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of the welcome-home committee, had no choice but to follow. Cadillac

edged shoulder to shoulder with Roz. 'This is the crunch-point,' he

muttered. 'Are you going to be able to keep this up?"

'That's what we're about to find out,' whispered Roz.

'Just keep talking and leave the thinking to me."

Cadillac was not at all happy with this somewhat arbitrary division of

effort. It sounded distinctly like a demotion, but he could not afford

to take umbrage.

This was no ordinary joint enterprise; he had to stay glued to Roz's

side - the illusion could not be sustained without her! Cadillac made

an effort to compose himself but when they reached the top of the steps

his heart was still pounding - and it wasn't due to the climb.

On they went, across the drawbridge and through the yawning palace

gates into the courtyard beyond. A series of court officials of

ascending rank progressively weeded out their entourage until only Tojo

and Akori were left ahead of them in the stairways.

The wives and children - who had found their husbands and fathers 'not

quite themselves' - were among the first to be left behind, and then

their armed escort was replaced by samurai from the Inner Household; a

group of young, expressionless look-alikes, dressed in loose flowing

short-sleeved robes, drawn in at the waist by a wide sash into which

the scabbards of their long and short swords were inserted.

Cadillac and Roz were still dressed in the clothes and armour they had

acquired at Sioux Falls. Having found enough bits and pieces to fit

him, Cadillac had declined the offer of 'fresh clothes at both O-shawa

and Osa-wego - all of which were on the small side. Tojo and Akori had

accepted his request to be allowed to retain their uniforms. He and

his 'wounded' companion, said Cadillac, were bringing a report direct

from the battlefield, and they wished to present themselves to the

Regent, bearing the scars of that bloody conflict out of respect for

their fallen comrades.

As senior military officers, Shinoda and Mitsunari were allowed to bear

arms inside the palace, but when entering the presence of the ruling

members of the family they served, protocol demanded that they carry

their helmets tucked under their left arm, and their two sheathed

swords in their right hand.

The small procession halted outside the two large sliding screens that

led to the audience chamber. Six guards stood outside. After bowing

to Tojo and Akori, one of them knocked on the wooden frame. The

right-hand screen slid open a few inches to reveal another guard

inside. Whispers were exchanged. The screen slid shut, then a moment

later, both were drawn back revealing a large room covered in spotless

tatami, with a raised dais at the far end.

Tojo and Akori entered the room, exchanged formal greetings with the

Regent Aishi Sakimoto, then took their places on the low platform

behind the six family council members already seated on either side of

Sakimoto.

Cadillac and Roz strode forward on his signal to enter.

Six archers and six swordsmen were positioned around the edge of the

room. The quartet of look-alikes stepped inside and the screens were

shut by the guards in the corridor.

These people certainly believed in protection. Some of it was a sign

of status, but it wasn't just that. Cadillac had visited the palace of

Domain-Lord Min-Orota and it had been the same story. Like Min-Orota,

Sakimoto and the people around him were at the top of their particular

tree but at what price? They lived behind eight-foot-thick stone

walls, guarded night and day, haunted by suspicions and the constant

fear of assassination. What a way to live!

Bowing low from the waist, Cadillac offered formal salutations,

explaining that he also spoke for his wounded companion. On receiving

the nod from Sakimoto, he and Roz dropped to their knees on the special

mats provided. Cadillac laid his helmet on the left hand side of his

mat and the two swords on the right, parallel with each other and with

their hilts in line with the front edge of the mat. Roz, following his

lead, did likewise.

Sakimoto expressed his satisfaction at their safe return, but his

brusque manner made it clear that their state of health was of minor