delivering the craft had never been raised by the white-haired leader
of the M'Call's trade council. And Yama-Shita had no intention of
renegotiating the agreement with a female Mute. Once they set foot in
Ne-Issan, Mutes were slaves; non-persons with no rights whatsoever.
But even if this had been the case, by the very nature of the
enterprise, Clearwater's request was bound to fall on deaf ears. It
was vital that the Federation should remain unaware of what was afoot
for as long as possible. If she and the long-dog were to return to the
Plainfolk and subsequently fall into enemy hands, it would be a secret
no longer.
As the Mute had no further part to play, she had been placed in the
custody of Consul-General Nakane Toh-Shiba, nephew to the domain-lord
of that name.
Nakane was the permanent representative of the Shogun to the House of
Min-Orota. Military men, appointed by Yoritomo, held similar posts in
all subject domains.
They occupied imposing residences on private estates maintained by the
Shogunate and which also served as a base for a team of provincial
administrators, tax inspectors, and a regiment of government
soldiers.
At the Heron Pool, the necessary buildings were completed and a team of
long-dogs, recruited from mines and quarries, was set to work under the
supervision of local craftsmen. The dark-haired, brown-skinned
Brickman quickly revealed himself to be' an ideal overseer, totally
dedicated to the task he had been assigned. He was, moreover, endowed
with a formidable intellect and displayed a keen interest in, and
appreciation of, every aspect of Iron Master society; its art, culture,
custom and tradition, its spiritual ethos. His grasp of these matters
was so instinctive, Min-Orota was moved to seek permission to allow him
to be taught Japanese.
Ieyasu had passed his written request to the Shogun with an appended
note recommending its rejection. For once, Yoritomo and his
Chamberlain found themselves in agreement. Despite his willingness to
share his skills and knowledge, the long-dog was an alien, a renegade,
and was thus without honour. The language of Ne-Issan was a sacred
relic from The World Before that had to be zealously protected. Never
again was it to be debased by foreign influences and, above all, it
must never be allowed to issue from the mouths of the unworthy.
Yoritomo, like his Heralds, might speak what the long-dogs called
'Basic' but that was merely a means by which they could discuss
confidential matters in the presence of others.
Brickman, unaware of the representation made on his behalf, continued
