"So sorry, but the General of our Society doesn't consider them sufficiently prepared. Perhaps Joseph's tragic fall is an example."
"Bad to break a solemn oath," Toranaga said. He remembered the year the three boys had sailed off from Nagasaki in a Black Ship to be feted in the court of the Spanish king and the court of the High Priest of the Christians, the same year Goroda had been assassinated. Nine years later they had returned but all their time away had been carefully controlled and monitored. They had left as naive, youthful Christian zealots and returned just as narrow-minded and almost as ill-informed as when they had left. Stupid waste, Toranaga thought, waste of an incredible opportunity which Goroda had refused to take advantage of, as much as he had advised it.
"No, Tora-san, we need the Christians against the Buddhists," Goroda had said. "Many Buddhist priests and monks are soldiers, neh? Most of them are. The Christians aren't, neh? Let the Giant Priest have the three youths he wants - they're only Kyushu stumbleheads, neh? I tell you to encourage Christians. Don't bother me with a ten-year plan, but burn every Buddhist monastery within reach. Buddhists are like flies on carrion, and Christians nothing but a bag of fart."
Now they're not, Toranaga thought with growing irritation. Now they're hornets.
"Yes," he said aloud. "Very bad to break an oath and shout and disturb the harmony of an inn."
"Please excuse me, Sire, and forgive me for mentioning my problems. Thank you for listening. As always your concern makes me feel better. May I be permitted to greet the pilot?"
Toranaga assented.
"I must congratulate you, Pilot," Alvito said in Portuguese. "Your swords suit you."
"Thank you, Father, I'm learning to use them," Blackthorne replied. "But, sorry to say, I'm not very good with them yet. I'll stick to pistols or cutlasses or cannon when I have to fight."
"I pray that you may never have to fight again, Pilot, and that your eyes will be opened to God's infinite mercy."
"Mine are open. Yours are fogged."
"For your own soul's sake, Pilot, keep your eyes open, and your mind open. Perhaps you may be mistaken. Even so, I must thank you for saving Lord Toranaga's life."
"Who told you that?"
Alvito did not reply. He turned back to Toranaga.
"What was said?" Toranaga asked, breaking a silence.
Alvito told him, adding, "Though he's the enemy of my faith and a pirate, I'm glad he saved you, Sire. God moves in mysterious ways. You've honored him greatly by making him samurai."
"He's hatamoto also." Toranaga was pleasured by the priest's fleeting amazement. "Did you bring a dictionary?"
"Yes, Sire, with several of the maps you wanted, showing some of the Portuguese bases en route from Goa. The book's in my luggage. May I send someone for it, or may I give it to him later myself?"
"Give it to him later. Tonight, or tomorrow. Did you also bring the report?"
"About the alleged guns that were supposed to be brought from Macao? The Father-Visitor is preparing it, Sire."
"And the numbers of Japanese mercenaries employed at each of your new bases?"
"The Father-Visitor has requested an up-to-date report from all of them, Sire, which he will give you as soon as they're complete."
"Good. Now tell me, how did you know about my rescue?"
"Hardly a thing that happens to Toranaga-noh-Minowara is not the subject of rumor and legend. Coming from Mishima we heard that you were almost swallowed up in an earthquake, Sire, but that the 'Golden Barbarian' had pulled you out. Also, that you'd done the same for him and a lady - I presume the Lady Mariko?"
Toranaga nodded briefly. "Yes. She's here in Yokose." He thought a moment, then said, "Tomorrow she would like to be confessed, according to your customs. But only those things that are nonpolitical. I would imagine that excludes everything to do with me, and my various hatamoto, neh? I explained that to her also. " Alvito bowed his understanding. "With your permission, could I say Mass for all the Christians here, Sire? It would be very discreet, of course. Tomorrow?"
"I'll consider it." Toranaga continued to talk about inconsequential matters for a while, then he said, "You have a message for me? From your Chief Priest?"
"With humility, Sire, I beg to say that it was a private message."
Toranaga pretended to think about that, even though he had determined exactly how the meeting would proceed and had already given the Anjin-san specific instructions how to act and what to say. "Very well." He turned to Blackthorne, "Anjin-san, you can go now and we'll talk more later."
"Yes, Sire," Blackthorne replied. "So sorry, the Black Ship. Arrive Nagasaki?"
"Ah, yes. Thank you," he replied, pleased that the Anjin-san's question didn't sound rehearsed. "Well, Tsukku-san, has it docked yet?"
Alvito was startled by Blackthorne's Japanese and greatly perturbed by the question. "Yes, Sire. It docked fourteen days ago."
"Ah, fourteen?" said Toranaga. "You understand, Anjin-san?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"Good. Anything else you can ask Tsukku-san later, neh?"
"Yes, Sire. Please excuse me." Blackthorne got up and bowed and wandered off.
Toranaga watched him go. "A most interesting man for a pirate.
Now, first tell me about the Black Ship."
"It arrived safely, Sire, with the greatest cargo of silk that has ever been." Alvito tried to sound enthusiatic. "The arrangement made between the Lords Harima, Kiyama, Onoshi, and yourself is in effect. Your treasury will be richer with tens of thousands of koban by this time next year. The quality of silks is the finest, Sire. I've brought a copy of the manifest for your quartermaster. The Captain-General Ferriera sends his respects, hoping to see you in person soon. That was the reason for my delay in coming to see you. The Visitor-General sent me post haste from Osaka to Nagasaki to make certain everything was perfect. Just as I was leaving Nagasaki we heard you'd left Yedo for Izu, so I came here as quickly as I could, by ship to Port Nimazu with one of our fastest cutters, then by road. At Mishima I fell in with Lord Zataki and asked permission to join him."
"Your ship's still at Nimazu?"
"Yes, Sire. It will wait for me there."
"Good." For a moment Toranaga wondered whether or not to send Mariko by that ship to Osaka, then decided to deal with that later. "Please give the manifest to the quartermaster tonight."
"Yes, Sire."
"And the arrangement about this year's cargo is sealed?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
"Good. Now the other part. The important part."
Alvito's hands went dry. "Neither Lord Kiyama nor Lord Onoshi will agree to forsake General Ishido. I'm sorry. They will not agree to join your banner now in spite of our strongest suggestion."
Toranaga's voice became low and cruel. "I already pointed out I required more than suggestions!"
"I'm sorry to bring bad news in this part, Sire, but neither would agree to publicly come over to-"
"Ah, publicly, you say? What about privately - secretly?"