Tell him I want this meddlesome woman's quarters sealed off from the

rest of the Palace by an armed guard. No one in her entourage is to be

allowed out - and that includes her children."

'Yes, sire."

'When she returns after leaving here, she is to remain there. And if

she demands to know why, Mashimatsu is to say'she is being held on my

orders pending a possible charge of high treason!" 'Yes, sire!" 'And

you can tell the Captain he has one last chance to save his promotion

and his head. When I wake up tomorrow morning, I want to be surprised

and distressed to hear she and her brood have taken poison rather than

face the disgrace of a trial. He is to despatch her servants as

well.

That will be proof of their guilt. Go quickly - and return here as

soon as it has been arranged!" Ichiwara left. Watanabe waited until

the door closed again then said: 'Do you think she knows we - ?"

Ieyasu exploded again. 'You are wasting time, Watanabe!

We will know the answer to that question when we hear what she has to

say! Go and fetch her!" A fleeting coolness touched Roz at the centre

of her being and a vague, fuzzy image of Steve came into her mind.

Her body stiffened as she tried to seize it and bring it into sharper

focus in the hope of hearing that familiar inner voice, but it eluded

her like a handful of smoke.

And was gone ....

Roz tried to make contact. Nothing happened. Steve remained

tantalisingly out of reach, but she was left with an extraordinary

feeling of being physically close to him.

But that was impossible. How could she be? Steve was in the

Federation with Clearwater. Roz opened her eyes and found Cadillac

gazing at her warily.

'What happened just then?"

'Nothing, just. daydreaming."

'At a time like this?!" Roz would have loved to have told him, just to

wipe that look of disdain off his face. But it would have to wait.

She had to be sure before saying anything. With their lives poised on

a knife edge, Steve was the last person Cadillac wanted to hear

about...

Lord Ieyasu sat alone in his study listening intently to Lady

Mishiko.

Chief Secretary Watanabe had been instructed to wait outside and

prevent anyone from entering. Ichiwara, who had been despatched to

brief Captain Mashimatsu, had not yet returned.

Considering the physical strains imposed by her recent sea-voyage and

escape from death in a crowded longboat, the Shogun's sister was

remarkably composed. A slight tremor in her voice told him she was

extremely nervous even though he had welcomed her with his usual show

of warmth and affection. As her grand-uncle, she had always remained

in awe of him, but her nervousness was no doubt increased by the

extraordinary nature of her story.

Mishiko, her heart pounding, continued to relate at breakneck speed how

Lord Kiyomori Min-Orota, acting as a double-agent for the Toh-Yota, had

accepted the invitation to meet with other 'progressive' domain-lords

at Sarakusa '... and when they were all assembled, he learned - to his

amazement that the Yama-Shita family had discovered an alien device

hidden beneath the table in their conference chamber. A device the

size of a go stone which acted like a servant's ear at his master's

door - which they claim your agents placed there!" Ieyasu laughed. 'I

know nothing of such devices, nor do I seek to! Is this the charge

Lord Min-Orota feared the Yama-Shita would lay at my door? He is even

more gullible than I thought!

'As chief counsel to your illustrious brother, it is my business to

discover the strength of our enemies in the outlands. I know, for

instance, that the long-dogs whose cities are hidden deep in the ground

are masters of what is known as the High Craft. They have machines of

unimaginable complexity which are filled with the Dark Light, but in

capturing it they have become enslaved by its power.

'They cannot exist without it. It makes their false sun rise and

their underground rivers flow! But we, who are strong, have no need of

such devilish devices. If there is such an object, as Kiyo has

described, then it must have been made by long-dogs. Ask yourself this

- if the Yama-Shita claim to be the innocents in this affair, how was

it they knew what this device was an