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“SHOGUN” © 2003. Okihei Enterprise, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Tribute to Richard Chamberlain |
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| The sky is clear, the sea calm -- the Erasmus
and the Galley both riding gently at anchor. Blackthorne's twenty Samurai
are standing in a group at one side -- Vinck and the rest of the crew gathered
into a nervous knot across from them, as Uraga hurrier toward Blackthorne.
Uraga:"Please excuse me, Anjin-san -but this cannot wait". Blackthorne:"What is it"? Uraga:"I think it is possible that there are Christians among your vassals. Please excuse me, but it is most important that you find out at once. Your are their enemy. Therefore you must know for your protection. With your permission, Anjin-san". Uraga reaches into his kimono and brings out a small, painted Catholic icon. Blackthorne:"What's that for"? Uraga throws the icon face upward on the ground, then he stamps his foot on it. Uraga:"Please, Anjin-san, make every vassal do the same". |
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| Blackthorne:"Why?
Uraga:"I know Christians. Please Sire, it is important that every man do the same. Right now. If there are Christians, you will find them". Blackthorne:"All right. Order it done". Uraga:"Tono no meirei desu. Fumi nasai. Tono no anzen wo mamoru tame desu". Abruptly, one Samurai by-passes the icon, tears out his sword and leaps toward Blackthorne. A dozen other Samurai race forward to block his way. The one, attacking Samurai skids to a halt -- as the rest of the Samurai charge toward him, swords flashing. |
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| The body of the attacker lies motionless on
the ground.
Blackthorne points to the icon. Blackthorne:"You do the same". Roper:"What for"? Blackthorne:"To show them. Now, come on. Hurry up or I'll put my foot in your backs. |
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| Roper:"No need to say that, Pilot.
Vinck:"I'll be the first". Yabu:"Anjin-san, ikanakereba haranai jikan desu". Blackthorne:"Hai, Uraga - - you come with me". Roper:"When will you return"? Blackthorne:"After Osaka and Nagasaki - - after I've bought a crew". Roper:"And after you have them, how do we know you'll send for us"? Blackthorne:"One more word and you are dead, Jan Roper. I'll send for you as soon as I'm back". |
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| Ferriera:"How soon can we sail for Macao"?
Rodriques:"An hour. What happened"? Ferriera:"What is the worst thing you can imagine"? Rodriques:"The Ingeles? He's put to sea? But he has no crew". Ferriera:"You said he can speak their gibberish now. Why can't he use monkeys, eh? There are enough Jappo pirates to crew him twenty times over". Rodriques:"Yes, but not gunners and not sailors as he'd need them be's got no time to train Jappos. Next year maybe -" Ferriera:"Why in the name of the Madonna and the saints the priests gave him one of their dictionaries I'll never understand. They must have been possessed by the Devil. It's almost as though the Ingeles is protected by the Devi1". Rodriques:"I tell you he's just clever". Ferriera:"How many people have been here for Years and still can't speak a word of the Jappo gibberish, eh? But the Ingeles can! I tell you he's given his soul to Satan and in return for the black arts he's protected. How else do you explain it? The Ingeles and the Jappo pirates -- God save us! Ferriera's hand flashes to his rapier -- and Rodrigues reaches for his pistol. They stand there, facing each other angrily -- then Ferriera controls his rage. Ferriera:"I tell you before God, the Ingeles must be Devil-spawned. You see what he has done? He has put a spell on all of us". |
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| Blackthorne and Vinck are standing on the
quarterdeck -- a Japanese pilot at the helm, as the Galley sweeps into
the harbor.
Vinck:"What's the castle like, Pilot"? Blackthorne:"Like nothing you've ever seen before. Just pray you don't see it any closer than you have to". Vinck:"Aye. Right here is close enough for me. How long do we stay here"? Blackthorne:"A day or two -- with our heads down. . Just long enough for Yabu-san to arrange for safe conducts to Nagasaki". Vinck:"I swear I don't know how you stay so calm, Pilot. I know I won't breathe easy till we're on our own ship headed for home. This God-cursed country's no place for us". Blackthorne:"Yes, we'll be home again someday, Vinck -- whenever that day is". Thlere is an Elderly Han in ornate ceremonial dress with a winged overmantle sitting beneath a canopy-- Ishido's cipher and the cipher of the Council of Regents fluttering above it -- surrounded by two hundred Gray Samurai. |
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| Yabu follows the Gray Officer down the gangway.
Blackthorne:"Lord Ishido knows we're here". Uraga:"Yes, Sire. It appears that way. Excuse me, Sire, but it may be wiser for you not to stand there". Yabu comes on to the dock. Blackthorne:"What the hell is he doing there"? Uraga:"That is Prince Ogaki from the Court of His Imperial Highness. Lord Yabu has been ordered to the Castle immediately". |
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| Blackthorne:"Ask him how they knew we were
coming".
Uraga:"Lord Yabu says that it makes no difference now how they knew we were coming. He instructs me to tell you that you have been invited to a formal reception given by Lord Ishido to honor the birthday of Lady Ochiba. An escort will come for you at noon tomorrow". Blackthorne:"I'm not walking into that castle, by God"! Uraga:"Lord Yabu says there is nothing to be done, Sire. I'm afraid that he is right". Blackthorne:"Who is this Lady Ochiba"? Uraga:"Oh, she is the -most powerful Lady in all Japan. She was the consort of the Taiko. Yaemon, the Heir, is her son". Blackthorne looks at him for a moment, then he walks back to the rail -- looking off. |