"The message will arrive." Brother Michael added quietly, "Our man knows he sails with the enemy."
"May God watch him and give him strength and curse Uraga." Alvito looked across at the younger man. "Why? Why did he become apostate?"
"He told you, Father," Brother Michael said. "He wanted to be a priest - ordained in our Society. That wasn't much to ask, for a proud servant of God."
"He was too proud, Brother. God in His wisdom tempted him and found him wanting."
"Yes. I pray I am not found wanting when my turn comes."
Alvito wandered past their Mission toward the large plot of land that had been set aside by Toranaga for the cathedral that should soon rise from the earth to the glory of God. The Jesuit could already see it in his mind, tall, majestic yet delicate, dominating the city, peerless bells cast in Macao or Goa or even Portugal ringing the changes, the vast bronze doors ever wide to the faithful nobility. He could smell the incense and hear the sound of the Latin chants.
But war will destroy that dream, he told himself. War will come again to plague this land and it will be as it ever was.
"Father!" Brother Michael whispered, cautioning him.
A woman was ahead of them, looking at the beginning foundations that already were marked out and partially dug. Beside her were two maids. Alvito waited motionlessly, peering in the half-light. The woman was veiled and richly dressed. Then Brother Michael moved slightly. His foot touched a stone and sent it clattering against an iron shovel, unseen in the gloaming. The woman turned, startled. Alvito recognized her.
"Mariko-san? It's me - Father Alvito."
"Father? Oh, I was - I was just coming to see you. I'm leaving shortly but I wanted to talk to you before I left."
Alvito came up to her. "I'm so glad to see you, Mariko-san. Yes. I heard you were leaving. I tried to see you several times but, at the moment, I'm still forbidden the castle." Wordlessly, Mariko looked back at the beginnings of the cathedral. Alvito glanced at Brother Michael, who was also bewildered that a lady of such importance would be so scantily attended, wandering here so early and unannounced.
"You're here just to see me, Mariko-san?"
"Yes. And to see the ship leave."
"What can I do for you?"
"I wish to be confessed."
"Then let it be here," he said. "Let yours be the first in this place though the ground is barely hallowed."
"Please excuse me, but could you say Mass here, Father?"
"There's no church or altar or vestments or the Eucharist. I could do that in our chapel if you'll foil-"
"Could we drink cha from an empty cup, Father? Please," she asked in a tiny voice. "So sorry to ask. There's so little time."
"Yes," he agreed, at once understanding her.
So he walked to where the altar perhaps would be one day within the magnificent nave, under a vaulting roof. Today, the lightening sky was the roof, and birds and the sound of the surf the majestic choir. He began to chant the solemn beauty of the Mass and Brother Michael helped, and together they brought the Infinite to earth.
But before the giving of the make - believe Sacrament he stopped and said, "Now I must hear thy confession, Maria." He motioned Brother Michael away and sat on a rock within an imaginary confessional and closed his eyes. She knelt. "Before God, do-"
"Before I begin, Father, I beg a favor."
"From me or from God, Maria?"
"I beg a favor, before God."
"What is thy favor?"
"The Anjin-san's life in return for knowledge."
"His life is not mine to give or to withhold."
"Yes. So sorry, but an order could be spread among all Christians that his life is not to be taken as a sacrifice to God."
"The Anjin-san is the enemy. A terrible enemy of our Faith."
"Yes. Even so I beg for his life. In return - in return perhaps I can be of great help."
"How?"
"Is my favor granted, Father? Before God?"
"I cannot grant such a favor. It's not mine to give or to withhold. You cannot barter with God."
Mariko hesitated, kneeling on the hard earth before him. Then she bowed and began to get up. "Very well. Then please excuse-" Alvito said, "I will put the request before the Father-Visitor."
"That's not enough, Father, please excuse me."
"I will put it before him and beg him in God's name to consider your petition."
"If what I tell you is very valuable, will you, before God, swear that you will do everything in your power, everything to succor him and guard him, providing it is not directly against the Church?"
"Yes. If it is not against the Church."
"And, so sorry, you agree to put my request before the Father-Visitor?"
"Before God, yes."
"Thank you, Father. Listen then...." She told him her reasoning about Toranaga and the hoax.
Suddenly everything was falling into place for Alvito. "You're right, you must be right! God forgive me, how could I have been so stupid?"
"Please listen again, Father, here are more facts." She whispered the secrets about Zataki and Onoshi.
"It's not possible!"
"There's also a rumor that Lord Onoshi plans to poison Lord Kiyama. " "Impossible!"
"Please excuse me, very possible. They're ancient enemies."
"Who told you all this, Maria?"