Mishima, Gyoko, Rodrigues

In the Mishima donjon Hiro-matsu reads Toranaga's dispatch and hears Mariko's account of Yokosé. Alone, the old general resolves to disobey for the first time: he will co-opt Sudara and Genjiko, launch Crimson Sky when the rains end, and keep his master locked safe in Yedo Castle. Gyoko, home among her ledgers, doubles saké output, and, in bed with her student Inari, inventories her secrets: Mariko's lover, the Anjiro muskets, Uraga's leaked confessions, Omi's plot against Yabu, and Zataki crying "Ochiba" in his sleep. At Numazu, Rodrigues feeds Alvito capon, learns the Ingeles is hatamoto, and confesses he once tried to drown him and must now kill him. At the Inn of the Camellias Mariko and Blackthorne laugh over a pleasure ring. Rodrigues arrives by night; Blackthorne finds two hidden stilettos and makes him drink first from his own flask. "Now there's a hole in the world."

Clavell fans the plot out to its watchers: Hiro-matsu deciding to disobey, Gyoko counting her secrets, Rodrigues learning the Ingeles is samurai. Each of the three is given a private scene and a decision. The stiletto search at the inn turns friendship between pilots into the book's most guarded relationship.