Part 12 (1/2)

Jodi and Kelso dragged themselves into a sitting position against the wall and listened as the jabber of voices faded away. It was too dark to see one another but she could hear Kelso gulping down air as he tried to recover his breath. When he finally lapsed into silence, Jodi heard her own heart pounding.

'At least we're still in one piece,' she murmured.

'For the moment,' grunted Kelso. 'f.u.c.king Brickman...” He spat into the darkness. 'If you hadn't gone back for him, we wouldn't be here!

I must have been crazy to let you talk me into it.”

It was a familiar refrain. 'It wasn't just you and me, Dave.”

'd.a.m.n right! You dropped Medicine-Hat and Jinx in it too!” 'Gimme a break. There were plenty of other guys who got picked up - and they were miles away.”

'Yeah, and we could have been miles away too! If we'd stuck with Malone, we might still be out there! Instead of which we walk right into it! Christo! That f.u.c.king Brickman was waiting to meet those lumps!” He laughed bitterly. 'I heard of guys bouncin' beaver but, boy - I never thought I'd live to see a true blue dolled up the way he was!” 'Yeah, I know,' said Jodi tiredly. 'I asked him about that. He said it was all in a good cause.”

'Yeah, well, friend or no friend -' 'Dave, how many times do I have to tell you? He's no friend of mine.”

'So you say. But if our paths ever cross again I swear I'm gonna kill that lump-sucking sonofab.i.t.c.h stone dead.”

'I hope it's soon, Dave, I really do.” Jodi wriggled deep into the straw. Maybe then you'll quit bellyaching...

A carrier pigeon, landing in the loft atop the western tower of the Shogun's summer palace at Yedo, brought news of Lord Yama-s.h.i.+ta's arrival at Kari-faran. A second confirmed his docking at Pi-saba; a third announced his departure for Wirimasa-poro. None of them made mention of any untoward activity. Using the abbreviated secret code, the third message also reported that two long-dogs had been selected for dispatch by road convoy to Lord Min-Orota. One red-haired male, one female, her face and neck disfigured by pink scar tissue. There was no mention of the mysterious Yoko Mi-s.h.i.+ma, or any other unidentified voyager. * Tos.h.i.+ro began to feel uneasy, and took to pacing the upper stone terrace along the outer wall, scanning the sky for the next arrival.

Since carrier pigeons were arriving at frequent intervals from all parts of Ne-Issan, his hopes were first raised and then dashed as the incoming birds failed to deliver the news which could make or break his career.

It was that crucial. He had laid accusations of treachery on two counts against the most powerful domain-lord in the country, had accused a second, a close ally of the Toh-Yota, of disloyalty and conspiracy with the first, and had accused the Shogun's brother-in-law of dishonouring his wife by coupling with a long-dog.

If he now failed to substantiate any or all of these claims he could to use a phrase from the ancient language of Iyuni-steisa - find himself well and truly up s.h.i.+t Creek without a paddle.

Six agonising days after Yama-s.h.i.+ta's reported departure for Wirimasa-poro by the northern road, a courier pigeon finally winged its way out of the west and brought a glimmer of light to the end of Tos.h.i.+ro's tunnel.

The message came from Pi-saba. The carriage-box transporting a certain Yoko Mi-s.h.i.+ma had been booked into a road convoy travelling along the Great East Road.

Ox-cartage had also been reserved for her two Vietnamese house-women.

The carriage fees had been paid by a merchant connected by marriage to the Ko-Nikka family. The given destination was Fin, but travelling with the same convoy were two long-dogs bound for the Heron Pool at Marabara.

The Shogun pa.s.sed Tos.h.i.+ro the tiny slip of rice paper without comment and watched with an expressionless face as his Heraid's eyes hungrily devoured the almost microscopic text.

Tos.h.i.+ro was swept by an overwhelming sense of relief.

He was not out of the woods yet but he sensed it was all coming together.

'What do you think?”

'I think we've got 'em, sire.” A quick laugh broke from his lips.

'Can you imagine - I mean, using the same name both ways? Unbelievable . . .”.

'So... what now?”

'We have to lift her and the two servants while the convoy's pa.s.sing through Lord Se-Iko's domain. As I understand it, you have him down as, uh - neutral.”