Tokyo Bay (28 page)

A
WINDOWLESS
black-lacquered
norimono,
being carried swiftly through the same persistent mists above Uraga, jolted and bounced alarmingly on the shoulders of its four fast-trotting bearers. A group of mounted samurai cavalrymen, holding aloft the fluttering clan standards of Lord Daizo of Haifu, were riding in close formation around the traditional conveyance that for many centuries had been employed to transport noblemen or officials of rank in secluded privacy Its small wooden cabin was suspended from a single, stout carrying-pole borne by two pairs of brawny coolies front and back, and the samurai escort cast watchful glances in all directions as they hurried them over the crest of a low wooded bill. In the distance the curved rooftops that crowned a
daimyo’s
hilltop castle became faintly visible and, on catching sight of the fortress, the samurai captain shouted urgent new orders to the bearers to accelerate their pace still further.
Inside the wildly bouncing
norimono
th
e
thin, scholarly face of Haniwara Tokuma, who had acted as interpreter for all the encounters on board the American black ships, was already pale with apprehension. He was trying to brace himself more
rigidly
on the conveyance’s narrow seat to lessen his discomfort, and from time to time he clutched frantically at his lacquered bonnet
to
prevent it being knocked askew. But on hearing the samurai captain’s order to speed up, his expression grew more agitated. Even though he could see little or nothing from inside what was effectively a tiny wooden cage, he sensed they must be approaching their destination and the headlong downhill gallop of the bearers, which jolted him more painfully than ever in his seat, seemed to confirm his suspicions.
The unexpected arrival of the
norimono
and its escort, while he was resting in a guest pavilion at the governor’s residence in Uraga, had surprised but not alarmed him. The samurai captain had bowed and greeted him respectfully enough in announcing that he was summoned to an immediate audience with Lord Daizo of Haifu. But as soon as they had left the palace, the
norimono
had speeded up alarmingly and the guards had insolently ignored all his shouted demands for an explanation of their haste. His frantic requests for them to slow down had also gone unanswered and he had soon lapsed into a fearful silence, realizing that he was being subjected to these deliberate indignities in preparati
o
n for something worse.
After reaching level ground and climbing gradually again, the
norimono
passed through several guarded gateways until at last
it
halted and the expressionless samurai captain wrenched open the tiny door of the conveyance inside the castle courtyard. He gestured for the scholar-official to disembark, without offering any of the courtesies appropriate to his rank, then turned and strode quickly away towards a porta
l
led door.
‘You will follow me,’ he called brusquely over his shoulder. ‘You are to be received immediately by Lord Daizo.’
Three other samurai fell into step behind him, their hands resting pointedly on the hilts of their swords, and he was marched into the castle. They passed rapidly along wide stone corridors hung with weapons and shields bearing the Makabe clan insig
ni
a, and mounted a flight of steps to a small, bare audience chamber where Lord Daizo, a glowering burly figure dressed in a formal kimono of dark blue silk, was seated cross-legged on a small cushioned platform. The taller, more youthful figure of his son Yakamochi, who wore the armour, battle-jacket and twin swords of a warrior nobleman, stood behind the dais, to one side, his features composed in an expression of hostility similar to his father’s. After prostrating themselves in their
daimyo’s
direction, the four samurai guards took up station watchfully beside the doorway, and motioned Haniwara Tokuma to step forward. The interpreter bowed low and prostrated himself in his turn, pressing his forehead three times against the tatami; then he looked up with an anxious
expectancy
towards the grim-faced
dai
m
yo.
‘Nippon’s most sacred laws are those which forbid the admission of all foreign barbarians to our country;’ snapped Daizo, gazing coldly at the interpreter. ‘And because those sacred laws have now been violated, the divine dignity of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor is grossly offended.’ The
daimyo
paused and glared challengingly across the audience chamber. ‘Do you agree, Haniwara-san?’
‘You speak the truth, my lord,’ said Ha
ni
wara uncertainly. ‘That is self-evident.’
‘If we revere His Imperial Majesty; and believe the land of the gods is sullied by the presence of even a single hideous alien, then we must strive mightily to expel him!’ The
daimyo
paused again to stare
belligerently
at the interpreter. ‘Do I speak with truth on that matter also, Haniwara
-
san?’
‘Your speech is very clear, my lord? The interpreter lowered his eyes evasively. ‘Very clear indeed?
‘I’m glad you think so
-
that will make
it
easier for you to assist me?
‘Rest assured, my lord, that is my wish,’ said the interpreter, still staring down at the tatami. ‘I will assist you in any way that is in my power?
‘Good: said Daizo heavily. ‘Because I have brought you here to help me find the foreign barbarian spy who has sneaked ashore from the black ships.’
The interpreter looked up sharply, his anxiety showing more clearly on his face. ‘How can I do that, my lord?’
‘We shall see: said Daizo, staring intently at Haniwara to gauge his reaction. ‘But, to make your mind rest easier in these dangerous times, I should tell you I have sent guards to the home of your wife and children in Yedo. I have taken them all under my personal protection, and conveyed them to a secret destination. So you can help me now without fearing in any way for their safety... or informing anyone else of our conversations.’
Haniwara’s face turned pale as he realized that his family had become helpless hostages of the ruthless
daimyo.
In Daizo’s hard, narrow eyes he could see a fierce glitter of satisfaction, and again he lowered his head in order to disguise his true feelings.
‘I am grateful for your concern about those dearest to me, my lord,’ he said unsteadily. ‘Tell me how I may offer you assistance.’
‘Yesterday I sent my best samurai to hunt down the hideous alien in the region of the coastal fort where he was found spying
-
but he had disappeared without any trace! I wish to know from you whether he has returned secretly to the black ships.’
Haniwara continued to stare downward, avoiding the
daimyo’s
fixed gaze. ‘No, my lord, I am sure he has not yet returned to his ship. This morning the barbarian interpreter asked me in confidence if there was any news of him. And many guards are now patrolling the entire shoreline.’
‘But he
stil
l
has not been found!’ Daizo’s eyes blazed angrily. “What else do the foreign barbarians say about their treacherous spy?’
‘They try to insist he is not a spy, my lord. They say he came ashore without permission, only because he wishes there to be peace and friendship between Nippon and the foreign barbarians. They say that is why they revealed his actions to us.’
‘Those are lies!’ shouted Daizo. ‘That is their treachery! They say such things
to
mislead us
-
and to disguise their true intentions
‘Perhaps my lord is right said the interpreter faintly. ‘I can only report what has been said to me.’
‘Already the foreign barbarians are making slaves of the peoples of China and India,’ fumed Daizo. ‘And they wish to enslave Nippon in the same way. As usual they are employing a clever mixture of threats and deceit. We will only escape their slavery if we fight to the death
-
now
without delay!’
‘I follow the orders of others in doing my duties, my lord,’ said the interpreter helplessly. ‘At present I attend upon the Governor of Uraga. Perhaps you forget I have no say in what is to be done.’
‘The orders given to you and the governor come from weak and cowardly men obsessed with compromise,’ rasped Daizo, leaning forward and thrusting out his jaw aggressively. ‘The Shogun is near to death, too ill to act decisively in the matte
r
of the barbarian ships. Because of this, our ruling council is in the grip of terrible indecision and uncertainty’
‘What will be the outcome?’ asked Haniwara, lifting his head diffidently. ‘How can the issue be resolved?’
‘The fearful nobles who favour appeasement have won the day so far,’ said Daizo, spitting out his words contemptuously. ‘They want us to appear to do the bidding of the foreign barbarians, while playing for time. They think the barbarians will negotiate fairly! They think that in time we can learn all the barbarian secrets, and so build up our national strength to match theirs. But if we delay so long
it
will be too late to save ourselves! And I, Daizo Shitomi, Lord of Haifu, will not allow that delay!’
‘What will you do, my lord?’
‘I shall capture the foreign spy! I shall bring him in chains to Uraga, and expose their gross treachery for all to see. Then everyone who doubts will know there is only one sure way to rid ourselves of these foreign barbarians
-
by fighting! To our last drop of blood if necessary!’
The
daimyo
sat back on his cushion, looking hard at Haniwara. From his position behind the cushioned dais, his narrow-eyed son a]so regarded the interpreter with an unwavering stare.
‘Perhaps you have some other knowledge that could assist us,’ said the younger man in a quieter voice. ‘Something you may have omitted to impart previously because of your understandable anxiety at the circumstances in which you have been brought here today:
‘What have you in mind, your lordship?’ asked Haniwara, looking towards the
daimyo’s
son with a startled expression in his eyes.
Yakamochi blinked slowly. ‘Think carefully. There must be something. . . Something which could per
-
haps help ensure the safety and survival of your beloved family.’
On recognizing the undisguised threat for what it was, a look of desperation came into the interpreter’s eyes, and his demeanour became flustered. ‘Yes, yes . . . perhaps there is something. . . In the last hour another suspected sighting of the barbarian spy has been reported
-
by a courier who had ridden at top speed from the estate of a noble lord in the region of Fuji-san.’
‘From Fuji-san?’ echoed the
dai
m
yo
angrily. ‘Why have you not mentioned this before?’
‘I didn’t wish to risk misleading you with unreliable information,’ stammered the interpreter, looking more uneasy than before. ‘There have been many false alarms. . . and so far there is no certain confirmation of this report.’
‘What did the courier from the region of Fuji-san say?’ barked the
daimyo.
‘Tell us. And be quick!’
‘He said that the foreign barbarian was seen near the sacred mountain
-
at the foot of
the
south-eastern ascent route.’ The interpreter paused nervously. ‘He appeared to be disguised in farme
r
’s clothing, and was accompanied by a Nipponese who bought some extra climbing garments and staves... The courier also said about twenty samurai of the Kago clan were riding in pursuit with their prince...’
‘Tanaka!’ Daizo let out an exclamation of anger, and after a moment’s thought he turned to give orders to his son in an urgent undertone.
‘Go immediately yourself! Take fifty of our bravest warriors. And send messengers to find our other search group. Order them to join you at the foot of the south-eastern ascent. And also be sure to send back couriers to bring me regular reports!’
Without hesitation Yakamochi bowed low and ran silently from the audience chamber. On his cushioned dais the
daimyo
remained motionless in his cross
-
legged posture, staring again at the uncomfortable interpreter. A whole minute passed in silence, but when at last he spoke his voice had become more thoughtful.
‘You have been aboard the black ships three times, Haniwara-san. You must have made some estimate of the total number of barbarian fighting men present on their ships. What is your opinion?’
The interpreter shifted uneasily on the tatami. ‘I am no expert in martial matters, my lord. . . but their fighting men can only be numbered in hundreds
-
fewer than one thousand in all:
Daizo nodded slowly in satisfaction. ‘We already have more than one hundred thousand men-at-arms stationed along the shores of Yedo Bay. And more are arriving all the time. By tomorrow there will be one hundred and fifty thousand... The next day perhaps two hundred thousand. .
The
daimyo
paused to listen to the sound of many horses clattering swiftly across the castle’s cobbled courtyard. A shouted command, then another, drifted up to the open window of the audience chamber, confirming that the samurai troop under the command of his son was departing fro
m
the castle. As he listened, an expression of satisfaction flitted across his face.
‘Soon the barbarian spy will be my captive, Haniwara-san he continued quietly ‘Then those who still doubt will be roused to action. And even though there may be many powerful new weapons on board their black ships, the foreign barbarians will not be able to resist a surprise attack by two hundred thousand men of Nippon!’
As soon as he had finished speaking, Lord Daizo dismissed his visitor with a peremptory jerk of his head, and the interpreter was soon hunched miserably on the narrow seat of the black-lacquered