“To Assistant Director deGraeff, for the goods he and Director Spaen so kindly imported,” Iishino said, handing coins to deGraeff. He took brush, ink jar, and a small book from inside his desk and recorded the payment. “To Abbot Liu Yun, for the use of his temple, and for acting as liaison with the black market.”

Keeping his right hand in his sleeve, Liu Yun took the money and stood beside deGraeff, who was counting his coins. Iishino continued doling out and recording payments. “To Commander Nirin and the Deshima guards for providing security and transport.” The gangsters finished packing and sealing the crates; the last guard received his money. Iishino stoppered his ink jar. The smugglers’ hierarchy was clear, though not the identity of Spaen’s or Peony’s murderer. But Sano must act before the smugglers and goods left the hall. He only hoped he’d given Hirata enough time to secure a position outside the front door.

“We’ll go in now,” Sano told Takeda.

He drew his sword, flung open the door, and burst into the hall. “Nobody move!” he shouted. “You’re all under arrest!”

34

三四

Silence descended upon the hall as the smugglers stared at Sano and his comrades in shocked dismay. Fragmented scenes coalesced in Sano’s vision: tiny Abbot Liu Yun and tall Assistant Director deGraeff standing rigidly side by side; Nirin’s fading smile; Interpreter Iishino’s stricken face; the Deshima guards clutching their money; a glaring gangster, his arms blue with tattoos. Then chaos erupted.

“Run!” shouted the gangster chief.

His men bolted for the opposite door. At the same time, Hirata’s team burst through it, swords drawn, halting their flight. The Deshima guards had started to follow the gangsters, but Nirin called, “Come back, you cowards! Kill them, and we’re safe!”

He drew his sword. His men faltered, then rallied around him, unsheathing their blades. With Nirin in the lead, they advanced on Sano and Takeda. As Sano prepared for battle, he tried to watch everyone at once. DeGraeff was running toward a side exit with Abbot Liu Yun hurrying after him. Interpreter Iishino picked up his desk and fled. Hirata’s team faced off against the gangsters. One of them hurled a knife, and the retainer on Hirata’s left cried out and fell dead with the blade sticking in his chest.

“Let the gangsters go!” Although Sano would have liked to arrest all parties to the smuggling, his small force couldn’t handle everyone. “Catch Iishino, Liu Yun, and deGraeff!”

Nirin lunged, sword flashing. “Now you’ll pay for throwing me down the well.”