She seemed to notice his discomfort, but she’d be used to people’s reaction to her name. This time she laughed lightly. “But you can call me Shin.”
“New?” That was a more likely meaning for her name and presumably how it was written. And a lot better than dead.
“Yes, I am.” She laughed again.
He couldn’t see what was so amusing about that either. Neither did he want to keep standing there while he tried to figure her out. He should still have a little time before the enforcers got this far, but he couldn’t afford to dawdle, and even if she was Kyoushi, Shin couldn’t possibly run or fight in the ridiculous outfit she was wearing. It would be better for both of them if they could avoid a confrontation.
He forced a smile. “Since we’re both headed in the same direction, why not walk while we talk? I’ll be happy to get away from this place.” He decided not to mention the enforcers—no sense in alarming her unnecessarily. They did need to get a move on though.
“Indeed we are.” She turned to resume her casual stroll up the street. “I’ll appreciate your company, Ro, though I doubt we’ll have much time to chat together. Not right now, anyway.”
He nodded and fell into step beside her, hiding his irritation at her calling him Ro. Both Seiko and Teresa had shortened his name in that same way—he didn’t understand why, either. He didn’t like it. Since he wasn’t a Batsu citizen and had only the one name, he wanted to use the whole thing. Still, as he was enjoying the company of an attractive woman, he couldn’t really complain.
By now she’d have said if Tash had sent her, so he presumed she was going up into the mountains the same as he, back to whatever Kyoushi community she’d come from. But he wasn’t going to pry by asking outright. “It’ll be refreshing to be back up in the mountains. Much cooler, too.” He didn’t know what else to say.
She inclined her head slightly, acknowledging a true if banal statement. “But the city is interesting, don’t you think?”
Roshike barked a laugh. “I hope you’re not referring to Kyoto when you say that.” She must have meant Osaka. “Do you come here often?” And that sounded inane in the circumstances.
Shin squinted at him through narrowed eyes. “I think you know what I meant.”
Presumably she was talking about why they, or any of the Kyoushi, would leave the serenity of their mountain communities. For him it was the stimulation of living among so many people, and the adventure in trying to help those in trouble. Shin had to have left her home, or why would she be walking here? He wondered whether she’d already been to a real city, or had she given up before getting through the ruins of Kyoto?
He sighed. “I don’t suppose I’ll stay long in the mountains at that. And if you’d like an escort, next time you want to visit the city...”
Shin shook her head and gave him an indulgent look. “I appreciate the offer, but I can get around by myself. And I prefer to.”
“Well, maybe we’ll see each other again, someday.”
“I’m sure we shall. And when we meet, remember to call me Shin.”
He doubted he’d ever see her again after they’d parted ways, but of course he didn’t say so. “I’ll remember.”
“Good. Because right now I have to leave you.”
“Go? Now?”
“There are enforcers heading this way, coming from the southwest, and I’d rather not have to face them. And I’m sure you won’t need my help.”
So she’d already known about the Batsu searching the city. Roshike hadn’t heard anything though, so he wondered where she’d gotten the notion they were getting close. Turning and peering back down the road, he couldn’t see anything either.
He turned back to ask Shin why she thought the enforcers were coming, but she’d disappeared into thin air. If she hadn’t already flashed the signal, he would know now she was Kyoushi. Roshike hadn’t gotten that good at pulling a vanishing act himself, but Tetsuba had been adept at disappearing in that same way. And then one day, that woman who had rescued and raised him had been gone for good.
But now wasn’t the time to think about his past. He wanted to get beyond the reach of the Batsu before he had to tangle with their enforcers again. So he ran. Still silently, but on that flat stretch of road he could really move. And he kept sprinting all the way to the low hills where thick vegetation replaced the ruins of buildings.
He found the spot where a set of old, crumbling steps climbed up through a gap in the trees and the underbrush. The sweat was pouring off him again, but he didn’t care. He just kept pushing through all the green leafy branches blocking his way as fast as he could.
The air was still thick here, as dense as the jungle around him, but soon he’d be in the higher elevations where the air would be cool and thin and the forest sparse, where the streams of mountain water promised refreshment, and where he wouldn’t have to worry about the Batsu. Not until he was ready.
Chapter 4
Paths of the Past
Running in the cold mountains
ROSHIKE RAN LIGHTLY along the barely perceptible path, half his focus on his footing while the other half of his attention searched for the markers that showed him the way he wanted to take. While the trees and underbrush were sparse at this elevation, the ground was uneven and the footing treacherous, especially at the fast pace he was setting. And this hidden highway wasn’t used enough to be worn where it showed clearly. If he missed a single one of the specific gravestones pointing out the particular path he had to follow, he could quickly become lost in these mountains. Though at least he didn’t have to watch out for any enforcers up here.
Neither need he fear the bears or wolves which populated this wilderness—wild animals would not bother any of the Kyoushi. That’s what Tetsuba had told him when she’d brought the boy he’d been into the mountains, and he’d learned it was true, even if he still didn’t understand the why. He didn’t think of himself as a full Kyoushi either, wasn’t even sure he knew what that meant. But he knew that part of their heritage applied to him, and he appreciated it. And the animals kept other people away.
They weren’t truly that dangerous even to those who weren’t Kyoushi, but their presence was sufficient deterrent to most. In part that was because of the peril posed to those living on the fringes of what passed for civilization from intruding brown bears, wolves, and other predators seeking an easy lunch. And then there were the rabid raccoon dogs, which were rather rare up here, but quite a problem in the cities.
None of that was what kept the enforcers away. The Batsu left the Kyoushi alone, and Roshike knew from experience they couldn’t or wouldn’t dare venture any farther than the foothills. They almost certainly didn’t know about these secret paths through the mountains that the Kyoushi used to move along the spine of the country, among their various communities. Or that they had off-ramps for descending down into the cities.
He thought about Tash and had to wonder how often Kyoushi came to the cities not as runaways as Roshike had, but on business. What would that be, and why would they? That was one of the things he pondered when he stopped at night.
It wasn’t as if he could run like this through the mountains at night, or see any of the markers if he tried, and he did need to rest after running all day. For just over a week Roshike had been winding his way toward New Tokyo, jogging at at least a moderate pace while there was enough light to see the details on the gravestones. And keep from stumbling. It was also good exercise.
And as each day had wound down, he’d looked for the signs indicating a hidden shelter somewhere near the path, to rest during the dark. He’d rather not encounter any other Kyoushi, but their camouflaged travel shelters were too convenient to pass by without taking advantage, and the odds of running into anyone else were slim. The communities were always kept far from this hidden highway, and travelers were few and far between.
But after his improbable meeting with Shin, he didn’t want to discount the chance. He could build shelters for himself,
of course—Tetsuba had taught him how—but that would slow him down too much. That’s what he’d decided, even as he’d been having second thoughts about going to New Tokyo.
For the first few days after he’d put civilization behind him, free from pursuing enforcers and away from the grime of the cities, Roshike had felt a relief so deep he’d wondered why he’d left the mountains to begin with. The air was clean and crisp, the water pure and refreshing, and the light had a quality to it that seemed to restore his soul. And he had needed that, especially those first few nights.
After all the excitement of his recent encounters with enforcers, he’d had difficulty getting to sleep in the evenings. And he’d had to deal with his residual guilt and anger over what had happened to Teresa. He was particularly disturbed by the violence of his reaction to that thug he’d had to deal with in Kyoto. Despite everything, he’d never hated the Batsu.
When he’d been a boy, the enforcers had been very real boogeymen, chasing the urchins like himself who would dart into the Batsu section to try to steal a meal. And when a kid was caught, they disappeared from the streets never to be seen again. It was an amorphous and terrible fate to be avoided at all costs. But Roshike couldn’t recall feeling any antipathy for those who’d chased him. Only the fear.
Then after Tetsuba had taken him to her mountain home, to raise him as a Kyoushi, he’d learned a lot about the Batsu—the things they’d done and the things they continued to do. He’d absorbed the values of the Kyoushi and their dislike of the Batsu regime and its approach, which was fundamentally irreconcilable with the Kyoushi way of life. And they both seemed to be happy to ignore the existence of the other. Or so Roshike had thought.
Trying to thrash out his feelings, he’d fallen into a fitful sleep that first night, then woken with the sense of having struggled through a horrible dream. Thankfully the nightmare had dissipated as he’d returned to conscious thought. He’d taken a few minutes to gnaw on one of the nutrient bars he’d bought in Kobe, down the remainder of his water, and then refill his bottle from a stream. Then he’d started to run again.
He’d made steady and significant progress every day, taking an occasional swig of water or bite of food as he ran and pausing only to answer the call of nature. Only when the light began to dim did he begin searching for the next shelter along the way, and only when he found it did he stop for the night. He didn’t know why he felt the need to move so swiftly, when he still hadn’t made up his mind. What did he really want to do?
If he’d been taking his time as he likely should, Roshike could’ve been foraging for plants, both for food and medicine. He could’ve trapped a few small animals to clean and cook and make a proper meal of. Tetsuba had taught him everything he needed to survive, even thrive in the wilderness. Almost as if she’d known she wouldn’t be there to help him forever.
She’d also shown him not only how to signal to other Kyoushi that he was one of them, but how he could travel this hidden highway and find Kyoushi communities anywhere he might go. She hadn’t interacted with them that much herself, but she’d prepared him to seek out those others when he needed to. She couldn’t have imagined, though, to what use Roshike would put her teaching.
Night by night he’d found sleep easier and more restful, reminiscing about his ‘iron grandma’. She’d certainly been strict, and a demanding teacher, but she’d also loved him a lot. Most of the hard scrabble to survive on the streets as a boy had faded from his mind, but the way she’d cared for him remained strong in his memory. While he hadn’t realized it at the time, that loving care had been what he’d needed most. Even more than the survival skills.
As he woke each morning more and more rested and refreshed, he’d enjoyed his marathon all the more. The sounds of insects buzzing and chirping, small animals scuttling around in the underbrush, and the wind rustling through the leaves—it was all so quiet compared to the city. And much more natural than the empty silence of Kyoto.
Running in the cool air with its almost constant breeze was a pleasure as well as sorely needed exercise. The air might be thin, but he was accustomed to this environment—it felt like coming home—and while he had to concentrate on the markers and the path, he still enjoyed the scenery. There was also a peace to the pure activity, keeping his mind fixed in the moment and leaving the past in the past and the future for tomorrow. Or at least until the end of the day.
One night in one of the shelters he had recalled the empty house he’d found after Tetsuba had gone, departed this world and left him all alone. A couple other Kyoushi had visited to offer him comfort and assistance, even to take Roshike in themselves. But while they’d thought of him as part of their family, they’d basically been strangers to him. They would have welcomed him into their home, but he hadn’t been interested. Nor had he wanted to stay in these mountains on his own.
By that time he’d grown into a young man. Not knowing exactly how old he was, he had tried counting up how many winters he’d seen, but he couldn’t recall them all. But he’d known it had to be twenty or so, then. No wonder that he’d been drawn down out of the mountains to try living once again in the city. But he’d taken what he’d learned from Tetsuba with him, including her values.
He had kept to the code of the Kyoushi. Surviving had been hard, but he’d managed to make his way by helping those no one else could or would. It had felt good—getting back people’s stolen property, protecting families on the fringes from wild animals and pillaging gangs, trying to track down lost loved ones, and solving other problems people had that they couldn’t deal with themselves. He hadn’t always been successful—if someone had gone to the Batsu, willingly or unwillingly, there was no getting them back. But he’d never felt like a failure until the other night with Teresa.
Most people would probably consider Roshike to be a young man still, but he didn’t feel like it. He had matured too much over these past few years to be a youth. Seen too much to stay hidden from the world up here when he knew so many people could use his help. He may have botched his most recent job, but there was work he could and should be doing. And every day he’d spent running in the mountains had reinvigorated him. By the time he got to New Tokyo, he’d be ready.
And he was curious to find out what kind of assignments Tash might have for him. The few members of the Yes network Roshike had met these past years had all found their own personal way of helping people—work that also put food in their bellies, clothes on their backs, and a roof of some sort over their heads. He didn’t know what Tash did, but he was confident whatever work he might have for Roshike would be the right kind. Helping people who needed it and couldn’t turn to the Batsu. The Batsu only came to the aid of their own.
Last night Roshike had found himself wondering how soon he’d actually be able to meet Tash. It might take the man a long time to get to New Tokyo. Roshike didn’t know when Tash would’ve left Kobe, but even if the man had started out soon after their encounter in Keep’s bar and was taking these same secret paths, Roshike had a head start. Though theoretically there was a faster way.
The Tokaido road was a much more direct route between New Osaka and New Tokyo—and on much more level ground along the lowlands—but that was for the Batsu’s use. Roshike hadn’t seen for himself, but he’d heard they traveled back and forth in sleek armored vehicles. And all along the way there were supposedly fortified buildings to house the enforcers and guards who policed the road. Non-citizens couldn’t use it, and there were other perils for those who went off-road to avoid the patrols.
Among the ruins of Gifu, Nagoya, and the other old cities the road wound through, roving gangs scavenged—and attacked anyone foolish enough to wander from the road. Between them and the wild animals, it was highly dangerous. Which was probably why the Batsu allowed them to roam free in the areas outside their control.
The route Roshike was following mostly paralleled that road, but on the inland side. It was quicker and safer and likely the way Tash would take, but if the
man did choose to use the Tokaido road, Roshike was confident the man could manage without getting himself hurt. He was Kyoushi, after all. But it would invariably slow him down.
Either way, Roshike was sure he’d have time to himself after he arrived in New Tokyo—maybe a lot—and he could use that time to familiarize himself with the lay of the land. Since everything would be new to him there, that would be vital. He was looking forward to the challenge.
It was in that frame of mind that Roshike spotted the small stone cross that marked the beginning of one of the passes down toward the Tokyo region. He slowed and angled between two trees. And soon found himself scrambling down a steep decline.
The way wasn’t easy, and there wouldn’t be any more markers to show the best paths, but he ought to be able to make it down the mountain and out of the hills alright. While he took more time and care doing that, he was still able to turn part of his mind to reviewing what he knew about New Tokyo. And he expected a grand adventure.
Chapter 5
A Sea of Strange Faces
Coming into cramped Chofu
ROSHIKE LOOKED AROUND in every direction as he searched down one street and then another. The sun was still above the horizon, and people crowded the narrow streets, rushing to and fro with a kind of beleaguered bustle unlike anything he was used to seeing in Kansai. That wasn’t the only thing that was different—among the throng of unfamiliar faces were many of foreign ancestry. In Old Osaka, if you saw someone with non-Japanese features, it was almost certain you were seeing a Batsu citizen slumming it. But the obvious poverty of these people proclaimed their lack of such status. The Batsu still stood out by their relative affluence.
To get to New Tokyo, Roshike had been forced to detour around the outlying farms, staying at least far enough away to avoid attracting the attention of the enforcers who stood with rifles at the ready and watched over the laborers working in fields of curly, green soybean plants. In another area those might have been rice paddies. And whether those sentries were there to protect the produce or keep the workers in line, Roshike might be taken for a target.
Whispers of the Dead (Miraibanashi, #1) Page 5
