Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka Read Free Book Online Page A

else’s empty weapon instead of his own loaded one.
    “You there, what do you think you’re doing?” The gunnery captain strode up to him. “No one ordered you to raise your musket.” He looked sharply at Kuma. “I don’t know you. What is your name and when were you assigned to this unit?”
    Before Kuma could answer, Ishi said, “Lord Genji,” and fell to his knees. His men, including Kuma and the angry gunnery captain, were forced to follow suit.
    “So you recognize me?” Genji said.
    “Yes, Lord Genji. If I had known you were coming, I would have properly prepared for your arrival.”
    “Thank you,” Genji said. “May I greet my guests, or must I go elsewhere first to secure permission to do so?”
    “Get out of Lord Genji’s way,” Ishi said to his men. They moved swiftly to the side without standing completely and dropped right back down to their knees. “Forgive me, Lord Genji. I could not let your men proceed without knowing you were really among them. There are so many plots these days, and the Shogun is especially concerned about plots against outsiders.”
    “Idiot!” Saiki was still on the verge of exploding. “Are you suggesting I would undermine the best interests of my own lord?”
    “I am sure he is not,” Genji said. “Are you?”
    “Not at all, Lord Genji,” Ishi said, “I was merely . . .”
    “There,” Genji said to Saiki, “all settled. Now may we proceed?” He walked down the pier toward the missionaries.
    Saiki watched him go, his heart filled with admiration. With a hundred potential assassins at his back, he walked away as casually as if he were strolling in the innermost garden of his own castle. Genji was young and inexperienced, and perhaps lacked sound political judgment. But there was no doubting the strength of the Okumichi blood in his veins. Saiki’s hand left his sword. With a final glare at Ishi, he followed his lord’s lead.

    Emily didn’t realize she had stopped breathing until she exhaled with a gasp.
    Moments earlier, a bloody fight had seemed inevitable. Then someone had stepped out of the palanquin, spoken a few quiet words, and the tension had immediately dissipated. Emily watched with a high degree of curiosity as that someone now walked toward them.
    He was a young man of striking appearance, with dramatically dark features that stood out vividly against his pale skin. His eyes were long, rather than wide. They would have attracted more notice than admiration in a Western face. In the oval of his Eastern one, they were perfect complements to the high arches of his brows, his delicate nose, the mild rise of his cheekbones, the suggestion of a smile that held his lips in a small curve. Like the other samurai, he wore a jacket with stiff winglike extensions at the shoulders, had the same elaborately styled hair with partially shaved sections, and like all of them, wore two swords in his sash. Despite the weapons, his manner seemed distinctly unwarlike.
    As he neared, the official who had been giving Zephaniah so much trouble fell to his knees and pressed his head to the wooden planks of the pier. The young man said a few words in Japanese. At this, the official came quickly to his feet.
    “Genji Lord, come, he,” the official said, nervousness causing his English skills to deteriorate even as he spoke. “You, he, go, please.”
    “Lord Genji?” Cromwell said. When the youth bowed in affirmation, Cromwell introduced himself and his party. “Zephaniah Cromwell. Emily Gibson. Matthew Stark.” God help us, he thought. This effeminate child is the Great Lord of Akaoka, our protector in this savage land.
    Now a second samurai approached. This one was more mature, and much more ferocious in appearance. Genji said a few soft words. The ferocious one bowed, turned, and made a small circular gesture with an upraised hand.
    Genji said something to the official. The official bowed to the three missionaries and said, “Genji Lord say, welcome