"What's more important," Yabu asked him, "the destruction of a few streets, or the death of our Master?"
"The fire'd spread, Yabu-san. We can't burn Osaka. There are a million people here - more."
"Is that your answer to my question?"
Ashen, the samurai turned to Toranaga. "Sire, I'll do anything you ask. Is that what you want me to do?"
Toranaga merely looked at Yabu.
The daimyo jerked his thumb contemptuously at the city. "Two years ago half of it burned down and look at it now. Five years ago was the Great Fire. How many hundred thousand were lost then? What does it matter? They're only shopkeepers, merchants, craftsmen, and eta. It's not as though Osaka's a village filled with peasants."
Toranaga had long since gauged the wind. It was slight and would not fan the blaze. Perhaps. But a blaze could easily become a holocaust that would eat up all the city. Except the castle. Ah, if it would only consume the castle I wouldn't hesitate for a moment.
He turned on his heel and went back to the others. "Mariko-san, take the pilot and our six samurai and go to the galley. Pretend to be almost in panic. Tell the Grays that there's been an ambush - by bandits or ronin, you're not sure which. Tell them where it happened, that you were sent ahead urgently by the captain of our escorting Grays to get the Grays here to help, that the battle's still raging, that you think Kiritsubo's been killed or wounded - to please hurry. If you're convincing, this will draw most of them off."
"I understand perfectly, Sire."
"Then, no matter what the Grays do, go on board with the pilot. If our sailors are there and the ship's safe and secure, come back to the gangway and pretend to faint. That's our signal. Do it exactly at the head of the gangway." Toranaga let his eyes rest on Blackthorne. "Tell him what you're going to do, but not that you're going to faint." He turned away to give orders to the rest of his men and special private instructions to the six samurai.
When Toranaga had finished, Yabu drew him aside. "Why send the barbarian? Wouldn't it be safer to leave him here? Safer for you?"
"Safer for him, Yabu-san, but not for me. He's a useful decoy."
"Firing the street would be even safer."
"Yes." Toranaga thought that it was better to have Yabu on his side than on Ishido's. I'm glad I did not make him jump off the tower yesterday.
"Sire?"
"Yes, Mariko-san?"
"I'm sorry, but the Anjin-san asks what happens if the ship's held by the enemy?"
"Tell him there's no need to go with you if he's not strong enough."
Blackthorne kept his temper when she told him what Toranaga had said. "Tell Lord Toranaga that his plan is no good for you, that you should stay here. If all's well I can signal."
"I can't do that, Anjin-san, that's not what our Master has ordered," Mariko told him firmly. "Any plan he makes is bound to be very wise."
Blackthorne realized there was no point in arguing. God curse their bloody-minded, muleheaded arrogance, he thought. But, by the Lord God, what courage they've got! The men and this woman.
He had watched her, standing at the ambush, in her hands the long killing sword that was almost as tall as herself, ready to fight to the death for Toranaga. He had seen her use the sword once, expertly, and though Buntaro had killed the attacker, she had made it easier by forcing the man to back off. There was still blood on her kimono now and it was torn in places and her face was dirty.
"Where did you learn to use a sword?" he had asked while they rushed for the docks.
"You should know that all samurai ladies are taught very early to use a knife to defend their honor and that of their lords," she had said matter-of-factly, and showed him how the stiletto was kept safe in the obi, ready for instant use. "But some of us, a few, are also taught about sword and spear, Anjin-san. Some fathers feel daughters as well as sons must be prepared to do battle for their lords. Of course, some women are more warlike than others and enjoy going into battle with their husbands or fathers. My mother was one of these. My father and mother decided I should know the sword and the spear."
"If it hadn't been for the captain of the Grays being in the way, the first arrow would have gone right through you," he had said.
"Through you, Anjin-san," she corrected him, very sure. "But you did save my life by pulling me to safety."
Now, looking at her, he knew that he would not like anything to happen to her. "Let me go with the samurai, Mariko-san. You stay here. Please."
"That's not possible, Anjin-san."
"Then I want a knife. Better, give me two."
She passed this request to Toranaga, who agreed. Blackthorne slid one under the sash, inside his kimono. The other he tied, haft downwards, to the inside of his forearm with a strip of silk he tore off the hem of his kimono.
"My Master asks do all Englishmen carry knives secretly in their sleeves like that?"
"No. But most seamen do."
"That's not usual here - or with the Portuguese," she said.
"The best place for a spare knife's in your boot. Then you can do wicked damage, very fast. If need be."
She translated this and Blackthorne noticed the attentive eyes of Toranaga and Yabu, and he sensed that they did not like him armed. Good, he thought. Perhaps I can stay armed.
He wondered again about Toranaga. After the ambush had been beaten off and the Grays killed, Toranaga had, through Mariko, thanked him before all the Browns for his "loyalty." Nothing more, no promises, no agreements, no rewards. But Blackthorne knew that those would come later. The old monk had told him that loyalty was the only thing they rewarded. 'Loyalty and duty, senor,' he had said. 'It is their cult, this bushido. Where we give our lives to God and His Blessed Son Jesus, and Mary the Mother of God, these animals give themselves to their masters and die like dogs. Remember, senor, for thy soul's sake, they're animals.' They're not animals, Blackthorne thought. And much of what you said, Father, is wrong and a fanatic's exaggeration.
He said to Mariko, "We need a signal - if the ship's safe or if it isn't. " Again she translated, innocently this time. "Lord Toranaga says that one of our soldiers will do that."
"I don't consider it brave to send a woman to - do a man's job."
"Please be patient with us, Anjin-san. There's no difference between men and women. Women are equal as samurai. In this plan a woman would be so much better than a man."
Toranaga spoke to her shortly.
"Are you ready, Anjin-san? We're to go now."
"The plan's rotten and dangerous and I'm tired of being a goddamned sacrificial plucked duck, but I'm ready."
She laughed, bowed once to Toranaga, and ran off. Blackthorne and the six samurai raced after her.
She was very fleet and he did not catch up with her as they rounded the corner and headed across the open space. He had never felt so naked. The moment they appeared, the Grays spotted them and surged forward. Soon they were surrounded, Mariko jabbering feverishly with the samurai and the Grays. Then he too added to the babel in a panting mixture of Portuguese, English, and Dutch, motioning them to hurry, and groped for the gangway to lean against it, not needing to pretend that he was badly winded. He tried to see inside the ship but could make out nothing distinctly, only many heads appearing at the gunwale. He could see the shaven pates of many samurai and many seamen. He could not discern the color of the kimonos.
From behind, one of the Grays was talking rapidly to him, and he turned around, telling him that he didn't understand to go there, quickly, back up the street where the God-cursed battle was going on. "Wakarimasu ka? Get your scuttle-tailed arse to hell out of here! Wakarimasu ka? The fight's there!"