The crowd stirred, but Sano felt Nirin’s uncertainty, and saw it on the other men’s faces. He knew what they were thinking: Anyone mad enough to break into Deshima was mad enough to murder his hostage. Finally the crowd parted. Sano and Nirin proceeded, step by step, down the endless street.

“Where is Chief Ohira?” Sano asked Nirin.

The commander shot a venomous glance at Sano. “My superior’s whereabouts are none of your business,” he said as they neared the main gate. “I will tell you nothing. And you have to keep me alive to get past the bridge guards.”

“Where is Ohira?” Sano jabbed Nirin again, provoking a stifled groan. After the bridge, he must pass the main guardhouse, the heavily occupied promenade, and the troops in town, but he would handle one thing at a time. “I’ll hurt you if I must.”

They reached the gate. “Open it!” Sano ordered the sentry. “And make sure no one follows us.”

Nirin stiffened; sweat ran down his face. It was clear that he feared maiming more than death. He spoke through clenched teeth. “Do as he says.”

The sentry opened the gate. Sano marched his prisoner onto the bridge. “Where is Ohira?”

“All right. All right!” Nirin was trembling now. “He said he was going to the Daikoku Shrine.” At Sano’s prompting, he gave the location. “What do you want with him?”

The truth about Spaen’s murder and the smuggling operation, Sano thought. Chief Ohira’s cooperation was the key to freedom for himself and Hirata.

As Sano and Nirin crossed the bridge, the sentries bowed to their commander, frowning at Sano. “Tell them I came to Deshima with your permission,” Sano whispered, keeping the sword hidden beneath the commander’s sleeve. “They’re to make sure no one else leaves the island.”

The commander repeated the lie in a thin voice so unlike his normal one that Sano feared his ploy would fail. He sensed Nirin’s mind racing through possible strategies for escape, all of which led to his own death. When the sentries let him and Nirin pass, relief flooded him. They got through the guardhouse without the customary exit formalities. On the promenade, they blended with troops dressed in similar uniform.

“You won’t get away with this, because I’m going to kill you,” Nirin said, dragging his feet.

“Was it you who shot me?” Sano asked. “Did you burn my house?”

“No, but I wish I had, because then you’d be dead now!”

“Did you kill Jan Spaen or Peony?”

“No!”

Sano knew he couldn’t restrain Nirin indefinitely. As they moved up the street past clusters of departing townspeople, he cast about for a way to shed his hostage without a fight to the death. Then he quickened his pace, forcing Nirin to walk faster.

“Where are you taking me?” Nirin demanded.