Seas of Fortune(169)

“You don’t understand. I help him, he helps me.”

“Well, don’t be away so long that he forgets that you’re out there helping him.”

* * *

First-to-Dance hadn’t yet learned how to ride a horse. The only horses in America were those brought by the Europeans, or now, by the Japanese. She would have been happy to walk to Maruya/Carmel but her escort insisted that this wasn’t dignified enough for one traveling in an official capacity, she must either ride a horse or be carried by bearers in a palanquin.

“Please . . . wait . . . a moment . . . First-to-Dance!” It was Shigetsuna, huffing and puffing.

She stopped what she was doing, and bowed. Both the Indians and the Japanese agreed on the importance of showing respect for one’s elders.

“How may I help you, Wise One?”

“One of the presents you gave to us upon your return was a red face pigment. Where does that come from?”

“It’s a soft red rock, it comes from a ridge that lies halfway between here and the Sea of Tule.” Tule was the bullrush that grew in the swampland of the southern end of San Francisco Bay. “We trade for it, or sometimes our people go there to collect it ourselves.”

“I see,” said Shigetsuna. “And which tribe controls it?”

“Controls? I don’t understand. . . .”

“In which tribe’s land does it lie?”

“It moves.”

“Moves? The land moves?”

She pursed her lips. “So sorry, I am not clear. The red-earth-place doesn’t move. Sometimes it is part of the land of the Awaswas, sometimes of the Mutsun, sometimes of the Tamyen.”

“Ah, I understand. It lies between their villages. And can you draw me a picture in the sand that shows the way?”

“I can’t, but Swims-Like-Seal has been there.” She spoke with him rapidly. “Yes, he can draw you a picture.”

“I would like that. In fact, it would be even better if he could lead some of our samurai there. He would be well rewarded.”

There was a quick negotiation, with First-to-Dance interpreting, and Swims-Like-Seal agreed to the terms.

First-to-Dance’s escort helped Shigetsuna mount his horse, and then Swims-Like-Seal got up behind him. This was possible only because the horse was one of the European horses that the Dutch-Japanese invasion force had captured from the Spanish in Manila. The Japanese captors preferred the smaller Japanese breed they were accustomed to, and so Date Masamune had acquired European horses at a bargain price.

“Forget the palanquin,” said First-to-Dance to her escort, eyeing his waist. “I’ll double up with you.”





Kodachi Machi/Santa Cruz





“Hiraki, where is your grandfather?” asked Yamaguchi Takuma. “It’s almost time to eat.”

The nine-year-old looked up. “He went off looking for herbs.”

“Yesterday,” his mother Mizuki volunteered, “he was chortling about some plant he found in the scrubland out to the west. You know, that field that was partially cleared last year. I bet he’s out there again.”

“Should I send Hiraki to fetch him?”

“Let him enjoy himself; he’s retired after all. I’ll give him some rice-gruel when he comes in.”





Maruya/Carmel





“So, you are our native expert,” said Toshiro Kanesada. He put a slight stress on the word “native” that First-to-Dance didn’t like. It was a pity, because otherwise First-to-Dance thought that there was plenty to like about him. He was well-muscled without overdoing it, and taller than most of the Japanese. And he moved like a mountain cat.

“I think we can handle the matter on our own.”

Chiyo had warned First-to-Dance that Kanesada might be a bit resentful of her presence. Kanesada had once been an up-and-coming member of the guard of Honda Masazumi, the lord of Utsunomiya. But in 1622, Masazumi rebuilt a castle without the shogun’s permission. He lost his fief and was sent into exile, and of course all his samurai, including Kanesada, became ronin. It was very difficult for a ronin to become a retainer once more, but the assembly of the First Fleet had created that opportunity.

Kanesada had recently transferred to the small garrison at Maruya/Carmel, becoming its commander. He had put in for the transfer after the ritual suicide of his friend, Hosoya Jinbei.

“I am just here to help prevent misunderstandings,” said First-to-Dance. “The grand governor told me, when I last dined with him, that he has great faith in your abilities.” Thus simultaneously buttering Kanesada up, and putting him in his place.

* * *

First-to-Dance carefully inspected the Indian artifacts that had been placed in the vicinity of the Maruyans’ cross. She jiggled the shells, and felt the feathers on the arrow shafts. The Maruyan headman and Lieutenant Kanesada watched her.