Alongside the Santa Theresa

Blackthorne, sobered by the sea and declared "ichiban" by Toranaga, cons the galley for the harbour mouth while the Santa Theresa tacks across the harbour under full sail. The mate Santiago has passed on Rodrigues's plan, and two pistols; Blackthorne has fused powder kegs against treachery. In the narrows he tucks the galley alongside the frigate, oars nearly touching her hull. Fire arrows strike the Portuguese sails and the ambush commanders, terrified of burning a Black Ship's nation into never returning, hold their archers. Ferriera orders Rodrigues to ram; Rodrigues edges the galley toward a reef "to weigh your cojones" until Blackthorne fires a pistol between the two of them and Rodrigues gives way, choosing not to kill a pilot. Toranaga thanks them and returns to his own ship. Rodrigues, content, tells the wind that with the Ingeles heresy has come to Eden.

The set piece of the first movement: two ships lashed together so that neither side can fire. Clavell makes it a duel of pilots rather than of armies, with Rodrigues's reef and Blackthorne's pistol as the exchange of professional courtesy. Toranaga watching the gunners is the book's habit of turning every crisis into research.