The Amtrack Wars - Earth Thunder Part 52

Skull-Face invited them to take their places then took a back seat behind the two secretaries. As they sipped the bowls of teas, Watanabe explained that the journey to the Summer Palace had proved something of an ordeal to the Lord Chamberlain. Out of courtesy to his visitors he had decided to postpone meeting them until he was fully rested and could give his undivided attention to the important matters they had come to discuss.

'Meanwhile,' continued Watanabe, 'he has instructed Secretary Ichiwara and myself to obtain a general picture of your proposals in order to prepare an agenda for the meetings which will follow. I trust you have no objection?"

'None whatsoever,' said Fran. She had decided, despite the original plan, to do most of the talking herself. When Steve had asked why, she had said: 'You've had direct experience of these people, but it was as a slave-worker, on the receiving end. They make you nervous. I can sense it. Don't get me wrong. If we were to get in a tight corner, I know you'd come through. You're the ideal action man, but when it comes to representing the Federation, I'm better equipped than you are - because I know how to dish it out."

When the tea lady had retired from the room, Watanabe, whose p.r.o.nunciation was almost faultless, said: 'With your agreement, these discussions will be conducted in your language. My colleague Ichiwara will act as translator for the Lord Chamberlain and, if your proposals are deemed to merit his attention, his Highness, Prince Yoritomo, the Shogun."

Watanabe gauged the effect of this on both of them, then fixed his eyes on Fran. 'I am aware that you, Commander, have a working knowledge of our language.

Since, in doing this, you must also have learned something of our cherished traditions, you will know that we do not welcome outlanders speaking our sacred mother tongue. You would cause grave offence if you attempted to do so in the presence of Lord Ieyasu or His Highness Prince Yoritomo. We hope you will respect out feelings in this matter." i'll bear it in mind,' said Fran drily. 'Would I be correct in thinking that both these n.o.ble gentlemen speak fluent Basic?"

'They have a comprehensive understanding of the language. But because of their exalted rank, you will not be able to address either of them directly. Anything you wish to communicate will be relayed by myself or Secretary Ichiwara."

'I see. Am I to understand that what you're attempting to do now is establish the ground rules?"

Watanabe inclined his head. 'We are indeed, Commander."

Fran gave Steve a sideways glance and muttered: 'Can you believe this?

We come all this way to talk to the organ-grinder and we've got his monkey telling us how to behave .... ' If their opposite numbers managed to catch what she said, they gave no sign of having done so, but that was one of their great attributes - keeping a straight face when the roof was falling in.

'Hang on to your hat,' whispered Fran. She cleared her throat. 'Chief Secretary, your mastery over our language is less skillful than you suppose and your attempts at politeness have failed to mask the fact that you view us with disdain."

She balled her fists and slammed them down on the low table in front of her. Steve went cold, but he knew from the set of her jaw there was no stopping her now.

'Just who in bell's name do you think you're talking to, you unctuous, inky-listed toad!?! I and my companion come from the highest ranks of the First Family! Rulers of the Amtrak Federation, the greatest power on this earth!

My father is a senior member of the Supreme Council, second only in authority to George Washington Jefferson the 31st, the President-General himself! He also happens to be the President's brother, and I have the honour of being an executive officer on the President's personal staff!

'That was why I was selected for this mission. Captain Brickman, my aide-de-camp, is the personal representative of Commander-General Karlstrom who has already dealt directly with Lord Ieyasu on other matters of which you are no doubt aware' - she glared at Watanabe'since I understand you were there at the time.

'Listen to me carefully. When we speak, it is with the voice and the authority of the two men on this continent who are the equal of your masters in rank, stature and power. So don't ever address me in such an insolent manner again. Is that clear?!" Watanabe, who like Ichiwara had been left white-faced at this outburst, inclined his head.

'Yes, my lady."

Fran switched over to j.a.panese, complete with the inflections employed by the upper cla.s.ses. 'Good. Now understand this. In my eyes you are lower than a heap of ox-dung. Furthermore, I intend to inform your master of this incident, and will suggest to him that negotiations between our two countries would proceed more smoothly if you were given lessons on how to address your betters!" Steve didn't know what Fran had said, but it was obvious she hadn't been handing out gold stars.

Watanabe's face didn't move an inch but it went whiter than ever. The veins on his temples bulged and the tension was reflected in his knuckles. His fingers were dug in so tight, it looked as if he was trying to rip his kneecaps off.

Ichiwara, sitting alongside him, and Skull-Face in the second row, looked like a couple of blasted oaks.

Watanabe hung his head and tried to collect his thoughts. Never, in his whole life, had he received such a vitriolic dressing down! Here he was, the most senior secretary in the Lord Chamberlain's Office - a man who told government ministers what to do - and he had been humiliated in front of two junior colleagues by an outlander who had doubled the affront by addressing him abusively in j.a.panese! And this indignity had been inflicted upon him by a woman!!

It was an unbearable loss of face. Nevertheless business had to proceed. He suppressed a perfectly justified desire to see this foul-mouthed b.i.t.c.h flayed alive and used his renowned mental discipline to clear his head. Three deep breaths was all it took to restore the necessary stillness at the centre of his being and find a face-saving formula. 'I apologise sincerely for my clumsiness. The journey that tired my master also seems to have had an adverse effect on my professional competence and manners- and has, in fact, left me feeling distinctly unwell. With your permission, my lady, I shall withdraw and leave Secretary Ichiwara to note down the information required."

He took his final bow, and got a curt nod in return.

'As you wish."

Ichiwara and Skull-Face paid their respects to Watanabe then moved up into the firing-line as the door-screens closed behind him.

Fran threw Steve a quick glance then said: 'Okay.

We've drunk the tea and cleared the air. Can we now get down to business?"

'B-By all means,' stammered Ichiwara. He turned to Skull-Face. 'Will you take notes, Major?"

'Awgh! For crissakes!" snapped Fran. 'We all know what the score is!" She reached into the side slit of her tunic, fished out a small pocket recorder and slapped it on the table. 'And you know what this is." She switched it on. 'If you want to talk Basic, then we're going to do things our way. Comprendo ?"

Ichiwara looked at Skull-Face and got the answer he wanted. 'Okay. Go ahead - shoot."

Steve shook his head in wonderment. He'd pulled some strokes in his time, but never anything like this. The bad sea voyage had obviously raised Fran's bile, but this was something else. She had come out of her corner like a mountain bear with a swarm of bees up its a.s.s and just bitten these guys' heads off! He caught the eye of his old sparring partner, Skull-Face. Fujiwara read the unspoken question and winked to let Steve know how things stood.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

Receiving word that the great man was now awake and in his bath, Chief Secretary Katanabe ordered Ichiwara to bring up the rest of Lord Ieyasu's luggage and the travelling cabinets of paperwork that followed the Lord Chamberlain on his travels.

The task was almost completed when Ieyasu emerged from his quarters looking a great deal better than he had on arrival. Two hundred and seventy-five miles of shake, rattle and roll would have left anyone feeling the worse for wear and Ieyasu - now a gaunt eighty-year-old bag of bones - had long pa.s.sed the point where he could take such a journey in his stride.

The reason for much of the discomfort endured by travellers was not hard to find: despite their amazing virtuosity in many areas of construction and design, Iron Masters had not got around to building wheeled vehicles with sprung cha.s.sis. Ieyasu's recovery after a two hour nap was a testimony to his tenacious hold on life.

Watanabe signalled the servants to put down the last of their loads where they stood, then waved them from the room. leyasu's guards followed, closing the door behind them.

Ieyasu motioned his secretaries to be seated and eased himself creakily onto his cushions, using his long staff as a support. 'So... have you tested the mettle of the long-dog envoys?"

'We have, my lord."

'And how did you find them?"

Watanabe searched for a suitable phrase. 'Sharp-tongued .... ' Ieyasu, who had built up a dossier on the key personalities in the upper echelons of the First Family, chuckled.

'Yes, I believe she can be."

Watanabe failed to see the joke. 'Secretary Ichiwara made a note of their proposals. It is, as we antic.i.p.ated, an offer to supply us with military, industrial and technical a.s.sistance."

'Good. But before we speak of this, let us deal with the other matter that was causing us concern these past few days. I believe you have some good news for US?"

Ichiwara bowed and backed away. As he left the room, Watanabe said: 'Will you require a written record of this meeting, sire?"

Ieyasu shook his head. Ichiwara brought in Samurai-Captain Mashimatsu, No.2 Company Commander of the Palace Guard, then took his usual place at the writing table on Ieyasu's left, opposite Watanabe.

Afterthe ritual bow and exchange of greetings, Mashimatsu gave Ieyasu an account of an 'incident' that had occurred during the night before last at Beishura.

Following a mysterious explosion an ocean-going junk had gone down, stern first, with the loss of almost everyone on board.

The vessel, chartered at Oshana-sita, had been ordered to anchor off-sh.o.r.e pending customs inspection by harbour officials. There were a handful of survivors crewmen who were asleep in the forward part of the vessel when the explosion occurred - but no trace had been found of the twenty or so pa.s.sengers believed to have been on board at the time.