by Gai-Jin(Lit)
Yoshi spell trouble whichever way you look at it, whatever the rosy future he promised.
Ahead was Yokohama. More trouble there but never mind, tonight Angelique's my dinner partner--
I'm glad she didn't leave but still don't understand why. Doesn't that play even more into Tess
Struan's hands?
Strange to think of Angelique without
Malcolm Struan. Sorry he had such bad luck but he's gone and we're alive and he isn't. Joss. Who'll be tai-pan now? Young
Duncan's only ten, last of the Struan boys.
Terrible for Tess, more tragedy to bear. Wouldn't be surprised if this didn't finish her. Always admired her for her courage, carrying the load of
Culum and the Brocks, not to mention Dirk
Struan.
Well, I did my best for Tess, and for
Malcolm--alive and dead. And for Angelique.
When she leaves there'll be an emptiness that won't be filled easily. Hope she regains the youth she's lost, that's another sadness but she's got a whole life in front of her--if she has his child or if she doesn't. Betting's still evens.
Commands on the bridge attracted his attention for a moment but it was nothing urgent, just adding more sail. The wind was humming the shrouds. The frigate picked up speed. Their moorings were under an hour away. Sunset a good two hours.
Plenty of time to bring Nakama to heel before dinner.
Sunset was just a lowering of light, the sun dying behind a blanket of clouds, regretting the loss of the day.
Hiraga said to the group of fishermen, "That boat will do--no fishing tackle, but oars and sail are included." He was on the beach near Drunk
Town and he paid the owner what had been asked without bargaining, still unwilling to lose face by negotiating though he knew now--too well hammered into him by Mukfey--that he was being cheated and overcharged and that this man and his compatriots would laugh at him as soon as they were out of sight. He knew he was to blame because he was dressed like a gai-jin and not properly with swords.
Half of him wanted to scream and lash out at their bad manners and have them crawling on the beach, begging for the privilege of giving him the boat. The other half counselled patience: You have done what you must do, the boat is yours, tomorrow you die with honor in the cause of sonno-joi, these lice have no more value than the barnacles on the filthy little vessel they sell.
"Leave everything in the boat," he said.
Unctuously the owner bowed and grovelled his way out of range, then, with his comrades, walked away, blessing their luck for a double profit.
The boat was an ordinary little fishing boat for one to three men with a small sail and single stern oar. Part of samurai training was the use of boats on short distances to traverse rivers or to reach offshore coastal ships or galleys, so they could all handle it. The news that he had bought one would fly around the village but that did not matter. By the time the shoya and others had worked out its probable use, the revelation would be too late.
Satisfied the boat was safe, he began to walk through Drunk Town, through the crowded alleys, stepping over drunks and garbage, disgusted with the filth. Taira says his London is the cleanest, biggest wealthiest city in the world but I do not believe him--not if so many of his kind live like this, with the rest of the Settlement not much better. Taking a shortcut he crossed into a smaller alley. Men passed by, beggars held their hands out, eyes peered suspiciously from doorways but no one bothered him.
No Man's Land was as always, weed-covered and stinking, the main refuse dump of the Settlement.
A few ragged scavengers raked through the latest pile of trash. They glanced at him briefly.
His eyes went to the rickety well head. The broken wooden cover that hid the secret passage to the Yoshiwara seemed untouched.
Ori's face fleetingly came from his memory and the time they were below, when he was ready to kill him and
Ori had thrown, pretended to throw, the golden cross into the depths. Ori was baka to waste his life over that woman. We could use him tomorrow.
He shoved Ori out of his mind.
Now his whole being was committed to the attack.
All reasoning against it had vanished. There was a consensus, Akimoto gleefully in favor,
Takeda, and the Sensei. Therefore he was also. The boat was ready. Now he would collect
Akimoto and they would go back and finalize the plan. In reality he was glad. He would die in a blaze of glory doing the Emperor's wishes.
What more could a samurai desire from life?
With the suddenness of an ice bath he was shocked from euphoria and disappeared into a doorway. Three
Redcoats stood outside the shoya's house, two more were emerging from the nearby hovel he and Akimoto rented. Akimoto was between them, calling out at the top of his voice one of the few
English phrases he had learned: "So sorry, no 'unnerstan Nakama!"
"Not-a-knowledge-a-more-a," the Sergeant said slowly and loudly. "Where is he?" Then louder, "Where
Nakama?"
"Nakama?" Akimoto's voice itself was loud, clearly trying to warn him if he happened to be within hearing. "Nakama no 'unnerstan so sorry," then in Japanese, "Someone's betrayed someone," then in guttural English again,
"Nakama no unner--"
"Shut up!" the Sergeant said angrily,
"Corporal, this fool knows nothing. Butcher, you and Swallow stay here until Mister bloody
Nakama comes back and ask him--ask him nice like to come along wiv you to see Sir Will'm but make sure you bring the bugger. You," he stabbed a rough, iron-hard finger in Akimoto's chest, "you come along wiv me in case the Guv wants you."
Loudly protesting in Japanese he went with them, then in English, "Nakama, no
'unnerstan," over and over.
When Hiraga had recovered, and it was safe he slipped out of the doorway, jumped a fence and hurried back to No Man's Land. There he ducked down into the doorway, not safe yet to run for the well, too much light, the three scavengers too near, too malevolent. Must keep it secret.
Who has betrayed us?
No time to think about that now. He went deeper into the shadows as one of the scavengers moved nearer, muttering and cursing at the smallness of the pickings, a grubby sack in one hand. All three were skeletal and filthy. One came close to the opening but passed without noticing him. In half an hour light would be gone, nothing to do but to wait.
Suddenly the doorway was blocked.
"Thort I didn't see you eh? Wot'cher doin?" the scavenger rasped, heavy with menace.
Slowly Hiraga straightened. His hand was on the small pistol in his pocket. Then he saw the knife appear in the clawlike fist and the man thrust forward viciously. But Hiraga was faster and caught the hand and chopped at the scavenger's throat. He squealed like a gutted pig and went down. At once the other two looked up and hurried to investigate.
They skidded to a stop. Now Hiraga was in the doorway, the gun in one hand, knife in the other and he stood over the man who writhed, choking in the dirt. Knives came out and the two men attacked. Hiraga did not hesitate and lunged at one man who darted away, leaving him the opening he needed. He was through the slot quickly, running for Drunk Town, not wanting to waste time fighting. In moments he had reached a side street but in his haste his hat had fallen off.
He looked back and saw one of the scavengers had grabbed it up with a shout. In seconds the other had a hand on it too and they began a cursing fight for possession.
Chest heaving, Hiraga left them to it.
Another look at the sky. Be patient. When they've gone you can go to the well. You must not reveal it, it's essential for the attack. Be patient.
Buy a hat or a cap. What's gone wrong?
"Well, where the devil has he gone?"
"Can't be far, Sir William," Pallidar said. "I've men at both gates and on the bridge into the Yoshiwara. He's probably in one of the Inns. A matter of time before he appears. You want him in ir
ons?"
"No, just here, unarmed, under guard."
"What about this fellow?"
Akimoto was sitting, his back to the wall, a soldier nearby. He had already been searched.
"I'll decide that when I've talked to him.
Ah, Andr`e, come in. Settry, no need for you to wait. I'm dining with the Russian Minister, when you've got Nakama come and fetch me."
Pallidar saluted and went out. "Andr`e, sorry to bother you but we can't find Nakama. As
Phillip's not here could you interpret for me, ask this fellow where he is?"
He watched while Andr`e began questioning
Akimoto, trying to contain his irritation and wishing
Phillip Tyrer was here and not with Babcott.
Hope that goes well. Damn it, if
Nakama's not caught Yoshi will be irritable indeed, rightly so.
"He says he doesn't know," Andr`e said.
He had not taken off his topcoat. Sir
William's office was always freezing even on the coldest day, his coal fire mean. "He seems dim-witted, mumbles Nakama who, Nakama could be anywhere, the Yoshiwara, perhaps
Kanagawa."
"Eh?" Sir William was shocked. "He's not supposed to leave the Settlement without my express approval. Ask him... ask him when did Nakama leave?"
"He says he doesn't know, doesn't know
Nakama, if he's left or where he is, doesn't know anything."
"Perhaps a night in the brig will refresh his memory. Corporal!" The door opened at once. "Put this man in the brig overnight, or until I give orders to the contrary. He is to be well treated, understand?"
"Yessir."
"He is to be well treated."
"Yessir." The Corporal jerked a thumb at Akimoto who backed out of the room bowing. The brig, used for rowdies, and servicemen subject to military discipline, was down the street, a low brick building with a dozen cells, flogging triangle. After the Club, it had been the second structure built, a normal
British custom for most Settlements.
"Merci, Andr`e."
"De rien."
"Have you any idea where he could be?"
"No, Monsieur, other than what the man said. See you at dinner." Andr`e smiled and left and began walking down the High Street, the wind whipping the leaves and papers and debris. Not much light was left in the sky.
Glad we're not responsible for finding him, he thought. Where would he have gone? If he has any sense to Ky@oto or Nagasaki, or stowed away on yesterday's merchantman to Shanghai if he knows Yoshi wants him. Surely he must have known--no secrets in the Bakufu, or here. Great meeting, good for us too for we have the edge with Yoshi but damn Phillip, he's getting too good. Surely the patient will be
Anjo. He spat irritably. I should have had the chance--after all it was my idea, Raiko and
Meikin must have planted the thought somehow. Mon
Dieu, they've more power than I imagined.
An icy current went through him. Raiko had asked him to see her urgently tonight. What now?
Had to be trouble.
"Evening, sir," the Struan guard on the front door said.
"I've an appointment with Madame
Struan."
"Yes sir. She's expecting you, in the tai-pan's office along the corridor.
Excuse the mess in the hall, sir, but Mr.
McFay's packing. Terrible, he's going, isn't it?"
"Yes, but let's hope th--" The signal gun at the Harbor Master's cut him off.
Astonished, both men glanced seawards for no ship was expected or overdue. Movement on the crowded High Street stopped and then a murmur of excitement went through Yokohama. Rounding the distant headland was a clipper, all sails set and the bit between her teeth. They saw puffs of smoke from her cannonade salute to the flagship, then heard the following boom and the flagship's answer.
Too far distant to see her flag. "She's one of ours," the guard said proudly. "Has to be, like in the old days... oh, evening, sir."
Jamie McFay came out of the door fast and focused his binoculars. "Hello, Andr`e, just want to make sure... Prancing Cloud!
Hallelujah!" The implications would be clear to everyone. She had been scheduled to sail on to London. Returning here, and so quickly, meant she carried urgent news--or passengers. Good or bad.
"Hallelujah," Andr`e echoed. He saw
Seratard with a telescope on the steps of the
French Legation, Sir William at his window with binoculars, and next door, Dmitri stood at Brock's entrance, a short telescope to his eye. As Dmitri lowered it he noticed
Jamie, hesitated, then gave him a thumbs-up. Jamie waved back then refocused. The clipper was beautiful charging for her moorings.
Andr`e said softly, "Perhaps she's aboard?"
"I had the same thought. We'll soon find out."
"Signal her."
"By the time I get the Harbor Master to put up the flags the light will have gone. Anyway it's not up to me now, that's Mr. MacStruan's decision." Jamie looked at him. "We'll know soon enough. You're seeing Angelique?"
"Yes."
"No need to worry her, until we know.
Eh?"
"I agree, mon brave." Andr`e looked back at the clipper. "You'll meet her?"
"The ship?" The same hard smile. "Wouldn't you?"
They went into the foyer together. Coming down the staircase was Albert MacStruan, half dressed in evening clothes, tie undone but elegant. "Prancing Cloud?"
"Yes," Jamie said.
"Thought so." The strange eyes narrowed.
"'evening, Andr`e. How are you?" MacStruan said.
"Fine, thank you. See you later."
Jamie waited until Andr`e had knocked and gone into the tai-pan's office that was now
MacStruan's. "You'll meet her?"
"Oh yes." MacStruan walked down the last step but now the bounce gone from his stride.
"Please join me."
"Thanks, but that's your privilege now.
I've sent Vargas for the Bosun, the launch will be ready in five minutes."
MacStruan said kindly, "Come aboard with me, meet the ship like you used to, should still be doing."
"No, time to move on, it's all yours now.
But thanks."
"I hear Zergeyev's banquet tonight will be grand as Angelique's accepted. Change your mind, join the party."
"Can't, not tonight, I'm still not finished packing."
Jamie smiled at him, then motioned down the corridor. "Angelique cleared using your office with you?"
"Oh yes, glad to oblige, and better than having visitors upstairs in her suite, especially him. Can't say I like him."
"Andr`e's all right, his music is the best, certainly the best we have here. Hope Prancing
Cloud's news is good."
"Me too. But I doubt it. Do you think
Tess is aboard?"
"The thought had occurred to me." Jamie grinned, no longer her servant. "It would explain Cloud's changed schedule. That's what
Dirk would have done."
"She's not Dirk, she's much more cunning-- more's the pity, my dear fellow." There was no love lost between the stepbrothers and Tess
Struan, but a codicil in Dirk's will had laid down that should the two boys prove themselves in schools and scholarship, they were to be used in the Noble House the limit of their ability.
Both were smart, their connections with highly placed
Etonian and university friends scattered throughout the gentry, the City and in Parliament where his stepbrother, Frederick, had just won a seat, made them even more valuable. Even so both knew
Tess Struan would dismiss them, but for the codicil. "Hope she hasn't come a-visiting
--that's a boring thought."
McFay laughed. "We'll just batten down the hatches."
"Hello Andr`e."
"'evening, Angelique."
She was in her favorite chair near the bay window, the curtains open to the harbor.
> "Prancing Cloud?"
"Yes."
"Good. Is she aboard?"