“A very pleasant day,” Oyoshisaid, inclining his head. “Outside the wind howls, but here we are warm and atpeace. Will you join us, Excellency?”
“Thank you.” Akitada loweredhimself to one of the thin straw mats and held his hands toward the brazier. “Pleasebe seated again. I must move my office here. It is as drafty as a hermit’scave.”
Kaoru chuckled. “I doubt that,sir. Those caves are actually quite comfortable. Rock keeps out the cold muchbetter than wood and paper. Can I pour you a cup of wine?”
“No, thank you, Sergeant. Youseem to know something about such religious retreats. I remember hearing in thecapital about extraordinary feats of self-discipline. For example, yamabushiare said to stand for hours under icy waterfalls in the middle of winter. Is thereany truth to such tales?”
Kaoru looked uncomfortable. “Ithas been known to happen. Would your Excellency like to inspect the cells? Wehave a new prisoner.”
“Ah, yes. The fishmonger Goto.”Akitada glanced at Takagi, Umehara, and Okano, who were watching him nervously,and wondered why they had special privileges but decided not to ask. Instead hesaid, “No, Sergeant. I came to speak with the doctor, but will have a word withyou also before I leave. I have an assignment for you.”
Kaoru bowed and turned to thethree prisoners. “Come, you fellows. To the kitchen with you. It’s time tostart the evening rice.”
The three odd charactersbrightened instantly and jumped up to scramble after Kaoru.
Oyoshi chuckled. “Umehara makesa superb fish stew with cabbage and Okano has his mother’s touch when it comesto tofu. It melts on your tongue. Takagi keeps the fire going.”
Akitada hid his astonishment. “Isee. They look well and contented. I had not expected such a change.”
“No?” Oyoshi regarded him witha twinkle in his eyes. “You thought they were languishing in chains in freezingcells and blamed yourself for not having proved their innocence yet? Do notworry. Your new sergeant is a kind man, and I, too, am grateful. I know of nobetter place to relax and share an occasional meal.”
Akitada smiled, but he dislikedhaving his mind read so easily. “Have you had a look at the body from themarket?”
Oyoshi nodded. “You keep yourcoroner busy. The person, a male about thirty years old, was healthy except fornumerous old flogging scars on his back and legs.”
“I am told he was a small-timecrook called Koichi. He has been arrested for assorted crimes and usuallypunished with the customary number of lashes.”
“I see. The calluses on hishands and shoulders suggest that he may have worked as a porter.”
“You are right again. When hewas not robbing people, that is. What about the cause of death?”
Oyoshi placed a finger on theleft side of his chest. “A single stab wound here. Lieutenant Hitomaro showedme a silver-hilted knife. The blade is consistent with the wound. I understandSunada did it in self-defense?”
“So he claims.”
Oyoshi pondered this, thenasked, “Any news about the boy?”
“No. I meant to speak to youabout something else. Yesterday, in Lord Maro’s room, you asked Kaibara aboutthe old lord’s symptoms before he died. Why?”
Oyoshi met Akitada’s eyes andlooked away. “Just professional curiosity,” he said blandly. “Why?”
“I have an extraordinary favorto ask of you. You may wish to decline. I want you to accompany me to Takataafter dark. The trip is likely to be uncomfortable in this weather, but thereis another reason why you may decide to refuse.” He hesitated. “You will needyour instruments.”
The older man tensed. “Anunpleasant business involving sacrilege, I take it? I am at your service.”
Akitada released his breath. “Thankyou.”
A door slammed and firmfootsteps brought Kaoru back. “Will you stay for the evening meal, Doctor?” heasked. “A soup of rice, red beans, vegetables, and eggs, I’m told. Umehara saysit’s a specialty of the mountain villages in Shimosa province.” He gave Akitadaan uncertain look. “Perhaps your Excellency would also like to sample it?”
Akitada was hungry. “Thank you,Sergeant. Soup sounds excellent in this weather. I accept with gratitude.”
“Oh.” Kaoru looked both pleasedand embarrassed. “It will take another hour or two. Will you eat here or . .. ?”
“Here. It’s warmer. I will comeback and tell you about your assignment. I’m afraid it will mean riding back toyour village tonight to make an arrest.”
Kaoru stiffened. “Sir?”
Akitada sighed, then said, “Iam aware that your people have given shelter to fugitives and I do not approve.Still I am willing to overlook the matter for now, but this particular man hascommitted another crime against your people since you took him in, and histestimony is needed in tomorrow’s hearing. Can I rely on you in this?”
Kaoru bowed. “I know the man,sir, and he shall be here.”
¦
Thedarkness in the woods was so dense that the three men rode close together,trusting to the sure-footedness of Oyoshi’s donkey to keep them on the narrowpath. It was not safe to light lanterns, for even though the woods offeredcover, there was always the chance that someone might be looking out across thelandscape from the galleries, as Akitada had done on his first, ill-omenedvisit to the manor.
They emerged into a clearing.Fitful clouds scurried across the nearly full moon, which cast a gray light onthe scene. The icy wind tore at their straw capes; the horses snorted, and thebreaths of men and beasts hung in the air like ghostly exhalations. Akitadapulled back on his reins and stared at the wooded hillside ahead. The shapes ofgrave markers marched up among the trees like lines of ghostly soldiers. Intheir midst, he had been told, was the entrance to the tomb of the Uesugichieftains.
“There it is,” he said,controlling a shiver of nervousness. “Tora and I could not have found the placewithout you, Doctor.”
“I gather ginseng root on topof the burial hill,” replied Oyoshi. “It grows particularly well in theseparts, with large, fleshy roots. My patients claim it helps them.” They kepttheir voices low even though the graveyard was deserted.
Akitada glanced curiously atthe huddled figure on the donkey. “Don’t you believe in the curative powers ofginseng?”
Oyoshi chuckled. “It’s enoughif they do. If a sick person has faith in its efficacy, then that person willfeel better shortly.”
“I wish I had some of thatspecial ginseng from China that makes you live forever,” Tora muttered. “Whatif the old lord’s ghost comes after us?”
“If he does, he’ll save you alot of hard work,” Akitada said dryly.
Tora reached for his amuletinside the shaggy bearskin.
Oyoshi said with a sigh, “Livingforever is a curse, not a blessing.”
Tora shuddered visibly, andAkitada snapped, “Pull yourself together.”
“Only the spirits of the deadmake me nervous,” Tora said defensively.
“Ssh!” Akitada raised his hand.He thought he heard sounds: dry branches cracking and small creaks. They heldtheir breaths and calmed their mounts, but there was only the wind in thetrees.
Akitada felt as tense as Tora,but for different reasons. In the murky grayness, the dim shapes of the gravemarkers stood in their patches of snow like a frozen army watching over thetomb in their midst. The image reminded him of their danger as they trespassedon the sacred land of ancient warlords. He took some consolation from the factthat the snow had been trampled by those who had attended the funeral. Theirtracks would be lost among the old ones.
Pushing aside the sense ofimpending disaster, he said briskly, “Come. Let’s get it over with. Bring yourtools, Tora.” They dismounted, and tied up their horses.
Walking across the clearing andclimbing uphill past the silent markers, they found the entrance of the tomb.The large stone doorway, its moss and lichen scarred by the recent opening, wasalmost as wide and tall as a man. When Akitada went closer, he saw that it wasinscribed with sacred texts and the Uesugi crest. Marks in the muddy groundshowed that the stone pivoted outward.