"Don't be afraid, Mariko my darling. Everything's going to be all right. " "That's what I tell myself. But today it's impossible to accept karma and the will of God."
"You were so distant the last time."
"This is Yedo, my love. And beyond First Bridge."
"It was because of Buntaro-san. Wasn't it?"
"Yes," she said simply. "That and Toranaga's decision to surrender. It's such a dishonorable uselessness .... I never thought I'd ever say that out loud but I have to say it. So sorry." She nestled closer into the protection of his shoulder.
"When he goes to Osaka, you're finished, too?"
"Yes. The Toda clan are too powerful and important. In any event I would not be left alive."
"Then you must come with me. We'll escape. We'll-"
"So sorry, but there's no escape."
"Unless Toranaga allows it, neh?"
"Why should he allow it?"
Quickly Blackthorne told her what he had said to Toranaga, but not that he had also asked for her. "I know I can force the priests to bring Kiyama or Onoshi to his side, if he'll allow me to take this Black Ship," he finished excitedly, "and I know I can do that!"
"Yes," she said, glad for the sake of the Church that he was hobbled by Toranaga's decision. Again she examined the logic of his plan and found it flawless. "It should work, Anjin-san. Now that Harima's hostile, there would be no reason why Toranaga-sama shouldn't order an attack if he were going to war, and not surrendering."
"If Lord Kiyama or Lord Onoshi, or both of them, joined him, would that tip the scale toward him?"
"Yes," she said. "With Zataki and time." She had already explained the strategic importance of Zataki's control of the northern route. "But Zataki's opposed to Toranaga-sama."
"Listen, I can strangle the priests. So sorry, but they are my enemy though they are your priests. I can dominate them on his behalf - on mine too. Will you help me to help him?"
She stared up at him. "How?"
"Help me to persuade him to give me the chance, and persuade him to delay going to Osaka."
There was the sound of horses and voices raised on the jetty. Distracted, they went to the windows. Samurai were pulling aside one of the barriers. Father Alvito spurred forward into the clearing.
"What does he want?" Blackthorne muttered sourly.
They watched the priest as he dismounted and pulled out a scroll from his sleeve and gave it to the senior samurai. The man read it. Alvito looked up at the ship.
"Whatever it is, is official," she said in a small voice.
"Listen, Mariko-san, I'm not against the Church. The Church isn't evil, it's the priests. And they're not all bad. Alvito isn't, though he's fanatic. I swear to God I believe the Jesuits will bow to Lord Toranaga if I get their Black Ship and threaten next year's, because they've got to have money - Portugal and Spain have got to have money. Toranaga's more important. Will you help me?"
"Yes. Yes, I'll help you, Anjin-san. But, please excuse me, I cannot betray the Church."
"All I ask is that you talk to Toranaga, or help me to talk to him if you think that's better."
A distant bugle sounded. They looked out of the windows again. Everyone was staring west. The head of a procession of samurai around a curtained litter approached from the direction of the castle.
The cabin door opened. "Anjin-san, you will come now, please," the samurai said.
Blackthorne led the way on deck and down to the jetty. His nod to Alvito was coldly polite. The priest was equally glacial.
To Mariko, Alvito was kind. "Hello, Mariko-san. How nice to see you."
"Thank you, Father," she said, bowing low.
"May the blessings of God be upon you." He made the sign of the cross over her. "In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti."
"Thank you, Father."
Alvito glanced at Blackthorne. "So, Pilot? How is your ship?"
"I'm sure you already know."
"Yes, I know." Alvito looked Erasmus over, his face taut. "May God curse her and all who sail in her if she's used against Faith and Portugal. "
"Is that why you came here? To spread more venom?"
"No, Pilot," Alvito said. "I was asked here to meet Lord Toranaga. I find your presence as distasteful as you find mine."
"Your presence isn't distasteful, Father. It's just the evil you represent."
Alvito flushed and Mariko said quickly, "Please. It is bad to quarrel this way in public. I beg you both to be more circumspect."
"Yes, please excuse me. I apologize, Mariko-san." Father Alvito turned away and looked at the curtained litter coming through the barrier, Toranaga's pennant fluttering, and uniformed samurai before and after, hemming in a straggling, motley group of samurai.
The palanquin stopped. The curtains parted. Yabu stepped out. Everyone was startled. Nonetheless they bowed. Yabu returned the salutation arrogantly.
"Ah, Anjin-san," Yabu said. "How are you?"
"Good, thank you, Sire. And you?"
"Good, thank you. Lord Toranaga's sick. He asked me to come in his place. You understand?"
"Yes. Understand," Blackthorne replied, trying to cover his disappointment at Toranaga's non-arrival. "So sorry Lord Toranaga sick."
Yabu shrugged, acknowledged Mariko deferentially, pretended not to notice Alvito, and studied the ship for a moment. His smile was twisted as he turned back to Blackthorne. "So desu, Anjin-san. Your ship's different from the last time I saw it, neh? Yes, the ship's different, you're different, everything's different - even our world's different! Neh?"
"So sorry, I don't understand, Sire. Please excuse me but your words very fast. As my-" Blackthorne began the stock phrase but Yabu interrupted gutturally, "Mariko-san, please translate for me."
She did so.
Blackthorne nodded and said slowly, "Yes. Different, Yabu-sama."