‘Madam Chair. I must raise an emergency item which is not on the agenda. I refer of course to the menace posed by those who have recently been pestering and pressurising our fellow residents with their campaign on behalf of a new religion. As Madam Chair so rightly remarked earlier, the prime objective of these apartments is to protect the privacy of the individual residents. I am absolutely opposed to those who force their way into other people’s rooms, like foot-in-the-door salesmen, in the name of religion. I want it stopped; several of my constituents on the second floor have already complained to me about it. I propose that the most stringent measures be taken to stamp out this practice.’
‘And who do you think you are to make such suggestions! I’ll have you know that religious freedom is protected under the constitution. The Three Spirit Faith never pressures anyone. Who are they who complain of being pestered? Let’s have their names, one by one!’
‘I don’t see why I should give you all their names. But as an example, we had the recent unfortunate incident when Miss Munekata nearly lost her life through gas poisoning. Now the word is going around that this was a so-called divine retribution visited on her for refusing to join your sect.’
‘She was punished by Heaven for slandering His Reverence. She came to the last public meeting and dared to confute His Reverence point by point on his exposition. She made him seem foolish in the eyes of the unbelievers, so His Reverence prophesied at that very time that ill would befall those who close their hearts to the True Teaching. What has occurred is no more than the fulfilment of his prophecy.’
‘Oh really—how very interesting. You say that the prophecy was followed by heavenly punishment, but it looks to me as if some mortal was responsible for this socalled divine retribution! It’s the first I’ve heard of a gas stove falling over and the fire going out. I don’t see how that could happen naturally—if you ask me, there was more to it than met the eye. Could it not be that someone switched off the gas at the stop-cock outside the room and then turned it on again?’
This was certainly possible, for as the member for the second floor had remarked, every apartment had its own separate gas meter and stop-cock outside, and it would be a simple matter for someone malicious to do as she had suggested. Indeed, Yoneko had entertained the same suspicion from the moment she had first heard of the incident. She wondered what the representative of the Three Spirit Faith would have to say to this insinuation.
The alternate member from the first floor sprang to her feet at once, but was for a few seconds too dumbfounded to reply. After spluttering with anger for a while, she began:
‘What possible evidence have you for such allegations? Don’t you know that the fire brigade made a thorough investigation and concluded that the kettle boiled over and put out the flame? Are you now implying that the Three Spirit Faith planned the whole thing? If so, I can promise you a writ for slander in no time at all!’
As she worked herself up into a passion, the speaker’s lips became flecked with foam, and a small globule of spittle landed on the table just in front of Yoneko.
The member for the second floor refused to admit defeat. ‘You don’t really mean to suggest that the gas was on so low that a little water from the kettle could put it out? If so, how could the kettle boil over?’
The atmosphere of the meeting was poisoned by further such debate, after which a vote was called on whether or not religious proselytising would be permitted in the building. After everyone had had their say, it appeared that the member for the second floor had four votes, as against two for the representative of the Three Spirit Faith, with one probable abstainer, and so Yoneko Kimura’s vote looked like being decisive. If she supported the motion, it would achieve an absolute majority and be passed, but if she opposed it the proposal would be shelved.
She gazed at the voting slip which lay before her, trying to make up her mind what to do. The regular members had cast their votes and folded the papers with practised speed. Just as she was about to set her pen to the paper, she became aware of the intent gaze of the woman from the Three Spirit Faith, who was staring at her hands as if seeking to hypnotise her. And so it was, perhaps, that she cast a negative vote causing the resolution to fail.
It was already past eight pm, but before they could bring the meeting to a close it was necessary to discuss the latest incident involving the master key. Chairman Tanikawa gazed around the table and addressed the group.
‘I think you will all have shared my disgust at learning that the master key disappeared under the very noses of the receptionists. It was bad enough when it happened the first time—you will all know of the incident last month when it was used to gain entry into Miss Yatabe’s room. It’s not good enough for the receptionists merely to express astonishment—I would like to see them at least display concern that such a thing can happen. One would expect a greater show of responsibility, would one not? But so soon after the first incident had brought home to us all the importance of the master key, it vanished again. I ask you, ladies, what next? How could they have failed to notice that the key had been switched? All the excuse they could find was to say that some supernatural agency was at work! Disgraceful, I call it, quite disgraceful!
‘However, there’s no point in shutting the stable door after the horse has gone. Let us rather resolve to identify and weed out the mischief-maker in our midst. I would like the cooperation of each one of you in finding out where the master key has gone.’
She held up something for everyone to see. ‘This is the key which was exchanged for the master key. If you examine it closely, you will see it is exactly like a typical apartment key from this building. I suggest that we concentrate on identifying the owner—how about it?’
‘Well, it certainly looks like an apartment key, but what do you suggest we do?’ asked one of the committee.
‘We could just ask every person in the building to show us her key. However, a large number of people would be involved, and the whole thing would smack of a police investigation, which would not be nice. So I propose instead that we take it in turns to try this key in every door until we find which lock it fits. When we find out who it belongs to, we’ll ask her for a satisfactory explanation.’
Yoneko sat frozen in her seat. She listened in a daze to the even voice of the representative of the fifth floor as she asked the next question. ‘That’s all very well, but surely it is likely to fit several doors?’
This left Miss Tanikawa nonplussed for a moment or two.
‘Yes, well, um… Yes, maybe. Anyway, let’s just try it and see. Obviously, if we can think of a better method, we’ll switch to that when the time comes.’
And the chairman’s proposal was passed unanimously.
‘Well, let’s get started first thing tomorrow. Let’s start on the top floor and work our way down in order. Representatives are to be responsible for their own floors. Let’s try and avoid attracting attention to what we’re doing—try each door only after checking that the occupant is out. It could be embarrassing otherwise.’
‘Most people are out at work in the daytime, but what shall we say to those who aren’t?’
‘In that case, you’ll just have to play innocent. Say something like “Isn’t this your key?” and put it in the lock to see. Well, that will do for today—same time and place next week.’
Miss Tanikawa brought the meeting to a close as quickly as possible before anyone else could protract the proceedings with further discussion.
As Yoneko filed out of the room, she found the third-floor representative, the delegate for the Three Spirit Faith, awaiting her in the corridor. That lady approached her and addressed her in an unpleasant tone of voice.
‘The spirit of His Reverence descended upon you, and was within you, forcing you even against your own will to vote on our side.’
And then she went on to urge Yoneko to attend at least one of the sect’s meetings to see for herself the power of which the elder was possessed.
; ‘He will ease all your sufferings, however great they may be. Of course, he can heal illnesses or discover lost objects if you ask him to. At present, he is fixing his mind on something that Miss Yatabe on the first floor has mislaid. Next week, he will hold a special prayer session, and I’ve no doubt he’ll reveal where it is then. Anyway, won’t you just join us once?’
Yoneko turned her away with a non-committal reply and made her way back to her room. She had more to think of than religious meetings; however interesting they might seem. She was far more concerned about the resolution at the meeting which could lead to the discovery of her possession of the master key.
If everything proceeded according to schedule, the search would reach the fourth floor in two days’ time. On which day a senior floor representative, Taeko Nakagawa, would return from a visit to the country. And when she did, Yoneko would have to accompany her from room to room, trying the key in every door until it became clear that it was her lock in which it fitted, making public her guilt.
Now she deeply regretted the light-hearted attitude which had led her to switch the master key for her own. Why had she been so short-sighted? Looking back on her own stupidity, she could not think what had come over her to act as she had.
* Literally ‘Three spirit faith.’
PART SEVEN
The Three Spirit Faith
After supper, the corridors echoed for a while with the sound of people walking up and down, the clatter of dishes and the splash of running water in the communal washplace. Then silence fell upon the building, to occupy it, usually, for the rest of the night.
Sometimes, one would hear the sound of a radio or the muffled tones of someone practising on the trumpet. But these noises also subsided after a little while, until it became so quiet that one could hear the switches, one by one, being turned off for the night.
It was at about eight o’clock two evenings after the committee meeting. A shadowy figure crept stealthily towards Yoneko’s door, moving secretively as if not wishing to be discovered.
Yoneko was in her room, composing her third letter to her former pupil, Keiko Kawauchi. She pored over the paper on her desk, writing carefully in the dim light of her standard lamp.
Having explained how she had purloined the master key in order to get into Chikako Ueda’s room, she went on to describe that day’s events.
This afternoon, our floor was searched. There were three of us involved—myself, Miss Nakagawa and Miss Tamura from the front desk. We went from door to door, trying it in every lock. Can you imagine your teacher’s feelings, Keiko, as we got closer to my room? I still had no idea of what I would say or do when the truth came out. I suppose I’d have just tried to feign as much astonishment as everyone else when the door swung open. But fortunately things turned out better than that.
You see, we were taking it in turns to try the key, and the lot fell to me for my section of the corridor. Looking as innocent as I could, I stood in front of my own door and tried to turn the key. I must admit I felt pretty scared, but I put on a good act and, as you can imagine, somehow, however hard I tried, I could not make that key turn! Of course, I was in a cold sweat all the time! Well…
At that moment, Yoneko heard a stealthy knock on her door.
‘Who is it?’
There was no reply. Yoneko opened the door a little and peeped out into the dark passage. She could just make out a dim figure standing in the gloom. A voice as chilly and slight as the draught which was flowing into the room whispered:
‘Miss Kimura! His Reverence’s prayer meeting and revelation of lost things will take place at eight-thirty. He has given exceptional permission for you to attend the seance, so I trust you will not let us down, will you? Please come to Miss Iyoda’s room on the first floor at eight-thirty sharp.’
And without waiting for a reply, the ghost-like figure slipped away into the shadows.
The girl who disappeared thus without Yoneko getting a proper look at her was indeed a strange figure. Her child-like body was topped by an adult head; had she but known it, Yoneko’s visitor was none other than the woman nicknamed ‘Thumbelina the Vestal’.
Thumbelina reached a pool of light on the landing, and there silently held up a black notebook. She opened it and placed a mark against the name ‘Yoneko Kimura’ written there in large characters.
Her name did not belie her, for in addition to her petite stature she was, like her namesake, exquisitely beautiful. She was young, and her long black hair shone with camellia oil. It hung in a heavy mass, swinging elegantly as she moved. Perhaps she had applied white makeup to her face and neck in the old-fashioned way; in any case, her skin was unnaturally and beautifully pallid. She was dressed like a priestess from a Shinto shrine, in the traditional white coat and loose red trousers.
Having closed the notebook, she looked at the watch on her wrist. Just about eight! There was something touchingly incongruous about a watch on so tiny and childish a wrist.
She made her way up to the fifth floor and walked straight into the end room as if she was quite accustomed to doing so without knocking. This room belonged to one Haru Santo, and was next to that of Chikako Ueda.
Haru Santo was kneeling in front of her personal shrine. Apart from the candles flickering in its recesses, the room was pitch dark. Her white hair shone eerily in the gloom. The candles seemed to light up every strand as if it was burnished silver wire, making it seem artificial, rather than a natural growth.
Thumbelina the Vestal slipped in beside Haru Santo and prostrated herself thrice before the altar. Then she swivelled around on her knees, placing her beautiful face next to the old woman’s ear, and whispered something for several minutes.
When she left Haru Santo’s room twenty minutes later, it was almost time for the seance to begin. She hurriedly made her way down to the first floor.
That gave Yoneko Kimura her first chance of getting a look at her. Having finished her letter to Keiko Kawauchi, she had been in two minds as to whether to attend the seance or not, but had nevertheless gone downstairs. She had expected to find Miss Tojo at the front desk, but Miss Tamura was on duty. Apparently Miss Tojo had had to go out at short notice, and so had asked her colleague to sit in for her.
‘Well, that key doesn’t fit any of the doors on the fourth or fifth floors. So what’s the betting we’ll find the culprit tomorrow on the third floor?’
Listening to Miss Tamura’s friendly gossip, Yoneko noticed Thumbelina coming down the staircase. It gave her such a start that she could not restrain a gasp. There was something truly weird about the little priestess. Yoneko gave up all thought of attending the seance, and rushed back up the stairs towards her room. But on the landing she bumped into Tomiko Iyoda, a seller of lottery tickets, in whose room the meeting was about to be held. She was leading a small group downstairs.
‘Well, well, Miss Kimura, how nice to see you! Come on down with us. The vestal spoke to you, I think? Good! Well, we’re just about to start.’
And so it came about that Yoneko Kimura attended a seance of the Three Spirit Faith.
All sorts of shoes and sandals were neatly arranged in the little lobby of Miss Iyoda’s room, suggesting the variety and number of their owners crowded inside.
‘Well, I apologise for the state everything is in, but please come inside.’
Tomiko Iyoda, speaking in sweet tones, drew Yoneko and her companions in after her.
There were some six people already sitting on the floor of the tiny room, surrounding a middle-aged man in a double-breasted suit. He had the look of a priest about him, and seemed to be delivering a sermon, which he broke off on the entry of Yoneko and the others.
‘I’m so sorry we kept Your Reverence waiting,’ said Miss Iyoda. She waddled over to the corner and, bending her fat body with evident signs of discomfort, picked up a pile of cushions and handed them around for the new arrivals to sit on. She then took her place next to the priest.
Yoneko sat next to the door, and, peerin
g over the shoulder of the elderly woman in front of her, took in the scene. Miss Iyoda was plainly briefing the priest on the new arrivals; this was obvious, even though she spoke in a low voice. The priest seemed to be a man in his fifties. His angular face was framed by black hair glued down with pomade. He had bright red cheeks, and this sign of cheerful vigour was reinforced by the gusty laughs with which he punctuated his discourse, but once he caught your eye… Yoneko was forced to gaze downwards, so overcome was she by his sharp and questing gaze. It was as if he could read right into the hidden depths of her mind.
Amongst those present, there were some Yoneko knew by sight, but not one with whom she had ever exchanged a word. There were even some present who did not live in the building. They were all in their forties or fifties, and without exception their faces were those of people defeated by life.
‘Your Reverence, all is now ready. Pray begin when you wish.’
The low vibrant voice in which this remark was delivered seemed to echo inside Yoneko’s bones. It was the little priestess, the one they called Thumbelina, and as she spoke she fiddled with a small black box. Later, Yoneko realised that it was a tape recorder which was used for recording any words which were said during her trance so that they could be replayed after it was over. His Reverence would then interpret their meaning as necessary. But now he was instructing them on what was to follow:
‘Good evening, ladies. We will shortly establish communication with the spirit world, but first I must warn you about a few dos and don’ts. The world beyond is more terrifying than you can possibly imagine. Every kind of spectral being is to be found there, many of them engaged in endless conflict. However, you are with me, and so long as you do as I say you need entertain no fears. However, should there be any doubting person amongst you, let her be gone! For the presence of such a one can attract the Evil Ones, and draw down upon us their malicious and ferocious power! If such intrude upon our seance, not even I can guarantee that all will go well. But place your faith in me, and nothing untoward will occur!’
The Master Key Page 11
