第36节
Ne-Issan and rain fire upon the earth if the enemies who now shelter
in your midst are not handed over to us."
Noburo's bewilderment appeared genuine. 'What enemies?"
'I seek the masked woman you took from the road convoy and her male
companion who is to be found at a place called the Heron Pool in the
lands by the Eastern Sea."
Noburo eyed him impassively for a while, then retrieved his short-sword
and issued a lengthy order in Japanese.
His men got up and filed out, leaving only two guys sitting on either
side of him and a third standing guard by the door-screen fitted across
the mouth of the cave.
Steve smiled inwardly. His programme was up and running.
The chief ronin squared his shoulders and adopted a forbidding
expression. 'You have the means to prove truth of your words?"
'Yes. But I will need the knife you took from me."
Noburo asked the man sitting on his right to fetch it.
Leaving the knife in the scabbard. Steve pressed the concealed catches
securing the wooden side-pieces to the hilt and removed them to reveal
the microcircuitry inside. He held it out for the chief ronin to see,
then took out the tiny stylus, pressed the recall button and placed the
knife in Noburo's hands.
Holding the knife gingerly between his fingertips, Noburo reacted with
wide-eyed astonishment as the eleven familiar letters marched across
the liquid crystal display. The two ronin on either side of him looked
equally impressed. ' Hhhaawww . . ."
'What you see there is an example of the power of my people,' said
Steve. 'Those signs which appeared represent the sounds of words I
speak. With that device I can send messages to my masters in the space
of a single heartbeat."
Noburo dropped the knife on the mat in front of Steve with a curious,
almost involuntary gesture - as if he had suddenly received an electric
shock. He muttered something to his companions. All three looked
vaguely uneasy.
Steve couldn't figure it out. He clipped the wooden side-pieces back
into place and laid the sheathed knife before Noburo. 'Let us forget
the debt of honour, Captain. We both have more important matters to
attend to."
His forthright manner took Noburo's breath away and rocked the other
two back on their heels. It seemed to indicate that they also had some
knowledge of Basic.
Noburo pointed to the knife. 'What do you wish me to do with this?"
'Show it to your masters."
'We have no masters, Barickaman." Noburo seemed unable to get his
tongue around words with an 'r' in them.
'We are outlaws."
Steve bowed. 'With respect, Captain, in your nation and mine, there
are men who assume many guises in the service of their lord. I am one
of them and I believe that you too are such a man. Show your master
this knife, explain what has passed between us, and tell him that there
are things he and I need to discuss."
Noburo roared with laughter and slapped his thigh. He quickly
translated the gist of the conversation, then turned back to Steve as
his companions shared his amusement.
'I never thought I should say this to outlander, but you honour us by
your presence, cloud warrior! And we applaud your courage in face of
death! Your message will be passed to those who have interest in this
matter. I cannot promise you, uhh. deliverance, but - if all your
comrades are as valiant as you - it would be most foolish man who did
not give serious consideration to the words you speak here today."
Clearwater sat up as she saw the light of the lanterns. The cloud
warrior was returning. He was carrying a tray of food, and when they
reached the cave his escort opened both sections of the door to his
cell, allowing him to walk in upright. She glanced at Su-Shan and
Nan-Khe as narrow bands of yellow light swung to and fro across their
faces. Both were still fast asleep.
The cloud warrior sank down slowly with his back against the partition
as the door was barred, and laid the tray across his lap. Darkness
filled the cave as the lanterns receded. She heard him let out a long,
heartfelt sigh.
Clearwater slipped her fingers between the plans and touched Steve's