Shogun_ A Novel of Japan Part 130

"Perhaps. But say she could be captured and disarmed and held for a few days. Isn't the 'few days' vital? Isn't that why she's insisting on going today, before Toranaga crosses over our borders and castrates himself?"

"Could it be done?" Lady Ochiba asked.

"Possibly," Ishido said.

Kiyama pondered this. "In eighteen days Toranaga must be here. He could delay at the border for at the most another four days. She would have to be held for a week at the most."

"Or forever," Ochiba said. "Toranaga's delayed so much, I sometimes think he'll never come."

"He has to by the twenty-second day," Ishido said. "Ah, Lady, that was a brilliant, brilliant idea."

"Surely that was your idea, Lord General?" Ochiba's voice was soothing though she was very tired from a sleepless night. "What about Lord Sudara and my sister? Are they with Toranaga now?"

"No, Lady. Not yet. They will be brought here by sea."

"She is not to be touched," Ochiba said. "Or her child."

"Her child is direct heir of Toranaga, who's heir to the Minowaras. My duty to the the Heir, Lady, makes me point this out again." Heir, Lady, makes me point this out again."

"My sister is not to be touched. Nor is her son."

"As you wish."

She said to Kiyama, "Sire, how good a Christian is Mariko-san?"

"Pure," Kiyama replied at once. "You mean about suicide being a sin? I-I think she would honor that or her eternal soul is forfeit, Lady. But I don't know if ..."

"Then there's a simpler solution," Ishido said without thinking. "Command the High Priest of the Christians to order her to stop hara.s.sing the legal rulers of the Empire!"

"He doesn't have the power," Kiyama said. Then he added, his voice even more barbed, "That's political interference-something you've always been bitterly against, and rightly."

"It seems Christians interfere only when it suits them," Ishido said. "It was only a suggestion."

The inner door opened and a doctor stood there. His face was grave and exhaustion aged him. "So sorry, Lady, she's asking for you."

"Is she dying?" Ishido asked.

"She's near death, Lord General, yes, but when, I don't know."

Ochiba hurried across the large room and through the inner door, her blue kimono clinging, the skirts swaying gracefully. Both men watched her. The door closed. For a moment the two men avoided each other's eyes, then Kiyama said, "You really think Lady Toda could be captured?"

"Yes," Ishido told him, watching the door.

Ochiba crossed this even more opulent room and knelt beside the futons. Maids and doctors surrounded them. Sunlight seeped through the bamboo shutters and skittered off the gold and red inlaid carvings of the beams and posts and doors. Yodoko's bed was surrounded by decorative inlaid screens. She seemed to be sleeping, her bloodless face settled within the hood of her Buddhist robe, her wrists thin, the veins knotted, and Ochiba thought how sad it was to become old. Age was so unfair to women. Not to men, only to women. G.o.ds protect me from old age, she prayed. Buddha protect my son and put him safely into power and protect me only as long as I'm capable of protecting him and helping him.

She took Yodoko's hand, honoring her. "Lady?"

"O-chan?" Yodoko whispered, using her nickname.

"Yes, Lady?"

"Ah, how pretty you are, so pretty, you always were." The hand went up and caressed the beautiful hair and Ochiba was not offended by the touch but pleased as always, liking her greatly. "So young and beautiful and sweet-smelling. How lucky the Taik was."

"Are you in pain, Lady? Can I get you something?"

"Nothing-nothing, I just wanted to talk." The old eyes were sunken but had lost none of their shrewdness. "Send the others away."

Ochiba motioned them to leave and when they were alone she said, "Yes, Lady?"

"Listen, my darling, make the Lord General let her go."

"He can't, Lady, or all the other hostages will leave and we'll lose strength. The Regents all agree," Ochiba said.

"Regents!" Yodoko said with a thread of scorn. "Do you you agree?" agree?"

"Yes, Lady, and last night you said she was not to go."

"Now you must let her go or others will follow her seppuku and you and our son will be befouled because of Ishido's mistake."

"The Lord General's loyal, Lady. Toranaga isn't, so sorry."

"You can trust Lord Toranaga-not him."

Ochiba shook her head. "So sorry, but I'm convinced Toranaga's committed to become Shgun and will destroy our son."

"You're wrong. He's said it a thousand times. Other daimyos daimyos are trying to use him for their own ambitions. They always have. Toranaga was the Taik's favorite. Toranaga has always honored the Heir. Toranaga's Minowara. Don't be swayed by Ishido, or the Regents. They've their own are trying to use him for their own ambitions. They always have. Toranaga was the Taik's favorite. Toranaga has always honored the Heir. Toranaga's Minowara. Don't be swayed by Ishido, or the Regents. They've their own karmas karmas, their own secrets, O-chan. Why not let her go? It's all so simple. Forbid her the sea, then she can always be delayed somewhere inside our borders. She's still in your General's net, and Kiri and all the others, neh? neh? She'll be surrounded by Grays. Think like the Taik would or like Toranaga would. You and our son are being pulled into ..." The words trailed off and her eyelids began to flutter. The old lady gathered her remaining strength and continued, "Mariko-san could never object to guards. I know she means what she says. Let her go." She'll be surrounded by Grays. Think like the Taik would or like Toranaga would. You and our son are being pulled into ..." The words trailed off and her eyelids began to flutter. The old lady gathered her remaining strength and continued, "Mariko-san could never object to guards. I know she means what she says. Let her go."

"Of course that was considered, Lady," Ochiba said, her voice gentle and patient, "but outside the castle Toranaga has secret bands of samurai, hidden in and around Osaka, we don't know how many, and he has allies-we're not sure who. She might escape. Once she goes, all the others would follow her at once and we'd lose a great security. You agreed, Yodoko-chan, don't you remember? So sorry, but I asked you last night, don't you remember?"

"Yes, I remember, child," Yodoko said, her mind wandering. "Oh, how I wish the Lord Taik were here again to guide you." The old lady's breathing was becoming labored.

"Can I give you some cha or sake?"

"Cha, yes please, some cha."

She helped the old one to drink. "Thank you, child." The voice was feebler now, the strain of conversation speeding the dying. "Listen, child, you must trust Toranaga. Marry him, barter with him for the succession."

"No-no," Ochiba said, shocked.

"Yaemon could rule after him, then the fruit of your new marriage after our son. The sons of our son will honorably swear eternal fidelity to this new Toranaga line."

"Toranaga's always hated the Taik. You know that, Lady. Toranaga is the source of all the trouble. For years, neh? neh? Him!" Him!"

"And you? What about your pride, child?"

"He's the enemy, our enemy."

"You've two enemies, child. Your pride and the need to have a man to compare to our husband. Please be patient with me, you're young and beautiful and fruitful and deserve a husband. Toranaga's worthy of you, you of him. Toranaga is the only chance Yaemon has."

"No, he's the enemy."

"He was our husband's greatest friend and most loyal va.s.sal. Without ... without Toranaga ... don't you see ... it was Toranaga's help ... don't you see? You could manage ... manage him...."

"So sorry, but I hate him-he disgusts me, Yodoko-chan."

"Many women.... What was I saying? Oh yes, many women marry men who disgust them. Praise be to Buddha I never had to suffer that...." The old woman smiled briefly. Then she sighed. It was a long, serious sigh and went on for too long and Ochiba thought the end had come. But the eyes opened a little and a tiny smile appeared again. "Neh?"

"Yes."

"Will you. Please?"

"I will think about it."

The old fingers tried to tighten. "I beg you promise me you'll marry Toranaga and I will go to Buddha knowing that the Taik's line will live forever, like his name ... his name will live for...."

The tears ran freely down Ochiba's face as she cradled the listless hand.

Later the eyes trembled and the old woman whispered, "You must let Akechi Mariko go. Don't ... don't let her reap vengeance on us for what the Taik did ... did to ... to her ... to her father...."

Ochiba was caught unaware. "What?"

There was no answer. Later Yodoko began mumbling, "... Dear Yaemon, h.e.l.lo, my darling son, how ... you're such a fine boy, but you've so many enemies, so foolish so.... Aren't you just an illusion too, isn't ..."

A spasm racked her. Ochiba held onto the hand and caressed it. "Namu Amida Butsu," she whispered in homage. she whispered in homage.

There was another spasm, then the old woman said clearly, "Forgive me, O-chan."

"There is nothing to forgive, Lady."

"So much to forgive...." The voice became fainter, and the light began to fade from her face. "Listen ... prom-promise about ... about Toranaga, Ochiba-sama ...important ... please ... you can trust him...." The old eyes were beseeching her, willing her.

Ochiba did not want to obey yet knew that she should obey. Her mind was unsettled by what had been said about Akechi Mariko, and still resounded with the Taik's words, repeated ten thousand times, "You can trust Yodoko-sama, O-chan. She's the Wise One-never forget it. She's right most times and you can always trust her with your life, and my son's life and mine...."

Ochiba conceded. "I prom-" She stopped abruptly.

The light of Yodoko-sama flickered a final time and went out.

"Namu Amida Butsu." Ochiba touched the hand to her lips, and she bowed and laid the hand back on the coverlet and closed the eyes, thinking about the Taik's death, the only other death she had witnessed so closely. That time Lady Yodoko had closed the eyes as was a wife's privilege and it had been in this same room, Toranaga waiting outside, as Ishido and Kiyama were now outside, continuing a vigil that had begun the day before. Ochiba touched the hand to her lips, and she bowed and laid the hand back on the coverlet and closed the eyes, thinking about the Taik's death, the only other death she had witnessed so closely. That time Lady Yodoko had closed the eyes as was a wife's privilege and it had been in this same room, Toranaga waiting outside, as Ishido and Kiyama were now outside, continuing a vigil that had begun the day before.

"But why send for Toranaga, Lord?" she had asked. "You should rest."

"I'll rest when I'm dead, O-chan," the Taik had said. "I must settle the succession. Finally. While I've the strength."

So Toranaga had arrived, strong, vital, exuding power. The four of them were alone then, Ochiba, Yodoko, Toranaga and Nakamura, the Taik, the Lord of j.a.pan lying on his deathbed, all of them waiting for the orders that would be obeyed.

"So, Tora-san," the Taik had said, welcoming him with the nickname Goroda had given Toranaga long ago, the deep-set eyes peering up out of the tiny, withered simian face that was set on an equally tiny body-a body that had had the strength of steel until a few months ago when the wasting began. "I'm dying. From nothing, into nothing, but you'll be alive and my son's helpless."

"Not helpless, Sire. All the daimyos daimyos will honor your son as they honor you." will honor your son as they honor you."

The Taik laughed. "Yes, they will. Today. While I'm alive-ah yes! But how do I make sure Yaemon will rule after me?"

"Appoint a Council of Regents, Sire."

"Regents!" the Taik said scornfully. "Perhaps I should make you my heir and let you judge if Yaemon's worthy to follow you."

"I would not be worthy to do that. Your son should follow you."

"Yes, and Goroda's sons should have followed him."

"No. They broke the peace."

"And you stamped them out on my orders."

"You held the Emperor's mandate. They rebelled against your lawful mandate, Sire. Give me your orders now, and I will obey them."

"That's why I called you here."

Then the Taik said, "It's a rare thing to have a son at fifty-seven and a foul thing to die at sixty-three-if he's an only son and you've got no kin and you're Lord of j.a.pan. Neh?" Neh?"

"Yes," Toranaga said.

"Perhaps it would've been better if I'd never had a son, then I could pa.s.s the realm on to you as we agreed. You've more sons than a Portugee's got lice."

"Karma."

The Taik had laughed and a string of spittle, flecked with blood, seeped out of his mouth. With great care Yodoko wiped the spittle away and he smiled up at his wife. "Thank you, Yo-chan, thank you." Then the eyes turned onto Ochiba herself and Ochiba had smiled back but his eyes weren't smiling now, just probing, wondering, pondering the never-dared-to-be-asked question that she was sure was forever in his mind: Is Yaemon really my son?

"Karma, O-chan. Neh?" Neh?" It was gently said but Ochiba's fear that he would ask her directly racked her and tears glistened in her eyes. It was gently said but Ochiba's fear that he would ask her directly racked her and tears glistened in her eyes.

"No need for tears. O-chan. Life's only a dream within a dream," the old man said. He lay for a moment musing, then he peered at Toranaga again, and with a sudden, unexpected warmth for which he was famous, said, "Eeeeee, old friend, what a life we've had, neh? neh? All the battles? Fighting side by side-together unbeatable. We did the impossible, All the battles? Fighting side by side-together unbeatable. We did the impossible, neh? neh? Together we humbled the mighty and spat on their upturned a.r.s.es while they groveled for more. Us-we did it, a peasant and a Minowara!" The old man chuckled. "Listen, a few more years and I'd have smashed the Garlic Eaters properly. Then with Korean legions and our own j.a.panese legions, a sharp thrust up to Peking and me on the Dragon Throne of China. Then I'd have given you j.a.pan, which you want, and I'd have what I want." The voice was strong, belying the inner fragility. "A peasant can straddle the Dragon Throne with face and honor-not like here. Together we humbled the mighty and spat on their upturned a.r.s.es while they groveled for more. Us-we did it, a peasant and a Minowara!" The old man chuckled. "Listen, a few more years and I'd have smashed the Garlic Eaters properly. Then with Korean legions and our own j.a.panese legions, a sharp thrust up to Peking and me on the Dragon Throne of China. Then I'd have given you j.a.pan, which you want, and I'd have what I want." The voice was strong, belying the inner fragility. "A peasant can straddle the Dragon Throne with face and honor-not like here. Neh?" Neh?"

"China and j.a.pan are different, yes, Sire."

"Yes. They're wise in China. There the first of a dynasty's always a peasant or the son of a peasant, and the throne's always taken by force with b.l.o.o.d.y hands. No hereditary caste there-isn't that China's strength?" Again the laugh. "Force and b.l.o.o.d.y hands and peasant-that's me. Neh?" Neh?"

"Yes. But you're also samurai. You changed the rules here. You're first of a dynasty."

"I always liked you, Tora-san." The old man sipped cha contentedly. "Yes-think of it, me on the Dragon Throne-think of that! Emperor of China, Yodoko Empress, and after her Ochiba the Fair, and after me Yaemon, and China and j.a.pan forever joined together as they should be. Ah, it would have been so easy! Then with our legions and Chinese hordes I'd stab northwest and south and, like tenth-cla.s.s wh.o.r.es, the empires of all the earth would lie panting in the dirt, their legs spread wide for us to take what we want. We're unbeatable-you and I were unbeatable-j.a.panese're unbeatable, of course we are-we know the whole point of life. Neh?" Neh?"

"Yes."

The eyes glittered strangely. "What is it?"

"Duty, discipline, and death," Toranaga replied.

Again a chuckle, the old man seemingly tinier than ever, more wizened than ever, and then, with an equal suddenness for which he was also famous, all the warmth left him. "The Regents?" he asked, his voice venomous and firm. "Whom would you pick?"

"Lords Kiyama, Ishido, Onoshi, Toda Hiro-matsu, and Sugiyama."