Tilley, Patrick - The Amtrack Wars 06 by Tilley Patrick

Author:Tilley, Patrick [Tilley, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-02-26T06:50:37+00:00

At last… .

Cadillac took in his torchlit surroundings. As with most Iron Master interiors there was very little furniture.

Sliding doors indicated that other rooms lay beyond. All the windows he could see were fitted with inside screens and heavy external shutters which in daytime would keep out most of the light. ‘How can we get from here to where Ieyasu and the Shogun will be staying?”

‘I will show you, but first I must see that my servants get some restand we must also contact the good Captain gamakura.”

Turning to the maid who had served as an arm rest during the trip through the tunnel, Mishiko took her aside, issued a set of whispered instructions and handed her a key. The maid bowed and slipped quietly ut of the spacious apartment.

‘Is it going to be difficult for her to get to him?” asked Cadillac.

‘Not if the gods are with us,’ replied Mishiko. ‘Oyoki has only been in my service for the past year, but i am sure she will be able to deliver my message. She is one of the Captain’s five daughters.”

Mishiko then explained that Kamakura had been the Herald’s sword-master and also a firm friend who had nurtured the hope that the young man might honour him by marrying one of his daughters.

He was to be disappointed. When the Shogun ordered the Herald to commit seppuku - ritual suicide - Toshiro had asked Kamakura to act as his second. The kaishakunin was entrusted with the task of beheading the victim to spare him further agony once he had started to cut his stomach open.

‘The death of the Herald was a cruel blow to the Captain and his family. They grieve for him still,’ said Mishiko. ‘Fortunately, they are still unaware of the full extent of his relationship with me - and that could be to our advantage.”

It could indeed. Cadillac bowed. ‘Allow me to congratulate you once again, mi’lady.”

Mishiko responded with a brief smile then switched her attention to the servants who had remained discreetly out of earshot. ‘This perilous journey could not have been achieved without your tireless efforts.

Please accept my grateful thanks. I and my travelling companions must now leave for a short while. You are to stay here until we return.

Make as little noise as possible. Extinguish the torches. Bring me two lanterns then take some bedding from the store cupboards and try to sleep. Oyoki will wake you if and when you are needed.”

The servants bowed and hurried away to do her bidding. One of the guards came back with the lanterns, then shuffled off to get his head down.

Lucky sonofabitch, thought Cadillac. Roz had dozed off in the ox-cart, but he had found it impossible to relax and was now almost out on his feet. His eyes itched with tiredness. He longed to rub them but could not do so without removing his face mask - and he couldn’t do that in Mishiko’s presence.

He blinked himself awake, stifled a monster yawn another luxury denied to anyone wearing a mask - and willed himself to keep going.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.