第108节

samurai by pointing her fingers at them and...

forcing Lord Yama-Shita to kill himself several times over and - it

would seem - keeping him alive and on his feet while he did so."

He shuffled the papers together and passed them to Ieyasu. 'Even if

only half of these are true, it is clear that Lord Yama-Shita was

confronted by someone endowed with quite extraordinary power. Do you

have any explanation for what happened?"

'None, sire. People who spoke to me afterwards called her a witch.

They said she called upon the dark forces of earth magic. But as you

know, little credence is given to such ideas nowadays."

'True,' replied Yoritomo. 'But if it was not by some form of magic how

were these deeds accomplished?"

Toshiro bowed. 'I cannot say, sire."

Yoritomo looked thoughtfully at the Herald, then turned to his uncle.

'Didn't Lord Yama-Shita regale us some years ago with tales about

grass-monkeys with so-called magic powers?"

'He did,' said Ieyasu. 'But he didn't believe them either."

Yoritomo laughed drily. 'A big mistake." He turned his attention back

to Toshiro. 'It was only natural he should underrate their abilities,

but it's now. clear he knew far less about them than a man in his

position, and with his experience, should have done.

'For instance, the Lord Chamberlain had recently discovered that not

all Mutes have deformed, multicoloured skins and lumps on their

skulls.

Some of them are smooth-skinned - like Trackers. I thought the two

individuals the "mexican" was sent to recapture were long-dogs but I

was wrong. They were Mutes!" The Shogun threw up his hands. 'What a

strange state of affairs! On the one hand we have this "mexican" who

claims to be a long-dog - but comes here disguised as a grass-monkey

and on the other, we have two grass-monkeys pretending to be

long-dogs!" Toshiro said nothing. The bottom seemed to have dropped

out of his stomach.

'Were you aware of this deception?" asked Ieyasu, the spider, slowly

weaving his silken net.

The Herald bowed. 'Yes, sire. I did finally discover their identities

a few weeks ago, but I said nothing because ' 'You thought :it might

confuse me,' suggested Yoritomo.

'No, sire - because it did not change the overall situation.

Lord Yama-Shita was engaged in a conspiracy with Lord Min-Orota to

recapture the Dark Light, and the threat of an attack by the Federation

if these individuals were not returned still hung over us."

'And my dear brother-in-law was coupling with a grass-monkey.

But you sought to protect my feelings and the honour of my sister by

not telling me the whole truth..."

'I did take that into consideration, sire, yes."

'I respect you for that. And that is no doubt one of the reasons why

the Lady Mishiko holds you in such high regard."

Once again, Toshiro said nothing.

Yoritomo turned to the Lord Chamberlain. 'I have something of a

personal nature to discuss with this Herald who has rendered us such

sterling service. If there are no further matters you wish to raise

. .?"

Toshiro uncrossed his legs and knelt with his forehead almost touching

the floor as the Lord Chamberlain took formal leave of the Shogun and

then rose and silently backed out of the study. The only sound was the

swish of the door screen sliding shut behind him.

Now only the five blank-faced bodyguards remained.

Unable to speak or understand a word of Basic, they were regarded as

being part of the furniture. For all practical purposes, he and the

Shogun were alone.

Yoritomo motioned the Herald to sit as before.

Toshiro placed the palms of his hands on his knees and held his back

erect. The day could end well or badly. He