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that -' Yoritomo silenced him. 'My dear friend, I can't think of

anyone I would rather have as a brother-in-law. I really mean that. I

can overlook that mix-up over the Mute. But your pride led you to

commit an even greater act of folly." Opening a small lacquered

cabinet that stood beside him, the Shogun drew out a neatly folded

piece of paper and tossed it on to the mat between them.

'If only you hadn't sent that letter..."

Toshiro recognised it from the way it had been folded and the watermark

on the paper. It was the letter he had written to the military

commander of the southern district of Lord Se-Iko's domain, informing

him of the location of the ronin camp and the means by which he could

gain entry. The letter he had paid a shopkeeper to post for him at

Aridina.

His throat tightened, forcing him to speak in a harsh whisper. 'I also

killed Noburo Naka-Jima and his two companions."

Yoritomo nodded. 'Ieyasu told me." He shook his head wearily.

'Why?

What on earth made you, of all people, do such a thing?"

Toshiro sighed. 'The one serious flaw in my character.

I can't bear to be wrong." He hung his head. There were other

reasons, but it was unnecessary to go into them now.

'You realise, of course, that this was a particularly scabrous crime

for which you should be flayed, disembowelled, then boiled alive?"

'Yes, sire."

'But you have done something even worse. You have forced me back into

the hands of corrupt, licentious men. And that is unforgivable.

However, because of the feelings I once had for you, and for the sake

of my sister, I will spare you the humiliating death you so richly

deserve. I hope you won't display any weakness tomorrow morning."

Toshiro fell forward on his hands to kiss the mat in abject

gratitude.

His lips met the fatal letter.

When he sat back, Yoritomo said: 'Who will attend you?"

'Captain Kamakura."

'Ah, yes - the good captain with the five pretty daughters . . ."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Having informed Guard-Captain Kamakura of the service he was to render

shortly after sunrise, Toshiro retired to his quarters in the palace

and slept peacefully for several hours before being roused by a

servant. After a ritual cleansing of his body, he offered prayers at

the small shrine in his room, then penned a short but eloquent letter

to the Lady Mishiko. Giving the letter to the servant with a sum of

money that would guarantee its discreet delivery, he put on a cloak and

made his way down into the stone garden.

As a mark of his personal feelings towards his Herald, the Shogun had

given him permission to commit seppuku on his own special section of

the veranda. Wrapped in his cloak, Toshiro spent two silent hours in

contemplation of the darkened, mist-shrouded garden. At first he could

see hardly anything, but as night gave way to twilight and the mist

began to fade, the shapes and patterns slowly emerged, until at last

all became clear.

At the moment of death, he would be plunged back into that darkness; a

darkness more profound than he had ever known. If he died badly, he

would be cast into the nether regions for ever; if he died well, his

soul would rise towards the light that shone from the face of

AmeratsuOmikami.

When the sun rose, Captain Kamakura appeared, followed by four

attendants bearing the items that Toshiro would require. He rose and

stood aside while they lay down straw mats of the required measurement

and edged with white silk. They then positioned the large white

cushion on which the Herald would kneel. In front of this was placed

the lacquered tray holding the short, razor-sharp dagger.

Once everything was in place, Toshiro handed his cloak to one of the

servants, who then withdrew. After embracing Captain Kamakura and

thanking him for agreeing to act as his kaishaku-run, the Herald knelt

on the white cushion and took several slow deep breaths while he

concentrated his thoughts on the final act he was required to perform

without exhibiting the slightest hesitation or fear. To the true

samurai, death was 'as light as a feather' and he awoke each day ready

to meet it.

Captain Kamakura now knelt in the prescribed