"The gai-jin princess will be a marvelous, long-term asset," she murmured contentedly, pleased with what she saw in her full-length mirror. It was the only modern one in the whole Yoshiwara, a present from a client, imported especially for her from England. A small frown creased her forehead as she thought of him: Kanterberri, the gai-jin who was killed on the Tokaido by those fools Ori and Shorin.

Baka! He was a good client and most appreciative of my services in finding him the perfect mistress, Akiko, whose name is now Fujiko--very convenient for us that our Ing'erish gai-jin rarely share their women, prefer to fornicate in secret, with one woman, keeping her secret in our Floating World that is based on discretion and secrecy.

Taira none the wiser, Fujiko a new life and new lover. Good for everyone.

"Mistress? The gai-jin Furansu-san has arrived."

"Good." Raiko made sure the medicine was correct and put it beside the table. When she had kept Andr`e waiting the precise amount of time, neither too little or too much, she sent for him.

"Ah, Furansu-san, welcome to my humble House." She poured thimbles of her best sak`e and toasted him. "You're looking well."

"Health! Ten thousand summers," Andr`e replied politely.

She discussed the weather and the state of business and then came to the first point. "Your choice of earrings was more perfect than I thought, your share comes to a little over double what you asked."

His eyes widened, "Jesus, so much?"

"Yes." She poured more sak`e, filled with glee at her acumen on both their behalfs for, of course, once a business deal was finally agreed between them, it was a matter of face that it was honored exactly. "My bank, the Gyokoyama, found the client, a Chinese silk and opium merchant from Shanghai who was visiting Kanagawa." Another smile. She added delicately, "He indicated that he would be in the market for as many such trinkets as I could offer."

His smile matched hers and he drained his cup and held it for a refill and toasted her, "To future trinkets!"

"Next, the..."

"Before next, Raiko. Why he pay so much?"

"In bad times a wise man puts part of his wealth into tiny things he can carry in his sleeve.

He's no fool--I considered holding on to them myself for the same reason."

His interest quickened. "What bad times in China?"

"He said that all China was in revolt, famine everywhere, gai-jin business in Shanghai less than usual, though now that the English fleet laid waste the Mirs coast and sank many of the White Lotus pirates, the sea-lanes would be safe for a while and trade up and down the Yangtze would pick up in the spring. Eeee, Furansu-san, I hear they sank hundred of junks and massacred thousands, many villages now in ashes." Her fear was open. "Their killing power is terrible."

She shuddered, knowing that though Japanese despised Chinese as weaklings, they shared the same great phobia: fear of gai-jin and an obsession to keep them forever out of their lands. "Will gai-jin fleets come against us when they return?"

"Yes, Raiko, if Bakufu not pay reparations money. War yes. Not here, not Yokohama. Yedo."

She studied her cup for a moment, wondering how she could further protect herself and turn this to profit, more than ever convinced that she must, somehow, quickly rid herself of Hiraga and Akimoto before it was discovered that she was implicated in the Ori disaster by harboring him and them, however righteous sonno-joi was. A wave of apprehension went through her and she fanned herself, complaining about the strength of the sak`e. "Karma," she said and shrugged off what "might be" for what "is." "Now, some more good news: There is a girl I would like you to meet."

Andr`e's heart seemed to skip, and then, when it started again, it was more weak than before.

"Meet when?"

"Do you wish to see her before we discuss business matters, or after?"

"Before, after, no difference. Will pay what ask, if like." Again a Gallic shrug and the stark, naked desperation.

It touched her not at all. Why should it, she was thinking. The Yang's hunger for the Yin is the essence of our world and without it our Floating World would float no more.

Strange that the Yang's obsession to join with the Yin--in and out, battering at the gate, more pain than pleasure, desperate to end, desperate to continue, if to end never enough, if not to end moaning in the night--is all so transient, the Yin never so grasping. In that women are blessed, though the gods, if there are gods, have dealt all mortals a cruel hand.

Three times I have tried to go onwards, always because my Yin craved the possessor of a particular Yang--when a Yang is always more or less the same--always useless choices that brought nothing but misery, with no future and twice my passion unrequited. How foolish! Why? No one knows.

Never mind. Now the yearning of the Yin can be quenched so easily, and for a mama-san, toyed with.

Easy to employ a Yang, or harigata, or to invite one of the Ladies to your bed. Fujiko, for example, who seems to enjoy the diversion and whose kiss can be celestial.

"Raiko know me, yes?" Andr`e was saying and she thought, Indeed I do. "I know Raiko,"

Indeed you do not. "We old friends. Old friends always help old friends." True, true, but you and I are not old friends--not in its special Asian sense--and never will be. You are gai-jin.

"Furansu-san, old friend," she said. "I will arrange a meeting, you and this Lady," she said.

He felt weak and tried to hide it. "Yes.

Thank you."

"It will be soon. Last, the medicine." She reached down beside the table. The small package was carefully tied in a square of russet silk as invitingly presented as an expensive gift.

"Listen carefully." Again her instructions were explicit. She made him repeat them until she was sure he understood.

"Raiko-san. Please, say truth, medicine dangerous, yes, no?"

"Eeee, truth? Am I not a serious person? I am Raiko of the Three Carp. Have I not already told you? Of course it could be dangerous and of course not dangerous! This is an ordinary problem that happens all the time to all girls and the cure is rarely a problem. Your princess is young and strong and so it should be easy, with no problems."

"Princess?" His features hardened. "You know who for?"

"That was easy to guess. How many women are there in the Settlement, special enough for you to help?

Never worry, old friend. The secret is secret with me."

After a pause, he said, "What problem possible?"

"Stomach pain and no result, just very sick.

Then we must try a second time, with stronger medicine. If that does not work then there is another way."

"What?"

"Time enough for that later." Confidently Raiko patted the silk. "This should be all that is necessary."

"You understand, Angelique?"

"Yes, Andr`e," she said, her eyes on the silk-wrapped package. Her salvation sat on his desk. They kept their voices down though the office door was closed against unwanted ears.

His clock chimed 10:00 P.m.

He looked back at her uneasily. "The mama-san told me it would be best if you had your maid with you."

"That's not possible, Andr`e, it's not possible to trust Ah Soh, or anyone--didn't you tell her that?"

"Yes, but that's what she said." From across the corridor they could hear the muted sounds of men laughing over the dinner table that she had just left-- Seratard, Vervene, Dmitri and a few French officers--saying she was tired and wanted an early night. Going to her suite, by prior arrangement, she had happened to see Andr`e in his office.

"We'd... we'd best check that everything's there."

He made no move to undo the silk. Instead he toyed nervously with a corner. "If Ah Soh's not there to help, who... who will dispose of... of the bottles and herbs and... you can't leave them around, and who will clean up?"