Shogun - Clavell James - Страница 83
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"It was just a dance, Mariko-san," Blackthorne said, feeling foolish. "It's called a hornpipe. It's a sailors' dance and we sing shanties - songs - at the same time. I was just happy - perhaps it was the sake. I'm sorry, I hope I didn't disturb Toranaga-sama."
She translated.
"My Master says he would like to see the dance and hear the song."
"Now?"
"Of course now."
At once Toranaga sat cross-legged and his small court spread themselves around the room and they looked at Blackthorne expectantly.
There, you fool, Blackthorne told himself. That's what comes of letting your guard down. Now you've got to perform and you know your voice is off and your dancing clumsy.
Even so, he tied his kimono tight and launched himself with gusto, pivoting, kicking, twirling, bouncing, his voice roaring lustily.
More silence.
"My Master says that he's never seen anything like that in his whole life."
"Arigato goziemashita!" Blackthorne said, sweating partially from his effort and partially from his embarrassment. Then Toranaga put his swords aside, tucked his kimono high into his belt, and stood beside him. "Lord Toranaga will dance your dance," Mariko said.
"Eh?"
"Please teach him, he says."
So Blackthorne began. He demonstrated the basic step, then repeated it again and again. Toranaga mastered it quickly. Blackthorne was not a little impressed with the agility of the large-bellied, amply buttocked older man.
Then Blackthorne began to sing and to dance and Toranaga joined in, tentatively at first, to the cheers of the onlookers. Then Toranaga threw off his kimono and folded his arms and began to dance with equal verve alongside Blackthorne, who threw off his kimono and sang louder and picked up the tempo, almost overcome by the grotesqueness of what they were doing, but swept along now by the humor of it. Finally Blackthorne did a sort of hop, skip, and jump and stopped. He clapped and bowed to Toranaga and they all clapped for their master, who was very happy.
Toranaga sat down in the center of the room, breathing easily. Immediately Rako sped forward to fan him and the others ran for his kimono. But Toranaga pushed his own kimono toward Blackthorne and took the simple kimono instead.
Mariko said, "My Master says that he would be pleased for you to accept this as a gift." She added, "Here it would be considered a great honor to be given even a very old kimono by one's liege lord."
"Arigato goziemashita, Toranaga-sama." Blackthorne bowed low, then said to Mariko, "Yes, I understand the honor he does to me, Mariko-san. Please thank Lord Toranaga with the correct formal words that I unfortunately do not yet know, and tell him I will treasure it and, even more, the honor that he did me in dancing my dance with me. "
Toranaga was even more pleased.
With reverence, Kiri and the servant girls helped Blackthorne into their master's kimono and showed Blackthorne how to tie the sash. The kimono was brown silk with the five scarlet crests, the sash white silk.
"Lord Toranaga says he enjoyed the dance. One day he will perhaps show you some of ours. He would like you to learn to speak Japanese as quickly as possible."
"I'd like that too." But even more, Blackthorne thought, I'd like to be in my own clothes, eating my own food in my own cabin in my own ship with my cannon primed, pistols in my belt, and the quarterdeck tilted under a press of sails. "Would you ask Lord Toranaga when I can have my ship back?"
"Senhor?"
"My ship, senhora. Please ask him when I can get my ship back. My crew, too. All her cargo's been removed - there were twenty thousand pieces of eight in the strongbox. I'm sure he'll understand that we're merchants, and though we appreciate his hospitality, we'd like to trade - with the goods we brought with us - and move on homeward. It'll take us almost eighteen months to get home."
"My Master says you have no need to be concerned. Everything will be done as soon as possible. You must first become strong and healthy. You're leaving at dusk."
"Senhora?"
"Lord Toranaga said you were to leave at dusk, senhor. Did I say it wrongly?"
"No, no, not at all, Mariko-san. But an hour or so ago you told me I'd be leaving in a few days."
"Yes, but now he says you will leave tonight." She translated all this to Toranaga, who replied again.
"My Master says it's better and more convenient for you to go tonight. There is no need to worry, Anjin-san, you are in his personal care. He is sending the Lady Kiritsubo to Yedo to prepare for his return. You will go with her."
"Please thank him for me. Is it possible - may I ask if it would be possible to release Friar Domingo? The man has a great deal of knowledge."
She translated this.
"My Master says, so sorry, the man is dead. He sent for him immediately - you asked yesterday but he was already dead."
Blackthorne was dismayed. "How did he die?"
"My Master says he died when his name was called out."
"Oh! Poor man."
"My Master says, death and life are the same thing. The priest's soul will wait until the fortieth day and then it will be reborn again. Why be sad? This is the immutable law of nature." She began to say something but changed her mind, adding only, "Buddhists believe that we have many births or rebirths, Anjin-san. Until at length we become perfect and reach nirvana - heaven."
Blackthorne put off his sadness for the moment and concentrated on Toranaga and the present. "May I please ask him if my crew-" He stopped as Toranaga glanced away. A young samurai came hurriedly into the room, bowed to Toranaga, and waited.
Toranaga said, "Nan ja?"
Blackthorne understood none of what was said except he thought he caught Father Alvito's nickname "Tsukku." He saw Toranaga's eyes flick across to him and noted the glimmer of a smile, and he wondered if Toranaga had sent for the priest because of what he had told him. I hope so, he thought, and I hope Alvito's in the muck up to his nostrils. Is he or isn't he? Blackthorne decided not to ask Toranaga though he was tempted greatly.
"Kare ni matsu yoni," Toranaga said curtly.
"Gyoi." The samurai bowed and hurried away. Toranaga turned back to Blackthorne. "Nan ja, Anjin-san?"
"You were saying, Captain?" Mariko said. "About your crew?"
"Yes. Can Toranaga-sama take them under his protection too? See that they're well cared for? Will they be sent to Yedo too?"
She asked him. Toranaga stuck his swords in the belt of the short kimono. "My Master says of course their arrangements have already been made. You need have no concern over them. Or over your ship. "
"My ship is all right? She's taken care of?"
"Yes. He says the ship is already at Yedo."
Toranaga got up. Everyone began to bow but Blackthorne broke in unexpectedly. "One last thing-" He stopped and cursed himself, realizing that he was being discourteous. Toranaga had clearly terminated the interview and they had all begun to bow but had been stopped by Blackthorne's words and now they were all nonplussed, not knowing whether to complete their bows or to wait, or to start again.
"Nan ja, Anjin-san?" Toranaga's voice was brittle and unfriendly, for he too had been momentarily thrown off balance.
"Gomen nasai, I'm sorry, Toranaga-sama. I didn't wish to be impolite. I just wanted to ask if the Lady Mariko would be allowed to talk with me for a few moments before I go? It would help me."
She asked him.
Toranaga merely grunted an imperious affirmative and walked out, followed by Kiri and his personal guards.
Touchy bastards, all of you, Blackthorne said to himself. Jesus God, you've got to be so careful here. He wiped his forehead with his sleeve, and saw the immediate distress on Mariko's face. Rako hurriedly proffered a small kerchief that they always seemed to have ready from a seemingly inexhaustible supply, tucked secretly somewhere into the back of their obis. Then he realized that he was wearing "the Master's" kimono and that you don't, obviously, wipe your sweaty forehead with "the Master's" sleeve, by God, so you've committed another blasphemy! I'll never learn, never - Jesus God in Heaven - never!
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