Shogun (The Asian Saga Chronology) (30 page)

"Ah, Toranaga-sama, you're so kind."  Hiro-matsu became serious.  "You could reward all of us, Sire, by leaving this hornet's nest at once, and going back to your castle at Yedo where your vassals can protect you.  Here we're naked.  Any moment Ishido could—"

"I will.  As soon as the Council of Regents meeting is concluded."  Toranaga turned and beckoned the lean-faced Portuguese who was sitting patiently in his shadow.  "Will you interpret for me now, my friend?"

"Certainly, Sire."  The tonsured priest came forward, with practiced grace kneeled in Japanese style close to the dais, his body as spare as his face, his eyes dark and liquid, an air of serene concentration about him.  He wore tabi socks and a flowing kimono that seemed, on him, to belong.  A rosary and a carved golden cross hung at his belt.  He greeted Hiro-matsu as an equal, then glanced pleasantly at Blackthorne.

"My name is Martin Alvito of the Society of Jesus, Captain-Pilot.  Lord Toranaga has asked me to interpret for him."

"First tell him that we're enemies and that—"

"All in good time," Father Alvito interrupted smoothly.  Then he added, "We can speak Portuguese, Spanish, or, of course, Latin—whichever you prefer."

Blackthorne had not seen the priest until the man came forward.  The dais had hidden him, and the other samurai.  But he had been expecting him, forewarned by Rodrigues, and loathed what he saw: the easy elegance, the aura of strength and natural power of the Jesuits.  He had assumed the priest would be much older, considering his influential position and the way Rodrigues had talked about him.  But they were practically of an age, he and the Jesuit.  Perhaps the priest was a few years older.

"Portuguese," he said, grimly hoping that this might give him a slight advantage.  "You're Portuguese?"

"I have that privilege."

"You're younger than I expected."

"Senhor Rodrigues is very kind.  He gives me more credit than I deserve.  He described you perfectly.  Also your bravery."

Blackthorne saw him turn and talk fluently and affably to Toranaga for a while, and this further perturbed him.  Hiro-Matsu alone, of all the men in the room, listened and watched attentively.  The rest stared stonily into space.

"Now, Captain-Pilot, we will begin.  You will please listen to everything that Lord Toranaga says, without interruption," Father Alvito began.  "Then you will answer.  From now on I will be translating what you say almost simultaneously, so please answer with great care."

"What's the point?  I don't trust you!"

Immediately Father Alvito was translating what he had said to Toranaga, who darkened perceptibly.

Be careful, thought Blackthorne, he's playing you like a fish!  Three golden guineas to a chewed farthing he can land you whenever he wants.  Whether or not he translates accurately, you've got to create the correct impression on Toranaga.  This may be the only chance you'll ever have.

"You can trust me to translate exactly what you say as best I can."  The priest's voice was gentle, in complete command.  "This is the court of Lord Toranaga.  I am the official interpreter to the Council of Regents, to General Lord Toranaga and to General Lord Ishido.  Lord Toranaga has favored me with his confidence for many years.  I suggest you answer truthfully because I can assure you he is a most discerning man.  Also I should point out that I am not Father Sebastio, who is, perhaps, overzealous and does not, unfortunately, speak Japanese very well, or, unfortunately, have much experience in Japan.  Your sudden presence took away God's grace from him and, regrettably, he allowed his personal past to overwhelm him—his parents and brothers and sisters were massacred in the most horrible way in the Netherlands by your—by forces of the Prince of Orange.  I ask your indulgence for him and your compassion."  He smiled benignly.  "The Japanese word for 'enemy' is
'teki.'
  You may use it if you wish.  If you point at me and use the word, Lord Toranaga will understand clearly what you mean.  Yes, I am your enemy, Captain-Pilot John Blackthorne.  Completely.  But not your assassin.  That you will do yourself."

Blackthorne saw him explain to Toranaga what he had said and heard the word "
teki
" used several times and he wondered if it truly meant "enemy."  Of course it does, he told himself.  This man's not like the other one.

"Please, for a moment, forget that I exist," Father Alvito said.  "I'm merely an instrument for making your answers known to Lord Toranaga, exactly as I will put
his
questions to you."  Father Alvito settled himself, turned to Toranaga, bowed politely.

Toranaga spoke curtly.  The priest began translating simultaneously, a few words or so later, his voice an uncanny mirror of inflection and inner meaning.

"Why are you an enemy of Tsukku-san, my friend and interpreter, who's an enemy of no one?"  Father Alvito added by way of explanation, "Tsukku-san's my nickname as Japanese cannot pronounce my name either.  They have no 'l' or 'th' sounds in their language.  Tsukku's a pun on the Japanese word '
tsuyaku
'—to interpret.  Please answer the question."

"We're enemies because our countries are at war."

"Oh?  What is your country?"

"England."

"Where's that?"

"It's an island kingdom, a thousand miles north of Portugal.  Portugal's part of a peninsula in Europe."

"How long have you been at war with Portugal?"

"Ever since Portugal became a
vassal
state of Spain.  That was in 1580, twenty years ago.  Spain conquered Portugal.  We're really at war with Spain.  We've been at war with Spain for almost thirty years."

Blackthorne noticed Toranaga's surprise and his searching glance at Father Alvito, who stared serenely into the distance.

"You say Portugal's part of Spain?"

"Yes, Lord Toranaga.  A vassal state.  Spain conquered Portugal and now they're in effect the same country with the same king.  But the Portuguese are subservient to Spain in most parts of the world and their leaders treated as unimportant in the Spanish Empire."

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 pilot?"

"Yes."

"Where are the others?"

"Out to sea," Blackthorne said carefully, continuing his lie, presuming that Toranaga had been primed to ask certain questions by Alvito.  "We were split up in a storm and scattered.  Where exactly I don't know, Sire."

"Your ships were English?"

"No, Sire.  Dutch.  From Holland."

"Why is an Englishman in charge of Dutch ships?"

"That's not unusual, Sire.  We're allies—Portuguese pilots sometimes lead Spanish ships and fleets.  I understand Portuguese pilots con some of your ocean-going ships by law."

"There are no Dutch pilots?"

"Many, Sire.  But for such a long voyage English are more experienced."

"But why you?  Why did they want
you
to lead their ships?"

"Probably because my mother was Dutch and I speak the language fluently and I'm experienced.  I was glad of the opportunity."

"Why?"

"This was my first opportunity to sail into these waters.  No English ships were planning to come so far.  This was a chance to circumnavigate."

"You yourself, Pilot, you joined the fleet because of your religion and to war against your enemies Spain and Portugal?"

"I'm a pilot, Sire, first and foremost.  No one English or Dutch has been in these seas before.  We're primarily a trading fleet, though we've letters of marque to attack the enemy in the New World.  We came to Japan to trade."

"What are letters of marque?"

"Legal licenses issued by the Crown—or government—giving authority to war on the enemy."

"Ah, and your enemies are here.  Do you plan to war on them here?"

"We did not know what to expect when we got here, Sire.  We came here only to trade.  Your country's almost unknown—it's legend.  The Portuguese and Spanish are very closemouthed about this area."

"Answer the question: Your enemies are here.  Do you plan to war on them here?"

"If they war on me.  Yes."

Toranaga shifted irritably.  "What you do at sea or in your own countries is your own affair.  But here there is one law for all and foreigners are in our land by permission only. 
Any
public mischief or quarrel is dealt with immediately by death.  Our laws are clear and will be obeyed.  Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sire.  But we come in peace.  We came here to trade.  Could we discuss trade, Sire?  I need to careen my ship and make repairs—we can pay for everything.  Then there's the ques—"

"When I wish to discuss trade or anything else I will tell you.  Meanwhile please confine yourself to answering the questions.  So you joined the expedition to trade, for profit, not because of duty or loyalty?  For money?"

"Yes. It's our custom, Sire.  To be paid and to have a share of all plun—of all trade and all enemy goods captured."

"So you're a mercenary?"

"I was hired as senior pilot to lead the expedition.  Yes."  Blackthorne could feel Toranaga's hostility but he did not understand why.  What did I say that was wrong?  Didn't the priest say I'd assassinate myself?

"It's a normal custom with us, Toranaga-sama," he said again.

Toranaga started conversing with Hiro-matsu and they exchanged views in obvious agreement.  Blackthorne thought he could see disgust in their faces.  Why?  Obviously it has something to do with "mercenary," he thought.  What's wrong with that?  Isn't everyone paid?  How else do you make enough money to live on?  Even if you've inherited land, you still—

"You said earlier you came here to trade peacefully," Toranaga was saying.  "Why then do you carry so many guns and so much powder, muskets and shot?"

"Our Spanish and Portuguese enemies are very powerful and strong, Lord Toranaga.  We have to protect ourselves and—"

"You're saying your arms are merely defensive?"

"No.  We use them not only to protect ourselves but to attack our enemies.  And we produce them in abundance for trade, the best quality arms in the world.  Perhaps we could trade with you in these, or in the other goods we carried."