Fujiwara stood facing them, flanked by his four companions.

All of them now wore white headbands bearing the red disc - the hinomaru - the rising sun emblem of Ne-Issan. On the left breast of their loose black tunics was a white circle containing two overlapping horizontal bars with chamfered ends - the house badge of the TohYota family.

After everyone had tried to outdo each other in the bowing contest and finally called it a draw, Fujiwara said: 'Allow me to show you to your quarters."

Steve caught Fran's look and didn't need further prompting. 'When do we get down to business, Major?"

'I regret this is not for me to say. Decisions as to when and where any meetings will take place are made at a very high level. My orders are to ensure that you are properly housed, fed and supplied with every convenience until you are granted audience by those who wish to hear what you have to say."

As they followed Fujiwara down pa.s.sages and up more stairs, ever deeper into the Palace, Steve's earlier bravado began to wear off. He hadn't forgotten what had happened on his previous trip but he had put it firmly at the back of his mind. But now, the sights, the sounds and smells wafting on the air were starting to trigger freshly-minted gut-churning memories of his many narrow escapes from violent death.

And with the memories came a growing realisation that if anything was to go badly wrong, he hadn't the faintest idea where the emergency exit was.

On the command of General Tadoshi, the three companies of soldiers stiffened to attention as the Shogun's road convoy rumbled across the drawbridge into the main courtyard of the Summer Palace.

The 4th Guard Company had been allotted the task of manning the outer keep and battlements, much to the relief of the soldiers involved who had been spared the extra bulls.h.i.t involved in formal parades, plus the inevitable waiting around. The road convoy had been expected to arrive at midday: it was now nearly three in the afternoon.

Backed by his juniors officers, Captain Kamakura stood next to his flag-bearing ensign at the head of the centre company. Captain Mashimatsu headed the block of troops to his right; Captain Setsukane commanded the third company on his left. It was not normal for a samurai-general to lead so small a unit, but the post of Castle Commandant was something of a sinecure. Social rank and the right background were more important than military competence, which was why Tadoshi - an ageing member of the Toh-Yota family - had been given the job.

The Commandant moved forward with his two aides to join the welcoming party: Tokimasa, the Resident Steward and his fawning retinue of floor-polishers, Ichiwara, Permanent Secretary of the Chamberlain's Office, and a clutch of senior clerks.

Everyone bowed as first the Shogun, then Ieyasu, descended from their double-width carriage-boxes via the wooden steps that had been rushed into place by their personal servants while grooms steadied the four pairs of sweating oxen.

Anyone armed with the knowledge that the Iron Masters had introduced horses into the Eastern lands several centuries ago might have wondered, with good reason, why they had never harnessed them to carts.

The answer lay in the cla.s.s system. Only samurai were allowed to ride horses. It was a jealously guarded privilege, conferring unmatched mobility in time of war, and the n.o.ble attributes of the rider were deemed to be shared by his steed.

To an Iron Master, it would have been unthinkable to use the same animal as a beast of burden when there was an ample supply of porters from the lower social cla.s.ses for short journeys, and field-oxen for the heavier loads and longer hauls. That was why it had taken four and a half days including stop-overs to cover two hundred and seventy-five miles.

Top people like the Shogun and Ieyasu had ridden horses in their early youth, but they were not allowed to do so now. Riding horses was regarded as a life-threatening activity which was all right for military men and n.o.blemen of lesser rank, but not for the ruling elite.

A great deal of effort by a large number of people ensured that when Yoritomo ventured beyond the silken coc.o.o.n spun by the Inner Court, he was protected from every possible danger, spared any discomfort and shielded from casual encounters with the lower cla.s.ses - whose appearance and behaviour might accidentally offend his finer sensibilities.

Once the formal greetings had been exchanged between the top bra.s.s, General Tadoshi conducted Yoritomo and Lord Ieyasu to the covered dais in front of the a.s.sembled troops. Kamakura, as Senior Captain of the Guard, bowed from the waist, then drew and raised his sword, and called upon the soldiers to join him in the loyal greeting to their Shogun.

The junior officers' swords flashed into the air, the ensigns and soldiers raised their right arms in a clenched-fist salute, and the air shook as over four hundred full-blooded voices followed Kamakura phrase by phrase, ending with a rousing cheer.

The Shogun bowed, the troops bowed even lower, and stayed down until the VIPs had cleared the dais.

Boarding smaller carriage-boxes, Yoritomo and Ieyasu were carried into the Great Hall of the Summer Palace, surrounded by their servants, bodyguards and the resident officials. Stepping out onto the spotless floor, Yoritomo announced his intention of taking a long hot bath before attending to any other business.

Tokimasa, the Resident Steward, whose staff had been frantically keeping gallons of water piping hot for the last six hours, a.s.sured him that everything was ready, adding that the kitchen staff had also prepared quant.i.ties of food for the entire retinue that could be cooked at a moment's notice.

When Yoritomo and his personal staff had left the hall with Tokimasa dancing in attendance, Ieyasu dismissed everyone except Watanabe, his Princ.i.p.al Private Secretary who had travelled with him, Ichiwara and the secret agent Fujiwara who was listed on the official payroll as Personal Courier to the Lord Chamberlain.

Ieyasu's gaze fastened on Fujiwara. 'You have the envoys from the Federation?"

'Yes, sire. We arived about four hours ago. They have been placed in the guest rooms in the North Tower. The sea voyage left them somewhat indisposed, but they are anxious to meet with you as soon as possible."

'They'll have to wait. I have had a rather tiring journey.

And as the years go by, it seems to get longer and longer."

He switched his gaze onto Watanabe. 'Go and see them.

Take Ichiwara with you. Find out what's on the table and report back to me."

'Yes, sire."

'Make sure they have been offered the appropriate degree of hospitality, convey my apologies and tell them they'll be granted a formal audience tomorrow."

'Yes, sire. I, ahh. think they are expecting to see you and the Shogun."

'They will- providing they have something to say that's worth listening to. But don't tell them I said that."

His aides shared Ieyasu's amus.e.m.e.nt. Fujiwara said: 'I a.s.sume these meetings will be conducted in Basic."

'Of course,' said Watanabe.

'Then I would advise you to be prudent in any conversations between ourselves. From my observations during the voyage, I am fairly certain one of the long-dogs can speak j.a.panese - and may even be fluent in Chinese as well. It's the woman."

Ichiwara looked surprised. 'Woman?"

'Yes,' said Fujiwara. 'She also outranks her male companion."

'You mean socially?"

'Not as we understand it. The Federation is run like a vast army, commanded by a privileged General Staff to which the envoys belong.

She holds the rank of Commander, he is a Captain."

'unbelievable,' said Ichiwara. 'They send women into battle?"

Watanabe laughed. 'He said she belongs to their General Staff, Ichi.

That means they leave the fighting to others!" 'Even so, it all sounds very strange to me."

'They are strange,' said Ieyasu. 'And one day we will destroy them.

Meanwhile we must use their power to make us stronger. They arc so eager to help us, it would be churlish to refuse."

Taking their cue from his thin smile, his aides laughed again then Ichiwara said: 'Sire, Captain Mashimatsu, the officer who was entrusted with certain travelling arrangements, has asked permission to present a report."

Ieyasu waved the matter away. 'Later, Ichiwara. I'm going to take a two-hour nap, then a bath before I see or talk to anyone else."

When the Shogun's personal five-man bodyguard had made their usual check of his apartments, he and Steward Tokimasa entered followed by Yoritomo's valet and two chambermaids. Soldiers of the 'Shield Unit', a select body of men from Kamakura's 1st Company, took up their allotted positions. In theory, all access points both outside and inside were covered - but, of course, the security plan did not include the secret pa.s.sages that Kamakura now knew about.

Having made the usual conducted tour, Yoritomo walked through into his bed-chamber as two of his silent samurai pulled the doorscreens aside.