Session 14. (3/7/09)

Summer comes to the Year of the Monkey (1464), but, having been driven out of Shikabe by Matsumae raids, the living is no longer easy. The Shikabe villagers are taking shelter in Sawara, but Sawara is too crowded to support another few dozen families, so Henke (Sawara's headman) goes up to Mori to seek the advice of Koshamain, the tribe's leader. Koshamain sends for Nishtap-Tashum, Shikabe's headman. When he returns, he asks the former samurai to investigate the land on the far side of Uchiura Bay to see if there is anywhere for them to live. The west side of the bay (i.e. the coast as it runs north from Sawara) is known to be inhabited, and fairly crowded. However, the north side is unknown territory for the Ainu, just a grey-green line marking the sunless horizon from which issues the smoke of an unseen volcano.

Miyoshi, Mineo and Kachamaru debate whether this is a good idea. Mineo thinks they just need to talk to the Matsumae and convince them that Ainu aren't monkeys and they will respect their rights to the land. Kachamaru points out that they can't talk to the Matsumae because they are traitors. Miyoshi points out that the Wajin don't have a good record of treating their Wajin neighbours with respect, and often invade their land. So they shrug and follow Nishtap-Tashum as he leads the villagers down to the beach and, standing before the village's largest boat, calls on the gods to protect its passengers.

Out on the water the heroes are heroically keeping their breakfasts in. None of them look forward to sea travel - in fact most of them look backward with their heads over the stern rail. The weather is overcast with a stiff breeze; the sea is choppy with a heavy swell rolling in to the bay. The boat makes the twenty mile crossing to a long, curving cape marking the other end of the bay (the modern-day Cape Chikyuu). They name if Cape Miyoshi. Kachamaru makes a map.

Actually, Kachamaru's map looks like this:

The boat heads for the calmer waters sheltered by the cape. There, the occupants are amazed to see an entire town on the coast at this natural harbour (modern-day Muroran). Miyoshi orders the boat closer to see the town in more detail. A group of people appear on the palisade that circles the town. They are samurai! Miyoshi is stunned - they didn't expect to find Wajin here! How did they get here? Who do they trade with? Mineo points to the embankments, palisades and watchtowers - clearly they don't trade with the Ainu. Haku transforms into a hawk and flies over the samurai. They do not look welcoming. An arrow suddenly shoots past, reminding him that this might not be the best form for scouting over a hungry town. He returns quickly.

The boat heads north-west, further into the bay and towards the volcano they could see from Sawara. The coastal land is cultivated in the Wajin way, and a small group of samurai on horseback paces the boat as it sails along the coast. Eventually they reach another small town (modern-day Date) next to a river. Haku explores in gull form. The river is heavily fortified to protect the town and Wajin lands from the west. It appears that they are in a protracted war against the local Ainu tribes.

The boat continues north-west, leaving the town and the samurai guard behind. As they pass the volcano they see some people on the shore. They are roughly dressed, pale and hairy. Ainu at last. A quick flight by Haku-gull reveals it to be an Ainu war party. The boat moves into hailing range. Miyoshi uses his best Ainu to greet them, but it doesn't come out as he intended. Haku and Kokuma cringe. The Ainu war party fires some arrows at the boat as a warning (well, three rolled 17 - appropriately - and miss Miyoshi by several boat-lengths, but one hits the side of the boat). Miyoshi tries again. He gets his message across, but the return message is uncompromising: "Get lost!". Another arrow is fired - whether aimed at Miyoshi or just a warning shot was unclear - and (on a 17) it misses the boat. Miyoshi fires a warning shot back, which lands near the Ainu, and orders the boat to carry on up the coast.

The land here is cultivated in the Ainu way, but it looks rather neglected, perhaps war-ravaged. A little way further on another Ainu war party is spotted. As the boat draws near both sides ready their bows. It appears they will not be needed as Miyoshi is pure eloquence in the Ainu tongue. But the Ainu spokesman's heart is as stony as his face. "We don't like your kind round here!" comes his gravelly shout.

Kokuma stands up and protests, "But we're Ainu!"

"You're from that pathetic tribe along the coast," he spits.

"No, we've come across the bay from Mori."

Dialogue Alternative 1 (from writers of "Sorihanmaa (Sledgehammer)"):

The Ainu warrior growls, "There's only two kinds of Ainu from Mori - Bears and Chairs... what would happen if I sat on you?"

Kokuma replies, "The name's Kokuma. I eat bears."

"Did you say koku-ma (= space for a bushel of rice) or ko-kuma (= little bear)?"

"I also eat chairs, so take your pick!" Kokuma purrs. The Ainu war party moves off hurriedly.

Dialogue Alternative 2 (from writers of "Queer Ainu for the Straight Gaijin"):

The Ainu warrior growls, "There's only two kinds of Ainu from Mori - Bears and Squares... which are you?"

Kokuma replies, "Well, as a matter of fact my name is Tarquin and my papa is the headperson of this de-lightfully quaint little village that those beastly Wajin ruffians just ruined the other day!"

However, Kokuma's words were lost in the wind and so the two parties exchange a few arrows and oaths and go their separate ways.

What was actually said:

The Ainu warrior growls, "We don't like your kind, either!"

"Can we stop for the night?"

Two arrows thunk into the side of the boat. "Was that one for yes and two for no?" The boat sails on.

The coast turns southwest then south. The day is nearing its end and Miyoshi is getting worried about being unable to land before dark. They spot an Ainu village. Approaching cautiously, they see a crowd of Ainu gather on the beach. No arrows fly their way. Encouraged by this, the boat noses up to the beach where the curious villages meet them. Miyoshi asks if the villagers can offer them shelter for the night. Unfortunately, it comes out as "Will you service us tonight?" Unoffended, one of the villagers asks, "What are you doing here?" Kachamaru pipes up, "Looking for new land we can take mmmph, mmph mmmph..." Miyoshi interposes, "Looking for somewhere to stay the night." "Who is your leader?" asks a villager. The ex-Wajin look at each other, except Miyoshi who exclaims, "I am!" "Okay, I'll take you to our headman."

Miyoshi, with his halting Ainu vocabulary, explains the whole story (which now runs to over 80 pages). The headman offers Miyoshi beds for the night for him and his party. However, by this time it is already morning. Meanwhile, Kachamaru has been putting on a kabuki play for the villagers, accompanied by Mineo on the flute. The villagers don't really understand it, but Kachamaru puts on such a fine display that they are entranced.

In the morning the travellers sail back to Mori and report to Koshamain. He is disappointed, but says he has another idea. He won't tell them what it is, so they have to sail back to Sawara wondering what will happen next.

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