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then- nets.
Food was brought in to the castle, walls were strengthened while the merlons upon them were raised
higher and the crenels were widened to give the archers better aim. The armorers worked in shifts
through the day and night, repairing armor, sharpening swords, making the turnip-shaped arrowheads
that screamed so dreadfully to affright an enemy.
Every householder knew that when the time came all must enter the castle; everyone had laid a train to
fire his home when he left; everyone had sworn a renewed allegiance to the lord, which would hold till
death.
The Itari River runs turbulendy over sharp rocks into Haga Bay. It is no considerable waterway at the
present time, but then it was deeper and lapped the cliff, forming a natural moat. Here the water was
swift and was crossed by two bridges of wood and turf, supported by pilings. Above lay a small lake,
artificially impounded by a dam of logs and earth, its spillway faced with stone. This body of water
served as an attraction for wild fowl and a source of fresh-water fish. The bridges and the dam lay well
within the range of longbows from the castle battlements, which also supported catapults that
commanded most of the harbor.
Long ago Shori Castle had exacted tribute from all who passed by land or sea. It was a strong hold. Its
keep, five stories high, lay flat against a backing cliff, which was fortified and crowned by a beacon. It
looked down upon the whole of the fortifications below, which were high earthen ramparts, three in
number, ten feet thick, lined on both sides-with stone and pierced by passageways that were like tunnels
with heavy gates at each end.
On the sea side these triple walls were protected by the aforementioned moat, which had been made
wide and also sheathed in smooth stone, moss-grown and slippery. If these walls and moat should be
passed, attackers still had to cross a wide courtyard under arrow fire from the castle or the fort on the
cliff, which could be entered only through the castle, since the cliff itself had been made smooth by
chipping away the original paths that had once given access to its pinnacle. It was a monolith and its
landward side was as smooth as the others. The tunnels inside it represented the last redoubt of the
defenders.
Above the ramparts was a superstructure of fascines, wattled stakes, sharpened and burned hard, in
double rows of bundles, with an inner core of earth and pebbles, whitewashed on the outside and
loopholed for the archers. Above those, in stepped-back series, rose the heights of the castle, its walls,
its embrasures, and its battlements.
Higher yet, its steep roofs caught the setting sun. As they were covered with red tiles, they were visible
far out to sea a landmark for sailors. Because this was such a conspicuous sight, the advance elements
of- Kublai Khan s mighty fleet set in toward it to accomplish a landing when the coast of Nihon was
sighted.
Upon the flagship, the Admiral Chepe Ketoyan Be studied this natural pass into fertile hinterland beyond.
Through a tube of leather his keen sight made out the column of rising smoke from a beacon and the
burning thatch of the fishing village and he knew that the fleet had been seen and the countryside was
being warned.
His lips writhed in a sneer. Fluttering signal flags went up and the following squadrons of junks spread
out, up and down the coast, seeking other harbors and beach heads. The Admiral s unit drove straight
ahead for Haga Bay.
Shori Castle was as ready as it would ever be. No answer had as yet come back from Baron Kuroki s
runners, but he knew the clans must be gathering. He thanked Inari that there had been time to prepare.
It had been fortunate that this stranger Gorome had arrived. He seemed a man of many talents. To his
superior plans, stone throwers had been constructed and their raised arms pointed heavenwards along
the battlements. The Baron had never seen such increased strength before, but he appreciated their
worth.
Gorome stood now by his side, gazing out to sea. It was late in the evening, but it was still
summer August of 1281 by Western reckoning, 1941 by the Baron s. The stars were huge and bright
and by the aid of a fingernail paring of new moon it was still light enough for them to see the wide spread
of the dark massed fleet lying at anchor off the harbor mouth. They could also discern the small boats
issuing from it, rowing out on either wing to secure the two headlands.
The Baron knew that although the outworks had been cleared of visible observers, a select few remained
below ground in well-covered pits, awaiting complete darkness.
The Mongols, with their auxiliary Chinese and Korean forces, met with no resistance in occupying these
strategic points. To all purposes, the harbor now belonged to the invaders.
The Baron turned to Gwalchmai. It is the hour of the Tiger and the Tiger is the symbol of our power as
the Dragon is theirs. If we strike now we will gain face and they will lose it. Yet I should prefer complete
darkness.
Gwalchmai smiled. If I may make a suggestion, Noble Sir, the Mogu have a contempt for face.
Whatever small advantage this sally may accomplish will mean nothing to them. They are a fierce people
and respect only strength, of which we have little.
However, it is undoubtedly true that anything we do tonight will give our people heart If we can hold out
until the Shogun s army arrives, we can ask for no more. We should leave no expedient untried and the
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