Shogun_ A Novel of Japan - James Clavell [512]
“Yes, Rodrigues,” Father Alvito had told him confidently, “and I needn’t have gone out of my way to help him. But I’m convinced there’s a chance of converting him. I’m so sure. Toranaga’s finished now…. It’s just one man and a soul. I have to try to save him.”
Priests, Rodrigues thought. Leche on all priests. But not on dell’Aqua and Alvito. Oh, Madonna, I apologize for all my evil thoughts about him and the Father Alvito. Forgive me and bury the Ingeles somehow before I have him in my sights. I do not wish to kill him because of my Holy Oath, even though, before Thee, I know he must die quickly….
The duty helmsman turned the hourglass and rang eight bells. It was high noon.
CHAPTER 55
Mariko was walking up the crowded sunlit avenue toward the gates in the cul-de-sac. Behind her was a body guard of ten Browns. She wore a pale green kimono and white gloves and a wide-brimmed dark green traveling hat tied with a golden net scarf under her chin, and she shaded herself with an iridescent sun shade. The gates swung open and stayed open.
It was very quiet in the avenue. Grays lined both sides and all the battlements. She could see the Anjin-san on their own battlements, Yabu beside him, and in the courtyard the waiting column with Kiri there, and the Lady Sazuko. All the Browns were in full ceremonials in the forecourt under Yoshinaka, except twenty who stood on the battlements with Blackthorne and two to each window overlooking the forecourt.
Unlike the Grays, none of the Browns had armor or carried bows. Swords were their only weapons.
Many women, samurai women, were also watching, some from the windows of other fortified houses that lined the avenue, and some from battlements. Others stood in the avenue among the Grays, a few gaily dressed children with them. All of the women carried sunshades though some wore samurai swords, as was their right if they wished.
Kiyama was near the gate with half a hundred of his own men, not Grays.
“Good day, Sire,” Mariko said to him, and bowed. He bowed back and she passed through the archway.
“Hello, Kiri-chan, Sazuko-chan. How pretty you both look! Is everything ready?”
“Yes,” they replied with false cheeriness.
“Good.” Mariko got into her open palanquin and sat, stiff-backed. “Yoshinaka-san! Please begin.”
At once the captain limped forward and shouted the orders. Twenty Browns formed up as a vanguard and moved off. Porters picked up Mariko’s curtainless palanquin and followed the Browns through the gate, Kiri’s and Lady Sazuko’s close behind, the young girl holding her infant in her arms.
When Mariko’s palanquin came into the sunlight outside their walls, a captain of Grays stepped forward between the vanguard and the palanquin, and stood directly in her way. The vanguard stopped abruptly. So did the porters.
“Please excuse me,” he said to Yoshinaka, “but may I see your papers?”
“So sorry, Captain, but we require none,” Yoshinaka replied in the great silence.
“So sorry, but the Lord General Ishido. Governor of the Castle, Captain of the Heir’s Bodyguard, with the approval of the Regents, has instituted orders throughout the castle which have to be complied with.”
Mariko said formally, “I am Toda Mariko-noh-Buntaro and I have been ordered by my liege Lord, Lord Toranaga, to escort his ladies to meet him. Kindly let us pass.”
“I would be glad to, Lady,” the samurai said proudly, planting his feet, “but without papers our liege Lord says no one may leave Osaka Castle. Please excuse me.”
Mariko said, “Captain, what is your name please?”
“Sumiyori Danzenji, Lady, Captain of the Fourth Legion, and my line is as ancient as your own.”
“So sorry, Captain Sumiyori, but if you do not move out of the way I will order you killed.”
“You will not pass without papers!”
“Please kill him, Yoshinaka-san.”
Yoshinaka leaped forward without hesitation, his sword a whirling arc, and he struck at the off-balanced Gray. His blade bit deep into the man’s side and was jerked out instantly, and the second more vicious blow took off the man’s head,