The Amtrak Wars - Ironmaster Part 10

Let's face it the risks are minimal. You've given me to understand that what happens aboard his wheelboats is a closed book ' 'It's true that, up to now, we have never been able to get any of our people on board."

'Then provided no one catches the lady actually getting on or off the boat, he's in the clear. Once she's back in the box, the only person she can be linked to is to the Consul-General."

'Mmmmmm..." Yoritomo pulled slowly at his bottom lip. 'It's a neat theory but - let's face it, my friend - it's pure supposition. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to wish this conspiracy away, but, so far, you haven't presented me with one shred of hard evidence.

You haven't even come up with any firsthand information - it's all hearsay."

It was a harsh judgement, but Tos.h.i.+ro was obliged to take it on the chin. He bowed. 'That's the way the system works, sire. I am only a conduit for information not a government spy."

'I know, I know. I'm not questioning your competence.

And I have every faith in the people we have out there in the field, but... I'm not entirely convinced you've interpreted the information correctly."

'I share your concern, sire. But I can name names. Three, to be precise. If you were to bring them to the boil I'm sure they would only be too happy to confirm that the female in the Consul-General's lake-house is a long-dog. With dark hair and blue eyes."

'Is there any other way we can get at the truth?

Something a little more devious, perhaps?"

'I can think of one way. But it will take some organising and we would have to move fast."

'Shoot."

'Our people at Kari-faran and Pi-saba will have to be alerted to maintain a day and night watch on the wheelboats bringing in the new s.h.i.+pment of Mutes.

They'll have to keep tabs on everybody who comes ash.o.r.e from those boats - and that includes any captured long-dogs. We also need to know in advance who is booked to travel on any of the eastbound road convoys."

'That's a tall order."

'It is, sire. But I do not believe it is beyond the power of the Shogunate. Our chief agents can be alerted by pigeon post."

'Okay. Let's a.s.sume we do all that and find that some generous soul has paid the portage fees for a certain "Yoko Mi-s.h.i.+ma" - or whoever.

What then?"

'Somewhere between Pi-saba and Bo-sona the road convoy has the misfortune to be waylaid by lawless elements and -' Tos.h.i.+ro spread his hands - 'the lady is kidnapped. It's deplorable but, even under your firm leaders.h.i.+p, a certain level of criminality persists."

Yoritomo's eyes hardened. 'Do you realise what you're asking?"

'Yes, sir. People are liable to get themselves killed.

But those who lose their lives will die in the service of the Shogun."

'And if it turns out you're wrong about this woman?"

Tos.h.i.+ro inclined his head meekly. 'Then, no doubt, I shall also have the honour to make the same sacrifice . . ."

'I may take you up on that,' said Yoritomo as the Herald's eyes rose to meet his. 'But let's suppose you're right. What happens next?"

'Nothing, sire. Once we have proof that she is a long-dog, we arrange to have her put back into circulation without delay."

Yoritomo frowned. 'Wait a minute. Aren't you going to question her?"

'No, sire. That would be fatal. I am a.s.suming that the, uhh outlaws, if captured, will not confess they were in your employ."

'No chance..."

'Then it will work. It is common knowledge that lawless bands of ronin often attack road convoys in search of plunder, sometimes carrying off highborn travellers to hold them for ransom. On this occasion they will find their prize is worthless - and they will turn her loose."

'Go on..."

'When the lady is recovered by her present owner and his patrons, they will ask her what happened, and she will tell them what little she can.

Since they are all party to the deception - and to a larger conspiracy - they are bound to be suspicious about the real motive for the kidnapping. They're not going to be happy with her story. They may not even believe it. They'll begin looking for evidence that points to you but, if we don't ask her any questions, they've got nothing to go on.

They'll be left wondering if they've been rumbled, how much you know, who blew the whistle, and - best of all whether we are now running the Consul-General's lady friend."

'I like it,' said Yoritomo. 'You'd better get moving."

'Uhh - me, sire?" Tos.h.i.+ro was unable to hide his confusion. 'This kind of operation is way out of my league. The hit on the road convoy would probably have to be made in Lord Se-Iko's domain. That's not my territory. And besides, I don't have the authority."

'You do now."

Tos.h.i.+ro bowed low and tried to sound sincere. 'I'm honoured, sire.

But I beg you to reconsider your decision. I am already known to be your eyes and ears in the lands of Lord Min-Orota. If, by some mischance, he and his a.s.sociates came to hear of my involvement in the kidnapping of the long-dog, it ' '- would blow the whole deal . . .

Yes, okay, we'll talk about it later."

At Kari-faran, the three wheelboats dropped anchor briefly before making the run through the ca.n.a.l system to Pi-saba. While stores were being taken aboard and a certain amount of cargo was unloaded, Yama-s.h.i.+ta was invited ash.o.r.e to a lavish reception laid on by members of the Ko-Nikka family. During the meal, a senior lieutenant of the absent domain-lord advised Yamas.h.i.+ta that the known agents of the Shogun were displaying a greater interest than usual in the movements of goods and people in and out of the docks.

Yama-s.h.i.+ta thanked him and altered his plans accordingly as the wheelboats proceeded on their way.

Most of the spies working for the bakufu were employed by the Shogun's tax collectors; their task was to keep tabs on the volume of trade, who was selling what to whom, and into whose pockets the money was going, so that the usual swingeing demands could be made twice a year. But one could never be too careful.

There were other government agents looking for different fish to fry.

Yama-s.h.i.+ta had received word that the Shogun's Herald to the house of Min-Orota had been trawling the sinks and stews around Ba-satana and the newly built Heron Pool at Mara-bara. Could a whiff of what was afoot - or rather abed - in the Consul-General's lake-house have reached the nose of this tiresome bloodhound? Only time would tell.

Meanwhile, he and Min-Orota must do everything they could to distance themselves in the public and private eye from Toh-s.h.i.+ba and his hairy gutter-animal.

From Pi-saba, Yama-s.h.i.+ta had been planning to make his usual ceremonial progress along the Great East Road, the highway that, in the dim distant past, had been known as the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This was the route that Side-Winder had recommended Steve to follow in the belief that - by tailing Yama-s.h.i.+ta's party he would eventually find his way to the Heron Pool. But Steve was to be left high and dry for, by the time the wheelboats arrived at Pi-saba, the canny domain-lord had decided to take evasive action. Only the long-dog and her fellow renegades destined for the Heron Pool would return along the Great East Road; he and his ma.s.sive entourage would take the northern route (the pre-Holocaust Highway 80) to Wirimasaporo before turning north into his own domain - and he would leave a week before they did. It would mean missing the planned reception at the house of his southern neighbours, the Se-Iko, but he had no doubt he would be royally entertained on the way.

Reasoning that any government spies would redouble their surveillance as darkness fell, Yama-s.h.i.+ta decided that Clearwater should be put ash.o.r.e in broad daylight.

Better still, she would be the first item to be unloaded.

He ordered her to be bound with strips of cloth into a foetal position, then hidden inside a bundle of furs.