1636: Seas of Fortune (60 page)

“I will go to Japan,” she announced. “If I may choose my companion, that is.”

* * *

The lord commissioners were seated on a dais, with their herald on a mat nearby.

Date Masamune was on a second, smaller dais, facing them, with his son and Shigetsuna flanking him. His daughters, Iroha and Chiyo, were nearby, hidden beyond a screen. Other high-ranking samurai of the New Nippon colony sat in ranks behind Date Masamune, and servants stood just outside the audience room, ready to enter if summoned.

“At least I am not on the white sand,” Masamune whispered to Shigetsuna. This was a reference to the place where prisoners and witnesses knelt before a magistrate.

The commissioners’ herald rose. “Date Masamune, Echizen no Kami, Mutsu no Kami.” Those were Masamune’s formal titles, normally used only when he was presented at court.

“Grand Governor of New Nippon.”

“On behalf of the mighty shogun of Japan, Iemitsu-sama of the Tokugawa, the lord commissioners Matsudaira-sama, Sakai-sama and Hotta-sama, as faithful servants of the shogun, have reviewed your governance of New Nippon.

“Hark now to their words.” The herald bowed to the grand governor, and knelt gracefully in the formal
seiza
position, his buttocks resting on his heels.

Lord Matsudaira’s gaze swept the room. “According to the records provided to us, some six thousand Nihonjin, of whom five thousand were
kirishitan
, left Japan with the First or Second Fleet. Of these, perhaps nine in ten survived the journey. Of those, about eight in ten are still alive.

“Before leaving Nippon, we consulted with the Red Hairs as to what losses might reasonably be expected in establishing an overseas colony. Based on what we were told, you have done well in minimizing loss of life.”

Lord Matsudaira took a sip of tea from the cup placed beside him. “Questioning has revealed that there have been some religious disturbances, resulting in the internal exile of certain intransigent Christians. We expect you to remind the
kirishitan
that their religion was banned in the homeland because of such intransigence and that intolerance will not, ah, be tolerated. The treatment accorded to the
kirishitan
awaiting transport, and the continued support of this colony, depend on obedience to the Edict of Exile!

“We are pleased to note that besides extensive fishing, you have been able to plant and harvest several crops since the formation of the colony, thus reducing the amount of supplies that the colonists of the Third Fleet have had to bring with them.

“However, the failure to raise rice remains a concern.”

Masamune coughed.

“You have a comment, Governor?”

Masamune nodded. “Last year we explored the delta of the Sacramanto and San Joaquin Rivers. The ground appears suitable for rice cultivation, and according to the Indians there, the Karkin, the summers are warmer than here. My intent is to send some of the
kirishitan
of the Third Fleet there as soon as they fully recover from the rigors of the sea passage.”

“I will pray to Inari for your success,” said Lord Sakai.

“But will Inari care what happens to a pack of
kirishitan
?” Lord Hotta muttered. “In my—”

“I commend you,” said Lord Matsudaira. “This delta is far away, is it not?”

“It is some days’ journey by land. Once we have more horses—which of course we can breed, so we don’t have to keep bringing them across the sea much longer—the journey will be easier.”

Lord Matsudaira spread his hands. “I confess that until I sailed down the coast, I had no real conception of just how large this America is. Now I do.

“Masamune-san, while we may disagree with some of your decisions, we do not doubt your loyalty to the shogun, or that the colony of New Nippon has prospered under your leadership.

“But we do question whether so large a realm, with so few Nihonjin amidst many savages, can truly be governed by a single man. You are confirmed as grand governor of the province of New Nippon, but we must insist that the province itself be divided into two or more domains. We decree that the Monterey Bay area shall be one
han
, and we appoint your son, Date Munesane, as its daimyo. Since he is now a Christian we think this is logical.

“We leave it to your discretion to appoint a second daimyo, for the
han
of San Francisco Bay. This, I assume, will include the Indian’s cinnabar mine, your fishing village on the South Bay, the new Dutch settlement at San Francisco, the new copper mine near ‘Oakland,’ and the rice paddies you plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. And the gold fields of the American River, once they are definitively located.”

Date Masamune heard a faint sound from behind the screen.

“The third han would be ‘Thousand Islands’ and would include Vancouver Island, Texada Island, and any other nearby island or coastline worth taking. Please remember our understanding that Texada Island is to be occupied by Buddhists. We will make the arrangements for suitable colonists to be sent out with the Fourth Fleet.”

“And you better start sending us iron,” added Lord Hotta.

Lord Matsudaira held up his hand. “Our information is that the Indians of the region are of a warlike nature. We think that a military commander of your experience belongs there, not here in California. Unless, of course, there is an imminent threat from the Spanish in New Spain.”

“We expect you to develop a proposal for the administration of settlements between San Francisco and Vancouver,” Lord Sakai added. “But for the moment there aren’t enough Nihonjin there to matter.”

Lord Matsudaira stood, followed an instant later by his colleagues. “Congratulations, and good luck, Grand Governor.”

“I envy you, Masamune-dono,” Lord Sakai added. “I know you would prefer not to spend the remainder of your life in idleness, and die in bed.”

“May the buddhas and kamis watch over you,” said Lord Hotta.

The lord commissioners walked out and returned to their suite.

“The world is dark, yet can I see to walk, the silver moon illuminating my path,” Date Masamune murmured.

Stretching Out
Cast of Characters

Story Abbreviations

AMAZ
: Amazon Adventure

2STARTS
: Second Starts

MARMISS
: Maria’s Mission

BEYOND
: Beyond the Line

TIGER
: Riding the Tiger

KING
: King of the Jungle

SUNMOON
: Tears of the Sun, Milk of the Moon

Abbreviations

OTL: Original time line

NTL: New time line

HDT: Historical down-timer

A few characters are omitted. A complete cast of characters, with additional details for some characters, will be available online (see Afterword).

Adrienszoon, Dirck
: Captain of the
Eikhoorn
, later commandant of Fort Lincoln, guarding approaches to Gustavus (Paramaribo). (
TIGER
,
SUNMOON
)

Afia
: Young Ashanti woman. (
SUNMOON
)

Aka
: Ndongo warrior. (
KING
)

Ama
: Ashanti woman, Chief Antoa’s wife. (
SUNMOON
)

Antoa
: Coromantee (Ashanti), leader of the Ashanti rescued by the Gustavans. (
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Aossey, Leila “Lolly”
: Middle school science teacher, girl scout leader, gardener. Friend and landlady of Maria Vorst. (
2STARTS
, mentioned in
MARMISS
,
TIGER
,
SUNMOON
)

Bartley, David
: Precocious financier. (
2STARTS
)

Baum, Lorenz
: Master carpenter, Gustavus colony, in early 1636. Not to be confused with the sawyer, Denys Zager. (
SUNMOON
)

Borguri
: Imbangala leader. (
KING
)

Bender, Heinrich
: Gustavus colonist from Heidelberg, blacksmith, later bauxite miner and member of colonial militia. (
MARMISS
,
TIGER
,
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Berry, Edna
: One of the “Plant Ladies.” (
2STARTS
, mentioned in
MARMISS
)

Blauveldt [Blauvelt, Bluefields], Abraham
(HDT, d 1663?): Privateer and explorer, associated with Old Providence Island colony and exploration of coastal Honduras and Nicaragua. (
BEYOND
)

Claus, Carsten
: Organizer for Committees of Correspondence, assigned to the USE’s Suriname colony founded in early 1634 at Paramaribo. Later, the acting governor. (
MARMISS
,
TIGER
,
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Coqui
(“Frog”): Manao Indian, Kasiri’s brother. (
AMAZ
,
TIGER
,
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Cornelis
: Lower steersman (second mate) of the Walvis. (
BEYOND
)

da Costa, Henrique Pereira
: Portuguese criollo (born in Brazil but of European descent), orphan, Marrano (secret Jew), da Costa family factor in Belém do Pará, Estado do Maranhão (northern Brazil) and one of its first residents (which implies that he came there in 1616 or soon thereafter), backwoodsman, started first Hevea rubber tapping operation of NTL. (
AMAZ
,
TIGER
,
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Dreeson, Elva
: Middle school art teacher. (
2STARTS
)

Faye
: Leader of the Mandinka rescued by the Gustavans. (
KING
)

Gentileschi, Prudentia [Prudenzia]
(HDT): Daughter of Artemisia Gentileschi and Pierantonio Stiattesi, friend of Maria Vorst, sent to Grantville in August 1632, became part-time assistant in middle school and high-school art classes in Grantville. (
2STARTS
,
MARMISS
)

Gribbleflotz, Dr. Phillip Theophrastus
: Alchemist and astrologer; searches for the “perfect aluminum pyramid . . .” (
2STARTS
)

van der Goes, Jan Adriaanszoon
(HDT): Commander of Fort Kykoveral on the Essequibo. (
AMAZ
,
TIGER
)

Heesters, Kaspar
: DeVries’s “facilitator” in Grantville. (
2STARTS
)

Jenkins, Phil
: Son of Walt Jenkins, in canoe competition. Has interest in “forestry and forest management,” which leads to him working with Maria Vorst. (
2STARTS
,
MARMISS
,
BEYOND
)

Kasiri
(“Moon”): Manao Indian. (
AMAZ
,
TIGER
,
SUNMOON
)

Kojo
: Ashanti tribesman. (
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Krueger, Michael
: Gustavus colonist. (
TIGER
,
KING
)

Lawler, Irma
: One of the “Plant Ladies.” (
2STARTS
, mentioned in
MARMISS
)

de Liefde, Heyndrick
(HDT): David de Vries’ cousin. (
2STARTS
,
MARMISS
,
TIGER
,
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Lowe, Hugh
: In 1633, the former president of the Grantville Chamber of Commerce, and MC for the Grantville Investment Roundtable. (
2STARTS
)

Lucala
: Leader of the Ndongo rescued by the Gustavans. (
KING
)

Marshall, Captain _____
(HDT): Leader of the 1630 English Puritan settlement at Marshall’s Creek, Suriname. (
MARMISS
,
TIGER
; mentioned in
BEYOND
)

Maurício
: Henrique’s servant, African descent, son of one of Sergio da Costa’s housemaids, born into slavery, trained as an interpreter, manumitted by Henrique. (
AMAZ
,
TIGER
,
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Mueller, Johann
: Journeyman glassmaker from Lauschasent to Gustavus (Paramaribo, Suriname) colony. (
MARMISS
,
TIGER
,
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Neilsen, Captain _____
: Captain, Danish airship
Sandterne
. (
SUNMOON
)

Parente, Bento Maciel (the Younger)
(HDT): Slaver-explorer, son of the Capitan General of Pará. (
AMAZ
,
SUNMOON
)

van Rijn, Dirck
: Gustavus colonist. (
SUNMOON
)

Rishworth, Samuel
(HDT): Minister to Old Providence Island colony, early European opponent of African slavery. To learn more about him, see Kupperman,
Providence Island, 1630–1641: The Other Puritan Colony
(1995). (
BEYOND
)

Schellinger, Jan Tiepkesz(oon)
: Captain of the yacht
Eikhoorn
in NTL December 1632. In OTL, commanded the
Rensselaerwyck
on its voyage from Amsterdam to New Netherland, September 25, 1636–April 7, 1637. (
2STARTS
)

Schooneman, Jakob
: Captain of
Koninck David
. (
BEYOND
)

Scott, Francis
: Captain Marshall’s second in command. (
MARMISS
)

Smoot, Jan
: Gustavus colonist. Some kind of shopowner. (
SUNMOON
)

Soares, Captain Diogo
: Captain of the garrison of Belém do Pará. (
AMAZ
)

von Sommersburg, Count August
: Count (Graf) of Sommersburg county, an imaginary geographical entity, essentially Soemmerda and other territory north of Erfurt. USE Secretary of Transportation in 1633. (
2STARTS
)

de Sousa [Souza], Francisco
: President of the Municipal Chamber of Belém. (
AMAZ
)

Stein, Erasmus
: Bauxite miner in Gustavus, 1636. (
SUNMOON
)

Stull, Joseph
: In 1633, managing transportation matters for NUS. (
2STARTS
)

Temakwei
: Lenape Indian. (
2STARTS
)

Tetube
: Woman from an Arawak-speaking tribe in northern Suriname. (
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

Vijch, Marinus
: Captain of yacht
Hoop
. (
BEYOND
)

Vorst, Adolph [Vorstius, Adolphus]
(HDT, OTL 1597–1663): Maria’s brother, son of Aelius Vorstius. (
2STARTS
)

Vorst, Maria
: In 1632 she arrived in Grantville, a widow (husband lost at sea somewhere in Asia) and amateur artist with a botanical bent. (
2STARTS
,
MARMISS
,
TIGER
,
KING
,
SUNMOON
)

de Vries, Captain David Pieterszoon
(HDT, c1593–OTL 1662): Sea captain, explorer, founder of the “Gustavus” (Paramaribo) colony in Suriname. (
2STARTS
,
MARMISS
,
BEYOND
,
KING
,
SUNMOON
; mentioned in
TIGER
)

Yost, Andrew
: Manager of Grantville Freedom Arches, leader of local Committee of Correspondence. (
2STARTS
)

Zager, Denys
: Master sawyer for Gustavus colony. (
MARMISS
,
TIGER
,
KING
)