by I. J. Parker
"Thank you, Kano," the lieutenant told the constable. "Close the door behind you."
Mystified, Akitada looked around. "What's this all about, Iieutenant?" he asked.
To his surprise, the lieutenant smiled broadly at him and saluted. `Welcome to Ise, Lord Sugawara. Beg your pardon, your Excellency! I heard you were made governor of' Miwaka. My felicitations! I recognized you down at the river. It's a pleasure and a great honor to see you again."
4 The Ise Virgin
Akitada's jaw dropped. "I beg your pardon. Have we met?"
"We have indeed," said the lieutenant gleefully. "In the capital. I expect you don't remember me. I was a mere sergeant then. Superintendant Kobe always spoke with admiration about you, and I soon learned to watch out for you."
Akitada silently cursed his bad luck of running into the one person who could not only identify him, but who had apparently also made a study of his activities in the capital. He forced a smile and said, "Well, it's very good to see you also. You have done very well for yourself, Lieutenant."
"Thank you, sir. I've learned from the best."
That was true enough. Kobe was an excellent police officer. Cautiously, Akitada asked, "But did you have something specific in mind when you sent for me just now?"
Matsuura flushed. "I do apologize. It could have waited until morning, but I was so startled and pleased to see you that I couldn't wait to speak to you." He raised a hand, "Oh, I saw that you were traveling incognito. Believe me, your secret is safe with me." He flashed a smile at Akitada and rubbed his hands. "To think that you are actually here, and on the same day that we find a body!"
Akitada's heart sank. Apparently, he was expected to help solve the girl's murder. "Umm," he started, "I'm here very privately. Only for a day or so to pay my respect to the goddess. A matter of a vow, you see. I'd really appreciate it if you could keep my secret to yourself until after I'm gone."
Lieutenant Matsuura was quick to apologize again and swore to respect Akitada's request. But he looked disappointed, and Akitada relented. "It has been more than twenty years since I was here last," lie said. "I was shocked to sec how much the place has changed. Perhaps you could tell me a little about the area. I take it that you are in charge of keeping the peace in Uji-tachi, but what about the shrine areas and the access roads? I heard in Oyodo that you have trouble with highway robbers here."
The lieutenant admitted that robbers had been known to lie in wait for unwary pilgrims. "But it's not really my concern," he explained. "The high constable's soldiers are supposed to keep the roads and harbors safe. Though it has to he said his lordship is an avid hunter, and his men do pretty much what they want."
"I see. I suppose the governor keeps all eye on things'"
"It's the high constable who's supposed to keep his eye on things. He comes here sometimes and just arrived again. It' there are complaints, he brings his soldiers. I'm afraid a town like Uji-taclii cannot absorb a lot of randy soldiers on top of our visitors. And the soldiers don't pay. So we don't complain."
"Hmm. You have your hands full, them. Who looks after the shrines?"
""The chief priest. He is a very fine nobleman. I'm thankful to say that the lawlessness hasn't exlended to our august shrines or the imperial virgin.
"I'm very glad to hear it. Does the virgin still occupy her own palace? The Bamboo Palace, I think it was called?"
"Yes. They call it also the Rigu-in now, sir. And it's quite magnificent. She has her own staff, and imperial guards serve there for her protection."
"You mean guards from the Imperial Palace in the capital?"
"Yes. They serve on a rotation system six months at a time. His Majesty is very concerned about his little sister." He chuckled, then flushed. "Sorry, Sir. I meant no offense. We're very proud to have such a beautiful young princess serve as our high priestess. And the young officers are very welcome iin town."
"Yes, indeed," said Akitada and wondered if youth and beauty were guaranteed to please the gods. "Since I seem to be somewhat lost here, I'd be grateful if you explained where everything is. I hope to visit as many shrines as possible in the shortest time." Since this sounded less than devout, he added, "Duty calls me back to my province, you see."
The lieutenant understood perfectly and stepped up to a map hanging against the wall. Akitada saw that it was a schematic painting of the area with all the shrines, rivers, roads, bridges, and significant places represented against a background of green mountains and forests. The lieutenant pointed and explained.
"Here and here are the two most important shrines. The one at Watarai is Naiku, the shrine of the sun goddess; the Geku shrine of the goddess of farming and silk making is four miles down the road that passes through Uji-tachi. The Isuzu River runs along the road toward the coast, and here is the Bamboo Palace where the princess resides. You see it is close to the shore at Itsukinomiya where she performs her sacred ablutions."
"Ah" said Akitada, peering and measuring distances and roads with his eyes. "That is very helpful. And where is the chief priest's residence? I would like to pay my respects while I'm here."
The lieutenant pointed to a smaller residence between the shrines. "It all looks pretty empty on this map, but there are all sorts of hunting lodges on the sides of the mountains. Both the chief constable and one of the imperial princes spend time there, and of course many other noble persons."
"Yes, hmn. I hope to see more of your beautiful area tomorrow. Now I must let you get back to your duties."
The lieutenant looked disappointed. "I understand that you don't wish to be bothered while you are here, sir, but I'd be very grateful if you should happen to have any ideas about this murder. It's very troubling because we've lost two other young women recently. I'd hoped This one was just another suicide, but if someone is killing The young women, it could be a big problem."
Akitada hesitated. "He had dealt with a series of murders in Omi province not too long ago and knew that people panicked and rumors grew disproportionately to the crimes. But he could not become involved. He said quite firmly, "I have every confidence that you will get to the bottom of this crime very quickly. Should I hear anything of interest, I'll report it to you, but you must remember that I'm just an ordinary visitor by the name of Yoshimine."
The lieutenant saluted. "I won't breathe a word, sir."
==
Akitada returned to the River Palace where the innkeeper dozed behind the counter, while his wile sat in the backroom over some paperwork by light of an oil lamp. This surprised him a little since keeping accounts was usually man's work. He cleared his throat. His host awoke, blinked and belched, then recognized him.
"Oh, is it you, Mr. Yoshimine' Some packages have been delivered and taken to your room. You'll be pleased with your purchases. Mrs. Akechi only deals in the best silks. Well above a poor innkeeper's earnings,
I'm afraid." He grinned unpleasantly. "I gave the boy ten coppers for his trouble," he added and looked at Akitada expectantly.
Akitada handed over the ten coppers, doubting very much that the boy had received anything. Having been provided with an oil lamp, he walked down the dark corridor to his room.
His bedding had been spread out. It was of dubious cleanliness and the quilts were thin and worn. He checked the packages from the silk shop, making sure that his purchases were safe. Then he removed a folded sheet of paper from inside a seam of his robe. This he unfolded and reread by the flickering light of the lamp.
It was the letter from His Majesty's secretary. While any communication from a source this close to the emperor constituted a direct order of the highest importance-and he had obeyed immediately-he still saw little that should have caused such haste. Secretary Tachibana had written, "Upon receipt of this you will make all haste to Ise, where you will contact the chief priest Nakatomi. You are to ascertain the wellbeing of Her Imperial Highness, Princess Takahime and report by special messenger to me. You are to undertake this visit without revealing your true i
dentity or position to anyone but Nakatomi and you will destroy this letter after reading it."
That was all. There were the usual crimson seals of the imperial secretariat. He had already disobeyed in the matter of destroying the letter. Experiences in the past had taught him to distrust those above him in the government and he had kept the document in case he was about to walk into some trouble. In the matter of concealing who he was, fate had interfered in the person of Lieutenant Matsuura. But surely his errand was ordinary enough. He would ask to speak to Her Highness and then report that all was well. If it was not, he would plan accordingly.
He refolded the letter and hid it away again. Then he undressed, and lay down, using the robe with the letter as a pillow.
As soon as he relaxed, doubts began to trouble him. At first glance, all he was expected to do was to verify that Princess Takahime was alive and well. So far, he had heard or observed nothing that would suggest otherwise. But why send him on such an errand unless there was something wrong. Anything affecting the Ise Virgin was of national importance because an offense against her would be counted as an offense against the goddess, and Amaterasu held the fate of the imperial succession in her divine hands, while the goddess of farming and silk making controlled the livelihood of the nation.
He sighed. Nothing to be done tonight. In the morning lie would visit the chief priest. With any luck, he would confirn that all was well.
And then home to his family. To Yukiko.
He smiled, closed his eyes, and slept.
5 Pirates
It was a beautiful autumn morning in Mikawa, still pleasantly cool, though later the heat would return. But for the moment all seemed right with the world. Lile was peaceful, food and wine were plentiful, and Hanae and Yuki seemed happy here.
In spite of all this, Tora was depressed. His world had changed. Nothing was the same any more. He had looked forward to this assignrnent. His masters previous appointments as governor to Echigo and Kyushu had proved to he exciting for "Tora. Both times, they had faced danger together, fought powerful foes, and emerged successful. Tora had served Lord Sugawara Akitada now for sixteen years, and a strong bond had developed between them, a bond that meant they would die for each other if necessary. It had made Tora proud to serve such a man.
Maybe age had caught up with both of them. The master had remarried, doting on his pretty young wife and enjoying the easy life of an appointment that was considered highly desirable because nothing ever happened here and it was not far from the capital. And Tora, also a married man with a young son, had become restless, his usual good nature marred by bouts of pain that made his head feel as if it was about to burst. Sometimes it got so bad, he felt dizzy. He had not told anyone though he suspected that Hanae knew.
He should have been able to relax and take life easy like his master, but he missed both the danger and the challenge of the other two assignments. Even in the capital more had happened. But the worst of it was that now, as if to prove that he, Tora, had become useless, the master had gone off to Ise without taking him along. It rankled.
Having finished his morning drill with the provincial guard-he was once again Lieutenant Sashima and wore a military tunic and half armor-he walked to the main building.
The Mikawa tribunal, unlike the facilities in Echigo and Chikuzen, was a neat compound consisting of a main building with reception rooms and offices, bar racks for the soldiers, stables for horses, kitchens and outbuildings. The governor's residence adjoined the tribunal compound and was equally commodious and surrounded by a pleasant garden. Prior governors had spared no funds to make themselves comfortable here.
But at the moment, Tora was headed for the governor's office in the tribunal hall. There he found Saburo watching over a number of clerks doing assorted clerical work that Tora took no interest in.
"Morning, brother," he greeted Saburo, who gave him a sharp look and answered, "Good morning, Lieutenant. What call I do for you?"
Tora jerked his head toward the door. "If you call spare a minute?"
They went out onto the wide veranda that looked across the forecourt of the tribunal.
"What's the matter?" Saburo asked. "And could you please address me as Secretary Kuruda in front of the staff" It encourages proper discipline."
"Sorry. Forgot. I've been thinking." Saburo snorted. "Really?"
"Something wasn't right about the way the master went off. Without telling us anything. And he didn't take me along."
"He didn't take me either. But he's entitled to visit the shrines by himself if he wants to."
"There was that messenger. What was that all about?"
"Some instructions from the capital. "they're common in a governor's office. Very dull stuff. I've been wading through such communications for the past four years of our predecessor's tenure."
Tora looked astonished. "Why?"
"To keep myself informed on how we are to conduct business. You'd do well to do some reading, yourSell'."
Tora glowered. "Don't tell me what to do."
Reading was not his strong suit. He had been embarrassed repeatedly to find his own son correcting him. On their master's suggestion, Yuki was taking lessons with the Sugawara children. "I am to keep an eye on the populace. You can't do that by staying inside reading dusty papers."
A short silence fell.
Tora returned to his grievance. "It's not like the master to run off to visit a shrine without any warning. Her ladyship is puzzled, too. Something's going on. I don't like it. He may run into danger. He should have taken me along."
"Settle down. He's only been gone a little more than a day. He'll be back in another two."
Tora fidgeted. "Maybe so. I wish there was something interesting going on here. This is the quietest place I've ever seen. Her ladyship is bored, too."
Saburo frowned. "She's very young. She'll be happier when she has child."
Tora nodded. "It's been more than a year. We'd all been hoping they'd have another boy or girl by now. It's strange. Hanae says there's nothing wrong with her."
Saburo flushed. "This conversation is very improper, Tora."
Tora snorted. "I forgot you're not a married man. In any case, it will probably happen soon. His first lady also went for years without bearing a child. But I do wish there were some action around here."
"Be thankful for peace and order. If you really have nothing better to do, you can go talk to the police chief.
I hear a merchant showed up there yesterday complaining about pirates."
Tora cheered up. "Pirates? And you just mention the matter casually? Don't you know the master's been worried about pirate activity?"
"Well, then go and find out. Frankly, the pirates in Mikawa have little in common with the ones on the Inland Sea. They're mostly fishermen in small boats harassing other small boats."
"There are robbers on highways and robbers on the water. It's a crime and harms commerce. Anyway, if anyone asks, I'm in the city."
==
Komachi, like Hakata, was on the coast. But there similarities ended. Komachi was on Ise Bay and a much smaller town. Its harbor served coastal traffic. All the ships were small and few were truly ocean-going vessels. The larger ones served to carry passengers across the bay or transported merchandise or tax goods because shipment by water, though threatened by weather and pirates, was still cheaper and faster than highway transport.
The town was prosperous and tidy like its provincial headquarters, and the police station was within easy walking distance from the tribunal. Tora had already made the acquaintance of the police officer assigned to Mikawa. Lieutenant Mori was middle-aged, verging on corpulence, and stiffly efficient. He did not seem overly friendly, perhaps because he feared interference from the new governor and his staff.
Tora was shown into the lieutenant's office promptly by all eager young constable. Mori was bent over some papers at his desk, but he got to his feet and made Tora a small bow. They were both lieutenants, and both cousidere
d their position the more important one, so a certain formality had existed between them from the start.
"Good morning, Mori," said Tora, returning the small bow. "I heard something about pirates. I suppose the information got lost before it got to me."
Mori said stiffly, "I reported to his exccllency's secretary."
"Ah. That explains the confusion. I'm actually the one in charge of criminal activities in the province." Mori cleared ]its throat. "Really' I thought that was the function of the police."
Tora debated for a moment whedter to inform the man once and for all that there was a new administration and things would be run diflerently in the future. He decided against it. It was not a good idea to make all enemy of-this man. He might need him. So he merely said, "His Excellency takes a great interest in crime and likes to be informed at all times. Such inlormation had best come through me, because Secretary Kuruda deals only with administrative and tax issues. Now what is this about a merchant filing a complaint'"
"I see. Have a seat," Mori said somewhat ungraciously, "while I look for the report."
Tora sat down and watched as Mori shuffled througlt a stack of docutments. "You seem to be busy," he commented somewhat enviously.
Mori muttered, "Nothing out of the ordinary. Here it is." He held up a sheaf of papers. "Mind you, reports of- piracy are as common as pebbles on the shore. You call read it for yourself-." He handed the papers over.
Tora started reading with a frown. Whoever had taken down the notes used very small characters. He caught the gist but there were several passages that confused hm because he could hot make out the meaning of the characters.
Apparently, a rice merchant from ()wari had come into the police station to announce that one of his boats had been boarded by pirates who had robbed him of money and goods to the tune of one thousand pieces of gold. Tora looked up. "He claims he lost one thousand pieces of gold? He's a liar. There's not that much gold in the whole country. I expect you sent him on his way."