“Yes. Of course. Well.” Governor Nagai acknowledged the ploy by sucking his lips. “I shall be happy to lend you and your retainer a fine mansion, servants, and horses.”

This concession was a good sign, even if it wasn’t what Sano really wanted. “Thank you, Nagai-san.” The servant brought tea and cakes, which he accepted, tasted, and praised according to polite convention. “These cakes have a unique and delicious tang.” He suppressed a smile as he saw Hirata, seasickness gone now, eating hungrily for the first time in days. “What is the seasoning?”

“Mace and cinnamon,” Governor Nagai answered between bites, “from the Indonesian Spice Islands. Here in Nagasaki, foreign traders bring us all the flavors of the world.”

This was the opening Sano needed. “Perhaps I should begin my inspection with an assessment of the current state of foreign commerce. Starting with the Dutch trade.” If he must carry out the charade, he would at least realize his dream of seeing the barbarians.

“Yes. Well.” Governor Nagai smiled and sipped his tea. “I’m afraid that the current state of Dutch-Japanese relations is hardly typical.” He looked out the window. Down the hill, troops filed through the streets, still searching. “If you inspect Deshima now, you’ll carry an inaccurate report back to Edo—and Chamberlain Yanagisawa.”

Was the governor asking Sano not to criticize his administration, or implying that Chamberlain Yanagisawa would back his refusal? Whatever his reason for invoking the chamberlain’s authority, Sano couldn’t afford to yield. His status in Nagasaki was ambiguous enough that losing this power play would establish him as the governor’s inferior, rather than approximate equal.

“I’ll help restore conditions to normal so that my inspection of the Dutch trade may proceed,” he said.

A speculative gleam lit Nagai’s eyes. “Are you offering to assume charge of the hunt for Trade Director Spaen?” His bland tone didn’t quite hide his eagerness. “Yes. Well. That’s very kind. But you needn’t trouble yourself. Still, if you insist … ?”

Sano saw the trap. By taking over the investigation, he would relieve Governor Nagai of an onerous burden—and play right into Chamberlain Yanagisawa’s hands. Failure to locate the Dutch barbarian would mean his death. But if he refused the task, he might spend the next six months accomplishing nothing of value, growing increasingly bitter toward the bakufu, missing Aoi, and worrying about his future.

“I insist,” Sano said.

Governor Nagai relaxed with an audible sigh. A reckless exhilaration filled Sano. Now he would be doing real work, pursuing truth, if not justice, and following the Way of the Warrior as he perceived it. He would see the barbarians. And success could bring a political bonus as well as personal satisfaction: owing him a favor, Governor Nagai might agree to ignore Chamberlain Yanagisawa’s orders. Sano glanced at Hirata, whose mouth dropped: From what he’d seen and heard today, he guessed the danger Sano courted.