RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN IN
“SHOGUN”
© 2003. Okihei Enterprise, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Tribute to Richard Chamberlain

 

 
Alvito is riding down the hill from the castle at the head of his eight Jesuit outriders all Japanese, dressed as Buddhist priests except for the rosary and crucifix they wear at their belts.

Ferriera:"How bad?"
Father Alvito:"Very bad, Captain Ferriera. Toranaga has been
questioning the Englishman -- Blackthorne".
Ferriera:"The sooner that heretic's dead, the better! 
If the Dutch and English start spreading their
filth in Asia, we're in for trouble. All of us".
Father Alvito:"We are already in trouble, Captain. 
Toranaga said that Blackthorne has told him of the Treaty 
of Saragossa and then he asked me if such a thing could be".
Father Dell'Aqua:"And how did you answer?"
Father Alvito:"With the truth, your Eminence".
Ferriera:"Fool. You endanger all our profits".

Ferriera:"But if that Dutch pig, the Erasmus, with her English captain catches us at sea, we would lose everything. I hope you understand that".
Father Alvito:"You have made it quite clear, Captain".
Father Dell'Aqua:"We must be very careful, Martin painfully careful. The more Toranaga listens to this heretic, the more 
dangerous our position becomes".
Father Alvito:"Then, your Eminence, we shall have to do 
something unexpected".

 

 
For a moment, it is completely still -- then a cloth covered hook 
attached to a thin, silk rope flies up and hook almost soundlessly 
on the stone ledge of the wall. Then, with amazing dexterity, 
a man in close fitting black clothes climbs the rope, pulling himself
onto the stone ledge. He wears a black cowl, a black
mask covering his face. 

He pauses and looks down on the other side of the wall.
Blackthorne looks up from the futon as the man hurtles into the room, a long, curved knife appearing in his hand. He plunges the blade at Blackthorne -- but Blackthorne catches his wrist, pulling the man down almost on top of him. The man slashes again, missing, entangled in the quilt -- then he scrambles to his feet, positioning himself for the death thrust. The man feints once, then reverses the knife -- pointing it at himself.
With both hands, he plunges the knife into himself then topples 
to the floor. Naga reaches down and rips off the man's mask.
Hiro-Hatsu has knelt by the man's body -- pulling the man's 
clothes open to reveal a Chinese character tattooed on the man's breast.

Naga and the other Samurai quickly pick up the man's body and
carry it out of the room. Toranaga looks at Blackthorne.

 

 

 
Blackthorne is asleep on the futon as Rako, Sono and Asa come into the room and kneel.

 

 
Rako:"Konnichi wa, Anjin-san".
Blackthorne:"Konnichi wa".

 

 

 

 
Mariko:"Good day. Please sit down, Anjin-san".
Blackthorne"Thank you".
Mariko:"Lord Toranaga has instructed me to tell you how 
much he regrets the incident of last night. 
Your guards have been doubled and every effort will be made 
to prevent another occurrence".
Blackthorne"Please inform Lord Toranaga of my appreciation".
Mariko:"Lord Toranaga has decided to send you to the provinces within the next few days so that you may recuperate. 
My Master also says that he is very pleased with you and that 
there is no need for you to worry or concern yourself about anything. He says that you are in his personal care now".
Blackthorne"When will I be able to see my men?"
Mariko:"Lord Toranaga will decide that. In the meantime he asks if you would please prepare several maps detailing the way you came here and showing the world as you know it. 
He has provided you with these materials.

 

 
Mariko places a package of paper, pen and ink in front of Blackthorne.
Blackthorne takes a piece of paper and with the pen he draws the Chinese character that was tattooed on the assassin's breast.
Blackthorne:"What does it mean?"
Mariko:"That is the sign of the Amida Tong.
Blackthorne:"Why did one of these Amida Tong attack
me last night?"
Mariko:"That is a question that Lord Toranaga himself is attemting to answer".

 

NEXT: CHAPTER 16 SHOGUN

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