Now as Omi was watching Yabu, he savored the newfound ecstasy of vengeance. To kill Yabu would be easy, but the killing must be coordinated. Only then would his father or his elder brother be able to assume control of the clan, and Izu.
Yabu came to the point. "Mariko-san, please tell the Anjin-san, tomorrow I want him to start training my men to shoot like barbarians and I want to learn everything there is to know about the way that barbarians war."
"But, so sorry, the guns won't arrive for six days, Yabu-san," Mariko reminded him.
"I've enough among my men to begin with," Yabu replied. "I want him to start tomorrow."
Mariko spoke to Blackthorne.
"What does he want to know about war?" he asked.
"He said everything."
"What particularly?''
Mariko asked Yabu.
"Yabu-san says, have you been part of any battles on land?"
"Yes. In the Netherlands. One in France."
"Yabu-san says, excellent. He wants to know European strategy. He wants to know how battles are fought in your lands. In detail."
Blackthorne thought a moment. Then he said, "Tell Yabu-san I can train any number of men for him and I know exactly what he wants to know." He had learned a great deal about the way the Japanese warred from Friar Domingo. The friar had been an expert and vitally concerned. 'After all, señor,' the old man had said, 'that knowledge is essential, isn't it to know how the heathen war? Every Father must protect his flock. And are not our glorious conquistadores the blessed spearhead of Mother Church? And haven't I been with them in the front of the fighting in the New World and the Philippines and studied them for more than twenty years? I know war, señor, I know war. It has been my duty-God's will to know war. Perhaps God has sent you to me to teach you, in case I die. Listen, my flock here in this jail have been my teachers about Japan warfare, señor. So now I know how their armies fight and how to beat them. How they could beat us. Remember, señor, I tell thee a secret on thy soul: Never join Japanese ferocity with modern weapons and modern methods. Or on land they will destroy us.'
Blackthorne committed himself to God. And began. "Tell Lord Yabu I can help him very much. And Lord Toranaga. I can make their armies unbeatable."
"Lord Yabu says, if your information proves useful, Anjin-san, he will increase your salary from Lord Toranaga's two hundred and forty koku to five hundred koku after one month."
"Thank him. But say, if I do all that for him, I request a favor in return: I want him to rescind his decree about the village and I want my ship and crew back in five months."
Mariko said, "Anjin-san, you cannot bargain with him, like a trader."
"Please ask him. As a humble favor. From an honored guest and grateful vassal-to-be."
Yabu frowned and replied at length.
"Yabu-san says that the village is unimportant. The villagers need a fire under their rumps to make them do anything. You are not to concern yourself with them. As to the ship, it's in Lord Toranaga's care. He's sure you'll get it back soon. He asked me to put your request to Lord Toranaga the moment I arrive in Yedo. I'll do this, Anjin-san."
"Please apologize to Lord Yabu, but I must ask him to rescind the decree. Tonight."
"He's just said no, Anjin-san. It would not be good manners."
"Yes, I understand. But please ask him again. It's very important to me… a petition."
"He says you must be patient. Don't concern yourself with villagers."
Blackthorne nodded. Then he decided. "Thank you. I understand. Yes. Please thank Yabu-san but tell him I cannot live with this shame."
Mariko blanched. "What?"
"I cannot live with the shame of having the village on my conscience. I'm dishonored. I cannot endure this. It's against my Christian belief. I will have to commit suicide at once."
"Suicide?"
"Yes. That's what I've decided to do."
Yabu interrupted. "
Haltingly she translated what Blackthorne had said. Yabu questioned her and she answered. Then Yabu said, "If it wasn't for your reaction this would be a joke, Mariko-san. Why are you so concerned? Why do you think he means it?"
"I don't know, Sire. He seems… I don't know…" Her voice trailed off.
"Omi-san?"
"Suicide's against all Christian beliefs, Sire. They never suicide as we do. As a samurai would."
"Mariko-san, you're Christian. Is that true?"
"Yes, Sire. Suicide's a mortal sin, against the word of God."
"Igurashi-san? What do you think?"
"It's a bluff. He's no Christian. Remember the first day, Sire? Remember what he did to the priest? And what he allowed Omi-san to do to him to save the boy?"
Yabu smiled, recollecting that day and the night that had followed. "Yes. I agree. He's no Christian, Mariko-san."
"So sorry, but I don't understand, Sire. What about the priest?"
Yabu told her what had happened the first day between Blackthorne and the priest.
"He desecrated a cross?" she said, openly shocked.
