He heard the tread of feet. Some flares were approaching up the hill. Twenty samurai, Omi at their head.
"I'm sorry, Anjin-san, but Omi-san orders you to give him your pistols." "Tell him to go to hell!"
"I can't, Anjin-san. I dare not."
Blackthorne kept one hand loosely on the pistol hilt, his eyes on Omi. He had deliberately remained seated on the veranda steps. Ten samurai were within the garden behind Omi, the rest near the waiting palanquin. As soon as Omi had entered uninvited, Fujiko had come from the interior of the house and now stood on the veranda, whitefaced, behind Blackthorne. "Lord Toranaga never objected and for days I've been armed around him and Yabu-san."
Mariko said nervously, "Yes, Anjin-san, but please understand, what Omi-san says is true. It's our custom that you cannot go into a daimyo's presence with arms. There's nothing to be af- nothing to concern you. Yabu-san's your friend. You're his guest here."
"Tell Omi-san I won't give him my guns." Then, when she remained silent, Blackthorne's temper snapped and he shook his head. "lye, Omi-san! Wakarimasu ka? lye!"
Omi's face tightened. He snarled an order. Two samurai moved forward. Blackthorne whipped out the guns. The samurai stopped. Both guns were pointed directly into Omi's face.
"lye!" Blackthorne said. And then, to Mariko, "Tell him to call them off or I'll pull the triggers."
She did so. No one moved. Blackthorne got slowly to his feet, the pistols never wavering from their target. Omi was absolutely still, fearless, his eyes following Blackthorne's catlike movements.
"Please, Anjin-san. This is very dangerous. You must see Lord Yabu. You may not go with pistols. You're hatamoto, you're protected and you're also Lord Yabu's guest."
"Tell Omi-san if he or any of his men come within ten feet of me I'll blow his head off."
"Omi-san says politely, 'For the last time you are ordered to give me the guns. Now.'"
"lye."
"Why not leave them here, Anjin-san? There's nothing to fear. No one will touch-"
"You think I'm a fool?"
"Then give them to Fujiko-san!"
"What can she do? He'll take them from her - anyone'll take them - then I'm defenseless."
Mariko's voice sharpened. "Why don't you listen, Anjin-san? Fujiko-san is your consort. If you order it she'll protect the guns with her life. That's her duty. I'll never tell you again, but Toda-noh-Usagi Fujiko is samurai."
Blackthorne was concentrating on Omi, hardly listening to her. "Tell Omi-san I don't like orders. I'm Lord Toranaga's guest. I'm Lord Yabu's guest. You 'ask' guests to do things. You don't order them, and you don't march into a man's house uninvited."
Mariko translated this. Omi listened expressionlessly, then replied shortly, watching the unwavering barrels.
"He says, 'I, Kasigi Omi, I would ask for your pistols, and ask you to come with me because Kasigi Yabu-sama orders you into his presence. But Kasigi Yabu-sama orders me to order you to give me your weapons. So sorry, Anjin-san, for the last time I order you to give them to me.'"
Blackthorne's chest was constricted. He knew he was going to be attacked and he was furious at his own stupidity. But there comes a time when you can't take any more and you pull a gun or a knife and then blood is spilled through stupid pride. Most times stupid. If I'm to die Omi will die first, by God!
He felt very strong though somewhat light-headed. Then what Mariko said began to ring in his ears: 'Fujiko's samurai, she is your consort!' And his brain began to function. "Just a moment! Mariko-san, please say this to Fujiko-san. Exactly: 'I'm going to give you my pistols. You are to guard them. No one except me is to touch them.'"
Mariko did as he asked, and behind him, he heard Fujiko say, "Hai." "Wakarimasu ka, Fujiko-san?" he asked her.
"Wakarimasu, Anjin-san," she replied in a thin, nervous voice.
"Mariko-san, please tell Omi-san I'll go with him now. I'm sorry there's been a misunderstanding. Yes, I'm sorry there was a misunderstanding."
Blackthorne backed away, then turned. Fujiko accepted the guns, perspiration beading her forehead. He faced Omi and prayed he was right. "Shall we go now?"
Omi spoke to Fujiko and held out his hand. She shook her head. He gave a short order. The two samurai started toward her. Immediately she shoved one pistol into the sash of her obi, held the other with both hands at arm's length and leveled it at Omi. The trigger came back slightly and the striking lever moved. "Ugoku na!" she said. "Dozo!"
The samurai obeyed. They stopped.
Omi spoke rapidly and angrily and she listened and when she replied her voice was soft and polite but the pistol never moved from his face, the lever half-cocked now, and she ended, "lye, gomen nasai, Omi-san!" No, I'm sorry, Omi-san.
Blackthorne waited.
A samurai moved a fraction. The lever came back dangerously, almost to the top of its arc. But her arm remained steady.
"Ugoku na!" she ordered.
