“Who?” Akitada askedinterestedly.
Uesugi snapped, “I don’t know.No doubt you arrested and questioned him. What does he say?”
Akitada ignored the question. “Whatis your relationship with Judge Hisamatsu?”
“Hisamatsu?” Uesugi shot aglance at his retainers. “I see the judge rarely. Why change the subject? Whereis Kaibara?”
“You surprise me. I recall thatHisamatsu was a guest at the banquet you gave in my honor. He seems to admireyou.”
The Lord of Takata clenched hisfists. “A mere courtesy to you,” he said with ill-concealed impatience. “I alsoasked the garrison commander, a city merchant, the abbot of the Buddhisttemple, and your new coroner, Oyoshi. Surely you don’t think I have aspecial… relationship, as you call it, with all of them?”
“Ah, no,” Akitada said dryly. “Notall of them.”
There was a brief silence.Uesugi shifted. “Let me speak to Kaibara,” he finally demanded. “I’ll have thismatter cleared up fast enough. He will be punished for his carelessness.”
“I’m afraid that is notpossible. He died in the attempt.”
“What?” Uesugi stiffened. His retainers reached for swords that were not there because they had been leftoutside, and Tora and Hitomaro walked around them to stand on either side ofAkitada.
Uesugi unclenched his fists and some of the tension left his body.
Akitada thought that he seemedrelieved by the news that Kaibara could no longer be interrogated. And that wasinteresting. He went on, “Kaibara’s extraordinary behavior throws a new lighton the murder of your late father’s servant and the disappearance of hisgrandson. I shall have to pay another visit to Takata.”
There was a brief silence, thenUesugi smiled. “Of course,” he said smoothly. “I shall do everything in mypower to assist you!” He reached for his cup, and drained it. “What a thing!Kaibara of all people. And you suspect him of murdering the servant and the boy?He must have gone mad.” He paused, cocked his head, and said, “Perhaps not.Perhaps it was a plot. If he really killed my father, I would have been next,no doubt. What a thing!” He shook his head at the monstrosity of such athought, then added, “I shall certainly be in your debt if you can discover thetruth, Excellency.”
Akitada looked grim. “I doubtthat, but I do intend to investigate the irregularities in this province, bothas its governor and its high constable.”
Uesugi cried, “So it’s true! Youhave assumed the powers which rest with my family. That is illegal.”
“Do not presume to lecture meabout the law, Uesugi. It is what I am trained in, and I assure you that I amquite within my rights. When there is evidence of conspiracy against the emperoror his lawfully appointed representatives, extraordinary powers may be used atthe discretion of the governor.”
They looked at each other.Uesugi’s fury faltered, but only for a moment. Akitada caught something in theman’s eyes-it certainly was neither nervousness nor fear. He rose to departwith stiff expressions of regret. Akitada barely nodded.
“Pah,” said Tora, when he hadgone. “The bastard lied. It’s easy to accuse a dead horse of eating the missingbale of straw.”
Hamaya put his head in. “Thedoctor, sir.”
Oyoshi came in, made a smallbow to Tamako, nodded to the others, and then approached Akitada. “You lookbetter, sir,” he said and touched Akitada’s forehead.
Akitada looked at Oyoshi’sdiscolored face and the scabs left by Kaibara’s blade. “Thank you. I wish Icould say the same for you. Sit down and have a cup of wine.”
Oyoshi smiled. “I’m not a vainman and this will heal. It might have been much worse.”
“Surely you will not travel toTakata soon?” Tamako asked her husband anxiously as she poured the doctor’swine.
“Now that the battle lines havebeen drawn, the sooner, the better,” Akitada said in a tone which brooked noargument. “There is no time to be lost. Uesugi did not make any threats, butthat does not mean he won’t take up arms.”
“But it sounds dangerous. Andyou are far from well,” she protested. “Remember what happened yesterday. Ifnot for Dr. Oyoshi’s powder, your fever might have moved to the wound, and thenyou might have died.” Her voice trembled over the final word, and tears filledher eyes.
Akitada was embarrassed butsoftened. “Well, perhaps it can wait until tomorrow.” He added more firmly, “Youmay leave us now.”
His wife bowed formally to herhusband and inclined her head to the others before slipping from the room witha soft rustle of silk robes and a faint trace of orange blossom scent.
Akitada motioned everyonecloser. While they found cushions, he put away his flute, tying the silk cordinto a neat bow on top of the oblong box.
“Where did you learn to play?”Oyoshi asked.
“In the capital.” Akitadapaused with the box in his hands. “I taught myself. The first instrument was agift from a kind and noble man. I took it as a reminder that a part of myeducation had been sadly neglected. You see, as a boy I never received anymusical instruction. I am quite determined to make up for it now.” He waspuzzled by the expressions of alarm on the faces of his lieutenants.
The doctor smiled. “Howextraordinary!”
“Yes, wasn’t it?” Akitadaagreed eagerly. “At first it seemed impossibly difficult. But with persistenceI may prevail. I realize how important a musical skill is for a man’s abilityto think clearly. It requires concentration to play certain sequences and itpurifies the mind amazingly. Would you like me to demonstrate?” He started toundo the box again.
“No, please don’t trouble,”Oyoshi said, raising a hand. “You were just about to give us your instructions.Perhaps some other time?”
Akitada put the box away with asmall sigh. “Of course.” Pulling forward a stack of official papers, he riskedanother glance at the flute and said, “This is not the same instrument, youknow. The first one got broken. It saved my life when I was attacked by amurderer. Remind me to tell you the story sometime.”
“I remember. That killer wasalso a doctor,” Tora said with a nod.
Oyoshi stared at him and turnedquite pale.
Akitada thought his reactionodd. He said, “Never mind that now, Tora. The most troubling problem facing usis still the missing boy. I am afraid we made no progress at all. I am thinkingof returning to Takata to ask more questions. And then there is Hisamatsu.Hitomaro has been invited to work for the judge. He will try to find moreinformation about Uesugi’s plans and accomplices. Hitomaro’s place at thetribunal will be filled by Genba. Genba’s disguise has served its purpose.Inform him before you leave the city, Hitomaro. As for Tora…” He broke offwhen he saw his lieutenants’ expressions. “What is the matter now?”
“The wrestling match is thisafternoon,” said Hitomaro.
“What wrestling match?”
“Genba’s match. He’s a top contender, sir,” pleaded Tora.
Akitada snapped, “Do you meanto tell me that he, and both of you, consider some wrestling bout moreimportant than your duties in the present crisis?”
Oyoshi cleared his throat. “PerhapsI can explain. The wrestling match is a most significant event in thisprovince. In a remote place like ours the citizens follow wrestling with analmost religious devotion since they have little else to look forward to but along and hard winter.”
“Really?” Akitada thought aboutit. If Genba was a favorite, then his participation would go a long way tocreate goodwill for the tribunal later on. “I suppose I should have kept myselfbetter informed,” he said. “Is Genba really good enough?”
“Oh, yes,” said Hitomaro. “Youwould not recognize him, sir.”
“Then I have been remiss,”Akitada said with a nod. “We shall all attend. I should have planned to do sofrom the start. It cannot hurt to reinforce the good impression we made on thelocal people yesterday.”
“You cannot go, sir.” Seimei,who had been a quiet observer until now, was adamant. “Not only are you notwell enough, but by going out to a public event of this type you invite anotherattack. Neither Tora nor Hitomaro can protect you against an assassin in acrowd.”