Thanks to the current, all of the ships lifeboats ended up around Nagasaki. When their captain, Renard Westing, an older man, about the same age as Leofric Mercer, arrived on the shore, he waited till all the lifeboats had made it, and after collecting all the passengers, assured them that he would get them to Shanghai. He passed out a small amount of money to each of the passengers, enough to buy food, he told them, and then asked them to all meet back at the same place around sundown, promising to have lodging arranged for everyone.
"The gods simply wished us to see Japan," said Elsbeth. She turned
to Scarlett, "Leofric and I had been thinking about touring Japan, but
decided against it. But it seems that it was meant to be."
"I do hope this won't delay your meeting your husband, Scarlett,"
said Leofric.
"Oh, right. I suppose I ought to send word to him. I'll do that tomorrow"
"It's really too bad," said Elsbeth, "that we don't have a bit
more money with us. I fear it all went down with the ship."
"Not all of it, darling," answered Leofric, "I have"
he began to dig through his pocket, counting out a few soaked dollar bills and
coins, "Three dollars and forty cents, American."
Scarlett thought a moment. "Wait I have some gold coins with me."
"That's wonderful! Perhaps we can experience a bit of the local culture."
"All rightis there somewhere private I could go for a
little while?"
"Not that I'm aware of," said Elsbeth.
"There's something I hadn't thought of," said Leofric. "Where
to find a Japanese washroom..."
"Leofric! I do wish you'd try to be less vulgar!"
"Sorry, my dear."
The quest for a Japanese washroom went on for nearly an hour and a half. Scarlett finally gave up and, upon finding a nice, out of the way cluster of trees, called Elsbeth to come with her and Leofric to wait where he was.
"How clever!" Elsbeth exclaimed as she helped Scarlett remove gold
coins from the lining of her corset. "How did you ever think of such a
thing?"
"I've no idea. But I think we have enough to last us a few days. Now help
me get this back on."
Elsbeth helped Scarlett re-tighten her stays. However, it was already getting
late by this time, and despite having not eaten, they had to make their way
back to the harbor so that Captain Westing could assign them their rooms.
They had been expecting slightly better accommodations than what they found.
Even the first class passengers were given very tiny rooms, with almost no furniture,
and Scarlett was convinced the walls were made out of paper.
Scarlett had no change of clothes now, nor any toiletries. When she awoke the
next morning with a painful sunburn on her face, she knew she must look frightful.
She did her best to comb her hair out with her fingers, and rub out the dirt
and water stains on her dress (how had she missed those?). She then did her
best to tie her hair into a bun, not having a mirror in the room. After that,
she went to visit the Mercers.
After a small and unusual breakfast consisting of a strange green-colored
tea and what appeared to be seaweed, Scarlett and the Mercers continued to tour
the city.
"We're very lucky that out of all the cities in Japan, we ended up in Nagasaki."
Leofric was trying to explain everything he knew about Japan to Scarlett. "There's
supposed to be one of the highest European populations in Japan here."
"Then why haven't I seen any?" asked Scarlett.
Leofric pondered this for a moment. "Perhaps we're not on the correct side
of town."
"Oh, look!" Elsbeth pointed to merchants selling, among other things,
parasols. "That would help me and poor Scarlett to keep our pallor out
here."
The group headed toward the merchant.
Leofric picked up two parasols and said, loudly and slowly, "We would like
two of these."
The merchant just looked at him. "Nani?"
"Two parasols," repeated Leofric.
"Nani?"
Leofric continued to practically yell, "We would like to purchase these.
How much do they cost?"
"Nani?"
Leofric handed him one of Scarlett's gold coins. The merchant looked at the
strange currency for a moment, then after figuring out that with was gold, smiled
and handed him the two parasols, and gave a quick bow.
Elsbeth and Leofric started to walk away, when they noticed Scarlett still standing
in from of him.
"Scarlett, what are you doing?"
"Waiting for my change," she replied. "There's no way two paper
umbrellas are worth a five dollar gold coin."
Leofric stepped back up to the merchant. He said, slowly, "Excuse me. We
would like our change."
"Nani?"
After fifteen minutes of this, Leofric gave up, and handed her his own three
dollars to compensate.
After an equally difficult attempt to get lunch, in which they were finally
served rice and miso soup, paid for with the Japanese currency handed out by
Captain Westing, they continued searching the city for something to keep them
occupied.
"If I would have known we'd be coming here, I'd have worked on learning
Japanese," said Leofric.
In the course of two days they tried various odd Japanese food items, saw
a Noh play, and met a few Europeans who lived in the area, including a wealthy
Scot named Thomas Glover who agreed to help them around town while they were
waiting for another ship to get to Shanghai. Thomas spoke the native language
and was even married to a Japanese girl, who seemed to be called Chochosan.
He was very helpful to the three travelers.
Scarlett was forced to become rather familiar with him quickly, as the day she
first met him she started her period. Although this was rarely a subject to
bring up with men, and certainly not with one you didn't know remarkably well,
all her necessary items to deal with such an event were burned up in the middle
of the ocean, and she was forced, blushing hotly, to ask him where to find replacements.
Not phased in the least, he called his wife, who did in fact speak some English
(though spoke it with a Scottish accent with a Japanese accent, thus rendering
it near indecipherable) to help her. Chochosan sympathetically gave her three
strange looking T-shaped undergarments to use, explaining that they had to be
tied in the front.
The Glovers were of course helpful in other ways. They showed the visitors a
few sites around town, including a tailor's shop where they could all have a
few new outfits made, and helped them to communicate with the locals. On the
last day they were planning to spend in Nagasaki, Thomas took them to watch
a martial arts class. They were demonstrating Kukishinden Ryu-Bo and sword techniques.
They were all impressed while watching the class, but no one was more mesmerized
than Scarlett. It took some time, but she finally got up the nerve to ask Thomas
if it was at all possible for her to try. He spoke with the instructor for a
moment, and finally told Scarlett that the man would be fine with it. The Mercers
congratulated her as she stepped out onto the floor.
Thomas translated the teacher's instructions to her. "Keep your chin up,
and your arms down"
Within fifteen minutes Scarlett had been taught how to do a basic block with
a Bo (when attacked very slowly, at least.)
That night she could barely sleep, she was so intrigued by this technique. She
practiced the one move that she'd been taught over and over again. She wished
she could learn to use a sword, like she had seen some of the other students
doing.
At about 2 AM, she made her decision.
"You don't want to go to Shanghai?" asked Captain Westing.
"Correct. II was just so scared by that shipwreck, I've been trying
to hide it for a few days, hoping I'd get over it, but it doesn't seem to be
happening. I just don't think I can stand to go over water again," lied
Scarlett.
"So you're just going to stay here?"
"Yes. Until I get over it. At that point I think I'll go back home, rather
than continue with my trip."
"And you're certain about this?"
"Yes."
"Remember, once we leave, you're on your own and will have to find some
other ship to take you where you want to go."
"I understand. I think I can manage."
"Alright, then. If you change your mind, though, you'd better do it within
the hour."
"I won't. But thank you."
With that, they shook hands, and Scarlett walked away.
"Scarlett! What are you doing here? I thought your ship was supposed
to leave today," exclaimed Thomas upon Scarlett's arrival at his house.
"It was and it did. I've decided to stay a while longer."
"Well, good for you," replied Thomas through his thick Scottish accent,
"Happy to be seeing more of you, Scarlett. Do come in."
Scarlett smiled and stepped into his house. She was happy to be in the slightly
more familiar atmosphere of the western-style mansion, though she was beginning
to feel a bit uncomfortable about her appearance. While she had finally managed
to get a new dress and had bought a comb, she was certain her hair still looked
a complete mess. Not to mention her face was freckled, burnt, and peeling. Chochosan
came out to sit with them, and began to pour tea for her husband and Scarlett.
Thomas then filled up Chochosan's cup. He spoke to his wife for a minute in
Japanese, then turned to Scarlett.
"So, what finally convinced you to stay?"
She hesitated, but figured after that incident a few days back, she could come
to him with anything. "It's terribly indecent, I know, but I'm hoping that
you might be able to help me. I... I was actually interested in those sword
classes. I fear it may not be at all proper for a lady, but, I must admit, I
would like to take more. I hope you don't mind my boldness."
"Scarlett, I'm a Scottish sailor. I'll act like a gentleman when I know
it's required, but otherwise I don't give a fuck."
Scarlett's eyes widened at the use of such a strong word, especially in front
of two women. When she managed to regain her ability to speak, she asked "Would
it be possible to arrange more lessons for me?"
Thomas thought for a moment. "I don't see any real reason why not. But
while I don't care, they may find it unusual for an American, and an American
woman at that, to start participating in their classes."
"Is there a possibility for private lessons?"
He paused again. "I think I know just the man for you."