Iishino hurried into the bow, his face ghastly white. The warship came within a length of the Dutch vessel, and Oss shouted into the gusting wind. “He says don’t come any closer, or they’ll shoot.” Iishino trembled so hard that his shoulder plates rattled. “Oh, Honorable Governor, I think we should obey!”

Nagai leveled an icy stare at Sano. “You are in charge now.”

“Stop this ship,” Sano told the captain. They could never withstand an assault by the barbarian vessel.

The rowers lifted the oars. The slackened sails flapped in the rainy wind. With a great splash, the anchor hit the water; the ship stopped. Sano offered a mental prayer to the gods, drew a deep breath, waved, and shouted:

“Captain Oss! Do you remember me?”

Iishino crouched on the deck, his head barely clearing the railing. In a quavery yell, he translated Sano’s words.

“You gave me two days to catch Jan Spaen’s killer and provide safe accommodations for your crew,” Sano continued, hoping his voice—and courage—wouldn’t fail. “Why have you changed your mind?”

Oss didn’t lower his gun, but he craned his neck to peer at Sano and rapped out an angry reply.

“He says he’s tired of waiting,” mewled Iishino.

Sano realized that the barbarian had forced this confrontation because he knew Japan didn’t want a war. Oss hoped to extort trade concessions and advance himself. “Captain Oss, please order your men to hold their fire. Go back outside the harbor until we’re ready to escort you ashore.” Sano hated the thought of ever allowing the ambitious barbarian and his wild horde onto land, but what mattered now was removing the immediate threat to national security.

No sooner had Iishino finished translating, than the Dutchman’s gun muzzle flared. An explosion cracked through air, tore across water. The bullet splintered one of the warships yards. Sano dropped to the deck. Cries erupted and armor clattered as Iishino, Governor Nagai, and the crew followed suit. Then the captain was shouting orders, and the Japanese troops were back in position. Along a hundred bows, arrows rested poised to fly. The smell of hot flint and charred cloth rose as gunners lit the wicks that would ignite powder and speed bullets and cannonballs toward the enemy.

“No!” Sano shouted. Merciful gods, the war had begun. He would be among the first casualties. “Don’t shoot!”

Governor Nagai bellowed threats at his captain and crew. Then, when no additional shots came from the Dutch ship, the captain reluctantly signaled to hold fire. Yet bowstrings remained taut, guns aimed, while, from across the waves, came the barbarian’s wild ranting.

“Translate!” Sano ordered, hauling Iishino to his feet.