The sight of Anna getting out of the palanquin at the Lord Matsuda's residence simply took everybody's breath away. She was dressed in an exquisite and richly decorated burgundy kimono and she looked dazzlingly beautiful.
"Ms Mitchell," Norton couldn't find any appropriate words to express his admiration. "You look simply stunning!... Regal!"
"Thank you." She bowed and smiled, happy with their appreciation. But then she met the gaze of Lt. Commander Morrison and her face clouded.
Because he was simply devouring her with his eyes. Before he managed to bring himself under control and hide it behind a mask of polite indifference, his face expressed a pure desire to own this beautiful woman. The woman who for some reason resisted him...
The foreigners gathered talking on the veranda for a while, to pass the time.
"I have been told that the ShÅgun's people should be here tomorrow or perhaps the day after that." Anna was saying. "Finally, something will be happening. I have to admit I have been looking forward to it. There is nothing worse than just sitting in one place and being bored to tears."
"Ms Mitchell," Mr West suddenly cut her off. "Why is this guard paying us so much attention?" He was unnerved by the samurai's unflinching gaze.
She looked around to see who was there. "This is Harada-San. He is the commander of my guard." She explained with indifference.
"Does he speak English?"
"I don't think so. But even so, we have nothing to hide, do we?" She shrugged.
Soon the screen door slid open and they were taken to the great hall. They entered and the men bowed, while Anna knelt on the floor and greeted the Lord according to the Japanese etiquette.
"Ana-San, please, come closer." Lord Matsuda spoke first. "Invite your companions to sit down and convey to them our welcome."
"ArigatÅ, Matsuda-Sama." She bowed again and rose, walking forward with all the elegance she could muster. Her companions followed. Alas, with much less grace. They all sat down on the prepared cushions.
Immediately after entering the hall, Anna noticed that Lord Takeda sat in the place of honour, next to the host. She hadn't had a chance to see him before they set out and now his appearance surprised her. For this occasion he had abandoned his usual austere style of clothing. Tonight he was wearing an elaborately decorated dark-green kimono, which, she thought, greatly emphasised his handsome face. A belt held his two exquisite samurai swords and nobody could deny that Lord Takeda looked truly impressive.
Under his intense gaze, Anna felt she was blushing. She quickly composed her face, but for that brief moment the Lord noticed in her eyes admiration, pride and... desire. He smiled discreetly, because that was exactly the impression he wished to elicit from her.
Anna bowed again and officially thanked the host for the hospitality they had received in his domain. "My Lord, your generosity will always stay in our memories as the first impression from the Country of the Rising Sun." She concluded gracefully.
Lord Matsuda was greatly impressed with her rapidly improving language skills. Evidently, even these past few days had been enough to make a significant change. Her pronunciation had improved and she had lost some of her accent.
"I am glad to hear that." He smiled. "I have given orders to prepare a place for us on the veranda, where we can admire the gardens and the rising full Moon. It will be my pleasure to share this moment with you all." He stood up.
Anna quickly translated the invitation and explained to her companions the importance of this pursuit. "They are very spiritual people." She said. "They enjoy contemplating the Moon, blossoming trees, even the stones... In part it is recognition of all the beauty that surrounds us and in part a chance for reflection about honour and duty, which are an intrinsic part of the samurai's life. If any of you interrupt the ceremony with uncivil behaviour, it will be considered a grave misconduct!" She stressed. "I would suggest silence and reflection on our own situation."
All of them nodded with understanding. Only Morrison grumbled with discontent: "Such a waste of time! Staring at the Moon!"
"It's surely a much better option than the sight of a conceited buffoon!" Anna barked, unable to control herself.
Morrison froze, as if hit by lightning. Anna stood in front of him, proudly erect and looked at him with defiance. The Lt. Commander was furious. No other woman had ever spoken to him like that!
He was about to explode with anger, when suddenly in the space between them appeared, as if from thin air, Lord Takeda. He faced Anna, showing his back to Morrison.
"Ana-San." He bowed politely, as if he didn't notice anything untoward. His tone was conversational and calm. "Please, sit here." He pointed to a place in the centre of the prepared space. "From here you will have the best view on the composition of the garden." He extended his arm and directed her to her place, completely ignoring Morrison.
"Thank you, Takeda-Sama."Â She inclined her head, ashamed by her rude outburst.
Lord Matsuda didn't understand the verbal exchange between Gai-Jin, but had registered the confrontation and admired the quickness of his friend's intervention.
They all sat down. Somewhere from the garden they heard the sounds of a flute...
The tea was served and for the moment further conversation ceased.
After a while Anna realised that her companions were fidgeting, unused to this sitting position. Smiling gently, she spoke to them in a quiet voice. "If you don't stop this instant, you will offend the Lords!" The tone was gentle and kindly, but the words were sharp. "You must acquire some manners, if you want to achieve anything in this country!"
"You call this manners?!" Morrison spat, barely controlling himself. He was still seething after her recent challenge. "We sit on the floor and drink this concoction from a dog's bowl! Maybe it is them who need to learn some manners from civilised people?!"
She fully realised that Lord Takeda was able to understand every rude word coming from Morrison's mouth, but he didn't betray himself even with a twitch of his face.
"Let me remind you, Lt. Commander, that we are the foreigners in their country." She said in a very low voice. "And that it is us who want to make the best impression to smooth the future negotiations. I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself!"
She turned back to the host and with a gracious smile she apologised for disrupting the tranquility of the moment. "One of my companions was asking about the Japanese custom of serving tea." She explained, feeling shame that she was forced to lie in front of Lord Takeda. "We do it differently in the West."
Lord Matsuda smiled, although he saw very well the contempt on Morrison's face and from his tone he deduced that tea was not the subject at all. But as an ideal host, he wouldn't allow his own face to show any of his true feelings. "I am quite sure that both our nations have some customs that seem incomprehensible to others."
Anna understood the true meaning of his remark, but she couldn't do anything else to warn her companions that any further infringements wouldn't be tolerated.
After that brief disturbance they all immersed themselves again in meditation.
Lord Matsuda was thinking about Gai-Jin. They were uncivil, undisciplined and... still stank! The Lord wrinkled his nose. They had no manners or refinement. They were not prepared to even acknowledge that other nations had their own culture. But the same foreigners had forced their way into Japan and it was them who had all the military advantage.
Lord Takeda was thinking about Anna. In the light of the raising Moon she looked so unearthly beautiful that he could have easily taken her for a princess from the old legends. He had never felt anything like that. Women were created to serve or to give pleasure. He had known a few ladies of high blood, which he admired, but never so far had he felt such an overwhelming affection. She gave him happiness, satisfaction and a sense of serenity. Only with her he could allow himself to be relaxed, without the need to constantly control his face or thoughts.
Suddenly he felt an inspiration and whispered the verses of haiku:
"Pale light of the Moon
Illuminates faces.
Beauty lies in soul."
Lord Matsuda heard him and applauded quietly. "Lord Takeda, I haven't known you as a poet."
"Oh, it's only due to the beauty of that moment." The Lord smiled, embarrassed a little.
"Ana-San, please explain to your companions our love of poetry." Asked the host.
It wasn't easy to explain the idea of haiku, but after a while the men managed to understand.
"Could you translate for us the Lord's poem?" Mr Norton was, as always, very curious of all novelty.
With some difficulty she managed to translate it, but it was only the pale imitation. "It sounds much more elegant in Japanese." She explained.
"So the aim of this ceremony is the affirmation of beauty and the creation of something new?" Mr Johnston sought the confirmation for his understanding.
"Exactly." She agreed. "It is like meditation. It calms you and allows you to gain perspective."
Once more the silence fell and all returned to their own thoughts.
Anna knew that Lord Takeda was happy. At this moment, with her... She knew the Japanese customs well enough to realise that the physical contact wasn't here as big a taboo as it was in Europe or in America. Here it was just an integral part of living. Like eating and breathing. However, she didn't delude herself that this relationship could survive any longer. Their union was rewarding for both: she got from him respect and the sense of security, she had never felt before, he - loyalty and affection without any strings attached. It was beautiful, but it couldn't last.
The Gai-Jin's thoughts were more prosaic and connected mainly with the practical aspects of the awaiting negotiations. They all missed their families and had already planned the stories they were going to tell after their triumphant return home.
Only Morrison couldn't relax. He wasn't a man who was in any way inclined to philosophy. He preferred action and all this sitting around was driving him mad.
He also couldn't understand his attitude towards Anna Mitchell. Since they met he had never looked at her twice. Only here, in her Japanese clothes, she elicited in him a storm of emotions... Often very contradictory emotions! Since that day at the inn, he couldn't stop thinking about her, wanting her. She was beautiful and unbridled. Like a wild mustang! But wild mustangs were to be broken... Her resistance was infuriating. He had never met a woman like her.
It must have something to do with that Japanese Lord. His attention surely turned her head and now she fancied herself to be someone better than she was? But it couldn't last! He was bound to tire of her high airs, leave and go back to his wives and concubines. Then Anna will be left alone again. Only then will she finally see him as he should be seen by the likes of her.
She will be mine! Sooner or later! That final thought considerably lightened his mood.
When the Moon disappeared behind the clouds, Lord Matsuda invited his guests back inside.
The foreigners, hungry and a bit bored, eagerly followed him to the great hall. Only Lord Takeda lingered a little on the pretext of helping Anna to get up from her cushion.
"He is a very dangerous man." He murmured. "He can't control himself and could easily do something rash!"
"Thank you for your intervention earlier, My Lord." She smiled. "I should have also controlled myself better. If I don't provoke him..."
"Don't underestimate him!" The Lord cut in.
"I will try not to antagonise him any more." She promised and then changed the subject. "Your poem was beautiful."
"Just as you are." He replied with a compliment.
"Thank you, My Lord." She blushed again. He was so different from the impertinent and self possessed Morrison!
They entered the hall and Anna was shown to her place, among the Americans. Her work, as a translator, wasn't finished yet. She ate sparingly, interpreting for her companions, explaining what was happening and complementing the host on their behalf.
A short time later a screen door opened and a few elegant ladies entered, dressed in full traditional kimonos and with white painted faces.
"These women are called Geisha." Anna explained to her companions. "They are traditional Japanese entertainers, who act as hostesses during parties like this one. Their skills include music, dance, games and conversation. They are here to make your experience as pleasant as possible. But they are not prostitutes!" She stressed. "If you treat them this way, it will be considered as a serious offence. Under no circumstances you are allowed to touch them without an explicit invitation!"
Geisha danced, played the shamisen, a three stringed instrument similar to a mandolin, and talked pleasantly to the guests, gracefully pouring their drinks. With each bowl of saké the foreigners drunk, their 'understanding ' of geisha and the Japanese language seemed better and with a smile Anna realised that very soon her services would be quite unnecessary. She looked around in search of Lord Takeda, but he had disappeared.
After a while, a servant girl appeared at her elbow, informing Anna that her presence was required elsewhere...