“If she is difficult at home you have only yourself to blame.”
“I told you, I am already well aware of that fact.”
They arrived at the gate once more and saw First-Class Seaman Mitkov had just allowed an ornately dressed woman to pass through. His easy-going expression quickly disappeared when he caught sight again of Sherlock and Ito.
“What do you want now?” he asked.
“My apologies for earlier,” Sherlock called, his tone suddenly booming and pompous. “I’d forgotten to ask my friend in the Russian legation for the names of the ships.”
“Your friend?” Mitkov smirked condescendingly. “Fine. Then what is the name of the ship behind the flagship, to the side?”
Ito winced. There was no way he would pass the man’s questioning.
But Sherlock remained calm. “I believe you are referring to the Laskar. Construction began at the Baltic Shipyard on February 10, 1887. The ship was launched on October 10 of the following year, and was commissioned on July 1, the year after that.”
Mitkov’s eyes widened. “And the ship behind the Kesar?” he added, his tone less certain. “The one anchored to the northeast.”
“The Timur. It is an improved model of the Laskar and was commissioned on May 11, 1890. All nine ships are Vladimir Monomakh-class, but the Timur is the fastest. It is positioned in the northeast to lead the fleet, as one would expect.”
“Ah… and the ship to the southeast…”
“Seaman Mitkov, how long do you mean to prolong this tedious game? Do tell me… that is, if you wish to make petty officer someday. The Yakov is anchored directly behind the Kondrat, but I would see to maintenance of the two ships in attendance behind the Timur first, those closest to the offing, the Kliment and the Walery. After all, there is not much use in having the latest ships if they are not kept in working order. Placing the Zaur and Arsen in the rear was the obvious choice.
“Seaman Mitkov, I am an Englishman, true, but in recognition of my particular advantages Ambassador Shevich and Lt. Colonel Kanevsky have requested my advice in strengthening the fleet. I would not be above recommending changes in personnel as well if there need be.”
Mitkov jumped aside in a panic. “My apologies, sir! Please forgive me.”
“Much better.” Sherlock passed through.
Natural politician that he was, Ito betrayed no sign of surprise as he followed. Through the gates there were rows of Western buildings. Russians in uniform as well as woman and children milled about. There were very few non-Russian foreigners visible. It seemed the port was under partial Russian occupation. It was no wonder, Sherlock thought, that Ito feared war.
So far Ito had remained nonchalant. As soon as they turned the corner, however, he could no longer conceal his curiosity. “How did you know the names and positions of the ships? And the dates of construction and commission, as well?”
Sherlock placed a finger to his lips, urging quiet. “It was elementary, Chairman. I thought I would give our seaman friend a showing, considering how impertinent he had been. I was already somewhat familiar with the Vladimir Monomakh-class ships from what I have read in the papers. The ‘kuri-something-or-other’ was obviously the Kliment. The ship beginning with ‘ya’ must have been the Yakov. Lasu would be Laskar, and the ship starting with W was obviously the Walery. Naturally ‘zori’ could only be Zaur. I had seen no diagrams or photographs, however, and could not be sure which ship was which.”
“But surely you could not have worked out their positions only from what the fishermen said?”
“Chairman, surely I could. The fishermen were headed toward the northern tip of the beach, meaning they would approach from the southeast and pass through to the northwest. They would not have passed the three westernmost ships on the berth side. The first fisherman stated that he had gone in a zigzag. If he had passed between two ships in the rear that would have been impossible. First he travelled along the southeastern ship’s starboard and then turned west at its bow. Next he travelled north, and then west, and then finally exited travelling north.”
“But he only remembered the ships’ names. He had forgotten in which order he had seen them. And the other two couldn’t remember how they had passed through at all.”
“Chairman Ito, having taken such pains to acquire this information it might behoove you to apply your mind to its judicious application. The second fisherman stated that he saw four ships. The only plausible route by which that would be possible would be if he had travelled starboard along the three ships furthest toward the offing and then turned west.”
“Of course!”
“Furthermore, we know that the three ships toward the offing, in no clear order, are the Kliment, the Timur, and the Walery. But as the first fisherman witnessed the Kliment, we know it cannot be the northeastern ship.”
“This is becoming difficult…”
“The third fisherman saw seven ship names. That means he either travelled starboard along the southeast ship, turned west at the bow, travelled straight, and then turned north after the second ship, or he began by travelling west behind two ships, and then turned north and travelled straight. No other routes are possible.”
“I will take your word for it.”
“He also saw the Walery, meaning that the northeastern ship is not the Walery, either. A process of elimination therefore tells us that it is the Timur. Then, either the Kliment and Walery must be the ship in the southeast corner, and the one before it, the Laskar—which the first fisherman saw—must be the middle ship. That leaves the second berthed ship, the ship behind that one, and the ship east-adjacent to that. But two rear ships face each other across the channel, and these two must be the Zaur and Arsen. So this means the third fisherman chose the latter of the two possible routes I mentioned earlier. Therefore, the second berthed ship is the Yakov.”
“Wait… Are you saying you were not sure where all the ships are positioned? As you explain it, you still don’t know which ship is the Kliment and which is the Walery. Nor the Zaur and Arsen.”
Sherlock grinned. “Precisely. I predicted, however, that Seaman Metkov would first inquire as to the name of the middle ship. It is the most difficult ship to observe from all angles. Had he asked for a ship I did not know, I intended rather to see us through by using the trivia I had at my disposal to overwhelm him.”
Ito’s eyes twinkled in appreciation. “Mr. Holmes, you show remarkable intelligence and fortitude.”
Sherlock accepted the compliment. “Thank you. Now come, let us discover what it is the Russians are up to.”
As they walked, he felt lighter in step. He observed the other passersby closely.
“What do you expect to find?” asked Ito, dubiously.
“From what you told me earlier, Russia displayed aggression once before in July. Ambassador Shevich’s agitation this morning seems strange, considering two months have passed since. He seemed quite intent. This leads me to believe that a person of some stature has arrived in Japan, someone important enough to intimidate even the ambassador.”