When she woke, it was very dark.

Again she felt very hot, but she couldn't gather enough energy to rise and get some water. She was probably running a temperature. With a shiver she thought that maybe the arrow had been poisoned.

She lay for a moment, trying to settle back into sleep, when with a jolt she realised that somebody was with her in the room. Very clearly she could hear someone's slow breathing.

Trying to breathe rhythmically, as if still sleeping, she slowly reached for the gun that was still hidden under her pillow. At the same moment she heard some loud noises coming from the corridor outside her room. Anna sat up, poised and alert, holding her revolver in a steady hand.

Unnecessary, she realised in the next heartbeat.

In the corner of her room a lamp was lit and in its feeble light Anna recognised one of the maids. Evidently she was told to sleep in the same room in order to be of service, if the important guest needed any help during the night.

Anna sighed with relief, but the raised voices in the corridor were getting more agitated and louder and with a surprise she recognised Reiko, valiantly barring the entrance to the room and... Commander Morrison, demanding to be let inside. Then the screen door was pushed aside and the soldier staggered into the room.

"Anna, what in hell, is happening?!" He exclaimed, slightly slurring his words. "They wouldn't let us anywhere near you!" He was very drunk, swaying on his feet and struggling to keep balance.

Anna got up with some effort.

"Īe!" She shouted. "No!" With a gesture she stopped the incoming samurai from drawing their swords. They all stopped, but kept the swords half-drawn, ready to be used at any second. "And you, Lt. Commander, decided that the best course of action would be to force your way into my bedroom!" Her voice was so full of derision that even the Japanese easily understood her meaning.

The servants, awoken by the commotion, came running and brought more lights. It was only then that Morrison noticed the cocked gun in Anna's hand and the deadly samurai surrounding him.

"What the hell is going on?!" He shouted in anger, unaware of the danger he was in.

"Nothing that should concern you, Sir." Her voice was very polite, but cold as steel. "You woke up the whole household! Absolutely unnecessarily. Leave now!"

"Why do they guard you like a prisoner?!" He was not listening. "What does it mean?"

She walked up to him and transferred the gun into her left hand, which caused her face to twitch with sudden pain. She grabbed his arm and shook him hard.

"It means that we are in a foreign country!" She almost spat. "And if these people decide you are an intruder, they will not hesitate to draw their weapons and slice you in half! And we wouldn't want that, would we?" She added with irony.

Unsteadily he looked around. He noticed the gathered crowd and soldiers with the half-drawn swords. Finally, it dawned on him that his continued presence here was very unwelcome. He sobered in an instant.

"But, of course, I didn't mean to alarm anybody." He was bowing to everybody in attendance. "It's just that we were worried about you..."

"As you can see, Lt. Commander," she deliberately used his title, unhappy with his unwelcome over-familiarity. "There are no reasons to worry. I have the best protection you could imagine. Good night." She turned away and closed the door in his face.

Anna felt a bit shaken. The strain of the assassination attempt and its aftermath added to her injury and was now taking its toll. She sank heavily on to her futon. She slipped the gun back under the pillow and desperately tried to steady her hands.

Reiko arrived a few minutes later, bringing the doctor with her. He examined the wound again and, assuring them that there was no infection, ordered Anna to drink some herbal concoction.

"Ana-San." He bowed. "You have a slight fever, but this is nothing serious. I advise the rest and... peace." He looked meaningfully at Reiko.

"This will not happen again." Anna said quickly. "Reiko-San, please apologise to everybody for this misunderstanding. Commander Morrison was only worried about me."

Neither the doctor, nor Reiko made any comments, but they exchanged knowing glances.

Anna thanked the doctor for his care and offered to pay for his services, but he assured her that it was not necessary.

"Mushiso-San is Lord Takeda's personal physician." Reiko whispered to Anna after his departure. "He must really value you..." There was something strange in her voice, but Anna ignored it.

She was very tired.