Shogun (The Asian Saga Chronology) (91 page)

He saw the trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth.  "Jesus, how bad are you—"

"I told you not to interfere.  Please go away," she said in the same calm voice that belied the violence in her eyes.  Then she saw Fujiko, who had stayed at the doorway.  She spoke to her.  Fujiko obediently took Blackthorne's arm to lead him away but he tore out of her grasp.  "Don't! 
Iyé!
"

Mariko said, "Your presence here takes away my face and gives me no peace or comfort and shames me.  Go away!"

"I want to help.  Don't you understand?"

"Don't you understand?  You have no rights in this.  This is a private quarrel between husband and wife."

"That's no excuse for hitting—"

"Why don't you listen, Anjin-san?  He can beat me to death if he wishes.  He has the right and I wish he would— even that!  Then I wouldn't have to endure the shame.  You think it's easy to live with my shame?  Didn't you hear what I told you? 
I'm Akechi Jinsai's daughter!
"

"That's not your fault.  You did nothing!"

"It is my fault and I am my father's daughter."  Mariko would have stopped there.  But, looking up and seeing his compassion, his concern, and his love, and knowing how he so honored truth, she allowed some of her veils to fall.

"Tonight was my fault, Anjin-san," she said.  "If I would weep as he wants, beg forgiveness as he wants, cringe and be petrified and fawn as he wants, open my legs in pretended terror as he desires, do all these womanly things that my duty demands, then he'd be like a child in my hand.  But I will not."

"Why?"

"Because that's my revenge.  To repay him for leaving me alive after the treachery.  To repay him for sending me away for eight years and leaving me alive all that time.  And to repay him for ordering me back into life and leaving me alive."  She sat back painfully and arranged her tattered kimono closer around her.  "I'll never give myself to him again.  Once I did, freely, even though I detested him from the first moment I saw him."

"Then why did you marry him?  You've said women here have rights of refusal, that they don't have to marry against their wishes."

"I married him to please Lord Goroda, and to please my father.  I was so young I didn't know about Goroda then, but if you want the truth, Goroda was the cruelest, most loathsome man that was ever born.  He drove my father to treachery.  That's the real truth!  Goroda!"  She spat the name.  "But for him we'd all be alive and honored.  I pray God that Goroda's committed to hell for all eternity."  She moved carefully, trying to ease the agony in her side.  "There's only hatred between my husband and me, that's our
karma.
  It would be so easy for him to allow me to climb into the small place of death."

"Why doesn't he let you go?  Divorce you?  Even grant you what you want?"

"Because he's a man."  A ripple of pain went through her and she grimaced.  Blackthorne was on his knees beside her, cradling her.  She pushed him away, fought for control.  Fujiko, at the doorway, watched stoically.

"I'm all right, Anjin-san.  Please leave me alone.  You mustn't.  You must be careful."

"I'm not afraid of him."

Wearily she pushed the hair out of her eyes and stared up searchingly.  Why not let the Anjin-san go to meet his
karma,
Mariko asked herself.  He's not of our world.  Buntaro will kill him so easily.  Only Toranaga's personal protection has shielded him so far.  Yabu, Omi, Naga, Buntaro—any one of them could be provoked so easily into killing him.

He's caused nothing but trouble since he arrived,
neh?
  So has his knowledge.  Naga's right:  the Anjin-san can destroy our world unless he's bottled up.

What if Buntaro knew the truth?  Or Toranaga?  About the pillowing. . . .

"Are you insane?" Fujiko had said that first night.

"No."

"Then why are you going to take the maid's place?"

"Because of the saké and for amusement, Fujiko-chan, and for curiosity," she had lied, hiding the real reason:  because he excited her, she wanted him, she had never had a lover.  If it was not tonight it would never be, and it had to be the Anjin-san and only the Anjin-san.

So she had gone to him and had been transported and then, yesterday, when the galley arrived, Fujiko had said privately, "Would you have gone if you'd known your husband was alive?"

"No.  Of course not," she had lied.

"But now you're going to tell Buntaro-sama,
neh?
  About pillowing with the Anjin-san?"

"Why should I do that?"

"I thought that might be your plan.  If you tell Buntaro-sama at the right time his rage will burst over you and you'll be gratefully dead before he knows what he's done."

"No, Fujiko-san, he'll never kill me.  Unfortunately.  He'll send me to the
eta
if he has excuse enough—if he could get Lord Toranaga's approval—but he'll never kill me."

"Adultery with the Anjin-san—would that be enough?"

"Oh yes."

"What would happen to your son?"

"He would inherit my disgrace, if I am disgraced,
neh?
"

"Please tell me if you ever think Buntaro-sama suspects what happened.  While I'm consort, it's my duty to protect the Anjin-san."

Yes, it is, Fujiko, Mariko had thought then.  And that would give you the excuse to take open vengeance on your father's accuser that you are desperate for.  But your father was a coward, so sorry, poor Fujiko.  Hiro-matsu was there, otherwise your father would be alive now and Buntaro dead, for Buntaro is hated far more than they ever despised your father.  Even the swords you prize so much, they were never given as a battle honor, they were bought from a wounded samurai.  So sorry, but I'll never be the one to tell you, even though that also is the truth.

"I'm not afraid of him," Blackthorne was saying again.

"I know," she said, the pain taking her.  "But please, I beg you, be afraid of him for me."

Blackthorne went for the door.

Buntaro was waiting for him a hundred paces away in the center of the path that led down to the village—squat, immense, and deadly.  The guard stood beside him.  It was an overcast dawn.  Fishing boats were already working the shoals, the sea calm.

Blackthorne saw the bow loose in Buntaro's hands, and the swords, and the guard's swords.  Buntaro was swaying slightly and this gave him hope that the man's aim would be off, which might give him time to get close enough.  There was no cover beside the path.  Beyond caring, he cocked both pistols and bore down on the two men.

To hell with cover, he thought through the haze of his blood lust, knowing at the same time that what he was doing was insane, that he had no chance against the two samurai or the long-range bow, that he had no rights whatsoever to interfere.  And then, while he was still out of pistol range, Buntaro bowed low, and so did the guard.  Blackthorne stopped, sensing a trap.  He looked all around but there was no one near.  As though in a dream, he saw Buntaro sink heavily onto his knees, put his bow aside, his hands flat on the ground, and bow to him as a peasant would bow to his lord.  The guard did likewise.

Blackthorne stared at them, dazed.  When he was sure his eyes were not tricking him, he came forward slowly, pistols ready but not leveled, expecting treachery.  Within easy range he stopped.  Buntaro had not moved.  Custom dictated that he should kneel and return the salutation because they were equals or near equals but he could not understand why there should be such unbelievable deferential ceremony in a situation like this where blood was going to flow.

"Get up, you son of a bitch!"  Blackthorne readied to pull both triggers.

Buntaro said nothing, did nothing, but kept his head bowed, his hands flat.  The back of his kimono was soaked with sweat.

"
Nan ja?
"  Blackthorne deliberately used the most insulting way of asking "What is it?" wanting to bait Buntaro into getting up, into beginning, knowing that he could not shoot him like this, with his head down and almost in the dust.

Then, conscious that it was rude to stand while they were kneeling and that the "
nan ja
" was an almost intolerable and certainly unnecessary insult, Blackthorne knelt and, holding onto the pistols, put both hands on the ground and bowed in return.

He sat back on his heels.  "
Hai?
" he asked with forced politeness.

At once Buntaro began mumbling.  Abjectly.  Apologizing.  For what and exactly why, Blackthorne did not know.  He could only catch a word here and another there and saké many times, but clearly it was an apology and a humble plea for forgiveness.  Buntaro went on and on.  Then he ceased and put his head down into the dust again.

Blackthorne's blinding rage had vanished by now.  "
Shigata ga nai,
" he said huskily, which meant, "it can't be helped," or "there's nothing to be done," or "what could you do?" not knowing yet if the apology was merely ritual, prior to attack.  "
Shigata ga nai.  Hakkiri wakaranu ga shinpai surukotowanai.
"  It can't be helped.  I don't understand exactly—but don't worry.

Buntaro looked up and sat back.  "
Arigato—arigato,
Anjin-sama. 
Domo gomen nasai.
"

"
Shigata ga nai,
" Blackthorne repeated and, now that it was clear the apology was genuine, he thanked God for giving him the miraculous opportunity to call off the duel.  He knew that he had no rights, he had acted like a madman, and that the only way to resolve the crisis with Buntaro was according to rules.  And that meant Toranaga.

But why the apology, he was asking himself frantically.  Think!  You've got to learn to think like them.

Then the solution rushed into his brain.  It must be because I'm hatamoto, and Buntaro, the guest, disturbed the
wa,
the harmony of my house.  By having a violent open quarrel with his wife in
my
house, he insulted
me,
therefore he's totally in the wrong and he has to apologize whether he means it or not.  An apology's obligatory from one samurai to another, from a guest to a host. . . .

Wait!  And don't forget that by their custom, all men are allowed to get drunk, are expected to get drunk sometimes, and when drunk they are not, within reason, responsible for their actions.  Don't forget there's no loss of face if you get stinking drunk.  Remember how unconcerned Mariko and Toranaga were on the ship when I was stupefied.  They were amused and not disgusted, as we'd be.

And aren't you really to blame?  Didn't you start the drinking bout?  Wasn't it your challenge?

"Yes," he said aloud.

"
Nan desu ka,
Anjin-san?"  Buntaro asked, his eyes bloodshot.

"
Nani mo.  Watashi no kashitsu desu.
"  Nothing.  It was my fault.

Buntaro shook his head and said that no, it was only his fault and he bowed and apologized again.

"Saké," Blackthorne said with finality and shrugged.  "
Shigata ga nai.  Saké!
"

Buntaro bowed and thanked him again.  Blackthorne returned it and got up.  Buntaro followed, and the guard.  Both bowed once more.  Again it was returned.

At length Buntaro turned and reeled away.  Blackthorne waited until he was out of arrow range, wondering if the man was as drunk as he appeared to be.  Then he went back to his own house.

Fujiko was on the veranda, once more within her polite, smiling shell.  What are you really thinking, he asked himself as he greeted her, and was welcomed back.

Mariko's door was closed.  Her maid stood beside it.

"Mariko-san?"

"Yes, Anjin-san?"

He waited but the door stayed closed.  "Are you all right?"

"Yes, thank you."  He heard her clear her throat, then the weak voice continued.  "Fujiko has sent word to Yabu-san and to Lord Toranaga that I'm indisposed today and won't be able to interpret."

"You'd better see a doctor."

"Oh, thank you, but Suwo will be very good.  I've sent for him.  I've . . . I've just twisted my side.  Truly I'm all right, there's no need for you to worry."

"Look, I know a little about doctoring.  You're not coughing up blood, are you?"

"Oh, no.  When I slipped I just knocked my cheek.  Really, I'm quite all right."

After a pause, he said, "Buntaro apologized."

"Yes.  Fujiko watched from the gate.  I thank you humbly for accepting his apology.  Thank you.  And Anjin-san, I'm so sorry that you were disturbed . . . it's unforgivable that your harmony . . . please accept my apologies too.  I should never have let my mouth run away with me.  It was very impolite— please forgive me also.  The quarrel was my fault.  Please accept my apology."

"For being beaten?"

"For failing to obey my husband, for failing to help him to sleep contentedly, for failing him, and my host.  Also for what I said."

"You're sure there's nothing I can do?"

"No—no, thank you, Anjin-san.  It's just for today."

But Blackthorne did not see her for eight days.

CHAPTER 36

"I invited you to hunt, Naga-san, not to repeat views I've already heard," Toranaga said.

"I beg you, Father, for the last time:  stop the training, outlaw guns, destroy the barbarian, declare the experiment a failure and have done with this obscenity."

"No.  For the last time."  The hooded falcon on Toranaga's gloved hand shifted uneasily at the unaccustomed menace in her master's voice and she hissed irritably.  They were in the brush, beaters and guards well out of earshot, the day sweltering and dank and overcast.

Naga's chin jutted.  "Very well.  But it's still my duty to remind you that you're in danger here, and to demand again, with due politeness, now for the last time, that you leave Anjiro today."

"No.  Also for the last time."

"Then take my head!"

"I already have your head!"

"Then take it today, now, or let me end my life, since you won't take good advice."

"Learn patience, puppy!"

"How can I be patient when I see you destroying yourself?  It's my duty to point it out to you.  You stay here hunting and wasting time while your enemies are pulling the whole world down on you.  The Regents meet tomorrow.  Four-fifths of all
daimyos
in Japan are either at Osaka already or on the way there.  You're the
only
important one to refuse.  Now you'll be impeached.  Then nothing can save you.  At the very least you should be home at Yedo surrounded by the legions.  Here you're naked.  We can't protect you.  We've barely a thousand men, and hasn't Yabu-san mobilized all Izu?  He's got more than eight thousand men within twenty
ri,
another six closing his borders.  You know spies say he has a fleet waiting northward to sink you if you try to escape by galley!  You're his prisoner again, don't you see that?  One carrier pigeon from Ishido and Yabu can destroy you, whenever he wants.  How do you know he isn't planning treachery with Ishido?"