The confused scene was an unwelcome reminder to Akitada that he must close their case officially. Their freedom depended on Sunada’s testimony in court.
“Get everybody out,” Akitadasnapped to Kaoru, “and take care of that message. Immediately! It’s urgent.Then come back here.”
When they were alone, Akitada had Tora unlock Sunada’s cell and went in.
The change in the man was shocking. The once smooth, shining face of the wealthy merchant was gray, and the skin sagged. He looked up at Akitada from heavy-lidded eyes without bothering to rise or bow. “I could not sleep,” he said.
Akitada wondered whether this was a complaint about jail conditions or more expressions of his grief and despair. To his surprise, it was another matter altogether.
“Those three men.” Sunada’s eyes went to the wall that separated the two cells. “All night they talked.There is one-his words are those of a child, but he speaks with a man’s voice.He talked of his father and mother. And he wept for them like a homesick child.It was terrible to hear his weeping. Another fellow wept with him. This one cried like a woman. And the old man talked about food all night. He was worried his salmon would go bad. Are they the men accused of Sato’s murder?”
Akitada nodded.
Sunada sighed. “They are innocent. I expect they have gone mad expecting to be executed. Why do some men fear death so much? I welcome it.”
“They are not mad,” said Akitada.“Until recently they moved freely about the jail. Being locked up again has frightened them. But even when I first met them, they were not concerned about dying because they knew they were innocent. Their worries concern the problemsof life. Takagi is a slow-witted farmer’s son who is homesick. Okano is an actor who is out of work and alone in the world. And Umehara has discovered the joys and frustrations of cooking.” Akitada paused. Sunada had surprised him again. He said tentatively, “I had hoped to prove their innocence and release them this week.”
“And now you cannot do so?”
“Not without your help.” Sunada’s words had given Akitada new hope. Perhaps he had misjudged the man. Whateverhis crimes, he was not without pity. But was it reasonable to expect a favorfrom someone he was about to sentence to death? Sunada was guilty of triple murder and treason. Why should he care about justice in the abstract? Why woulda criminal who faced execution in its most cruel form-treason against the emperorwas punishable by disemboweling before decapitation or by being beaten todeath-care about three poor men? Takagi, Okada, and Umehara had neither ambition nor potential. They were the dregs of a society Sunada had risen from through lifelong effort and relentless pursuit of power.
But Sunada nodded. “That is why I sent for you. I am prepared to help you.”
Akitada was astonished and relieved. They were alone, but outside in the common room he could hear Kaoruin subdued conversation with Tora.
He said, “As you know, Mrs.Sato was about to be arrested for the murder of her husband. Now her death makes it impossible to charge her with the crime.”
Sunada nodded again and asked, “Howdid you find out?”
“Her alibi for the day of the murder was unshakable. It was that which led me to suspect her in the first place. It occurred to me that she must have arranged to have her husband killed while she was safely away visiting her parents. I assume you knew?”
“More than that, Governor.Ofumi was a remarkable woman and perfectly capable of devising the plan on her own, but she lacked the necessary contacts.”
“So you found Koichi for her.”
“That was clever of you. I rather suspected that you did not quite believe my story of self-defense when I killed him in the market the other day.” Sunada grimaced. “It was a public service, though I was protecting myself. Unfortunately assassins are unreliableassociates. When you refused to believe the three travelers guilty and startedlooking for another killer, he demanded money. I could afford to pay, but a manof his background and reputation cannot be trusted. I decided to act while Ihad witnesses. Then one of your men happened along-” Sunada broke off andclenched his fists. “Of course,” he muttered. “The lieutenant who attempted toarrest me-he was the one who seduced her.” He glowered at Akitada. “Wasn’t he?”
Akitada was taken aback. Howcould this matter now? In justice to Hitomaro, he said sharply, “You are quitewrong. She seduced him.”
For a moment their eyes held ina contest of wills, then Sunada lowered his head. “Perhaps she could not helpwhat she was, what she made men do.”
“A woman who plots to have herhusband killed deserves no pity,” snapped Akitada.
“What would you know of a woman’slife?” Sunada asked wearily. “That girl-beautiful beyond belief, full of grace,endowed with talent, clever, lively, and filled with dreams-she was born into apeasant family and sold in marriage to an old man, a desiccated dotard so closeto death that he stank of decomposition! What chance had she by your laws?”
“Not my laws. The laws of thegods. She was not mistreated. By all accounts Sato doted on her.”
Sunada moved impatiently. “Shewas made for better things. He had no right to possess her.”
This was absurd-as any goodConfucian scholar knew. The ancients taught that a woman had no right to choosefor herself. Her duty was first to her parents, then to her husband, and lastto her son. And if she was unfortunate enough to survive her immediate family,another male relative would direct her life.
But there was no point inarguing with this man. Akitada said, “So you ‘contacted,’ as you put it,Koichi, a man with a long record of crimes. In fact, you had him released fromhis latest jail term the day before Sato’s death. Employing the unemployablehad always worked well for you. Such men are grateful. Did Koichi balk at allat murder?”
“He was eager to do it andbragged about it afterwards. I found him repulsive.”
“Ah, so he reported to youafter the murder.” Akitada was pleased. The case would be resolved moresmoothly than he had hoped. “Koichi entered the Golden Carp in midafternoon, ata time when Mrs. Sato would have reached her parents’ village arid been seenthere by as many people as possible. It was a sunny day, and the inn’s hallwaydim. Koichi stumbled over a packsaddle and damaged it. Okano, one of the threetravelers, was taking a bath and heard the clatter but assumed it was made bycustomers who left again when no one greeted them. I do not know whether Koichibrought a weapon, but I think he saw a large knife lying in the kitchen anddecided to use it. After killing the sick old man, Koichi emptied the moneybox, replaced the knife where he had found it, and left again as unobserved ashe had come.”
“I did not know about thepacksaddle, and he certainly did not tell me about the money box,” Sunada said.“Otherwise your deductions are correct.”
“Sato had saved up some gold.His widow testified that there were seven pieces, but she provided thatinformation after the three fugitives had been searched and seven gold pieceswere found in their possession. Still, it is surprising that Koichi blackmailedyou after having helped himself to all of Sato’s savings.”
Sunada laughed mirthlessly. “Come,Governor! Not even you can be that unworldly! Gold begets greed. He was to keepwhat he found as payment. Clearly it was not enough.”
Akitada knew there was a looseend still, but it had nothing to do with Sunada. He asked, “Will you sign astatement and testify in court that Koichi killed Sato on your instructions andat Mrs. Sato’s request?”
“Yes. But there is a condition.”
“No.” Akitada rose abruptly.The disappointment stung, though he should have expected it. “Even if I wishedto grant you leniency, your fate is not in my power. Neither your culpabilityin the Sato case, nor the three murders you committed yourself signify whencompared to a case of insurrection against his august Majesty.”