The Amtrack Wars - Earth Thunder Part 45

Prior to leaving Mishiko's apartments, Cadillac had taken a cloth-covered bundle from the small amount of baggage he and Roz had brought with them in the long-boat and had carried into the castle.

Kneeling down, he placed it on the floor and unwrapped it carefully.

It was the radio unit from the wrecked $kyhawk.

He prayed to Mo-Town that it was still working, then uttered some deep-throated mumbo-jumbo for Mishiko's benefit and caressed the radio with his hands, switching on the various functions as he did so. The jewel-like status lights gleamed.

'The box lives, sire,' intoned Cadillac in the same spooky spell-casting voice.

The Herald squeezed Mishiko's hand. 'I have devised a fitting punishment for the Lord Chamberlain. He is to be trapped by the self-same devices he has used to maintain his grip on the reins of power! That box is filled with the Dark Light - but have no fear! It cannot harm you - only those who are evil! Ieyasu's own words will betray him and deliver him up to the Shogun's wrath. Once Ieyasu is dead, the way will be clear for you to wreak vengeance on my betrayer!

Tempt him with the honeyed words he cannot resist, and when it is done, step through The Veil and join hands with me in a bright shining world without end!" 'I will not fail you,' whispered Mishiko.

'Then put your faith and trust in the spirit-witches, for it is their magic that will bring us together!" The Herald embraced Mishiko fiercely. 'I must go, my love! But do not fear! I am never far away and will return to you tonight!" And with that he was gone.

Roz caught her as she swayed, overcome by the shock of seeing, holding and hearing her dead lover then being torn with equal suddenness from his arms.

It took Mishiko a few moments to recover her composure then she asked: 'What does the box do?"

'I am told it captures voices that pa.s.s through the air like autumn leaves carried on the wind. It was taken from a spy employed by Lord Ieyasu - as was this." Cadillac produced the miniature listening device and placed it in his open palm.

Mishiko took a cautious step forward. The kneeling witch appeared to be holding a black go stone. 'And what is this?"

'It is an ear, mi'lady. If this is placed in the room where the Lord Chamberlain converses with his secretaries and officials, it will pa.s.s their words into this box. Everything they say will be overhead and remembered."

Cadillac grasped the bug between his thumb and forefinger and offered it up for Lady Mishiko to take a closer look. 'The box has another magic attribute. It can speak with the voices pa.s.sed to it by this black stone.

If the Shogun could be persuaded to listen, he would hear all that the Lord Chamberlain had to say as clearly as if he were in the same room!'

Mishiko got the picture in nought seconds flat. 'Then let us hide the stone where it will do the most harm."

The secret pa.s.sage linking Yoritomo's apartments with Mishiko's also gave access to Ieyasu's darkly luxurious quarters. After planting the listening device in the Chamberlain's study- the room in which, according to Mishiko, he received his closest aides for confidential briefings, they returned to the Shogun's empty apartments.

The first glimmerings of daylight were beginning to filter through the shutters as Cadillac tuned the transceiver unit onto the wavelength of the hidden bug, and quietly blessed Steve Brickman for providing albeit unwittingly - a basic grounding in the science of radio-communications.

When placed in position and activated, the operator manning the receiver could induce the device to transmit a measured series of electronic bleeps to check (a) that it was working and (b) the quality of reception.

Cadillac got an extra bonus - voices and the sound of movement- the rustle of stockinged feet over straw mats.

He quickly turned up the volume and hit the Record b.u.t.ton.

'... as you see the rooms have been cleaned and prepared."

Mishiko gasped in surprise as the disembodied voice came out of the box. 'That is Tokimasa, the Palace Steward."

The bug captured another voice: 'Have them swept and dusted again tomorrow morning. They must be spotless when the Lord Chamberlain arrives."

'They will be. Do you know the hour we may expect him?"

'Around midday. The last message said they had been delayed by heavy rainstorms."

'Who is that?" hissed Cadillac.

'I'm not sure. 'Mishiko listened intently.

'This place is freezing cold, Tokimasa! Unlike you, he doesn't have several inches of fat to keep him warm.

Please arrange for someone to place charcoal braziers in all the rooms, and make sure they are kept burning all night."

'I shall attend to it immediately."

'Good. I have also received confirmation that our two visitors will also be arriving tomorrow morning. Are their rooms prepared?"

'Yes. On the second floor of the southern tower. But as yet I have received no instructions as to what kind of food should be prepared for them."

The mystery speaker laughed. 'They only look different from us, Tokimasa! Slice their bellies open and you'll find their guts are exactly the same as ours. The normal palace menu will suit them perfectly- but make sure their rooms are warm and the windows are kept shut. They are not used to fresh air!'

'Strange people. I would love the chance to see one."

'I cannot promise anything, my friend, but I will see what can be done .... '.

Sounds of movement. The voices receded.

Mishiko clapped her hands together. 'Of course! Oh, dear, what was I thinking of? The second voice belongs to Tekko Ichiwara! He is the man I told you about - the Lord Chamberlain's Resident Private Secretary!" Cadillac cursed inwardly. Ichiwara was the third and final element in the audacious plan he had hatched with Roz to bring down the Toh-Yota. Having talked to Mishiko about his role in the palace, Cadillac was convinced Ichiwara was the link between Ieyasu and the communications unit which - if his reasoning was correct - was hidden somewhere in or close by the Summer Palace.

The plan had called for them to get to Ichiwara during that same night.

Roz would then do a number on him, and trick him into revealing the location of the hidden radio room.

Knowing where to find it was the last, vital element.

The bug they had planted might provide the evidence they needed - but only if Ieyasu was unwise enough to incriminate himself in his study.

If he switched venues, or spoke guardedly at all times, they would be well and truly screwed.

Locating the radio and its operator was the only thing guaranteed to nail him to the wall. Tekko Ichiwara, the man most likely to lead them to it, was already out of bed and out of reach for the next twelve to sixteen hours, depending on when he went to bed- and always a.s.suming nothing happened to him in the meantime!

There was this Guard Captain of Mishiko's who had to be talked into doing his bit, but otherwise they were now stuck twiddling their thumbs till nightfall. Even so, they had done amazingly well to get this far.

Cadillac consoled himself with the thought that they still had a day in hand, but he could have done without the suspense.

Satisfied that the equipment was in working order, he rewound the tape, switched off the transceiver, wrapped the cloth around it, then hid it under one of the wooden steps inside the secret pa.s.sage that led up to the Shogun's bedchamber.

This time, as Lady Mishiko guided them back to her apartments, Cadillac made a mental note of the distance and the route. Emerging into the empty room where their journey had begun, they found that daylight was now streaming through the shutters.

Accompanied by his daughter Oyoki, Captain Kamakura entered Lady Mishiko's apartments un.o.bserved. He was met 'by the Lady herself. She looked drawn and somewhat dishevelled, but Oyoki had already explained how they came to be there, after a narrow escape from violent death en route.

After the ritual exchange of greetings, Mishiko asked Kamakura to follow her into the room she used for private audiences. Oyoki was ordered to remain outside and admit no one until they emerged. If she needed any a.s.sistance, she was to wake the sleeping guards.