Mariko was saying, "My Master asks what is your custom when you want to approach a warship?"
"If you had cannon you'd fire a salute. Or you can signal with flags, asking permission to come alongside."
"My Master says, and if you have no flags?"
Though they were still outside cannon range it was almost, to Blackthorne, as if he were already climbing down one of the barrels, though the gunports were still closed. The ship carried eight cannon a side on her main deck, two at the stern and two at the bow. Erasmus could take her, he told himself, without a doubt, providing the crew was right. I'd like to take her. Wake up, stop daydreaming, we're not aboard Erasmus but this sow-gutted galley and that Portuguese ship's the only hope we have. Under her guns we're safe. Bless your luck for Toranaga.
"Tell the captain to break out Toranaga's flag at the masthead. That'll be enough, senhora. That'll make it formal and tell them who's aboard, but I'd bet they know already."
This was done quickly. Everyone in the galley seemed to be more confident now. Blackthorne marked the change. Even he felt better under the flag.
"My Master says, but how do we tell them we wish to go alongside?"
"Tell him without signal flags he has two choices: he waits outside cannon range and sends a deputation aboard her in a small boat, or we go directly within hailing distance."
"My Master says, which do you advise?"
"Go straight alongside. There's no reason for caution. Lord Toranaga's aboard. He's the most important daimyo in the Empire. Of course she'll help us and - Oh Jesu God!"
"Senhor?"
But he did not reply, so she quickly translated what had been said and listened to Toranaga's next question. "My Master asks, the frigate will what? Please explain your thought and the reason you stopped."
"I suddenly realized, he's at war with Ishido now. Isn't he? So the frigate may not be inclined to help him."
"Of course they'll help him."
"No. Which side benefits the Portuguese more, Lord Toranaga or Ishido? If they believe Ishido will, they'll blow us to hell out of the water. "
"It's unthinkable that the Portuguese would fire on any Japanese ship," Mariko said at once.
"Believe me, they will, senhora. And I'll bet that frigate won't let us alongside. I wouldn't if I were her pilot. Christ Jesus!" Blackthorne stared ashore.
The taunting Grays had left the jetty now and were spreading out parallel to the shore. No chance there, he thought. The fishing boats still lay malevolently clogging the harbor's neck. No chance there either. "Tell Toranaga there's only one other way to get out of the harbor. That's to hope for a storm. Maybe we could ride it out, where the fishing boats can't. Then we could slip past the net."
Toranaga questioned the captain, who answered at length, then Mariko said to Blackthorne, "My Master asks, do you think there'll be a storm?"
"My nose says yes. But not for days. Two or three. Can we wait that long?"
"Your nose tells you? There is a smell to a storm?"
"No, senhora. It's just an expression."
Toranaga pondered. Then he gave an order.
"We are going to within hailing distance, Anjin-san."
"Then tell him to go directly astern of her. That way we're the smallest target. Tell him they're treacherous - I know how seriously treacherous they are when their interests are threatened. They're worse than the Dutch! If that ship helps Toranaga escape, Ishido will take it out on all Portuguese and they won't risk that."
"My Master says we'll soon have that answer."
"We're naked, senhora. We've no chance against those cannon. If the ship's hostile - even if it's simply neutral - we're sunk."
"My Master says, yes, but it will be your duty to persuade them to be benevolent."
"How can I do that? I'm their enemy."
"My Master says, in war and in peace, a good enemy can be more valuable than a good ally. He says you will know their minds - you will think of a way to persuade them."
"The only sure way's by force."
"Good. I agree, my Master says. Please tell me how you would pirate that ship."
"What?"
"He said, good, I agree. How would you pirate the ship, how would you conquer it? I require the use of their cannon. So sorry, isn't that clear, Anjin-san?"
"And again I say I'm going to blow her out of the water," Ferriera, the Captain-General, declared.
"No," dell'Aqua replied, watching the galley from the quarterdeck.
"Gunner, is she in range yet?"
"No, Don Ferriera," the chief gunner replied. "Not yet."
"Why else is she coming at us if not for hostile reasons, Eminence? Why doesn't she just escape? The way's clear." The frigate was too far from the harbor mouth for anyone aboard to see the encroaching fishing boats crowding in ambush.
"We risk nothing, Eminence, and gain everything," Ferriera said. "We pretend we didn't know Toranaga was aboard. We thought the bandits - bandits led by the pirate heretic - were going to attack us. Don't worry, it will be easy to provoke them once they're in range."
"No," dell'Aqua ordered.
