“No need, Seimei. I feel much better, but if you are free, there is some work.”
For the next hour they drafted the notices to be posted around town, set the clerks to work copying them,prepared a list of witnesses Akitada wanted called, and wrote instructions about the arrangements for the hearing. When they were done, Seimei left to get matters organized.
At midday one of the junior clerks brought Akitada a bowl of rice gruel and some pickled vegetables. He ate hungrily and took another of Oyoshi’s pills with the wine. For the first time in days his stomach felt pleasantly full, and a general sensation of well-being pervaded his body.
After his meal, he just sat quietly, savoring the return of his health. He found he was once again looking forward to the challenges ahead. Now that he had begun to take action, he felt confident of establishing control over the province. The hearing on Sato’s murder would be the first step. He would show the local people how things were supposed to be done. And Uesugi was little more than a silly, posturing borderlord. Only the distance from the capital and the venality of past governors hadkept him in power. His good times were over.
Into this euphoria walked Judge Hisamatsu. Announced by Hamaya, he entered, bowed stiffly, and took the seat offered by Akitada.
“Your visit is very welcome,”Akitada said with a smile. “I have wanted to greet you officially, Hisamatsu.As you may have heard, my own background is also in law. May I ask when you attended the university?”
Hisamatsu, who had been glowering, gulped. “Ah, quite a few years ago, Excellency. I don’t believe wecould have met,” he said frostily.
“No, perhaps not. Do you recall the names of any of your law professors?”
Hisamatsu waved this away. “Names.What are names? But I shall never forget their teachings. Their wisdom is with me every day.”
“Ah, no doubt you studied under Ogata, then.”
Hisamatsu hesitated just a fraction, then said, “Of course. What a legal scholar!”
Satisfied that Hisamatsu had not attended the imperial university, which had never had anyone by the name Ogata teaching there, Akitada relaxed. “This province seems backward in many ways. No doubt there is much lawlessness and you are kept very busy.”
Hisamatsu gave a small laugh. “Oh,yes. Very busy. I earn my salary many times over.”
Akitada nodded and looked thoughtful. “I was afraid of that. I, on the other hand, seem to have few cases to occupy my time.”
Too late Hisamatsu saw the trap. “Oh, I am perfectly capable of handling the caseload, Excellency. And that brings me to the matter I wished to discuss.”
Akitada faked surprise. “Forgive me. I misunderstood your purpose. I thought this was merely a courtesy visit.”
Hisamatsu flushed. “Yes, yes.That, and, well, it has come to my attention-just today, as a matter offact-that your Excellency has taken an interest in a minor case of mine.”
“I cannot imagine what you mean.”
“The murder of a local innkeeper?”
Akitada chuckled. “I see. Youwere joking. A minor case? Very funny. Well, actually, it looked interesting to me. Complicated. I rather enjoy complicated cases, don’t you?”
Hisamatsu blustered, “Your pardon, Excellency, but you must have been misinformed. The case is very simple and straightforward. We have the culprits in jail. They have confessed. Allthat is left is for me to pronounce sentence.”
“Ah, Hisamatsu, I thought perhaps you had jumped to conclusions there. A good thing I checked into it. We can’t have a miscarriage of justice at the beginning of my tenure here, you know. How would it look? The people have a right to be reassured that they can place their trust in their new governor.”
Hisamatsu was becoming angry. “Miscarriageof justice? I fail to see how you can charge such a thing. Confessions,Excellency. We got confessions. Really, I do not understand what all the fussis about. It will be very much better if you just let the law take its course.”
“Better for whom, Hisamatsu?”
“Why, for everyone. Justice must be served. The victim demands it. The widow demands it. The people of this province demand it.”
“What about the accused? You have arrested three men. Shall they be given justice? No, no, Hisamatsu. In this case due process has not been served. Only two of the men have confessed,and then after the most brutal beatings. I myself have seen their wounds. I trust you are familiar with the regulations pertaining to torture of prisoners?”
Hisamatsu looked startled. “If those constables have exceeded their duty, I shall certainly have them punished.” He paused. “But this will make no difference, for the accused will repeat their confessions in my court. The evidence is clear.”
“Possibly Okano and Umeharawill do so. They are as timid as mice. But Takagi will not confess. In any case, you are not ready to hear the case. You have yet to check the three men’s testimony.”
“Check what?” yelped Hisamatsu.“They confessed. They had the gold and the knife. And Takagi is retarded. Youdon’t expect a brute like that to cooperate right away?”
“The law states that you must have confessions to find men guilty.”
“Trust me, Takagi will confess.”
Akitada said dryly, “Yes, I suppose you will find a way. But your way is not mine. And I will investigate the case myself.”
Hisamatsu’s high color changed to purple. “What? You can’t do that. There’s no precedent. It’s … it’s not legal.”
“I fear, Hisamatsu, that I havea better notion of the law than you. In the future, confine yourself to really minor cases and make certain that transcripts of all your findings are submitted to me before judgment.”
Hisamatsu shot up. “That isinsulting. I serve under the high constable.”
Akitada looked up at him and shook his head sadly. “The high constable has died-or hadn’t you heard? And I have no intention of appointing another until I am convinced that this provinceis loyal to his Majesty. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”
Hisamatsu made a choking sound,bowed, and left.
Akitada smiled and got up. He stretched and walked to a small carved chest. After rummaging in it, he pulled out a narrow brocade case and a notebook and carried them back to his desk.Undoing the silk cord of the brocade case, he lovingly removed a plain bambooflute and turned it in his hand. He had not played since the capital. For some reason neither his wife nor any one else in his household had shown much interest in flute music. A pity.
He really felt extraordinarilywell after his meeting with Hisamatsu. The man had folded quickly when facedwith firm authority. The present troubles would soon be past.
He lifted the flute to his lips and blew experimentally.
Ah! The fullness of its sound!His heart lifted. He opened the notebook and studied a page. Perhaps he would begin with a passage from “Cicadas in the Pine Trees.”
Halfway through the first scale, the door flew open and Hamaya burst in, his two assistants peering wide-eyed over his shoulders. Akitada lowered his flute. Their expressions changed from shock to intense embarrassment.
“Yes?”
Hamaya turned to the other two and motioned them away. To Akitada he said with a bow, “Forgive the intrusion,sir, but the sound was so unexpected that we thought… we were afraid …please forgive the interruption.”
“I was only playing my flute,”Akitada explained, holding it up. “The song is called ‘Cicadas in the PineTrees.’ Here, if you listen carefully, you can distinguish the cicada’s cry.”He lifted the flute and produced a series of shrill squeaks and grating rasps.
“Indeed, sir,” stammered Hamaya, “it does sound something like, that is, just like … I must return to work.” Bowing again, he retreated and closed the door softly.
Akitada stared after him.Curious. It was almost as if they had never heard flute music before. He shook his head. What a godforsaken province this was! Well, they would soon learn to appreciateit. He returned to his practice.