Shiba Koshi paused, face screwed up in serious thought. He sucked on the end of his Kolat-issue writing-implement as he pondered on what his first report to the chief should contain. It should, he knew, be full of secrets discovered on his daily job as a Shiba House guard. but so far, the only thing he had seen was Isawa Taeruko playing in the sandbox in the childrens playground building what seemed to be a sandcastle. Hmmm...

i sore isawa tayruko planing a sekret defens for kiuden shiba. i have provided with this report a scetch of this.

      /\/\
||xx | A | xxx||

Koshi smiled, pleased at his first report. Footsteps sounded from down the corridor. Shiba Koshi panicked. He could not be discovered with this most important communique to the chief. He quickly screwed it up and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing furiously in an attempt to reduce the paper to a small enough mass to enble him to swallow.

From down the corridor appeared a small contingent of House Guards, lead by Tetsu himself. Koshi stood to attention and saluted as the guards stopped in front of them.

"Anything to report?", Testu asked.

"Nmmmmff." Yoshi shook his head, still chewing on the paper.

"You know eating is not allowed while you are on duty! I hope you have enough for everyone!", barked Tetsu. "Lets see it. Spit it out!" Yoshi spat the masticated mass of paper out into his hands and showed it to his commander.

"Paper? You should ensure that you eat breakfast before starting guard duty. Report to me at the end of the day for extra duty!". With this Tetsu turned and continued his way down the corridor, the guards following him barely able to conceal their grins. One of them, a pretty woman winked at him, moving her hand to just cover her smile as she passed him.

A wink! Koshi could barely contain his excitment. His first contact with another Kolat. He was certain that contained in the wink was a very detailed instruction from the mysterious leaders of the Kolat. As the Guards disappeared from view, Koshi dropped the wet mess in his hands and from his obi pulled out his book...."Kolat - a Guide on techniques and signs from the Masters of the World. 3rd edition".

Hands shaking in excitment, he opened the book onto the chapter on secret signs. Quickly moving down into the W's, he found the section on Winks.

Hmmmm.

Right eye closed, left eye partially open, joined with a half-smile with teeth partially showing and hand moving to cover face.......go to page 65 on secret assignations.....ahhh, he must be highly thought of in the organisation, to be so quickly given an order to assassinate someone. Tonight he would receive the name of the target and he would soon have completed his first kill. Soon he would move up into the ranks and be numbered amongst the Rulers of the World.

Koshi smiled to himself, elated that his first day as a Kolat was going so well. He drew his writing implement and another piece of paper and quickly, from his perfect kolat-trained memory techniques, rewrote his first days report. Then he added...

i have reseeved instruktions to exekute someon, but kno detales yet.

Koshi looked around, no-one in sight. He began to march slowly down the corridor, continuing his rounds. He hid the report in his obi, and not too soon. From around a corner came a familar figure. Isawa Osugi. What a babe!

She slowly walked by, pausing only too wink at him slowly, and her hands making subtle movements. She slowly sashayed passed him, swaying slightly in her passage. She disappeared from sight after a minute.

She wants me, Koshi thought excitedly, she wants me badly. Maybe later, after tonight's assignment. Plenty of time for pleasure after finishing the work of the Kolat.

Osugi paused a moment after turning a corner. The instruction had been passed. Koshi will accompany her to the Imperial Palace and kill Toturi should he appear before her plans to place Banu on the Throne were complete. Everything was falling into place. Koshi would of course be executed after killing Toturi, but better that than still being alive to confess. He was a simple-minded fool, easily lead. Osugi continued on her way, preparing for her trip to Otosan Uchi.