Free Gloria Oliver by In Service Of Samurai Page B

sat regally on a folding stool, his lacquered armor glinting with the ship’s permeating glow. The frowning demon mask turned toward him, two green flames filling up its eyes. Asaka said nothing to him, but gave him a slight acknowledging nod.
    Toshi set his basket down and took out the coil of measuring rope. His eyes lit guiltily on the stolen cross-staff, and again he wondered if there was any way Captain Valez might return home without it. He had learned just recently how badly someone could miss a place once he was no longer allowed to return to it. He knew exactly how the Spanish captain and his crew would feel. He hoped never to inflict that on anyone, however long he might have to live.
    One by one he took his readings and had already started doing his calculations as he stepped back to the basket to retrieve the map. He stopped in mid-step as he suddenly realized it wasn’t there.
    Frantically, he sifted through his memories of the past few minutes, trying to recall where the map had been the last time he’d seen it.
    “Is something wrong, boy?”
    His neck prickled with fear as the samurai’s deep voice rose up behind him. “I seem to have left the map back in my room, sir.” He swallowed hard, his eyes rooted to the glowing floor, dreading the possible reaction to what he had just said. “Might I be allowed to go retrieve it, sir?” He held his breath, not sure of what might come. He felt himself shiver as the samurai spoke again.
    “Mitsuo-san, please go to the boy’s room and retrieve the map,” Asaka commanded.
    With a touch of surprise, Toshi watched the bent skeleton as he bowed deeply and then proceeded to the ladder. Asaka remained seated, staring outwards, his demon mask impassive.
    That he was being ignored gave him a measure of calm he’d not been able to achieve moments before. If something was to be done to him for so foolishly forgetting the map in his charge, it didn’t look like it would be immediate.
    Hoping Mitsuo would return quickly, he folded his legs beneath him and sat down. Glancing behind him, he couldn’t help but notice the steersman’s dim yellow eyes boring into him. His never-changing, fleshless grin seemed to be trying to promise something. With a small shudder, Toshi turned away from the awful stare.
    Time trickled along and Mitsuo didn’t return. He began to fidget, a feeling of doom tightening his chest.
    The feeling was only made worse when Mitsuo finally did reappear, and he noticed the obvious hesitation of his pace.
    Rising slowly onto the deck, Mitsuo walked to stand before Asaka and bowed almost to the floor. The voice that flowed from the bent frame was slow and soft, tinged with an almost palpable sadness.
    “Asaka-sama, I searched the entire room, yet there was no map to be found there.”
    It took Toshi a long stunned moment to realize what had just been said. With large eyes, he stared at the metal demon mask as it turned toward him.
    “Boy, explain.”
    He had no idea where the map was. He had no explanation to give. Forced to say something, he found his tongue lay like lead inside his mouth. “I can’t explain it, Lord.” He despaired and would have fallen if he weren’t already seated, knowing that by his admission he had just damned himself.
    “What is there to explain, Asaka-sama? Isn’t it obvious the whelp destroyed the map to cover up his actual lack of skill?” The steersman grinned toward him.
    “That’s a lie,” Toshi exclaimed with some heat. “I didn’t destroy the map. That would have been stupid!”
    He closed his mouth, realizing with horror he was the one who had spoken. His heart lurched in his breast. He cursed his loose tongue for making things worse and forced himself to stay still.
    “Explain,” Asaka demanded.
    He didn’t realize the command had been aimed at him until he heard no one else answer. Knowing he had nothing to lose, since he was already doomed, he clenched his hands and spoke. “I would have had nothing