The patrolman who had been first to arrive at the scene sketched in the details as he knew them to the county pathologist. “The car must have been pulling out of the side road when the pickup crossed over to this lane and caught it on the passenger side. We had to pry it loose to get to the car. As it is, we wont be able to get the body out until the wrecker arrives. Im sure he was dead when I got here.”
“What about the driver of the other car?”
“Drunk, and I mean drunk! We gave him a quick breathalyzer, and he went off the scale. He may have been knocked out, even though there wasnt a mark on him. My guess is he just passed out. I sent him off in the ambulance, just in case. We gotta cover ourselves,” he added, apologetically.
From his perch, Werner announced loudly how the head injuries “massive are.” While he continued his preliminary diagnosis, an additional police car screamed to a stop and emptied Hank out at the scene. The patrolman quickly repeated what he had told Clyde, while the lieutenant punctuated the recital with appropriately placed grunts.
After telling the patrolman to call in and find out who the car was registered to, Hank joined the two pathologists. Werner slipped off the car to contribute his comments. Hank found it difficult to respond to the first of them.
“Very expensive suit.”
Chapter 16
Kay had planned on treating Tokumi to lunch and taking advantage of the hour to eat well and to just enjoy his company. Maybe if I sit and talk story with him for an hour or so, and dont think about this case, Ill be able to take a fresh look at it afterwards.
She had also planned on making the most of the Malalanis magnificent salad bar, but did so only after resolving a problem for Tokumi. The look of dismay on his face, as he surveyed the long table of vegetable salads, seafood salads, pasta salads, gelatin salads, fruit salads, and a wide variety of condiments, clued Kay in to what he was looking for.
Steering him over to the steam table, she smiled as Tokumi eagerly spooned scoops of the cooked rice onto his plate. “Youre just like my father,” she said. “He claims if he didnt have rice hed get up from a meal hungry, no matter how much hed eaten,
Tokumi did not look up as he added choice bits of teriyaki beef to his collection, but answered, “My brother, who was in Japan during the war, says the worst thing he remembers about it is how the government used to adulterate the rice with all sorts of strange things near the end of the fighting. Radio broadcasts kept trying to persuade people turnips were every bit as good as rice. My brother says the first time he heard the broadcast, he knew Japan had lost the war.”
He nodded his head before adding, “When the leaders tell you bad news is really good news, then its time to start worrying.”
The salads were as delicious as they looked, tasting even better, Kay reflected, because Ono Electronics was picking up the outlandishly large tab. In addition to the pleasures of the palate, she found herself thoroughly enjoying Tokumis company. He interspersed his eating with reminiscences of his days as a language teacher to children in Honolulus Japanese community. It was nice to be able to relax, make the most of the excellent food, and just think of nothing but the stories Tokumi was weaving with no expectation of comment on her part.
“The older children always insisted the last fifteen minutes of each days lesson be devoted to a Japanese legend. Believe me, it made me do a lot of reading and research on my own to keep up the supply.”
From there, Tokumi slipped into recounting some of the tales. When they were sitting back, replete, Kay with her decaf and Tokumi with his tea, he had embarked on one he said had come to his mind during the mornings interviews. His English took on the singsong quality Kay knew went with the tales in their original form.
“There was once the lord master of one of the greatest clans in Aomori province, which is where your ancestors lived, Keiko. He had only one child, a son he was very fond of and very proud of. The son, who had been raised from childhood to be a great samurai, was brave and strong and devoted to his father. The father had himself been known and feared far and wide as a warrior in his youth.
“The lords struggles against his foes had not been for conquest, but to make the land secure for his people. After defeating the warring clans who envied his prosperity, the lord had finally brought peace to the countryside. He was a kindly ruler, and his land flourished. The rice crops were abundant during the years of his rule, his subjects loved and respected him. Knowing the son was much like his father, they felt their future was assured.
“Still, there was a small larva eating away inside the magnificent fruit. The lord knew it was there, but thought it too insignificant to be concerned with.
“This one blotch was a nephew who, though a brave samurai himself, was nevertheless jealous of the lords son. The nephew's jealousy drove him to try and undermine the lords confidence in his only child. The lord merely smiled in amusement at the insinuations the nephew made, dismissing them as the product of a sadly twisted mind. One day, after a fine meal, where the lord had perhaps had somewhat too much rice wine, the nephew, who had been eating with him, prodded the lord into bragging about his son.
“„You say your son would do anything you commanded him to do?
“„Of course. His father comes first in his eyes. I need only hint, and he rushes to do my bidding. I could command him to step off a cliff, and he would do so without a moments hesitation.
“„Perhaps you feel so only because he has never truly been tried. Now, Mongol chiefs have a special test for their eldest sons, who can never ascend to the chieftainship until they have passed it.
“„What is that?
“„When the son comes of age, he is expected to stand in a small circle, drawn by his father, and he must stay in the circle for three days without food or water. No matter what temptations he may encounter which might make him want to leave it, he must remain for three whole days.
“„The lord snorted in contempt. „Why not an encounter with a dozen enemy warriors? Or a challenge to climb the smooth face of Uma Rock. Three days in a circle is nothing for even the meanest of samurais. For my son it would be but a pleasant interlude freed for meditation.
“„Perhaps, My Lord, but the test is deceiving. The greatest of the Mongol chieftains arrange ingenious temptations. Most of their sons fail.
“„Bah! They fail because they are weaklings.
“„Then you would not be afraid to put your son to the test?
“„Of course not, but it would be a waste of time. Why bother to prove something which is true?
“„You would not be fearful of the outcome, even if you allowed me to arrange the temptations?
“The lord no longer made any attempt to hide his scorn. „There is nothing you could do to move him. I give you leave to try.
“So the son was asked to undergo the test, and as his father had expected, he accepted with alacrity. Squatting in the circle drawn by his father, wearing a straw cloak and a peasant hat, he crossed his arms and looked off into the distance. Catching the last rays of the setting sun, he smiled and prepared himself for the coming hours.
“In the meantime, the nephew arranged the temptations with the amused connivance of the lord. The father spared no effort or expense to prove his son was worthy to succeed him and to rule after his own departure from the world.
“On the first day of the sons test, early in the morning, the most beautiful and famous of Japans courtesans came and knelt outside the circle, facing the immobile samurai. Her words were sweet, her voice was like the sound of a koto, her tone was marvelously seductive. She described the pleasures which would be his if he would come with her. She opened the pages of a lavishly illustrated pillow-book and showed him, page by page, what she would do for him.
“He needed but to step across the line to be guaranteed pleasures unknown and unavailable to ordinary men. The hours went by. She persevered, but there was no sign her efforts would be rewarded.
“Finally, and sadly, she rose
from her knees, and said, „Never have I encountered such a man. Truly, I would have been your slave. I would have loved you as you have never been loved before and as you can never hope to beloved by any other.With those words, she turned and departed.
“The tale of what had happened sent the lord into gales of laughter. „Had the woman been fashioned by the hands of the immortal Buddha himself, and for just such a purpose, my son would have been unmoved. His word to me is sacred. He would never violate it. You waste your time. In two days, not only will my son have proven himself, but when the test is over I will turn the rule of my lands over to him. I thank you for helping me to arrive at a decision I should have made years ago.
“The nephew had barely begun the ordeal, however, and the elements conspired with him. In the night, a violent storm raged through the land, but daylight still found the son unmoved, water streaming off the straw cloak. Then, a string of pack horses, led by a balding man whose demeanor clearly indicated he was of noble birth, slowly wended its way from the horizon toward the small circle.
“The new temptation was soon revealed. Servants unstrapped one of the many chests carried by the animals, stepped almost to the line and emptied it to reveal a treasure trove of gold coins.
“„This, the nobleman began, „can all be yours. You have my pledged word for it. Should you merely step outside the circle, all these chests, each with contents equal to or exceeding this, will be given to you. You will be the richest man in Japan.
“The sons eyes never wavered. Horse after horse was unloaded, the pile of brilliant coins grew and grew. The noblemans voice, even more seductive than the courtesan's, spoke of what the treasure could bring to the son in luxurious palaces, concubines to sate the most jaded of tastes, the most talented performers from all over the world, the rarest delicacies to tempt his palate, homage from envious princes, pleasures beyond his wildest dreams.
“All was for naught. The eyes never wavered. The coins returned, handful by handful, to their caskets. One by one these were retied onto the backs of the patient animals. Before leaving, the nobleman looked at the squatting, immobile figure, shook his head and said, „My own son would have sold his souland minefor one rice basket of those coins.
“The lord smiled down with satisfaction at the bowing form of his nephew, and said, „I placed all of my possessions in jeopardy for todays trial. The Shogun, himself, stood surety for me and sent his most trusted minister to make the offer.
“„Had my son stepped from the circle, everything I own would have gone to the moneylenders. My people would have become their slaves, and even I would have gone into servitude. But, not for a moment, did I doubt the outcome of this trial. Believe me, you can do no more.
“„I know, the nephew answered in the humblest of voices, „and yet I have one more day. Tomorrow will be my final effort. I know it is a feeble one, but then I will be certain that, once it has been attempted and my cousin still remains in the circle, your faith in him will have been completely vindicated.
“The lord laughed good naturedly. „Let the test proceed, but this I know…as soon as the sun has set tomorrow, my son will step from the circle to receive the reins of government from a father who never for a moment doubted his devotion. He paused, then added, „I will also tell him who was originally responsible for this test. I suggest you start praying his spirit of forgiveness is equal to his filial piety.
“The next morning, the sun rose to find the son still squatting, an almost imperceptible smile on his face. The birds, who had now become used to the immobile figure, flocked around him. Two of the more courageous of them landed on his shoulders. The morning wore on, and there were only the songs of the birds and the sun rising to its zenith to keep him company.
“Then, late in the afternoon, a masked man wearing the swords and double scabbard of a samurai came walking toward the circle from the distance. His stride labeled him quite clearly as a skilled and experienced swordsman. At sight of him, the birds flew away, squawking in terror. Minutes of silence went by as the newcomer eyed the still form.
“Then, in a hoarse guttural voice, he demanded directions to the nearest village. Receiving no answer, he repeated the question. Then, sneering, he said, „Now I recognize you, the son of the lord of the clan. What a pitiful figure you are, squatting in the dust, your swords rusting in their scabbards. How he must be ashamed at having a coward for a son.
“The sons eyes barely flickered, but made contact with the eyes staring at him from behind the mask. With renewed energy, the masked man heaped insults on him. He described in lurid detail the sons lack of virility, rivaled only by his unnatural lusts, themselves incapable of achieving satisfaction because of his pusillanimity. Anger rose in the sons face, his muscles twitched, but he made no move to rise or to confront his maligner.
“The sun had begun its final slide toward the western horizon, and still the tirade continued, the harsh voice reeking with contempt. Then, abruptly, the torrent ceased. After a pause, the masked man squatted also, a scant few paces from the line drawn on the ground. The contempt deepened even further, as the lips behind the mask formed words and phrases so vile the sons face reddened; a vein never before seen throbbed in his forehead.
“The insults were no longer directed at him. Now the target was his father. What had gone before was, by contrast, but the language of children teasing each other at play, such was the filth now being heaped upon the lord of the clan.
“It was too much. A howl of mixed anguish and uncontrollable rage rose deep in the sons chest as he whipped his sword from its sheath, and rushed across the line of the circle. With a movement almost too quick for the eye to see, he swept its razor-sharp edge across the throat of the masked man. The figure was dead before it crumpled to the ground.
“With the tip of his sword, the son flicked off the mask to reveal the face of his father.”
***
Almost from the beginning of the narrative, Kay had sat forward, transfixed at the ability of the storyteller to project a feel for the mythical scene, one set in a Japanese landscape of centuries before. The end of the story sent her sitting back in her chair with a sigh.
Was the story troubling solely because of its innate poignancy, because it somehow spoke of a universal human condition? Or, did it contain a message relevant to another death, the death of a loved one in another story with a cast of modern-day Japanese players?
***
After lunch and her good-byes to Tokumi, Kay checked her watch. There was still time to put a call through to Ramon before her one oclock appointment with Sigrid. The private investigator answered before the first ring had finished.
“I havent been to the office yet this morning,” Kay said, “so I thought Id check and see if youre hitting any snags.”
“None I can think of. Your fax basket should be full when you get there.”
Kay cringed. Even without Ramons help, the basket always seemed to be full. “Anything wild and way out?”
“I dont think so. The Japanese agent I talked to a few minutes ago says the police are cooperative. They gave him everything they had. There was a mix-up on one of the records. They sent him two on…” Kay could hear papers rustling in the background. “…on Noboru Nishimura. But they got it straightened out, finally. I guess the name is as common over there as John Smith is here in the US”
The image of the heavy-faced bodyguard flashed through Kays mind. The mix-up, she decided, probably means nothing. On the other hand…”Does he have a police record?”
“Nope. No one on your list has. Theyre all clean.”
“Did you find out anything about the yakuza?”
“Not much more than you can read in the tabloids. The agent said its unlikely Ono was one. He says the big companies dont need them. The middle enterprises are the ones getting involved, so the yakuza drift from illegal to semi-legal to legal operations and back again. Even so, he said hed look for any possible connection.”
“Is ther
e anything else?”
The voice at the other end hesitated. “Yeah, but this is really off the wall.”
“Try me. I like off-the-wall stuff.”
“Two weeks after the plane crash, one of the mechanics who maintains Ono Electronics planes was run over by a car and killed, a hit and run.”
“Hey! That sure sounds like something.”
“Dont get your hopes up. The driver showed up at the police station the next day, voluntarily. He even offered to payfor supporting the mechanics family, and hes doing it.
“The up-shot is the police ruled it to be just that, an accident.”
“Whered you dredge this up?”
“The agent I talked to says when it happened, the whole agency was buzzing. They were betting the yakuza were behind both the plane crash and the car killing. Of course, hes quick to admit theyre trained to be suspicious.”
“So am I, Ramon. So am I.
Chapter 17
“Sorry I couldnt make it out to the accident, Hank,” Corky said, catching the lieutenant on the steps of the station. “Judge Wong insisted on working on bail hearings right through lunch hour. I hear somebody got killed. A local?”
“ Uh-uh. He looked like a tourist, but otherwise unrecognizable. I had to leave before the wrecker showed up, so I cant tell you much more. A young kid was missing in the old subdivision and I was called out, but it turned out to be a false alarm. His grandmother picked him up this morning and forgot to leave a note.”
“Whos the car registered to?”
“Were having one hell of a time with that. First, we got the wrong number off the plate because it was all bunged up. When we finally got the fiasco cleared up, it turned out to be a rental car. The agency owning it closes its airport office between major arrivals. So then we had to run them down at their office in town, and then it turns out their computer is down and the paperwork on the car is out at the airport. One of their agents is on her way there now to find out who rented it. She should be getting back to me any minute.”
The Yoshinobu Mysteries: Volume 2 Page 45