by I. J. Parker
The little man stopped and turned. "For a piece of' silver, I'll take you and answer all your questions," he offered. "It's a bargain, seeing it's getting dark, and the prowlers will be out."
"The prowlers;'"
"Robbers. They're always looking for lost tourists." He grinned.
It was a good deal of' money ,just to be shown the way, but Akittada felt sorry for the dwarf. His odd assortment of, multi-colored clothes cornsisted no doubt of,
cast-offs from some well-to-do child and he probably had a hard time making a living. People were not kind to the deformed, as he knew well enough from Saburo who had been rejected for his disfigured face. Besides, with his short stature, the boy was not likely to find work as a laborer. He said, "Very well. A piece of silver it is." He added rather rashly, "And if you're useful to me later on, I'll pay you for your services. What's your name?"
"Junichiro." The youth made Akitada a bow, grinned widely, and asked, "And yours, master?" "Yoshimine. I'm from Owari." Akitada enjoyed his alias. This time he need not fear the terrible events that had befallen him last time he used it.
"And what's your business here?" "I'm just a visitor."
The youngster cocked his head and looked Akitada over. The spiky reddish hair and colored clothing gave him a raffish air, reminding Akitada of some of the acrobats he had seen at country fairs. After a thorough evaluation, the dwarf said, "You're some kind of official on a jaunt, I think. Do you like pretty girls? Kinky sex? Perhaps some nice boys? Or a good party with lots of partners? I know all the best places in Uji-tachi."
Slightly affronted by this misreading of his character, Akitada snapped, "I bet you do-and get paid for bringing in customers to be fleeced. No, I definitely don't want any of that. But you can tell me a little about Ujitachi. I take it it's full of brothels. Anything else of interest?"
Not at all embarrassed, Junichiro gave a shout of laughter. "You're right about the town and me getting paid. See, if l don't hustle, I don't eat, and I'm a growing boy." He laughed again. "But I know everything there's to know about the shrines and the town. Go ahead, ask me anything."
"Later. You'd better take me there first."
"Well, follow me!" The dwarf started walking again, and Akitada followed. He had indeed taken a wrong turn because Junichiro soon took him down another track. It was not very long before the woods thinned and they came out into a wide valley between two mountains. To both sides of the track stretched rice paddies, now close to harvest, and ahead-stretched the roofs of the town along a river.
Akitada drought it likely that he would have found his way out of the forest eventually since he had been this close, but he said nothing.
The valley was bisected by the Isuzu River. A wide road followed the river, and the town lined the road. He recognized Uji-tachi from his earlier visit, though the place had grown amazingly over the span of twenty years or more. The sun was low already, but there was still a great deal of traffic on the road.
His companion gave a sudden shout. "Look over there," he cried. "By the river. Something's happened." He started into a sort of waddling run on his short, bent legs toward a place on the river bank where a crowd had gathered.
Akitada followed. People made room reluctantly, but Junichiro passed through between people's legs. His
short legs slowed his pace, but he used his arms and elbows to good effect and soon disappeared from sight. Akitada could not see over people's heads but guessed they had found a body in the river. Reeds grew thickly along the bank, but he caught glimpses of the red tunics of policemen.
He did not want to attract undue attention but, given his assignment, he was curious to know who had been killed or why. With some maneuvering, he managed to get closer to the scene where he found Junichiro already in position. The body in the reeds was that of a young woman. Young women drowning in towns with a lively sex trade was nothing new. In Eguchi, prostitutes had killed themselves on an almost daily basis. And this particular girl had whitened her face, though her clothing was proper enough.
"Who is she?" he asked the dwarf.
To his surprise, Junichiro raised a stricken face and, after a moment, turned away and left.
A tall police officer arrived belatedly, and the crowd parted to make room for him. The three constables with the body snapped to attention and saluted. "A drowning, Lieutenant," one of them informed his superior. "Suicide, most likely."
The officer grunted and bent over the body. "Not a mark on her," the constable prompted.
The lieutenant turned the woman's head, and Akitada saw that she was younger than he had thought. But there was something else wrong. He stepped closer.
The constable snapped, "Stay back, sir. This is police business," and the lieutenant looked up for a moment.
Akitada retreated.
The lieutenant straightened up. "You're an idiot, Hiroshi," he said. "This one had her throat cut. It's murder. Take her back to the station and fetch the coroner." Glancing at the crowd, he asked, "Anyone know who she is?"
There was some silence and some foot shuffling, then a woman said, "She worked in Mrs. Akechi's shop." The lieutenant said to his constables, "Send for her employer." With that he turned and walked away briskly. The dead girl was unceremoniously shouldered by one of the constables and carried away.
Akitada had noticed the pale gash on the girl's neck and had been tempted to correct the constable himself, but it was just as well that he had not meddled. The dead had a way of finding him and claiming his attention, but he had no time for Mrs. Akechi's maid. He turned away from the scene and called out, "Hey, Junichiro!"
The dwarf appeared by his side, still looking rather pale. He clearly had no stomach for corpses.
"Did you know her?" Akitada asked.
"I knew her. She was nice to me," Junichiro said. He added, "And they don't know the half of it."
"Oh?"
"She went to work in a brothel. That's what killed her. I told her not to, but she liked the money. Those girls never know who they are with."
"Shouldn't you tell the police?"
Junichiro shook his head. "Let them find out for themselves."
"Very well. I need a place to stay. What do you recommend?"
Junichiro gave Akitada's plain black ramie robe a glance and sighed. "Best stay at the River Palace. The Golden Dragon and Jade Pavilion will rob you."
Such advice was dubious. Akitada assumed that Junichiro lead an agreement with the River Palace's owner. But he said nothing and agreed.
The inn was close to the river, but it was hardly palatial. It was small, elderly, and somewhat run down.
Thec innkeeper was a muscular, brutish-looking man in his thirties. Akitada asked for a room and a bath, signed the register as Yoshimine Takatsuna, tax official from Mikawa, and parted from Junichiro, who hopfully suggested a tour of the town. But Akitada was tired from his long trek through the woods and said good bye.
3 Lieutenant Matsuura
Somewhat later, greatly refreshed after a nice soak in the inn's bath tub, Akitada decided to go out again after all. He would walk the length Uji-tachi first to get an impression of the town and then have a bite to eat before going to bed. "The town was perhaps irrelevant to his special assignment but he liked to be informed about his surroundings.
To his surprise, the dwarf, was still in the reception room of the in squatting in a corner and watching some new arrivals making arrangements for their lodging. When lie saw Akitada, he bounced up and waddled over.
"There you are, master, and looking rested for a night on the town."
Akitada had recognized one of the new guests. He was the merchant from the harbor at Oyodo, and again he wondered about his behavior. Given the man's obvious wealth, he would have expected him to stay at one of the better inns. And what was more, the surly innkeeper greeted him like a long lost friend.
Junichiro plucked his sleeve. "Let's go! You must be starving."
Akitada chuckled. "If you do a good job
showing me around, I'll buy you dinner."
Junichiro practically danced out the door, followed by a laughing Akitada.
The sun had set, and all up and down the single main street lanterns and torches glowed. It was a pretty sight. The lights made the colors brighter, while the night softened their garishness. The shrine visitors were enjoying themselves among the fleshpots of Uji-tachi, walking up and down the street in groups or singly, disappearing into wine shops or eyeing the pretty girls who stood outside the shops and eating places, inviting the customers in. Several of the young men wore the uniform of the imperial guard, reminding Akitada that, whatever low pursuits took place in Uji-tachi, an important member of His Majesty's family resided here. Several of the businesses were brothels, their staff dressed elaborately and their faces painted. The dead girl had worked in one of these at night but was said to have been a shop girl during the day.
Junichiro was waddling and hopping beside him, pointing and explaining the varied delights of the town. Akitada interrupted him, "Junichiro, you knew the dead girl quite well, didn't you?"
,Junichiro shot him a glance mid nodded. "She was kind. Not like the rest. They make fun of me and laugh. She never did that."
"All the more reason why you should tell the police what you know. Don't you want her killer found?" "What good would it do her? Besides, those constables just give me a hard time. Why should I help them?"
They walked along iii silence for a while. It was none of Akitada's business, and the dwarf must have his reasons for staying away from the police. But still, something about the murder nagged at him.
"'They say she worked in a shop," he said.
The boy brightened. "A very fine shop," he said. "Mrs. Akechi sells only the best silks! The High Constable himself is a customer. I saw him there just the other day. You need a present for your wife or girl friend?" He waggled his eyebrows. "Think how pleased your lady will be. She won't ask about your pleasures here."
"Enough, imp. "There won't be any pleasures, and you know nothing about my ladies."
Junichiro giggled and hopped ahead. "There's the shop," lie cried, pointing to a sign.
In spite of the death of' one of the employees, the shop was open for business. Three women, all dressed in black or gray cotton robes, waited on several male customers who seemed to have had the same idea as Junichiro. Business was good, for one of them rose from his place and directed a boy to carry his purchase of several lengths of figured silk. Akitada eyed these as the boy passed him and decided that they were quite handsome. He went inside the shop and took the place vacated by the previous customer.
An older woman, very handsome in black silk, approached, bowed deeply, and asked how she might serve the gentleman.
Junichiro suddenly appeared beside Akitada. "This is my gentleman, Auntie Akechi," he said.
So this was the shop owner. She stiffened, though her fixed smile never left her face. "Good evening, Junichiro," she said. "Perhaps you might wait outside until the gentleman has finished his shopping."
The dwarf made a face. "Oh, all right, but don't forget. I brought him to you directly." He waddled away. The shop owner seemed uneasy. She glanced after him and scanned the people in the street outside. Guessing at her worries, Akitada said, "I happened to arrive today just as the police found the body of your, er, maid. I was afraid you would close your shop."
The woman flushed. "Poor Michiko was my assistant," she murmured. "She was a great help in the shop. I hope the police find the animal who did this. It's getting so women aren't safe in the streets anymore." She twisted her hands together and looked toward the street again. "I cannot afford to close my shop. The employees depend on their wages, and so do I. I'm a single woman with obligations."
"Yes, I see. Well, can you show me something special for a young woman, please?"
"Is it for your own lady or someone else, sir?" "For my wife," Akitada said firmly.
She left and a moment later a boy brought an armful of silks in sedate colors. One of the sales women followed with another stack of more brightly colored fabrics. The darker colors would have suited Tamako, his first wife, but Yukiko was only twenty. For a moment, he was at a loss. What should he aim for? Something a young girl would like, or the more elegant shades Tamako had favored. He was in his forties, and at times the discrepancy in their ages still shocked him, ' but he was also secretly proud that such a young and pretty woman should have chosen him.
And Yukiko had chosen him. In retrospect, none of his marriage had been his own doing. He had not expected that a pretty girl her age and rank would look twice at a dull, middle-aged stick like him. He smiled a little, then quickly selected a pretty sky blue silk for his daughter Yasuko. His selection for Yukiko took longer, but he finally settled on a deep rose-colored fabric that was heavy and glossy.
Mrs. Akechi returned and, recognizing weak resistance when she saw it, she complimented him on his good taste and immediately sent for several pieces of embroidered silk to demonstrate how these would improve the rose-colored silk if made into jackets or trains.
He bought two of these and had everything sent to his inn, then left much poorer but quite happy with his purchases. Both Mrs. Akechi and Junichiro, who had watched the transaction from the door, were smiling. They continued their tour of Uji-tachi. The shops were of a bewildering variety, selling all sorts of things the jaded traveler might wish to take home with him as a memento. First and foremost, of course, were the sellers of amulets carrying blessings from the sun goddess, but Buddhist divinities were also represented. More frivolous were lacquer boxes, combs, and writing utensils suitable as gills, and if funds were running low, there were paper umbrellas and painted fans. Food sellers were also in evidence, but Akitada ignored these and told Junichiro to select a restaurant that served decent food.
When the dwarf stopped before a large, brightly lit place called The Phoenix, Akitada balked. "Look," he said, "I know they'll pay you something to bring in a customer, but I'll be in a very bad mood if the quality of thie food doesn't surpass the price."
Juuiclliro grinned and took lhim down the street to a place that specialized in fresh fish soup. It had a reasuringly local clientele, and Juuiclliro and Akitada found room on a bench outside where they could watch people.
While they waited for their meal, Akitada asked "Do you remember the well-dressed man at the inn? The one who lead just arrived as we were leaving?"
"You mean Master Murata?"
"You know him? How did you manage that?"
"He's a regular guest there. Comes every few weeks." The dwarf chortled. "He comes for business and pleasure"
The waitress brought large howls of' fish soup, and Akitada paid. "What sort of business?'" he asked after they were alone again.
"He owns ships, I think. Very wealthy but stingy and mean" Junichiro raised his howl, slurped, and smacked Ills lips. "Good! Go ahead and eat."
The soup was indeed good, and Akitada was hungry after the unsatisfactory noodle soup in Oyodo. He filed the information about the merchant away. It probably meant nothing. A ship owner might have legitimate business talking to rough characters ill a harbor, and if' the man was stingy, he was likely to stay in cheap places.
'Ihey devoted their attention to the excellent fish soup. Akltada saw that Junchiiro had a healthy appetite in spite of his small stature.
Watching the people passing in the street, he felt some dismay at how this place had changed since he had last been here. All of' these people, mostly men, were bent on pleasure. The contrast between the nightlife in Uji-tachi and the most venerable and simple of shrines seemed unimaginable. What did the goddess make of all this?
Given the fact that he had encountered a murder after barely setting foot in Ise province, Akltada got a strong, if irratiollal, feeling that nothing good would come of, his assigmlent, no matter how simple it seemed.
Just as he set his empty bowl down and thought about bed again, he was startled to see a very handsome and e
legant man in costly clothes striding down the street. He looked remote and had pale features and a haunted look about him. He also seemed alone when Akitada would have expected a handful of servants to accompany him.
"Who is that?" he asked Junichiro.
The dwarf also gaped after the young nobleman. "That's Lord Minamoto. He has a hunting lodge up the mountain, but he never comes to Uji-tachi. I wonder what's up with him." He had finished his soup before Akitada and now looked eager to be gone.
At that moment, a red-coated police constable suddenly crossed the street and stopped before them. He merely glanced at Junichiro, who shrank back, and said to Akitada, "Compliments of Lieutenant Matsuura, sir. He wants to see you."
Akitada raised his brows. He had little confidence in the local police after watching them earlier. "You must be mistaken, Constable, "he said." I've only just arrived and have no business with the police."
"Sorry, sir. The lieutenant pointed you out to me. He waved a hand in the direction of a building on the other side of the street.
Akitada saw the flag of the local police administration drooping limply in the muggy night air. "Very well," he said with a frown. "We are finished here." Turning to Junichiro, he added, "Run along now, imp. Perhaps I'll have some use for you in the morning."
The dwarf made him a bow and hurried off after the handsome Lord Minamoto.
The constable looked alter him. "Best not to encourage him. He's hinin. Trash. He'll steal you blind. Now, if you don't mind, the lieutenant's a busy man."
Though irritated by the constable's words, Akitada reminded himself that he was supposed to be a mere low-ranking public servant and followed the impatient constable across the street.
For a town as small as Uji-tachi, the police presence was impressive. The station building extended in the back, no doubt to make room for a jail large enough to hold all the drunks and troublemakers the town produced. Akitada was shown into the commanding officer's room, where the lieutenant he had seen earlier at the river rose to meet him.
