The harbour was in a state of perpetual movement: porters carrying commodities to and from the docked ships; merchants keeping an eye on their goods and shouting at anybody in their way; sailors swearing and cat-calling any passing woman; pick-pockets and petty swindlers, milling amongst the crowds and a huge number of people just hanging around, doing nothing.
It didn't take Lottie long to find out which of the ships was bound for Japan. It wasn't particularly difficult, truth to be told. It was practically the only vessel with no activity on the deck. Standing in the shadow of a nearby warehouse she observed a bored watchman and a few sailors shuffling lethargically from place to place, in search of some shade. It was obvious they didn't expect to go anywhere any time soon.
It also wasn't difficult to identify the captain. He emerged on the deck and started yelling at his lazy crew. But his outburst made no impression on them whatsoever. There was no hope of going anywhere and they all knew it. After a while the captain came down onto the solid ground and stood on the quay, gazing at his ship with an expression of desperation.
Lottie watched him carefully for a couple of minutes, trying to get a measure of the man. He was still muttering invectives addressed to his crew, but, with her highly developed instinct, she judged him to be a good man, who found himself in serious trouble, but who hoped that a solution would present itself sooner or later.
She decided that it was to be sooner.
She stepped forward, appearing right next to him, as if by magic. "How long, do you believe, it will take you to get to Japan?" she asked, her tone conversational. She made a conscious attempt to sound as British as it was possible after so many years of travelling.
The man almost jumped out of his skin hearing a voice so close, as he hadn't registered her approach. He looked her up and down, astonished to find a woman in man's clothing and effortlessly projecting a man's confidence.
"About a month, I would wager," she continued, when he didn't respond.
"How do you...?" he sounded shocked.
This time she didn't answer, as if it was obvious. "It's such a pretty boat," she ventured after a moment. "Shame it's stuck in the port."
"How is it any of your business?" he got suddenly defensive.
"Well, I could help you be on your way." She was so tense that she was almost choking, but forced herself to speak lightly, as if she didn't care one way or the other.
"I'm listening." She finally got his attention.
"For passage on your ship I will serve as your translator."
He laughed at that, disappointed. Obviously this woman was taking him for a fool, trying to secure a free passage to wherever she wanted to go. "YOU," he stressed the pronoun."You speak Japanese?" his voice was full of derision.
"Why not?"
"Fine. Prove it!" he looked around. "Speak to him and tell him I need a porter," he pointed to a passing Chinaman.
This time it was her turn to laugh with contempt. "Honestly, you expect this poor wretch to speak Japanese? Then hire him as your translator!"
"Hm," he took a moment to think. "All right. Just introduce yourself and say a few sentences."
She did. Her pronunciation was effortless and the language flowed easily. From the whole oration he understood only some courtesy phrases and the term Gai-Jin.
"Where did you learn to speak like that?!" he exclaimed, highly impressed and very excited. Her skill was priceless.
"I have been to Japan before," she was careful not to divulge too much information. "Do you also know the language?"
"If I did, I wouldn't be standing here, cursing my bad luck. But I have picked up a few words on my travels. And I believe you have just insulted me as Gai-Jin."
"True," she smiled effortlessly. "For them we all look the same and... alien. But I assure you that I speak fluently and will be able to interpret accurately anything that will be said. That's presumably a better deal than some exiled Japanese, who will only care about his own skin. And as a bonus, I can also instruct you in their customs and behaviour."
"Well," he was hesitant. "But why would a woman want to go to Japan?"
"Let's say, for sentimental reasons," she smiled mockingly. "And as for a woman..."
"I meant no offence, Ma'am," he interrupted her, raising both hands, as if in surrender.
"Good," she nodded approvingly. "It wouldn't be very gallant... Or wise," she added, touching lightly her revolvers. "My name is Lo..." she stopped herself from giving away her true name. "Anna. Anna Mitchell," she extended a hand which he shook gingerly, not sure if he was supposed to accept it.
"My name is Allan Norton. I'm the Captain. You must meet the others. I can't make this decision on my own."
She followed him to a nearby hotel, to meet with the remaining members of the expedition.
As it became apparent, the others were as anxious to be on their way as the Captain. The group included five men: Captain Norton himself, Mr William Johnston - an official representative of the Department of Foreign Affairs, who was endowed with the powers to negotiate and secure diplomatic and commercial treaties with Japan, and three gentlemen, who were funding the whole expedition and who very much hoped to make their fortunes by trading with the Japanese - Mr Trent, Mr Bracknell and Mr Thomas.
These gentlemen were somewhat startled when Norton brought this unusual looking woman before them and their astonishment only increased, when he introduced her as their new interpreter. "Ms Mitchell knows the language and the customs well enough to be useful to our enterprise."
"But how can we be certain she actually speaks Japanese?" Mr Trent voiced their shared concern.
"Why would I lie?" she asked evenly.
He shrugged, incapable of providing a satisfactory explanation.
"I have been to Japan many times before, working on Dutch ships," Norton reminded them. "Enough to recognise the language. As far as I can say, Ms Mitchell is quite fluent in it. And let me point out to you," he lowered his voice as if divulging a secret, "that if we delay any longer, we might never make it in time to the rendez-vous with Commodore Perry and we will miss the opportunity of our lives."
They offered her a drink, which she declined, and some food, which she nibbled at, as a proper lady would, although she could barely swallow, her hunger suddenly forgotten.
"Please, tell us a little about yourself, Ms Mitchell. Why would you want to go to Japan in a first place?" Mr Bracknell took it upon himself to interview her.
"As I said to Captain Norton before, I'd been there already and quite liked it. As to myself, I come from England and have no family to tie me to a place. That's all you need to know about me."
"But you must understand our reluctance to trust a perfect stranger. After all, we've invested a lot of money in this venture," he insisted.
"Fine," she stood up. She couldn't afford to show them how desperate she was, but knowing their predicament, she decided to gamble everything on one card. "I was only looking for a little adventure, but it doesn't have to be here, with you. I will find it somewhere else. SayÅnara, gentlemen," she tipped her hat and walked away.
They all looked questioningly at Norton.
"It means 'Good bye'," he explained.
She made it only to the door, before they stopped her. Her gamble had paid off.
"Ms Mitchell, let's not be so hasty. There is no need to feel offended," Mr Bracknell was politeness itself. "A lot depends on our ability to successfully communicate with the Japanese," he was saying, leading her back to the seat. "Any previous attempts were hindered by the need to translate everything from English to Dutch and that into Japanese. If we could cut the middle man, so to speak, we would be in a very strong position."
"And by 'strong' you mean profitable," she stated.
"Well, nobody is doing it for charity," Mr Trent was very direct. "You will expect a payment for your services, I'm sure."
"True," she conceded. "How much is my help worth to you?" They mentioned a sum. "This will do as a down payment," she accepted calmly. "I will expect double that on our return."
"You are very sure of yourself," they were quite taken aback by her demeanour.
"Take it or leave it, I don't care either way," she shrugged.
"Ms Mitchell, you know very well we can't afford any more delays." This was the first time that Mr Johnston spoke. "So let's not bicker about the money. If you deliver as you promise, we will pay as you wish."
She nodded, acknowledging the deal.
"When can you be ready?" Captain Norton was a practical man.
"With the tide tomorrow. I need to wrap up some things here."
"Agreed."
They all stood.
"Gentlemen, it was a pleasure," again she tipped her hat and left them.
Relief flooded her, as she realised that by this time tomorrow she would be at sea and safe.