Doctor Who_ The Room With No Doors - Kate Orman [40]
It was late. Gufuu Kocho, daimyo of the three districts, would much rather have been in bed, but his curiosity was keeping him up. Who were these 79
foreigners? Were they even human? And what could they tell him about the kami?
The old daimyo sat down on the wooden stool, flicking out his sleeves. His swordbearer, a young page, was doing his best not to yawn. Gufuu smiled to himself The lad wasn’t quite used to the hours kept by war.
Gufuu gestured to a servant, who brought him his pipe, and to another, who bowed and knelt to open the sliding door.
The foreign doctor stepped into the room. Gufuu was instantly struck by his bearing. He wore a black skirt and coat that accentuated the pallor of his skin and the white kimono beneath. Two swords were thrust through his waist sash – or rather, physicians’ scabbards, probably filled with medicines and calligraphy equipment instead of steel. The Doctor carried a small package in his hands, wrapped in silk.
He knelt before the dais and bowed low. Gufuu said, ‘Thank you for accept-ing my invitation.’
The Doctor bowed again. ‘Please allow me to present you with this gift.’ He put the package on to the wooden stand beside him. The daimyo took a puff on his small pipe and gestured, and a servant picked up the stand and brought the gift to him.
‘Go on, open it,’ said the Doctor. ‘Please don’t stand on ceremony.’
The daimyo unwrapped the silk, revealing a small package carefully wrapped in handmade paper. He opened the paper.
‘Ah,’ he said, putting aside his pipe. ‘You have made a careful study of our customs, Isha-san.’ The foreigner bowed. ‘But please allow me to correct a small matter of etiquette. Tea is given only at unhappy occasions, such as funerals.’
‘It was entirely intentional,’ said the Doctor. The daimyo gave him a sharp look. ‘Please forgive my rudeness, but if you do not change your course of action, you will bring a great deal of sorrow to yourself and the people you rule.’
‘I see,’ said Gufuu coolly. He gestured to a servant, who scuttled over. ‘Will you take a cup with me?’
‘Of course. Thank you.’ The servant picked up the package and went out to make the tea.
‘Now then,’ said Gufuu, settling himself. ‘You had better say what you came here to say.’
The Doctor inclined his head. ‘My lord,’ he began, ‘you want the kami that fell to earth near Hekison village. But you don’t know what it is, or what advantage it might bring you. Isn’t that right?’
The daimyo gestured for the Doctor to continue. The foreigner said, ‘It’s true that the kami does have strange powers. It used them to fight off a band 80
of samurai sent by your rival.’
‘Then it is mine,’ interrupted Gufuu. ‘That land belongs to me, not Umemi.’
‘This brings me to my next point,’ said the Doctor. ‘Not only will the kami oppose you if you try to move it from Hekison village, but your most dangerous rival now knows about it.’ His eyes were intense with sincerity. ‘The superior warrior knows when not to fight, as well as when to fight. Is it worth going to war over this unknown object?’
Gufuu stroked his beard for a few minutes, considering, while the Doctor waited. ‘Next time I won’t send three samurai,’ said the daimyo, at last. ‘I’ll send a troop.’
‘Don’t you see?’ insisted the Doctor. ‘The more soldiers you send, the more the situation at your border will escalate – and the more resistance you’ll meet from the kami itself. Not to mention the villagers – you might risk a peasant uprising. Let your rival waste his time and effort trying to retrieve it.’
Gufuu considered for a moment. ‘What is your stake in all of this?’ he demanded. ‘Why this show of loyalty from a man from some far-off country?’
‘If there’s a war,’ said the Doctor, ‘thousands will suffer and die.’
‘ Bushi are devoted to suffering and dying,’ said Gufuu.
‘Farmers and craftsmen aren’t,’ said the Doctor. ‘And neither are women and children. Let them have their idol, my lord. It’s of no use to you.’
Chris knelt in Sonchou-san’s drawing room, waiting for the headman to receive him.