by Fuyumi Ono
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," Rikou smiled. "Rather, it might be better to think about ways to accept more refugees from Kou. We'd actually be taking the pressure off Kei, seeing that Kei hardly has the resources to support them these days."
Senshin grunted in agreement. "The problem is, how to get the Kou refugees to Sou?"
"We could transport them by sea," suggested Ritatsu, making a note. Writing with one hand, he raised the other and added, "Going from the Red Sea to the Blue Sea is problematic. For the time being, we can maximize the number of ships putting into harbor on the Red Sea coast, and after that use the Kyokai to send ships to pick up refugees moving north up the Kou coast."
"There aren't any good harbors on the Kyokai, are there?"
Expecting the question, Rikou nodded. "There are only two harbors big enough for large ships. But quite a few capable of handling fishing trawlers."
"Then small is the way to go. That way they can dock at the fishing ports too. In any case, we couldn't get enough larger ships out of dry dock in time. We don't have enough ships now, so we'll have to build more. Trawlers don't make the best ferries, but combined into a fleet, we can drastically increase the number of routes."
"Hmm, I hadn't thought of that," agreed Meiki. "Let's do it. If we build a lot of big ships in a hurry, we'd eventually end up with no way to use them. At least fishing trawlers can be sold to fishermen once we're done with them. Traveling up the Kyokai and gathering refugees from the north of Kou will relieve the pressure on Kei."
"Indeed. The rest of the problem then becomes Kyou's," said Ritatsu, looking up at Rikou.
"I dropped by Kyou on my way home. I told them that storm clouds were brewing."
"What's the logistical situation in Kyou?"
"They've set aside emergency stores to deal with Hou. In an emergency, those can be diverted to aid refugees from Ryuu. Contrary to expectations, Ryuu seems to be hanging in there. But if things were to take a turn for the worse and not resolve themselves quickly enough, the situation could grow dire."
Bunki sighed. "Kyou can't carry Hou and Ryuu by herself. In particular, Hou has a geographical dependency on Kyou. Does Kyou have friendly relations with Han next door?"
"I don't think so."
"Then it'd probably be a good idea to think about providing Kyou some aid. At least to ensure a minimal amount of food stores."
"That wouldn't work, Bunki." Meiki smiled. "Think about the time and labor and money required to transport it. Rather than providing food stores ourselves, it'd be more efficient to augment Kyou's Imperial Treasury directly. Besides, if we're bringing refugees from Kou, we're going to have to call on our food reserves. On top of that, if we try to purchase rice on the open market in order to ship it to Kyou, commodity prices will go through the roof."
"You are probably right about that."
"The best course might be to warn the Royal Kyou to monitor the price of grain. That and lumber. It's one of the main exports in Kyou, Hou and Ryuu, isn't it? If two of those kingdoms start to falter, prices will shoot up. Grain or lumber, loosening up supplies here so surpluses can flow north would likely prove the most efficient strategy."
"But—" Bunki started to say.
Senshin interrupted her. "What your mother is saying is correct. Sending actual matériel would not be good. People take that kind of thing personally. They feel they're being robbed of their ability to take independent action. As far as the refugees are concerned, the most important thing for them is to persevere and not lose hope. That's what we can provide."
"Ah—true—"
"We have a duty to help out where we can. But once we've helped that person to his feet, we also have a duty to let go. I think that assisting Kyou through her Imperial Treasury so she can direct aid to the refugees is a good idea. But Kyou should be the one directing the aid. A neighboring kingdom handing out assistance will reassure the citizens of Ryuu, who will in the future feel a sense of obligation. That would be just as true if Sou were providing the aid, but with Kyou, they will be in a much better position to return the favor because of the geography. Whatever Sou did would likely never be repaid. A debt that cannot be repaid is little different from a handout. Getting refugees accustomed to such a relationship would break that which is most important to them."
Bunki nodded. Senshin smiled and turned to Rikou. "The same applies to you. I don't so much mind you spending your way through the Imperial Treasury on behalf of the people of Kou, as long you keep in mind that it's possible to be charitable to a fault."
"I understand."
Senshin sighed. "Well, wherever you go, you manage to bring home the news of the world. It's much appreciated."
"Don't encourage him, Father," Ritatsu interjected. "When it comes to Rikou, it'd be better to encourage a little self-reflection than letting him bask in praise."
"You don't need to keep beating that drum. I'm committed to the refugee problem."
"And we'll hold you to it. Count on having your feet held to the fire."
"I figured as much."
"And you can start," said the scowling Ritatsu, "by getting off your butt and stabling your kijuu. How much longer are you going to make it wait out there?"
Smiling at the chagrined Rikou, Shoushou got to her feet. "I'll—"
"That's fine, Shoushou," Meiki said crisply. "People who make messes should at least learn to clean up after them. Goodness gracious, you're not children anymore."
At this, everybody burst out laughing.
"That's for certain."
"Yeah, it's about bloody time our brother became an adult."
"There's nothing funny about a six-hundred year old child."
Grinning as well, Rikou bobbed his head. "Yes, yes, yes." He got up and went to the window. Stepping through the window onto the ledge he thought to himself: They're all exactly the same as when I left.
They'd always be here, the light burning in the window, and those bright faces gathered around the table in warm harmony. Returning from his journeys to find that scene waiting for him filled him with a sense of relief. For good or ill, he hadn't tired of the idle life of the bourgeois.
Or perhaps he left home and wandered about the Twelve Kingdoms—even knowing of the dangers that awaited him—because he had grown tired of it. In fact, whenever he left he did so with no thought as to where he would go or when he would return. Sou and Seikan Palace and his family were the furthest things from his thoughts.
Deep down in the recesses of his mind, he might even contemplate leaving and never coming home.
But he always came back. In time, the other kingdoms turned desolate and cold. Kingdoms were fragile things. No matter how firm the ground might feel underfoot, the people were always standing on thin ice.
No dynasty lasted forever. That fact was all too self-evident.
Here, though, and now, the world was all right. And it'd be all right as long as they were there to hold each other up and watch each other's backs.
Rikou glanced over his shoulder. This was probably why he always came home again. To make certain that much was still true.
