Tokyo Bay (19 page)

‘WILL YOU TELL ME
now why you were being held a prisoner
-
and why you put on the disguise of a peasant to escape?’
Robert Eden rose to pull on his own shabby cotton trousers and went to stand beside the open grain
-
doors. As he waited for the Japanese girl to answer his question, he held his breath and listened carefully for the muffled sounds of approaching footsteps, or the drum of hoofbeats among the trees. But no unnatural noises reached his ears and he stood for a moment gazing abstractedly at the shining image of Mount Fuji, marvelling once more at its extraordinary vividness and clarity.
‘My story may be difficult for you to understand.’
‘I’d like to try,’ said Eden, turning his head to look at her again. ‘Perhaps if you use only plain words...’
Tokiwa was still sprawled on the straw, with her eyes closed and one arm thrown back across her face. In the faint light shed by the lantern, her body seemed to glow like polished amber against the blue silk on which she was lying. As he gazed down at her, Eden felt himself moved anew by the slenderness and delicacy of her naked beauty.
‘You speak the language of Nippon well: murmured Tokiwa.
‘Sentaro joined my ship long before we left America. I made him teach me the language of Nippon for many months
-
and every day on the long voyage here. .
Eden walked back across the loft and, kneeling down, took her tenderly into his arms once more. For several moments she lay still, drawing an invisible pattern across his bare chest with the tip of her forefinger. When she raised her dark eyes to look at him, the expression in them was soft and languorous, and her voice was still half drowsy with desire.
‘It all happened so suddenly. I had no time to think.’ Tokiwa flattened the palm of one small hand against his chest, and continued to caress him with a distant expression in her eyes. ‘Panic broke out in the streets of Yedo when we heard that the black ships were on their way. People came running from their houses in fear. . . Many hid their precious possessions. . . Many others fled from the capital
-
’ She broke off and a faint look of alarm appeared on her face. ‘What is going to happen? Is there going to be war?’
Eden drew her close, exploring the curve of her naked hip thoughtfully with one hand. ‘America wishes only to trade peacefully with Nippon. I know this must seem like a lie to you, but we don’t want war.’
‘I’ve heard that the black ships have come with many terrifying guns: persisted Tokiwa. ‘Why are
they
necessary if you don’t want to fight?’
Eden shrugged. ‘We came in armed men-of-war because we didn’t wish to be driven away like other “foreign barbarian” ships before us. For two long centuries Nippon has cut itself off completely from all other nations. The leaders of my country, for their own selfish reasons, decided to drag your country back into the world again . .
‘Why didn’t they just leave us alone?’ asked Tokiwa in a small voice. ‘Why did they have to come here?’
‘Because they believe that what they’re doing is right
-
though I disagree. I believe we shouldn’t threaten and bully other peaceful countries. Fighting could begin by accident. .
‘Will your warriors from the black ships invade Nippon and make us slaves?’ asked Tokiwa, searching his face anxiously.
Eden stroked her long hair for a moment. ‘I swam ashore secretly, without permission. I wanted to see if I could do something to prevent war. But it may not be possible . .
Tokiwa pressed her face against his shoulder, and he tightened his arms around her. Not far away, up the hillside, another large night bird screeched loudly, then flapped off through the tree-tops as though disturbed suddenly from its roost. Eden raised his head and followed the progress of its clumsy f
l
ight, his ears straining without success to pick up any accompanying sounds of move
m
ent from the ground. He continued to listen until deep silence had settled over the forest again; only then did he lift her chin gently with one hand so that she was forced to meet his gaze.
‘Will you tell me now why you were running away in disguise?’
Tokiwa sat up and arranged the silken kimono loosely about her shoulders. ‘A young nobleman of high birth, whom I have entertained often in Yedo, came to me soon after the commotion began in the streets. His name is Prince Tanaka of Kumatore. He said there were great disputes about the arrival of the barbarian black ships. Some
daimyo
wanted to attack the ships at once, although it might cost many lives. Others felt certain that course would be disastrous for Nippon and wanted to wait.’
Eden frowned. ‘But how did all that affect you?’
‘Prince Tanaka said he was deeply involved and his enemies might kidnap or kill me
in
order to harm him. So, for my own safety, he said I had to leave Yedo with his guards.’
‘Where did they take you?’
‘To an inn ten miles north of here. They held me there like a prisoner. I was afraid, I had seen so many people fleeing. I thought a war had already begun, and I might never see my family again.
‘Why didn’t you stay with them at the inn?’
‘I became frightened of my guards. The man you fought at the waterfall was their chief. I didn’t know what they intended to do with me if Prince Tanaka should be killed or not return. So I bribed a peasant maid to bring me clothes and find me a horse.’
‘You are brave,’ whispered Eden, ‘as well as very beautiful.’
Tokiwa looked gravely at him. ‘My father was a samurai. Many like him were made destitute after the clan wars ended. He became a merchant
-
but sadly he was too fond of gambling.’
‘What happened?’ prompted Eden gently.
‘He lost everything he owned in just one night in the pleasure district of Yedo. To save him from ruin, I agreed to be sold to a geisha house there. The daughters of samurai, as well as their sons, are brought up to face life without flinching.’
Eden took both her hands in. his, and held them against his lips. Looking again into her dark, upswept eyes, he felt a new rush of desire stir deep inside him. The dark silk, dusted with stars, seemed to enhance the allure of her now half
-
naked body, and he bent his head to kiss her fiercely on the mouth. When they drew apart again, both were breathing unevenly.
‘Fate is strange,’ whispered Tokiwa. ‘We both saw the fantastic light in the sky
-
and we both became fugitives in peasant clothes on the same night.’
‘Yes, it is very curious,’ said Eden huskily.
‘I made a silent promise when I prayed at the
yadoya,’
continued Tokiwa. ‘I promised I’d give my love to any man the
kami
deemed worthy, if my prayers were answered.’ She hesitated, looking over his shoulder once more towards
M
ount Fuji. ‘That’s why I unfastened my sash so readily for you. . . and gave you my kimono of stars to wear. It seemed as though the
kami
wished it.’ She turned away from the mountain and searched his face. ‘Do you believe it was fate that caused our paths to cross?’
Eden did not answer at once. ‘Since that terrible night in the forest I haven’t believed in anything,’ he murmured at last. ‘Often during that time I haven’t cared whether I lived or died. . But I don’t feel like that
anymore
.’
The words faded in his throat and he moved against her suddenly, glorying once more in the sensation of her warm nakedness pressed along the length of his body. With a sigh, Tokiwa wound herself more tightly against him, and he was bending his head to kiss her again when a sudden rush of feet on the loft ladder broke the silence inside the barn. Moonlight fa
ll
ing through the broken roof flashed on Gotaro’s drawn sword as he leapt from the top of the ladder with a loud cry; in the same instant Eden rolled desperately sideways, to snatch up his own sword and scramble to his feet.
Tokiwa screamed loudly as the samurai’s first blow, delivered with great speed and force, was only half parried by Eden’s hastily raised blade. The cutlass flew from his hand and Eden staggered backwards off-balance, until he fell to his knees beside the open grain-doors. The samurai bore in on him, lifting his sword high for another disabling strike and Tokiwa screamed a second time as she shrank back against the wooden wall in terror.
‘Tomemas!.
. Stop!’
The commanding voice of
P
rince Tanaka rose above the geisha’s scream as he forced Sentaro up the ladder and clambered swiftly into the loft behind him. Gotaro froze, with his sword arm raised high, then took two steps backwards to pick up Eden’s fallen blade. When he had tucked it safely in his sash, he dropped into a half-crouch, glowering at the kneeling American.
‘Watch him carefully!’
The guard flourished his sword threateningly, while Tanaka moved to the lantern and took it down from its hook. Lifting his arm he let its glow fall on Tokiwa, who was still backed up against the wall, watching him with
apprehensive
eyes. For a long moment he looked at her in silence, then stepped closer.
‘Why are you here alone with the barbarian spy?’ he asked in a voice which quivered with anger. ‘How did you come together?’
‘I was bathing at a waterfall after my long dusty journey,
O
Kami-san,’ replied Tokiwa in little more than a whisper. ‘I had not seen him. But he caught sight of Gotaro running to seize me. He rushed out of the trees and came to my aid, without any request on my part.’
‘That doesn’t explain what made you come to this place with him,’ snapped Tanaka. ‘Why are you here alone with an enemy of your country?’
‘Many horsemen were approaching from all directions,
O
Kami-san...’ began Tokiwa, but Eden’s voice cut across her suddenly.
‘I brought her here by force. She had no choice! I snatched her up on my horse!’
Tanaka’s eyes glittered with controlled fury in his otherwise impassive face, but he did not turn to look at Eden. ‘And did the barbarian spy force you to lie in the straw with him?’
Tokiwa dropped her gaze under the ferocity of his scrutiny, but said nothing. For another long moment the horses shifting in the straw below the loft provide
d
the only sound in the silent barn.
‘I kept her here against her will,’ said Eden sharply. ‘It was my wish to talk with her!’
‘Is what he says true?’ demanded Tanaka.
Tokiwa hesitated, then nodded. ‘Yes, but the foreign barbarian told me that he did not come ashore as a spy. Perhaps you misjudge him.’
‘By coming ashore in the dark without per
-
mission, he is committing the crimes of a spy, whatever his intentions!’
‘He says he landed secretly because he wants to prevent a war. .
Tanaka’s eyes narrowed in thought, and he turned round slowly in Eden’s direction.
B
ut before he could speak he was interrupted by a shout from Sentaro.
‘I was taken by surprise in the temple, master!’ called the castaway desperately in English. ‘I was forced on pain of death to tell them everything and show them the way here. This is Prince Tanaka of the greatly esteemed Kago clan!’
‘Shut up!’ yelled the samurai guard, swinging round to glare furiously at hi
m
. ‘Or you will be silenced permanently!’
Sentaro bowed his head by way of apology and shrank back shamefacedly into t
h
e shadows by the ladder, avoiding Eden’s gaze.
‘Say nothing more, Sentaro,’ advised Eden quietly in English, rising slowly to his feet. ‘Don’t endanger yourself in any way
‘Silence! And stay where you are!’ Tanaka barked out his order and strode across the loft, holding up the lantern as he approached so that Eden’s face was fully illuminated. Tanaka’s eyes opened wide in surprise as recognition dawned, and in the same instant Eden also realized he was l
o
oking at the senior escort to the Vice-Governor of Uraga, whom he had encountered only hours before aboard the
Susquehanna.
‘You are the barbarian officer ‘who disarmed our rash swordsman on board the black ship!’ exclaimed Tanaka. ‘We have met before.’
‘Yes,
O
Ka
m
i-san,’ replied Eden in formal Japanese. ‘You remember correctly’
Tanaka’s narrow eyes again registered surprise. ‘And you seem to know our language well!’
‘I’ve been able to learn some Nipponese said Eden evenly.. ‘Sentaro here has been a good teacher.’
Tanaka’s face remained a blank mask as he continued to scrutinize Eden by the light of the lamp. Staring back at him, Eden noticed how still the Japanese stood, never moving a muscle. Only his burning eyes hinted that he was struggling to subdue a turmoil of conflicting emotions.
‘You’ve dared to land secretly among us at night, while your black ships threaten us with war,’ he said in a controlled voice. ‘Those are the actions of a spy
-
and spying against Nippon is a crime instantly punishable by death!’
‘Let me finish him now,
O
Kami-san,’ cried Gotaro, stepping forward impulsively, sword in hand. ‘He deserves to die!’
‘Wait! Not yet!’
Tanaka motioned the guard back with a dismissive gesture. He had not taken his eyes from Eden’s face, and he moved a step nearer to him, dropping a precautionary hand onto the hilt of his own sword.
‘If you had been hunted down by others you would no longer be alive,’ he continued in the same icy tone. ‘When news of your capture spreads there will be demands for your immediate execution.’
Eden returned the gaze of the Japanese steadily, but said nothing. From the corner of his eye he had just caught sight of the gun belt which he had removed earlier, when stretching out in the straw. The belt and the holster containing his Colt pistol lay partly concealed by straw on the floorboards of the loft only six feet away, at the edge of the circle of light cast by the lantern. Knowing that a direct glance might draw attention to the weapon, he kept his eyes averted while calculating whether he could lunge to grab it before the hovering samurai guard struck him down.
‘You claim you’re not a spy,’ continued Tanaka stonily. ‘You say you came ashore to seek some way of avoiding war. But a spy always lies. Why should we believe you?’
‘Because I tell the truth,