"So we are related," he had joked, after explaining the coincidence to Seratard. Seratard had laughed and, with the others who chattered like so many monkeys in outlandish uniforms, then had explained that his own family was an ancient one in Furansuland too, but in no way as illustrious.
"My Master," Andreh said with a bow, "my Master, he greatly honored be friend and gai-jin part of your great family, Sire."
"Tell him that I consider his name a good sign," he had said, noting this man seemed much more than just interpreter.
"My Master thanks and says what Ing'erish promise, Furansu promise better."
Misamoto said, obsequiously, "Lord, he means they will make a better deal--money arrangement. The Furansu make cannon as well as Ing'erish though not as many."
"Tell them I will consider a proposal to give them the coal concession. They must tell me how many guns or cannons, with powder and shot, and when I can have them, for how much coal. And I want a steamer, a steamship with officers to train my officers and sailors. In fact," he added innocently, "perhaps I could grant Furansus the sole right to build, sell and train a navy. Of course I would pay. If reasonable."
He saw Misamoto's eyes widen, but before Misamoto had time to begin, the gai-jin Andreh who had been listening equally carefully, "My Master sure King of Furansuland, greatly honor assist Lord Yoshi Toranaga in ships." Fascinated, he watched Andreh turn to Leader Serata and begin talking, the naval officers listening and nodding, quickly becoming as excited. Astonishing how easy to manipulate these men with trade and the future promise of money, he had thought. If the Furansus react so quickly, surely the Ing'erish leader will do so also. Two fish fighting for the same hook is better than one.
They had talked of other matters, not enough time to cover them all, but he learned enough to want to learn more. One detail Andreh Furansu-san had mentioned had rocked him. They had been discussing modern medical knowledge, and how easy it would be to train and equip a hospitaclass="underline" "Chief Medicine Doctor in Kanagawa good, Sire. Hear Tairo Anjo sick. Hear maybe tairo see Chief Doctor-sama."
"When and where is this meeting to take place?"
"My Master say: not sure if arranged yet, Sire. Perhaps Chief Medicine Doctor help tairo."
"If a meeting is arranged, tell me.
Tell Serata also that a hospital is an interesting possibility."
He decided to let it go at that. For the moment.
But that was another piece of information that Misamoto had better forget. How can I get a personal interpreter I can trust? I must have one. Perhaps I should train Misamoto, he is my running dog, dependent and in my grasp. So far he has been obedient. Certainly he handled the prospectors well. Pity he was away, detailing progress to Hosaki, when they fought-- like wild beasts, the samurai reported, how apt! Had Misamoto been at the mine, perhaps he could have stopped them. Not that it matters, one dead is one less to worry about, and surely the survivor is not long for this world. Coal! So we have an abundance of coal, Hosaki says, and that for these gai-jin coal is as good as gold.
Deliberately, he changed tack. "Ask Serata-san why gai-jin fire cannon and rifles and send warships up and down to disturb the peace of this Land of the Gods? Do they prepare for war?"
There was a silence. The mood reversed.
"My Master say, no prepare war." He saw Andreh gai-jin was translating meticulously. "Prepare defend only. So sorry, tairo say all gai-jin must leave."
"Why not leave for a month or two and then return?" He laughed inwardly seeing the consternation this generated.
"My Master says, Treaty signed by Lord Shogun and made true by Bakufu leader Tairo Ii, and Most High Emperor, allow us Yokohama, Kanagawa, Kobe soon. Treaty is good treaty for Nippon, gai-jin. Tairo Anjo, so sorry, wrong to be angry."
"Many daimyos do not think so. Tairo Anjo is the leader. You should do what he orders.
This is our land."
"My Master says Furansu want help Nippon be great nation in world... as here too."
"Say to Serata-sama, the tairo is the leader, what he says is to be obeyed, though sometimes," he said delicately, "even the tairo may change if given the correct advice." He saw this register. "So sorry, we have explained a dozen times that Satsuma matters may only be resolved by Sanjiro, the Satsuma daimyo."
"My Master say hope someone can give correct advice to tairo. Satsuma daimyo must say sorry, pay indemnity agreed in Yedo meeting, punish killer openly."
He had nodded as if gravely concerned.
Abruptly, he got up to more consternation--no point in further talk with these underlings who were valuable in other ways, the Ing'erish Leader must be approached. This suited him perfectly. And while he kept his demeanor haughty and stern, he showed some friendliness and agreed, with pretended reluctance, to another meeting. "Misamoto, tell them we can meet in ten days, in Yedo.
They may come to Yedo for a private meeting."
Just as he was leaving the warship, the gai-jin Andreh said, "My Master wish you Good New Year." Dumbfounded, he learned that the gai-jin world had its own calendar, totally different from the Japanese--and Chinese--lunar calendar that had been the way to count the days and the months and years since the beginning of time.
"The first day of our year, Serata-sama,"
Misamoto explained, "is between 16th day of First Month and 22nd day of Second Month depending on the moon. This year, the Year of the Dog, First Day, which begins our season of festivals is the 18th of First Month. That's when all China says Kung Hay Fat Choy."
All the way back to Yedo in the galley Yoshi had wondered about these men. Mostly he was appalled--gai-jin were like monsters in the shape of men who had come from the stars, their ideas and attitudes the wrong side of yin and yang.
Yet for us to survive as a nation, Nippon has to have bigger ships and guns and more power to protect themselves from this alien evil. And for now, he thought, feeling nauseated, the Shogunate must make an accommodation with them.
They will never go away, not all of them, of their own accord. If not these, others will come to steal our heritage, Chinese or Mongols or Hairies from the Siber Ice lands who eye us like slavering dogs from ports stolen from China. And always the Ing'erish will be around us. What to do about them?
That was yesterday. Last night and in this dawn he had been deep in thought, hardly eating, hardly sleeping, conscious too of the emptiness of his bed and of his life--the seams of Koiko's compartment leaking--like Anjo's, and Ogama's and the others.
Many times during the journey here from Kyoto he had thought of the clean sword, the cleanliness and peace of death, the minute and the hour and the day chosen with godlike power--to chose your own death time made you a god: from nothing into nothing. No more sorrow grinding you to petals of pain.
So easy.
The first ray of dawn came through the shutters, touching his short sword. It was beside the bed with his long sword, both within perfect reach, his rifle there as well, loaded, the one he had named Nori. The short sword was an heirloom made by the Master Swordsmith Masumara and once possessed by Shogun Toranaga. He saw the old used scabbard and through it, in his mind, the perfection of the blade. His hand stretched out, caressing the leather, then moved up to the hilt to rest on the small toggle secured to it.
His father had instructed their swordsmith to attach it before presenting the sword to him, formally, in front of their inner circle of retainers. Yoshi was fifteen then and had killed his first man, a ronin who had run amok near his family castle, Eagle's Nest.
"This is to remind you of your oath, my son: that you will carry this blade with honor, that you will use only this blade to commit seppuku, that you will only commit seppuku to avoid capture on a battlefield, or if the Shogun orders it and the Council of Elders confirms the order unanimously. All other reasons are insufficient while the Shogunate is in jeopardy."