by I. J. Parker
Nobody made a move to call the constables. Akitada bent to Junichiro. "Are you hurt, my friend?"
The dwarf had tears in his eyes but they seemed tears of anger because he cursed Inabe at length and with some colorful names. Akitada chuckled. "I'm sorry, Junichiro. Shall we go have a bite to eat? I'm famished."
Junichiro brightened immediately. "Whatever you say, master. But what about the police?"
"They are more likely to arrest him than us. Come along."
Inabe started to shout again. "Stop them! What's the matter with you people?"
The onlookers did nothing. They grinned or shook their heats and walked away.
As they walked to the restaurant, Akitada said,,"I hope Mrs. Inabe is all right The man's a brute. I wonder what she saw in the man."
Junichiro snorted. "She wanted him in her bed. He just wanted her business, that's all. This is the price she pays to have a stud to pleasure her."
"Ahem!" Akitada felt he should curb such offensive remarks, but refrained from reproof. After all, he owed the little man a great deal and he had just been sorely provoked. Besides, it was quite true that Mrs. Inabe was plain and middle-aged, while her husband was at least ten years younger. It was also possible that some women might find the tall, well-muscled, and hairy individual irresistible, but Akitada much preferred the motherly types to remain widows.
Because it was late, the restaurant was nearly empty. Even so, Akitada chose to sit as far from other guests as possible. They settled down amicably to their fish soup, and Akitada expressed his gratitude properly. Junichiro waved it off "You've been good to me, master. What are friends for if not to help each other out of a pickle?"
Akitada received this in silence. After thinking about it for a moment, he said, "I have decided to help you out, too. And as you are truly my friend, I will trust you. You see, I was sent here on a secret assignment. You must promise never to mention what I'm about to tell you."
The dwarf's eyes grew large. "I swear it! Please, tell, master," he said eagerly. "It will make it much easier to look out for you."
Akitada smiled at this. "It's a serious and dangerous matter, Junichiro. You will have to be very careful or you could get hurt. Promise?"
Junichiro nodded. "Go on, tell," he said impatiently, ignoring his second steaming bowl of soup.
Akitada looked around to make sure nobody was in earshot, then leaned forward. "I was to look into the disappearance of one of the young ladies from the Bamboo Palace."
This made Junichiro laugh. "Never! That's funny. Somebody's been telling you fibs, master. Such a thing cannot happen. Those highborn ladies live far inside that big palace with the princess, marry servants, and an army of imperial guard soldiers all around them. They never come out except on high holidays, and then there are many people around them. Nobody's as well guarded as those ladies."
Akitada sighed. It would not be easy. He took up his bowl to fortify himself.
Junichiro watched him. "Is that all? 'That's the whole secret? That's why you were wandering around in the forest in the middle of the night? You were looking for some lady?"
Akitada set down his bowl. "No, Junichiro. And don't look at me like that. I haven't lost my mind. I was told to meet someone from the palace at the Tanoe shrine."
"And you went? That was very stupid, master. Do not go out into the forest after dark. It isn't safe." Junichiro was looking at him with a furrowed brow. "Are you feeling all right?"
Akitada snapped, "I'm feeling perfectly fine. I may have been stupid to venture there alone, but I couldn't tell anyone. In any case, the person claims she intended to come but wasn't allowed to leave."
Junichiro snorted. "You were meeting a woman? Take my word she made a fool of you ... or worse. Is she very pretty?"
Akitada muttered something under his breath and hoped the dwarf had not understood. "She is pretty, but that's not what this was about. She knew something about the missing lady's whereabouts. I had to find out what it was. Now will you let me tell you what I know?" Junichiro grinned. "All right, but if you want a girl, I can get you something letter than one of those ladies who just lie there like dead fish."
Akitada frowned. "You know nothing about fine ladies."
The dwarf giggled. "One hears stories, master. But do tell!"
"It appears the young woman wanted to visit her cousin who lives nearby. In order to leave the palace she traded places with a girl from the town. Some of the others knew about it."
"A cousin?" Junichiro showed renewed interest. "You mean she snuck out to meet a man?"
Akitada sighed. "Yes, Junichiro. And that's why you must not tell anyone about this."
"Lord Minamoto lives nearby. I didn't know he has a cousin in the palace." The dwarf cocked his head and thought about it. "Yes, I can see that. He's very handsome."
"It is an offense against the goddess. If people found out they'd blame the princess. And the emperor."
"Not their fault," Junichiro said quickly. "There are people who would say it was."
"But why can't she just go back? Nobody'd be the wiser."
"She cannot go back because someone abducted her when she tried to return."
"You're kidding. She's not with her cousin?"
"I'm quite serious. She left her cousin but never reached the Bamboo Palace."
The dwarf scratched his head. "Let me think," he muttered and finally started eating his soup.
Akitada waited, wondering what solution the little man would come up with.
When his bowl was empty, Junichiro belched. "We've got to find her and take her back," he said. "Brilliant! I would never have thought of that. How will we do it?"
The dwarf chuckled. "I'm not done. Who has her?" "I have no idea. Possibly the prowlers."
"Ah! The ones that grabbed you?"
"I don't know, but I think someone might be up to some scheme to hurt the princess."
"Oh! That's bad. Like what?"
Akitada threw up his hands in frustration. "I don't know, Junichiro. It would be easier if I did. But there is something else I've learned. Your friend Michiko was the one who traded places with the lady."
"Michiko? You're sure?"
"Yes. Michiko worked for Mrs. Akechi. Mrs. Akechi took her along when she was delivering some silks to the palace."
Junichiro flushed with anger. "I knew that Akechi woman was behind Michiko's murder." He clenched his small fists. "I'll kill the witch. I'll kill her tonight."
"No," cried Akitada. He glanced about to see if anybody had heard, but they were quite alone now. It was long past midday and there would be no more guests until night time. The waiter was at the far end of the room washing dishes. A little calmer, he said, "I've talked to Mrs. Akechi. She claims that Michiko was to follow her home later. But it may have been dark by then and she may have run into the prowlers."
Junichiro glowered. "It's still her fault. She should have looked after her better."
It was true. Akitada sighed. And Lady Tamba and the other ladies-in-waiting should have looked better after the princess. Women were liable to do the silliest things to put themselves into danger. He said as much to Junichiro, who nodded, and said, "Some men, too."
Akitada ignored this and watched his companion thinking it over. In the end, Junichiro asked, "So what shall we do, master?"
"I hardly know where to start, but we have two murdered girls and one young woman who has disappeared. I think we should find out who is behind the murders. The lady may also be dead, you, know."
Junichiro nodded.
"You knew both Michiko and Keiko, the girl from the inn, and you also know the people who live here. Will you help me find out what is going on? I will pay you for your time and work."
Junichiro brightened. "No need to pay. I'll do it,for Michiko."
"I insist," said Akitada and took five pieces of silver from his sash, handing them across. "That is for yesterday and today. Is it enough?"
The dwarf snatched up the coins wi
th a laugh and said, "I shall enjoy working for you, master."
24 The Girl Michiko
Come," said Akitada. "We've sat here long enough. Let's take a walk in the woods and make a plan." Akitada paid what they owed, plus a generous tip for having kept the waiter past his normal hours. The waiter bowed deeply and asked them to come back soon.
"As long as your soup's good and the servings generous, I'll second that," the dwarf said with a grin. They walked to the Uji bridge, saying little because they were among many other pilgrims. But eventually they turned down a path to one of the lesser shrines, and the forest closed in with its fragrance and birdsong. They were alone.
Akitada said, "Tell me about Michiko."
Junichiro looked melancholy and did not answer right away. "She was very good to me, master," he said eventually. "I find it hard to talk about her."
"I know and I'm sorry. But if we want to discover who killed her and why, you must speak. I.et me ask you some questions."
Junichiro nodded.
"After the police pulled her from the water, you said that Michiko had died because she had started working as a prostitute. So far, no one else has suggested this. Are you certain?"
The dwarf nodded. "She told me. I wasn't to talk about it. She hadn't been doing it long and she hated it, but she needed the money. She got a letter from home that said her mother was very sick and to come home. She wanted to take some money with her to pay for medicines."
Akitada raised his brows at that. "A letter? Could she read?"
"No. She took the letter to the school master and paid him something to read it to her and to write an answer."
"What was tine answer?"
"I don't know, but Michiko said she had to earn a lot of money quickly to save her mother's life. So she started working at the Peach Bower after she finished at Mrs. Akeclni's. That's why I thought some mam she'd been with had killed her."
"Well," said Akitada, "I talked to the coroner. She wasn't raped. She was beaten and then had her throat slashed."
Junichiro gasped. "She was beaten?"
"Yes. Whoever heat her didn't bother to take her clothes off. I'm sorry. You had to know. My point is that this doesn't strike me as something a brothel custoiner would do."
"Some of those bastards are mean." He shook his head. "It doesn't make sense. Michiko was gentle and . . . and loving. Why would someone do this to her?"
Akitada's understanding of the odd relationship between Junichiro and this girl suddenly grew a little clearer. The dwarf was a young man, whatever his sire." He placed a hand on his shoukler and squeezed it lightly. "I'm very sorry, Junichiro."
The dwarf blushed and shot him a glance. "I loved Michiko," he said simply. "I shall never love anyone like that again. And if I find who did this to her, I'll kill him."
Akitada believed him. "The picture you drew of her, was that the way she looked when she was working at the brothel"?
Junichiro nodded. "It wasn't for the pretty clothes that she did it. Maybe she thought it was all she was good for. The gods know I was no use to her." He looked up at Akitada. "Michiko was beautiful. She was much too good for me. Look at me! I'm a dwarf and as ugly as a goblin. I frighten children, but she was kind to me because she felt sorry for me when I told her how much I loved her. She had great kindness. No other woman in her right mind would make love to someone like me."
Akitada had taken him for a goblin the first time he had laid eyes on him. He thought of the women he had loved and who had loved him. All had been beautiful. And now he was middle-aged with the first gray strands in his hair and had won a young beauty of only twenty years. What could he possibly know about someone like Junichiro? Deeply ashamed, he squeezed Junichiro's shoulder again. "There is more to love than wanting beauty," he said helplessly.
Junichiro snorted his derision of Akitada's comforting words. "Never mind. Let's get busy. I can find out who she was with at the brothel. She could have gone straight to work there after the palace. What about you?"
"I want to know more about those prowlers. If they expected the lady and were lying in wait for her, Michiko may have run into them on her way back from the palace."
"You're only thinking of your lady," Junichiro said accusingly. "The prowlers never attacked women before. They rob travelers."
Akitada thought about it. The dwarf had a point. On the other hand, in his experience such villains were very prone to rape when a chance offered. He said as much and asked, "Any idea who the prowlers are working for?"
Junichiro pursed his lips. "I've been wondering about that for a long time now. They're not local. I've snooped around for information about them, but nobody knows what's going on. Most people think the prowlers work for themselves."
"But surely they frequent the local brothels and eating places?"
"Maybe, but not often or someone would know something."
"Where do they live?"
"Elsewhere. Oyodo maybe or maybe someplace in the forest."
"Somebody must know. How long have they been working around here?"
"About a year. Of and on. That's what makes me think they're outsiders and just come here to fleece the visitors when their boss needs some money."
Akitada shook his head in frustration. "Perhaps the police will find out something from the four bodies they've collected. I'll ask Lieutenant Matsuura."
"Don't trust him, master!" "Why do you say that?" "Just don't trust him. He smiles too much."
"He's just friendly. By the way, he knows who I am. He said we met when he was with the police in the capital."
Junichiro looked surprised. "In the capital? So you know him well?"
"No, I don't know him at all, but it's possible that he's seen me there. It creates a problem."
The dwarf stopped. "Are you going to tell me who you are or will I have to find out for myself?"
Akitada laughed. "Oh, sorry. Yes, of course. My name is Sugawara. At the moment I serve His Majesty as governor of Mikawa, but my home is in the capital. I used to work in the Ministry of Justice."
The dwarf's eyes grew round. "What? You're a governor? Are you sure? You don't look or act like one." Akitada looked down at his black robe, by now creased and rather dirty, and smiled. "Thank you. I think. These aren't my regular clothes."
"Why are you pretending to be a tax collector?" "Best I could do on short notice. I don't think people would have talked to me if I had come here as a governor."
Junichiro grinned. "Maybe. You'd be surprised what poor people will do for someone like you. Begging your pardon, your Excellency." He made Akitada an elaborate bow.
"Don't do that. It isn't useful at present Perhaps you are right, but not everybody is poor here. There is Lord Minamoto, for example. I do know him. We met many years ago. And what about the high constable?" "Lord Sukemichi? You talked to him?"
"No, but perhaps I should. Lieutenant Matsuura doesn't like him. He says he's not doing his duty controlling the roads."
"I saw that lieutenant bowing so low to the high constable that his nose touched the ground."
"Really?"
Junichiro kicked a stone on the path. "Might as well have. Don't trust him."
"What about Sukemichi?" "Him either."
You recall the merchant at my inn? Murata?" Junichiro brightened. "There's another! He's a mystery. He comes here regularly on some kind of business. And when that's done, he visits the Peach Bower, but that's no mystery. The Peach Bower has the best girls."
"Would Michiko have known him?" Akitada was careful to phrase his question so as not to add to Junichiro's pain.
"Yes. She didn't like him."
"Oh? He might have been angered by a rejection." "I doubt it. I told you, Michiko was kind. She'd never set out to make a man feel small. But she stayed out of his way."
"Did she say what the others talked about?" "No. I can find out, if you like."
"Yes. And I'd also like to find out what he's up to when he isn't visiting brothels."
/> "I'll do my best, master."
Akitada peered up at the sky between the branches of towering pines and cryptomeria trees. "It's getting late. We'd better get back and start to work." He paused to look down at the little man beside him; Junichiro looked like a strange child but there was nothing childlike about him except his size. He had great courage, intelligence, and a gentle heart. "Be careful, Junichiro," he said. "Never forget that we're dealing with killers and don't know who they are."
"I know, master. I'm worried about you. If I'm to work for you, I can't be following you everywhere like last night."
Akitada tousled the dwarf's hair, hoping he would not take it as an insult because of his small stature. "Thank you, Junichiro. I think I've learned my lesson.
Shall we meet for a late meal, say a couple of hours after sunset? Where should we eat this time?"
"Come to my place, master. I caught a fine carp last night. It will be delicious."
Akitada had some doubts about Junichiro's cooking skills or indeed his inadequate kitchen facilities, but he agreed.
25 The Monk
After parting from,Junichiro, Akitada went to get more information about the prowlers from Lieutenant Matsuura.
"Any news of the prowlers?" he asked, walking into the lieutenant's office.
"It's only been some hours, sir. No, nothing. The men found a number of sheds in the forest, but none had bodies or contraband in them."
It was disappointing. "Ah. We must hope for the best, then."
The lieutenant's broad smile reminded hirn of Junichiro's warning. He found it difficult to ask his questions casually.
"Lieutenant, do you remember the year we had all those fires in the capital?"
"Of course, I do, sir. Terrible time. The Superintendant was beside himself. You were very helpful to him, as I recall."
"Yes, I happened to suggest that the beggars' guild might be involved."