Akitada had looked in on Tamakoduring the night and watched her sleeping peacefully. The thought that theymight not meet again, and worse, that his decision would destroy her also,perhaps as soon as the following day, had sickened him. Now he glared at Kaoruand snapped, “I’m going.” Seeing Kaoru’s dismay, he added more calmly, “We willneed something to distract the soldiers’ attention.”
They sank into a glum silence.
“I think I have an idea,” Kaorusuddenly said, “but it will mean withdrawing the siege troops a little.”
“That can be arranged. Go on.”
“My grandmother is a miko,a medium who foretells the future by going to sleep and letting the gods speakthrough her. You know what I mean?”
Akitada nodded, but his heartsank. Hitomaro’s madwoman from the outcast village. He had little respect forsuch practices, and in this case their lives would depend on Kaoru’s senilegrandmother.
Kaoru saw his expression andsaid, “My grandmother is well known at the manor. She used to serve as a lady’smaid there many years ago when she was a young girl, and she still has friendsamong the servants.”
“Surely Uesugi will not admither at the present time.”
“On the contrary. He willwelcome her because he is superstitious. If Takesuke withdraws and she shows up,he will ask for a prediction about his chances.”
“Ah.” Akitada considered it,then shook his head. “No, I cannot permit it. It would put your grandmotherinto extreme danger.”
“She won’t stay long. Besides,they will be afraid to harm her.”
“But how will she be able tocreate a disturbance, yet leave before the alarm is given?”
“She will have help. She willonly tell Uesugi his future and leave a message with one of the servants.Koreburo will take care of everything else. He could set a small fire perhaps?”
Akitada considered the drawingagain and nodded slowly. “Yes, it might work. A small conflagration with muchsmoke, easily put out. Just here, I think. Where the southern gallery makes aturn.” He pointed, then looked up. “Did you say Koreburo? Isn’t that the oldman who used to play go with Hideo?”
Kaoru nodded. “He will be eagerto help. He blames Makio and Kaibara for Hideo’s death.”
“Does he indeed? He did not sayso to me.”
Kaoru shrugged. “He’s a strangeold fellow, but he could have picked up something from the other servants. Inany case, he can be trusted.”
Akitada gave the other man along look, then nodded. “Very well. I will give detailed instructions toTakesuke before we meet. Meanwhile, you can make your arrangements.”
Kaoru rose and bowed. “Youhonor me with your confidence, sir. Allow me.” He stepped to the shutters andthrew them open, letting in a gust of cold air. There was a full moon, fitfullyrevealed by dark clouds, but in the east the darkness grew faintly lighter. “Itwill be dawn in an hour. If I leave for my village immediately and carry mygrandmother part of the way to Takata on my horse, Koreburo should be readybefore the noon rice. Shall we meet below the manor at the start of the hour ofthe horse?”
“Yes.” Akitada came and lookedat the driving clouds. “When will the great snow start? I have been expectingit for weeks.”
“Perhaps today, perhaps later.”Kaoru spoke with the indifference of a local man. “The snows will come in theirown time.” He smiled suddenly. “It will still be possible to send the news tothe capital that we have taken Takata.”
Akitada raised his brows butsaid only, “We will need a signal from inside the manor.”
“When all is ready, Koreburowill give the cry of the snow goose. If that is all, sir, I shall be on my way.”
After Kaoru had gone, Akitadastood for a few more moments at the open shutters. The idea of war was foreignto him. This day would decide life or death for many. Uesugi, Takesuke, andKaoru, perhaps even the fate of an emperor along with that of an old servantwho risked his life for the memory of a dead friend. His own also, and that ofTamako and their unborn child. There were no more choices, no options ofescape. He had accepted this charge and offered up the lives of his family andhis friends along with his own. Tamako’s warning about the letter to thecapital came to his mind. Uesugi was not his only worry. Did any man have theright to gamble with the lives of others?
He sighed, hating this harshnorthern land with its superstitions, its violence, its people’s predilectionfor secrets and plots.
There was a scratching at thedoor. He called, “Enter!” and closed the shutters. Oyoshi came in hesitantly.
“Do I disturb you, sir?”
“No. You are very welcome.”Afraid that his fears and self-doubts were written large on his face, Akitadawas effusive, inviting Oyoshi to sit and pouring him a cup of tea.
Oyoshi looked strained, butAkitada’s fussing seemed to reassure him. “I have waited anxiously to speak toyou since we found Mrs. Omeya’s body,” he said after a sip of tea. “You havebeen very busy, and this has been my first opportunity. How are things going,sir?”
“I will leave for Takata latertoday,” said Akitada, “to settle the Uesugi matter.”
“Oh, dear. Forgive me. I havechosen a bad time. Let me be brief then. I wish to resign my office as yourcoroner.”
“But why?” Akitada’s heartsank. He had expected something, but he pretended surprised shock.
Oyoshi smiled a little. “Thereis no need to spare my feelings, sir. Even before Mrs. Omeya’s death, I feltthat you regretted my appointment. I made a foolish mistake with the mutilatedbody, and that certainly proved me incompetent. Since then, I’m afraid, therehave been more serious suspicions. I won’t embarrass you or myself by askingwhat they are, but I wanted to tell you that I will leave as soon as you havefound a replacement.”
Akitada sighed. “My friend,” hesaid, “and I hope I may still call you that-I have made many mistakes since Iarrived. Perhaps some of my mistakes have cost lives and will cost more. Notthe least of my mistakes was to doubt you. I should have known that a man whowould risk his life to perform an illegal exhumation at my request would not atthe same time plot against me.” He bowed to Oyoshi. “I apologize humbly for myfoolishness.”
The doctor became so agitatedthat he spilled his tea. “Oh, no,” he cried. “Please don’t. You were quiteright to suspect everyone, and who more than myself? What could you know aboutme, who had hidden his past from everyone? What should you think when I gavethe wrong testimony in court? Why should you trust me when I was soconveniently on the premises when Mrs. Omeya was killed? You did quite rightand have behaved with the greatest justice and patience towards me.”
“You will stay then?”
Oyoshi did not answer rightaway. He put down his teacup and wiped his fingers. “There is another thing. Ikilled someone,” he said softly. “I had a very bad moment when Tora saidsomething about murderous doctors and looked at me in a very knowing way. May Itell you about it?”
Akitada said quickly, “There isno need. I am quite satisfied.”
“Allow me, sir. Many years ago,in another province, I served as personal physician to … a powerful man. Icaused my patient’s death after I discovered that my wife had spent more timein his bed than in mine. It was wrong to love her more than my duty.” He brokeoff and raised a hand to hide his face in shame.
“You were not found out?”
Oyoshi lowered his hand andsmiled bleakly. “No. He was ill and I attended him. Once I was a very goodphysician. I could have saved his life, but I let him die. Afterwards Idivorced my wife and left the area. I spent the next ten years traveling,working at fairs and treating the poor, earning a few coppers as a barber nowand then to buy medicines. For another fifteen years after that I tried thereligious life. I entered a monastery, but in the end the guilt would not leaveme and it grated on my ears to be called a holy man. So I took to the roadagain and ended up here, where I hoped to end my life in obscurity.” He gave ahollow laugh and shook his head.