第74节

and slithered through. 'Mind-magic not good

enough?"

'This is just for emergencies." His face twisted angrily as he slammed

an open palm against the wall. 'Oh, shit!

I forgot to bring a lantern!" 'That's okay. I left one here under the

bottom step when we came to plant the bug. And a flint lighter."

Cadillac pulled the secret door shut and slipped the inside catch into

place. 'You're a genius."

'I'm glad one of us is." Roz felt her way down the steps, retrieved

the hidden lantern, lit the oiled wick and trimmed the flame. Looking

up, she saw Cadillac with the radio in one hand and the head bag in the

other. 'Did you have to bring him along?"

'Yes."

'And the other bag - is that for the Shogun?"

'Yes."

'You're crazy."

'That's what you said when I suggested rowing sixteen miles in a

crowded long-boat. I know what I'm doing, Roz, so don't argue. We

came here to do a job, and the only way to prove we've done it is by

handing the heads of Yoritomo and Ieyasu over to the Yama-Shita.

They're not going to start a war just on our say-so!" 'No, you're

right." She raised the lantern. 'Where do we go from here?"

Back in the study, the soldiers and captives had started to come round

soon after Roz had broken her hold on their minds but they were not

able to leap immediately into action. The crippling head pains had

gone, leaving them with the dying residue of a monster hang*over and

troubled vision. The after-effect on their eyesight was similar to

having a series of flash-bulbs popping off in your face and it took a

few moments to clear.

Some people recovered faster than others, notably Ichiwara and four of

Ieyasu's personal guard. Driven by the basic instinct for

self-preservation they were on their feet and heading for the exit

while everyone else was trying to haul themselves off the floor.

The soldiers fell on the remaining pair of Ieyasu's guards and disarmed

them before any more damage could be done. Seizing one of their

long-swords to replace his own, the distraught lieutenant sent several

of his men in pursuit of the fleeing prisoners, and despatched six more

as ordered to the North Tower.

The Shogun had summoned Captain Kamakura to ask him whether, in the

light of Mashimatsu's involvement in the attempt to kill his sister and

her children, the company of soldiers under his command could be

trusted to remain loyal. 'If you consider the conversation we

overheard,' said Yoritomo, 'it's clear that several men were

involved."

'That's true, sire. But if they were soldiers from the Palace Guard, I

do not believe they would have known who the target was. In fact,

there was every reason not to tell them."

'True... But if we are to secure the Palace and rout out the rest of

the scum in Ieyasu's employ, we need to know who is with us and who is

against us."

With so many of Lord Ieyasu's place-men on the resident staff of the

Palace, it was a difficult question to answer. In Kamakura's book, the

rank and file soldiers were simple, honest fellows with no interest in,

or understanding of, political intrigue. That only afflicted the

higher ranks who saw the chance of preferment and privilege by backing

one camp against another, and the opportunists within the Inner Court

whose empty lives left them with little else to do.

The men could be counted upon to follow orders, but their subsequent

conduct would depend on who took command and the reasons that were

given for doing so. At the moment, No.2 Company did not even know

Mashimatsu had been beheaded.

Once again the gods were with him. Just as he was about to reply, the

Shogun's guards admitted the breathless lieutenant who fell to his

knees and broke the news that Secretary Ichiwara, four of Ieyasu's

guards and the two painted long-dogs had escaped from custody.

'We were blinded by a brilliant light that robbed us of our senses! It

pierced our skulls like red hot skewers!

No one could withstand it! We fell like dead men to the ground. When