Nick Irving’s Reviews > Shōgun, Part 1 > Status Update

Now there was only the sound of his life, building and building, soaring louder and louder until he could listen no more. His soul cried out for eternal silence.

Look at this sunset, it’s beautiful, neh? This sunset exists. Tomorrow does not exist. There is only now. Please look. It is so beautiful and it will never happen ever again, never, not this sunset, never in all infinity. Lose yourself in it, make yourself one with nature and do not worry about karma, yours, mine, or that of the village.

A good solider has but one master, he thought. One real master.

“Nature is very strong with us.” Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. “Perhaps that is why we love life so much, Anjin-san. You see, we have to. Death is part of our air and sea and earth. You should know, Anjin-san, in this Land of Tears, death is our heritage.”

“There’s a smell of death over you and only I can protect you.”

“But understand clearly, all of you, that my death will not remove the cause of war nor will it prevent further conflict.”

It is so simple to catch a man, he told himself. All you need to know is the right bait.

“My Master says, in war and in peace, a good enemy can be more valuable than a good ally.”

Isn’t it only through laughter we can stay human?
. . .
All aboard waited to see what would be decided. They knew they were bottled tight. Ashore disaster, ahead disaster, to wait disaster. The net would come closer and closer and then they would be captured.

You’re a cruel, cold-gutted, heartless bastard but you’ve got majesty, no doubt about that.
. . .
His soul cried out for oblivion.