第77节

an irrational human being here, thought Steve. If I

show no concern, I'm unsympathetic. If I offer comfort, I'm being

patronising. And if I disagree, I'm insubordinate.

It was a no-win situation, but there was nothing he could do about

it.

He was stuck with her ....

On being respectfully informed that Oyoki, her personal maid-servant

had arrived in the anteroom, Mishiko emerged from the Shogun's private

suite of rooms.

Oyoki was- accompanied by Nitobe, one of the eight guards who had

helped to row the long-boat. He had a bloodstained bandage around his

neck and over his left ear, and another on his left forearm. Oyoki

looked distraught, and when she and Nitobe fell to their knees before

her, she burst into tears.

Mishiko went cold inside. 'You have not brought my children?"

Oyoki answered with a wailing incantation and began to sob

uncontrollably, rocking back and forth with her hands clasped to her

chest - the traditional way of mourning the dead.

Mishiko's outward demeanour did not change. Anger and joy were

permissible emotions, but it was not proper for someone of noble birth

to display any sign of weakness in front of lesser beings.

She addressed the guard. 'Nitobe...?"

The wounded man touched the straw matting with his forehead then sat

back on his heels. 'Your highness, it shames me to bring you such

grievous news. Your children are dead. Secretary Ichiwara and four of

Ieyasu's personal guards burst into your apartments and put everyone

they met to the sword! They were like men possessed! We fought back

and killed them all, but not before Ichiwara reached your children and

their nurse."

His face crumpled. 'Your maids tried to shield them with their

bodies.

Only Oyoki and Katiwa survived."

Mishiko received this news with the same blank face.

'And my valiant guards...?"

Nitobe lowered his head. 'Four died, your highness.

Another may not live beyond morning. Two more received sword thrusts

to the body. I am the only one who can walk unaided."

'I commend your bravery, Nitobe. Go and tend your wounded companions

and give them my thanks."

The guard bowed and left. Oyoki choked back her grief. Mishiko

motioned her to rise.

'Dry your tears, Oyoki. Only the common people display their grief

outside the temple precincts. Ask my brother's servants to prepare me

a bath then bring two cups and a good supply of sake. If we are to be

denied happiness, we can at least drown our sorrows!" It was after

midnight when the Shogun and his escort returned. He looked tired, but

there was a firm set to his jaw and a hard glitter in his eyes.

Captain Kamakura was with him. Mishiko bowed in greeting. Yoritomo

sat down on the stool that had been placed under him and spread his

arms and legs to enable his servants to remove his armour.

'The Palace is ours. The future is assured. Did you hear the

cheers?

That was me winning the hearts of the second company." He gave a quick

laugh. 'If there were any waverers, they soon fell into line when

Mashimatsu's head was paraded past them on a pole!" His face tightened

as he saw her kneeling maidservant.

'You know then?"

'Yes, my lord. Oyoki has spared you the pain of telling me yourself.

The Fates have played a cruel trick on us.

Just when we are about to savour victory, they hand us a poisoned

chalice?

'It should never have happened. That fool of a lieutenant and the

soldiers who let Ichiwara go will pay dearly for this."

Mishiko fell to her' knees before him. 'No, my lord!

I beg you! Do not punish them. What will their companions think when

they see those who serve you loyally so cruelly rewarded?"

Her appeal for clemency was an oblique reference to the fate of the

Herald Hase-Gawa. If Yoritomo made the connection, it didn't show. He