"This ... this is my Master"s sec-secret haven," she panted and started to go inside but stopped. "Where"s Mariko?"
Chimmoko turned and rushed back.
In the first corridor Blackthorne blew the dust carefully away from the flint and walked forward again. The door was near collapsing but still offered cover. Again he pulled the trigger. Again a scream and a moment"s respite, then the blows commenced, another bolt flew off and the whole door teetered. He began to reload.
"Anjin-san!" Mariko was there at the far end beckoning him frantically so he s.n.a.t.c.hed up his weapons and rushed toward her. She turned and fled, guiding him. The door shattered and the ninja ninja tore after them. tore after them.
Mariko was running fast, Blackthorne on her heels. She sped across a room, tripped over her skirts and fell. He grabbed her up and together they bolted across another room. Chimmoko ran up to them. "Hurry!" she shrieked, waiting for them to pa.s.s. She followed for a moment, then, unnoticed, she turned back and stood in the path, her knife out.
Ninja came rushing into the room. Chimmoko hurled herself, knife outstretched, at the first man. He parried the blow and flung her aside like a toy, charging after Blackthorne and Mariko. The last man broke Chimmoko"s neck with his foot and rushed on. came rushing into the room. Chimmoko hurled herself, knife outstretched, at the first man. He parried the blow and flung her aside like a toy, charging after Blackthorne and Mariko. The last man broke Chimmoko"s neck with his foot and rushed on.
Mariko was running fast but not fast enough, her skirts inhibiting her, Blackthorne trying to help. They crossed a room, then turned right, into another, and he saw the doorway, Kiri and Sazuko waiting there terrified, Achiko and maids succoring the old women in the room behind them. He shoved Mariko to safety. Then he turned at bay, his uncharged pistol in one hand, sword in the other, expecting Chimmoko. When she didn"t appear at once, he began to go back but heard the approaching charge of the ninja ninja. He stopped and leaped backward into the room as the first ninja ninja appeared. He slammed the door, and spears and shuriken screeched off the iron. Again he barely had time to shove the bolts home before the attackers hurtled against it. appeared. He slammed the door, and spears and shuriken screeched off the iron. Again he barely had time to shove the bolts home before the attackers hurtled against it.
Numbly he thanked G.o.d for their escape and then, when he saw the strength of the door and knew that jimmies could not break it easily and that they were safe for the moment, he thanked G.o.d again. Trying to catch his breath, he looked around. Mariko was on her knees gulping for air. There were six maids, Achiko, Kiri and Sazuko, and the old lady, who lay gray-faced, almost unconscious. The room was small and stone-walled and another side door let out onto a small battlement veranda. He groped over to a window and looked out. This corner abutment overhung the avenue and forecourt, and he could hear sounds of the battle wafting up from below, screams and shouts and a few hysterical battle cries. Several Grays and unattached samurai were already beginning to collect in the avenue and on the opposite battlements. The gates below were locked against them and held by the ninja. ninja.
"What the h.e.l.l"s going on?" Blackthorne said, his chest aching.
No one answered him and he went back and knelt beside Mariko and shook her gently. "What"s going on?" But she could not answer yet.
Yabu was running down a wide corridor in the west wing toward his sleeping quarters. He turned a corner and skidded to a stop. Ahead a large number of samurai were being pressed back by a ferocious counterattack of raiders who had rushed down from the top floor.
"What"s going on?" Yabu shouted over the din, for no raiders were supposed to be here, only below.
"They"re all over us," a samurai panted. "These came from above...."
Yabu cursed, realizing he had been duped and not told the whole of the attack plan. "Where"s Sumiyori?"
"He must be dead. They"ve overwhelmed that section, Sire. You were lucky to escape yourself. They must have struck shortly after you left. What are ninja ninja attacking for?" attacking for?"
A flurry of shouts distracted them. At the far end, Browns launched another counterattack around a corner, covering samurai who fought with spears. The spearmen drove the ninja ninja back, and the Browns charged in pursuit. But a cloud of shuriken enveloped this wave and soon they were screaming and dying, blocking the pa.s.sageway, the poison convulsing them. Momentarily the rest of the Browns retreated out of range to regroup. back, and the Browns charged in pursuit. But a cloud of shuriken enveloped this wave and soon they were screaming and dying, blocking the pa.s.sageway, the poison convulsing them. Momentarily the rest of the Browns retreated out of range to regroup.
Yabu, unendangered, shouted, "Get bowmen!" Men rushed off to obey.
"What"s the attack all about? Why are they in force?" the samurai asked again, blood streaking his face from a cheek wound. Normally the detested ninja ninja attacked singly or in small groups, to vanish as quickly as they appeared once their mission was accomplished. attacked singly or in small groups, to vanish as quickly as they appeared once their mission was accomplished.
"I don"t know," Yabu said, this whole section of the castle now in uproar, the Browns still uncoordinated, still off-balance from the terrifying swiftness of the onslaught.
"If-if Toranaga-sama were here I could understand Ishido ordering a sudden attack but-but why now?" the samurai said. "There"s no one or noth-" He stopped as the realization struck him. "Lady Toda!"
Yabu tried to override him, but the man bellowed, "They"re after her her, Yabu-san! They must be after Lady Toda!" He led a rush for the east wing. Yabu hesitated, then followed.
To get to the east wing they had to cross the central landing that the ninja ninja now held in strength. Samurai dead were everywhere. Goaded by the knowledge that their revered leader was in danger, the first impetuous charge broke through the cordon. But these men were cut down swiftly. Now more of their comrades had taken up the shouts and the news spread rapidly and the Browns redoubled their efforts. Yabu rushed up to direct the fight, staying in safety as much as he dared. A now held in strength. Samurai dead were everywhere. Goaded by the knowledge that their revered leader was in danger, the first impetuous charge broke through the cordon. But these men were cut down swiftly. Now more of their comrades had taken up the shouts and the news spread rapidly and the Browns redoubled their efforts. Yabu rushed up to direct the fight, staying in safety as much as he dared. A ninja ninja ripped open his haversack and lit a fused gourd from a wall flare and hurled it over the Browns. It shattered against a wall and exploded, scattering fire and smoke, and at once this ripped open his haversack and lit a fused gourd from a wall flare and hurled it over the Browns. It shattered against a wall and exploded, scattering fire and smoke, and at once this ninja ninja led a counterattack that threw the Browns into a burning, disordered rout. Under cover of the smoke led a counterattack that threw the Browns into a burning, disordered rout. Under cover of the smoke ninja ninja reinforcements poured up from the floor below. reinforcements poured up from the floor below.
"Retreat and regroup!" Yabu shouted in one of the corridors leading off the main landing, wanting to delay as much as he dared, presuming that Mariko was already captured and being carried to the cellar escape below, expecting at any moment the overdue clarion call that signaled success and ordered all ninja ninja to break off the attack and retreat. Then a force of Browns from above hurtled in a suicidal attack from a staircase and broke the cordon. They died but others also disobeyed Yabu and charged. More bombs were thrown, setting fire to the wall hangings. Flames began to lick the walls, sparks ignited the tatamis. A sudden gush of fire trapped one of the to break off the attack and retreat. Then a force of Browns from above hurtled in a suicidal attack from a staircase and broke the cordon. They died but others also disobeyed Yabu and charged. More bombs were thrown, setting fire to the wall hangings. Flames began to lick the walls, sparks ignited the tatamis. A sudden gush of fire trapped one of the ninja ninja, turning him into a screaming human torch. Then a samurai"s kimono caught and he threw himself onto another ninja ninja and they burned together. A blazing samurai was using his sword like a battle-ax to cut a way through the ambushers. Ten samurai followed and, though two died in their tracks and three fell mortally wounded, the rest broke out and tore for the east wing. Soon another ten followed. Yabu led the next charge safely as the remaining and they burned together. A blazing samurai was using his sword like a battle-ax to cut a way through the ambushers. Ten samurai followed and, though two died in their tracks and three fell mortally wounded, the rest broke out and tore for the east wing. Soon another ten followed. Yabu led the next charge safely as the remaining ninja ninja made an orderly retreat to the ground floor and their escape route below. The battle for possession of the cul-de-sac in the east wing began. made an orderly retreat to the ground floor and their escape route below. The battle for possession of the cul-de-sac in the east wing began.
In the small room they were staring at the door. They could hear the attackers sc.r.a.ping at the hinges and at the floor. Then there was a sudden hammering and a harsh, m.u.f.fled voice from outside.
Two of the maids began to sob.
"What did he say?" Blackthorne asked.
Mariko licked her dry lips. "He-he said, to open the door and surrender or he"d-he"d blow it up."
"Can they do that, Mariko-san?"
"I don"t know. They ... they can use gunpowder, of course, and-" Mariko"s hand went to her sash but came out empty. "Where"s my knife?"
All the women went for their daggers. Kiri had none. Sazuko none. Nor Achiko or Lady Etsu. Blackthorne had armed his pistol and had his long sword. The short sword had fallen during his frantic dash for safety.
The m.u.f.fled voice became angrier and more demanding, and all eyes in the room looked at Blackthorne. But Mariko knew she was betrayed and her time had come.
"He said, if we open the door and surrender, everyone will go free except you." Mariko brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "He said they want you as a hostage, Anjin-san. That"s all they want...."
Blackthorne walked forward to open the door, but Mariko stood pathetically in his way.
"No, Anjin-san, it"s a trick," she said. "So sorry, they don"t want you, they want me! Don"t believe them, I don"t believe them."
He smiled at her and touched her briefly and reached for one of the bolts.
"It"s not you, it"s me-it"s a trick! I swear it! Don"t believe them, please," she said, and grabbed his sword. It was half out of its scabbard before he realized what she was doing and had caught her hand.
"No!" he ordered. "Stop it!"
"Don"t give me into their hands! I"ve no knife! Please, Anjin-san!" She tried to fight out of his grasp but he lifted her out of the way and put his hand on the top bolt. "Dozo," he said to the others as Mariko desperately tried to stop him. Achiko came forward, pleading with her, and Mariko tried to push her away and cried out, "Please, Anjin-san, it"s a trick-for the love of G.o.d!" he said to the others as Mariko desperately tried to stop him. Achiko came forward, pleading with her, and Mariko tried to push her away and cried out, "Please, Anjin-san, it"s a trick-for the love of G.o.d!"
His hand jerked the top bolt open.
"They want me alive," Mariko shouted wildly. "Don"t you see? To capture me, don"t you see? They want me alive and then it"s all for nothing-tomorrow Toranaga"s got to cross the border-I beg you, it"s a trick, before G.o.d...."
Achiko had her arms around Mariko pleading with her, pulling her away, and she motioned him to open the door. "Isogi, isogi, Anjin-san...."
Blackthorne opened the central bolt.
"For the love of G.o.d, don"t make all the dying useless! Help me! Remember your vow!"
Now the reality of what she was saying reached him, and in panic he shoved home the bolts. "Why should-"
A ferocious pounding on the door interrupted him, iron clanging on iron, then the voice began, a short violent crescendo. All sound outside ceased. The women fled for the far wall and cowered against it.
"Get away from the door," Mariko shouted, rushing after them. "He"s going to explode the door!"
"Delay him, Mariko-san," Blackthorne said and leaped for the side door that led to the battlements. "Our men"ll be here soon. Work the bolts, say they"re stuck-anything." He strained at the top bolt on the side door but it was rusted tight. Obediently Mariko ran to the door and pretended feeble attempts to shift the central bolt, pleading with the ninja ninja outside. Then she began to rattle the lower bolt. Again the voice, more insistent, and Mariko redoubled her weeping pleas. outside. Then she began to rattle the lower bolt. Again the voice, more insistent, and Mariko redoubled her weeping pleas.
Blackthorne smashed the b.u.t.t of his hand against the top catch again and again but it would not shift. The women watched helplessly. Finally this bolt clanged open noisily. Mariko tried to cover the sound and Blackthorne attacked the final bolt. His hands were raw and b.l.o.o.d.y now. The ninja ninja leader outside renewed his fiery warning. In desperation Blackthorne grabbed his sword and used the haft as a cudgel, careless of the noise now. Mariko drowned the sounds as best she could. The bolt seemed welded shut. leader outside renewed his fiery warning. In desperation Blackthorne grabbed his sword and used the haft as a cudgel, careless of the noise now. Mariko drowned the sounds as best she could. The bolt seemed welded shut.
Outside the door, the red-spot leader was almost mad with rage. This secret refuge was totally unexpected. His orders from the clan leader were to capture Toda Mariko alive, make sure she was weaponless, and hand her over to Grays who were waiting at the end of the tunnel from the cellars. He knew that time was running out. He could hear the raging battle in the corridor, outside the audience room, and knew disgustedly that they would have been safe below, their mission accomplished, but for this secret rat hole and his overanxious fool of a brother who had begun the rush prematurely.
Karma to have such a brother! to have such a brother!
He held a lighted candle in his hand and he had laid a trail of powder to the small kegs they had brought in their haversacks to blow up the secret entrance to the cellars to secure their retreat. But he was in a dilemma. To blow the door was the only way to get through. But the Toda woman was just on the other side of the door and the explosion would surely kill everyone inside and spoil his mission, making all their losses futile.
Footsteps raced toward him. It was one of his own men. "Be quick!" the man whispered. "We can"t hold them off much longer!" He raced away.
The red-spot leader decided. He waved his men to cover and shouted a warning through the door. "Get away! I"m blowing the door!" He put the candle to the trail and jumped to safety. The powder spluttered, caught, and snaked for the kegs.
Blackthorne yanked the side door open. Sweet night air rushed in. The women poured onto the veranda. Old Lady Etsu fell but he caught her and pushed her through, whirled for Mariko, but she had pressed back against the iron and called out firmly, "I, Toda Mariko, protest this shameful attack and by my death-"
He lunged for her but the explosion blew him aside as the door wrenched loose from its hinges and blasted into the room and shrieked off a far wall. The detonation knocked Kiri and the others off their feet outside on the battlement, but they were mostly unhurt. Smoke gushed into the room, the ninja ninja following instantly. The buckled iron door came to rest in a corner. following instantly. The buckled iron door came to rest in a corner.
The red-spot leader was on his knees beside Mariko as others fanned out protectively. He saw at once that she was broken and dying fast. Karma Karma, he thought and jumped to his feet again. Blackthorne was lying stunned, a trickle of blood seeping from his ears and nose, trying to grope back into life. His pistol, bent and useless, was in a corner.
The red-spot leader went forward a pace and stopped. Achiko moved into the doorway.
The ninja ninja looked at her, recognizing her. Then he stared down at Blackthorne, despising him for the gun and the cowardice in shooting blindly through the door, killing one of his men and wounding another. He looked back at Achiko and reached for his knife. She charged blindly. His knife took her in the left breast. She was dead as she crumpled and he went forward without anger and withdrew his knife from the twitching body, fulfilling the last part of his orders from above-he presumed from Ishido, though it could never be proved-that if they failed and the Lady Toda managed to kill herself, he was to leave her untouched and not take her head; he was to protect the barbarian and leave all the other women unharmed, except for Kiyama Achiko. He did not know why he had been ordered to kill her, but it had been ordered and paid for, so she was dead. looked at her, recognizing her. Then he stared down at Blackthorne, despising him for the gun and the cowardice in shooting blindly through the door, killing one of his men and wounding another. He looked back at Achiko and reached for his knife. She charged blindly. His knife took her in the left breast. She was dead as she crumpled and he went forward without anger and withdrew his knife from the twitching body, fulfilling the last part of his orders from above-he presumed from Ishido, though it could never be proved-that if they failed and the Lady Toda managed to kill herself, he was to leave her untouched and not take her head; he was to protect the barbarian and leave all the other women unharmed, except for Kiyama Achiko. He did not know why he had been ordered to kill her, but it had been ordered and paid for, so she was dead.
He signaled the retreat. One of his men put a curved horn to his lips and blew a strident call that echoed through the castle and through the night. The leader made a last check on Mariko. A last check on the girl. And a last check on the barbarian he wanted dead so much. Then he turned on his heel and led the retreat through the rooms and pa.s.sageways into the audience room. Ninja Ninja defending the main door way waited till all the red-spot raiders were through the escape route, then they hurled more smoke and fire bombs into the corridor and rushed for safety. The leader of the red-spots covered them. He waited until all were safe, then scattered handfuls of hardly noticeable deadly caltrops on the floor-small, spiked metal b.a.l.l.s tipped with poison. He fled as Browns burst through the smoke into the audience room. Some charged after him and another phalanx hurtled for the corridor. His pursuers screamed as the caltrop needles ripped into the soles of their feet and they began to die. defending the main door way waited till all the red-spot raiders were through the escape route, then they hurled more smoke and fire bombs into the corridor and rushed for safety. The leader of the red-spots covered them. He waited until all were safe, then scattered handfuls of hardly noticeable deadly caltrops on the floor-small, spiked metal b.a.l.l.s tipped with poison. He fled as Browns burst through the smoke into the audience room. Some charged after him and another phalanx hurtled for the corridor. His pursuers screamed as the caltrop needles ripped into the soles of their feet and they began to die.
In the small room, the only sound was Blackthorne"s lungs struggling for air. On the battlement Kiri lurched to her feet, her kimono torn and her hands and arms raw with abrasions. She stumbled back and saw Achiko and cried out, then reeled for Mariko and sank to her knees beside her. Another explosion somewhere in the castle rocked the dust a fraction, and there were more screams and distant shouts of "Fire." Smoke billowed into the room. Sazuko and some of the maids got to their feet. Sazuko was bruised about the face and shoulders and her wrist was broken. She saw Achiko, eyes and mouth open in death terror, and she whimpered.
Numbly, Kiri looked across at her and motioned at Blackthorne. The young girl stumbled toward Kiri and saw Mariko. She began to cry. Then she got control of herself and went back to Blackthorne and tried to help him up. Maids rushed to a.s.sist her. He held onto them and fought to his feet, then swayed and fell, coughing and retching, the blood still oozing from his ears. Browns burst into the room. They looked around, aghast.
Kiri stayed on her knees beside Mariko. A samurai lifted her up. Others crowded around. They parted as Yabu came into the room, his face ashen. When he saw Blackthorne was still alive, much of his anxiety left him.
"Get a doctor! Quick!" he ordered and knelt beside Mariko. She was still alive, but fading rapidly. Her face was hardly touched but her body was terribly mutilated. Yabu ripped off his kimono and covered her to the neck.
"Hurry the doctor," he rasped, then went over to Blackthorne. He helped him sit against the wall.
"Anjin-san! Anjin-san!"
Blackthorne was still in shock, his ears ringing, eyes hardly seeing, his face a ma.s.s of bruises and powder burns. Then his eyes cleared and he saw Yabu, the image twisting drunkenly, the smell of gun smoke choking him and he didn"t know where he was or who he was, only that he was aboard ship in battle and his ship was hurt and needed him. Then he saw Mariko and he remembered.
He lurched up, Yabu helping him, and tottered over to her.
She seemed at peace, sleeping. He knelt heavily and moved the kimono aside. Then he put it back again. Her pulse was almost imperceptible. Then it ceased.
He stayed looking at her, swaying, almost falling, then a doctor was there and the doctor shook his head and said something but Blackthorne could not hear or understand. He only knew that death had come to her, and that he too was dead.
He made the sign of the cross over her and said the sacred Latin words that were necessary to bless her and he prayed for her though no sound came from his mouth. The others watched him. When he had done what he had to do, he fought to his feet again and stood upright. Then his head seemed to burst with red and purple light and he collapsed. Kind hands caught him and helped him to the floor and let him rest.
"Is he dead?" Yabu asked.
"Almost. I don"t know about his ears, Yabu-sama," the doctor said. "He may be bleeding inside."
A samurai said nervously, "We"d better hurry, get them out of here. The fire may spread and we"ll be trapped."
"Yes," Yabu said. Another samurai called him urgently from the battlements and he went outside.
Old Lady Etsu was lying against the battlement, cradled by her maid, her face gray, eyes rheumy. She peered up at Yabu, focusing with difficulty. "Kasigi Yabu-san?"
"Yes, Lady."
"Are you senior officer here?"
"Yes, Lady."
The old woman said to the maid. "Please help me up."
"But you should wait, the doc-"
"Help me up!"
Samurai on the battlement veranda watched her stand, supported by the maid. "Listen," she said, her voice hoa.r.s.e and frail in the silence. "I, Maeda Etsu, wife of Maeda Arinosi, Lord of Nagato, Iwami, and Aki, I attest that Toda Mariko-sama cast away her life to save herself from dishonorable capture by these hideous and shameful men. I attest that ... that Kiyama Achiko chose to attack the ninja ninja, casting away her life rather than risk the dishonor of being captured ... that but for the barbarian samurai"s bravery Lady Toda would have been captured and dishonored, and all of us, and we who are alive owe him grat.i.tude, and also our Lords owe him grat.i.tude for protecting us from that shame.... I accuse the Lord General Ishido of mounting this dishonorable attack ... and of betraying the Heir and the Lady Ochiba ..." The old lady wavered and almost fell, and the maid sobbed and held her more strongly. "And ... and Lord Ishido has betrayed them and the Council of Regents. I ask you all to bear witness that I can no longer live with this shame...."
"No-no mistress," the maid wept, "I won"t let you-"
"Go away! Kasigi Yabu-san, please help me. Go away, woman!"
Yabu took Lady Etsu"s weight, which was negligible, and ordered the maid away. She obeyed.
Lady Etsu was in great pain and breathing heavily. "I attest to the truth of this by my own death," she said in a small voice and looked up at Yabu. "I would be honored if ... if you would be my second. Please help me onto the battlements."
"No, Lady. There"s no need to die."
She turned her face away from the others and whispered to him, "I"m dying already, Yabu-sama. I"m bleeding from inside-something"s broken inside-the explosion.... Help me to do my duty.... I"m old and useless and pain"s been my bedfellow for twenty years. Let my death also help our Master, neh?" neh?" There was a glint in the old eyes. " There was a glint in the old eyes. "Neh?"
Gently he lifted her and stood proudly beside her on the abutment, the forecourt far below. He helped her to stand. Everyone bowed to her.
"I have told the truth. I attest to it by my death," she said, standing alone, her voice quavering. Then she closed her eyes thankfully and let herself fall forward to welcome death.
CHAPTER 58.
The Regents were meeting in the Great Room on the second level of the donjon. Ishido, Kiyama, Zataki, Ito, and Onoshi. The dawn sun cast long shadows and the smell of fire still hung heavy in the air.
Lady Ochiba was present, also greatly perturbed.
"So sorry, Lord General, I disagree," Kiyama was saying in his tight brittle voice. "It"s impossible to dismiss Lady Toda"s seppuku and my granddaughter"s bravery and Lady Maeda"s testimony and formal death-along with one hundred and forty-seven Toranaga dead and that part of the castle almost gutted! It just can"t be dismissed."
"I agree," Zataki said. He had arrived yesterday morning from Takato and when he had the details of Mariko"s confrontation with Ishido he had been secretly delighted. "If she"d been allowed to go yesterday as I advised, we wouldn"t be in this snare now."
"It"s not as serious as you think." Ishido"s mouth was a hard line and Ochiba loathed him at that moment, loathed him for failing and for trapping them all in this crisis. "The ninja ninja were only after loot," Ishido said. were only after loot," Ishido said.
"The barbarian is loot?" Kiyama scoffed. "They"d mount such a vast attack for one barbarian?"