"No. He's already gone. This morning he was in the square when you left the Tea House. Didn't you see him, near the Tea House?"
Blackthorne could read nothing untoward in Omi's face. "No. Not see, so sorry. He go Spa too?"
"I suppose so. I'm not sure." The rain dripped off Omi's conical hat, which was tied under his chin. His eyes were almost hidden. "Now, why did you want me to come here with you?"
"Show place, like I say." Before Omi could say anything more, Blackthorne spurred his horse forward. With his most careful sea sense he took accurate bearings from memory and went quickly to the exact point over the crevasse. He dismounted and beckoned Omi. "Please. "
"What is it, eh?" Omi's voice was edged.
"Please, here Omi-san. Alone."
Omi waved his guards away and spurred forward until he towered over Blackthorne. "Nan desu ka?" he asked, his hand seemingly tightening on his sword.
"This place Toranaga-sama..." Blackthorne could not think of the words, so explained partially with his hands. "Understand?"
"Here you pulled him out of the earth, neh? So?"
Blackthorne looked at him, then deliberately down at his sword, then stared up at him again saying nothing more. He wiped the rain out of his face.
"Nan desu ka?" Omi repeated more irritably.
Still Blackthorne didn't answer. Omi stared down at the crevasse and again at Blackthorne's face. Then his eyes lit up. "Ah, so desu! Wakarimasu!" Omi thought a moment then called out to one of the guards, "Get Mura here at once. With twenty men and shovels!"
The samurai galloped off. Omi sent the others back to the village, then dismounted and stood beside Blackthorne. "Yes, Anjin-san," he said, "that's an excellent thought. A good idea."
"Idea? What idea?" Blackthorne asked innocently. "Just show place - think you want know place, neh? So sorry-don't understand. "
Omi said, "Toranaga-sama lost his swords here. Swords very valuable. He'll be happy to get them back. Very happy, neh?"
"Ah so! No my idea, Omi-san, " Blackthorne said. "Omi-san idea."
"Of course. Thank you, Anjin-san. You're a good friend and your mind's fast. I should have thought of that myself. Yes, you're a good friend and we'll all need friends for the next few months. War's with us now whether we want it or not."
"Please? So sorry. I don't understand, speak too fast. Please excuse."
"Glad we're friends - you and me. Understand?"
"Hai. You say war? War now?"
"Soon. What can we do? Nothing. Don't worry, Toranaga-sama will conquer Ishido and his traitors. That's the truth, understand? No worry, neh?"
"Understand. I go now, my house. All right?"
"Yes. See you at dawn. Again thank you."
Blackthorne nodded. But he did not leave. "She's pretty, neh?"
"What?"
"Kiku-san." Blackthorne's legs were slightly apart and he was poised to jump back and pull out the pistol, and aim it and fire it. He remembered with total clarity the unbelievable, effortless speed that Omi had used to decapitate the first villager so long ago, and he was ready as best he could be. He reasoned his only safety was to precipitate the matter of Kiku. Omi would never do it. Omi would consider such bad manners unthinkable. And, filled with shame at his own weakness, Omi would lock his very un-Japanese jealousy away into a secret compartment. Because it was so alien and shamefilled, this jealousy would fester until, when it was least expected, Omi would explode blindly and ferociously.
"Kiku-san?" Omi said.
"Hai." Blackthorne could see that Omi was rocked. Even so he was glad he had chosen the time and the place. "She's pretty, neh?"
"Pretty?"
"Hai."
The rain increased, The heavy drops spattered the mud. Their horses shivered uncomfortably. Both men were soaked but the rain was warm and it ran off them.
"Yes," Omi said. "Kiku-san is very pretty," and followed it with a torrent of words Blackthorne did not fathom.
"No words enough now, Omi-san - not enough to speak clear now," Blackthorne said. "Later yes. Not now. Understand?"
Omi seemed not to hear. Then he said, "There's plenty of time, Anjin-san, plenty of time to talk about her, and about you and me and karma. But I agree, now is not the time, neh?"
"Think understand. Yes. Yesterday not know Omi-san and Kiku-san good friends," he said, pressing the attack.
"She's not my property."
"Now know you and her very friends. Now-"
"Now leave. This matter is closed. The woman is nothing. Nothing."
Stubbornly Blackthorne stayed where he was. "Next time I-"
"This conversation is over! Didn't you hear? Finished!"
"lye! lye, by God!"
Omi's hand went for his sword. Blackthorne leaped back two paces without realizing it. But Omi did not draw his sword and Blackthorne did not pull out his pistol. Both men readied, though neither wanted to begin.
"What do you want to say, Anjin-san?"
"Next time, first I ask - about Kiku-san. If Omi-san say yes - yes. If no - no! Understand? Friend to friend, neh?"
Omi relaxed his sword hand slightly. "I repeat - she's not my property. Thank you for showing me this place, Anjin-san. Goodbye."
"Friend?"
