Tuesday, 2nd December

Tuesday, 2nd December: "'Morning, Mr. Gornt. May I introduce Mr. McFay, chief of Struan's, Japan. Please make yourself comfortable--Jamie, you too. Coffee, tea, sherry, champagne?"

"Nothing thank you, Mr. Struan."

"Mr. McFay's one of my seconds.

Details are supposed to be arranged by seconds, I believe. Yes?"

"Yes, suh. I've met Mr. Syborodin but didn't discuss anything with him, according to Mr.Greyforth's wishes."

The two young men studied each other. From the first instant both had experienced the same strange sensation: an intense attraction to the other. Each was thinking, How odd you could instantly like some people, for no apparent reason, while disliking others, loathing some, dismissing many. Even so, both were sure that however fierce their initial affinity, it would make no difference. Soon--today, tomorrow, even in the next few minutes--something would as quickly revert them to normality, to the comfortable historic enmity that bound their firms together and would reach down the ages, dismissing the first affinity as a peculiar aberration.

Malcolm said, "What can I--we--do for you?"

Gornt's smile was genuine, his teeth white, like Malcolm's. He was of similar height but built lighter, his clothes less elegant, dark hair against the reddy-brown of Struan, brown eyes against the blue. "Mr. Greyforth wanted to confirm dates, weapons, et cetera."

Jamie said, "You know this is all against the law, Mr. Gornt, and the duel formally forbidden by Sir William?"

"Yes, Mr. McFay."

Jamie shifted uncomfortably, detesting his involvement more than ever, and further unsettled by the curious mood in the room. He could not read it.

Where there should have been ice and enmity, it seemed more a waiting moment, weirdly pleasant and preordained. "That being said, what did Norbert have in mind?"

"Today's Tuesday. Would a week from today be okay?"

"I'd prefer Wednesday, the 10th,"

Malcolm said at once. He had made a plan in the early hours. Sleep had eluded him. He had fought the dragon that was in the little bottle and had won, though the fight had taken its toll and this morning's measure had been a pathetic relief.

Prancing Cloud would arrive Sunday and was due to leave Wednesday evening. He would arrange secretly with her captain to sail the moment he could get aboard after the duel. Either he would have already smuggled Angelique aboard or would organize Jamie to escort her home in the next ship, to be decided at the last minute, the latest by Tuesday. It might be best to bring Jamie with Angelique, thus negating part of his mother's fury against Jamie by being obedient to one of her wishes and, hopefully, make her withdraw the termination order--he owed it to Jamie to try in every way to extricate him. If Angelique was aboard, perhaps he could find a way to persuade Captain Strongbow to forget his mother's orders.

It's a long shot, he thought, a very long shot but a faint heart never won a fair lady and it's the best I can do. Joss. "I'd prefer Wednesday."

"I imagine that will be all right, suh. As to the place, we suggest first light at No Man's Land twixt the village and Drunk Town, not the racecourse as that's too public with early morning riders and so on."

Malcolm laughed, not knowing why. "A good choice," he said before Jamie could answer. Much better for me, more secluded, closer to the sea, much easier to slip out to the clipper from the Drunk Town wharf than ours. "It's apparent you know a lot about Yokohama and you're here only a day."

"It was Mr. Greyforth's suggestion, but I did check out both early this morning. No Man's Land is better, safer."

"That's agreed. It will be difficult for me to walk my ten paces. I suggest we take our positions and on someone's order, yours if you wish, aim and fire."

"I will consult Mr. Greyforth."

"What else?"

Gornt hesitated, then glanced at Jamie.

"We can arrange details later, how our principals arrive, by what routes, which doctor we can trust who should be present, etc. Lastly, th--"

"You seem to be very well informed about duels, Mr. Gornt," Jamie said thinly.

"You've been involved in one?"

"Several, Mr. McFay. As a principal once, and twice as a second, while I was at the Richmond University." Again the smile, warm, kind and sincere. "We take matters of honor very seriously in the South, suh."

The pleasant unreality of the back and forth, and Jamie's belief that the tai-pan had been set up by Greyforth--notwithstanding Malcolm's stubbornness--broke his control. "Then you should know Norbert was in the wrong," he said angrily, "Norbert went out of his way to provoke the tai-pan, has done several times and there's no doubt he should apologize and then we could all stop this stupidity."

"Jamie!" Malcolm said sharply, and would have told him to leave but for yesterday. Yesterday's debt was vast and forever so he just said as to the real friend that Jamie was, "This isn't your problem, and I know how you feel." He looked back at Gornt. "He is right you know, Norbert has been personally very difficult." Gornt did not reply. Malcolm shrugged and smiled. "Joss.

It's not your problem either, Mr. Gornt. So, you were once a principal and twice a second.

Clearly you won. The other man?"

"I didn't kill him, suh, wasn't trying to kill him. I just wounded him."

Both men watched each other, weighing the other.

Jamie said nervously, "Then everything's settled."

"Yes, except weapons. Mr. Greyforth chooses swords." Malcolm gasped and Jamie blanched.

"Duelling pistols were agreed," Jamie said.

"Agreed."

"So sorry, suh, it wasn't agreed. Mr.Greyforth as the challenged party has the right to choose weapons."

"But it was ag--"

"Jamie, let me deal with this," Malcolm said, astonished with his own detachment, expecting trickery from Norbert. "It was always presumed we were gentlemen and would use pistols."

"I'm sorry but those aren't my instructions, suh. As to gentlemen, my principal considers himself one, and chooses to defend his honor with a sword, which is quite customary."

"Obviously that's not possible."

"Mr. Greyforth also said--I must tell you I do not approve of this and told him so--he also said if you wanted, he would agree to knives, swords or fighting irons." Jamie began to get up but Malcolm stopped him.

"In my present state, that's impossible,"

Malcolm said, then gathered himself and said firmly, "If this is a ploy for Norbert to gain face, to humiliate me and call off the duel, then I spit in his eye and will continue to do so."

Jamie flushed at the bravado, admired it and hated it, then suddenly realized this could be a perfect face-saver for both men. "Tai-pan, don't you think--"

"No. Mr. Gornt, obviously I can't, now, even use a sword. Please ask Norbert to accept pistols."

"Well, suh, I will certainly ask, certainly the first duty of a second is to try to bring about a reconciliation and it seems to me there's room enough for both you gentlemen in Asia.

I'll ask."

Jamie said, "Mr. Gornt, I'll be here.

Anything I can do to help stop this insanity, just say the word."

Gornt nodded, began to rise but stopped as Malcolm said, "Perhaps I could have a private word, Mr. Gornt? You don't mind, do you, Jamie?"

"Not at all." Jamie shook hands with Gornt, then said to Malcolm, "There's a meeting of all traders to discuss Sir William's bombshell at noon in the Club."

"I'll be there, Jamie, though there won't be much discussion, just a lot of shrieking and foul temper."

"I agree. See you later, Tai-pan."

Jamie left.

In the fine office once more the two men watched each other. "You're aware of our Parliament's stupidity?"