``Oh?'' Rector said. ``I guess it will be all right. When would the oyabun like to bring his guests up here?''

``This afternoon,'' the secretary said. ``At three o'clock if it will be of convenience to you at that time.''

``All right,'' Rector said. ``I will be expecting them.''

He was about to hang up the phone, but a note of hesitancy in the secretary's voice left the conversation open. He had something more to say. ``I beg to inquire if the back is now safe for travelers,'' he said.

Rector laughed despite himself. ``Unless the oyabun has been working on it,'' he said, then checked himself and added: ``You can tell Kayabashi-san that the back road is in very good condition and will be quite safe for his party to use.''

``Arigato gosaimasu.'' The secretary sighed with relief and then the telephone clicked in Rector's hand.

Rector had no idea why Kayabashi wanted to visit the mission. For the oyabun to make such a trip was either a sign of great weakness or an indication of equally great confidence, and from all the available information it was probably the latter. Kayabashi must feel fairly certain of his victory in order to make a visit like this, a trip which could be so easily misinterpreted by the people in the village. At the same time, it was unlikely that any businessmen would spend a day in a Christian mission out of mere curiosity. No, Kayabashi was bringing his associates here for a specific purpose and Rector would not be able to fathom it until they arrived.