Shogun_ A Novel of Japan - James Clavell [469]
Yabu pounded his fist on the floor with delight. “Then it’s war after all! How clever you are to have seen through him! Ah, so he’s been playing the fox all the time, neh?”
“Yes,” she said, greatly satisfied.
Mariko had come to the same astonishing conclusion, though not from all the same facts. Toranaga must be pretending, playing a secret game, she reasoned. That’s the only possible explanation for his incredible conduct—giving the Anjin-san the ship, the money, all the cannon, and freedom in front of Tsukku-san. Now the Anjin-san will absolutely go against the Black Ship. He will take it, and threaten the one next year, and therefore he’ll maul the Holy Church terribly and force the Holy Fathers to compel Kiyama and Onoshi to betray Ishido….
But why? If that’s true, she thought, perplexed, and Toranaga’s considering such a long-range plan, then of course he can’t go to Osaka and bow before Ishido, neh? He must…. Ah! What about today’s delay that Hiro-matsu persuaded Toranaga to make? Oh, Madonna on high, Toranaga never intended to surrender! It’s all a trick.
Why? To gain time.
To accomplish what? To wait and weave a thousand more tricks, and it doesn’t matter what, only that Toranaga’s once more what he always was, the almighty puppeteer.
How long before Ishido’s impatience shatters and he raises the battle standard and moves against us? One month—at the most two. No more. So by the ninth month of this Fifth Year of Keichō, the battle for the Kwanto begins!
But what’s Toranaga gained in two months? I don’t know—I only know that now my son has a chance to inherit his ten thousand koku, and to live and breed, and that now perhaps my father’s line will not perish from the earth.
She relished her newfound knowledge, toying with it, examining it, finding her logic flawless. But what to do between now and then? she asked herself. Nothing more than you’ve already done—and decided to do. Neh?
“Mistress?”
“Yes, Chimmoko?”
“Gyoko-san is here. She has an appointment, she says.”
“Ah yes. I forget to tell you. First heat saké, then bring it, and her, here.”
Mariko reflected on the afternoon. She remembered his arms around her, so safe and warm and strong. ‘Can I see you tonight?’ he had asked very cautiously, after Yabu and Tsukku-san had left.
‘Yes,’ she had said impulsively. ‘Yes, my darling. Oh, how happy I am for thee. Tell Fujiko-san … ask her to send for me after the Hour of the Boar.’
In the quiet of her house her throat tightened. So much foolishness and danger.
She checked her makeup and coiffure in her mirror and tried to compose herself. Footsteps approached. The shoji slid open. “Ah, Lady,” Gyoko said, bowing deeply. “How kind of you to see me.”
“You’re welcome, Gyoko-san.”
They drank saké, Chimmoko pouring for them.
“Such lovely pottery, Lady. So beautiful.”
They made polite conversation, then Chimmoko was sent away.
“So sorry, Gyoko-san, but our Master did not arrive this afternoon. I haven’t seen him, though I hope to before I leave.”
“Yes, I heard Yabu-san went to the jetty in his place.”
“When I see Toranaga-sama I will ask him once more. But I expect his answer will be the same.” Mariko poured saké for both of them. “So sorry, he will not grant my request.”
“Yes, I believe you. Not unless there is great pressure.”
“There’s no pressure that I can use. So sorry.”
“So sorry too, Lady.”
Mariko put down her cup. “Then you’ve decided that some tongues are not safe.”
Gyoko said harshly, “If I were going to whisper secrets about you, would I tell you to your face? Do you think I’d be so naive?”
“Perhaps you’d better go, so sorry, but I have so much to do.”
“Yes, Lady, and so have I!” Gyoko replied, her voice rough. “Lord Toranaga asked me, to my face, what I knew about you and the Anjin-san. This afternoon. I told him there was nothing between you. I said, ‘Oh yes, Sire, I’ve heard the foul rumors too, but there’s