The Curse of Koshiu: A Chronicle of Old Japan

by Lewis Wingfield

  CHAPTER XIII.

  THE DESPOT OBEYS ORDERS.

  The little cavalcade sped swiftly on, for the frost-bound roads werepleasant travelling, and towards evening a dim mass appeared on thehorizon, which presaged a fall of snow. It behoved the Daimio and hisescort to ascend the wild and rugged pass, and seek the shelteredplains, before the coming of the storm.

  Yes, No-Kami was himself again. The eyes, like burning coals, nolonger glared at him. The good horse Typhoon, idle too long, chafedunder the bit, buffeted with his lord for mastery. A distempereddream, no more, one that was past and gone. Light of heart andjovially inclined, he gratified his taste for cruelty by lashing hissteed into a fever. Even he, the horse, was aware how sick he hadbeen--was mutinous and restive--needed a sharp lesson. The samurai, heremarked, were more familiar than of yore. There was a shade less ofsubmission in their manner. One went so far as to bandy a broad jest,putting forth lips too close to his master's ear, upon which hereceived a smart blow upon the cheek, as a hint to keep his distance.

  Their lord was himself again, and the warriors were glad. That heshould be fooled by a wanton to their benefit was amusing for a while,but with satiety rose a feeling of disgust. The fascinating geisha'sheart had room for too many occupants, and the warriors began toreflect some while since that, by betraying their lord in theirsociety, she was shaming the house they served. As the charm ofnovelty waned, they began to see her as she was. Removed from therange of O'Kiku's orbs, the more sober among then grieved about thatsecond marriage. As a dancing-girl--a passing fancy--O'Kiku was allthat could be desired--but as a permanent second wife?--no. On thewhole, even the mawkish chatelaine was less grievous as a mistress.Her sins were of omission only. Never by word or look had shedisgraced the name she bore. Unfortunately, the same could not be saidfor the concubine.

  My lord was himself again, and, being so, was desperately tetchy. Thiswas untoward. Otherwise, a wary hint might have been thrown out by thetrusted and war-beaten officer who rode beside him as to the recklessproceedings of his favourite. In the present condition of his temper,interference might produce explosion. Well, time is the best guide. Ifdetained at Ki[^y]oto, he might see some one he liked better, andforget O'Kiku, and then she could be relegated to a convent as lumberis removed to a godown.

  The samurai were in high spirits, and noisy withal, and the Daimioobserved with displeasing the effect of discipline relaxed. Sosoon as he returned home he would set his castle in order, heresolved,--suppress undue lawlessness,--check familiarity. When hereturned? Would the nightmare crush him again--numbing his limbs,breaking his spirit? Surely not. Why should he ever return? Was he notlord of other castles? Could he not appropriate at will, with thestrong hand of might, any stronghold that should take his fancy? Tsucould be left to O'Tei and to the goblins. Henceforth it was a hatefulspot, recalling humiliation and pain. And then he mused aboutO'Kiku--entrancing little fairy! A pity she was unreasonably jealous,for all those stories about his wife and his brother were too absurdto be believed. Yet were they? What, after all, if the concubine wereright, and Sampei's air of offended dignity a piece of clevermasquerading? Had he, the chief, not seemed to detect something likecommiseration on the bronzed features of his warriors? Why should theypity him? Perhaps they knew too well that, behind his back, his wifeand brother held clandestine meetings. Of course, this must be it.Scales fell from his eyes, and he trembled with passion. His firstwife was deceiving him, and with his brother! Hence their waningrespect and covert pity. And, fool that he was, he had left the twotogether. Grinding his teeth, he twitched the rein so sharply thatTyphoon, beflecked with foam, fell back upon his haunches. And then,in fitful mood, he laughed again. To Ki[^y]oto first to tie uploosened strands, then back to Tsu with furtive speed! He would swoopupon both the guilty ones, catch them off their guard, and make ofthem an example for all time.

  The peasants, scared out of their wits by the truculent bearing of thesoldiery, betook them to the woods, and lurked in hiding till theenemy had passed. At the top of the mountain, just where the way islevel, before dipping down through a thicket of wind-tossed pines,there stood a modest tea-house where my lord was wont to sleep on hisjourneys between his castle and the capital. Here he resolved to stopas usual, and, after bathing, enjoy his dinner. The landlord and hisdaughters came smiling forth, and, clapping palms upon their thighs,knelt down and rapped foreheads on the floor. My lord was paler thanhis wont, observed mine host, with profuse sighing; and thin, whichtore in twain the hearts of his loyal vassals; indeed they had heardthat he was grievously sick--almost unto death. Had not my lord ofNara gone by recently and brought the evil tidings! One and all hadwept, and offered prayers for his recovery. But my lord was young, andwould speedily recover, thanks to the elasticity of youth. And so on,with many genuflections and drawings in of the breath; sibillations,and head-rappings; while No-Kami's face grew purple, and he growled astring of curses.

  Nara dared--the insolent dotard!--he dared to spread reports among thepeople to the detriment of him, the Hojo! Sick unto death, forsooth!He burned to continue his journey forthwith, that the old schemermight be swiftly punished. Hark! What was that? A clatter of hoofs onthe hard road. A betto, breathless, wearing the badge of Tsu. What hadchanced? Not an accident to the fair O'Kiku? Anything but that. Theanxiety of No-Kami caused the warriors to glance with grim meaningfrom one to another, and shake their heads. How infatuated was theirlord with that brazen hussy! A lacquer box, bound with a red cord,containing a roll--a letter scrawled by the dear one. The darlingfaithful fairy was pining in the absence of her love! Retiring to theinner chamber, with its fine white mats, and gold ceiling painted withmany fans, he proceeded to peruse the scroll. "He must not be angrywith his little slave in that she perforce must write to him." (Angry!and with her? At home he might have snarled, but now time and distancewere between them.) "She was not so well-disciplined, springing fromthe warm-hearted people, as my lady, the chill chatelaine." (No, insooth! O'Tei would be long ere she despatched love-missives to herhusband.) "She was silly enough to adore my lord so well that eachmoment out of his company was like a dagger-stab; and yet, _she hadcomfort in his absence!_"

  Here was a mystery concerning which he must not be jealous, since thecomfort of which she spoke would affect him as well as her. My lordmust give way before her whim, and be patient, or if not patient, musthasten home the sooner, that the grand secret of joy might bedivulged. Softened, he laid the paper down. He must be a brute indeedwho hath not a tender spot in his ruggedness for one who sounselfishly adored! The guileless, silly child! What was the grandsecret that was to be the harbinger of doubly-concentrated bliss?Stay! there was a postscript to the letter, and the Hojo scrunched itsfrail tissue in his palm. Under the green leaf lies the scorpion."Since my lord went they are at ease, and the Abbess a shamelesspander!" That was all, but it was enough to remove the sweetness fromthe rest,--the one drop of gall that could turn a whole dish sour.

  _At ease_, were they! Not for long--not for long! Squatting on themat, with a futon, or wadded quilt, about his shoulders, and his coldhands spread over the hibachi, where charcoal ashes distributed amockery of warmth, No-Kami quivered now in every racked sinew. Dideverybody unite to beard him? He was fallen so low as that! Theprestige due to wholesome fear was paling. He had been too lenient.That pageant had somehow been a failure. Only just in time had herecovered from his illness. It was time to turn over a new leaf andcoerce the rebellious and unruly with an increase of severity. Aplague on the noisy soldiery! They were as insolent as all the rest.The world was out of gear. What hideous din was that in the outerchamber? Springing to his feet, the Daimio flung back in their groovesthe paper-covered doors, and in a voice of thunder demanded the causeof the uproar. A disgraceful scene, in truth! The landlord, but now sosmiling and obsequious, was tied and gagged. So were the plump girls,his daughters, whose bosoms heaved with terror-stricken sobs, whiletears coursed down their cheeks, and their lo
cks, though plasteredthick with oil, were bereft of pins and ornaments.

  What was the meaning of this? stammered their outraged lord, so soonas indignation permitted of speech. Sure they must be out of theirsenses! He had borne with their impudence upon the road,--theiroffensive, rollicking gait and vulgar swagger; but now they had gonetoo far, and should feel the weight of his displeasure. Were theysamurai--faithful and obedient henchmen--or ronins--bandits? There hadbeen more than enough quarrelling of late between the soldiers and thelower class. Landlord and maidens must be instantly released with fullapologies, with substantial damages in the future, which should beextorted from the pay of the truculent and peccant braves.

  The Hojo was awful in his indignation--a whirlwind! Sure thethunder-god looked like this while deafening with his gongs thefirmament. The girls were set free with tardy sullenness, and coweredtogether, trembling; but the man who menaced the landlord clutched himstill, with the point of a dirk at his throat, while he who was incommand approached his lord with extreme humility, begging to bepermitted to explain.

  "We were toying with the maidens," he bluntly urged--"surely anappropriate amusement for soldiers--when one, too roughly pinched,perhaps, turned on the aggressor with a jibe. 'Take heed,' sheshrieked, in shrill resentment at that which was only gallantry, 'lestyou strutting fowls get your fine feathers clipped!' She would havesaid more, but her sire, in fear, clapped a hand upon her mouth,exhorting her to prudence. She had betrayed herself--uttered a darkthreat, whose meaning it became us to learn. With the steel at histhroat the man had made confession--and a pretty coil it was! Theclans are gathering, he says; silently, by detachments, in themountains, ready, at given signal to fall unawares upon my lord. Thatwas why the Daimio of Nara deigned to visit us. He came to reconnoitrethe ground, to see if we were prepared and vigilant. While we reposedin false security (this varlet hath confessed) the hostile daimioshave been summoning their men, have enrolled in their service paidauxiliaries; disbanded, wandering ronins; soldiers of fortune,ruffians. And this, as it seems (though one can scarce believe it),with the tacit consent both of the Holy Mikado and of the Shogun atKamakura. This summons to Ki[^y]oto is a snare, detected luckily intime. May it please my lord--pardoning the arrogance of his poorservant in advising--to take horse at once, and, riding quickly homeprepare for danger. Finding their plot discovered, they will follow,striving, by myriads like locusts, to undo us. But the walls of Tsuare strong. Behind them we may laugh, secure."

  Having made this long oration, the chief of the samurai bent down,touched with his lips the hem of my lord's hanging girdle, and thenrising, with bowed neck awaited orders. A discovery indeed! Whencloseted with his child the crafty Nara had doubtless explained theplot, had held out the hope of freedom to the prisoner; and she, asconsummate in dissimulation as her parent, had seen without a quiverof an eyelid her husband riding to his death. Perhaps Sampei knew alsoof it--of course he did. Ambitious for himself, a willing tool ofNara's! Faithless traitors all! O'Kiku was the only true one!

  His brows knitted in deep concern, the Daimio waved his hand, andretired for a while to think. The suddenly-opened chasm that yawnedbefore his feet completed the recovery of No-Kami. His wife, hisbrother, false. That was evident now. The adviser selected by hisparent convicted of treason. Incensed Japan ready to rise as one toshake off a weakened despot. Nobody but himself to trust to; no armbut his own to succour him. Return with all speed to Tsu, and placethat impregnable stronghold in a condition to endure a siege? Prudentadvice enough; but what if the hovering ghosts should on hisre-entrance there claim and clutch him for their own. Then would he beundone indeed. But the ghosts had ceased to worry. No-Kami thrilledwith glee as he realised the imminence of his peril. How mistaken intheir estimate they were of him who held them leashed. What! Catch aHojo like a rat in a trap? Not they. Not all the united prowess ofJapan should succeed in doing it, provided goblins were kept alooffrom the contest. Return at once to Tsu. No! 'Twould be a sign ofweakness. Instead of retiring, it behoved him to assume the offensive.He would invade the Mikado, as he had often done before, and cow withhis scowl alone the poor timid array of hares. By the prestige of hisname and the uncompromising power of his will he had held his ownsince the demise of his father and Tomoye. It is a mistake for adespot to hide his frown too long. The past should be retrieved by ablow so heavy and unexpected that the hares, quaking withapprehension, would scuttle off without a sound.

  Striding forth again from retirement, No-Kami issued orders so promptand to the purpose that there was no gainsaying them.

  The betto was to return to Tsu at the top of his speed, with privateinstructions to the officers as to increased watchfulness. This scrollhe would deliver to Sampei, and instruct him, at the peril of his lifewithout delay to join his brother at the capital. The letter was sosternly worded that he would perceive he had been betrayed,--that thehead of his clan was aware of his perfidy, and he would accordinglythrow up the game, confess, and sue for mercy.

  The Daimio himself and his following would, after a few hours ofrepose, push on to Ki[^y]oto. The rice of the men consumed, the horsesfed, and a cup of sake all round, and then, away!

  The landlord and his daughter; what of them?

  The miserable peasant was quaking on the mat, groaning and wringinghands with incoherent supplications, deeply distressed in mind tothink that through the blabbing of him and his the tyrant should havereceived timely warning.

  To all posterity would their names go branded down, since but fortheir folly the bonds of their land would have been loosened. Thegirls, beside themselves with fear, crawled on hands and knees,imploring clemency.

  Folding his arms, No-Kami looked down upon the supplicants, while hisfeatures were contracted by a spasm that might pass for a malignantgrin.

  "What of these?" he glowered. "Slash the father's throat; 'tis givento garrulity and chattering. The girls? Serve them as you will. Whathave I to do with vermin?"