Toranaga looked from man to woman. Then his voice hardened, and for a moment he was like the Toranaga of old. "Mariko-san, you will leave in three days for Osaka. You will prepare that way for me, and wait for me there. Buntaro-san, you will accompany me as commander of my escort when I leave. After you have acted as my second, you or one of your men may do the same with the Anjin-san - with or without his approval."
Buntaro cleared his throat. "Sire, please order Crim-"
"Hold your tongue! You forget yourself! I've told you no three times! The next time you have the impertinence to offer unwanted advice you will slit your belly in a Yedo cesspool!"
Buntaro's head was on the tatamis. "I apologize, Sire. I apologize for my impertinence."
Mariko was equally appalled by Toranaga's ill-mannered, shameful outburst, and she bowed low also, to hide her own embarrassment. In a moment Toranaga said, "Please excuse my temper. Your plea is granted, Buntaro-san, but only after you've acted as my second."
"Thank you, Sire. Please excuse me for offending you."
"I ordered you both to make peace with one another. Have you done so?"
Buntaro nodded shortly. Mariko too.
"Good. Mariko-san, you. will come back with the Anjin-san tonight, in the Hour of the Dog. You may go now."
She bowed and left them.
Toranaga stared at Buntaro. "Well? Do you accuse her?"
"It . . . it is unthinkable she'd betray me, Sire," Buntaro answered sullenly.
"I agree." Toranaga waved a fly away with his fan, seeming very tired. "Well, you may have the Anjin-san's head soon. I need it on his shoulders a little longer."
"Thank you, Sire. Again please excuse me for irritating you."
"These are irritating times. Foul times." Toranaga leaned forward. "Listen, I want you to go to Mishima at once to relieve your father for a few days. He asks permission to come here to consult with me. I don't know what .... Anyway, I must have someone in Mishima I can trust. Would you please leave at dawn - but by way of Takato."
"Sire?" Buntaro saw that Toranaga was keeping calm only with an enormous effort, and in spite of his will, his voice was trembling.
"I've a private message for my mother in Takato. You're to tell no one you're going there. But once you're clear of the city, cut north."
"I understand."
"Lord Zataki may prevent you from delivering it - may try to. You are to give it only into her hands. You understand? To her alone. Take twenty men and gallop there. I'll send a carrier pigeon to ask safe conduct from him. "
"Your message will be verbal or in writing, Lord?"
"In writing."
"And if I can't deliver it?"
"You must deliver it, of course you must. That's why I picked you! But . . . if you're betrayed like I've . . . if you're betrayed, destroy it before you commit suicide. The moment I hear such evil news, the Anjin-san's head is off his shoulders. And if . . . what about Mariko-san? What about your wife, if something goes wrong?"
"Please dispatch her, Sire, before you die. I would be honored if . . . . She merits a worthy second."
"She won't die dishonorably, you have my promise. I'll see to it. Personally. Now please come back at dawn for the dispatch. Don't fail me. Only into my mother's hands."
Buntaro thanked him again and left, ashamed of Toranaga's outward show of fear.
Now alone, Toranaga took out a kerchief and wiped the sweat off his face. His fingers were trembling. He tried to control them but couldn't. It had taken all his strength to continue acting the stupid dullard, to hide his unbounding excitement over the secrets, which, fantastically, promised the long-hoped-for reprieve.
"A possible reprieve, only possible - if they're true," he said aloud, hardly able to think, the astoundingly welcome information that Mariko had brought from the Gyoko woman still shrieking in his brain.
Ochiba, he was gloating, . . . so that harpy's the lure to bring my brother tumbling out of his mountain eyrie. My brother wants Ochiba. But now it's equally obvious he wants more than her, and more than just the Kwanto. He wants the realm. He detests Ishido, loathes Christians, and is now sick with jealousy over Ishido's well-known lust for Ochiba. So he'll fall out with Ishido, Kiyama, and Onoshi. Because what my treacherous brother really wants is to be Shogun. He's Minowara, with all the lineage necessary, all the ambition, but not the mandate. Or the Kwanto. First he must get the Kwanto to get the rest.
Toranaga rubbed his hands with glee at all the wonderful new possible ploys this newfound knowledge gave him against his brother.
