by Gai-Jin(Lit)
Secretly he was still hatomoto--a privileged samurai--one of Yoshi's many spies that dotted the surrounds of Yedo and all approaches to Dragon's Tooth. The new captain, conscious of his responsibility, and four samurai accompanied them, Misamoto and his two guards last.
Quickly the captain made sure the dwelling was secure. Then Yoshi settled himself on the veranda, on a cushion facing the steps, the captain and the other samurai kneeling on guard behind him. He noticed the maid offering tea was fresh-faced and well chosen, the tea tasting better for it. When he was quite ready he waved the maids and servants away. "Please bring them here, Inejin," he ordered.
In moments Inejin returned. With him were the two gai-jin prospectors. One tall, the other stocky, both gaunt, tough-looking, bearded men wearing grimy, rough clothes and battered caps. Yoshi studied them curiously, distastefully, seeing them more as creatures than men. Both were uneasy. They stopped near the steps, gaping at him.
At once the Captain said, "Bow!" and when they did nothing, just stared at him without understanding, he snarled at two samurai, "Teach them manners."
In seconds they were on their knees, faces in the dirt, cursing their stupidity at accepting such a perilous job: "Wot the fuck, Charlie," the stocky man, a Cornish miner, had said in
Drunk Town a few days ago after their meeting
Norbert Greyforth, "wot we's got to lose?
Nuffink! We's starving and we's broke, we's no work, we's can put nuffink more on the slate, man--even with my cobber Bonzer for Gawd's sake--there ain't a bar in Yokopoko that'll give us a beer, a bed or a bite of bread let alone some crumpet. Not a ship'll give us a berth. We's stuck and soon the Aussie
Peelers'll land here, or yors from 'Frisco, then we's both be in chains, me hanging for bushwhacking a few poxy, claim-jumping miners and you for rustling and shooting some bloody bankers."
"You trust that bastard Greyforth?"'
"Where's yor honner, me old cock sparrer! We give him our markers, right? He done like he promise, a proper toff, right? He give we's twenty-two quid to pay wot we's owe to stay out of the brig, another twenty in the bank for when we's back, all shovels, powder and goods we's need and a sworn contract in front of the preacher that we's to gets two parts of every five we ships to Yoko, right? All like he promise, right? He's a toff but all toffs is slimy."
The two men had guffawed, the other saying,
"You're goddam right."
"Now we's the prospectors, right? It's we's who finds the pay dirt, right? In Jappo land, where's we's alone, right? We's kin hide a poke or two, eh? And sneak it out, right?
All the grub, booze and dinkie-die for a year, our own bleeding Yoshiwara for not a penny piece, an' a first shot at Jappo gold? Me I'm in if you isn't...."
"Let them sit up, do not hurt them.
Misamoto!"
Misamoto was on his knees at once. The moment the two men saw him, some of their concern left them.
"These are the men you met at the dock yesterday?"
"Yes sire."
"They know you as Watanabe?"
"Yes, Lord."
"Good. They know nothing about your past?"
"No Lord, I did it all as you ordered, everything an--"
"You said sailors in Nagasaki taught you
English?"
"Yes Lord."
"Good. Now, first tell they will be well treated and not to be afraid. What are their names?"
"Listen you two, this's the Boss, this's
Lord Ota," Misamoto said as he had been told to name Yoshi, his coarse slang American easily understood by them. "I tol' you bastards to bow and scrape or you'd hav' it done for you.
He says you're to be well treated and wants to know yor names."
"I'm Johnny Cornishman and he's
Charlie Yank an' so far we's nothing to eat or drink for Christ's sweet sake!"
As best he could, Misamoto translated the names.
"You will tell them nothing about me or what you have done since I took you out of prison--remember
I have ears everywhere and I will know."
"I will not fail, Lord." Misamoto bowed deeply, hiding his hatred, desperate to please and frightened for his future.
"Yes." For a moment Yoshi considered him. In the two-odd months since he had taken
Misamoto into his service the man had changed radically, outside. Now he was cleanshaven, his pate also shaved and his hair groomed in samurai fashion. Enforced cleanliness had improved his appearance greatly, and even though he was deliberately kept in the vestments of the lowest class of samurai, he looked samurai and wore the two swords now as though they belonged.
The swords were still false, just hilts with no blades within the scabbards.
Thus far Yoshi was pleased with his performance and when he had seen him robed and hatted as an
Elder, he had been astonished, not recognizing him. A good lesson to remember, he had thought at the time: how easy it is to appear to be what you are not!
"It would be better for you not to fail," he said then turned his attention to Misamoto's two guards. "You two are responsible for the safety of these two men. The Lady Hosaki will supply further guards and guides but you two are responsible for the success of the venture."
"Yes Lord."
"As to this fake Watanabe," he said, his voice soft but no man mistook the finality therein, "he is to be treated as samurai though of the lowest rank, but if he disobeys correct orders, or tries to escape, you will tie his hands and feet and drag him to wherever I am. You are both responsible."
"Yes, Lord."
"I won't fail you, Lord," Misamoto muttered, grey-faced, some of his terror passing on to the two miners.
"Tell these men they are quite safe. And also that you will be their helper and teacher, there is no need for any of you to be frightened if you obey. Tell them
I hope for a quick success to their search."
"The Boss says there's no need to be scared."
"Then why's yous pissing in yor pants?"
"Piss off yorself. I'm... I'm to be in charge so mind yor goddam manners."
"Best watch yors or when we's alone we's feeding you's yor balls. Where's the piss-arsed grub and where's the booze an' where's the doxies we's promised?"
"You be getting it soon enough, and best be polite around these... guys," Misamoto said cautiously. "They's like a cat with a bee up its ass. And the Boss says best find the gold right smartly too."
"If there's gold we's kin find it,
Wotinabey, old cock. If it ain't there it ain't there, right Charlie?"
"Excuse me, Lord, they thank you for your kindness," Misamoto said, not quite so frightened. He had suddenly realized that if he was to accompany them he would be the first to know about a strike. "They promise to try to find treasure as quick as possible. They respectfully ask if they could have some food and drink and when can they begin."
"Impress it on them it pays to be patient, pays to be polite and to be diligent. Teach them correct manners, how to bow and so on.
You are responsible."
As Misamoto obeyed Yoshi motioned to his aide who brought out the two short overmantles that
Hosaki had had especially made, like waistcoats with ties on them. On the front and back were panels of inked characters on pale silk that read: This gai-jin is a personal retainer and prospector, under my protection, who is allowed, provided he has official guides with correct papers, to prospect anywhere within my domain. All are ordered to assist in this work.
Each panel bore his seal. "Tell them they are to wear it always and it will give them safe passage
--explain what the writing says."
Again Misamoto obeyed without thought and showed the two men how to wear them. Cautiously now, they pretended a patience and humility alien to their nature and upbringing. "Charlie," the
Cornishman whispered, adjusting the tie strings, hardly moving his lips to speak like most ex-cons
--he had had four years
hard labor in the
Australian outback for claim jumping: "In for a penny, in for a fuckin' quid."
The American grinned suddenly, more at ease.
"I hope there's more than a quid's worth, old buddy..."
Yoshi watched them. When he was satisfied he motioned to Misamoto. "Take them with you and wait in the courtyard."
Once they had gone, after bowing correctly without assistance this time, he sent everyone out of hearing range, except Inejin. "Sit down, old friend." He motioned to the steps where the old man could sit comfortably--his left hip crushed in a fall from a horse making it impossible for him to kneel. "Good. Now, what news?"
"Everything and nothing, Lord." For three centuries Inejin and his forefathers had served this branch of the Toranagas. As a hatomoto he had no fear of speaking the truth but the obligation to do so: "The land has been worked diligently and manured properly, crops grow, but farmers say this year there will be famine even here in the
Kwanto."
"How bad will the famine be?"
"This year we will need rice from elsewhere to be safe, and elsewhere will be far worse."
Yoshi remembered what Hosaki had already told him, and was very glad with her foresight and prudence. And also glad to have a vassal like Inejin--rare to find a man who could be trusted implicitly, even rarer to find one who would speak truthfully, the truth based on real knowledge and not for reasons of personal aggrandizement. "Next?"
"All loyal samurai are seething with impatience at the impasse between Bakufu and the rebellious Outside Lords of Satsuma,
Choshu and Tosa, their samurai equally discontented, mostly because of the usual problem: rates of pay fixed a century ago are causing ever greater hardship, it being ever more difficult to pay the interest on ever-increasing debts, and to buy rice and food at ever-increasing prices."
Inejin was deeply aware of the problem as the majority of his widespread family, still samurai class, were suffering badly. "Daily the shishi gather adherents, if not openly, certainly undercover. Peasants are correctly docile, merchants not so, but all, except most merchants in Yokohama and Nagasaki, would like the gai-jin expelled."
"And sonno-joi?"
After a pause the old man said, "Like many things on earth, Lord, that battle cry is part right, part wrong. All Japanese detest gai-jin-- worse than Chinese, worse than Koreans-- all want them gone, all revere the Son of
Heaven and believe His wish to expel them correct policy. Of your twenty men here tonight,
I believe twenty would support that part of sonno-joi. As you yourself do, providing it is the
Sh@ogunate who wield the temporal power to effect His wishes, according to procedures laid down by Sh@ogun Toranaga."
"Quite correct," Yoshi agreed, but in his innermost heart he knew that if he had had the power he would never have allowed the first Treaty, so never a need for the Emperor to interfere in
Sh@ogunate matters, and would never have allowed mean-minded men surrounding the Son of Heaven to misguide Him.
Even so, contrary to sonno-joi, if he had power, now he would invite some of the gai-jin in while he had time. But only on his terms. And only for the trade he desired. It is only with fleets and guns like theirs, he thought, that we can deny them our land, expel them from our seas, and at last fulfill our historic destiny to place the
Emperor on the Dragon Throne of China. And then, with their millions and our bushido, the whole gai-jin world will obey. "Go on,
Inejin."
"There's not much more that you do not already know, Lord.
Many fear the boy Sh@ogun will never be a man, many are disturbed by the less than wise Council, many are shocked that your prudent advice against his journey to Ky@oto as a supplicant was overridden, many regret that you do not control the roju to force necessary changes: the Bakufu made corruptless, clever--and to stop the rot."
"The Sh@ogun is the Sh@ogun," Yoshi said curtly, "and all must support him and his
Council. He is our liege Lord and must be supported as such."
"I completely agree, Sire, I merely report samurai opinion as best I can. Few want the Bakufu and Sh@ogunate cast out.
Only a handful of numbskulls believe the
Emperor could rule Nippon without the
Sh@ogunate. Even amongst shishi few really believe the Sh@ogunate should be ended."
"So?"
"The solution is obvious: somehow a strong hand must take control and rule as Sh@ogun
Toranaga ruled." Inejin eased his leg more comfortably. "Please excuse me for being long winded. May I say how honored I am by your visit."
"Thank you, Inejin," Yoshi said thoughtfully.
"No news of any daimyos collecting forces against us?"
"Not mobilizing, Lord, not in this area, though I hear Sanjiro has all Satsuma on a war footing."
"And Choshu?"
"Not yet, but Ogama has again reinforced his garrison troops holding the Gates, and increased the number of shore batteries on the
Shimonoseki."
"Ah! His Dutch armorers?"
Inejin nodded. "Spies tell me they train his gunners, and make four cannon a month in the new Choshu arsenal. These are rushed to redoubts.
Soon the Straits will be impregnable."
That's good and bad, Yoshi thought--good to have that option, bad that it is in enemy hands. "Ogama plans to step up attacks on shipping?"
"I am told for the moment no. But he has ordered his batteries to destroy all gai-jin shipping and close the Straits permanently when he send them a code word."
Inejin bent forward and said softly, ""Crimson
Sky.""
Yoshi gasped. "The same that Sh@ogun
Toranaga used?"
"That's what was whispered."
Yoshi's mind was in a whirl. Does that mean, like my forebearer, Ogama is going to launch an equally sudden and all embracing surprise attack--supreme power again being the prize? "Can you get proof?"
"In time. But that is the present code word.
As to Ogama's real plan," Inejin shrugged.
"He has the Gates now. If he could persuade Sanjiro to pledge allegiance to him
..."
The silence grew. "You've done very well."
"Another interesting fact, Sire. Lord
Anjo has a disease of the stomach." Inejin's eyes lit up even more seeing Yoshi's immediate interest. "A friend of a friend who I trust tells me he has secretly consulted a Chinese doctor. The disease is the decaying disease and cannot be cured."
Yoshi grunted, part from pleasure, part from an ice pick of anxiety that he might contract the same--who knows how or from where--or have it already in his innards waiting to fell him. "How long will he live?"
"Months, perhaps a year, not more. But you should be doubly on guard, Sire, because my informant says that while the body rots with no outward blemishes, the mind does not, just twists into dangerously implacable routes."
Like the stupid decision to permit the Princess to dominate, Yoshi thought, his head buzzing with what he had been told. "Next?"
"Next, Sire, about the shishi who attacked and assassinated Lord Utani and his paramour.
They were led by the same Choshu shishi who attacked
Lord Anjo--Hiraga."
"The one whose likeness was sent to all barriers?"
"Yes Sire, Rezan Hiraga, at least that's what the captured shishi said the man's name was before dying. It is probably false. Another of his aliases is Otani."
"You have caught him?" Yoshi said hopefully.
"No, Sire, not yet, and unfortunately we have lost all trace of him so he must be elsewhere.
Possibly Ky@oto." Inejin dropped his voice even more. "Rumor has it there is going to be another shishi attack in
Ky@oto. Many are believed to be collecting there. Many of them."
"What sort of attack? An assassination?"
"No one knows, yet. Possibly another coup attempt. The shishi leader with a code n
ame,
"the Raven," is said to have issued the summons.
I am trying to find out who he is."
"Good. One way or another shishi must be wiped out." Yoshi thought a moment. "Could their venom be directed against Ogama, or
