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Eight Islands, but sometimes I think we know nothing about anything." "Men bring reports of weapons that kill from a huge distance with lead and fire," Fumio said. "We are trying to find some for ourselves." He gazed out of the window, his eyes filled with restless yearning for that vast world beyond. I imagined confinement to the island was like imprisonment to him. Something about the strange artifact before me and the weapons of which he spoke filled me with a sense of foreboding. The height of the room, the sheer drop to the rocks below, my own tiredness, made my head reel for a moment. I tried to breathe deeply, calmly, but I could feel cold sweat break out on my forehead and prickle in my armpits. I foresaw that alliance with the pirates would both increase their strength and open the way to a flood of new things that would change completely the society I was struggling to establish myself in. The room had gone silent. I could hear the subdued sounds of the household around me, the beat of the eagle's wings, the distant hiss of the sea, the voices of the men at the port. A woman was singing quietly as she pounded rice, an old ballad of a girl who fell in love with a fisherman. The air seemed to shimmer like the sea below, as though a veil of silk had been slowly withdrawn from the face of reality. Many months ago Kenji had told me that once all men had the skills that now only the Tribe retained--and among them only a handful of individuals like myself. Soon we would vanish, too, and our skills would be forgotten, overtaken by the technical magic that the Terada so desired. I thought of my own role in eradicating those skills, thought of the Tribe members I'd already destroyed, and felt a searing pang of regret. Yet I knew I was going to make a pact with the Terada. I would not recoil now. And if the far-seemg tube and the weapons of fire would help me, I would not hesitate to use them. Page 80 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html The room steadied. My blood flowed again. No more than a few moments had passed. Terada said, "I believe you have a proposal to make. I would be interested to hear it." I told him I thought Hagi could only be taken from the sea. I outlined my plan to send half my army as a decoy to tie up the Otori forces on the riverbank while transporting the other half by ship and attacking the castle itself. In return for help from the Terada, I would reinstate them in Hagi and keep a permanent fleet of warships under their command. Once peace was restored, the clan would finance expeditions to the mainland for the exchange of learning and trade. "I know the strength and influence of your family," I concluded. "I cannot believe that you will stay here in Oshima forever." "It is true that I would like to return to my family home," Terada replied. "The Otori confiscated it, as you know." "It will be returned to you," I promised. "You are very confident," he exclaimed, snorting with amusement. "I know I can succeed with your help." "When would you make this attack?" Fumio glanced at me, his eyes bright. "As soon as possible. Speed and surprise are among my greatest weapons." "We expect the first typhoons any day now," Terada said. "That's why all our ships are in port. It will be over a month before we can put to sea again." "Then we'll move as soon as the weather clears." "You're no older than my son," he said. "What makes you think you can lead an army?" I gave him details of our forces and equipment, our base at Maruyama, and the battles we had already won. His eyes narrowed and he grunted, saying nothing for a while. I could read in him both caution and the desire for revenge. Finally he smacked his fan on the table, making the scribe flinch. He made a deep bow to me and spoke more formally than he had until now. "Lord Otori, I will help you in this endeavor and I'll see you instated in Hagi. The house and family of Terada swear it to you. We give you our allegiance, and our ships and men are yours to command." I thanked him with some emotion. He had wine brought and we drank to our agreement. Fumio was elated; as I found out later, he had reasons of his own for wanting to return to Hagi, not least the girl he was to marry. The three of us ate the midday meal together, discussing troops and strategy. Toward the middle of the afternoon Fumio took me to the port to show me the ships. Ryoma had been waiting on the quay, the tomcat sitting next to him. He greeted us effusively and followed me as closely as a shadow as we went on board the nearest ship and Fumio showed me around. I was impressed Page 81 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html by its size and capacity and the way the pirates had fortified it with walls and shields of wood. It was fitted with huge canvas sails as well as many oars. The plan that had been a vague idea in my head suddenly became real. We arranged that Fumio would send word to Ryoma as soon as the weather was favorable. I would begin moving my men north at the next full moon. The boats would come for us at the shrine, Katte Jinja, and would bring us to Oshima. We would make the assault on the city and the castle from there. "Exploring Hagi at night--it'll be just like old times," Fumio said, grinning. "I can't thank you enough. You must have pleaded my cause with your father." "There was no need: He could see all the advantages of an alliance with you, and he recognizes you as the rightful heir to the clan. But I don't think he would have agreed if you had not come, in person, alone. He was impressed. He likes boldness." I had known I must come in that fashion, but the knowledge weighed on me. So much to achieve, only I to achieve it, only I to hold together my patchy alliance. Fumio wanted me to stay longer, but I was now more eager than ever to get back to Maruyama, to start preparations, to forestall at all costs an attack by Arai. Besides, I did not trust the weather. The air was [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |