"I know Christians." Uraga's eyes were half hidden by the brim of his hat. "Please, Sire. Important every man do same. Now, tonight."
"All right," Blackthorne agreed reluctantly.
Uraga turned to the assembled vassals. "At my suggestion our Master requires each of us to do this."
The samurai were grumbling among themselves and one interrupted, "We've already said that we're not Christians, neh? What does stamping on a barbarian god picture prove? Nothing!"
"Christians are our Master's enemy. Christians are treacherous - but Christians are Christian. Please excuse me, I know Christians - to my shame I forsook our real gods. So sorry, but I believe this is necessary for our Master's safety."
At once a samurai in front declared, "In that case, there's nothing more to be said. " He came forward and stamped on the picture. "I worship no barbarian religion! Come on, the rest of you, do what's asked!"
They came forward one by one. Blackthorne watched, despising the ceremony.
Van Nekk said worriedly, "Doesn't seem right."
Vinck looked up at the quarterdeck. "Sodding bastards. They'll all cut our throats with never a thought. You sure you can trust 'em, Pilot?"
"Yes."
Ginsel said, "No Catholic'd ever do that, eh, Johann? That Uragasama's clever."
"What's it matter if those buggers're Papist or not, they're all shitfilled samurai."
"Yes," Croocq said.
"Even so, it's not right to do that," van Nekk repeated.
The samurai continued to stamp the icon into the deck one by one, and moved into loose groups. It was a tedious affair and Blackthorne was sorry he had agreed to it, for there were more important things to do before dusk. His eyes went to the village and the headlands. Hundreds of the thatch lean-tos of the Musket Regiment camp spotted the foothills. So much to do, he thought, anxious to go ashore, wanting to see the land, glorying in the fief Toranaga had given him which contained Yokohama. Lord God on high, he told himself, I'm lord of one of the greatest harbors in the world.
Abruptly a man bypassed the icon, tore out his sword, and leaped at Blackthorne. A dozen startled samurai jumped courageously in his way, screening the quarterdeck as Blackthorne spun around, a pistol cocked and aimed. Others scattered, shoving, stumbling, milling in the uproar. The samurai skidded to a halt, howling with rage, then changed direction and hacked at Uraga, who somehow managed to avoid the thrust. The man whirled as other samurai lunged at him, fought them off ferociously for a moment, then rushed for the side and threw himself overboard.
Four who could swim dropped their killing swords, put their short stabbing knives in their mouths, and jumped after him, the rest and the Dutchmen crowding the side.
Blackthorne jumped for the gunwale. He could see nothing below; then he caught sight of swirling shadows in the water. A man came up for air and went down again. Soon four heads surfaced. Between them was the corpse, a knife in his throat.
"So sorry, Anjin-san, it was his own knife," one called up over the roars of the others.
"Uraga-san, tell them to search him, then leave him to the fish."
The search revealed nothing. When all were back on deck, Blackthorne pointed at the icon with his cocked pistol. "All samurai - once more!" He was obeyed instantly and he made sure that every man passed the test. Then, because of Uraga, and to praise him, he ordered his crew to do the same. There was the beginning of a protest.
"Come on," Blackthorne snarled. "Hurry up, or I'll put my foot on your backs!"
"No need to say that, Pilot," van Nekk said. "We're not stinky pagan wogs!"
"They're not stinky pagan wogs! They're samurai, by God!"
They stared up at him. Anger, whipped by fear, rippled through them. Van Nekk began to say something but Ginsel butted in.
"Samurai're heathen bastards and they - or men like 'em - murdered Pieterzoon, our Captain-General, and Maetsukker!"
"Yes, but without these samurai we'll never get home - understand?"
Now all the samurai were watching. Ominously they moved nearer Blackthorne protectively. Van Nekk said, "Let it rest, eh? We're all a bit touchy and overtired. It was a long night. We're not our own masters here, none of us. Nor's the Pilot. The Pilot knows what he's doing - he's the leader, he's Captain-General now."
"Yes, he is. But it's not right for him to take their side over us, and by the Lord God, he's not a king - we're equal to him," Jan Roper hissed. "Just because he's armed like them and dressed like them and can talk to the sods doesn't make him king over us. We've rights and that's our law and his law, by the Lord God, even though he's English. He swore Holy Oaths to abide by the rules - didn't you, Pilot!"
"Yes," Blackthorne said. "It's our law in our seas - where we're masters and in the majority. Now we're not. So do what I tell you to do and do it fast."
Muttering, they obeyed.
"Sonk! Did you find any grog?"
"Nosirnotagodcurseddribble!"
"I'll get sake sent aboard." Then, in Portuguese, Blackthorne added, "Uraga-san, you'll come ashore with me and bring someone to scull. You four," he said in Japanese, pointing at the men who had dived over the side, "you four now captains. Understand? Take fifty men each."
"Hai, Anjin-san."
"What's your name?" he asked one of them, a tall, quiet man with a scarred cheek.
"Nawa Chisato, Lord."
"You're captain today. All ship. Until I return."
"Yes, Lord."
Blackthorne went to the gangway. A skiff was tied below.
"Where're you going, Pilot?" van Nekk said anxiously.
"Ashore. I'll be back later."
"Good, we'll all go!"
"By God I'll come with-"
"And me. I'm go-"
"Christ Jesus, don't leave me be-"
"No! I'm going alone!"
"But for God's sake what about us!" van Nekk cried out. "What are we going to do? Don't leave us, Pilot. What are-"
"You just wait!" Blackthorne told them. "I'll see food and drink's sent aboard."