The Way of the Sinobi is killing. That is our craft, elevated to the high standing of an art. Always keep faith with honour. Follow the light of the star. Who are you without honour? Merely a wretched, murderous thug.
The Inaudible One lowers his head even further. Eventually he stretches out face down as a sign of unquestioning obedience.
Well then. Carry out the assignment to the letter, and I shall forgive your weakness, so be it. And one more task. Find the dragon. For that talisman you are answerable with your life…
The backlighting of the statue fades out. The Inaudible One straightens up abruptly. He sits there, motionless, precisely reproducing the silhouette of the Buddha.
STORYTELLER
A single drumbeat.
The Inaudible One jumps up and freezes, with the snake-blade dagger glittering in his hand.
Scene four
The garden in front of Izumi’s pavilion. Night. The shoji are closed, but a light is burning inside. We see the geisha’s silhouette. Izumi is melancholically plucking the strings of the shamisen.
The Invisible One creeps out stealthily. He stops in front of the engawa and takes out his dagger, then freezes motionless.
STORYTELLER
A single drumbeat.
Soga appears on the edge of the engawa. He sees the Inaudible One with a dagger in his hand, draws his sword and, without saying a word, attacks the assassin furiously.
An unusual duel follows: it takes place in absolute silence; both opponents move without making a single sound. The distinctive feature of a Sinobi’s swordmanship is that he defends himself from blows, not with his blade, but by rapid movements and jumps, sometimes even by turning somersaults. Soga’s long sword repeatedly slices through empty air. The Inaudible One hides his dagger away in the secret scabbard behind his back.
The duel is reminiscent of an acrobatic ballet or pantomime; musical accompaniment is provided by Izumi playing the shamisen.
The fight concludes in the following fashion: the Inaudible One, finding himself beside the blossoming apple tree, dodges yet another blow and Soga’s sword slices right through the trunk. The Ronin involuntarily glances round at the falling tree and that instant is enough for the Inaudible One to whip out his dagger and thrust it into Soga’s chest. At the same moment the music breaks off and the light in the pavilion goes out.
The Sinobi catches the body, as if embracing it, and slowly lowers it to the ground. After glancing round at the pavilion in almost exactly the same way as Soga in the first act, he hides the body under the engawa. The dagger is already back in its sheath.
Then the Inaudible One walks up onto the veranda. He opens the shoji slightly, slips inside and closes them together behind him.
A pause.
The Storyteller strikes his drum rapidly but quietly, imitating the sound of a pounding heart.
IZUMI’S VOICE Who is breathing here? Who is watching me in the darkness?
The lantern is lit again. We can see two silhouettes. Izumi is sitting up on her bed, with the Inaudible One standing over her. What follows is in the style of a shadow theatre.
IZUMI Ah, so it is you? I knew that you would come to me!
The Inaudible One backs away.
Now why are you embarrassed? Was your heart bold, but then turned cold? Do you think I will push you away in disgust? Then let me tell you, I was waiting here for you impatiently.
She holds her arms out to him.
I have heard so many vows of love from others, I am not ashamed to make my own confession first. I love you with all my heart, you were sent to me by destiny. And it does not matter to me whether you are ugly or not. Ah, what stupid nonsense is that? Now your face will become the ideal of heavenly beauty for me. From henceforth pretty faces will seem ugly to me, disgusting even to behold. Quickly, take off your mask! I shall accept your trust with great delight, as a most precious gift!
A single drumbeat. The Inaudible One tears off his mask.
IZUMI (in confusion) But you have not a single flaw! Your face is handsome! I do not understand, why did you hide it? My dearest chosen one is silent and handsome, like the moon in a black sky, like a bright star! Without my make-up, also without my mask, do I appear before you now. You see me, too, just as I am… let us swear that never again shall we hide our faces from each other. I do not wish to be a geisha! I shall go away with you. We shall simply be together, two of us – the same as everybody else. Or almost the same… It is no misfortune that you are dumb. You will see. I shall be talkative enough for two.
Ah, but does it really matter what will happen afterwards? Here and now we are together, my love, you and I!
He reaches out his arms to her and she pulls him onto the bed.
The light goes out in the pavilion again, and then on all the stage.
Quiet music.
The third mitiyuki
The Inaudible One walks out onto the hanamichi, holding a lantern in his raised hand. The audience sees his face for the first time – it is impassive. Izumi walks behind the Inaudible One, carrying a bundle. Her face, with no ceruse or make-up, is lit up by a beam of light. She is dressed in a simple, dark kimono. They both freeze motionless.
STORYTELLER
He strikes his drum.
They are both walking in ‘koaruki’ style. But the Inaudible One is taking broad strides and Izumi, in keeping with the canonical rules of femininity, is taking small steps.
IZUMI There are no stars to be seen in the sky, there is no moon. We shall disappear now, you and I, dissolve into the night. I used to think my life would streak past like a comet, trace a path across the sky and vanish without trace. But fate has prepared another destiny for me: I shall live with my beloved, just as thousands live. One leaf among the other leaves, one blade of grass among the others. With you I am happy to be like this, like everyone. But why did you tell me to bring with me the kimono in which I used to perform for an audience? (She points to the bundle.) It is too luxurious for a modest life, I cannot go out in it, or wear it for receiving guests…