Shogun_ A Novel of Japan - James Clavell [99]
There was a long silence. Then Toranaga spoke directly to the Jesuit, who smiled and answered at length.
“What did he say?” Blackthorne asked sharply.
Father Alvito did not answer but translated as before, almost simultaneously, aping his inflection, continuing a virtuoso performance of interpreting.
Toranaga answered Blackthorne directly, his voice flinty and cruel. “What I said is no concern of yours. When I wish you to know something I will tell you.”
“I’m sorry, Lord Toranaga, I did not mean to be rude. May I tell you that we come in peace—”
“You may not tell me anything at the moment. You will hold your tongue until I require an answer. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
Mistake number one. Watch yourself. You can’t make mistakes, he told himself.
“Why are you at war with Spain? And Portugal?”
“Partially because Spain is bent on conquering the world and we English, and our allies the Netherlands, refuse to be conquered. And partially because of our religions.”
“Ah! A religious war? What is your religion?”
“I’m a Christian. Our Church—”
“The Portuguese and Spanish are Christians! You said your religion was different. What is your religion?”
“It’s Christian. It’s difficult to explain simply and quickly, Lord Toranaga. They’re both—”
“There’s no need to be quick, Mr. Pilot, just accurate. I have plenty of time. I’m very patient. You’re a cultured man—obviously no peasant—so you can be simple or complicated as you wish, just so long as you’re clear. If you stray from the point I will bring you back. You were saying?”
“My religion is Christian. There are two main Christian religions, Protestant and Catholic. Most English are Protestant.”
“You worship the same God, the Madonna and Child?”
“No, Sire. Not the way the Catholics do.” What does he want to know? Blackthorne was asking himself. Is he a Catholic? Should you answer what you think he wants to know, or what you think is the truth? Is he anti-Christian? Didn’t he call the Jesuit “my friend”? Is Toranaga a Catholic sympathizer, or is he going to become a Catholic?
“Do you believe the Jesus is God?”
“I believe in God,” he said carefully.
“Do not evade a direct question! Do you believe the Jesus is God? Yes or no?”
Blackthorne knew that in any Catholic court in the world he would have been damned long since for heresy. And in most, if not all, Protestant courts. Even to hesitate before answering such a question was an admission of doubt. Doubt was heresy. “You can’t answer questions about God with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ There have to be shades of ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ You don’t know for certain about God until you’re dead. Yes, I believe Jesus was God, but no, I don’t know for certain until I’m dead.”
“Why did you smash the priest’s cross when you first arrived in Japan?”
Blackthorne had not been expecting this question. Does Toranaga know everything that’s happened since I arrived? “I—I wanted to show the daimyo Yabu that the Jesuit, Father Sebastio—the only interpreter there—that he was my enemy, that he wasn’t to be trusted, at least, in my opinion. Because I was sure he wouldn’t necessarily translate accurately, not as Father Alvito is doing now. He accused us of being pirates, for instance. We’re not pirates, we come in peace.”
“Ah yes! Pirates. I’ll come back to piracy in a moment. You say both your sects are Christian, both venerate Jesus the Christ? Isn’t the essence of his teaching ‘to love one another’?”
“Yes.”
“Then how can you be enemies?”
“Their faith—their version of Christianity is a false interpretation of the Scriptures.”
“Ah! At last we’re getting somewhere. So you’re at war through a difference of opinion about what is God or not God?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a very stupid reason to go to war.”
Blackthorne said, “I agree.” He looked at the priest. “I agree with all my heart.”
“How many ships are in your fleet?”
“Five.”
“And you were the senior