In the time of Oharu

The Second Volume November 1936 to November 1937

Chapter 11

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Spontoon Island created by Mr. Ken Fletcher. Used with permission.

Songmark and other characters (See Appendix A for complete character listing)

created by Mr. Simon Barber, used with permission.

It had been a long day, it always was when waiting to see the self important leader of any country, in this case the President of the United States. There was always a great deal going on in his country and it seemed today that every Congressman had a fire that needed putting out, thus Lady Tsukiyama’s one o-clock appointment was pushed back ten minutes, five minutes more then... It was now just after three p.m. and even Lady Tsukiyama was getting irritated, her maid waiting beside her simply wanted to kill someone, preferable the next ‘Congressman from Goofball wherever.’

Over the months that she had been in Washington Lady Tsukiyama had finally relented and had Western style clothing prepared for her, now unless she spoke, you looked at her face or at the badge that she had been given when arriving you would take her for any other attractive woman, many of whom were known to visit the President at odd times. Her maid had followed suit though her clothing was not quite as good as her Lady’s as was custom.

Eventually a very fat western man walked out without a smile on his face, apparently the bridge he wanted to be built wasn’t going to happen this visit. He didn’t even look at the two waiting women but what he considered them to be was obvious as the words “More whores” was heard to come from his mouth. Only Lady Tsukiyama’s tight grip upon her maids arm kept the rabbit from killing the man then and there for the insult to her Lady.

“But..” Atsuko whispered, staring at the secretary across the room who was also looking in the direction of the departing Congressman.

“This is not Cipangu” Lady Tsukiyama reminded her maid. “Most men in this land believe that all women’s bodies are for sale, one only need to settle upon a price or simply take.” She spoke just loud enough for the vixen secretary to hear and the woman’s face went very red under her delicate facial fur.

Wither it was what Lady Tsukiyama said or something else, but when the next Congressman raced in he was told to wait, he wasn’t on the schedule. This very much upset the Collie but he sat, looking over to the two women waiting as well. “Waiting long?” he asked in a friendly Western accented voice.

“Two hours and seven minutes” Lady Tsukiyama answered, the mouse’s words lightly accented yet enough for the Congressman to catch.

“At a guess you are Lady Tsukiyama, the Cipangu Emperors personal representative” he replied, his words soft and clear. “I had hoped to meet you and have a short chat but not like this, you see I support your treaty, our mines are hurting because of the restrictions on exports to your country placed by the President so when your treaty reaches the floor I will be voting yes.”

“Thank you for your support...” The door to the oval office opened then, stopping Lady Tsukiyama’s words in their tracks.

“Lady Tsukiyama, the President will see you now” the dapperly dressed Golden Retriever announced. Turning away from the painting that she had been examining, the elegantly dressed Cipangu mouse nodded to her maid Atsuko to join her before following the Retriever into Americas Sanctum Sanctorum, the Oval Office. She soon fund herself standing before Huey Pierce Long Jr, the current American President.

“It is a pleasure to see you again Lady Tsukiyama” the Louisiana born and bred politician said as he stepped forward to greet his delightful visitor. He knew now not to offer his hand, such were the customs so different between their people, but to accept her bow with a short one of his own. “Please take a chair” was his next words, waiting until his guest had settled herself before he himself sat, carefully noting Lady Tsukiyama’s maid simple standing behind her Ladies chair. Lady Tsukiyama was no great beauty as seen from her own peoples eyes, attractive but no great beauty as her cheekbones were a touch too prominent. To a Westerner though she was an exotic beauty and as Long was well known as a womanizer he was much attracted to the Cipangu messenger.

Settling down he studied his guest a moment then smiled to her, making certain not to show his teeth as he would have to a Western visitor. “I have spoken to the important members of Congress Lady Tsukiyama and they assure me that the United States will be delighted to sign the treaty, subject to certain items being clarified. Once these have been taken care of the vote can be cast within an hour or so.”

“That being?” Lady Tsukiyama asked softly. “I will be delighted to clarify any points that I am capable of, within reason of course.”

Long nodded yes, taking a small notebook from his well tailored jacket pocket to find a page. “One question is about your maid Lady Tsukiyama, she has been seen around several military sites talking to the people stationed there, even taking photographs of some of our aircraft taking off and landing. There are fears among the intelligence community that she is a spy.”

“My sister was the spy” Lady Tsukiyama answered, “It did not avail her well, Spontoon crushed her easily. tsuko though is only my maid and is much interested in everything to do with your country. She has taken several thousand photographs since we arrived to the Panama Canal, many in Cuba as well and I will be delighted to allow your intelligence people to search the negatives to their hearts content. No President Long, Atsuko is not a spy, she hasn’t the intelligence or training for that career and is only a very curious and playful woman, one who is away from home and family for the first and most likely the last time in her life.”

“I see, the second two questions are rather personal” the hound continued. “I would like to know, if you will allow, what are your personal plans after your mission is over.”

Lady Tsukiyama smiled softly, she had been asked this same question many times since leaving Cipangu, often by men who like Long were interested in her. “Should I survive to return to my Emperor Mr. President there is but one thing that I look forward to, an honorable death. You see no messenger who carries the voice of the Emperor may be allowed to live after their mission is completed, in fear that they may use this to their own advantage later. I was aware of this when I accepted this mission, then I had just attempted to commit myself to an Honorable Death for what I had inadvertently done to my sister, still I was the responsible party thus the burden to return Honor to my family was mine alone. Thus when offered this mission I found that I had and still have nothing to lose. Completing even this part of my mission has brought great honor to my family, more than I could ever have hoped to do so simply by taking my own worthless life.”

“I see, not something that we in the West can understand easily Lady Tsukiyama yet I have been made aware how important Honor in to your people and your family, thank you for the honesty of your answer. Now the last question.” He looked directly at Lady Tsukiyama’s maid. “How playful?”

Lady Tsukiyama looked up at her maid, they had been warned by the Cipangu Ambassador to expect this, that Long had turned his sights to Atsuko and not herself meant that Lady Tsukiyama would not have to debase herself, though she would calmly have done so in order to complete her mission. Now though it was time to spend her maid’s innocence. “Atsuko?” she asked softly, in answer the younger mouse slowly began disrobing. That Long could scuttle the treaty with a simple signal to his supporters both women well knew. It was a price then that both were willing to pay without question in service to their Emperor, their country.

Many hours later the final vote was complete and President Long had the treaty at his desk again, it had been a close vote, the treaty only passing by seven votes but it had passed and that was all Long cared about, it was also all that Lady Tsukiyama cared about. With almost ceremonial torture he signed both copies, changing pens with each letter of his name and title, pens that he handed to the men now standing around him. Cipangu would no longer attack America interests and in fact would aid America in whatever way that they could. It blunted a sleeping tiger to Cipangu’s East, now if they could only do the same to England. France and the rest of Europe were not important, only the twins mattered.

When it came Lady Tsukiyama’s turn to sign though she simple signed her name with ‘For the Emperor’ beneath it with the same pen, slipping it back into her western style clothing before accepting her copy. Once that was done there was a small party, smaller side talk and the shaking of hands before departing, for the next ship to England was in forty hours and even so it would be difficult to reach New York and board in time, still the Cipangu Ambassador proved his worth with timetables and the two, with their limited luggage would be on time.

Hours later as they settled into the train that would take them from Washington D.C. Lady Tsukiyama turned to her maid. “And how did you find the American President” she asked her maid, knowing that Atsuko’s answer would be upon several levels, yet her maid surprised her with the simple bluntness of her answer.

“Bitter.”