Keepers of the Sun: Book Summary
When finally coming around, everyone discovers that the jump was one of the most pleasant that any of them can remember. The walls of this particular redoubt are a fiery orange. The other thing they notice is that all the water that was in the gateway chamber is gone and they are bone dry.
The redoubt they are in is very small, a little bigger than some of the redoubts, like the one in Moscow. The hallway ends at a single elevator. While they are looking around, a matter transfer takes place and they are all surprised to see a very tired looking Japanese warrior exit the gateway and then leave.
A short time later they take the elevator up to the top of the redoubt. The gateway is actually in an old American house, not a redoubt. When they leave the building they find out that they are in Japan. Next thing they know, a strangely accented voice orders them to stop, then asks them to come with him to meet his master.
They can’t believe it when they see over one hundred Japanese sec men surrounding them. The leader of the sec men is a man named Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Both Ryan and J.B. are very impressed with the discipline shown by the sec men. Likewise, the people are amazed at the sight of the outlanders, stopping in their tracks and watching the group. One old man picks up a stone and throws it at them. He is punished right then and there.
The fortress of the Shogun is huge. Toyotomi leaves the group to go inform his lord and master of the arrival of the outlanders. He comes to meet the group. He is small, shorter than Jak, but walks with the power and grace of an Athlete. Lord Mashashige is very polite and friendly to the group, even the women.
At dinner, the group is treated to a traditional Japanese meal, which they are almost unable to eat, then are treated to a traditional Tea Cerimony. Finally they are taken to listen to some music, where the shogun answers their questions about the what happened to Japan during the skydark and the dark years that followed.
During the talk, Mashashige’s second in command shows up, and the group are surprised yet again. It’s Takei Yashimoto, the Japanese Samurai they met in Washington. He wants to attack and kill Ryan, but the Shogun forces him to calm down and makes him obey.
After the meeting, they are all given rooms to sleep in. Everyone takes the time to get a decent bath, and as usual, Ryan and Krysty end up making love in the tub.
Later that night Ryan can’t sleep and goes for a walk around the fortress. While he is looking around, he comes across the corpses of four people. He then continues to look around when he finds the killer. The Ronin tells him to just turn around and walk away, forget what he’s seen, but Ryan can’t do it. He taunts him, getting the Ronin to attack, then Ryan kills him.
The shogun and Takei show up, and Takei immediately blames him for the murder. Ryan proves that he didn’t do it. The Samurai apologizes for the mistake and everyone goes to bed, but not after learning that they captured.
The next morning they are told they are to attend the Ronin’s Seppuku ceremony, which is to be performed at noon. They want to refuse, but they are told they have no choice but to show up for it.
Before the ceremony, Doc Tanner does his best to try and teach the others the complex game of Mah Jongg. With the help of a young Geisha named Issie, they are able to make some headway. When Takei comes to get them, Mildred and Krysty are forced to stay behind.
At noon, the Shogun and the condemned prisoner are talking as if they were old friends, the Shogun was going to act as his second. The man guts himself, and Mashashige beheads the man, sparing him from his agony.
The Shogun puts together a hunting party to go after the Ronin. The group are not allowed to stay behind, and after spending most of the day riding in Palanquins, Mildred and Krysty can’t take any more of it and they are able to convince Mashashige to be allowed to ride.
They make camp for the night. During the evening Doc and Takei almost come to blows before Mashashige puts an end to it. After that, the night passes quietly.
Later the next day the Shogun and his band arrive at the Ronin’s camp. It is deserted, showing a hasty retreat. They left behind a sacrificed pig with an insulting note. A short time later, another quake hits, this one stronger. After that, they spot a Tsunami rushing towards them. Everyone rushes for higher ground, but quite a number of the Shogun’s men are killed when the wave hits.
Despite the loss, they are still after the Ronin. They spot tracks and are able to determine that at least twenty Ronin are mounted, and double that on foot. During the chase, they come across an actual golf course, The Shogun admits that he thinks it’s a waste of time and space, agreeing with both Ryan and J.B.
They come across a pre dark hotel and after making sure that it’s clear, they decide to spend the night in it. Almost all the sec men stay in the ball room, while the others go to separate rooms. During the night, Ryan and Krysty meet with the Shogun and they are going through the ball room when the Ronin block the exit then use Sarin to poison the shogun’s men. Ryan, Krysty and Shogun are trapped with them.
All but a handful of the shogun’s men are killed, including the three of them. But, J.B. and the others are able to pull them out of the poisoned room. They immediately hit the trail to make it back to the fortress, travelling through the remainder of the night.
While Travelling Takei comes and tells Ryan that the shogun believes that he and his band were responsible for the betrayal. Ryan tells him straight out that he is going to confront the shogun with his accusation. The Samurai can’t believe that he’d actually do that.
It turns out that the leader of the Ronin is the Shogun’s brother. Just before they finally make it back to the fortress, they come under attack by a huge full automatic cannon. Ryan’s band spilt up to attack and destroy it. From an elevated position, Ryan is able to snipe and kill four of the Ronin.
The attack panics the Ronin and they try to escape. Ryan goes back to meet the Shogun. He then goes with the Shogun to find and attack any of the Ronin that they can find.
J.B. and the others reach the gun and clog its barrel with mud and stone. He then ties a lanyard to the trigger and they then fires the weapon, blowing it apart.
The Shogun faces three charging Ronin. Ryan is able to kill two of them before they finally reach the shogun. Mashashige cuts the leg off the Ronin’s horse, causing it to crash to the ground. They then take the Ronin prisoner, and head back to the fortress.
Back at the fortress everyone goes and does their own to relax. The Shogun sends out word that they need more sec men.
While exploring, Ryan and Krysty find a pile of Manga and are disgusted at the blatant sadism and sexuality depicted. They learn from Takei that the prisoner is going to be executed later that day. He isn't going to be allowed to commit seppuku, instead he is going to fight the shogun.
When the time comes, the Shogun wins easily, quite literally cutting the man’s head, shoulder and arm right off. Everyone eats then goes to sleep.
The next day, while Ryan is wandering around, he discovers Takei with a rubber doll, playing with it and himself. Ryan takes a moment to humiliate the man, then wanders off.
Later in the day, they discover a Kareoke machine and decide to use it. Everyone except for Ryan, J.B. and Krysty try it out. When Mildred is taking her turn, the shogun and his sister enter. When she is done, the shogun’s sister spits in her face. Mashashige demands that she kill herself for the loss of face he suffered from her actions. Despite Mildred’s begging that she be spared, he refuses. His sister begs for forgiveness and then kills herself.
In the morning the Shogun takes the group to his huge acreage for a hunt. They let loose a group of tiny little mutant pigs than blow them apart. Ryan and the group flat out refuse to fire on the small creatures, threatening to fire on anyone who did. Before thing can turn ugly, they spot a swarm of locust approaching.
The group take shelter in the ruins of a bullet train. One of the sec men is too slow and is killed by the swarm. On the way back the Ronin make a half hearted attempt at an attack, but not a soul on either side are harmed.
Back at the fortress they are invited to watch a kabuki play. Before the play begins they plan to leave Japan and figure out a way to destroy the gateway, because they are sure that the shogun plans to use the gateway to transport his people to the Deathlands.
They watch the play and sure enough when it ends, the Shogun reveals his plans to do what they feared. He doesn’t bother to try and hide his plans from the group. He then lets them know that there will a show in the morning from a group of Sumo Wrestlers.
Next morning as the wrestling begins, J.B. and Jak make their way into the armoury and steal some grenades. They go to join the others at the showing. Jak isn’t impressed with them and really wants to fight one using the same techniques. With the Shogun’s help, he is allowed to fight the champion, who he beats easily, breaking the mans leg badly when he forces him out of the circle.
Later on they are shown a film from just after world war two. The interview is with a woman who survived the nuking. It sickens everyone, and they can see why most of the Japanese hate the Americans.
Only Ryan, J.B. and Jak are able to eat, and that night when they are about to leave, they end up spotting the Ronin attacking. They go back in to warn the Shogun and help him fight off his brother.
The attack is hard, and the Ronin are slowly winning. While they are trying to reach Mashasige, they run into Takei. He attempts to attack them, but is killed by Mildred. The feud between them is finally put to rest.
They finally meet up with the Shogun. He has been wounded by the attack. While they are talking with him, the Ronin leader, his brother arrives with a group of Ronin. They demand that Ryan and the others leave, but leave their weapons behind, and the young Geisha that Jak likes. They also execute Toyotomi without warning.
Ryan and the band open up on the Ronin, wiping them out. The others head out, but Mashashige asks Ryan to stay behind for a few moments. He want’s Ryan to act as his second while he commits suicide. He asks the man to come with them, back to the Deathlands, but he refuses. Ryan reluctantly agrees. He finishes the Shogun and goes to meet the others.
On the way to the redoubt, a quake hits and swallows Issie, much to Jak’s horror. When they enter the redoubt they set the grenades to destroy it, and then go to jump out. When they leave the redoubt, the quake destroys the redoubt, as well as what is left of Japan.
End of Keepers of the Sun