Gloria Oliver by In Service Of Samurai

to gain by destroying the map. I don’t want to be here, but doing as you ask is the fastest way to leave. If I had destroyed it, it would have been like committing suicide. I want to go home, not die, especially not here.” He had gone too far again. Of that he was sure. He stared at the floor, shaking with despair.
    “Likely excuse, Lord Asaka.” It was the steersman again. “This boy is nothing but trouble. Now that he has done the deed and realized its foolishness, he’s trying his best to find some way to save himself.”
    A curt gesture from the samurai kept the steersman from saying more.
    Silence followed—a silence too deep for Toshi’s taste. In it, he could hear the ocean waves as they split whitely against the sides of the ship. He could hear the crewmen’s oars as they rose and dipped into the dark water. He waited for his doom to fall, hoping against hope Asaka wouldn’t make him into one of them.
    Time stretched to agonizing minutes. He stared at the deck, his thoughts turning to the missing map. He hadn’t taken the map. Everyone else had been a part of the ship for the past eight years. None of them would do it. None of them would risk being stuck there forever. It made no sense. If only Asaka had brought more than one map. If only there were another copy…
    His eyes widened as he realized his stupidity. There was a copy of the map. It hadn’t been in his room, so there might be a chance it hadn’t been taken. He bowed to the floor on his hands and knees as he tried to get the samurai’s attention.
    “Asaka-sama, Miko-san has a partial copy of the map. I had about finished it when she took it with her yesterday.” Nervously, he risked a glance in Asaka’s direction. Despite his fear, he could feel hope welling in his heart.
    “Mitsuo-san, would you verify this?” Asaka asked.
    Toshi saw the older samurai start on his way. He prayed, hoping fate would decide to be on his side. His hands became numb as he waited, but he didn’t dare move. Instead, he tried concentrating on the warm, comfortable feel of the silk lying against his skin.
    He glanced to the side as he caught the faint sound of bells. His heart beat faster, hoping for redemption.
    The sound of bells, however, came no closer.
    He glanced to the side again as he heard the ladder creak from someone’s weight. Sending another prayer to all the gods and spirits he could think of, he held his breath waiting to hear of his salvation or doom.
    “Here’s what was found, Lord.” The confident edge to Mitsuo’s voice brought him much needed hope.
    He heard paper rustling and then nothing.
    For what seemed like forever, he waited for Asaka to speak.
    “Boy, get back to work.”
    Though he had dared to expect those words, his impromptu release from death nevertheless made his vision swim. He swayed from relief. Bowing until his forehead came into contact with the cold floor, he then tried to rise to his feet. His knees protested immediately. The cold had locked them in place. He compelled them to work, ignoring the pain in his legs as he hobbled the rest of the way, having no wish to test Asaka’s patience any further.
    To his relief, he found that Asaka was paying him no attention, but was instead staring out into the dark sea. He sighed once but then tensed again as he found Mitsuo standing before him. The old, bent figure bowed slightly and offered him the copy of the map. He returned the gesture.
    Forcing his numb hands to move, he reached for the map only to find his fingers wouldn’t close around it.
    In embarrassment and shock, he could only watch as the map fell from his unresponsive hand.
    He started to bend to pick the map back up, but Mitsuo beat him to it. Not sure of what he might do, Toshi rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them so they would respond. Looking up, he found dark, empty sockets staring at him. A sudden bit of white momentarily flashed within their depths.
    Looking away, he continued working on his