Podstrony
|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
need to make it explicit, he will understand.'
He was deeply relieved on several counts. Fumio would have up-to-date news of
the Emperor; if he could leave at once he had a good chance of catching up
with the illegal shipment; and Ishida would have medicine, something to
relieve the insistent pain.
'And now I must speak to my brother-in-law. Please ask Lord Zenko to come here
Page 32
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
at once.'
He was glad to have the excuse of the customs officials to rebuke his
brother-in-law. Zenko expressed his profound apologies and promised to arrange
the executions himself, assuring Takeo that it was an isolated occurrence, an
instance of human greed, nothing more sinister.
'I hope you are right,' Takeo replied. T want you to assure me of your
complete loyalty to me: you owe me your life; you are married to my wife's
sister; your mother is my cousin and one of my oldest friends. You hold
Kumamoto and all your lands through my will and my permission. Yesterday you
offered me one of your sons. I accept your offer. Indeed I will take both of
them; when I leave for Hagi they will accompany me. From now on
they will live with my family and be brought up as my sons. I will adopt
Sunaomi, if you remain loyal to me. His life and his brother's will be forfeit
at the slightest sign of disloyalty. The question of marriage will be decided
later. Your wife may join her sons in Hagi if she desires, but I am sure you
will want her to remain with you.'
Takeo watched his brother-in-law's face closely during this speech. Zenko did
not look at him. His eyes flickered slightly and he spoke too quickly in
reply.
'Lord Takeo must know that I am completely loyal to him. What did Kono say to
you that prompted this? Has he spoken of affairs in the East?'
Don't pretend you don't know! Takeo was tempted to challenge him directly, but
decided it was not yet the time.
'We will disregard what he said: it is of no importance. Now, in front of
these witnesses, swear your fealty to me.'
Zenko did so, prostrating himself, but Takeo remembered how his father, Arai
Daiichi, had sworn an alliance with him only to betray him, and in the extreme
moment had chosen power over the life of his sons.
The son will be the same, he thought. I should order him now to take his own
life. But he shrank from such an act, for all the sorrow it would cause to his
own family. Better to keep trying to tame him, rather than kill him. But how
much simpler it would be if he were dead.
He put the thought from him, committing himself once again to the more complex
and difficult path, away from the deceptive simplicities of assassination or
suicide. Once Zenko had finished his protestations, all faithfully recorded by
Minoru, Takeo retired to his own apartments, saying he would dine alone and
retire early since he intended to leave for Hagi in the morning. He was
longing to be in the place he regarded above all others as his home, to lie
with his wife and open his heart to her, to see his daughters. He told Zenko
the two boys must be ready to travel with him.
It had been raining on and off all day, but now the sky was clearing, a soft
wind from the south dispersing the heavy clouds. The sun set in a pink and
golden glow that made the many green hues of the garden luminous. It would be
fine in the morning, a good day for travelling, and fine also for the evening
activities he had in mind.
He bathed and dressed in a light cotton robe as if preparing for sleep, ate
lightly but drank no wine, and then dismissed all the servants, telling them
he was not to be disturbed till morning. Then he composed himself,
cross-legged on the matting, eyes closed and first finger and thumb pressed
together as if deep in meditation. He set his ears to listen to the sounds of
the mansion.
Every sound came to him: the quiet conversation of the guards at the gate, the
kitchen maids chatting as they scoured the dishes and put them away, the dogs
barking, music from the drinking places around the port, the endless murmur of
the sea, the rustle of leaves and owls hooting from the mountain.
He heard Zenko and Hana discuss the arrangements for the following day, but
their conversation was innocuous, as though they had remembered he might be
listening. In the dangerous game they had initiated, they could not risk him
overhearing their strategy, especially if he were to hold their sons. A short
time later they met Kono for the evening meal, but they were equally
Page 33
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
circumspect: he learned nothing more than the current hairstyles and fashions
at court, Kono's passion for poetry and drama, and the noble sports of
kickball and dog hunting.
The conversation grew more animated: like his father, Zenko loved wine. Takeo
stood and changed his clothes, putting on a faded unremarkable robe such as a
merchant might wear. As he went past Jun and Shin, seated as they always were
outside his door, Jun raised his eyebrows; Takeo shook his head slightly. He
did not want anyone to know he had left the mansion. He slipped into straw
sandals at the garden steps, took on invisibility and walked through the
still-open gates. The dogs followed him with their eyes but the guards did not
notice him. Be thankful you do not guard the gates of Miyako, he said silently
to the dogs. For they would shoot you full of arrows for sport.
At a dark corner not far from the port, he stepped into the shadow invisible
and stepped out in his guise of a merchant hurrying late from some assignment
in the town, eager to ease his weariness with a few drinks and the company of
friends. The air smelled of salt, drying fish and seaweed on racks on the
shore, grilled fish and octopus from the eating places. Lanterns lit the
narrow streets and lamps glowed orange from behind the screens.
At the dockside wooden ships rubbed against each other, creaking in the swell
of the tide, the water lapping at their hulls, their stubby masts dark against
the starry sky. In the distance he could just make out the islands of the
Encircled Sea; behind their jagged profile was the faint sheen of moonrise.
A brazier burned beside the mooring ropes of one large vessel, and Takeo,
using the town dialect, called to the men who squatted near it, roasting
pieces of dried abalone and sharing a flask of wine. 'Did Terada come on this
ship?'
'He did,' one replied. 'He is eating at the Umedaya.'
'Did you hope to see the kirin?' the other added. 'Lord Terada has hidden it
somewhere safe until he can show it to our ruler, Lord Otori.'
'The kirin?' Takeo was astonished. A kirin was a mythical beast, part dragon,
part horse, part lion. He thought it only existed in legends. What could
Terada and Ishida have found on the mainland?
'It's supposed to be secret,' the first man rebuked his friend. 'And you keep
blabbing to everyone!'
'But a kirin!' the other replied. 'What a miracle to have one alive! And
doesn't it prove Lord Otori is just and wise above all others? First the
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plkskarol.keep.pl
|
