“It’s not like you to believe rumors or heavenly signs, Kawanabi-san, or to pass on rumors. You know what Lord Toranaga thinks of that.”
“I know. So sorry. But, well . . . no one seems to be normal these days, neh?”
“Perhaps the rumor’s not true—I pray it’s not true.” She shook off her foreboding. “Has the new date for the departure been set?”
“I understood Lord Hiro-matsu to say that it was postponed for seven days. I’m so glad our commander-in-chief returned and so glad he persuaded . . . I wish the whole departure was put off forever. Better fight here than be dishonored there, neh?”
“Yes,” she agreed, knowing there was no point any longer in pretending that this was not foremost in everyone’s mind. “Now that Lord Hiro-matsu’s back, perhaps our Lord will see that surrender’s not the best course.”
“Lady, for your ears alone. Lord Hiro-matsu—” He stopped, looked up, and put a smile on his face. Yabu strode into the room, swords jingling. “Ah, Lord Kasigi Yabu, how nice to see you.” He bowed and Mariko bowed and there were pleasantries and then he said, “Lord Toranaga’s expecting you, Sire. Please go up at once.”
“Good. What does he want to see me about?”
“So sorry, Sire, he didn’t tell me—only that he wished to see you.”
“How is he?”
Kawanabi hesitated. “No change, Sire.”
“His departure—has a new date been fixed?”
“I understand it’ll be in seven days.”
“Perhaps Lord Hiro-matsu’ll put it off even more, neh?”
“That would be up to our Lord, Sire.”
“Of course.” Yabu walked out.
“You were saying about Lord Hiro-matsu?”
“Only for your ears, Lady—as Buntaro-san’s not here,” the secretary whispered. “When old Iron Fist came from seeing Lord Toranaga, he had to rest for the best part of an hour. He was in very great pain, Lady.”
“Oh! It would be terrible if something happened to him now!”
“Yes. Without him there’d be a revolt, neh? This delay solves nothing, does it? It’s only a truce. The real problem—I’m—I’m afraid since Lord Sudara acted as formal second to General Kiyoshio, every time Lord Sudara’s name has been mentioned our Lord gets very angry. . . . It’s only Lord Hiro-matsu who’s persuaded him to delay and that’s the only thing that . . .” Tears started running down the secretary’s cheeks. “What’s happening, Lady? He’s lost control, neh?”
“No,” she said firmly, without conviction. “I’m sure everything will be all right. Thank you for telling me. I’ll try to see Lord Hiro-matsu before I leave.”
“Go with God, Lady.”
She was startled. “I didn’t know you were Christian, Kawanabi-san.”
“I’m not, Lady. But I know it is your custom.”
She walked out into the sun, greatly concerned over Hiro-matsu, at the same time blessing God that her waiting was over and tomorrow she would escape. She went toward the palanquin and escort waiting for her.
“Ah, Lady Toda,” Gyoko said, stepping out of the shadows, intercepting her.
“Ah, good morning, Gyoko-san, how nice to see you. I hope you’re well?” she said pleasantly, a sudden chill rushing through her.
“Not well at all, I’m afraid, so sorry. So very sad. It seems we’re not in our Lord’s favor, Kiku-san and I. Ever since we got here we’ve been confined to a filthy third-class hotel I wouldn’t put an eighth-class male courtesan in.”
“Oh, so sorry. I’m sure there must be some mistake.”
“Ah yes, a mistake. I certainly hope so, Lady. At long last today I’ve been given permission to come to the castle, at long last there’s an answer to my petition to see the Great Lord, at long last I’m permitted to bow before the Great Lord again—later today.” Gyoko smiled at her crookedly. “I heard you were also coming to see the lord-secretary, so I thought I’d wait to greet you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you, Gyoko-san. I would have visited you and Kiku-san, or asked you both to visit me, but unfortunately that hasn’t been possible.”
“Yes—so sad. These are sad times. Difficult for nobles. Difficult for peasants. Poor Kiku-san’s quite sick with worry to be out of our Lord’s favor.”
“I’m sure she’s not, Gyoko-san. He—Lord Toranaga has many pressing problems, neh?”
“True—true. Perhaps we could take some cha now, Lady Toda. I would be honored to be allowed to talk to you for a moment.”
“Ah, so sorry, but I’m ordered to go on official business. Otherwise I would have been honored.”
“Ah yes, you’ve to go to the Anjin-san’s ship now. Ah, I forgot, so sorry. How is the Anjin-san?”
“I believe he is well,” Mariko said, furious that Gyoko knew her private business. “I’ve seen him only once—and then just for a few moments—since we arrived.”
“An interesting man. Yes, very. Sad not to see one’s friends, neh?”
Both women wore smiles, their voices polite and carefree, both conscious of the impatient samurai watching and listening to them.
“I heard the Anjin-san visited his friends—his crew. How did he find them?”
“He never told me, Gyoko-san. As I said, I only saw him for a moment. So sorry, but I must go . . .”
“Sad not to see one’s friends. Perhaps I could tell you about them. For instance, that they live in an eta village.”
“What?”
“Yes. It seems his friends asked permission to live there, preferring it to civilized areas. Curious, neh? Not like the Anjin-san, who’s different. The rumor is they say it’s more like home to them—the eta village. Curious, neh . . .”
Mariko was remembering how strange the Anjin-san had been on the stairs that day. That explains it, she thought. Eta! Madonna, poor man. How ashamed he must have been. “I’m sorry, Gyoko-san, what did you say?”
“Just that it’s curious the Anjin-san’s so different from the others.”
“What’re they like? Have you seen them? The others?”
“No, Lady. I wouldn’t go there. What should I have to do with them? Or with eta? I must think of my clients and my Kiku-san. And my son.”
“Ah yes, your son.”
Gyoko’s face saddened under her parasol but her eyes remained flinty brown like her kimono. “Please excuse me, but I suppose you’ve no idea why we should be out of favor with Lord Toranaga?”
“No. I’m sure you’re mistaken. The contract was settled, neh? According to the agreement?”
“Oh yes, thank you. I’ve a letter of credit on the Mishima rice merchants, payable on demand. Less the amount we agreed. But money was furthest from my mind. What’s money when you’ve lost the favor of your patron—whoever he or she is. Neh?”
“I’m sure you retain his favor.”
“Ah, favors! I was worried about your favor, too, Lady Toda.”
“You always have my goodwill. And friendship, Gyoko-san. Perhaps we could talk another time, I really must go now, so sorry. . . .”
“Ah yes, how kind you are. I’d enjoy that.” Gyoko added in her most honeyed voice as Mariko began to turn away, “But will you have time? You go tomorrow, neh? To Osaka?”
Mariko felt a sudden ice barb in her chest as the trap closed.
“Is there anything wrong, Lady?”
“No . . . no, Gyoko-san. Will . . . during the Hour of the Dog tonight . . . would that be convenient?”