"No, brother, it is true that I gave several a beating. They found fault with Heiroku for some small misdemeanor, ordered him to prostrate himself in apology, demanded the name of his master, and finally insulted us in language no warrior would put up with, so I went at them. If you hand me over to the monks, there should be no trouble at all. Let me give myself up to those men at Gion. Forgive me for what I've done."
"Wait, wait, Tokitada, where are you off to?" Kiyomori demanded.
"I must be the reason for this serious disturbance," cried Tokitada.
"Didn't I tell you to leave this matter to me? Have you taken leave of your senses? Haven't I already said that I would face the consequences? And you—Heiroku—mind you, I'll settle this affair singlehanded. If there is need for it, my father is here to help. Understand, Heiroku, that if I intend to use you as a scapegoat, there's no need for me to repeat that I'm prepared to take the consequences. I seem to hear thousands of voices—the voices of the common folk in the market-place—urging me to go forward and do what must be done. . . . More is at stake now than my life. On me turns the future of the warriors. Let's not quibble longer, lest this rare opportunity slip through my fingers."
In the pained silence that followed, the retainers could be heard arming themselves in readiness for Kiyomori's orders.
"Father, will you stay a little longer?"
Tsunemori's arrival on horseback, accompanied by several retainers and horses, brought Tadamori to his feet.
"No, this has been a most refreshing evening. . . . And, Kiyomori, the worst may yet happen, so I suggest that you send the women and children to a safe place before morning."
With such words of caution, Tadamori unhurriedly made his way out to the courtyard and mounted his horse. Kiyomori saw Ariko into her litter, then climbed into his saddle, saying that he would go with them part of the way. With his brother riding beside him, Kiyomori slowly led the party out by the gate.
Fireflies clustered on their saddles and were caught in their sleeves. A flutter of wind set numberless small insects whirling into eddies of brightness.
As the procession of twenty arrived at the Gojo Bridge, Kiyomori glanced back over his shoulder and saw how the watch-fires of near-by Gion lit up the sky balefully.
Morning. The capital looked strange. Every house was shuttered, not a soul was abroad. The great avenues were deserted as at midnight. Now and then a warrior clattered by. Ten horses, twenty horses went past; then three or four, led by soldiers, proceeded in the direction of the Court; officials hurried by to their duties at the Palace.
"I wish to have a word with Kiyomori, Lord Aki. I am Tadamasa of the Heike. Where is he on duty?"
All eight gates of the Cloister Palace were crowded with warriors in full armor. Tadamasa, Kiyomori's uncle, had slipped away unaccompanied from the Court and come seeking his nephew.
A warrior stopped to reply: "Lord Aki may not have come yet. There's a rumor that the monks will attack his residence before they march on either the Court or the Palace."
"Ah, I see, he's more concerned for the safety of his own property than the Palace. Sounds very like him. I shall be off to Rokuhara, then."
Tadamasa turned his horse's head east and galloped off toward Gojo Bridge. As he neared it, he noticed a figure on horseback coming toward him. The horse ambled, swinging its tail comfortably.
"Ho! Uncle, and where are you off to?" Kiyomori called out as Tadamasa sped past.
Tadamasa reined in his horse sharply and wheeled to a stop. As Kiyomori came toward him, he burst out angrily:
"Ha, so it's you, Kiyomori! Mind that speech of yours! What do you mean by 'where are you off to'? As soon as I heard that more than two thousand monks had arrived from Mount Hiei, my first thought was for you. Alas, I said, here you were at long last rid of your poverty, able to build yourself a mansion, and the end so soon in sight. I was sorry for you, and felt for you as only an uncle can for his nephew. I was sure I could help you, and was on my way to you at top speed."
"That—was most kind of you," said Kiyomori laughing airily, though he politely inclined his head, "but, uncle, don't you realize with whom we are dealing? No one, not even his majesty, dares to oppose those who come with the sacred emblem. No matter how much help you offer, we are helpless against these monks from Mount Hiei. Unless you have come to view the ruins of my house, your words, to say the least, are comical. I realize you meant this most kindly."
"Hmm—I now understand. I met your father at dawn at the Justice Department and he seemed to think as you do. In fact, the two of you are exactly alike. ... So neither of you cares what happens. You're completely indifferent to what happens."
"My father speaks for himself, and I for myself. There's nothing odd in keeping cool. On the contrary, what's the matter with you? These armed petitions aren't anything unusual."
"Enough. The more you chatter, the more I realize that you and your father are cowards."
Tadamasa, unwilling to admit that this nephew of his was now a man, persisted in his habit of bullying Kiyomori as though he were the same ragged youth of ten years ago. Kiyomori, on the other hand, tolerated Tadamasa only because he was his father's brother. He knew no one he disliked more thoroughly. Lately, he had noticed a certain apprehensiveness in Tadamasa and sensed that Tadamori's promotion to the Justice Department, as well as his new title and rank, were somehow unnerving to his uncle, though Tadamasa had no reason to envy them since he had recently received an important post at Court.
"Come, get down, Kiyomori, get down and listen to what I have to say."
"No, I'm on my way to see to the defense of the Palace, and this is no time for me to be loitering."
"And you who should be among the first at the Palace— what do you mean by ambling along at this hour as though reluctant to be on your way?" said Tadamasa, hurriedly dismounting and seizing Kiyomori's stirrup.
"Now what do you want?" Kiyomori asked impatiently, dismounting reluctantly, and seating himself under one of the pine trees along the highway.
"Now listen to me. If you refuse, from this very day I renounce all the sacred ties of blood between us," Tadamasa declared.
"Now what do you mean by that?"
"You are completely blinded by love of your wife. Tokiko has you dancing at her will."
"Do you speak of my wife?"
"Who but Tokiko? You have let her talk you into causing this disaster, fatuous husband that you are! I've never known such stupidity as yours. Why don't you hand over Tokitada to the authorities of Mount Hiei?"
"Ah, just a moment, I don't quite understand. Are you saying that since Tokitada is my wife's brother, I have listened to Tokiko's pleadings and that I am therefore responsible for this serious situation?"
"That may be it. I don't need to ask you, since that much is obvious to me, your uncle:"
"So that's it, and that's how it appears to you?"
"Swear to me here and now that you will give up Tokitada and your houseman Heiroku while you remain a prisoner in your own house and await judgment. I, in the meanwhile, will ride at once to Gion and speak to the monks myself. They will then have no reason for pressing their demands, and we shall avert a calamity."
"I refuse."
"What!"
"Let them tear me limb from limb before I hand over those two."
"Why do you refuse? Of what value are the lives of those two compared with their majesties' peace of mind?"
"Tokitada and Heiroku are not alone guilty. Should misfortune visit the Court, that can only be the result of its continued abuses. If the Palace is attacked, that can only be the result of misgovernment. I can hardly be held responsible for the outcome."
"Are you mad, Kiyomori? Those shameless words of yours!"
"No more shameless than those you've been spitting out until now. My wife is very dear to me, but she doesn't make up my mind for me."
"Very well, very well. ... I've said enough. Let come what may! I've also heard you say something th
at can't be overlooked. Whatever happens to their majesties is no concern of yours?"
"That I did say, undoubtedly."
"You traitor! You base one!"
"Indeed?"
"The gods will surely rain down punishment on that impious head of yours! What a monster to have for a nephew! . . . No, I shan't risk my position at Court because of you. I wash my hands of you, Kiyomori!"
"Why, what a temper you're in!"
"You and Tadamori—the pair of you—spurn my offers of help. Wait and see, you will regret this. . . . No, I've no reason to be concerned further for you. Tell your father this: from this moment, I, Tadamasa, renounce all claim to being a member of the Heike clan."
Uncertainty, death itself stalking the capital, led Tadamasa in a moment of panic to repudiate all ties with the Heike. Kiyomori, however, listened to his uncle's outburst with a smile, as though this were just a tiff before breakfast.
Kiyomori watched Tadamasa and his horse until they vanished in the distance in a swirl of dust, then rose and untethered his mount; as he settled himself in his saddle, two figures sprang out from between the trees and seized his horse's reins from either side.
"Ho, you—Tokitada and Heiroku? You were slow in returning, so I came on ahead. What now? What of Tokiko and the children?"
"We have done as you ordered. They are safe at Anryakuju-in Temple, and you need have no fears for them."
"Good! As long as the women and children are safe, Mokunosukй can see to the house at Rokuhara. I have nothing more on my mind now. Good work!"
At this, Tokitada and Heiroku hid their faces against their forearms and wept, begging Kiyomori to forgive them; they cried that they knew no way of making amends; not only had they brought down the wrath of Mount Hiei, but their folly had sown discord among the Heike, they said.
"Here, enough of this blubbering, I'm off—" Kiyomori said, spurring his horse to a gallop.
Shaken off, the two stared after Kiyomori with the dust blowing in their faces, then followed after him at a run.
Three priests, the leaders of the monks from Mount Hiei, stalked out of the Cloister Palace, raging. From their furious looks it was plain that their demands had been rejected. They stopped at the gatehouse to reclaim their spears, swung them under their arms with a flourish and called to twelve underlings as they marched out of the gates.
It was usual for the monks to send their representatives to the government to present their demands, and if refused they invariably brought the Sacred Shrine and holy emblems into the capital and terrorized the authorities into acquiescing, for not even the civil powers dared oppose the Shrine.
Today Mount Hiei had demanded the persons of Lord Aki's brother-in-law, Tokitada, and the retainer Heiroku. In conjunction with this, the monks once more pressed their claim to the Kagashirayama manor, but the ex-Emperor had refused.
A wave of excitement passed through the ranks of the warriors. There were cries of: "Here comes Lord Aki, Kiyomori of the Heike!"
The Guards cheered as Kiyomori appeared with his usual jaunty air. Smiling broadly to either side of him as he rode between the armed ranks, Kiyomori sensed a sudden rise in the soldiers' spirits. Sweat poured down his face, and his large ears seemed to quiver. Following him came the crestfallen Tokitada and Heiroku, odd contrast to the debonair figure on horseback.
Palace secretaries, officials, and courtiers with drawn faces crowded the dais-room, where the Cloistered Emperor waited for Kiyomori.
Kiyomori knelt. "Your majesty, though Mount Hiei's real demand is for the Kagashirayama manor, it is my housemen who caused the monks to come here. I alone am responsible for this. Permit me, therefore, to deal with Mount Hiei as I see fit."
The Cloistered Emperor consented; there were no protests from the frightened courtiers, no questions how Kiyomori would induce the orderly withdrawal of the monks to Mount Hiei. Kiyomori made obeisance and withdrew.
His men watched him from a distance, talking among themselves. "We can expect nothing from those weak-kneed courtiers, but his lordship will surely have a plan."
Until now Kiyomori's every move had been followed closely by those around him and there had been considerable speculation as to what step he would next take. His refusal to give up Tokitada and Heiroku to the monks won the complete approval of his soldiers, who regarded him with respectful affection. Kiyomori was one whom any soldier felt he could talk to man to man. There was nothing which distinguished Kiyomori from other warriors in respect of courage or skill with arms, but his quick sympathy for the poor and downtrodden and his readiness to defend them made him popular with his men; that and the curious faculty he possessed of communicating his own gaiety. Wherever he went, his generously proportioned face—the eyebrows like caterpillars, the down-slanting eyes, the large nose, the full lips, the youthful ruddy cheeks and round chin, and those heavy-lobed ears which quivered whenever he laughed—caused merriment.
The owner of these features came out by an inner gate and started across the Palace plaza. He was soon surrounded by warriors who pressed on him with cries of: "Kiyomori of the Heike, what came of the talks?"
"Is there to be an imperial decree?"
"What happened, and what does his majesty say?"
Question after question was flung at him rapidly. Mopping his heated brow, Kiyomori pulled up the helmet slung at his back, set it on his head, and tied the cords under his chin.
"Now, now, there's no need to worry. I go straight to Gion to stop their marching with the Shrine."
"Stop them?"
"Here, leave it to his lordship to do that!"
"But those monks fear nothing; they scorn us as less than the dust under their feet, and last night showed they're thirsty for our blood. Should you go there, sir, there's no telling what they'll do. . . ."
"That's true, but I'm taking Tokitada and Heiroku with me. Much as I regret it, I shall have to turn them over to the monks and try to reach an agreement."
"Eh? Then you will give them up, after all, to the monks?"
"I have no choice."
"What a thing to do! So his majesty expects the warriors to take the brunt of it after all?"
"Come, stop this useless arguing. But remember that it was I who proposed this solution, not his majesty. Now let me be off to halt them before they leave Gion. If happily I return alive, there'll be a tale to tell. Now each man of you to his post."
With Tokitada and Heiroku following him, Kiyomori rode away on the dazzling sunlit highway, parched white with heat. Every leaf and blade drooped under the blazing sun. The guards stared, speechless, after the three as though they were the ghosts of the dead walking at noon.
From the stone staircase of one of the temples in Gion, the three leaders who had returned from the Cloister Palace harangued two thousand monks, gathered to hear the outcome of the negotiations.
"... We find no sincerity in his majesty. Both petitions have been thrust back at us. There's no hope that even the matter of the Kagashirayama manor will be settled. There's nothing left for us but to march on the Palace with the Sacred Shrine to bring his majesty to his senses."
A mad roar went up: "To the Palace, then! Chastise them!" and with this the multitude began assembling their weapons and surged toward the sanctuary where the Sacred Shrine rested amid tapers burning like myriads of stars and clouds of incense which all but enveloped the groves of Gion. To the massed chanting of sutras, the measured clanging of gongs, and to drums, throbbing like savage alarms to war, the great army got under way, and the air pulsed as though charged with some diabolic influence. Borne at last on the shoulders of white-robed priests, and shimmering blindingly with encrustments of gold, slowly, slowly swaying, the Sacred Shrine made its way down the hill onto the great highway.
The Heike Story Page 16