by I. J. Parker
Saburo bowed. “Please convey my gratitude to your lady, sir. I shall always remember you and your family for the goodness you have shown me.” He rose and walked out quietly.
Akitada sat still for a long time, feeling nauseated and ashamed of what he had done. There were times when he wished his work did not lay such burdens on him.
It had been doubly hard to dismiss a cripple. Saburo’s disfigurement still caused him inward shudders, and he could never quite relax around the man. What would happen to him now? Perhaps it was his disfigurement that caused Saburo to break the law. He must feel resentment for what people had done to him and for the disgust he saw in their faces and the rejections he received when he asked for work. Akitada had felt it his duty to help this unfortunate man, but though he had tried to, he had not overcome his discomfort in Saburo’s presence. He was ashamed of it, and yet his decision was just. Saburo had admitted to stealing the contracts.
Needing to unburden himself, he went to his wife’s chamber.
Tamako was brushing their daughter’s hair. Instantly his heart warmed to both of the women in his life. Yasuko was in her seventh year and a very pretty, fairylike creature. Her fragility was deceptive. It hid an enormous firmness of purpose that usually got her what she wanted from her doting father. He admitted it freely. Yasuko had ensnared his heart. This reminded him of Lady Masako, the favored daughter of Masaie.
Oh, how variable had been that man’s heart!
He sat down heavily to watch his wife and daughter. His wife’s room pleased him as much as his study did, yet it was very different. Tamako had colorful painted screens, while he had landscape scrolls painted in ink. And here there were pretty feminine boxes and knickknacks. A large silver mirror caught the light as Yasuko shifted it to eye her hair. Was she vain already? He put the thought from his mind as frivolous in view of his interview with Saburo.
Tamako saw his expression and stopped brushing. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Or rather, I’m worried that I may have done a cruel thing.”
Yasuko fixed him with bright, inquisitive eyes. “What did you do, honored father?”
Tamako said quickly, “It may not be any of your business, Yasuko. Run along. I’m done with your hair.”
Yasuko got up, but she was curious and not at all afraid of her father. She said, “I want to know what my honored father did. If he was cruel, then I hope I never do such a thing. But my father would never do a cruel thing, so I don’t understand.” She gave her father a melting smile. “Please allow me to stay and learn.”
Tamako cried, “Yasuko!” She looked shocked, as if her child were some sort of changeling.
Yasuko gnawed her lip, gave her father a teary look, then bowed, and turned to go.
“No, wait,” Akitada said, secretly amused by the act. “You’re quite right, Yasuko, though Master Kung Fu would be shocked at your manner. He did not consider women and children capable of understanding and disapproved of their voicing such opinions.”
Tamako flushed. “The old sages had some very old-fashioned notions about women,” she said tartly.
Akitada suppressed a smile. He had known his comment would break the impasse between Tamako’s disapproval and Yasuko’s curiosity. But he was not at all sure that a seven-year-old would understand his dilemma.
“I’ve had to dismiss Saburo for theft,” he said bluntly and waited for reactions.
Tamako cried, “For theft? Are you sure?”
Yasuko asked, “What did he take?”
Akitada explained. He directed his account to Tamako, but Yasuko listened avidly.
Tamako, dismayed, just shook her head.
Yasuko protested. “He was helping Genba. That’s a good thing, isn’t it? Don’t you want us to help others?”
“Yes, but we mustn’t do it by breaking the law.” Akitada knew that would puzzle his daughter. She would think of it as breaking a rule, while the law was a complex and profound concept. To the child, Genba was part of their family. He added lamely, “We mustn’t do so by hurting someone else. And stealing hurts someone else.”
Yasuko looked stubborn. “But the man he stole from was a bad man. You said so yourself. He beat Genba’s girlfriend. That’s breaking the law, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we stop bad men from beating women?”
Akitada sighed and looked at his wife. “Yes, Yasuko. But that is why we have laws, and we must let the police take care of such matters and not have everybody make their own rules.”
His daughter pondered this with a frown, then nodded. Brightening, she ran to the door. “I’ll talk to Saburo and explain it,” she cried and was gone.
Akitada chuckled weakly.
Tamako was still frowning. “You’ll have to see what you can do for him.”
He stiffened. “I cannot recommend a thief.”
She looked at him. “You’ll find a way.”
Akitada stared at his wife blankly, then got up to leave. “I don’t know how, but I’ll think about it,” he muttered, a little resentfully.
He went in search of Saburo, though he had no idea how to soften the dismissal. Maybe something would come to him. When he got to the room Saburo and Genba shared in the stables, he found it empty. The neat blue robe and black sash Saburo had worn in his service lay neatly folded on his bedding roll.
As he walked back to the house, he met Tora, who held Yasuko’s hand. Tora’s normally smiling face looked grim.
“You dismissed Saburo, sir?” he asked, anxious eyes searching his master’s face..
“Yes. He stole the contracts. I cannot employ a thief.”
Yasuko cried, “I explained it to Tora, Father, but he doesn’t understand.”
Tora said bitterly, “All he did was try to help Genba and his girl. And you know damned well how Tokuzo’s been treating her and the others.”
Shocked by this attack and Tora’s language, Akitada glanced at his daughter. She looked back at him, unsmiling. With some difficulty, he controlled his anger.
“Tora, I will not have you use that tone or language. Especially not in front of my daughter!”
Tora flushed. “Sorry.” He bent to Yasuko. “Leave it to me, sweetheart,” he said. “Don’t you worry, Tora will take care of Saburo. All right?”
She nodded. But she gave her father a look so filled with doubt that he was struck to the core. His own child had turned against him.
Tora was unaware of the bitter resentment that was building in Akitada’s heart. “Saburo didn’t steal the contracts,” he said in a calmer voice. “Someone else took them from Saburo after attacking him. There’s your thief.”
That might be true, but Saburo had been the first thief. Akitada said nothing and stepped past Tora to head for his study.
Tora followed uninvited. They sat down, and Akitada glowered at Tora. Apparently he was still unaware of how deeply he had offended. They had all turned against him. What ill fortune had marked this day for his entire family to oppose him as if he were an ogre? Controlling his anger with difficulty, he said, “Kobe was here. He accused me of covering up for a murderer. You know I’m engaged in a very important case concerning Lord Kosehira and the prince. I relied on Kobe’s help in that matter. The last thing I needed was for my people to get into trouble over conditions in a brothel.”
Tora raised his chin. “Genba’s important, too. And so is Saburo. What will he do now? He has no work or money. Nobody will hire him.”
“I’ve paid him his wages. How can he not have any money?”
“He gave his savings to Genba to buy out Ohiro.”
Akitada chewed his lip. They were all set on proving him in the wrong. Even Tamako had not been supportive. “What am I to tell Kobe?” he demanded.
“It seems to me,” said Tora, “that you ought to find the bastard who attacked Saburo. I bet it’s the same man Genba ran into in that alley outside Tokuzo’s place. There’s your killer. That’s the man Kobe wants.”
Akitada stared at him. “Someone tangle
d with Genba before the murder? Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?”
“Because you make snide remarks when we mention the Willow Quarter.”
“Tell me now.”
Tora recounted the tale of the polite stranger who had dropped an assassin’s needle Saburo was very eager to own, and that was taken from him the very next night along with the contracts.
Akitada followed the tale with frowning concentration. “Great heavens! Spies and assassins seem to roam the streets of the capital these days. What have we come to?” After a moment, he got up. “I’ll speak to Kobe again and look in on Genba. You go back to the quarter and start asking questions about that mysterious stranger. But be careful.”
Tora grinned with relief. “I’m on my way, sir.”
Genba Takes the Blame
Akitada was turned away at Kobe’s headquarters. The word was that the superintendent was not there. Since it was the middle of the day, and Akitada knew Kobe to be assiduous in his duties, he had the uncomfortable feeling it was a lie. Kobe probably had decided he wanted no further dealings with Akitada.
Only once before had Akitada been forced to humiliate himself in order to conciliate the superintendent. He had been much younger then. Now such a step was utterly unpalatable.
In a gloomy mood, he went on to the jail and asked to see Genba. Here at least the news of his offense had not arrived yet. Kiyonobu, the supervisor, knew him as Kobe’s friend and a frequent visitor in the past. Besides, he had been expecting him.
The man bowed deeply. “My Lord, I regret very much this unpleasantness. Genba and the young woman have been given every consideration. Surely you’ll have them released in no time. Perhaps even now?”
“Thank you, Kiyonobu. No, I don’t have any good news yet, and I’m very concerned about the charges. Genba is innocent, and so is the young woman, but until we find the real killer and thief, I’m afraid I must leave them in your care.”
“They’ll be looked after like my own kin, sir.”
Knowing that nothing in this world is free, and especially not in a jail, Akitada passed the man two pieces of silver. “This is for any costs you may have. Thank you. Your care is much appreciated.”
He found Genba housed in a relatively clean cell, provided with water, and only chained by one leg so he could move around a little.
The big man greeted him with abject shame. “I have troubled you, sir,” he said, getting up from the straw he was sitting on and making a very deep bow. “Oh, please forgive me for involving you in this business. I don’t deserve this visit.”
“Never mind, Genba. I gather it wasn’t your fault. The real problem is Saburo’s meddling.”
Genba looked even more worried. “Saburo’s only been trying to help us, sir. It was kind and generous of him, but it really was me who brought us here and caused you such embarrassment.”
Akitada frowned. “No, Genba. It was Saburo who engaged in this theft. You would not have done so.”
Genba’s eyes grew round. “Is he in trouble?”
“I’ve not told Superintendent Kobe what he has done, but I’ve had to dismiss him.”
Genba closed his eyes. For a moment he looked as if he would faint. “Oh,” he muttered, clenching and unclenching his big fists. “Oh, no! Oh, what have I done?” He covered his face with his big hands.
“Calm down. He’ll be fine. He managed very well before coming to us and will do so again.” Privately, Akitada had some doubts on that score, but thinking about it made him feel guilty. He said more briskly, “Tora and I will try to find the mysterious man you ran into near the brothel. We think he may be the same man as Saburo’s attacker. If he is, he stole the contracts, and that also makes him a suspect for the murder.”
Genba nodded dully. “I feel bad,” he muttered. “About Saburo. It isn’t right he should suffer for me.”
Becoming irritated, Akitada said, “He isn’t suffering for you but for himself. He’s responsible for what happened. Besides, he won’t be suffering. He’s not the one in jail, and he’s a very clever fellow. Too clever for our staid household.”
Genba hung his head. “Maybe so, but if he isn’t good enough, then neither am I, sir. Besides, there’s Ohiro now. I have to look after her. Maybe we’ll go to the country where no one knows about her past. Yes, that’s what we’ll do.”
“Did I hear you correctly?” Akitada stared at the big wrestler, who had grown gray and fat in his service. “You cannot be threatening to leave my service?”
Genba looked up and flushed. “Not threatening, sir. Just going away so I won’t cause more trouble to you and your lady. And the little ones.” Tears rose to his eyes and spilled over. “I shall miss them.” He heaved a sigh. “And you, sir.”
Akitada was speechless.
And angry.
Very angry.
And hurt.
So much for loyalty and friendship. They had been together for more than thirteen years, and Genba was throwing all of it away. For what? For a woman from a brothel and a former spy who had been with them a comparatively short while.
He turned on his heel and stormed out of Genba’s cell.
Akitada regretted his anger at Genba almost immediately. It was really all Saburo’s fault. Why had he taken the man on when he had known his background? Honesty reminded him he had also taken on Tora and Genba, and their past offenses had been more serious than Saburo’s. Having proven himself wrong did nothing for his temper, but it did send him to the amusement quarter in the vague hope he might learn something there that would free Genba and his “bride” from jail. He would deal with the Saburo situation later.
By asking questions, he found Tokuzo’s brothel quite easily. The exterior looked neither impressive nor clean. It was clearly just a low dive. He saw the building consisted of two parts, a lower floor that dispensed wine, and an upper floor where the harlots plied their trade, having a ready access to drunken men from below.
He grimaced. Genba’s woman had worked there.
When he walked into the large room, groups of men sat around, laborers or those who worked in the markets and businesses of the capital. They were drinking and talking, when they should have been at work. A slatternly female with a flat face and small eyes approached him, staring with surprise at his formal robe and cap.
“May I be of service?” she asked, bowing deeply.
Young but not particularly attractive, thought Akitada. And certainly not clean. Still, she probably was tempting enough to the men in this room.
“I want to speak to the owner.” Akitada glanced around. It had become silent, and he saw stares. “In another room.”
The waitress looked confused, then bowed again. “This way, Your Honor.” Swinging ample hips, she led him through the room of drinkers, down a dark hall and into a small backroom. “His Honor wishes to speak to you, Mistress,” she announced, and left, closing the door behind her.
Akitada looked down at an old woman who was bent over a big ledger. Her white hair was getting thin on top. She raised her head, her mouth opening with surprise. When she began to struggle to her feet, he snapped, “Don’t trouble, woman. Are you the mother of the late Tokuzo?”
She bowed several times. “Yes, Your Honor. This miserable old woman has lost the best son in the world. Oh, what will become of me?” She dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve, peering expectantly up at him.
Akitada hated officials who bullied the common people, but in this case he decided to put some fear into this woman. She was engaged in a dirty business, her son had abused the women who worked for him, and she had helped pin the murder and theft on Genba. Neither her appearance—she had sharp little eyes like black beads and a nose like beak—nor her sly manner impressed him favorably. He put on his most ferocious face.
“I’m Lord Sugawara,” he informed her. “How dare you accuse my retainer of stealing?”
He saw the fear in her eyes. She collapsed to her knees and knocked her head on the desk before her. “Thi
s humble widow did not do so, your Honor.”
“You lie. The police say you blamed him.”
“We only told them what happened. The truth. Only the truth.”
“Lies! You claimed he stole your gold, but there are witnesses who saw you and your son carrying the money away in a bag.”
Her voice quavered. “Only a few coins.”
“I don’t believe you. As for the contracts, Genba had no reason to steal them. He had the money to buy the girl out.”
She raised her head at this, bobbing another bow. “Oh. That’s quite another matter then. If he wishes to buy her out, we can come to an agreement. And we’ll let the police know we made a mistake.” With an ingratiating smile, she added, “There. That should solve the problem. I’m so happy to be of service to your lordship.”
Akitada kept his frown in place. “It doesn’t excuse the false charges. As for buying the girl out, you claim you no longer have the contract.”
Her expression changed to a look of cunning. “The thief took the contracts, but I can easily look up the information,” she said. “We could draw up a new contract this moment.” One claw like hand opened and closed in anticipation of the pay-out.
It was indeed possible, since such information was kept on file in the city offices, but Akitada balked. “You would need to prove you are your son’s heir.”
She blinked. “I’m his mother. He left the business to me and my other son. My other son isn’t interested in the business, so I’m taking care of things.”
“Hmm.” Akitada looked about and frowned. “You and your son may have had good reason to wish Tokuzo dead.”
She paled visibly. “Oh never! He was my son. And Kotaro loved his brother. We’re grieving his death.” She sobbed. “A terrible thing! Aiih.”
Akitada said nothing.
Controlling her grief quickly, she returned to business. “Ohiro’s a valuable girl. She’s very attractive to customers. That’s why Tokuzo paid fifty pieces of silver for her. And she did a fine business, so there’s that to be considered, too.”
