Gloria Oliver by In Service Of Samurai Page A

hands until they would finally do as he bid them.
    Without a word, he took the map, bowed low and rapidly went on to finish his interrupted task.
    After he’d redone his measurements and calculations, he found the ship’s approximate location. He stood around nervously as time passed, but Asaka didn’t ask to see their position. He looked around, but no gaze met his except the antagonistic one of the steersman.
    Working up his courage, he walked aft and bowed to the steersman. The latter didn’t return the gesture.
    Ignoring the obvious insult, he calmly showed him their position on the map.
    “You’ve gotten lucky again, boy,” the steersman quipped. “But, sooner or later it’s bound to run dry.”
    After he spoke, Toshi felt himself dismissed. Bowing again, he said nothing and returned to the place where the basket and instruments sat and waited eagerly to be sent back to his cabin.
    The order didn’t come. He shifted uneasily. He wanted to go back inside to cuddle in his warm blankets, to have tea and to share in Miko’s company. There was nothing out here that could bring him that kind of comfort. His brown gaze strayed toward Asaka looking for any signs of a dismissal. After several minutes of no change, he resigned himself to the fact they meant for him to stay.
    Sitting down, he stared at the hardworking men rowing the ship through the ocean’s watery darkness. A chill made its way up his spine as he watched them rock back and forth with the tireless energy of the undead. Almost against his will, he picked out the one who’d frightened him so much before. His shoulders were hunched over, as if tense; and Toshi soon noticed that a number of others appeared that way, as well.
    Time passed and nothing changed. Unlike the night before, the rowers didn’t sing but maintained a deathlike silence. A sense of tension permeated the air. He was sure it had something to do with the loss of the original map. If he hadn’t destroyed it, that meant it had to have been one of them.
    “Boy.” He looked up in Asaka’s direction. “Take a reading.”
    Nodding, he was relieved by the excuse for activity.
    As soon as he’d calculated their position, he immediately walked over to show it to the steersman. The steersman stared at the map a lot longer than he’d ever done before. When he was through, he ignored the boy as if he didn’t exist. Toshi bowed and returned to sit by the basket. He felt the ship’s direction change slightly as he sat down.
    He was asked to take several more readings during the long night. With only the sounds of the waves and oars to keep him company, he tried to amuse himself by memorizing the map. He ignored his stomach’s stubborn grumbling as lunchtime came and went.
    A few hours before dawn, he caught himself nodding off from boredom. As he glanced around, trying to stay awake, it looked to him as if Asaka and his retainer hadn’t stirred all night through.
    “Boy, a reading,” Asaka said.
    Scrambling to his feet, he did as he’d been bid. After going through the process and showing his calculated position to the steersman, he sighed as he moved to sit down again.
    “Boy.”
    He stopped in mid-squat and glanced up to find the samurai staring in his direction. “Yes, Lord?”
    “It is time for you to go below,” he said. “Mitsuo-san will accompany you and stand guard at your door.
    There shall be no more mishaps.” The demon mask turned away with a flash of green.
    He bowed, surprised but happy he would finally be able to go inside. Scooping up his basket, he rushed for the ladder.
    Thoughts of food and warmth hurried his steps along as he reached the lower deck. He fervently hoped Miko would be waiting for him. He didn’t think he could stand more of the uncomfortable silence.
    Rushing down the small hallway to his door, he took a deep breath before reaching to open it. As it swung forward, he heard the sound of rustling silk coming from within. With a surge of happy relief,