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Then Jack spotted a slither of light running down the opposite wall. He ran over to discover a shoji disguised as a wooden panel. He slid it open, barely making it through before Father Bobadillo opened the main door. As the priest stepped inside, Jack shut the shoji behind him.

Jack discovered he’d entered a prayer room. Furnished in a Japanese style, the floor was richly carpeted with tatami mats and the walls were constructed of washi paper. Thankfully, the room was empty save for a simple altar and wooden crucifix, beside which was a discreet door. To his right was a shoji leading to the main corridor.

Jack heard Father Bobadillo opening the shutters to his room. Holding his breath, Jack put an eye to the crack in the door. Father Bobadillo was not alone.

‘I believe that went rather well, don’t you?’ said a small, rotund man of Portuguese origin. Balding, with deep-brown eyes and a prominent nose, he wore the cassock of a Jesuit priest.

Father Bobadillo nodded. ‘The threat of war often makes men more pious. Before this is over, I expect to have all the ruling lords converted.’

‘His Holiness will reward you in Heaven for such faithful service.’

‘I hope a little sooner than that,’ replied Father Bobadillo, a wry smile upon his lips. ‘I would, after all, be bringing the whole of Japan under his authority.’

He sat down in his high-backed chair, offering the other seat to the priest.

‘But we still have one small thorn in our side that must be dealt with.’

‘I thought you’d already spoken with the boy.’

‘Father Rodriguez, every day that English heretic is in this castle he’s a threat to our holy mission. We must dispose of him.’

‘You mean murder him?’ replied Father Rodriguez, his eyes widening in alarm. ‘Have mercy!’

‘Of course not, I’d rot in Hell,’ relented Father Bobadillo. ‘But his death would be convenient.’

‘What harm can a mere boy do to us?’

‘The greatest harm. We’ve always presented the Church as united in faith and doctrine. We cannot have his lordship discovering there’s dissent among Christians. Imagine if the boy revealed to Satoshi the truth of the matter. He may question his faith in us and Christ. The boy could undermine everything we’ve worked towards in Japan.’

‘So what do you propose?’ asked Father Rodriguez, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. ‘Surely Masamoto-sama would question the boy’s disappearance?’

‘We need a reason to discredit Jack Fletcher,’ replied Father Bobadillo, looking thoughtfully out of the window. ‘Something that will guarantee his banishment. Then again, a war might solve the problem for us. After all, it’s a dangerous time to be a samurai…’

The priest trailed off to stare quizzically at the recess. Jack followed his gaze and cursed himself silently at his stupidity. He’d returned the dictionary to the wrong place on the shelf. The Jesuit’s eyes flickered round the room. Getting out of his chair, he strode over to the casket and bent to examine the lock. In the cold light of day, even Jack could see the deep score mark where his tantō had slipped.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Father Rodriguez.

Without replying, Father Bobadillo stood up slowly and approached the portrait. He studied it, appearing to be deep in thought. All of sudden he made for the door behind which Jack crouched.

Jack turned to run. But he knew he’d never make it to the shoji in time.

‘Your Eminence!’ cried someone, urgently hammering on Father Bobadillo’s study door.

‘Yes! What is it?’ demanded the priest, so close Jack thought he was in the room with him.

‘The enemy are here! Daimyo Kamakura’s army has been sighted. His lordship requests your immediate presence on the battlements.’

Father Bobadillo seemed to hesitate on the other side of the shoji.

‘We shouldn’t keep his lordship waiting,’ reminded Father Rodriguez.

Then Jack heard the study door open, slam shut and several sets of footsteps receding down the corridor. Jack remained where he was, his heart pounding within his chest.

Not only was the enemy outside the castle walls, he was also within.

40

SIEGE