In contrast to all this fanfare, the funeral party itself seemed insignificant, lacking the splendor of a Japanese ritual. There were no flowers; no lantern bearers; no priests, chants, incense, bells, or drums; no white-robed mourners. Six Deshima servants, wearing everyday kimonos, carried the black-draped coffin. Behind it walked Assistant Director deGraeff, Dr. Huygens, and the three other Dutchmen, who had returned from paying homage to the Kyūshū daimyō, all dressed in somber black. Chief Ohira, Interpreter Iishino, Nirin, and twenty guards followed, also clad in ordinary garb. Just ahead of Sano rode Yoriki Ota and other Nagasaki officials. After them trailed four peasants carrying ropes and shovels.

Sano knew that the anti-Christianity laws forbade the Dutch to practice their customary death rites. For the first time he pitied Jan Spaen, dying in a foreign land, his funeral a public spectacle for curious strangers. However, Sano’s thoughts soon drifted from Director Spaen as he covertly scanned the crowds. Upon going home to dress for the funeral, he’d learned that Old Carp had received no word from Hirata. He’d seen troops searching buildings and questioning residents and pedestrians, but no sightings had been reported. Sano hoped Hirata would lie low until the charges against them were dropped, yet he knew the odds against that. He kept imagining he saw Hirata’s face among the horde.

At last the procession reached the burial ground. Tall cedars bordered the grassy, windswept plateau where rows of wooden stakes marked barbarian graves. The funeral party grouped around these, with troops keeping away the gawkers. Chief Ohira avoided Sano’s gaze, while Nirin stared insolently. But Sano wasn’t concerned with these suspects at the moment. Dismounting, he started toward the barbarians.

“Sorry, you can’t go over there.”

Guards stepped between Sano and the Dutchmen, forcing him back. Sano despaired of ever speaking to the Dutch suspects again. Yet perhaps this trip would still prove to be valuable. He took a place next to a grinning, nervous Interpreter Iishino.

Chief Ohira announced, “We are gathered here to bury the earthly remains of Trade Director Jan Spaen.” He nodded to the gravediggers, who began shoveling a hole in a bare patch of ground. The bearers set the coffin nearby. “Director Spaen’s comrades will pay their last respects.” Frowning at the Dutchmen, he added, “Any references to Christianity will result in a severe reduction of trade privileges.”

Interpreter Iishino darted over to the grave, obviously eager to get away from Sano. He translated Ohira’s words, beckoning to the Dutch. The barbarians stood beside the coffin, heads bowed, hats in their hands. DeGraeff spoke first. The clink of shovels, the rustling of the trees, and the horses’ stomps accompanied his expressionless monologue.