Tokyo Bay by Anthony Grey Page B

Yakamochi was holding himself unnaturally taut and bending forward a little from the waist. In that moment Eden became convinced that the man was carrying a concealed weapon in the loose sleeves of his gown.
‘Why is it necessary for the President of America to send four armed ships to deliver just one letter?’
The vice-governor, who had been conferring in whispers with his interpreter, posed this new question in a more assertive tone and, on hearing Armstrong’s translation, Lieutenant Rice raised his eyebrows and motioned with his head to a third midshipman, who was stationed outside the open cabin door, listening intently to the exchanges. The boy, who had obviously been anticipating this signal, immediately dashed away. Leaning close to Armstrong, Rice explained to him in an undertone that Commodore Perry had instructed that all but the most fundamental questions were to be referred to him in his own nearby cabin.
While awaiting the midshipman’s return, Rice made no move to reveal to the Japanese what was holding up his reply. In the tense silence that settled over the negotiating group, the distant sound of gongs and war drums being beaten on the shore seemed suddenly louder and, as the delay lengthened, the expression of the vice-governor became first puzzled then anxious. After a minute or two he began to shift uneasily on the edge of his seat, looking distractedly at each of the silent American faces in turn. Beside him, Haniwara Tokuma appeared composed and outwardly at ease, but behind them the three standing bodyguards grew noticeably more edgy
Yet another minute passed, before the rapid tattoo of the midshipman’s heels on the planks of the deck heralded his return. On entering the cabin he hurried directly to the table and saluted, before bending close to the flag lieutenant and speaking quietly in his ear. As he listened, Lieutenant Rice picked up a pen from the table and wrote several lines on a blank sheet of paper. When the midshipman had retreated to the doorway, Rice turned to face the vice-governor again.
‘You asked me why it was necessary to send four armed ships here to carry one letter. Our answer is: in order to show proper respect to your Emperor.’
On absorbing the meaning of this reply, the face of the vice-governor showed new agitation. ‘It is impossible to receive any letter here!’ he said in a troubled voice. ‘By our law, communications from foreign countries can only be accepted at the port of Nagasaki. There is no alternative. You must take your letter there!’
For a moment or two, Lieutenant Rice studied the notes he had made on the sheet of paper before him. Then he cleared his throat a n d once more raised his head to look the Japanese official pointedly in the eye.
‘The commodore and his squadron intend to remain here until the letter from our President is properly delivered,’ he said fir m ly. ‘We have come here precisely because this bay lies close to your Emperor’s palace in Yedo. And although the commodore desires nothing more than the friendship of Japan, he is not prepared to see his country or his President suffer any indignity.’
Rice paused to allow translation, never removing his gaze from the face of the vice - governor. When he understood what had been said, the Japanese laughed uneasily and began to make a reply - but the flag lieutenant held up his hand to indicate he had not finished.
‘We suggest a properly appointed representative of the Emperor be sent aboard this ship as soon as possible here in Yedo Bay,’ he continued in a warning tone. ‘He will receive a copy of our President’s letter. Then the commodore will be prepared to land with an escort and deliver the original formally himself, at a properly appointed time.’
Robert Eden watched the faces of the five Japanese intently while the flag Lieutenants words were being translated. As the f ull significance of their meaning dawned on the interpreter and his superior, their demeanour