by Boris Akunin
The shoji slide open and Sen-chan glances in.
SEN-CHAN A man has come to see you. He wants to talk to you. His face is hidden, and he did not give his name …
IZUMI His face is hidden? He has come back to me! Nobo-ji, come in! Why did you go away?
SEN-CHAN No, my lady Izumi, this is a different man. And from his dress, he looks like an important samurai.
The samurai enters, wearing a straw hat pulled low in front of his face. He gestures impatiently for the pupil to leave. She bows respectfully and disappears. The samurai walks into the room and closes the shoji behind him. He responds to the geisha’s bow with a curt nod, then sits in front of her and removes his hat.
KUBOTA I hope the girl did not recognise my voice. I would not want any loose talk about my visit.
IZUMI You, Mr Kubota? What an unexpected visitor! Ah, to what do I owe this most singular honour?
She bows again, even lower.
KUBOTA Having arrived in Edo, the prince has ordered the presentation of the geishas to be held forthwith. Tomorrow he must attend at court, but on the day thereafter he summons all of you to visit him.
Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Joyful Anticipation’.
I advised him to take special notice of a geisha from the Yanagi tea house.
Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Boundless Gratitude’.
I said that she is elegant and she, alone of all of them, embodies true yugen.
Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Oh, Undeserved Praise’.
I told him that you combine nobility with delicacy of soul and heavenly beauty.
Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Pleasant Embarrassment’.
Now I am almost certain of his choice, but even so a vague disquiet troubles me. I know His Lordship. He is overly susceptible to the influence of others, credulous and passionate. The concubine who moves into our castle will win instant control of his heart and thoughts. The princess is no hindrance, she is dull of mind and year after year gives birth only to daughters. And if the concubine should bear the prince a son, nothing will shake her domination. It is appalling to consider what might happen if the prince should bring some shrewish vixen back from Edo.
Izumi performs the gesture ‘Delicate Commiseration’.
I have gathered all the finest geishas of the capital, but you alone are worthy to become the prince’s concubine.
Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Respectful Doubt’.
Are you afraid of life in foreign parts? I shall help you, and you will quickly settle in with us in Satsuma. As reliable allies, we shall be able to protect the prince from errors.
Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Oh, Your Wisdom is Boundless!’
But first we must make quite sure that no chance is left to your rivals. I have made a most thorough study of my good lord’s tastes. Remember what I tell now: the prince’s favourite dance is ‘The Babbling Brook’.
Izumi nods.
Wear something very simple, a kimono with no glamour. Lower the neckline and reveal your elbows. His Lordship has always been a great admirer of an elegant female neck and elbows that are white.
Izumi raises her arms and her sleeves slip down, revealing her elbows. Kubota nods his head in admiration.
I see you grasp advice at the first telling. I have no need to fear the outcome of this presentation.
He gets up and they exchange bows. Kubota puts on his hat and leaves. Izumi is left alone. She presses her hands to her temples and sways slightly, like a willow tree in the wind.
In the garden the Inaudible One appears, concealing himself from Izumi. He watches her.
STORYTELLER
The old man’s advice is truly priceless.
Of course, in following it, Izumi will win the prize.
But why is her lovely face so unhappy?
What thoughts have cast this shadow on her brow?
O-Bara walks into the garden, strolling under a parasol. She stops in front of the blossoming apple tree, as if in admiration of its beauty. The Inaudible One hides deeper in the shadow.
Izumi notices O-Bara and throws up her hands.
IZUMI Ah, my sweet sister. Please, come over here! I need to tell you something urgently!
O-Bara walks up into the pavilion and sits down facing Izumi. They start to talk. The words cannot be heard, but the gesturing is eloquent: Izumi speaks passionately. O-Bara listens agitatedly, every now and then bowing as a sign of gratitude.
STORYTELLER (commenting on their conversation)
Izumi does not wish to be a concubine.
She has betrayed Kubota’s trust in her.
But the honour of the house must not be sacrificed,
So let another geisha from Yanagi take the prize.
She has informed O-Bara of the cunning tricks:
About the dance, about the song and the modest kimono.
And about the open neck and whiteness of the elbows.
O-Bara tugs the neck of her kimono down excessively and pulls her sleeves almost right up to the shoulders. Izumi nods: Yes, yes, that is exactly right.
Izumi promises that she herself will perform poorly
And in her joy O-Bara is completely lost for words.
The two embrace each other firmly, overcome by emotion.
The geishas embrace elegantly, without allowing their cheeks to touch, in order not to spoil the layer of ceruse.
O-BARA Izumi, my dearest one! Oh, this is such a happy day! It is a bitter thing for me, competing with my sworn sister! Withdrawing before the battle, you have conquered me. Never could I have expected such nobility!
IZUMI No, this is not nobility. But I have realised that the lot of a concubine leaves my heart cold. You would be better suited to this destiny, and I prefer to keep my freedom.
The geishas embrace once again, and O-Bara cautiously removes a teardrop from her eye with a napkin. She bows and leaves, closing the shoji behind her. Stepping down into the garden, she stops in front of the apple tree and looks round at the pavilion.
O-BARA Thank you for passing on those hints. Now I know everything I need to be quite sure that I shall hook this golden fish. But I shall be even more certain of success if I compete alone from the Yanagi house of tea. The other rivals do not worry me at all, but you, my sweet Izumi, must now be on your way to the next world.
With a furious gesture, she breaks off the most beautiful branch of the apple tree and walks away, waving it in the air.
The Inaudible One emerges from the shadows at the other side of the stage and watches her as she leaves.
Darkness. Curtain.
The stage revolves.
ACT THREE
Scene one
O-Bara’s room. At one side a paper lantern is lit. At the centre the branch of the apple tree is displayed in a gilded porcelain vase. O-Bara is touching up her make-up. Yuba is sitting beside her, handing her mistress little jars, brushes and creams. They both start moving after a single drumbeat is heard. O-Bara is in a wonderful mood. She sings, every now and then glancing at the branch.
O-BARA (after a pause) And who is this rascal?
YUBA What do you mean, my lady?
O-BARA Who is your lover? Come on now, tell me.
YUBA Ah, what are you saying. I swear to you, no one …
O-BARA Oh, come on. I do not believe in oaths. But I can always tell from the eyes and a hundred different signs if someone has a lover, and if she does – whether he is good. I see that yours knows how to bring you joy. But I am curious about where he appeared from. Ah, you’re blushing, you fool. But what cause is there here to feel embarrassment?
YUBA There is no hiding anything from you. He … is just a man.
O-BARA Well, is he rich at least?
YUBA Not very.
O-BARA Oh, I just knew it. So it is amorous embraces that make you glow like this, not gold coins and rich gifts? You were always a fool, Yuba, and you will die a fool. But mind now, don’t you dare to
bring me home a belly! Don’t get intoxicated with the follies of the flesh. Love is a heady potion, but it is not good for much.
YUBA But without it there is no joy in life, or so they say …
O-BARA The price of that joy can be very high.
YUBA I do not mind a high price, if the wares are good.
O-BARA (turning round in surprise) My, my, what news is this? Are you going to argue with me now? Earthly love is foulness. It will smear you with mud, abandoning you in a pool of filth. You will be left with nothing. You worthless girl! Ah, how stupid you are! I think that I shall go to Satsuma without you. As the court favourite, I need a she-fox for my confidante! A lynx! A she-wolf! A serpent! But not someone like you.
YUBA (bowing down to the floor) Forgive me, I shall mend my ways! Ah, do not throw me out! I swear to be your diligent pupil!
O-BARA Very well, we shall see … I think I’ll go into the garden. I wish to pick some flowers for an ikebana.
YUBA What kind would you like? If you tell me, I can pick them.
O-BARA (stroking the apple tree branch lovingly) Oh no, I shall choose worthy companions for this branch myself. But you can tidy up in here.
She goes out.
Yuba sticks her tongue out after her. She turns rounds and gives a sign. To the sound of a drumbeat, Kinjo steals in from the other side of the room, with a sack over his shoulder.
KINJO I have cleaned out the owner, taken all her money and her pearls and silk. And now let’s pluck your dear lady O-Bara. Have you found out where she hides her precious things?
YUBA I took a sly peek yesterday. She has a hiding place in here.
She points to one leg of the table.
Kinjo lifts up the table, removes the leg to expose the secret compartment and takes out the jade dragon.
KINJO And is that all? I was told she keeps a nest egg and has a rich lover.
YUBA She must have a hiding place for her money too. But, forgive me, I could not find it.
KINJO (sticking the dragon in the sack) To hell with it! The dragon’s made of jade, it must be worth a lot. Or what would be the point of hiding it like that? But my main booty from the house of Yanagi is you! Now let us leave this cursed place behind, we have a long journey ahead of us!
They walk out onto the hanamichi.
The curtain closes behind them.
The light goes out.
The first mitiyuki
In the mitiyuki all the action takes place on the hanamichi platform. Kinjo and Yuba walk in ‘koaruki’ style, that is, imitating walking, but barely moving from the spot. He strides along with the sack over his shoulder, leading her by the hand. Yuba has lifted up the hem of her kimono and she walks, not with a woman’s gait, but a man’s, taking long strides. This symbolises her break with ‘the world of flowers and willow trees’, where all is artificiality and affected femininity. At first she glances back occasionally at the closed curtain, but then stops doing it. The wind has tousled her hairstyle.
YUBA But what if they come after us?
KINJO I couldn’t give a damn!
YUBA But what if they put us in jail? Then what?
KINJO I couldn’t give a damn!
YUBA But what if we don’t find any shelter?
KINJO I couldn’t give a damn.
YUBA You won’t abandon me, will you? Tell me!
KINJO I couldn’t … (he stops himself and gestures broadly with his arm) … Not for anything!
STORYTELLER
They hasten on, leaving these parts as far behind as possible.
The wind mischievously tosses their hair about.
Their earthly love leads them on an uncertain route,
Along the springy pathways of the Earth –
The cruel, kind, abundant, meagre Earth.
The travellers will wander it until at last
Their earthly love is consigned to the earth
And scattered by the careless wind, a mere handful of dust.
The light goes out.
In the darkness Kinjo and Yuba disappear.
Scene two
O-Bara’s room again. The geisha comes in, carrying flowers. Futoya follows her, shrouded in a cloak. O-Bara turns towards him and they both freeze on the spot.
STORYTELLER
O-Bara has summoned her accomplice once again,
To tell him all is ready, she has given the secret sign.
But the villainess is unaware that now a silent spy
Is tracking her, watching her every step.
He strikes his drum. The Inaudible One appears on the other side of the paper partition and parts the shoji slightly. O-Bara and Futoya start moving again.
O-BARA Today or tomorrow we shall see the end of her. There will be no obstacle to my success.
She sits down at the little table and starts arranging an ikebana thoughtfully.
Now everything that we desire, dear friend, will come about. There is no doubt of it.
FUTOYA Most welcome news. And now I ask you to return the token that I entrusted to your safe keeping. The sign has been given and Izumi’s final hour has come. The Sinobi execute a sentence promptly. Their messenger may appear at any moment now, and I must return the dragon instantly.
O-Bara takes her time to finish arranging the bouquet. Then she lifts the table up slightly, opens the secret compartment and rummages in it. She thinks she has tried the wrong leg and looks in each of them by turn.
STORYTELLER (in the meantime)
The Ninja hears this conversation and the background
To the situation is revealed to him.
The instigators of the murder are both here before him.
It is their fault that he must take Izumi’s life!
What satisfaction he would feel in putting to a cruel death
O-Bara and the merchant, and accept no payment for it!
But the Sinobi laws prohibit any punishment of clients
Without some weighty and compelling argument …
O-BARA Where has it got to? I remember very clearly that I put the dragon in my secret hiding place.
FUTOYA This is no time for foolish joking! Give me back the talisman!
O-BARA Oh, damnation! It has been stolen! I simply can’t believe my eyes. Look, the table leg is hollowed out. No hiding place could possibly be safer!
Futoya overturns the table.
FUTOYA I understand! I realise everything! Oh, you vile serpent! You wish to get rid of me now! You no longer have any need of me! My usefulness has been exhausted! You wish to hand me over, so that they can torture me to death! (He grabs her roughly by the shoulder.) The Jyonin will kill me for losing his dragon! And that is what you want. Give it back!
O-BARA (resisting) What is this, have you lost your mind? Let go of me, you idiot! You and I are allies! Why should I wish to have you killed? Yuba must have robbed me. I had noticed a strange new wilfulness in her behaviour …
FUTOYA (not listening to her) Give me back the dragon, you bitch! Out of my love for you I have sinned and marred my karma for ever.
She breaks free and he chases her around the room. He knocks her down, but O-Bara is strong and agile, and she breaks free again. Eventually they both fall and start rolling about on the mats, punching and scratching each other. All this takes place with no words spoken and no shouting, in pantomime.
STORYTELLER (during the pantomime)
Fate, the joker, lays out her traps for us,
Righteous and sinners both. None are protected.
It brings her great delight when a cunning fisherman
Blunders into the nets she has flung out.
The Sinobi rejoices. What’s this? The dragon has been lost?
Now he can rightfully call to account
These petty people who arranged Izumi’s death!
The Inaudible One takes paper and a brush …
The Inaudible One takes a scroll out of his belt and tears a piece off it. He takes out a portable inkwell and a little brush and wri
tes something quickly.
And writes: ‘The sentence has been carried out.
Now please return the dragon, as the Jyonin ordered.’
A single drumbeat.
The Sinobi tears open the shoji and walks into the room.
O-BARA Enough of this! Stop it! You and I are not alone! (to the Inaudible One) How can you dare to enter uninvited, you buffoon?
O-Bara and Futoya disentangle themselves. They both sit up, trying to put their clothes and hair in order. The Inaudible One, taking no notice of the geisha, holds out the piece of paper to the merchant.
FUTOYA A piece of paper! What’s this now? And are you giving it to me? (He reads it and cries out in a loud voice.) All-merciful Buddha! She is already dead!
The Invisible One takes a dragon with a snake-like blade out from behind his back and reaches out his hand for the dragon.
FUTOYA (creeping away in a squatting pose) We are joint clients in this contract. I gave the dragon to this honourable lady for safe keeping.
O-BARA He lies! This is the first that I have heard of this. I do not understand what you are saying. What contract do you mean?
The Inaudible One picks the branch of the apple tree up off the floor and shows it to the geisha.
O-BARA (realising that her denials are pointless) Yes, yes, please, I’m sorry. I was simply being cautious to begin with, in order to make sure. So she is dead? So quickly? Our commission has been carried out? Can this be possible? I want to see her body.
FUTOYA (in a loud whisper) You’ll be the death of us, you fool! Do not insult him! In cases like this the Sinobi never tell lies to their clients! Give him back the dragon! Your trick has failed! Or he will kill us both this very moment!