"And our go-between is Misamoto?"
"Without your cleverness in discovering and training him this would not be possible." She said it with perfect deference, and sat back, secretly content, listening to his comments and her replies, knowing that he would put her plan into operation quickly, that they would somehow get some guns and never never never barter her secret rice away. Then, shortly, she could pretend to be tired and beg his permission to rest: "You should rest also, Sire, after such a marvelous though strenuous practice session..."
Of course he should, a fine man like him, she thought. And once there, many judicious compliments, asking permission to massage his tired shoulder muscles, cautiously becoming more intimate, a sigh or two and quickly he would be as close as she could ever desire. As close as Koiko.
Earlier Koiko had correctly begged permission to visit her and had bowed and thanked her and said that she hoped her services had pleased the Great Lord, that she was honored to be allowed into his household for even a brief time. They had chatted for a while and then she had gone away.
Such a beauty, Hosaki thought without jealousy, or envy. Yoshi is entitled to a toy, however expensive, from time to time. Their beauty is so fragile, so transient, their life so sad, truly cherry blossoms from the Tree of Life.
A man's world is so much more physically exciting than ours. Eeee, to be able to go from flower to flower without hurt or thought.
If the punishment for even a little philandering on our side was not so immediate and severe, women would consider it much more frequently. Wouldn't we? Why not? If it was safe.
Sometimes, when Yoshi is away, the thought of such enormous danger and immediate death is an almost overwhelming aphrodisiac. Foolish, for such a fleeting pleasure. Is it?
She waited, watching him, a warm glow within, adoring the game of life while his mind was abuzz with variations of the plan and how to use his creation, Misamoto.
I will start at once, he was thinking. Hosaki has a good mind and is clever at putting my ideas together. But, eeee, to articulate that about the boy was baka in the extreme, however correct an Act of State such an action might be.
Women have no finesse.
In the Settlement this morning, just before dawn, Jamie McFay had given Nemi a final kiss and then together they walked down the corridor to Malcolm Struan's suite. He knocked gently. At once the door opened and the young girl, Shizuka, came out, eased the door closed, smiled curiously and began whispering to Nemi who took McFay by the arm and hurried him to the landing.
"What? Bad news, heya?" McFay asked nervously--he had caught a glimpse of Struan fast asleep in the huge four-poster before the door closed but all had seemed well.
Nemi paid no attention to him and continued to cross-question the girl.
Exasperated, McFay said, "Nemi, what?
What bad?"
She hesitated, then with an initial flood of singsong apologetic Japanese, caught herself and beamed, "No bad, Jami-san, you-ah cum Yoshiwara t'morrow, yes no?" She put on her cloak and began to go down the stairs but he stopped her.
"What bad, Nemi?" he asked suspiciously.
She stared up at him a moment, then more Japanese and pidgin that did not make sense.
Finally she shrugged, "S'kr't, wakarimasu ka?" "S'kr't? Iy`e, for God's sake.
What skre't, heya?"
"S'krit, Jami-san, hai?"
"Ah, secret, for God's sake!
Wakarimasu! Secret what?"
She sighed with relief and beamed. "S'kret, gud! S'kret, Jami-san, Shizuka, Nemi. Hai? Hai?"
"Hai. Us keep secret. Now what?"
More incomprehensible Japanese and more pidgin as they put on their outer robes and then, frustrated because she could not explain properly or that she had to explain at all, Nemi parodied plenty of movement and whispered, "Shizuka gud, work gud o'rr night."
"Tai-pan good?"
Her eyes soared. "Hai, Jami-san, Shizuka gud!"
All his questions had only produced more bowing and smiles from both of them, so he had thanked Shizuka, her fee already arranged--"tai-pan credit plenti werri gud," the mama-san had told him. For a last time Nemi swore him to secrecy. The waiting servant took them back to the Yoshiwara.
Perturbed but not knowing why, though sure he not been told all the truth, he had tiptoed back and stood over the bed but Struan was fast asleep, breathing peacefully, so he had left and gone to his office and worked.
Until just after ten.
"Hello, Doctor, come in, good to see you, what's new?"
Hoag's face was grim. "Ah Tok sent for me and I've just seen Malcolm, that's what's new. I wish to Christ you'd asked me first before you--oh for God's sake, Jamie," the squat, good man added quickly, seeing him flush, "I know he asked you to arrange it, I just wish you'd thought to ask me first--I would have thought it bloody obvious it would be bloody dangerous and bloody ridiculous to try so soon after that wound with half your inside patched and near to bursting..." He stopped and sat down. "Sorry, but I had to let that out."
"That's all right--is it bad?"
"I don't know, some blood in his urine and plenty of pain in his loins. It seems she was very vigorous, he got carried away and when he climaxed he said his stomach spasmed with the surge and then cramped up. Poor fellow, though he's in a lot of pain now, he did tell me she was worth it."
"He said that?"
"Yes, in some detail--don't mention that I told you, eh? I've given him some painkiller so he'll sleep for an hour or two. I'll be back later." Hoag sighed and got up with a grim smile. "I had another note from Mrs.Struan, did you?"
"Yes, more of the same. Will you order him back to Hong Kong now?"
"I can't order him to do anything. He goes when he wants to go, this is the storm season for God's sake. He's wise to stay-- unless there's anything pressing in Hong Kong."
"There are dozens of reasons--that's the seat of power, there's nothing for him to do here really."
Hoag shrugged. "I agree Hong Kong would be better--I'd planned to go back with the mail ship but after last night I think I'll wait for a few more days for him."
"Take him with you, please, on the mail ship."
"I already suggested it and was told, rather impolitely "no." Forget it, Jamie, it's not wrong for him to rest here and a foul sea voyage would be extremely bad for him, maybe a killer. By the way, I hear there may be another ball next Tuesday with Angel T's the guest of honor."