"You make a foul nurse, Ingeles. It's your black heart." Rodrigues laughed and it was good to hear him laugh again. His eyes went to the rutter that was open on the desk, and to his sea chest. He saw that it had been unlocked. "Did I give you the key?"
"No. I searched you. I had to have the true rutter. I told you when you woke the first night."
"That's fair. I don't remember, but that's fair. Listen, Ingeles, ask any Jesuit where Vasco Rodrigues is in Osaka and they'll guide you to me. Come to see me-then you can make a copy of my rutter, if you wish."
"Thanks. I've already taken one. At least, I copied what I could, and I've read the rest very carefully."
"Thy mother!" Rodrigues said in Spanish.
"And thine."
Rodrigues turned to Portuguese again. "Speaking Spanish makes me want to retch, even though you can swear better in it than any language. There's a package in my sea chest. Give it to me, please."
"The one with the Jesuit seals?"
"Yes."
He gave it to him. Rodrigues studied it, fingering the unbroken seals, then seemed to change his mind and put the package on the rough blanket under which he lay, leaning his head back again. "Ah, Ingeles, life is so strange."
"Why"
"If I live, it is because of God's grace, helped by a heretic and a Japman. Send the sod-eater below so I can thank him, eh?"
"Now?"
"Later."
"All right."
"This fleet of yours, the one you claim's attacking Manila, the one you told the Father about-what's the truth, Ingeles?"
"A fleet of our warships'll wreck your Empire in Asia, won't it?"
"Is there a fleet?"
"Of course."
"How many ships were in your fleet?"
"Five. The rest are out to sea, a week or so. I came ahead to probe Japan and got caught in the storm."
"More lies, Ingeles. But I don't mind-I've told my captors as many. There are no more ships or fleets."
"Wait and see."
"I will." Rodrigues drank heavily.
Blackthorne stretched and went to the porthole, wanting to stop this conversation, and looked out at the shore and the city. "I thought London was the biggest city on earth, but compared to Osaka it's a small town."
"They've dozens of cities like this one," Rodrigues said, also glad to stop the cat-and-mouse game that would never bear fruit without the rack. "Miyako, the capital, or Kyoto as it's sometimes called, is the biggest city in the Empire, more than twice the size of Osaka, so they say. Next comes Yedo, Toranaga's capital. I've never been there, nor any priest or Portuguese-Toranaga keeps his capital locked away-a forbidden city. Still," Rodrigues added, lying back in his bunk and closing his eyes, his face stretched with pain, "still, that's no different to everywhere. All Japan 's officially forbidden to us, except the ports of Nagasaki and Hirado. Our priests rightly don't pay much attention to the orders and go where they please. But we seamen can't or traders, unless it's on a special pass from the Regents, or a great
"Do you want to rest now?"
"No, Ingeles. Talking's better. Talking helps to take the pain away. Madonna, my head hurts! I can't think clearly. Let's talk until you go ashore. Come back and see me-there's lots I want to ask you. Give me some more grog. Thank you, thank you, Ingeles."
"Why're you forbidden to go where you please?"
"What? Oh, here in Japan? It was the Taikō-he started all the trouble. Ever since we first came here in 1542 to begin God's work and to bring them civilization, we and our priests could move freely, but when the Taikō got all power he started the prohibitions. Many believe… could you shift my leg, take the blanket off my foot, it's burning… yes-oh, Madonna, be careful-there, thank you, Ingeles. Yes, where was I? Oh yes… many believe the Taikō was Satan's penis. Ten years ago he issued Edicts against the Holy Fathers, Ingeles, and all who wanted to spread the word of God. And he banished everyone, except traders, ten, twelve-odd years ago. It was before I came to these waters-I've been here seven years, off and on. The Holy Fathers say it was because of the heathen priests-the Buddhists-the stinking, jealous idol worshipers, these heathens, they turned the Taikō against our Holy Fathers, filled him with lies, when they'd almost converted him. Yes, the Great Murderer himself almost had his soul saved. But he missed his chance for salvation. Yes. Anyway, he ordered all of our priests to leave Japan… Did I tell you this was ten-odd years ago?"
Blackthorne nodded, glad to let him ramble and glad to listen, desperate to learn.
