Shōgun полностью

“The honto is, there would be plenty left over for me, Mariko-san, after the ships were paid for by Her Majesty. Further, I’d like to take one of his most trusted counselors with me as an Ambassador to my Queen. A treaty of friendship between our countries might be of interest to him.”

“Lord Toranaga says that would be much too generous of your Queen. He adds, but if such a thing miraculously happened and you came back with the new ships, who would train his sailors and samurai and captains to man them?”

“I will, initially, if that pleases him. I’d be honored, then others could follow.”

“He says what is ‘initially’?”

“Two years.”

Toranaga smiled fleetingly.

“Our Master says two years would not be enough ‘initially.’ However, he adds, it’s all an illusion. He’s not at war with the Portuguese or Lord Harima of Nagasaki. He repeats, what you do outside Japanese waters in your own ship with your own crew is your own karma.” Mariko seemed disturbed. “Outside our waters you are foreigner, he says. But here you are samurai.”

“Yes. I know the honor he has done to me. May I ask how a samurai borrows money, Mariko-san?”

“From a moneylender, Anjin-san. Where else? From a filthy merchant moneylender.” She translated for Toranaga. “Why should you need money?”

“Are there moneylenders in Yedo?”

“Oh yes. Moneylenders are everywhere, neh? Isn’t it the same in your country? Ask your consort, Anjin-san, perhaps she would be able to help you. That is part of her duty.”

“You said we’re leaving for Yedo tomorrow?”

“Yes, tomorrow.”

“Unfortunately Fujiko-san won’t be able to travel then.”

Mariko talked with Toranaga.

“Lord Toranaga says he will send her by galley, when it leaves. He says what do you need to borrow money for?”

“I’ll have to get a new crew, Mariko-san—to sail anywhere, to serve Lord Toranaga, however he’d wish it. Is that permitted?”

“A crew from Nagasaki?”

“Yes.”

“He will give you an answer when you reach Yedo.”

“Domo, Toranaga-sama. Mariko-san, when I get to Yedo where do I go? Will there be someone to guide me?”

“Oh, you must never worry about things like that, Anjin-san. You are one of Lord Toranaga’s hatamoto.” There was a knock on the inner door.

“Come in.”

Naga opened the shoji and bowed. “Excuse me, Father, but you wanted to be told when all your officers were present.”

“Thank you, I’ll be there shortly.” Toranaga thought a moment, then motioned to Blackthorne, his manner friendly. “Anjin-san, go with Naga-san. He will show you to your place. Thank you for your views.”

“Yes, Sire. Thank you for listen. Thank you for your words. Yes. I try hard be patient and perfect.”

“Thank you, Anjin-san.” Toranaga watched him bow and go away. When they were alone, he turned to Mariko. “Well, what do you think?”

“Two things, Sire. First, his hatred of Jesuits is measureless, even surpassing his loathing of Portuguese, so he is a scourge for you to use against either or both, if you want a scourge. We know he is brave, so he would boldly press home any attack from the sea. Second, money is still his goal. In his defense, from what I’ve learned, money is the only real means the barbarians have to lasting power. They buy lands and position—even their Queen’s a merchant and ‘sells’ land to her lords, and buys ships and lands, probably. They’re not so different from us, Lord, except in that. And also in that they do not understand power, or that war is life and life is death.”

“Are the Jesuits my enemy?”

“I do not believe so.”

“The Portuguese?”

“I believe they’re concerned only with profits, land, and spreading the word of God.”

“Are Christians my enemy?”

“No, Sire. Though some of your enemies may be Christian—Catholic or Protestant.”

“Ah, you think the Anjin-san’s my enemy?”

“No, Sire. No, I believe he honors you and, in time, will become a real vassal.”

“What about our Christians? Who are enemy?”

“Lords Harima, Kiyama, Onoshi, and any other samurai who turns against you.”

Toranaga laughed. “Yes, but do the priests control them, as the Anjin-san implies?”

“I do not think so.”

“Will those three go against me?”

“I don’t know, Sire. In the past, they’ve all been both hostile and friendly to you. But if they side with Ishido it would be very bad.”

“I agree. Yes. You’re a valued counselor. It’s difficult for you being Catholic Christian, being friends with an enemy, listening to enemy ideas.”

“Yes, Sire.”

“He trapped you, neh?”

“Yes. But in truth he had the right. I was not doing what you had ordered. I was putting myself between his pure thoughts and you. Please accept my apologies.”

“It will continue to be difficult. Perhaps even more so.”

“Yes, Sire. But it’s better to know both sides of the coin. Much of what he said has been found to be true—for instance, about the world being split by Spaniards and Portuguese, about the priests smuggling guns—however impossible it is to believe. You need never fear about my loyalty, Sire. However bad it becomes, I will always do my duty to you.”