"Let's piss on the bargain," Toranaga had said, having gained everything that he had wanted and planned for. And the next day, before the bewildered majesty of the truculent daimyos, he had humbly offered up his sword and his lands and his honor and his heritage to the upstart peasant warlord. He had begged to be allowed to serve Nakamura and his house forever. And he, Yoshi Toranaga-noh-Minowara, had bowed his head abjectly into the dust. The Taiko-to-be now had been magnanimous and had taken his lands and had at once gifted him the Kwanto as a fief once it was conquered, ordering total war on the Beppu for their insults to the Emperor. And he had also given Toranaga this sword that he had recently acquired from one of the Imperial treasuries. The sword had been made by the master swordsmith Miyoshi-Go centuries before, and had once belonged to the most famous warrior in history, Minowara Yoshitomo, the first of the Minowara Shoguns.
Toranaga remembered that day. And he recalled other days: a few years later when the Lady Ochiba gave birth to a boy; and another when, incredibly, after the Taiko's first son had conveniently died, Yaemon, the second son, was born.
So was the whole plan ruined. Karma.
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..."
