第95节

Shogun from the view of any potential assassin, sat the Consul-General

and the Herald Toshiro HaseGawa.

Their box was guarded on all four sides by government soldiers from the

Mara-bara garrison.

To Yama-Shita's right, the stand was filled with officials and

merchants from his own domain; the other half was occupied by a similar

group from the Min-Orota family. Ranged on the field before them was a

line of eight flying-horses, with a second staggered row of four

behind. All twelve were perched on wheeled trolleys.

Their gleaming white, silk-covered wings and bodies were marked on both

sides with the hinomaru, the blood-red disc that was the symbol of

Ne-Issan, Land of the Rising Sun. The tails carried two signs: a

Tracker numeral and its Japanese equivalent.

The alien markings had been necessary to allow the original workforce

of outlanders to identify the individual craft. This explanation came

from Shigamitsu, the Heron Pool commander, who was seated behind the

two domain-lords to answer any questions they might wish to put to

him.

He also informed them that the first eight flying-horses were fitted

with rocket-trays, whose efficiency would be demonstrated later: those

behind were used as gliders for initial training.

'Two samurai - a pilot and an observer - stood by the nose of each

craft and four ground-handlers were lined up under the high tails. The

aircrews were dressed in all-white outfits, with headbands bearing the

hinomaru flanked by two Japanese ideograms. Seven pilots were from the

Min-Orota, five from the Yama-Shita family, and their individual house

symbol was emblazoned on the left breast and back of their

loose-sleeved tunics.

The show began with a drumbeat parade of the cavalry and foot-soldiers

who had accompanied the two domain-lords.

Bearing the tall narrow banners of the respective houses, the cavalcade

passed between the line of flying-horses and the grandstand in review

order, led by a standard-bearer carrying the flag of the Toh-Yota

Shogunate and a detachment of government troops. It was only a token

presence, but it was customary for them to head any procession at which

the Consul-General was present in his official capacity. And since all

the spectators were, in theory, loyal subjects of the Shogun, they rose

and declaimed the oath of allegiance as Yoritomo's flying-crane banner

was carried past.

With the parade over, the troop detachments of the two domain-lords

reassembled on either side of the grandstand, with the government

soldiers ranged to the left of the Min-Orota and within a stone's throw

of the wall separating the flying field from the tree-fringed grounds

at the rear of the pavilion occupied by Cadillac.

Following the troops past the grandstand was a group of shinto priests

of varied rank and importance and their assistants bearing flutes,

tubular bells and drums. This group stopped as the soldiers withdrew,

bowed en masse to the assembled dignitaries, then moved to the

left-hand end of the line-up. In a lengthy ceremony involving the

singing of invocations and responses, the waving of burning

joss-sticks, the sprinkling of water and the distribution of garlands

of paper flowers, the samurai and their flying-horses were blessed on

behalf of the Iron Masters' sky-gods and - presumably - awarded the

celestial equivalent of an airworthiness certificate.

Returning to the grandstand, the priests formed up into two lines like

a guard of honour, bowed to the assembly, then turned to face each

other. It was the signal for the two domain-lords to descend with

their immediate entourage to inspect the aircrews and their

flying-machines.

Watching through a narrow gap in the screens at the rear of the

pavilion, Steve saw the Consul-General and Toshiro attach themselves to

the group as it left the stand.

Shigamitsu and his two chief lieutenants at the Heron Pool followed

dutifully behind. Using a 'scope with a zoom lens that had been

included in the third airmail package, Steve was able to zero in for

head and shoulder shots of individuals in the group. The two guys at

the front were obviously the domain-lords but, having never seen either

before, he didn't know which was which.

The preliminaries were almost over. In a few minutes the real action

would start. He passed the 'scope to Cadillac. 'Keep your eye on the

Consul-General. Unless they've changed things around again, he's due

to open the flying display."

'May I look through this magic eye too?" enquired Clea