I could to prevent his death - or share it."

She gazed directly into Ieyasu's eyes. 'For were he to die, I would

not wish to live a moment longer. And that part is true, I swear

it."

Ieyasu rose to his feet and offered Mishiko his hand.

'I wish there was someone who held my life in such high esteem."

'Oh, come, mi'lord! Does not my brother love and respect you? It is

you who has been his father in all but name."

'True, true. And you have not hesitated to confide in me. That is

reward enough. Go, my child. My secretary Watanabe will conduct you

back to your quarters. And there I must urge you to remain for the

moment for I fear our enemies may be plotting more mischief."

Mishiko frowned. 'I do not understand .... '

'Your brother and I journeyed here in secret, my child.

To disguise our presence we are not protected by our usual number of

guards. My worry is that this tale of black boxes and painted

long-dogs may have been a cunning ruse to fill you with alarm."

'You mean they...?"

'Yes! You may, unwittingly, have led them to us at a time when we lack

the means to defend ourselves."

'May the Gods forgive me!" cried Mishiko. 'If that were true I would

kill myself!" 'Tush, my child. I doubt that will be necessary. Your

actions were inspired by a desire to protect the House of Toh-Yota.

And I shall be forever in your debt." He struck the floor three times

with the point of his gold-topped staff.

Watanabe and Ichiwara entered and bowed as Ieyasu walked Lady Mishiko

towards them.

'Watanabe. Convey her highness to her quarters. I have made her aware

of certain dangers. Make sure she is guarded well."

'Yes, sire." Watanabe ushered Mishiko into the carriage-box that stood

in the corridor immediately outside.

Ieyasu signalled Ichiwara to close the door and strode back into his

private office. The benign expression which had concealed his true

feelings as he bade goodbye to Mishiko had vanished. When he turned to

face his secretary, all pretence had gone. This was no longer the

kindly great-uncle: this was a vicious, cornered animal with a voice

like cold steel.

'For the time being, it is no longer safe to operate the radio

network.

Get the operator to send a signal to the other base units warning them

we are going off the air. The communications equipment is to be

removed from the box-room, destroyed by fire and the remains broken and

buried in more than one place. All traces that might point to the room

having been occupied are to be eliminated, and it is to be filled with

rubble and completely sealed. I don't want it hidden. I want it to

vanish - you understand?"

'Yes, sire."

'Good. Attend to it immediately! That order also applies to the

equipment that came with the road convoy.

Everything must go. Our lives depend on it!" Ichiwara left and strode

hurriedly along the side corridor and up the flights leading to the

Records Office.

When the full court was in residence, a small army of scribes sat at

the lines of desks, but now the long room was deserted.

After satisfying himself that he had not been followed, and that there

was no one on the stairs or in the corridor above, he entered the room,

and locked the door behind him. Stepping lightly across the room to

the wall of shelves and pigeon-holes, he pressed the 'knot' beneath the

lower shelf and stood back as the hinged segment of shelving unlocked

itself and opened towards him.

A spine-chilling sight met his eyes. Instead of the trusted operator

rising from his seat to greet him, his severed head sat on top of the

neat stack of radio equipment. A sheet of blood had run down the

dials, knobs and meters on the front panels, spread along the table and

dripped over the edge onto the floor below.

Ichiwara stepped into the box-room. The seat had been overturned.

There was blood all over the floor, but there was no body. The

implications were obvious - and chilling. He backed out slowly, then

froze as he heard a movement behind him.