第9节

unpure' breeds who inhabited the lower strata of Iron

Master society. To a true Son of Ne-Issan - a samurai from a noble

family the provision of such inferior servants would have been a mortal

insult; to the long-dog, unaware of such subtleties, it was an

undreamt-of luxury.

During an earlier visit, Toshiro had tactfully conveyed to the

domain-lord the Shogun's feeling that Brickman's unprecedented

elevation from slave status was both unnecessary and inappropriate.

Lord Min-Orota had been at pains to reassure him that it was purely a

temporary arrangement which could bring important material benefits not

only to his house but to the Shogun himself.

And the long-dog's eventual fall from grace would provide an amusing

diversion.

But there were other aspects of the present situation which were less

amusing and it was upon these that Toshiro proceeded to report. The

female Mute who had been taken into protective custody by

Consul-General Nakane Toh-Shiba had mysteriously dropped out of

circulation.

By diligent detective work and with the help of the local network of

agents and informers, Toshiro had uncovered an illicit sexual liaison

which, although disturbing in itself, had turned out to have far more

sinister ramifications.

Toshiro reported on Brickman's latest work, then made a casual

reference to the fate of his Mute escort. 'I regret to tell you I have

received information from an unimpeachable source that the

Consul-General of Masahusa and Ro-diren has given a new meaning to the

phrase "protective custody"."

The Shogun reacted with a sharp-eyed glance. 'Are you sure of this?"

'Absolutely. By all accounts he has been gripped by a grand

passion.

The, ah... "lady" in question has been set up in some style with her

own body-slaves. Picked from the gutter, of course."

The Shogun's face showed no sign of the wave of revulsion that swept

through him. His eyes remained fixed on the garden. 'Where?"

'His estate includes a lake with a small island in the middle.

Apparently there is a house on it. The trees which surround it make it

difficult to see from the shore. I believe it has been put to similar

use before."

The Shogun nodded. His face remained impassive but Toshiro knew the

mental anguish his news had created.

Consul-General Nakane Toh-Shiba was married to one of Yoritomo's

sisters. To visit her bedchamber after coupling with a Mute slave was

an affront to her honour and one which, at the appropriate moment,

would have to be avenged.

'It's not quite as bad as it seems,' said Toshiro.

'You mean. that's the good news?"

'Yes, sire. The bad news is... she's not a Mute."

The Shogun closed his eyes and breathed deeply. 'How come you didn't

notice when she arrived?"

'I had no reason to suspect anything. We had been told the long-dog

would have a Mute warrior escort. Who could have figured she was

decked out in body-paint? I don't know what prompted her to remove her

disguise, 'but she's clear-skinned -just like Brickman. They're two of

a kind."

'Both long-dogs..."

Toshiro watched the Shogun as he weighed up the implications. Their

eyes met. 'Why the deception?"

Toshiro chose his words carefully. 'Perhaps the deal that Lord

Yama-Shita claimed to have set up with the Mutes was a... cover for a

more direct arrangement with the manufacturers."

'The Federation...?"

Toshiro bowed under the Shogun's piercing gaze. 'It's the only

explanation that makes sense, sire. On the other hand, you may know

something I don't."

'I wish I did."

'Lord Yama-Shita is a man who likes to make deals."

'And he's also ambitious. But to suggest he may be in business with

the Federation..." Yoritomo left the sentence hanging in the air.

'I am aware it's a serious charge."

'The worst kind of treason. Death for him and his immediate family,

plus the confiscation of his entire domain. But before I put Ieyasu on

the case I'm going to need-more than inspired guesswork."