Black Lotus

by Laura Joh Rowland

  “If I’d been there, it wouldn’t have happened!” Now Reiko lifted her furious gaze to Sano and set down her tea bowl.

  “You mean you would have prevented her from confessing,” Sano said as exasperation overcame his good intentions. “You would have foiled my attempts to get the truth from her. That’s why I didn’t tell you I was going to interview Haru.”

  “I beg to disagree,” Reiko said with icy politeness. “I would have prevented you from bullying Haru into saying what you wanted her to say. That’s what you did, isn’t it? And that’s the real reason you didn’t want me there.”

  Maybe he had been rough with the girl, Sano thought, but not excessively. “She said plenty on her own. She did her best to direct my suspicion toward Dr. Miwa and Abbess Junketsu-in.” Sano described Ham’s stories about the doctor threatening Chie and the abbess trying to get rid of the woman.

  “I think Haru was telling the truth about them,” Reiko said, convinced by her personal knowledge of the pair.

  “Haru voluntarily incriminated herself,” Sano said. “It was my duty to arrest her.”

  “Pardon me, but that was no confession.” Reiko rose. “You choose to believe so, but …” She drew a deep breath in an attempt to calm down, then said in a forced conciliatory tone, “Please don’t persecute Haru just because you’re angry at me.”

  “I’m not!” Sano shouted. He stood too, incensed at her suggestion that he would let a marital feud provoke him to accuse someone unfairly. “I’m trying to serve justice, and you’re obstructing it!”

  “You’re rushing to judgment, and I’m trying to save you from a terrible mistake!”

  Hirata came into the room, holding a thick, damp cloth pouch over his injured eye. A tearful Midori followed. They watched Sano and Reiko in dismay.

  “You will stop trying to sabotage my case by meddling with witnesses as you did at the temple today,” Sano said.

  “I’m not sabotaging you,” Reiko said. “I want justice, too, and I’ve found information that contradicts what Haru’s enemies have said about her. High Priest Anraku says her character is good.”

  “That’s not what he told me,” Sano said, recalling his interview with Anraku that afternoon. “When I told him I’d arrested Haru, he said it was for the best and offered whatever help he could provide in concluding the investigation.”

  Reiko’s expression went from shock to disbelief, then grim understanding. She said, “Anraku must have turned against Haru after I talked to him. The Black Lotus is protecting itself by sacrificing Haru. The sect must have committed the crimes, under Anraku’s orders.”

  Her manipulation of logic annoyed Sano. “Either Anraku is a good character witness or he’s an evil slanderer. You can’t have it both ways. And he didn’t seem dangerous. A bit odd, but no more so than many priests.”

  “You would think differently if you’d seen him with Lady Keisho-in,” Reiko said.

  “You shouldn’t have seen him with Lady Keisho-in. I told you to stay away from her. While I’m trying to protect our family’s safety and livelihood, you deliberately endanger us!”

  Reiko averted her gaze for an instant. In a swift change of subject, she said, “After leaving the temple, I went to Shinagawa.” She described poisoned wells, noxious fumes, a mysterious epidemic, more reported kidnappings, then an explosion and fire in a building owned by the Black Lotus. “Minister Fugatami believes the sect is working up to even more serious trouble. He’s going to speak to the Council of Elders tomorrow, and he invited you to attend the meeting.”

  “That’s out of the question,” Sano said, appalled that Reiko had again attempted to involve him in Minister Fugatami’s crusade. “For me to publicly ally myself with a man of such shaky reputation in the bakufu would damage my standing in the shogun’s court and strip me of power to accomplish anything at all.”

  “I beg you to go.” Reiko extended her hands to Sano in a gesture of desperate entreaty. “We must stop the Black Lotus’s attacks and make sure we find the real killer!”

  “I already have found her,” Sano retorted. Reiko started to protest, but Sano cut her off: “Whatever facts Minister Fugatami has, he can present them at Haru’s trial. We’ll have no further discussion.”

  A patter of footsteps penetrated the lethal atmosphere. Everyone turned as Masahiro trotted through the parlor door. Clad in a blue nightshirt, his hair tousled from sleep, he carried a small wooden container.

  “Mama. Papa,” he said. Beaming at them, he rattled the contents of the container. “Play!”

  “Not now,” Sano said.

  A nursemaid hurried into the room, murmuring apologies. Reiko said, “Go back to bed, Masahiro-chan, that’s a good bony.”

  The maid reached for him, but he scampered away, shrieking, “No! Me stay!”

  He stuck his plump little hand inside the container and hurled into the air a fistful of the black and white pebbles used in the game of go. As Reiko and the maid chased Masahiro, begging him to stop, he gleefully pelted them with pebbles. Hirata stepped over to Sano.

  “Sumimasen—excuse me, but I think you should meet with Minister Fugatami,” Hirata said in a low voice that the others wouldn’t hear. “If there’s the slightest chance that the Black Lotus set the fire and murdered those people, you can’t afford to disregard the minister’s information until the trial. By then, it will be too late for Haru, if she’s innocent. We must examine all the evidence beforehand.”

  Hirata was right, Sano acknowledged with a reluctant nod. In the Tokugawa legal system, most trials ended in a guilty verdict; persons tried were virtually condemned in advance. Even a wise, fair man like Magistrate Ueda wasn’t immune to making errant judgments based on his ingrained faith in tradition. As strongly as he believed her to be the culprit, Sano wanted to ensure a just trial for Haru.

  “All right, Masahiro-chan, that’s enough,” Reiko said, lifting her son and hugging him before she handed him to the maid. “Back to bed. Good night.”

  Watching, Sano saw another reason to meet with Minister Fugatami. He and Reiko and Masahiro were a family, and Sano must hold them together, even if it meant making a concession.

  After the maid had taken Masahiro away, Sano said to Reiko, “I’ll go to the council meeting tomorrow.”

  “You will?” Surprise lifted Reiko’s voice as she turned to him. She looked as though she wanted to ask why, but feared that questions might change his mind. Then her face lit up with the lovely, radiant smile Sano had missed. “Thank you,” she said, bowing with dignified grace.

  Sano nodded, hiding mixed feelings. Hope for their marriage cheered him, though he feared they would never agree about Haru.

  “Hirata-san and I have work to do,” Sano told Reiko. He edged toward the door, eager to leave before another argument could start. Besides, he and Hirata did have to talk about how to identify the spy in their midst. “I’ll see you later.”

  “What was that about?” Midori said.

  “All is not lost. When my husband talks to Minister Fugatami, I’m sure he’ll come around to my point of view.” Reiko laughed in exhilaration. The world seemed suddenly bright. “There’s still hope of proving the Black Lotus guilty of the crimes.”

  Midori sighed. “I wish I had some hope. I don’t think I’ll ever mean to Hirata-san what he means to me. You should have seen him flirting with O-hana just now.” Her voice trembled, and her eyes teared.

  Reiko put a consoling arm around Midori. “What about your plan to pretend you don’t care for him? Give it time to work. Don’t follow him around like you just did.”

  “It’s no use,” Midori said glumly. “I can’t help myself. Besides, I’m not fooling Hirata-san. When I went into the kitchen, he laughed and said, ‘Why do you try so hard to be aloof? I know you like me.’ How I wish there were some way to win his love!”

  As Midori brooded, Reiko turned her thoughts back to the investigation. “Today Minister Fugatami found many more examples of the Black Lotus hurting
people outside the temple,” she said, “but there’s no one to say what goes on inside the temple because the priests and nuns won’t talk. Pious Truth is gone. My husband couldn’t find anything when he was there, and his detectives were caught spying. I’m afraid that unless he gets definite proof of the sect’s wrongdoing, he’ll disregard the accusations against it and continue persecuting Haru. I wish there were some way to see inside the temple!”

  “I could go there and try.”

  “What?” Reiko stared at Midori, who gazed back at her with eyes now bright with hope. “You?”

  “Why not? It would solve your problem, and mine.” Excited, Midori continued, “I’ll hang around the temple and watch the nuns and priests. If I can see bad things happening, the sosakan-sama will have to do what you want.”

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t involve you,” Reiko said firmly. “The Black Lotus is too dangerous. I believe they kidnap people, poison, torture, and kill them.” Reiko described what she’d heard in Shinagawa and from Pious Truth. “If they catch you spying, there’s no telling what they might do.”

  “Oh, I’d be careful. I wouldn’t let them catch me.” Daring and confidence replaced Midori’s desolation.

  “My husband would never allow it,” Reiko said, not wanting to mention that she didn’t think Midori could handle the task.

  “He wouldn’t have to know until I was done,” Midori said.

  “Hirata-san will get angry at you for doing something his master wouldn’t approve of,” Reiko said.

  “Looking pretty and acting aloof has gotten me nowhere with Hirata-san, and I don’t know what else to do.” Midori flung out her arms in a reckless gesture. “What have I got to lose?”

  “Your life,” Reiko said.

  Hurt dimmed Midori’s expression. “You think I wouldn’t be a good spy, don’t you?” Her voice quaked; tears welled in her eyes. “You think I’m stupid.”

  “No, of course not,” Reiko hastened to assure her.

  “Then let me spy on the Black Lotus!”

  Reiko was caught in a serious dilemma. Refusal would injure Midori’s feelings and ruin their friendship; acquiescence could put Midori in grave peril. Still, Reiko couldn’t help noting the advantage of employing Midori as a spy. She looked so harmless and ordinary; the Black Lotus would never look twice at her, let alone guess that she was spying … .

  Common sense and concern for Midori prevailed over Reiko’s need to know what was happening inside the temple. “Midori-san, you must promise me never to go near the temple or anyone associated with the Black Lotus,” Reiko said sternly.

  When Midori continued pleading, Reiko talked about the sinister people in the sect and all the evil things she believed they had done. At last Midori bowed her head and nodded, stifling sobs. Reiko tasted the bitter knowledge that although she’d made the right choice, the investigation had created bad feelings between herself and yet another person close to her.

  22

  If there be persons who are clean and spotless as a pure gem,

  Diligent, compassionate, and reverent,

  Then preach the truth to them.

  —FROM THE BLACK LOTUS SUTRA

  A brilliant, clear autumn sky arched over the Zojo district. The morning sun gilded leaves turning yellow and red in the treetops. The warm weather had brought droves of pilgrims who mingled with nuns and priests in the marketplace. At the gate of the Black Lotus Temple, Midori climbed out of the palanquin that had carried her from Edo Castle. Nervous but excited, she hurried into the precinct, clutching the bulky parcel she’d brought. She paused, beholding the sights.

  There were certainly more trees and plants than in other temples, but the nuns, priests, and pilgrims strolling the grounds looked normal to Midori, as did the buildings. Children’s laughter enlivened the quiet. Probably Reiko had exaggerated the danger to frighten her away from the temple, Midori thought. She felt a pang of disappointment because she’d hoped for a little adventure, and a resurgence of the pain caused her by Hirata and Reiko last night. To them she would always be a handy friend but never worthy of Hirata’s love or Reiko’s respect … unless something changed. And Midori intended that it would. She was going to spy on the Black Lotus whether Hirata and Reiko approved or not. Now she marched over to a pair of nuns who stood outside the main hall.

  “Good morning,” Midori said, bowing. “I’ve come to join the nunnery.”

  Since yesterday she’d struggled with her conscience and decided she must break her promise to Reiko. Although her friend had lectured her on why she shouldn’t go to the temple, Midori had discerned how much Reiko wished to have a spy in the sect, and she’d thought of the best way to observe without arousing suspicion. She would show Hirata and Reiko what she could do!

  The nuns bowed; one of them said, “You must first be examined by our leaders. Please come with us.”

  Midori felt a flicker of trepidation as she followed the nuns to the back of the main hall. She had no idea how temples decided whether to admit a prospective nun.

  The nuns opened a door in a wing attached to the hall. “Please wait in there,” the older nun said.

  Midori slipped off her shoes and entered. The door closed. She found herself in a room furnished with a wall niche containing a butsudan—a wooden cabinet that held a written passage of Buddhist scripture—before which knelt a plain young woman, chanting prayers in a rapid monotone. She ignored Midori. By the window stood another woman. A few years older than Midori, she was pretty in a coarse way, with pert features, tanned skin, and a watchful expression.

  “She wants to show how pious she is,” she said, pointing at the praying woman. “Too bad there’s no one to see but us.”

  Midori smiled timidly.

  “I’m Toshiko,” the other woman said, crossing the room to stand near Midori. “What’s your name?”

  Midori had thought up an alias: “Umeko.”

  “So you’re joining the nunnery too?” Toshiko’s informal manner and cheap indigo robe marked her as a peasant.

  “If they’ll have me,” Midori said.

  Toshiko looked her over, curious. “Why do you want to be a nun?”

  The bold queries unsettled Midori, but she was accustomed to speak when spoken to, so she gave the story she’d prepared: “My family wanted me to marry a man I don’t like, so I ran away.”

  “Oh.” This common scenario seemed to satisfy Toshiko. “Well, I’m here because my father is poor and I’m the youngest of five daughters. No one will marry me because I have no dowry. It was either this or be a prostitute.”

  “I’m sorry,” Midori said, truly moved by the woman’s plight and admiring her matter-of-fact acceptance of it.

  The door opened, and a nun entered. She beckoned to the praying woman, who silently rose. They left the room together.

  “Think you’ll be happy here?” Toshiko said.

  “I hope so.”

  “I hear they’re very strict,” Toshiko said.

  Midori recalled the rumors of starvation, torture, and murder that Reiko had mentioned last night. Earlier, they’d only added thrills to her adventure, but she felt the first stirrings of terror.

  As a precaution she’d written a note to Reiko, explaining her plan to join the sect, and left it on Reiko’s desk. But what if Reiko didn’t find the note? No one would know where Midori was; there would be no one to rescue her if she got in trouble.

  “Don’t look so scared.” Laughing, Toshiko linked arms with Midori. “Stick with me. I’ll see you through.”

  Her friendliness comforted Midori, but soon the nun came for Toshiko, and Midori sat alone, waiting. The fear grew until she felt cold and shaky. She clutched her parcel, glad of something to hold. Wondering what comprised the official examination, she battled the impulse to flee. She thought of how upset Reiko would be if she knew Midori was here. Midori then thought of Hirata.

  She stayed.

  After what seemed ages, the nun took Midori to a building near the
back of the precinct. This was a low wooden structure nearly hidden by trees, with shutters closed over the windows. Alone, Midori entered a long room where a huge round ceiling lantern burned overhead. Five priests and five nuns were kneeling along opposite walls, and three figures sat upon a dais across the end of the room.

  “Kneel beneath the lantern,” ordered the big man at the dais’s center.

  Fluttery with nervousness, Midori obeyed, holding the parcel tight in her lap. She hadn’t expected so many people. Although the light focused upon her obscured her vision, she saw that the speaker was a priest with cruel features and a scar above his ear. Reiko had described the sect officials to Midori, and she recognized him as the priest Kumashiro. The ugly man at his right must be Dr. Miwa, and the nun at his left, Abbess Junketsu-in. They looked more frightening than they’d sounded in the safety of Reiko’s parlor. The other priests and nuns were nondescript strangers. Stern and foreboding, they all regarded Midori. From elsewhere in the building came the sound of muffled chanting.

  “Tell us your name and why you wish to join us,” Kumashiro said.

  In a thin, quavery voice, Midori related her false story, adding, “I want to devote my life to religion.”

  “What’s that you’ve brought?” Junketsu-in said. With her elegant robe and head drape and her classic features, she was pretty but somehow sinister.

  “It’s a kimono.” Midori faltered. “A gift for the temple, to pay for my keep.”

  A nun conveyed the parcel to the dais. Junketsu-in unwrapped the pale green silk garment printed with gleaming bronze phoenixes. “Very nice,” she said, laying it by her side.

  Midori regretted the sacrifice of her favorite, most expensive kimono for a good cause.

  “Serve us tea,” Kumashiro said.

  A teapot and cups sat on a tray near the dais. Midori resented these commoners for treating the daughter of a daimyo like a servant, but years as a lady-in-waiting had taught her to obey orders. She poured the tea with unsteady hands. When she presented a cup to Priest Kumashiro, the liquid sloshed on his robe.