The Old Men of Omi

by I. J. Parker

  Akitada grimaced. “I know. I’ve been envious of your happy family. I miss Tamako every day. I’m sure the children do, too, though they seem content enough. But the wives of two of my retainers are good women. Especially Hanae, Tora’s wife.”

  “You’ll forgive my saying so, brother, but that’s hardly the same as a wife. There are other needs.” He gave a soft chuckle and raised his cup. “Here’s to lovemaking, Akitada. The sages have taught us that a man needs it regularly to keep his body strong and healthy.”

  Akitada laughed. “I do my best,” he said. “Such things are easy enough to arrange. Why do you ask? Do you have someone in mind?”

  Kosehira gulped. “Well,” he said after a moment, “I could make enquiries if you wish. I haven’t had much occasion … I’m a family man, brother. Three desirable ladies are enough for me.”

  Akitada apologized, and they changed the subject.

  ∞

  Tora had not returned by the next morning either, and Kosehira offered to send a servant to Akitada’s house. Akitada, by now seriously worried as well as angry with Tora, decided to go himself.

  He arrived at home before the midday rice, much to the surprise of Genba who greeted him.

  “Is Tora here?” Akitada snapped before Genba could do more than bow and offer a welcome.

  “No, sir. Isn’t he with you? He left early yesterday.”

  Before Akitada could say anything else, a strange woman interrupted them. She came from the direction of the kitchen. “Genba,” she called out. “I need you to run to the market. That fool of a cook forgot to buy shrimp. You know how much his lordship’s children like them. If you ask me, they’ve been given too many sweets. All they want is moon cakes and sweet dumplings.”

  “Who’s that?” Akitada asked.

  “Tora was to explain sir. She’s Saburo’s mother. Mrs. Kuruda.”

  “Saburo has a mother?” Foolish question, but somehow the issue of Saburo’s family had never come up. Akitada had always assumed that someone as grotesquely scarred as the man he had met in Naniwa must be alone in the world. This oversight angered him further.

  The short, round woman, no beauty herself, reached them as he swung himself out of the saddle. She took in his clothes and hat and made him a small bow. “If it’s business for his lordship,” she informed him, “he’s not home. He’s a guest of his Excellency, the governor of Omi. “I’m sure I can be of service if you wish to leave a message. Allow me to show you inside.”

  Normally this would have been amusing. Genba was grinning, but Akitada had no time to be entertained. “I’m Sugawara and this is my home,” he snapped. “I’m told you’re Saburo’s mother. Where is he?”

  At this, she made him a better bow. “A great pleasure, my lord. My son has told me much about you. It’s been an honor to meet your charming children and look after them. But children need their parents. Alas, poor mites, they’ve lost their mother. If you don’t mind my saying so, you really should spend more time with them, my lord. But business presses. I understand that well enough. My late husband was an official himself. His duties were more important than anything to him. I learned soon enough that as his wife I must be both mother and father to my children. If I do say so myself, I’m very good at it by now. I’ve enjoyed looking after Lady Yasuko and Master Yoshi. But I’m rattling on. You must be hungry. I’ll run and see about some food and wine. Genba, you’d better hurry and get those shrimp.”

  Akitada was momentarily speechless. Then he said, “Stay, Genba.” To Saburo’s mother, he added, “You are welcome here as Saburo’s mother, but I assure you there is no need for you to manage my household or my children.”

  She waved that aside with a smile that revealed crooked front teeth. “It’s no trouble. I’m used to working hard and I’ll go on working if it helps my boy. A mother’s care is never done, don’t you agree? No, don’t answer. I know you’re a sensible gentleman. A Chinese sage said you must honor your parents. He knew what he was talking about. His mother slaved and suffered for him. I imagine yours worked and worried for you. Yes, I can see I’m right. Now that I’m here, my Saburo will have his mother’s support as long as she draws a breath.” She looked over Akitada’s shoulder. “ Ah, here he comes now. What a clever gentleman you are to have asked Saburo to work for you. The boy is simply brilliant. He has a great future ahead of him. Saburo, here’s your master come home when we least expected it. I must see about his dinner.” For a moment she looked distracted. “Shrimp would have been nice, but never mind. I’ll think of something.” With another bob, she was off.

  Saburo knelt and touched his forehead to the gravel of the courtyard. “I’m very sorry about this, sir. She suddenly showed up. Please forgive her. She’s a very silly woman.”

  “Get up, Saburo,” Akitada said wearily. “She is your mother?”

  Saburo stood, head hanging low. “Yes, sir. She has no place to go.”

  “Then she is welcome here. Where is Tora?”

  Saburo looked up, startled. “He didn’t get back to you?”

  “No.”

  “I think …” Saburo faltered. “I may be wrong. It isn’t like Tora not to report back to you, but perhaps he’s gone to Enryaku-ji.”

  “Ah! I half suspected it. But he hasn’t come back from there either.”

  “Yes. It’s extremely troubling.” Saburo twisted his hands together and glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the kitchen. “I should go look for him, but my mother …”

  Akitada frowned. “I’m sure your mother is quite safe here. Do you know much about the monks at Enryaku-ji?”

  “Yes, sir. I was sent there once.”

  “I didn’t’ know. Neither, for that matter, did you mention your mother. Is there anything else I should know?”

  Saburo flinched. “Probably. I’m very sorry. I was afraid you would dismiss me again. I can see now that keeping silent made things worse. My mother and I will be gone as soon as Tora is found. I don’t like to impose on you and the others. She’s a difficult woman. But I think I’d better go look for Tora right away.”

  “You can make a home for her here,” Akitada said rashly. “After we’ve all had something to eat, I want everyone to come to my study. We’ll discuss it then.”

  Saburo looked uneasy, but he nodded.

  ∞

  Mrs. Kuruda was the first to arrive. After making him a bow, she glanced around. “If you don’t mind, my lord, I could do wonders with this room. After a good cleaning, I’ll have your things rearranged in a more pleasing manner. It could do with a bit of straightening, too.”

  His study was neither dirty nor disordered, and he definitely did not want this woman to touch it. He snapped, “Do not touch a thing in this room!”

  She opened her mouth to argue, but the others arrived, and the room, though sizable, was hardly large enough to hold them all. The children had come as well and were wide-eyed with curiosity.

  Akitada smiled at them and said, “I came looking for Tora and instead find Saburo’s mother. Thank you all for making her welcome, both for Saburo’s sake and because it’s the proper and kind thing to do. Mrs. Kuruda, you are welcome here. I hope you’ll become a part of my household.” Seeing Saburo’s mother open her mouth to respond, he raised a hand. “No, there’s no time now. The others will help you settle in. They have my trust, and I hope you will, too. In my absence, Hanae is in charge of household matters. Genba looks after the house and grounds, and the horses.” He saw a look of dismay on her face, but it was just as well to establish her position early. She had sounded as if she planned to give the orders in the future.

  With a glance at Hanae, he went on, “Tora did not reach me yesterday. Saburo and I think he ran into some problem on Mount Hiei. Saburo knows the area well and will look for him. I have to return to Otsu.”

  A troubled silence fell. The children looked upset. In an effort to lift their spirits, Akitada reminded them of the Sanno festival. That brought smiles, and in the end, ev
eryone bowed and left except for Hanae.

  She asked, “Is my husband in some kind of trouble? Has he been foolish or disobedient?”

  Probably both, Akitada thought, but he shook his head. “He is looking into some business connected with my work. I expect he got side-tracked. Saburo is going to find him.”

  Hanae bit her lip and gave him a searching look. “Be safe, both of you.”

  It was difficult to fool women.

  ∞

  On the way to Otsu, Akitada and Saburo exchanged whatever information they had that would help track down Tora. Saburo also spoke briefly of his past and his upbringing. He apologized again for not having shared his background.

  Akitada blamed himself. He had treated Saburo from the start with suspicion and told him frankly that he had no respect for “spies” and very little respect for monks. As a result, Saburo had kept his past to himself as much as possible. And since he had cut all ties with his family, he had seen no need to mention them either.

  Saburo’s mother created a problem Akitada had not desired, but his obligation to his retainers implied that he look after them and their families as if they were his on flesh and blood. Mrs. Kuruda would remain a fixture in his household until she died—or until she decided to return to her daughter’s house.

  But as they talked, Akitada became increasingly uneasy about letting Saburo search for Tora. In the end, he said, “Saburo, I think it will be better if I go to speak to the abbot and see if I can get them to release Tora.”

  Saburo glanced at him. “He will deny any knowledge of him, sir.”

  “Probably, but perhaps I can make him uneasy enough to let him go anyway. I’m in charge of a legal case that’s been brought against the temple.”

  Saburo was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Will they ask you to exchange favors?”

  Akitada grimaced. “Probably. It is a hateful thought, but Tora is more important to me than either temple.”

  “In that case, sir, would it not be better if you had proof that Tora is there?”

  “Yes, but we cannot wish for the impossible.”

  “Let me take a look. I may find something. I know the place very well.” He added more softly, “To my regret.”

  Akitada stared at him aghast. “Are you saying that what happened to you, to your face, happened there? Monks did that? On the holy mountain? They did this in the Buddha’s name?”

  Saburo looked away. “They were sohei. The warrior monks are mostly lay people. And they are no better than criminals. Many of them were criminals at one time. All of them are very tough fighters. I was never a fighter, just a spy. They needed to find out who had sent me.”

  “Dear gods! Under no circumstances will you return to that place. You should have told me.”

  Saburo shook his head. “I’ve learned my lesson and will be more careful this time. Besides, I feel responsible. I shouldn’t have let Tora go by himself.”

  “No. I won’t allow it.”

  Saburo said nothing. They rode silently side by side, both thinking about the problem.

  Finally Saburo said, “I have an idea, sir. And it’s perfectly safe.”

  “Yes?”

  “I expect Tora rode up the mountain. He must have left his horse somewhere. If it’s in the temple’s visitor stables, we will know that he is still there.”

  Akitada reigned in his horse. “Yes, of course. You propose to check the stables and come back to Otsu?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And you’ll do nothing else?”

  “I promise.”

  “Very well. Report to provincial headquarters.”

  They parted company on the outskirts of Otsu, Saburo to take a road up the mountain to the temple, and Akitada to ride into town.

  ∞

  After looking in on Kosehira to report on Tora’s likely whereabouts, Akitada went to see Chief Takechi.

  Takechi greeted him eagerly. “Thank you for coming, sir. Frankly, this is quite beyond me. Kimura says it’s the same thing all over again. A bump on the back of the head that wouldn’t kill a child, and then the same signs of suffocation.”

  “The spots on the whites of the eyes?”

  “Yes.” Takechi ran a hand over his face in a distracted manner. “I suppose it’s murder. Unless some sort of new disease is going around.”

  “Who is the victim?”

  “An old fellow by the name of Tokuno. A street sweeper.”

  “Where is the body?”

  “Back in the jail. Kimura’s finished with it. It will soon be released for the funeral.”

  “Shall we take a look?”

  Takechi made a face. “If you insist. I must warn you. Kimura’s cut him up pretty badly.”

  Akitada smiled briefly. “I think I can bear the sight. Lead the way.”

  When they reached the room where Akitada had viewed Judge Nakano’s body, Kimura was still there. He stood frowning down at the corpse of an old man whose age-ravaged body had been further damaged by the cuts made by the coroner. Most of these had been sewn back up somewhat carelessly, but the body nevertheless presented a shocking sight. Akitada had seen men disemboweled, trampled by horses, and beheaded. All of these methods of killing humans had involved a lot of blood. This corpse was quite pale and bloodless and far more shocking.

  Kimura bowed.

  Akitada said, “The same as Nakano’s case?”

  Kimura nodded. “I still don’t believe it. It must be murder. The only way it could have happened is that the murderer stuffed something in the man’s mouth and then held his nose.”

  “Ah.” Akitada nodded. “It could have happened that way. Any proof?”

  “No.”

  “No bruising around the mouth and nose?”

  “Not really. But if the victim was unconscious, it would not take much force. They were both old men.”

  “What about that bruise on Nakano’s head. Did you find the same thing here?”

  “Yes, sir. Though it’s nothing I could be sure about.”

  Takechi cleared his throat. “There was one thing though, sir.” They both looked at him. Takechi reached into his sleeve and handed Akitada the small carved figure of Jizo. “This was lying on top of him when he was found.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Death of a Sweeper.

  The small figure looked identical to the one they had found in Judge Nakano’s study and to all the other little figures sold at the shrine fair. Akitada felt a small shiver run down his back and glanced at Takechi. “Surely,” he said, “this is extraordinary.”

  Takechi nodded. “If it’s murder, sir, it would seem that both men were killed by the same person.”

  “What do we know about the dead man?’

  “Not much. Tokuno lived alone, earning a few coppers by sweeping the roads and carrying away refuse and night soil. The night soil he sold to farmers. He owned nothing but the clothes on his back and a decrepit handcart.”

  “An outcast?”

  “No. Just a poor old man.”

  “Still, someone who had nothing in common with the judge.” Akitada turned the small figure in his hand. Takechi’s murders were becoming more puzzling by the moment.

  The chief said, “Exactly. It makes no sense. Perhaps a madman is at work.”

  Akitada nodded slowly. “Such things have happened. And the fact that he left behind this very odd token of his visit may prove that he isn’t in his right mind.”

  The coroner had listened with raised brows. “May I have a look, sir?” he asked.

  Akitada passed over the carving.

  Doctor Kimura said, “It’s a Jizo. They sell those at all the fairs. There must be hundreds about. Travelers and pilgrims buy them for protection.”

  Akitada nodded. “Yes. I saw them for sale at a shrine fair. But why leave such a thing behind after a murder?”

  Kimura frowned. “Perhaps it’s a message.”

  The chief was unconvinced. “A message for whom? It’s not as if eith
er old man had a large family.”

  Akitada said, “And what does it mean? Why would a killer want us to know that it was his work.”

  “Well, if he’s mad, he doesn’t need a reason,” the coroner offered.

  Akitada frowned. “I don’t think he’s mad in that sense. You said, people buy these for protection if they are on a journey? Perhaps he is a pilgrim.”

  Kimura said, “Women might do so because they’ve lost a child at birth. Jizo protects the children who had no chance to follow the Buddha. In fact, he helps all those suffering in hell.”

  Takechi scratched his head. “That covers a lot of ground.”

  Kimura asked, “Have there been other cases like this here or elsewhere?”

  The chief and Akitada exchanged a glance. Takechi said, “Heaven forbid. I haven’t heard of any. Are you suggesting that this person travels about killing people?”

  “I don’t know,” Kimura said with a smile. “I’m just the coroner.”

  Takechi gave him a look and said again, “It makes no sense. What does he get out of it?”

  Silence fell. They stood looking down at the pitiful thing on the mat. The first flies were gathering. Akitada hoped that the corpse had given up its story completely, for they could not keep him around much longer.

  Takechi had the same thought. “I suppose we’d better release him for burial if you’re done, doctor.”

  “I’m done.”

  As they left the jail building, Akitada said, “I’d like to talk to the man’s neighbors. Do you mind? I have a very unpleasant feeling about this.”

  Takechi did not mind. They walked through town and into the modest neighborhood where Tokuno had lived. Takechi stopped in front of small house that looked as though it needed a few repairs. The roof was missing boards and the door hung crookedly in its opening.