d how it functioned?!" 'I also

asked that question, mi'lord. The stone ear was not all they found.

The Yama-Shita family have also apprehended two individuals with

another larger device.

A black box which speaks with two voices - in our own sacred mother

tongue."

Ieyasu's face betrayed nothing, but this piece of news was not to his

liking. If two of his agents had allowed themselves to be captured

with an incriminating piece of hardware, it was not only the most

reprehensible form of negligence, it was a breach of trust. All the

men selected to operate such devices were equipped with fast-acting

poison pills for use on such occasions to ensure the secret they had

sworn to keep died with them.

'This all sounds rather far-fetched. If there's such a box, and there

are two such men, it is probably a clumsy attempt on the part of the

Yama-Shita to discredit me. I repeat - the objects you describe can

only have been made by the long-dogs and obtained from them! The

Yama-Shita have already paid dearly for attempting to resurrect the

Dark Light - and now, barely a year later, they are in league with our

enemies again!

'Mark my words, they will pay dearly for this treachery.

And it greatly saddens me, my lady, that you should wish to help spread

such vicious lies about someone who had always done his best to ensure

your health and happiness and. protect you from harm."

Mishiko matched his honeyed insincerity: 'I have never doubted your

good intentions, great-uncle which is why I am not spreading "vicious

lies". Since Kiyo expressed his deep concern to me, you are the first

and only person I have spoken to about this matter."

Ieyasu inclined his head. 'I am greatly relieved to hear it."

Mishiko continued: 'Like Kiyo, my first concern is to preserve the

supremacy of the Toh-Yota - by whatever means and at any cost. Neither

of us wish to do anything which might cause a rift between you and my

brother, but Kiyo and I felt it was our duty to alert you to the

allegations the Yama-Shita seem intent on laying before the Shogun."

Ieyasu accepted this with a grateful bow. 'I never realised such a

wise head rested on such beautiful shoulders."

Etiquette required Mishiko to respond in a similar fashion. 'I was

fortunate to inherit my mother's good sense instead of the madness that

ran in my father's blood."

'It is we who are fortunate, my dear Mishiko. Is that the end of your

strange tale?"

'I wish it was." Mishiko smiled inwardly, savouring the information

she was about to reveal; information that would wipe the disdainful

expression from her great-uncle's face. 'The two individuals captured

by the Yama-Shita were outlanders - long-dogs who had disguised

themselves as Mute slaves by growing their hair and painting their

skins - and who spoke our mother tongue! In the hope of saving their

lives, they confessed all they knew."

She paused and gestured helplessly. 'Their story is so unbelievable, I

hardly dare repeat it for fear you will think I have lost my senses!'

'I assure you I will think nothing of the kind,' said Ieyasu. 'Hold

nothing back, my dear Mishiko. And above all do not be frightened.

You have my word that nothing you say will go beyond these four

walls."

He looked at her expectantly.

There was a moment's silence while Mishiko overcame her reluctance.

When she spoke, it was with a small, timid voice. 'These painted spies

are a male and female long-dog. They claim to work for an organisation

called AMEXICO. They say this organisation has worked hand-in-glove

for many years with a network of secret agents controlled by you. They

say they are able to speak japanese because you have sent teachers into

their underground domain and, in return, AMEXICO have supplied your

agents with..."

'Go on. Let us hear the whole of this sorry tale."

'... with devices animated by the Dark Light.

Devices with can capture voices and can send reports and commands

undetected through the air from one end of the country to the other."

Ieyasu's air of disdainful superiority had vanished but his voice still