by I. J. Parker
Akitada clapped his hands. “Well done! I was told they normally keep to themselves.”
“Their women are known for their beauty and sexual skills, so I went to the amusement quarter first.” Hitomaro blushed. “The waitress in a wineshop there was hinin and invited me home for dinner.”
Tora burst out laughing. “Only you would go to the amusement quarter and end up with a free dinner, Hito.”
Hitomaro frowned at him. “It was the easiest way to get to know those people,” he said defensively. “And Idid stop at a house of assignation first. It catered to private customers.”
“Please get to the point!”Akitada had a sinking feeling that he was about to be treated to another tale of debauch. “What about the outcasts? Whom do they obey?”
Hitomaro looked relieved. “No one. They are very poor, sir. They grow a few vegetables in their gardens and work the usual dirty jobs in town for a few coppers. But some of the women sell their bodies and bring good earnings home to their families. I got the feeling they are close-knit. The only ones they take instruction from are theyamabushi. I was patched up by the master yamabushi himself.”
Akitada sat up. “Really? The master? An old man with a very long white beard and long hair?”
“You’ve met him, sir? Very impressive. Amazing how educated those mountain priests are. He spoke as well as anyone I ever met, sir. And so does Kaoru, now I think of it.”
Akitada raised his brows. “A well-spoken woodcutter? You surprise me. And the yamabushi speaks, doe she? What did he have to say?”
“He thought I was a fugitive looking for sanctuary. It seems he has told the outcasts to take in anyone who’s in trouble with the law. That could account for Uesugi’s hatred of them. They had some toothless deserter hiding there who assaulted one of their women andg ot his arm broken for it. They don’t want him, but the yamabushi protects him.”
Akitada’s brows contracted in an angry scowl. “Things have gone far in this godforsaken province. Not only am I prevented from upholding the law, but there is a conspiracy afoot to harbor criminals right under our nose.” He fell into a gloomy abstraction. “Worse and worse!” he muttered. “The Uesugi govern, the merchants are gangster bosses, and outcasts hide all those criminals who are not already protected by the other two factions. Where does that leave us?”
“Out in the cold,” quipped Tora, opening a shutter and peering up at the sky. A blast of freezing air blew in.
“Close that,” Akitada snapped, “and pay attention!”
“Things may not be as hopeless as they seem, sir,” Hitomaro said. “I think the outcasts are fighting the Uesugi in their own way. And I’ve found them very decent people. They not only took care of me, but they also tend to a madwoman there. Spooky creature. She’s Kaoru’s grandmother and a soothsayer. She kept looking at me and babbling about blood and murder.”
Akitada said grudgingly, “Well,we are in their debt for helping you, in any case.”
“And none of the smalltradesmen will have anything to do with Sunada.”
Akitada sighed. “Yes, that is good. I must be patient.”
“What about Kaoru, sir?”Hitomaro asked.
“When he comes, bring him to me. At least he’s not likely to be working for Uesugi. If he is moderatelyintelligent and does not help our prisoners to escape, you may train him toreplace that rascal Chobei. Now you had both better get on with preparationsfor our first court session.”
“Sir?” Hitomaro avoided Akitada’seyes. “May I have a few hours off this afternoon? It, er, concerns the outcasts.”
Akitada opened his mouth to ask for details but, thinking better of it, he nodded. His lieutenants left.
As soon as they were gone,Seimei came in. He gave Akitada an anxious look and asked, “How about a nicecup of herbal tea, sir? I know you don’t like the taste, but I found some honey.”
“No need, Seimei. I feel much better, but if you are free, there is some work.”
For the next hour they drafted the notices to be posted around town, set the clerks to work copying them,prepared a list of witnesses Akitada wanted called, and wrote instructions about the arrangements for the hearing. When they were done, Seimei left to get matters organized.
At midday one of the junior clerks brought Akitada a bowl of rice gruel and some pickled vegetables. He ate hungrily and took another of Oyoshi’s pills with the wine. For the first time in days his stomach felt pleasantly full, and a general sensation of well-being pervaded his body.
After his meal, he just sat quietly, savoring the return of his health. He found he was once again looking forward to the challenges ahead. Now that he had begun to take action, he felt confident of establishing control over the province. The hearing on Sato’s murder would be the first step. He would show the local people how things were supposed to be done. And Uesugi was little more than a silly, posturing borderlord. Only the distance from the capital and the venality of past governors hadkept him in power. His good times were over.
Into this euphoria walked Judge Hisamatsu. Announced by Hamaya, he entered, bowed stiffly, and took the seat offered by Akitada.
“Your visit is very welcome,”Akitada said with a smile. “I have wanted to greet you officially, Hisamatsu.As you may have heard, my own background is also in law. May I ask when you attended the university?”
Hisamatsu, who had been glowering, gulped. “Ah, quite a few years ago, Excellency. I don’t believe wecould have met,” he said frostily.
“No, perhaps not. Do you recall the names of any of your law professors?”
Hisamatsu waved this away. “Names.What are names? But I shall never forget their teachings. Their wisdom is with me every day.”
“Ah, no doubt you studied under Ogata, then.”
Hisamatsu hesitated just a fraction, then said, “Of course. What a legal scholar!”
Satisfied that Hisamatsu had not attended the imperial university, which had never had anyone by the name Ogata teaching there, Akitada relaxed. “This province seems backward in many ways. No doubt there is much lawlessness and you are kept very busy.”
Hisamatsu gave a small laugh. “Oh,yes. Very busy. I earn my salary many times over.”
Akitada nodded and looked thoughtful. “I was afraid of that. I, on the other hand, seem to have few cases to occupy my time.”
Too late Hisamatsu saw the trap. “Oh, I am perfectly capable of handling the caseload, Excellency. And that brings me to the matter I wished to discuss.”
Akitada faked surprise. “Forgive me. I misunderstood your purpose. I thought this was merely a courtesy visit.”
Hisamatsu flushed. “Yes, yes.That, and, well, it has come to my attention-just today, as a matter offact-that your Excellency has taken an interest in a minor case of mine.”
“I cannot imagine what you mean.”
“The murder of a local innkeeper?”
Akitada chuckled. “I see. Youwere joking. A minor case? Very funny. Well, actually, it looked interesting to me. Complicated. I rather enjoy complicated cases, don’t you?”
Hisamatsu blustered, “Your pardon, Excellency, but you must have been misinformed. The case is very simple and straightforward. We have the culprits in jail. They have confessed. Allthat is left is for me to pronounce sentence.”
“Ah, Hisamatsu, I thought perhaps you had jumped to conclusions there. A good thing I checked into it. We can’t have a miscarriage of justice at the beginning of my tenure here, you know. How would it look? The people have a right to be reassured that they can place their trust in their new governor.”
Hisamatsu was becoming angry. “Miscarriageof justice? I fail to see how you can charge such a thing. Confessions,Excellency. We got confessions. Really, I do not understand what all the fussis about. It will be very much better if you just let the law take its course.”
“Better for whom, Hisamatsu?”
“Why, for everyone. Justice must be served. The victim demands it. The widow demands it. The people of
this province demand it.”
“What about the accused? You have arrested three men. Shall they be given justice? No, no, Hisamatsu. In this case due process has not been served. Only two of the men have confessed,and then after the most brutal beatings. I myself have seen their wounds. I trust you are familiar with the regulations pertaining to torture of prisoners?”
Hisamatsu looked startled. “If those constables have exceeded their duty, I shall certainly have them punished.” He paused. “But this will make no difference, for the accused will repeat their confessions in my court. The evidence is clear.”
“Possibly Okano and Umeharawill do so. They are as timid as mice. But Takagi will not confess. In any case, you are not ready to hear the case. You have yet to check the three men’s testimony.”
“Check what?” yelped Hisamatsu.“They confessed. They had the gold and the knife. And Takagi is retarded. Youdon’t expect a brute like that to cooperate right away?”
“The law states that you must have confessions to find men guilty.”
“Trust me, Takagi will confess.”
Akitada said dryly, “Yes, I suppose you will find a way. But your way is not mine. And I will investigate the case myself.”
Hisamatsu’s high color changed to purple. “What? You can’t do that. There’s no precedent. It’s … it’s not legal.”
“I fear, Hisamatsu, that I havea better notion of the law than you. In the future, confine yourself to really minor cases and make certain that transcripts of all your findings are submitted to me before judgment.”
Hisamatsu shot up. “That isinsulting. I serve under the high constable.”
Akitada looked up at him and shook his head sadly. “The high constable has died-or hadn’t you heard? And I have no intention of appointing another until I am convinced that this provinceis loyal to his Majesty. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”
Hisamatsu made a choking sound,bowed, and left.
Akitada smiled and got up. He stretched and walked to a small carved chest. After rummaging in it, he pulled out a narrow brocade case and a notebook and carried them back to his desk.Undoing the silk cord of the brocade case, he lovingly removed a plain bambooflute and turned it in his hand. He had not played since the capital. For some reason neither his wife nor any one else in his household had shown much interest in flute music. A pity.
He really felt extraordinarilywell after his meeting with Hisamatsu. The man had folded quickly when facedwith firm authority. The present troubles would soon be past.
He lifted the flute to his lips and blew experimentally.
Ah! The fullness of its sound!His heart lifted. He opened the notebook and studied a page. Perhaps he would begin with a passage from “Cicadas in the Pine Trees.”
Halfway through the first scale, the door flew open and Hamaya burst in, his two assistants peering wide-eyed over his shoulders. Akitada lowered his flute. Their expressions changed from shock to intense embarrassment.
“Yes?”
Hamaya turned to the other two and motioned them away. To Akitada he said with a bow, “Forgive the intrusion,sir, but the sound was so unexpected that we thought… we were afraid …please forgive the interruption.”
“I was only playing my flute,”Akitada explained, holding it up. “The song is called ‘Cicadas in the PineTrees.’ Here, if you listen carefully, you can distinguish the cicada’s cry.”He lifted the flute and produced a series of shrill squeaks and grating rasps.
“Indeed, sir,” stammered Hamaya, “it does sound something like, that is, just like … I must return to work.” Bowing again, he retreated and closed the door softly.
Akitada stared after him.Curious. It was almost as if they had never heard flute music before. He shook his head. What a godforsaken province this was! Well, they would soon learn to appreciateit. He returned to his practice.
In the private rooms, Tamako was sipping tea with Seimei. He had reported that her husband seemed quite well again, much to her relief because she knew he had not come to bed the night before. Now they heard the squeal of the flute and looked at each other. Tamako smiled.
“Oh, I am so glad. He is better. Was it something you gave him?”
Seimei frowned. “No. He has not taken any of my infusions. He can be very stubborn. Against unreason even the Buddha cannot prevail.”
Outside,Tora and Hitomaro, on their way from the constables’ barracks, stopped and looked at each other.
“He’s started again,” said Torain a tone of horror. “It’s that devil’s instrument. People will say he’s mad.As if we didn’t have enough trouble. I wish he’d left the cursed thing in the capital.”
Hitomaro, who was in anunusually good mood, laughed. “Don’t complain, brother. It means he’s feeling better.” He looked up at the sun. “I must go, but I should be back for the evening rice.”
Tora watched him stride out the gate. Something was up with Hito. He had never seen him so excited. Or so concerned with his appearance. One would almost swear he was on his way to meet a girl.
Several hours after Akitada had wrapped up his flute again and returned to his paperwork, he was startled by the loud clanging of the bell outside the tribunal gate. This was meant to be rung by persons who wished to lay acomplaint against someone or report a crime. Finally! He sat up inanticipation.
Hamaya showed in three people. “Mr.Oshima and his wife, sir, and their daughter, Mrs. Sato,” he announced, looking unhappy. “Mrs. Sato is the widow of the slain innkeeper.”
The elderly couple in thei rneat cotton gowns knelt and bowed their heads to the mats. The young womanlifted her veil, then followed their example more slowly and gracefully.Akitada tried not to stare. She was quite beautiful and wore silk, very inappropriate for the widow of a mere innkeeper. But his primary reaction was disappointment. No new case after all. Still, at least these people acknowledged his authority.
“You may sit up,” he told them,“and inform me of your business.”
The parents settled themselveson their knees and cleared their throats. They cast uneasy glances at Akitada’sofficial brocade robe, at the elegant lacquer writing set and the documentstacks on the desk, and at the thick, silk-trimmed floor mats- Akitada’s ownproperty, which his wife had insisted on installing when she saw his office.
“Don’t be afraid,” Akitada saidpleasantly. “I am glad you came and will do my best to help you.”
The old man murmured, “It’s our daughter, your Honor. She says that her husband’s death must be avenged because she’s troubled by his spirit.”
Astonished, Akitada asked, “Thedead man’s ghost appears to her?”
“My husband’s ghost resides in our inn,” said the widow in a surprisingly firm voice. “He’s everywhere, in all the dark corners. I live in fear that one of the guests will see him. And at night he hovers over me as I lie on my mat. Sometimes I hear his blood dripping. I have not slept since he died.” She touched a sleeve to her eyes.
“But surely you should call anexorcist.”
“Of course I did that. It was no use.”
Akitada frowned. “I don’t see how I can be helpful.”
The widow’s chin came up and her eyes flashed. “Where am I to find justice, if not from the law? And is not the tribunal the place where we have our wrongs redressed? Ghosts walk only when murder goes unpunished.”
Akitada thought her manner lacking in respect and humility, but he only remarked, “I assure you, madam, Iam giving your case my personal attention. The day after tomorrow I shall preside over a public hearing of the matter. You would have been notified shortly.”
“A hearing?” she cried, a flushstaining her porcelainlike complexion. “What good is a hearing? The criminals have confessed and must be sentenced.”
The old lady gave a frightened cry. She scooted a little closer to Akitada’s desk and bowed deeply. “Please forgive my daughter’s bad manners,” she murmured. “It is her grief and worry speaking. We came to town for a visit
and saw the notices. It is merely to ask about them that we came, your Honor.”
Akitada opened his mouth, but Mrs. Sato was quicker. “No!” she cried. “I have no more patience. I want justice now. And since I’m not getting it, I am filing a complaint.”
Akitada’s mouth snapped shut.He locked eyes with the widow. She did not lower hers, and he read a challenge in her set face which told him negotiations were futile. Suddenly there was no doubt in his mind that this was the beginning of a well-planned campaign. “Very well,” he said coldly. “It is your right to do so. See my clerk. But you will all three attend the hearing anyway.”
EIGHT
MOURNING THE DEAD
Clouds of incense drifted between the massive pillars, obscuring the carved and gilded ceiling beams and putting a haze over the black robes of the monks and the darkclothing of the mourners. The sweet smell overwhelmed the senses, and the humof sutra chanting, the clanging of gongs, and the chiming of cymbals floated onthe air in gentle waves. The celebrants circled and spun in a graceful ritual dance, and Akitada’s eyes closed and his fingers began to move in accompanimenton an imaginary flute.
Abbot Hokko, seated next to him, cleared his throat softly, and Akitada returned to reality, guiltily plunging his hands into his voluminous sleeves. The ceremony was drawing to its end, and not a moment too soon. Two hours of prayers, readings, and making reverent bows to the coffin of the late high constable, to the statue of the Buddha,and to Lord Makio, the chief mourner, were beginning to take their toll on Akitada who had been up most of the night preparing for the hearing.
He looked at the solitary,motionless figure of the new lord for a moment. Makio wore full armor, lacqueredred and gold and laced with deep purple silk. He sat holding his black helmet with the gilded studs stiffly in front of him. His only concession to mourning was a white silk sash draped across his chest. He had not moved a muscle or changed his stern expression throughout the ceremony. Akitada knew that the wearing of the armor carried a message to himself. More important, his adversary was a man capable of great self-control. It would be a mistake to underestimate the new lord of Takata.