The Jade Lioness

by Christina Courtenay

  Was it possible that he’d been wrong though? The women at Imada’s establishment seemed to think that fornication was a natural phenomenon, something humans were made to do. They weren’t ashamed of their profession and she’d never seen them being abused by other citizens. Why then was it such a sin? Cousin Midori had told her many times that she didn’t believe Temperance’s father was right in everything. She said there were always many ways of looking at something, and who was to say which was right or wrong? Midori’s father had taught her beliefs that differed fundamentally from those of her English uncle, and Midori always claimed the Japanese way of thinking made more sense. The wonderful feelings Temperance herself had experienced with Kazuo hadn’t felt sinful either, unless enjoyment was a bad thing in itself, which surely couldn’t be the case?

  Temperance was beginning to see what Midori had meant, but couldn’t quite subdue her Puritan conscience or set aside her Christian upbringing. She felt that she still had a lot to learn before reaching any conclusions.

  The long trek towards Edo was the most physically difficult task Temperance had ever undertaken and the first few days passed in a blur of exertion and pain.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Kazuo threw the question over his shoulder every so often, and each time she gritted her teeth and panted out a ‘yes’, even though she longed to scream ‘no!’ instead.

  She registered steep hills, dense forests and thick climbing ivy vines that seemed to trip her up at every opportunity, but she didn’t really take in any part of the scenery. She was concentrating too hard on simply putting one foot in front of the other without flagging.

  Kazuo stopped at streams and waterfalls so that they could drink and replenish their water supply, as well as catch fish for their supper. Temperance was too tired to appreciate their wild beauty and wanted nothing more than to sit slumped against a boulder or giant tree root and close her eyes.

  Gradually, however, as the days went by, she found herself less tired and her body began to respond without its previous sluggishness. She was even able to appreciate her surroundings at last. Lush forests, beginning to change into their spectacular autumn hues, enveloped them in a cocoon of vegetation. From time to time they came upon steep mountain ravines and swift-flowing rivers and streams that quite took her breath away.

  ‘You are gaining strength,’ Kazuo commented with a smile when she drew his attention to a particularly fine view. ‘Good. I was beginning to think I would have to find somewhere to hide for a few days.’

  ‘I was trying my best,’ she protested.

  ‘I know.’ He grinned. ‘And I appreciate your efforts. You’ve done well.’

  His praise made her feel all warm inside, which was ridiculous really, and she told herself not to be so silly, but somehow his appreciation meant a lot to her. More than she’d realised. She had a sneaking suspicion that she could very easily fall in love with this man, but no good would come of it and so she clamped down on such thoughts. They simply had no future together.

  There was no reason why they couldn’t be friends, however. Although they hardly spoke at all during their long daily walks, she felt that there was a growing bond between them, and they walked in a companionable silence which didn’t feel strained in any way. Sometimes Kazuo took her hand to help her over a particularly difficult patch of ground or a stream, and at such times Temperance felt an affinity with him that she’d never had with anyone before. A wonderful sense of belonging, of rightness. Her hand felt small and cherished in his large, warm one, and she drew strength from this brief contact. She knew he would never let any harm come to her if he could help it and for her own part, she would do anything she could to help him achieve his goals.

  If only it were possible.

  The weather continued fair for the first few days of their journey, but late in the afternoon of the fifth day, a sudden rainstorm assailed them without warning. Thunder boomed, echoing around the mountain tops, with great flashes of lightning dividing the sky, while fat raindrops began to pelt down mercilessly.

  ‘We must find shelter,’ Kazuo shouted above the din. ‘Follow me!’

  They had been walking along a deep gorge and he grabbed her hand and pulled her along towards the nearest mountain side. As luck would have it, there was a huge overhang of rock and they were able to squeeze in underneath it and thereby escape from the torrents unleashed by the rain clouds. It wasn’t a minute too soon.

  ‘I’m half soaked already,’ Temperance complained. ‘Where on earth did that come from?’

  ‘Storms can come on suddenly like that, it just happens.’ Kazuo shrugged. ‘Here, let’s huddle together for warmth.’ He sat down, leaning his back against the hard rock and put his arms around her, pulling her close. ‘Our clothes will soon dry, but it wouldn’t do to catch a chill in the meantime.’

  Temperance was very happy to be held like that and nestled closer, breathing in the scent of him. His clothes smelled of fresh mountain air and greenery, while underlying this was his own unique essence. She closed her eyes, savouring the moment, but soon opened them again to watch the spectacular fireworks of nature going on outside their little hideaway.

  ‘Are you sure we’re safe here?’ she asked. The crashing of the thunder seemed to be coming ever closer and the streaks of lightning appeared to be almost bouncing off the nearby rock face.

  ‘Perfectly. The lightning could never reach under here.’

  He sounded so sure Temperance felt all her fears melt away. Instead she began to notice things like his even breathing beneath her ear, and his steady heartbeat, clearly audible despite the noise going on around them. She closed her eyes once more and, lulled by the comforting tattoo from inside his chest, she felt herself drifting into sleep.

  This was where she wanted to stay – in his arms. Perhaps he wanted that too?

  But when she woke some time later, to find the world outside a wet, but quieter place, her cheek was no longer resting on his shoulder. He had placed a piece of clothing under her head instead and sat as far away from her as possible, staring out at the softly falling rain.

  Nothing had changed.

  Kazuo hugged his knees and rested his chin on top of them, concentrating hard on the soft curtain of rain in front of him. He listened to the gurgling of tiny streams, merging into larger ones as they headed down the slope of the hill, and the pattering of raindrops on large leaves nearby. He drew in deep, calming breaths of moist air, heavily scented by the drenched vegetation, and tried his best to cleanse his airways of the sweet smell of Temi. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a movement and knew that she was awake, but he didn’t look her way. He couldn’t allow himself to do so.

  He was finding it increasingly difficult – almost impossible in fact – to be near her all day, every day, without touching her. Holding her in his arms earlier had felt so right, as if that was where she belonged. But how could that be? Surely the gods didn’t mean for him to marry this foreign girl?

  He would be very happy if that was indeed his fate, but there were so many difficulties inherent in taking such a step that he couldn’t see how it could possibly be the right thing to do. No, it was more likely that the gods were testing him somehow. They had been on his side so far during his mission. Even though he had yet to find what he sought, they’d kept him safe, but Temi was a definite distraction so it may be that she’d been sent to test his resolve.

  Well, he thought, he was strong-willed and had proved that he could resist the temptation of her soft body once already. No doubt he could do it again.

  But only if he stayed well away from her.

  And only if she stopped looking at him with such absolute trust in those strangely beautiful blue eyes.

  They came at last to the edge of the Kanto plain, the richest agricultural area in the whole of Japan, according to Kazuo.

  ‘Edo lies due east from here,’ he informed Temperance, ‘and you’ll be happy to hear that there are no more mountains to cross.’

/>   ‘Thank God,’ she muttered. Her feet were covered in blisters and her sandals nearly worn out. She sincerely hoped that walking on flat ground would be easier, because she didn’t think either her feet or shoes would last much longer.

  ‘You should be saying “thank the gods”,’ Kazuo pointed out. ‘It would be safer for both of us, in case anyone heard you.’

  ‘Oh, yes, sorry.’ Temperance knew Christians weren’t tolerated and the last thing she’d want to do would be to have anyone suspicious of them because of something she said. ‘I’ll try to remember.’

  ‘Good. Now we should be joining the Tokaido Highway in a day or so and we’ve avoided the worst part of it – the Hakone pass.’

  ‘Why is that so bad?’

  ‘It’s very high for one thing, so crossing it is an arduous task, but also there are robbers lying in ambush. And although I’m well able to defend myself, I’m not sure I could take them on if there was a whole group of them. Much better not to go there at all.’

  ‘How long is this highway?’

  ‘It goes all the way from Kyoto to Edo, a journey of about twelve to fifteen days on foot. There are no less than fifty-three so called “stations” along the way, where travellers can stop for a rest at a tea house or inn, but it still feels like it goes on forever.’

  ‘Yes, I can imagine.’ Before coming to Japan, Temperance had never left her native Plymouth, so she was eager to see this great road for herself, as well as the people who used it, but Kazuo again reminded her of the need to be careful.

  ‘Please keep your gaze on the ground at all times. If anyone should catch sight of your eyes, we’re done for. I don’t think our story of you being an albino would be accepted as readily here. The people in the mountains are more ignorant, whereas travellers along the Tokaido Highway will be wiser and more sophisticated.’

  Temperance nodded. She would heed his warning.

  The roads across the plain were easier to travel than the hazardous routes through the mountains, but it was tiring nonetheless. Temperance breathed a sigh of relief when they reached Totsuka at last.

  ‘This is the rest stop where we join the Tokaido,’ Kazuo whispered. ‘We are only about a day’s walk from Edo now and most people spend the night here before continuing the rest of the journey. We will do likewise.’

  The approach to this station was lined with beautifully shaped pine trees, but Temperance didn’t dare more than a glance at them before lowering her gaze again. There were a great many people about and she knew she had to be extra careful from now on. It was a shame, as there was so much to observe, but she couldn’t risk jeopardising Kazuo’s mission simply because she was curious.

  Most of their fellow travellers appeared to be men, although she glimpsed two women being carried in a kago each. This was a slightly simpler conveyance than an enclosed palanquin, open on the sides. It looked like a sedan chair or sling that had been suspended from a crossbeam and each was carried by two men. Temperance also noticed a less affluent woman on foot with a small child tied to her back. Her loose-fitting outer garment had been adjusted to wrap around the child as well, so all that could be seen was a small face peering over the top. Temperance thought it looked like an excellent method of carrying a child, seeing as it left the mother’s arms free to do other things. The child itself was enchanting, just like the children they’d seen in Hanano’s village, with a mop of thick, black hair that stood virtually straight up on top of its tiny head. Temperance wanted to smile at the little one, but averted her gaze instead.

  The station itself consisted of a small tea house which really did serve tea and wasn’t a euphemism for anything else. It had a thatched roof, dusty and worn, but seemingly watertight, as well as a lodging house and a stable. There were quite a few other travellers, some just resting, some grouped around an officious-looking man who was writing something down in a book.

  ‘What is he doing?’ Temperance whispered to Kazuo, curious as always to learn more of this amazing country.

  ‘He is the station official. He arranges for people to have a change of horses or bearers for their palanquins, then he has to record the fares paid in his notebook.’

  ‘That seems very organised.’ Temperance marvelled at the way the Japanese did everything in such an orderly fashion. Nothing seemed left to chance.

  ‘But of course, how else should it be?’

  Kazuo requested a bed for the night for the two of them and they were soon seated in a quiet corner with a bowl of soba each.

  ‘This is heavenly.’ Temperance sighed with satisfaction. The steaming hot buckwheat noodles in a clear broth, with large deep-fried prawns in a golden batter on top, tasted better than anything she had eaten for a long time. She finished every last morsel, slurping her noodles the way she noticed everyone else doing.

  Kazuo smiled at her obvious enjoyment. ‘It is a speciality of this region. You’ll no doubt get tired of it soon enough.’

  ‘I shouldn’t think so. I feel as if I could live on this for the rest of my life.’

  With a full stomach and aching feet, it was a relief to bed down on a thin mattress in the poorer quarters of the inn, and despite the bad quality of their futon, Temperance didn’t complain. She lay down, facing the wall and making sure that her hair remained well covered, in case anyone should happen to look their way. Kazuo took up his usual position back to back with her and she felt as if she had a human shield, which was very comforting.

  ‘Sleep well,’ Kazuo whispered, ‘tomorrow we’ll reach Edo.’

  Temperance hardly dared to believe him. It seemed like a dream, but what would happen when they arrived in the capital? It appeared to her that danger lurked everywhere, waiting to catch her unawares, and only God could keep her safe. She closed her eyes and prayed.

  Chapter Sixteen

  After another bowl of the delicious soba, they set out early the next morning, feeling more refreshed than they had for a long time. The next station after Totsuka was Hodogaya, a small village nestling next to a low hill, which they reached easily, but they didn’t stop here. Instead they crossed a bridge over a wide stream and continued on their way.

  Soon after, however, there was a great noise from behind them and Kazuo pulled Temperance to the side of the road.

  ‘Get down onto the ground and kneel,’ he hissed.

  ‘What? Why?’

  Kazuo gave her a little push as she hesitated in confusion and kneeled beside her, his head bowed down. Temperance followed suit, still not understanding what was happening. ‘There is a great lord approaching,’ he said quietly, ‘and we must make obeisance to him as he passes with his retinue. If we don’t, we could be severely punished.’

  ‘But you’re a nobleman yourself,’ Temperance protested.

  ‘Not at the moment, remember? Now hush, please, I’ll explain later.’

  A long convoy of men came round a bend in the road; a mounted guard first, then the lord himself, and finally an endless stream of attendants on foot, hurrying along at a half-run in order to keep up with the riders. Temperance tried not to breathe in the dust they stirred up while marching by, but it was difficult to avoid it and she ended up coughing several times. The procession appeared to go on forever, with hundreds of feet tramping past, and her knees ached when they finally disappeared and she was able to stand up again.

  ‘What a ridiculous custom,’ she muttered. ‘We’re not slaves, for heaven’s sake.’

  Kazuo frowned at her, while brushing the dust off his knees. ‘Please do not ever voice such thoughts in public,’ he warned. ‘Commoners here know their duty and never question it. We mustn’t either.’

  ‘If you say so,’ Temperance replied, but she still thought it a very silly thing to have to do. What if it was pouring with rain and the ground was muddy? Or even covered in snow? She shook her head. If the man had been a king or an emperor, she could have understood it, but for a mere lord to expect such reverence seemed wrong. Nevertheless, she had to do as everyone el
se did, so she told herself it was best to become accustomed to it.

  The highway soon became steeper as they approached Kanagawa, which consisted of a street that ran the length of the top of a cliff overlooking the huge sweep of Edo Bay. There were plenty of tea houses here and Temperance was amused by the persistent efforts of serving women outside each one, trying their best to entice travellers into their particular establishment. They beckoned and called, and if that didn’t work some even resorted to dragging unwary customers inside. Temperance made sure she kept well out of their way, while Kazuo shook his head at such goings-on.

  ‘Honestly, you’d think they had enough customers without having to use such methods,’ he muttered. He too steered clear of the shrill women. ‘Look at the view,’ he added, ‘isn’t it magnificent here?’

  It was indeed, but Temperance didn’t dare admire it for too long until they were well away from the throng of people around the rest station.

  By the time they reached Kawasaki, the next stop, Temperance had forgotten about the sea view. Instead she found it difficult to take her eyes off the incredible sight of Mount Fuji which presided over the landscape, majestic in the distance.

  ‘That is simply beautiful,’ she breathed, staring in awe at the snow-clad summit and sides which gleamed in the sunlight. It seemed to her almost like a benign being, or perhaps a serene presence watching over them all. She now understood why people often referred to it as ‘Fuji-san’, as if it were a person.

  ‘Yes, isn’t it?’ Kazuo seemed pleased that she was enjoying the sights of his country, and Temperance realised that he must have missed this view himself if he’d been banished for a number of years.

  ‘How long is it since you were last in Edo?’

  ‘Oh, it must be three years now.’