Shogun_ A Novel of Japan - James Clavell [549]
Soldi caught up with him. “Should I send this information to Father Alvito?”
“No. Not yet. First I have to decide what to do. Toranaga will learn of it soon enough from his own sources. God take this land into His keeping and have mercy on all of us.”
Soldi opened the door for the Father-Visitor. “The only other matter of importance is that the Council has formally refused to let us have the Lady Maria’s body. She’s to have a state funeral tomorrow and we are not invited.”
“That’s to be expected, but it’s splendid that they want to honor her like that. Send one of our people to fetch part of her ashes—that will be allowed. The ashes will be buried in hallowed ground at Nagasaki.” He straightened a picture automatically and sat behind his desk. “I’ll say a Requiem for her here—the full Requiem there with all the pomp and ceremony we can muster when her remains are formally interred. She’ll be buried in cathedral grounds as a most blessed daughter of the Church. Arrange a plaque, employ the finest artists, calligrapher—everything must be perfect.”
“Yes, Eminence.”
“Her blessed courage and self-sacrifice will be an enormous encouragement to our flock. Very important, Soldi.”
“And Kiyama’s granddaughter, Sire? The authorities will let us have her body. He insisted.”
“Good. Then her remains should be sent to Nagasaki at once. I’ll consult Kiyama about how important he wishes to make her funeral.”
“You will conduct the service, Eminence?”
“Yes, providing it’s possible for me to leave here.”
“Lord Kiyama would be very pleased with that honor.”
“Yes—but we must make sure her service doesn’t detract from the Lady Maria’s. Maria’s is politically very, very important.”
“Of course, Eminence. I quite understand.”
Dell’Aqua studied his secretary. “Why don’t you trust Onoshi?”
“Sorry, Eminence—probably it’s because he’s a leper and petrifies me. I apologize.”
“Apologize to him. Soldi, he’s not to blame for his disease,” dell’Aqua said. “We’ve no proof about the plot.”
“The other things the Lady said were true. Why not this?”
“We have no proof. It’s all surmise.”
“Yes, surmise.”
Dell’Aqua moved the glass decanter, watching the refracting light. “At my prayers I smelled the orange blossoms and new breads and, oh, how I wanted to go home.”
Soldi sighed. “I dream of abbacchio, Eminence, and of meats pizzaiola and a flagon of Lacrima Christi and … God forgive me the hungers of hunger! Soon we can go home, Eminence. Next year. By next year everything will be settled here.”
“Nothing will be settled by next year. This war will hurt us. It will hurt the Church and the faithful terribly.”
“No, Eminence. Kyushu will be Christian whoever wins,” Soldi said confidently, wanting to cheer up his superior. “This island can wait for God’s good time. There’s more than enough to do in Kyushu, Eminence, isn’t there? Three million souls to convert, half a million of the faithful to minister to. Then there’s Nagasaki and trade. They must have trade. Ishido and Toranaga will tear themselves to pieces. What does that matter? They’re both anti-Christ, pagans and murderers.”
“Yes. But unfortunately what happens in Osaka and Yedo controls Kyushu. What to do, what to do?” Dell’Aqua pushed his melancholy away. “What about the Ingeles? Where’s he now?”
“Still under guard in the donjon.”
“Leave me for a while, old friend, I have to think. I have to decide what to do. Finally. The Church is in great danger.” Dell’Aqua looked out the windows into the forecourt. Then he saw Friar Perez approaching.
Soldi went to the door to intercept the monk. “No,” the Father-Visitor said. “I’ll see him now.”
“Ah, Eminence, good afternoon,” Friar Perez said, scratching unconsciously. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes. Please fetch the letter, Soldi.”
“I heard your chapel was destroyed,” the monk said.
“Damaged. Please sit down.” Dell’Aqua sat in his high-backed chair behind the desk, the monk opposite him. “No one was hurt, thanks be to God. Within a few days it’ll be new again. What about your Mission?”
“Untouched,” the monk said with open satisfaction.