"I'm very confident now, Jamie. Don't worry. You're off to the Yoshiwara?"
"Not immediately though I've got to see Nemi."
Jamie smiled ruefully. "I hung one on last night, going to take her a present. It's not necessary but she's a good sort, and lots of laughs. First I'm seeing Nakama, Phillip asked me to see him for half an hour.
Seems he asked Phillip about business and banking, capital, things like that--Phillip asked me to explain the rudiments."
"That's curious."
"Yes. The bugger's got an enquiring mind all right. Pity he's not so forthcoming with us."
"Barter your knowledge for something we want to know. Tomorrow I think I'll have a chat with Phillip. Ask him to see me, will you?" Malcolm's voice hardened. "We were to share all information, wasn't that our agreement?"
"Yes, yes it was." Jamie finished the brandy. "Thanks. And thanks for the chat." He stood up and said sincerely, "I hope with all my heart it works out for you, Malcolm."
"Yes, I know, Jamie. It will work for you, too. 'night."
In the quiet of his room, Malcolm contentedly stretched out his legs towards the fire, anxious for the morrow and more from Gornt. What could be the price? he mused, watching the coals. He could hear voices inside the building and outside on the praia. Occasional laughter and a few drunken songs. John Marlowe had come by this afternoon bringing a message from the Admiral, could he drop by the flagship tomorrow, or if not convenient, Sir William's.
"I could meet at Sir William's.
What time?"' "Noon?"' "Good. What's it about?"' "Don't know," Marlowe said. "I'll bet it's not to pass the time of day." Ever since Admiral Ketterer had returned from the engagement at Mirs Bay and Hong Kong he had been seething about adverse and critical reports in the papers, and was still furious that British-made cannon had fired on his ships.
"I don't think he took kindly to some of the more rude remarks at the meeting today."
"Tough," Malcolm had said and laughed, still intoxicated with Gornt's information.
Marlowe had laughed too. "For God's sake don't say that on his quarterdeck, the whole ship would blow up! By the way, my trials are approved, Monday or Tuesday, weather permitting. Which would be best for you both?"' "How long would we be out?"' "Leave at dawn, or thereabouts, back latest by sunset."
"Tuesday."
A coal fell out of the fire onto the hearth but safely. He nudged it under the basket with the poker and stirred the embers. The blue-greened orange flames rose a little and died down again, making picture for him. Positive pictures.
About him and about her. He looked at their adjoining door. No sound ever came through it.
Gornt's the key to Tess.
Ironic that he needs me as I need him and we are enemies. I've a feeling we always will be. What's his price? It will be something I can deliver. He's wise enough to do that. Why are you so sure? Revenge is too strong a motive, I know.
In the Inn of the Lily, Phillip Tyrer was being massaged by a muscular Japanese woman with massive arms, her fingers of steel finding the pressure points, and she played them like a keyboard to his groans of pleasure. This house was not as delicate, or as expensive, as the Three Carp but the massage was the best he had ever had and took his mind off Fujiko and Nakama and Andr`e Poncin, and Sir William who had been furious all morning, culminating at noon when the raging venom from the Club almost blew the roofs off Yokohama.
"As if it's my fault Parliament's gone mad," Sir William had shouted at the lunch table, the Admiral equally furious. "Is it, Phillip?"' "Of course not, Sir William," he had said, co-opted to the lunch against his wishes, the General the third guest.
"Parliament's always been arbitrary and stupid! Why the devil don't they let the Foreign Office run the colonies and have done with all the heartache. As for the shower called traders here, enough to make you spit blood."
The Admiral had growled, "Fifty lashes with a cat-o'-nine-tails would make them tow the line, by God! Every man jack of them, especially journalists. Rotters, all of them."
The General had said smugly, still smarting from the dressing-down Sir William had given him over the riot, "What can you do, my dear Sir William, except take it like a man? And Admiral, old chap, you were really asking for it by making public political statements. First rule for Flag Rank or general's stars I always thought was to keep the old head down, be circumspect with public orations and suffer in silence."
Admiral Ketterer's neck went purple.
Sir William managed to interrupt the next broadside with: "Phillip, I'm sure you have an abundance of work to do, for God's sake get the correspondence copied and the complaint to the Bakufu must go off today!"
He had escaped thankfully. Nakama had greeted him affably, "Ah, Taira-sama, I hope you better feeling. Mama-san Raiko ask me ask how hea'rth is, as you not keep appointment with Fujiko who is tears... who was in tears and--"' "My health is fine. Last night I, I had a very pleasant time in the Inn of the Lily," he had said, astounded Andr`e's predictions had been so accurate. "Fujiko? I'm having second thoughts about her contract, yes, by God, second thoughts!" He had been delighted to see Nakama blink and was even more pleased that he could use his fright over Sir William's spleen during the morning and at lunch to act out Andr`e's plan.
"But Taira-sama, I th--"' "And we're not speaking English anymore today and no more questions about business. You can talk to Noble House McFay-sama and that's the end of that..."
He groaned aloud as the masseuse probed deeply. Her fingers stopped at once.
"Iy`e, dozo..." No, please don't stop, he said in Japanese and the woman laughed, and replied, "Don't worry, Lord, by the time I have dealt with this pallid, out-of-strength fishlike body of yours, you'll be ready for three of the best Lilies in the House."
He thanked her dully, not understanding but not caring.
After three hours with Nakama in Japanese, and fielding more of the man's remarks about Raiko and her Inn--just as Andr`e had forecast--his head was spinning.
In time the woman began the soothing touches with knowing hands, fragrant with oil and she finished, wrapped him in a warm towel and left. He drifted off but woke as the shoji slid open and a girl came in and knelt beside him. She smiled and he smiled back and told her he was tired and please would she just sit there until he woke up, again following Andr`e's instructions.
The girl nodded and smiled and was quite content. She would get her fee anyway.
Andr`e's a genius, he thought, equally contented, and went happily into sleep.
Tonight was the second time that Andr`e went to visit Hinodeh. It was exactly ten days and twenty-two hours and seven minutes ago that he had beheld her in all her glory, the night imprinted on him forever.
"Good evening, Furansu-san," she had said shyly, her Japanese melodious. Their anteroom was off their small veranda and their house set in the gardens of the Three Carp, fragrant as she was fragrant. Her kimono's golds and browns of winter moved gracefully as she bowed and motioned to the cushion opposite. Behind her the shoji to their bedroom was ajar, just enough to see the edges of the futons and coverings that would be their first bed.
"The sak`e is as I was told you would like it.
Cool. Do you always drink sak`e cool?"' "Yes, yes I, I like taste more good."
He found himself stuttering, his Japanese harsh-sounding, his hands seemed to be in the way, and his palms were sweating.
She smiled. "Strange to drink cold drinks in winter. Is your heart cold in winter and summer?"' "Eeee, Hinodeh," he said, the pulse pounding in his ears and throat. "I think my heart like stone for so long now, think about you, not know if hot or cold or what. You beautiful."
"It is only for your pleasure."
"Raiko-san told you about me, yes?"' Her eyes were slanting and calm in the white of her face, brows plucked with half-moons painted in their place, high forehead, widow's peak, raven hair piled high and pinned with tortoiseshell combs that he longed to loosen.