by David Peace
This is Missus Take Yamazaki, said Hattori, pulling out one of the empty chairs from under the table. Have a seat, please, detective, listen to what she has to say.
Harry Sweeney sat down in the chair, nodding at the woman across the table, looking at the woman across the table, her worn-out clothes and her sun-dried skin.
Now there’s nothing to worry about, Take-san, said Hattori, sitting down beside Harry Sweeney, smiling across the table at Take Yamazaki. This foreigner is a detective, he works for GHQ. He’s just come to hear what you told us, that’s all.
I see, said the woman, nodding. I understand.
That’s good, said Hattori, leaning forward in his chair, resting his hands on the file on the table, still smiling at Take Yamazaki. So you just tell him exactly what you told us.
Well, I saw President Shimoyama, didn’t I…
Sorry, said Hattori, stopping the woman, smiling at the woman. From the beginning, please, Take-san.
Okay then, began the woman again. That evening, the fifth, sometime after six o’clock it was, maybe even more like half six, I was coming along the Jōban line tracks. See, I’d been to visit my younger sister and her husband. She lives up Ayase way, and I’m in Gotanno Minami-chō, so quickest way home for me is along the railroad tracks. Bit dangerous, I know; I shouldn’t, but it’s a shortcut. Lot of us use it, see. So I was walking along the tracks, the eastbound tracks, the ones going to Ayase, that way, because that’s a bit safer, see. On the other side, the westbound side, ones heading to Senju, they can come up behind you, can’t they? So I’m heading down the tracks, toward where there’s a bridge, that way, looking up that way, yeah, because you still have to keep your eyes open, case a train come, yeah. So, anyway, I’m looking that way and I see this man, this gentleman, up toward the embankment of the Tōbu line, like around where the bridge is? And he’s at the foot of the embankment, right by the tracks, near where there’s that steel pillar. And I think that’s dangerous, that is, strange and all. What the heck’s he doing there? Bit late to be working in the fields, specially dressed like that. I mean, he’s got on a gray suit, like a businessman wears. But I suppose I must’ve been staring, wondering what he’s doing there, because then he sees me, doesn’t he, sees me staring at him, watching him, and our eyes meet, don’t they? Then quick as you like, he looks away and heads off down the banking, off the tracks and into the field there. Must’ve made him nervous, me staring at him, me watching him. But as I’m coming off the tracks myself, I see him again, don’t I? Crouched down in the field, he was, pulling up weeds.
These weeds, said Detective Hattori, taking an envelope from inside his jacket, opening the envelope over the file on the table, gently shaking out its contents, slowly dropping the contents on top of the file, one by one: five hard, pale-green, oval-shaped seeds. We call them juzudama.
Harry Sweeney leaned forward in his seat, looked down at the top of the file, stared down at the five hard, pale-green, oval-shaped seeds, and said, Job’s tears.
Evidence in any language, said Detective Hattori. That’s what I call it, detective. Evidence…
Harry Sweeney looked up from the five hard, pale-green, oval-shaped seeds, Harry Sweeney turned to Hattori, and asked, Where did you find it, detective?
In the right-hand pocket of the pants of the suit which President Shimoyama was wearing on the night that train hit him, said Hattori. That’s where we found it, detective.
There was a knock, the door opened, and Harry Sweeney glanced up over his shoulder to see Chief Inspector Kanehara standing in the doorway. Harry Sweeney started to get to his feet, but Chief Inspector Kanehara stopped him, saying, Please, Harry, don’t get up.
Good timing, Chief, said Detective Hattori, gesturing at the five seeds. I was just showing Detective Sweeney here the evidence, sharing it with him, like you said, sir.
Chief Inspector Kanehara nodded, glanced at the seeds on the file, then looked at Harry Sweeney and said, So what do you think, Harry? Detective to detective?
Excuse me, Chief, said Hattori. But we hadn’t quite finished. I haven’t told him what me and Sudō-kun found.
Chief Inspector Kanehara nodded again: I see. Well, go on then, Detective Hattori. This is important, Harry.
Yes, said Hattori, scooping the five seeds back inside the envelope, putting the envelope back inside his jacket, then opening the file on the table and taking out a photograph, saying, See, when me and Detective Sudō re-interviewed Missus Yamazaki here – this is up at her house, right – we asked her to show us exactly the place, the exact spot where she saw President Shimoyama pulling the heads off the weeds. So she takes us to the place, shows us the exact spot, and this is what we found there, saw with our very own eyes –
Harry Sweeney leaned over the photograph, the photograph Detective Hattori was tapping with his finger, looked down at the photograph of a patch of wild barley, a clump of Job’s tears, stared down at their stems, their decapitated stems, their heads all gone.
Evidence, said Detective Hattori again. As I’m sure you agree, detective. That’s what’s called evidence.
Harry Sweeney sat back in his chair, glanced across the table at the woman sitting with her head bowed, looking down at her hands, then Harry Sweeney turned to Chief Inspector Kanehara: May I ask this lady a couple of questions, sir?
Chief Inspector Kanehara nodded, smiled, and said, By all means, Harry, please do. That’s why you’re here.
Thank you, sir, said Harry Sweeney, taking out his notebook and pencil, turning back to the woman, and saying, Now, as Detective Hattori said, there’s nothing to worry about, Missus Yamazaki. Just a couple of questions, okay?
Yes, said the woman, nodding. Please.
Harry Sweeney nodded, smiled, and said, Now this man you saw, you said he was wearing a suit?
Yes, said the woman again. It was a gray suit.
What about his hat? What color was that?
Erm, said the woman, looking up at Detective Hattori, then over at Chief Inspector Kanehara, and shaking her head. Erm, I didn’t see no hat. I don’t think he was wearing a hat.
Harry Sweeney nodded again, smiled again, and said, That’s okay. Like I say, there’s nothing to worry about.
I see, said the woman, nodding.
Okay, what about his shirt?
I don’t remember, she said, shaking her head again.
Okay, that’s fine. How about anything else? Do you remember anything else he was wearing?
Yes, said the woman, looking up again at Detective Hattori, over again at Chief Inspector Kanehara and nodding. His shoes. He was wearing these chocolate-colored shoes. Remember them because they looked expensive, they did; not like the sort of shoes you go wearing in the fields, you know?
Harry Sweeney smiled and said, What about his build, his age, his face? You got a good look at him, right?
Yes, said the woman again. I did.
Go on then, can you describe him for me, please?
Well, he looked older than me, about forty-six or forty-seven, I guess. And he was quite tall, taller than average, but I couldn’t tell you how tall, I’m sorry.
That’s fine. Go on…
He was pale, quite white, you know, the skin of his face. Not like he worked outdoors, you know. Kind of round, chubby face, but with a tall nose, you know, prominent.
You think he could have been foreign? Like me?
No, no, she laughed. I don’t mean like that. He was Japanese, definitely Japanese, he was. I know that.
How about his eyes? You said your eyes met?
Black, obviously. Sort of sad.
Was he wearing glasses?
That’s the only thing, she said, looking again at Hattori, over again at Kanehara. Reason I nearly never said nothing. Because I don’t remember he was wearing glasses, and when I saw his picture in the paper like,
in all the papers, he’s always wearing glasses, isn’t he? But my husband, he said I better say, go to the police box and say what I’d seen. So I went and I said.
And we’re very glad you did, Take-san, said Hattori. Very glad indeed, aren’t we, Detective Sweeney?
Harry Sweeney nodded, still looking at Missus Yamazaki, still smiling at Missus Yamazaki as he said, Indeed, we are, Missus Yamazaki. Just one last question?
Yes, asked the woman. Please?
After you saw him pulling up the weeds, after you passed him, did you turn around, see what he was doing?
Yes, said the woman. I had a glance, yeah.
And so what was he doing then?
Well, he was just walking off, wasn’t he? Like to the east a bit, sort of absent-minded like, you know?
You didn’t see where he went?
No, she said. I lost sight of him. Never saw him again. Not till I saw his face in the paper, that is. Fright of my life I got, I tell you, sir. Fright of my life.
Harry Sweeney felt a hand on his shoulder, heard Chief Inspector Kanehara whisper in his ear, Harry, I’ve got to go see Chief Kita. But there’s something else. Can we step outside?
Harry Sweeney nodded. He looked across the table, over the photograph on the top of the open file, and smiled and said, Thank you, Missus Yamazaki. You’ve been most helpful.
You’re welcome, said the woman.
Harry Sweeney turned to Hattori, smiled again, and said again, Thank you, too, detective.
Don’t mention it, said Detective Hattori. We’re all just doing our jobs, detective.
I can see that, said Harry Sweeney, getting up from his chair, pushing it back under the table, then he turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
So what do you think, Harry, asked Chief Inspector Kanehara again. Detective to detective?
Harry Sweeney nodded and said, The evidence of the weeds would seem to corroborate the lady’s statement, sir.
The timing also fits with the statements we’ve got from the Suehiro Ryokan, said Chief Inspector Kanehara. And all the other statements we’ve got from the vicinity, too, all the other sightings. They all seem to match, Harry. It all fits.
Just not with the autopsy, sir.
Harry, Harry, said Chief Inspector Kanehara. You know as well as I do, these scientists, they’re not policemen, let alone detectives. They know their science, but never the scene, not how it is, not like we do, Harry. You know that, know how they are. Especially these Tōdai guys, all books and privilege.
Harry Sweeney nodded again: You might be right, sir. But what you going to do about the Public Prosecutor then? Last I heard, he was still agreeing with those Tōdai guys and their findings, agreeing it was murder, not suicide.
Leave that to me, Harry, said Chief Inspector Kanehara. I’m going to go see the Chief now, ask him to bring in Doctor Nakadate – you remember him, Harry?
Yeah, I remember him.
Good man, solid. He’s worked many cases for us, and not just in the library or the laboratory, you know. In the field and at the scene, listening to us, working with us. He’ll clear all this up for us, Harry, you’ll see. He’ll sort things out.
Harry Sweeney shook his head, sighed, and then said, You mean sort it out as a suicide, sir, yeah?
I’m sorry, Harry, said Chief Inspector Kanehara, nodding. It’s not what you want to hear, I know that.
Harry Sweeney shook his head again: I just want to know what happened, sir. That’s all, sir.
I know, Harry, I know. I meant to say, not what GHQ want to hear. They want to hear we’re arresting members of the union, members of the Communist Party, I know that, Harry.
Harry Sweeney sighed again: I don’t know about all of GHQ, sir. But General Willoughby in particular, yes, sir.
Look, Harry, said Chief Inspector Kanehara. You know me and you know the Japanese police. There’s not a man among us has any love for the Reds, you know that, Harry.
Harry Sweeney nodded: I know that, sir.
But if the evidence ain’t there, Harry, it ain’t there. I wish it was, I really do. Believe me, Harry, believe me. Nothing I’d like more than to be hauling in a bunch of union hotheads, charging some Commie bastards for this…
Harry Sweeney nodded again: I know that, sir.
Particularly now, Harry…
Harry Sweeney looked at Chief Inspector Kanehara, saw him lean in closer, heard him lower his voice as he said, Like I said in there, Harry, there’s something else, and not something you want to be talking about, specially not on the day of the man’s funeral, Harry…
Harry Sweeney waited for Chief Inspector Kanehara to lean in closer still, waited for him to whisper in his ear, then Harry Sweeney stepped back from Chief Inspector Kanehara, stared at Chief Inspector Kanehara, and then Harry Sweeney shook his head and said –
* * *
—
Fuck, said Chief Evans, looking out of the window of his office, staring up at the sky, black and thick, shaking his head again and again. Fuck, fuck, fuck, Harry. Jesus. Fuck, Harry. Fuck.
Yep, Chief, said Harry Sweeney, closing his notebook, putting it back inside his jacket. That’s what I said, sir.
No way it’s just some bullshit rumor then?
Least not the way Chief Inspector Kanehara laid it out, no, sir, said Harry Sweeney. Like I say, he laid it all out pretty good, Chief. The money problems, the sleeping pills, the pressures of the job, and then, if all that ain’t enough…
A goddamn fucking woman, sighed Chief Evans.
Cherchez la femme, as the French say.
This fucking funny to you, is it, Harry, said Chief Evans, turning away from the window, walking over toward Harry Sweeney. You see some fucking cause for levity here, do you? Something I’m fucking missing here?
No, sir, not at all, sir, said Harry Sweeney, his hands up, his hands out. Just saying what the press will say, sir.
You don’t need to be worrying what the fucking press will say, hissed Chief Evans, standing over Harry Sweeney, looking down at Harry Sweeney. You need to be worrying what the goddamn General will say. You’re shitting strawberries and cream, you think he’s gonna buy this crap.
Harry Sweeney shrugged, looked up at Chief Evans, and said, Be honest with you, Chief, all due respect, I could care less what the General says, sir.
That right, is it, said Chief Evans, shaking his head, staring back down at Harry Sweeney. Well, you should goddamn fucking care. You make an enemy of that man, you’ll regret it the rest of your life, I swear. But you get him in your corner, keep him on side, then you’re farting through silk.
Still stinks, sir. Silk or no silk.
Fuck is wrong with you, said the Chief, turning away, walking back to his desk. This ain’t the time to be playing the wise guy, Harry. It ain’t the smart play, not today.
I’m sorry, Chief, said Harry Sweeney, rubbing his eyes, rubbing his cheeks. I ain’t trying to play the wise guy, not with you, sir. But what can I do, can we do? It is what it is, Chief, we can’t change what it is.
I know, said Chief Evans, sitting back down at his desk, rubbing his own eyes, squeezing the bridge of his nose. I know. But you know how it is, too, Harry, this place – this country, this Occupation – it’s snakes and ladders, is what it is, you know that, Harry. Goddamn snakes and fucking ladders.
Harry Sweeney nodded, smiled, and said, Been a while since I seen any ladders, Chief, I know that.
Exactly, said the Chief, looking across his desk at Harry Sweeney, staring across his desk at Harry Sweeney. That’s my point: you play this smart, you play it right, Harry, you sort it out, you make it right – somehow, just any-fucking-how – be a big fucking ladder waiting for you, Harry, I know that. Biggest one you ever fucking saw.
But a ladder to where, sir?
Any
where you want, Harry. Anywhere you want.
* * *
—
On the dark side of the street, in the shadows from the park, Harry Sweeney opened the car door and climbed in the back.
Sorry to have had to call you at your office like that, Harry-san, said Akira Senju as the car set off, set off fast.
Harry Sweeney shook his head: It was good timing.
That’s what I thought, said Akira Senju, patting the top of Harry Sweeney’s thigh, squeezing the top of Harry Sweeney’s thigh. Thought to myself: This is something Harry should know, something Harry needs to know now.
Harry Sweeney nodded, looking out of the window as the car bore right onto Avenue W, heading east.
Could prove serendipitous, said Akira Senju, still squeezing the top of Harry Sweeney’s thigh, squeezing it tighter. That’s what I thought to myself, Harry, the way I hear the investigation is going. Or not going.
Harry Sweeney nodded again, watching the city fly past, the car speeding through the night, through the night and onto the bridge, the Eitai Bridge, over the bridge and across the river, the Sumida River, across the river, into the darkness.
Very serendipitous, said Akira Senju again, letting go of Harry Sweeney’s thigh, patting the top of Harry Sweeney’s thigh again. Minute I heard they’d found the car, heard where they’d found the car, I thought to myself: This is too good to be true, I must be dreaming, such a stroke of luck. I had to pinch myself, Harry, pinch myself and then call you.
Harry Sweeney gestured with his thumb over his shoulder at the back window of the car, the sound from the road behind them, the two heavy trucks behind them, and Harry Sweeney said, Made some other calls, too.
Precautions, Harry, that’s all, said Akira Senju, still patting the top of Harry Sweeney’s thigh, his eyes staring straight ahead, fixed on the back of his driver’s head, the car slowing down, the convoy pulling up. Just ten minutes from the center of the city, Harry, but it’s a different country.
Across the river, in the darkness, they had stopped and parked up. Akira Senju squeezed the top of Harry Sweeney’s thigh, then opened his door, and Harry Sweeney followed him. Across the river, in the darkness, Harry Sweeney and Akira Senju stood in the headlights of the car and the two trucks and looked across a bridge, over a ditch; the bridge the only bridge, the ditch a moat. They saw the signs on the bridge, they read the words on the signs: NO ENTRY, RESIDENTS ONLY, DEATH TO ALL SPIES. They looked beyond the warnings, they stared over the moat, and they saw an island; the island a fortress, the island fortress of a different country –