Lady Samurai

Chapter 3

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?"