, neh?" the old woman said.
"Oh, so sorry," Midori replied at once. "Fetch some instantly," she said to the maid. "Hurry! So sorry, Anjin-san!"
"So sorry, Anjin-san," the old woman said.
"Please don't apologize, " Blackthorne said to Midori, and instantly knew that it was a mistake. Good manners decreed that he should acknowledge only the mother-in-law, particularly if she had an evil reputation. "So sorry," he said. "I not hungry. Tonight I eat must with Lord Toranaga."
"Ah so desu! We heard you saved his life. You should know how grateful we are - all his vassals!" the old woman said.
"It was duty. I did nothing."
"You did everything, Anjin-san. Omi-san and Lord Yabu appreciate your action as much as all of us."
Blackthorne saw the old woman looking at her son. I wish I could fathom you, you old bitch, he thought. Are you as evil as that other one, Tachibana?
Omi said, "Mother, I'm fortunate to have the Anjin-san as a friend."
"We're all fortunate," she said.
"No, I'm fortunate," Blackthorne replied. "I fortunate have friends as family of Kasigi Omi-san." We're all lying, Blackthorne thought, but I don't know why you are. I'm lying for self-protection and because it's custom. But I've never forgotten.... Wait a moment. In all honesty, wasn't that karma? Wouldn't you have done what Omi did? That was long ago - in a previous life, neh? It's meaningless now.
A group of horsemen clattered up the rise, Naga at their head. He dismounted and strode into the garden. All the villagers stopped working and went onto their knees. He motioned them to continue.
"So sorry to disturb you, Omi-san, but Lord Toranaga sent me."
"Please, you're not disturbing me. Please join us," Omi said.
Midori at once gave up her cushion, bowing very low. "Would you like cha or sake, Naga-sama?"
Naga sat. "Neither, thank you. I'm not thirsty."
Omi pressed him politely, going through the interminable necessary ritual, even though it was obvious that Naga was in a hurry. "How is the Lord Toranaga?"
"Very good. Anjin-san, you did us a great service. Yes. I thank you personally."
"It was duty, Naga-san. But I did little. Lord Toranaga pulled me from - pulled me from earth also."
"Yes. But that was afterward. I thank you very much."
"Naga-san, is there something I can do for Lord Toranaga?" Omi asked, etiquette finally allowing him to come to the point.
"He would like to see you after the evening meal. There is to be a full conference of all officers."
"I would be honored."
"Anjin-san, you are to come with me now, if it pleases you."
"Of course. It is my honor."
More bows and salutations and then Blackthorne was on a horse and they were cantering down the hill. When the phalanx of samurai came to the square, Naga reined in.
"Anjin-san!"
"Hai?"
"I thank you with all my heart for saving Lord Toranaga. Allow me to be your friend . . . " and some words Blackthorne did not catch.
"So sorry, I don't understand. 'Karite iru'?"
"Ah, so sorry. 'Karite iru' - one man karite iru another man things - like 'debt.' You understand 'debt'?"
"Owe" jumped into Blackthorne's head. "Ah so desu! Wakarimasu. "
"Good. I only said that I owed you a debt."
"It was my duty, neh?"
"Yes. Even so, I owe you a life."
"Toranaga-sama says all cannon powder and shot were put back on your ship, Anjin-san, here at Anjiro before it left for Yedo. He asks you how long would it take you to get ready for sea?"
"That depends on her state, if the men've careened her and cared for her, the mast replaced and so on. Does Lord Toranaga know how she is?"
"The ship seems in order, he says, but he's not a seaman so he couldn't be sure. He has not been on it since it was first towed into Yedo harbor when he gave instructions for it to be cared for. Presuming the ship is seaworthy, neh, he asks how long would it take you to ready for war?"
Blackthorne's heart missed a beat. "On whom do I war, Mariko-san?"