第17节

the middle of the wheel but the sole surviving man on her

right was too far away. Oblivious of the danger, her nearest companion

reached out towards her. Their hands closed round each other's

wrists.

Clearwater willed them to succeed. To find the strength to climb over

the top and make that final leap into the sea beyond. It was not to

be. Within seconds, the woman was clinging with both hands to the arm

of her helper as she made one last frantic attempt to get her feet back

into step with the moving blades. It was hopeless but she refused to

let go and, an instant later, they both tumbled to their death beneath

the wheel.

A new command from Yama-Shita was relayed to the engine room. The

wheel slowed rapidly and, when it came to rest, the white-stripes

ordered the two weary survivors to climb down, laughing and patting

them on the back. The young man was the one Clearwater had chosen.

The sudden switch from sadistic brutality to apparent sympathy at

having survived the terrible ordeal had left him and the remaining

woman confused and close to tears. The six armed red-stripes moved in

and hustled them towards YamaShita.

On the order of the samurai-interpreter they turned the pair towards

Clearwater and forced them to their knees.

'Lord Yama-Shita wishes to know if you are happy to accept the gift of

these two individuals now that they have given proof of their

fitness."

Clearwater bowed in the direction of the domain-lord.

'I am deeply honoured to receive any token- be it great or small - from

the hands of the most high lord, and will do all within my power to

make my undeserving self worthy of his unparalleled generosity."

The samurai interpreter turned back to YamaShita expectantly. The

domain-lord nodded. The samurai bowed, then spun on his heel. 'They

will be brought before you shortly." He barked out another

unintelligible order to the red-stripes and waved Clearwater to her

feet.

She paid the usual courtesies to YamaoShita and was escorted back to

her cramped quarters.

That evening, at the time the two house-women usually brought her

something to eat, the door was unlocked by the usual red-stripe but

instead of the two small dark-eyed women, Su-Shan and Nan-Khe, the

samurai interpreter entered followed by two white-stripes carrying two

circular dishes covered with domed lids. Clearwater knelt as she was

required to do when in the presence of a samurai.

The whites placed the dishes on the low table in front of her and

withdrew.

The samurai motioned to her to lift the lids from the dishes.

Clearwater did so and found herself confronted by the severed heads of

the two Mutes who had survived the ordeal on the paddle wheel. That,

in itself, was bad enough, but they had not simply been beheaded, they

had been savagely mutilated as well.

Clearwater was no stranger to either death or violence, but the cruelty

that had been inflicted on this luckless pair made her senses reel.

The samurai bowed. 'Lord Yama-Shita wishes you to reflect on the fate

of your Mute friends." He placed a subtle emphasis on the word

'friends'. 'If such things can happen to those who did nothing to

incur my lord's displeasure, then the fate of those who betray him will

be terrible indeed." So saying, he picked up the domed lids and

brought them together sharply, smashing them to pieces.

Clearwater flinched as the fragments of porcelain showered over her.

'You will never speak of this journey to anyone. Nor will you ever

reveal what you have seen or who you have spoken to since you left the

presence of Consul-General Nakane Toh-Shiba. In particular you will

never confess to having been in the presence of Lord Yama-Shita. Is

that understood?"

Clearwater nodded meekly, and tried to avoid looking at the charred

sockets that had once framed the eyes of the two young Mutes. 'Yes,

sire..."

The samurai gestured to the severed heads. 'Neither you or your

house-women are to touch these. They will remain here, uncovered, on

this table, until you are ordered to leave this vessel. Is that also

understood, long-dog bitch?"

'Yes, sire." Clearwater remained with her head bowed until the samurai

left the room.

And I also swear by Mo-Town, the great Sky Mother, and by the might of

Talisman, the Thrice-Gifted One, that the deaths of my brothers and