Sir William sighed. His orders from the Permanent Under Secretary had been precise: "For Christ's sake, dear Willie, this is the first time you'll be Minister in charge so be careful, don't make any precipitous decisions, unless they're necessary.

You're astonishingly lucky, the telegraph wire has already reached Bagdad so we can get and send messages there in an incredible seven days, add another six-odd weeks by steamer to Yokohama through the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean via Singapore and Hong Kong, our instructions will only take an incredible two months to arrive--not the twelve to fifteen months ten-odd years ago. So if you need guidance, which you will all the time if you're wise, you're about four months off our leash, and that's the only thing that protects your neck and our Empire.

Clear?"' "Yes sir."

"Rule number one: Handle the service Brass with velvet gloves and don't overrule them lightly because your life and those of all Englishmen in your area depend on them. They're inclined to be boneheaded, which is excellent for obviously we need lots of these sort of fellows to go off and get killed defending our, well, Imperial policy. Do not make waves, Japan is unimportant but in our sphere of influence and we've spent considerable time and money finessing the Russians, Americans and French out. Do not foul up our Japanese nest, we've enough on our Imperial plate with rebellious Indians, Afghans, Arabs, Africans, Persians, Caribbeans, Chinese to say nothing of the rotten Europeans, Americans, Russians etc. My dear dear Willie, be diplomatic and don't fuck up or else!"

Sir William sighed again, bottled his temper, and repeated what he had said a dozen times, the truth: "A lot of what you say is correct, but unfortunately we have to be practical, without tax revenue on tea the whole British economy will collapse.

Let's hope in a few years our Bengal opium fields can be torched. Meanwhile we have to be patient."

"Meanwhile I suggest you embargo all opium here, all modern weapons, all modern warships, and all slavery."

"Of course I agree about slavery, that's been outlawed since '33!" Sir William's voice edged perceptibly. "The Americans have been informed long since. As to the rest, unfortunately that's up to London."

The Admiral's chin jutted even further.

"Well, sir, I have certain powers in these waters. You can take it I am instituting such an embargo now. I've heard disquieting rumors about Struan's ordering rifles and cannon for sale, they've already sold these natives three or four armed steamers and the Jappers learn too fast for my liking. I will write formally by tomorrow's mail to the Admiralty to ask them to insist my orders are made permanent."

The Minister's face mottled, he planted his feet even more firmly into the deck. "An admirable idea," he said icily. "I will write by the same mail. Meanwhile you cannot make such an order without my approval and until we have a directive from the Foreign Office the status quo remains the status quo!"

Both of their aides blanched. The Admiral looked at Sir William, of a height with him.

All officers and most men would have quailed but Sir William just stared back. "I'll...

I'll consider what you say, Sir William.

Now if you'll excuse me I have things to do."

He turned and stomped off for the bridge. Weakly Marlowe began to follow. "For Christ's sake, Marlowe, stop following me like a puppy. If I want you I'll shout. Stay within shouting distance!"

"Yessir." When the man was well away Marlowe exhaled.

Sir William had exhaled too and he mopped his brow and muttered, "Awfully glad I'm not in the Navy."

"Me too," Tyrer said, amazed by the Minister's courage.

Marlowe's heart was racing, hating to be bellowed at, even by an Admiral, but he did not forget himself. "I, er... excuse me, sir, but the fleet's very safe in his hands, sir, and the expedition, and we all believe he's quite right about selling ships, guns, cannon and opium.

Japanners are already building ships and making small cannon, this year they sailed their first iron steamship, the 300-ton Kanrin maru to San Francisco, crewed and captained entirely by them. They've mastered the deep. That's remarkable in such a short time."

"Yes, yes it is." Sir William wondered briefly how the Japanese Delegation that went with this ship had fared in Washington, and what mischief President Lincoln would generate against our glorious Empire. Aren't we dependent on Confederate cotton for our Lancashire mills that are being ruined? At the same time aren't we increasingly dependent on abundant Union wheat and corn and meat and other trade? He shuddered. God damn that war! And politicians, and Lincoln. Didn't the man's inaugural speech in March include: "... this country belongs to the people and whenever they shall grow weary of their government they can exercise their constitutional right to amend it, or revolutionary right to dismember it or overthrow it..."

Inflammatory to say the least! If that idea spread to Europe! My God! Dreadful! We may be at war with them any day, certainly at sea. Must have cotton.

He was trying to collect himself, heartily relieved that the Admiral had backed down and still cursing himself for losing control. You've got to be more careful, and mustn't worry about Yedo and your stupid, arrogant decision to "go there by God in three days in a battleship and see the Shogun by God!" as though you're Clive of India. You're not. This is your first tour of the Far East and you're a novitiate. Madness to put all these men at risk over a few murders, madness to risk a full-scale war. But is it?

Sorry, but no.

If the Bakufu get away with this killing, then there will be no end and we will be forced to withdraw-- until allied battle fleets return to enforce Imperial wills bloodily. Your decision is correct, the manner of reaching it wrong. Yes, but it's damned difficult with no one to talk to --who you can trust. Thank God Daphne arrives in a couple of months. I never thought I'd miss her and her counsel so much. I can't wait to see her and my boys--ten months is a long time and I know the change from London's stinking pea soup fogs and gloom will make her happy and please her and it will be grand for the boys.

We could use some English ladies in the Settlement, of the right sort. We'll go on trips and she will make the Legation a home.

His eyes focused on the approaching headland.

Around it is Yedo and the cannonade. Was that wise? he asked himself queasily. I hope so.

Then the landing and going to the Legation. You've got to do that--and prepare for the meeting tomorrow. You're alone in this. Henri Seratard's waiting for you to mess up, hoping. And the Russian.

But you're the one in charge and it's your job, and don't forget you wanted to be "Minister" somewhere, anywhere. Indeed I did, but I never expected Japan! Damn the Foreign Office.

I've never been in a situation like this: all my experience has been at the French or Russian desk in London or at the Court of St.

Petersburg, odd postings wangled to glorious Paris and Monaco with never a warship or regiment in sight...

Marlowe was saying stiffly, "I hope you don't mind, sir, me giving my opinion of the Admiral's position."

"Oh, not at all." Sir William made an effort to put his worry aside: I will try to avoid war, but if it is to be, it will be.

"You're quite right, Mr. Marlowe, and of course I'm honored to have Admiral Ketterer in charge," he said, and at once felt better.

"Our difference of opinion was over protocol.

Yes, but at the same time we should be encouraging the Japanese to industrialize and to sail ships, one ship or twenty's nothing to be concerned about.

We should encourage them--we're not here to colonize, but it is we who should be training them, Mr. Marlowe, not the Dutch or the French.