Free Shogun by James Clavell Page B

to learn to speak Chinese and Japanese and therefore could act as negotiators and interpreters. As trade blossomed, the priests became more essential. Now the yearly trade was huge and touched the life of every samurai. So the priests had to be tolerated and the spread of their religion tolerated or the barbarians would sail away and trade would cease.
    By now there were a number of very important Christian
daimyos
and many hundreds of thousands of converts, most of whom were in Kyushu, the southern island that was nearest to China and contained the Portuguese port of Nagasaki. Yes, Yabu thought, we must tolerate the priests and the Portuguese, but not these barbarians, the new ones, the unbelievable golden-haired, blue-eyed ones. His excitement filled him. Now at last he could satisfy his curiosity as to how well a barbarian would die when put to torment. And he had eleven men, eleven different tests, to experiment with. He never questioned why the agony of others pleasured him. He only knew that it did and therefore it was something to be sought and enjoyed.
    Yabu said, “This ship, alien, non-Portuguese, and pirate, is confiscated with all it contains. All pirates are sentenced to immediate—” His mouth dropped open as he saw the pirate leader suddenly leap at the priest and rip the wooden crucifix from his belt, snap it into pieces and hurl the pieces on the ground, then shout something very loudly. The pirate immediately knelt and bowed low to him as the guards jumped forward, swords raised.
    “Stop! Don’t kill him!” Yabu was astounded that anyone could have the impertinence to act with such lack of manners in front of him. “These barbarians are beyond belief!”
    “Yes,” Omi said, his mind flooding with the questions that such an action implied.
    The priest was still kneeling, staring fixedly at the pieces of the cross. They watched as his hand reached out shakily and picked up the violated wood. He said something to the pirate, his voice low,almost gentle. His eyes closed, he steepled his fingers, and his lips began to move slowly. The pirate leader was looking up at them motionlessly, pale blue eyes unblinking, catlike, in front of his rabble crew.
    Yabu said, “Omi-san. First I want to go on the ship. Then we’ll begin.” His voice thickened as he contemplated the pleasure he had promised himself. “I want to begin with that red-haired one on the end of the line, the small man.”
    Omi leaned closer and lowered his excited voice. “Please excuse me, but this has never happened before, Sire. Not since the Portuguese barbarians came here. Isn’t the crucifix their sacred symbol? Aren’t they
always
deferential to their priests? Don’t they always kneel to them openly? Just like our Christians? Haven’t the priests absolute control over them?”
    “Come to your point.”
    “We all detest the Portuguese, Sire. Except the Christians among us,
neh?
Perhaps these barbarians are worth more to you alive than dead.”
    “How?”
    “Because they’re unique. They’re anti-Christian! Perhaps a wise man could find a way to use their hatred—or irreligiousness—to our advantage. They’re your property, to do with as you wish.
Neh
?”
    Yes. And I want them in torment, Yabu thought. Yes, but you can enjoy that at any time. Listen to Omi. He’s a good counselor. But is he to be trusted now? Does he have a secret reason for saying this? Think.
    “Ikawa Jikkyu is Christian,” he heard his nephew say, naming his hated enemy—one of Ishido’s kinsmen and allies—who sat on his western borders. “Doesn’t this filthy priest have his home there? Perhaps these barbarians could give you the key to unlock Ikawa’s whole province. Perhaps Ishido’s. Perhaps even Lord Toranaga’s,” Omi added delicately.
    Yabu studied Omi’s face, trying to reach what was behind it. Then his eyes went to the ship. He had no doubt now that it had been sent by the
gods
. Yes. But was
it
as a gift or a
plague
?
    He put