Furious

44

The Mutsu had barely tied up to the pier at the High Kyoto station before Kris was receiving a long line of visitors in suits. She’d expected a quick visit from the police, but the suits first in line were much too expensive to belong to civil servants.

First was a reporter. Kris asked Captain Miyoshi if it was possible to skip him. The Marines at the gangplank sent him on his way.

The next could not be avoided. A lieutenant ushered Mr. Nigel Pennypecker, the senior representative of Nuu Enterprises into Kris’s quarters. The door was open as had become the custom; six Marines now stood guard under the watchful eye of Gunny himself. Kris appreciated the honor.

The small man neither bowed nor offered his hand but launched immediately into why he was there. “I am instructed to tell you that you may make no demands or requests on Nuu Enterprise assets, nor will you receive any assistance from the same.”

“Thank you,” Kris said through the wide smile that she reserved for people she’d rather shoot but couldn’t. “I wasn’t planning on making any such requests.”

“Oh,” the little man said, deflating in the face of acceptance when he clearly was prepared to weather a hurricane-size blow.

“What did you do to Alexander Longknife?” he asked. “I’ve never received instructions like these for the visit of a major stockholder, or even a minor one.”

Kris allowed herself a shrug. “Apparently, I’m not on Grampa’s nice list.”

“I should say so,” the man said, and settled, uninvited into the closest chair.

Kris took the one across from him.

“I did try to arrange a line of credit for you at All Nippon Bank. I’m afraid to report that I failed. It seems that you cannot access any of the accounts that have your name on them.”

“Yes, I know. I think Grampa Al has made a special naughty list just for me.”

The little man actually seemed concerned. “I am sorry to hear that. I understand that you are in quite a bit of trouble. If I can advance you some funds personally . . .”

Kris shook her head. “No. I don’t want anyone to end up on Grampa’s naughty list on my behalf. I’m a Longknife. I will figure out a way to survive.”

“Even broke?”

Kris thought about that for a moment, then laughed. “I’m sure that Great-grampa Ray must have had some tight months on his army pay before Rita Nuu fell head over heels in love with him.”

The man seemed to doubt that, but having nothing more to say, he stood to go. Then he paused.

“There is another man on the pier waiting to see you. A Mr. Kawaguchi. He’s one of the best men of the law on the planet. I would strongly suggest that you listen to anything he has to say to you.”

“I imagine if he’s the best, he must also be the most expensive,” Kris said.

“He is most definitely that,” the Nuu manager said as he dismissed himself.

The quarterdeck called about Kris’s next guest. A lawyer who identified himself as Kawaguchi Tsusumu. Kris allowed that he be brought aboard.

A few minutes later, the young lieutenant was back with a tall man in a blue three-piece suit. Bald, with a small gray mustache, it was his smile that drew Kris’s eye. It took up his entire face and gave her the feeling that he found the world a place of endless jest. He bowed from the waist as he entered the room. “Your Royal Highness, I have the honor to be Mr. Kawaguchi, a man of the law, and I wish to place myself at your service.”

Kris stood to meet him. She returned his formal bow, but then said, ”Why don’t you call me Kris? I’m not sure the princess thing applies at the moment. I’m not even sure about the Lieutenant Commander anymore.”

“Ah,” the lawyer said. “May I suggest to you that your case will be more likely to succeed if you hold on to all of yourself with both hands. If you begin allowing others to take your honors, they may soon take your life.”

Kris nodded. “I see. I thank you for the good advice. I only regret that I am not in a position to pay you for it.”

“Yes. I understand that you are in unusual straits for a Longknife. I placed the issue before my partners, and we decided to take your case pro bono.”

Kris had not been prepared for such an offer of charity. She found her knees going weak and offered Mr. Kawaguchi a seat before quickly folding herself into one.

“I am not used to taking charity,” Kris said.

“Yes, I know. You are much more likely to be giving it than taking it. My partners are not unaware of your past gifts to those in need.”

Kris leaned back in her chair and glanced at Jack and Penny. They shared one of the couches and had sat quietly during the last visitor. Now they both looked like they were doing their best to decode this man and his offer.

“You will excuse me, sir, but I know that my defense will be long and time-consuming. Therefore, it will not be cheap. You offer to undertake it at no charge. Therefore, I must assume that you expect to profit from it in some other manner. I have been played as a pawn before in other people’s games. I find I make a better pawn when I know what game is afoot.”

The man laughed. It was something that started in his belly and rose happily to his face, bringing red to his cheeks. “They warned that you were not only brave but wise as well. Very good, I like the way you play your cards faceup on the table. It is a poor hand, but not one you shrink from.”

He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and gave the appearance of becoming comfortable for a long stay. “My partners and I are not of the party in power. We believe they made a major blunder bringing charges against you, and we will enjoy helping them reap the full error of their ways. I am confident we can get you acquitted of all charges. Though, I must say, after meeting you, I am conflicted. A woman of your stature and beauty, going bravely to the headsman would be a picture to guarantee their party minority status for twenty years.”

Kris swallowed hard. “You will excuse my reluctance to provide you with a photo op of such long-lasting power.”

He laughed again. “Ah. And a sense of humor. Even more I look forward to working with you. Do we have a deal?”

He rose, and Kris met him halfway. His handshake was firm but not demanding or combative.

“Will we be meeting after this in jail?” Kris asked.

“As we speak, one of my partners is arranging for your release under your own recognizance. I very much doubt you will ever see the inside of a Musashi jail.”

“So, I need to find a place to live,” Kris said, grateful to have the problem but not at all sure how to handle the honor.

“If you do not object, I have made arrangements. Mrs. Fujioka is a strong supporter of our party. She has several homes, one of them in New Kyoto, and would be only too happy for you to use her town house.”

So, Kris would not be homeless. She knew not to look a gift house in the mouth, but she also knew that few people of wealth splurged on gifts. “And she’s willing to open her home to an indicted war criminal because . . . ?” Kris said.

Mr. Kawaguchi nodded at the question. “Many of the old families of Musashi have a tradition. Their young men, even some of their young women, spend four years in the Emperor’s service. Her youngest son, Tomio, was almost through with his four years. Already, he was a lieutenant in our Navy.”

Shivers went down Kris’s spine. Not another death on my soul, she prayed.

“He could have asked to be transferred off Haruna. Everyone agreed his four years would be up well before they returned,” Mr. Kawaguchi said. “He told his mother he wanted to go. He wanted to see sights never seen before. He didn’t doubt that following a Longknife he would get his heart’s desire.”

“I allowed anyone who wanted to return before we left for the battle,” Kris said.

“Yes. He told his mother that in his last letter home to her. But he would not desert his battle station even though his four years were up by then. He also told his mother that he could not return knowing he’d left an entire people to be murdered. He begged his mother’s forgiveness, but he could not come back.”

Kris nodded slowly. “Many followed because they could not desert their comrades. I had hoped things would go better than they did. But tell me, what does this mother want from me?”

“Musashi lost two ships and over three thousand men and women,” the lawyer said, leaning forward. “This government seems to think we need a scapegoat for some sort of failure. Mrs. Fujioka and I think the fight of Haruna and Chikuma is something to be proud of. That our people died in a worthy cause. There is no shame in dying for a just cause, and, what do you Christians say? Laying down your life for another, even if they have beaks rather than noses, is a holy endeavor.”

Surprisingly, Kris found herself tearing up. “I am glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Kawaguchi, and I look forward to meeting my patron, Mrs. Fujioka. You wish to stand by me for the fight that I owe those who died following me. I welcome you at my side. Win or lose, those who oppose us will know they’ve been in a fight when we are done.”

“Rest assured, young woman, this is a fight we can win. Yes, we can win this one.”