His horse pounded through the village streets - covert eyes watching him now - across the square and up the road to the fortress. His standard carried Toranaga's cipher and he knew the current password. Nevertheless he was challenged and identified four times before he was allowed entrance and audience with the officer of the watch.
"Urgent dispatches from Mishima, Naga-san, from Lord Hiro-matsu."
Naga took the scroll and hurried inside. At the heavily guarded shoji he stopped. "Father?"
"Yes?"
Naga slid back the door and waited. Toranaga's sword slipped back into its scabbard. One of the guards brought an oil lamp.
Toranaga sat up in his mosquito net and broke the seal. Two weeks ago he had ordered Hiro-matsu with an elite regiment secretly to Mishima, the castle city on the Tokaido Road that guarded the entrance to the pass leading across the mountains to the cities of Atami and Odawara on the east coast of Izu. Atami was the gateway to Odawara to the north. Odawara was the key to the defense of the whole Kwanto.
Hiro-matsu wrote: "Sire, your half brother, Zataki, Lord of Shinano, arrived here today from Osaka asking for safe conduct to see you at Anjiro. He travels formally with a hundred samurai and bearers, under the cipher of the 'new' Council of Regents. I regret to tell you the Lady Kiritsubo's news is correct. Zataki's turned traitor and is openly flaunting his allegiance to Ishido. What she did not know is that Zataki is now a Regent in place of Lord Sugiyama. He showed me his official appointment, correctly signed by Ishido, Kiyama, Onoshi, and Ito. It was all I could do to restrain my men at his arrogance and obey your orders to let any messenger from Ishido pass. I wanted to kill this dung eater myself. Traveling with him is the barbarian priest, Tsukku-san, who arrived by sea at the port of Numazu, coming from Nagasaki. He asked permission to visit you so I sent him with the same party. I've sent two hundred of my men to escort them. They'll arrive within two days at Anjiro. When do you return to Yedo? Spies say Jikkyu's mobilizing secretly and news comes from Yedo that the northern clans are ready to throw in with Ishido now that Zataki's Shinano is against you. I beg you to leave Anjiro at once - retreat by sea. Let Zataki follow you to Yedo, where we can deal with him properly."
Toranaga slammed his fist against the floor.
"Naga-san. Fetch Buntaro-san, Yabu-san, and Omi-san here at once."
They arrived very quickly. Toranaga read them the message. "We'd better cancel all training. Send the Musket Regiment, every man, into the mountains. We don't want any security leaks now."
Omi said, "Please excuse me, Sire, but you might consider intercepting the party over the mountains. Say at Yokose. Invite Lord Zataki" -he chose the title carefully- "to take the waters at one of the nearby spas, but have the meeting at Yokose. Then, after he's delivered his message, he and all his men can be turned back, escorted to the frontier, or destroyed, just as you wish."
"I don't know Yokose."
Yabu said importantly, "It's beautiful, almost in the center of Izu, Sire, over the mountains in a valley cleft. It's beside the river Kano. The Kano flows north, eventually through Mishima and Numazo to the sea, neh? Yokose's at a crossroads - the roads go north-south and east-west. Yes, Yokose'd be a good place to meet, Sire. Shuzenji Spa's nearby - very hot, very good - one of our best. You should visit it, Sire. I think Omi-san's made a good suggestion."
"Could we defend it easily?"
Omi said quickly, "Yes, Sire. There's a bridge. The land falls steeply from the mountains. Any attackers would have to fight up a snaking road. Both passes can be held with few men. You could never be ambushed. We have more than enough men to defend you and butcher ten times their number - if need be."
"We butcher them whatever happens, neh?" Buntaro said with contempt. "But better there than here. Sire, please let me make the place safe. Five hundred archers, no musketeers - all horsemen. Added to the men my father sent, we'll have more than enough."
Toranaga checked the date on the dispatch. "They'll reach the crossroads when?"
Yabu looked at Omi for confirmation. "Tonight at the earliest?"
"Yes. Perhaps not until dawn tomorrow."
"Buntaro-san, leave at once," Toranaga said. "Contain them at Yokese but keep them the other side of the river. I'll leave at dawn tomorrow with another hundred men. We should be there by noon. Yabu-san, you take charge of our Musket Regiment for the moment and guard our retreat. Put it in ambush across the Heikawa Road, on the skyline, so we can fall back through you if necessary."
Buntaro started to leave but stopped as Yabu said uneasily, "How can there be treachery, Sire? They've only a hundred men."
"I expect treachery. Lord Zataki wouldn't put his head into my hands without a plan, for, of course, I'll take his head if I can," Toranaga said. "Without him to lead his fanatics we'll have a far better chance to get through his mountains. But why's he risking everything? Why?"
Omi said tentatively, "Could he be ready to turn ally again?"
They all knew the long-standing rivalry that had existed between the half brothers. A friendly rivalry up till now.
"No, not him. I never trusted him before. Would any of you trust him now?"
They shook their heads.
Yabu said, "Surely there's nothing to disturb you, Sire. Lord Zataki's a Regent, yes, but he's only a messenger, neh?"
Fool, Toranaga wanted to shout, don't you understand anything? "We'll soon know. Buntaro-san, go at once."
"Yes, Sire. I'll choose the meeting place carefully, but don't let him within ten paces. I was with him in Korea. He's too quick with his sword."
"Yes.
Buntaro hurried away. Yabu said, "Perhaps Zataki can be tempted to betray Ishido - some prize perhaps? What's his bait? Even without his leadership the Shinano mountains are cruel."
"The bait's obvious," Toranaga said. "The Kwanto. Isn't that what he wants, has always wanted? Isn't that what all my enemies want? Isn't that what Ishido himself wants?"
They did not answer him. There was no need.
Toranaga said gravely, "May Buddha help us. The Talko's peace has ended. War is beginning."
Blackthorne's sea ears had heard the urgency in the approaching hoofs and they had whispered danger. He had come out of sleep instantly, ready to attack or retreat, all his senses tuned. The hoofs passed, then headed up the hill toward the fortress, to die away again.
He waited. No sound of a following escort. Probably a lone messenger, he thought. From where? Is it war already?
Dawn was imminent. Now Blackthorne could see a small part of the sky. It was overcast and laden with rain, the air warm with a tang of salt in it, billowing the net from time to time. A mosquito whined faintly outside. He was very pleased to be within, safe for the moment. Enjoy the safety and the tranquillity while it lasts, he told himself.
Kiku was sleeping next to him, curled up like a kitten. Sleep-tousled, she seemed more beautiful to him. He carefully relaxed back into the softness of the quilts on the tatami floor.
This is so much better than a bed. Better than any bunk - my God, how much better! But soon to be back aboard, neh? Soon to fall on the Black Ship and take her, neh? I think Toranaga's agreed even though he hasn't said so openly. Hasn't he just agreed in Japanese fashion? 'Nothing can ever be solved in Japan except by Japanese methods.' Yes, I believe that's the truth.
I wanted to be better informed. Didn't he tell Mariko to translate everything and explain about his political problems?
I wanted money to buy my new crew. Didn't he give me two thousand koku?
I asked for two or three hundred corsairs. Hasn't he given me two hundred samurai with all the power and rank I need? Will they obey me? Of course. He made me samurai and hatamoto. So they'll obey to the death and I'll bring them aboard Erasmus, they'll be my boarding party and I will lead the attack.
How unbelievably lucky I am! I've everything I want. Except Mariko. But I even have her. I have her secret spirit and her love. And I possessed her body last night, the magic night that never existed. We loved without loving. Is that so different?
There's no love between Kiku and me, just a desire that blossomed. It was grand for me. I hope it was also grand for her. I tried to be Japanese wholely and do my duty, to please her as she pleased me.
He remembered how he had used a pleasure ring. He had felt most awkward and shy and had turned away to put it on, petrified that his strength would vanish, but it had not. And then, when it was in place, they had pillowed again. Her body shuddered and twisted and the tremoring had lifted him to a more urgent plane than any he had ever known.
Afterwards, when he could breathe again, he began to laugh and she had whispered, Why do you laugh, and he had answered, I don't know except you make me happy.
I've never laughed at that moment, ever before. It made everything perfect. I do not love Kiku-san - I cherish her. I love Mariko-san without reservation and I like Fujiko-san completely.
Would you pillow with Fujiko? No. At least, I don't think I could.
Isn't that your duty? If you accept the privileges of samurai and require others to treat you totally as samurai with all that that means, you must accept the responsibilities and duties, neh? That's only fair, neh? And honorable, neh? It's your duty to give Fujiko a son.