Read Online Gai-Jin by James Clavell - Free Book Online Page B

rice, about five bushels, considered enough to feed one family for one year. Both came from villages near Kagoshima. One was nineteen, the other, who had been wounded and now had his arm bound, was seventeen. Both had been to the select samurai school at Kagoshima that gave extra training, including studies of carefully chosen Dutch manuals, which he had begun twenty years ago for those showing special aptitudes. Both had been good students, both were unmarried, both spent their spare time perfecting their swordsmanship and learning. Both were eligible for promotion sometime in the future. The older was called Shorin Anato, the younger Ori Ryoma.
    The silence became heavier.
    Abruptly he began talking to Katsumata as though the two youths did not exist: “If any of my men, however worthy, however much provoked,whatever the reason, were to commit a violent act that I had not authorized and they remained within my reach, I would certainly have to deal with them severely.”
    “Yes, Sire.”
    He saw the glint in his counselor’s eyes. “Stupid to be disobedient. If such men wanted to remain alive their only recourse would be to flee and become ronin, even if they were to lose their stipends. A waste of their lives if they happened to be worthy.” Then he looked at the youths, scrutinizing them carefully. To his surprise he saw nothing on their faces, just the same grave impassivity. His caution increased.
    “You are quite correct, Sire. As always.” Katsumata added, “It might be that some such men, if special men of honor, knowing that they had disturbed your harmony, knowing you would have no other option than to punish them severely, these special men even as ronin would still guard your interests, perhaps even forward your interests.”
    “Such men do not exist,” Sanjiro said, secretly delighted his counselor agreed with him. He turned his pitiless eyes onto the young men. “Do they?”
    Both youths tried to maintain their direct gaze but they were overwhelmed. They dropped their glance. Shorin, the older, muttered, “There—there are such men, Sire.”
    The silence became rougher as Sanjiro waited for the other youth to declare himself also. Then the younger Ori nodded his bowed head imperceptibly, put both hands flat on the tatami and bowed lower. “Yes, Lord, I agree.”
    Sanjiro was content, for now, at no cost, he had their allegiance and two spies within the movement—whom Katsumata would be answerable for.
    “Such men would be useful, if they existed.” His voice was curt and final. “Katsumata, write an immediate letter to the Bakufu, informing them two goshi called …” he thought a moment, paying no attention to the rustle in the room, “put whatever names you like … broke ranks and killed some gai-jin today because of their provocative and insolent attitude—the gai-jin were armed with pistols which they pointed threateningly at my palanquin. These two men, provoked, as all my men were, escaped before they could be caught and bound.” He looked back at the youths. “As to you two, you will both come back at the first night watch for sentencing.”
    Katsumata said quickly, “Sire, may I suggest you add in the letter that they have been ordered outcast, declared ronin, their stipends cancelled and a reward offered for their heads.”
    “Two koku. Post it in their villages when we return.” Sanjiro turned his eyes on Shorin and Ori and waved his hand in dismissal. They bowed deeply and left. He was pleased to see the sweat on the back of their kimonos though the afternoon was not hot.
    “Katsumata, about Yokohama,” he said softly when they were alone again. “Send some of our best spies to see what is going on there. Order them to be back here by nightfall, and order all samurai to become battle ready.”
    “Yes, Sire.” Katsumata did not allow a smile to show.
    When the youths left Sanjiro and had passed through the rings of bodyguards, Katsumata caught up with them. “Follow