He saw Yabu holding the sword of his ancestor with reverence.
"Is it as sharp as they say?" Yabu asked.
"Yes."
"You do me great honor. I will treasure your gift." Yabu bowed, conscious that, because of the gift, he would be the first in the land after Toranaga.
Toranaga bowed back, and then, unarmed, he walked for the gangway. It took all his will to hide his fury and not to let his feet falter, and he prayed that Yabu's avariciousness would keep him mesmerized for just a few moments more.
"Cast off!" he ordered, coming onto the deck, and then turned shoreward and waved cheerfully.
Someone broke the silence and shouted his name, then others took up the shout. There was a general roar of approval at the honor done to their lord. Willing hands shoved the ship out to sea. The oarsmen pulled briskly. The galley made way.
"Captain, get to Yedo quickly!"
"Yes, Sire."
Toranaga looked aft, his eyes ranging the shore, expecting danger any instant. Yabu stood near the jetty, still bemused by the sword. Mariko and Fujiko were waiting beside the awning with the other women. The Anjin-san was on the edge of the square where he had been told to wait-rigid, towering, and unmistakably furious. Their eyes met. Toranaga smiled and waved.
The wave was returned, but coldly, and this amused Toranaga very much.
Blackthorne walked cheerlessly up to the jetty.
"When's he coming back, Mariko-san?"
"I don't know, Anjin-san."
"How do we get to Yedo?"
"We stay here. At least, I stay for three days. Then I'm ordered there."
"By sea?"
"By land."
"And me?"
"You are to stay here."
"Why?"
"You expressed an interest in learning our language. And there's work for you to do here."
"What work?"
"I don't know, I'm sorry. Lord Yabu will tell you. My Master left me here to interpret, for three days."
Blackthorne was filled with foreboding. His pistols were in his belt but he had no knives and no more powder and no more shot. That was all in the cabin aboard the galley.
"Why didn't you tell me we were staying here?" he asked. "You just said to come ashore."
"I didn't know you were to remain here also," she replied. "Lord Toranaga told me only a moment ago, in the square."
"Why didn't he tell me then? Tell me himself?"
"I don't know."
"I was supposed to be going to Yedo. That's where my crew is. That's where my ship is. What about them?"
"He just said you were to stay here."
"For how long?"
"He didn't tell me, Anjin-san. Perhaps Lord Yabu will know. Please be patient."
Blackthorne could see Toranaga standing on the quarterdeck, watching shoreward. "I think he knew all along I was to stay here, didn't he?"
She did not answer. How childish it is, she said to herself, to speak aloud what you think. And how extraordinarily clever Toranaga was to have escaped this trap.
Fujiko and the two maids stood beside her, waiting patiently in the shade with Omi's mother and wife, whom she had met briefly, and she looked beyond them to the galley. It was picking up speed now. But it was still within easy arrow range. Any moment now she knew she must begin. Oh, Madonna, let me be strong, she prayed, all her attention centering on Yabu.
"Is it true? Is that true?" Blackthorne was asking.
"What? Oh, I'm sorry, I don't know, Anjin-san. I can only tell you Lord Toranaga is very wise. The wisest man. Whatever his reason, it was good." She studied the blue eyes and hard face, knowing that Blackthorne had no understanding of what had occurred here. "Please be patient, Anjin-san. There's nothing to be afraid of. You're his favored vassal and under his-"
"I'm not afraid, Mariko-san. I'm just tired of being shoved around the board like a pawn. And I'm no one's vassal."
"Is 'retainer' better? Or how would you describe a man who works for another or is retained by another for special…" Then she saw the blood soar into Yabu's face.
"The guns-the guns are still on the galley!" he cried out.
Mariko knew the time had come. She hurried over to him as he turned to shout orders at Igurashi.
"Your pardon, Lord Yabu," she said, overriding him, "there's no need to worry about your guns. Lord Toranaga said to ask your pardon for his haste but he has urgent things to do on your joint behalves at Yedo. He said he would return the galley instantly. With the guns. And with extra powder. And also with the two hundred and fifty men you require from him. They'll be here in five or six days."
"What?"
Mariko explained patiently and politely again as Toranaga had told her to do. Then, once Yabu understood, she took out a roll of parchment from her sleeve. "My Master begs you to read this. It concerns the Anjin-san." She formally offered it to him.
