Akitada struggled to keep his temper. “You’ll forgive me, Governor,” he said, his voice shaking a little, “but the report is mine to make, and I will certainly not put my name to what you propose. What is more, if you impede my investigation, I shall make my own report to His Excellency. I suggest you offer some cooperation instead. His Excellency specifically required the local administration to do so in his letter to Nakahara. Perhaps Nakahara would be good enough to show His Excellency’s instructions to you?”
Nakahara gulped and reached into a document box that stood before him. He handed Oga the minister’s letter. Akitada was fairly certain that he had shared its content with the other two men already.
Oga barely glanced at it. “Bah, what is this besides the usual court language on every document? It means nothing.”
Such disrespect was profoundly shocking. Akitada looked at Munata and Nakahara to see if he had heard correctly. Munata’s face was expressionless, but Nakahara squirmed a little and avoided his eyes.
“In that case,” Akitada said coldly, “we have nothing else to discuss. My thanks for your hospitality, Nakahara, but I shall move to the official hostel for the remainder of my stay. Someone will come for our things.” He barely nodded to the others.
Nakahara made some sputtering protest. Akitada had reached the door when it opened and Yuki stood there with Watamaro.
For once the burly ship owner was not smiling. He bowed to Akitada and said, “Forgive me. I was just coming to see you, sir. Lieutenant Saeki told me that your clerk has been taken aboard the Black Dragon. Is this true?”
“Don’t believe a word of it, Watamaro,” cried the governor before Akitada could speak. “Come in, and let’s try to unravel this ridiculous story.”
Akitada turned to give Oga a look. Then he took Watamaro’s arm. “Thank you for coming so promptly, Watamaro. If you don’t mind, I’d like a word in private. Let’s go outside.”
Watamaro hesitated. He bowed deeply to the governor, but Akitada was firm. Either this man was about the plot against him and Sadenari, or he was innocent. Akitada intended to find out.
As they walked down the hallway, Watamaro asked, “What was that about, sir? Has anything else happened? Why are we talking in private?”
“In a moment.”
They gained the veranda and took the stairs into the courtyard. The governor’s entourage milled about by the light of torches, but Akitada found a dimly lit and quiet corner where they could not be overheard.
“I’ve sent another ship after the Black Dragon and several messengers overland to various ports where the captain may stop,” Watamaro said. “If your clerk is on board, we’ll get him back.”
“Thank you. But there’s also another matter. I very much need assistance from a man like yourself. It seems the pirates on the Inland Sea have been getting help from someone here in Naniwa. I came to find out who that is. My clerk was abducted because he was asking too many questions, and shortly afterwards I was lured to a deserted street in Kawajiri and attacked. I think someone is taking steps to halt my investigation. And it seems I cannot expect any help from the local officials.”
Watamaro looked dumbfounded. Gradually the dismay and shock gave way to acute embarrassment. “I hardly know what to do or say, sir. This has put me into a very difficult position. Forgive me, my Lord, but I’m only an ordinary man. The local authorities can make an end of my business if they take it into their heads that I’m acting against them. The governor can have me arrested and my property confiscated, and Munata and Nakahara can make it impossible for my ships to dock here or to get shipping permits.”
It was true enough. Watamaro could not take his side. Akitada nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry I asked. I don’t insist that you show your support publicly. But I’m grateful that you’re helping me to get my foolish young clerk back.”
Watamaro bowed. “Yes, of course. You have my word. And I’ll try to keep you informed if I learn anything about the other matter.”
“Thank you. Where is the ship taking him?”
“The Black Dragon is Kyushu-bound and a fast ship. I don’t think any of my people are corrupt. Perhaps the youngster went on board and was forgotten in the activities of departure. The ships have to take advantage of wind and tide, you see, and the ships’ masters are not going to turn around once under way.”
That might have happened, but Akitada did not think so. Still, he nodded. “I don’t want to keep you. Thank you again. You’d best make some explanation to the governor and the others. I’ll be staying in the government hostelry.”
Akitada watched Watamaro hurry back inside before setting out for the government accommodations. He still did not know anything. Before him lay the night, and the vast Inland Sea shimmered like a tarnished silver mirror in the moonlight.
Chapter Ten
The hostel for government personnel was near the prefecture. Akitada walked in, found a man dozing over his guestbook, and clapped his hands sharply. The man was hugely fat and slow to wake or move. Eventually, he raised a round and greasy face to Akitada, blinked eyes that sat deep in the flesh of his face, and asked, “What do you want?”
This did not promise well, and the accommodations lived up to the promise. When Akitada had communicated his wish for a room and handed over his government chit to prove that he was entitled to it, the fat man pushed the guest ledger his way and rubbed water on a mangy bit of ink stone. Akitada used the worn-out brush to write his name under that day’s date. He saw that he was joining only two other guests. The fat man shouted, and a skinny little girl appeared.
“The second eastern chamber,” he growled, and the little girl lit a small oil lamp and headed for a hallway leading off to the right.
“You’ll need to send a servant for two bags,” Akitada said. “They are at Director Nakahara’s house. My name is Sugawara, but there will be two bags. One is mine, the other belongs to my clerk Sadenari.” The manager grunted and Akitada followed the little girl.
She looked to be about eight or nine years old and should have been skipping along. Instead, she crept forward silently until she reached a door. This she opened and stepped aside for him to enter.
The room was small and mean, the rafters bare to the roof as they had been in the Flying Crane, but it had walls and a wooden floor. Solid sliding doors led to the outside but were closed. Akitada went to open them and found a strip of veranda without railing. The moon shone fitfully among moving clouds but showed a narrow space of weeds and beyond it a wooden fence in poor repair. Roofs of other buildings blocked the rest of the view.
He turned back to look around. The little girl had followed him in and had lit another oil lamp. Now she was struggling with a roll of bedding almost larger than she was. He went to help her. The bedding was plain cotton, worn, but clean. Akitada noted that the room contained also a small writing desk, a water container, and a small brazier. With the bedding spread out, there was little space left.
It would do until he could return to the capital.