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"Can we go now?" Doc asked, pulling out his blue kerchief and mopping sweat
from his forehead. "I confess that I would not wish such an ending upon my
worst enemies. Not even upon the whitecoats that blighted my life. No, not
even upon them! Can we go now?"
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Hideyoshi nodded slowly. His eyes sparkled, and he kept licking his lips. "It
was so good," he said. "Oh, that was so good!"
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James Axler - Death Lands - Keeper of the Sun
"It was?" J.B. said, laconic as ever. "If that was good, then I'd sure hate to
see bad."
"Such honor and dignity. The ultimate in Bushido, our code of honor. It was
truly magnificent."
"I only saw a life pointlessly, pitilessly and brutally ended," Ryan said. "A
man sticking a sharp knife into his stomach and spilling his guts on the floor
while someone else cuts off his head. If that's your ideal of honor, then you
can stuff it up your ass, Hideyoshi."
"You barbarians do not understand."
"Damn right we don't."
The sec boss of the ville looked around as the room quickly emptied of
servants. A
couple of old men had appeared with buckets and mops, slowly dragging a large
wicker basket behind them.
"Talk is of no point. I would argue a thousand years and never convince you
that our ways are the right ways. It would be like trying to talk to a stone
wall."
Ryan pointed a finger at the Japanese warrior. "Couldn't agree more."
"What happens now?" Jak asked. His face was its usual dead-white hue, giving
little clue to whether the teenager had been upset by the act of seppuku.
Hideyoshi took a deep breath. "One of the invading band of ronin was slain by
your hand, Ryan Cawdor. Now they remove the body of the second. But there are
many others. We have known of them for many long months. Finally Lord
Mashashige has agreed that we will take arms against "
" 'The sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them,' " Doc said. "As the Bard
puts it."
"I also know of Shakespeare, Doctor," the samurai said triumphantly. " 'Sling
and arrow of outrageous fortunes.' "
"More or less, my dear fellow."
"You say that you're finally moving against this gang?" Ryan asked.
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James Axler - Death Lands - Keeper of the Sun
"Yes. And you will all come with us."
Chapter Fourteen
Ryan kicked his heels into the flanks of the sturdy mountain pony that he had
been given for the expedition, moving it on at a canter to bring himself up
with the ring of senior samurai who rode around their lord.
"Mashashige!"
The shogun heard him call his name and turned in the high saddle of his own
stallion, beckoning the one-eyed man to join him.
"What is it?"
"You insisted that the women ride in those carry-carriage things?"
Mashashige nodded, his face betraying no emotion. "They are called palanquins,
Cawdor-
san. You understand that it is only to honor you and your comrades that we
allow the weak ones these two strange women along with us on this fighting
expedition? There are no other women."
"I know that."
The column was entirely male, more than eighty armed men, all with pikes, and
many with rifles and automatics. Ryan had asked Hideyoshi why, if there was so
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much heavy, polluting industry on what remained of the country, they hadn't
got more firearms.
"Because we have too many people and too little land. Too much energy goes
into keeping alive with processed food. Also, we run out soon of raw
materials. Coal and iron in short supply. Ever shorter supply."
Eight samurai accompanied them, including Hideyoshi and Yashimoto. The
fortress was
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James Axler - Death Lands - Keeper of the Sun left with a skeleton defensive
complement, the drawbridge up and all shutters closed tight against any sneak
attack.
Mildred and Krysty had been allowed along under strict tolerance, having to
travel in the ornamented palanquins. Each was carried by six servants, the
relays changing at regular intervals as they tired under the weight and the
difficult terrain and the unbreathable air.
They were like large boxes on wheels, with curtains of embroidered silk, which
both
Krysty and Mildred had thrown back because of the oppressive heat and
stuffiness. They had knotted silken cords to hang on to, trying to keep their
balance in an awkward half sitting, half lying position, struggling against
the ceaseless jolting.
After a couple of miles both women had called for a halt while they got out
and tried to recover from bad bouts of travel sickness. Krysty had actually
thrown up in an open ditch at the side of the road, her nausea not improved by [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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