Lady Samurai

Chapter 2

She woke up with a start and sat bolt upright in the bed. Her heart was pounding furiously and when she touched her face, she felt tears on her cheeks. In the dream she was re-living the horrors of uncle Gilbert's death and her subsequent flight. Not for the first time she thought it was her presence that brought bad luck to people she cared about. First both her parents and now her uncle.

The feelings of guilt, remorse and desperation threatened to overwhelm her at any moment as she pondered on her far from happy life. But she would not give in to self-pity. With a tremendous effort of willpower she gathered herself together. Her shoulders squared and her back straightened. She wiped away the tears and lifted her head defiantly. She would not go meekly into the darkness. If it was her destiny, she would go down fighting.

She forced the memories of her family and of her former life deep down into her heart and she locked them there. There was no point in dwelling on the past. After all, the past was in the past.

She got up and tied her long hair with a ribbon. Her clothes, which she had left discarded on the floor, disappeared. Instead, on a low stool in the corner she found a silk caftan and leggings trousers. She dressed and left the room in search of some food. When she thought about it, she couldn't even remember the last time she'd had a proper meal.

She wandered for a few minutes, as always confused by the labyrinth of corridors and narrow passages, until she chanced on a serving girl. "Zǎoshāng hǎo," Lottie nodded to her. "Forgive me, but where can I find Mama-San?"

"Good morning," the girl smiled and returned the bow. "Please, follow me."

It was late morning and everywhere around the house people were hard at work: cleaning, carrying loads of washing and serving patrons in the front part of the building. Seeing her pass, they all stopped and bowed. She made sure she smiled and nodded to all of them in turn. Being polite cost nothing.

In a few moments they reached the veranda where Mama-San was resting on cushions, contemplating the foundations for her exquisite garden.

She was a small woman, around thirty, with a pleasant round face. Without the heavy make-up she looked much younger than yesterday.

"Madame Chao-Xing," the serving girl bowed low. "Forgive me for interrupting, but Lottie-San is here."

Lottie smiled, once again amused by Mama-San's name. Chao-Xing meant 'Morning Star'. No doubt a made up name, but represented its owner perfectly. "Zǎoshāng hǎo, Mama-San," Lottie's bow was appropriately low.

"Good morning, Lottie-San. Please, join me," the Madame invited her guest with an expansive gesture and ordered tea to be prepared.

Lottie was hungry, but good manners prevented her from mentioning it. The tea would have to suffice for the moment. "Thank you," she sat down. Her face blank and inscrutable.

They chatted amiably about the weather until the tea arrived. When the drink was poured, the hostess sent everybody away and they drank in a companionable silence.

Lottie considered what options were available in her current situation.

She estimated that she had two days at most until the news of her uncle's murder reached San Francisco. And with them the WANTED posters with her name and face plastered all over. She needed to disappear. At the moment, the most logical option seemed to go back to Europe. But how to cross the continent without being recognised and caught? Preferably north, by sea route as there were no telegraph wires on ships and she couldn't be arrested. Perhaps first straight to Washington or even to Canada, where she would be relatively safe, and from there to New York to catch a ship back to England?

After a long while the Madame put away the cup and looked at her guest with intensity. "Lottie-San, I don't have to possess any special powers to see you are in some kind of trouble... No!" with a gesture she stopped Lottie from speaking. "Say nothing. I don't have to know. But let me repay my debt to you and help you in whatever way possible," she dipped her head gracefully, waiting patiently for an answer.

Lottie considered it. It wouldn't really hurt to tell Chao-Xing at least a part of the story. And most likely it could help. "Mama-San, I find myself entangled in some unpleasant business," she confessed. "With no fault of my own," she assured, unnecessary, it seemed. "I need to leave America as soon as possible. Do you know of any ship sailing away?"

"There is a ship leaving soon," the Madame was thinking aloud. "But it's going the wrong way."

"What do you mean by 'the wrong way'?"

"It's going west, to the islands of Japan."

"Japan?!" Lottie seemed to be strangely agitated by that news. "Why?"

Mama-San just shrugged, as if meaning to say 'who can guess the mind of a white man'?

"How do you know about that?"

"Their ship is stranded at port and sailors will always be sailors and they will always need entertainment," she smiled indulgently. "They visit us regularly."

"Why are they stranded?" Lottie enquired further.

"Apparently there was a Japanese, some political exile, who agreed to go back home and serve as an interpreter, but he got drunk one day and got stabbed during a fight over cards... Is that something you want me to investigate further?"

"No, Chao-Xing. I will do it myself."

"But why would you want to get on that ship? There is nowhere you could disembark on the way. And I am sure they wouldn't agree to taking passengers."

"Mama-San," Lottie bowed ceremonially. "You might have just saved my life." She pondered on something for a moment and then came to a decision. "I will need my clothes back, please."

"As you wish," She clapped her hands and gave instructions to the servants.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Lottie bowed to the hostess. "I need to attend to some business now."

The Madame returned the bow, but said nothing more. Truly, it was impossible to understand white people.

Lottie returned to her room and waited for her clothes to be brought back. She was very impatient now when there was a possibility of solving the problem. No matter how small that possibility was. She just wanted to go and arrange things. Inaction wasn't in her character.

As she was pacing from wall to wall, her brain was once again working at double the pace. If she was successful, she might have a chance of saving her own life and of going home... Home!

Finally, her clothes arrived. They were cleaned, but still slightly damp. She didn't care. At the moment there was only one thing on her mind: to get on board that ship. No matter what!

Pushing her hat low, to obscure as much of her face as possible, she left the house and walked towards the docks.

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