n would return

by junk to Cape Fear then by SkyRider to the AMEXICO base near

Houston/GC.

Karlstrom's warning about their electronic aids had been aimed at Fram

Steve already knew from personal experience how nervous most Iron

Masters became when confronted with devices powered by 'the Dark

Light'.

The ruling Toh-Yota and their traditionalist allies were implacably

opposed to the use of electricity in any form, but as Steve had

discovered since going overground, nothing in this big wide world was

what it seemed. A special cadre of agents employed by Ieyasu, the Lord

Chamberlain, had been using powerful handsets and a variety of

surveillance equipment for over a decade.

If the existence of AMEXICO was the best-kept secret of all, this

covert use of radios by Ieyasu's agents ran it a close second - and it

was destined to remain so.

It was Karlstrom who had set up the deal on behalf of AMEXICO following

a series of secret discussions with Ieyasu's most senior aide.

Karlstrom and Ieyasu had finally met on Mute territory close to

Ne-Issan's southern border to put their signatures to a mutual aid

treaty between their respective intelligence organisations.

Now, Steve and Fran were on their way to propose another aid package,

but this was not another hole-in-the corner deal between two

spy-masters: this time the goods and services on offer were so

comprehensive, they could only be supplied with the full knowledge and

approval of the Shogun.

Passing through the channel between the overlapping sand-bars which

guarded the south-facing coastline of Long Island, the junk entered

Great South Bay, and turned eastwards, towards the cluster of small

islands where the junk carrying Cadillac and Roz had been moored some

thirty-six hours earlier.

Now that they were close inshore and within hailing distance of other

coastal traffic, Fujiwara had asked them not to use the stern

gallery.

The shutters protecting the cabin windows against the storm also had to

remain closed. Through the angled slits Steve saw the crew of a small

oarboat fishing broken timbers out of the water.

Looking farther afield, he saw there were several other boats doing the

same thing. He heard people shouting on deck, then the junk came to a

shuddering halt as the propellor slowed and was thrown into reverse,

causing the sea to boil thunderously under the stern.

Fran came through from the portside cabin. 'Quick!

Someone's spotted a body in the water!" She ran back so as not to miss

anything. Steve, his curiosity aroused, joined her at the window. It

was the first time she'd had a smile on her face in three days.

Karlstrom was right. This girl was dangerous to know.

There was more muffled shouting from the deck above.

'What's happening?" asked Steve.

'They're calling out to that small boat over there - see?

Telling them where the body is. It's close to the ship. But of course

with these things in the way you can't see a bloody thing!" She

slammed the heel of her hand against the locked shutters to vent her

frustration.

The oarboat was now making its way towards the junk.

There was another exchange of shouts. 'It's now almost underneath us,'

said Fran. 'It's got no head. Half of one leg is missing and its arms

are tied behind its back. That's kind of weird isn't it? What d'you

think happened?"

'No idea,' said Steve. 'This is a big stretch of water.

Maybe it has big fish in it that eat people."

'You mean they tie people up and throw them overboard?"

'Commander, compared to some of the ways the Iron Masters have of

killing people that's nothing, believe me."

Although Steve and Fran didn't know it, the junk was now covering the

same stretch of water as the loaded longboat.