The figure waved a ghostly arm in a wide sweep, moving slowly, like a piece of wood bobbing on the ocean. Kaze took the wave of the arm as confirmation that the child was still alive.
“I have not forgotten my promise to you. I’ve not lessened my dedication to find your child. I’ll do my best to find her.” He bowed once again. In the midst of this bow, he could suddenly hear the river rushing beneath him, flowing swiftly past the wooden boards and bamboo that made up the bridge. He knew from that, even before looking up, that the ghost of the lady would be gone. And she was.
Kaze stood and felt his legs weak and trembling under him. He lurched slightly and grabbed the guardrail of the bridge. He held himself upright until the strength returned to his limbs. He looked about him and saw the lantern sitting on the ground. Its candle was still flickering. He reached out to grab the lantern stick and noticed that his hand was trembling slightly. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment to center himself. When he opened his eyes, his outstretched hand was no longer trembling. He picked up the lantern and, by its pale light, made his way back to Hishigawa’s villa.
The next morning, Kaze started walking about the grounds of the villa. Elder Grandma’s grandson was a samurai, and a merchant killing a samurai was a serious matter. A samurai could kill a peasant for any reason. But for a merchant to kill a samurai, or to have one killed, would result in severe punishment if it were discovered.
Because of this, Kaze looked for fresh earth and signs of a new grave as he wandered within the walls of the villa. His eyes were those of the experienced hunter, so he was sure he could detect the after-math of the crime if Hishigawa had had the grandson killed and buried within the villa’s walls.
His search uncovered an interesting area, although it didn’t look like a fresh burial. It also uncovered another interesting sight. As he was walking around the lake that surrounded the Jade Palace, he saw some young girls sitting on the veranda of the palace, on the side facing away from the main house. The palace was as large as a house in its own right, so it was natural that Yuchan would have attendants and maids with her. These girls were richly dressed in expensive kimono, however, much more opulently than any maid would ever be.
As Kaze walked by on the shore, the girls stopped talking. Kaze glanced their way and noticed they were not looking downward modestly, as would be proper for young ladies in the presence of a strange man. Instead, they were looking at Kaze boldly, even speculatively. Kaze stopped and rudely stared back at them. They didn’t flinch from his gaze and instead met it.
Kaze broke into a grin. Then he stuck his tongue out at the girls. They burst into a fit of giggling. Kaze turned and continued his search of the villa grounds, but now he also contemplated the meaning of this encounter with richly dressed, bold, and pretty girls at the Jade Palace.
The interesting area was one he wanted to examine in darkness, so he decided he would try to talk to the various guards stationed around the villa to see if he could gather more information. These men viewed him with suspicion, and none would talk to him, except for the barest words required by politeness. Instead of being frustrated by their taciturn response to his overtures, Kaze was impressed by the level of discipline that Enomoto had managed to instill in his men.
Enomoto gave every indication of being a true swordsman. His men gave every indication of being good, also. Like the young girls at the Jade Palace, this was another element out of place, as nagging as a misplaced flower in an ikebana arrangement. Kaze decided to seek out Enomoto.
He found him grooming his sword.
Enomoto sat with his katana held in one hand, and in the other he had a small piece of bamboo. The end of the bamboo bore a small cloth ball that had been dipped in powder. Enomoto was patiently hitting the ball lightly along the length of the katana blade, absorbing old oil on his weapon. Kaze looked at the blade of Enomoto and understood what Kannemori had been saying about the blades of Okazaki Masamune. To Kaze, swords were a thing of beauty and spirituality. Each blade reflected something of its maker and its owner. The blade in Enomoto’s hand was a coldly efficient killing machine.
Enomoto looked up as Kaze approached and gave a nod of greeting. He returned his attention to his katana. Kaze sat down quietly, waiting politely for Enomoto to finish. When Enomoto had wiped off the powder with a piece of paper, he took a soft cloth and lightly oiled the blade.
“Here in Kamakura, we are so near the sea that one must oil his blade regularly or it will rust. I notice you have a new sword,” he said without looking up. “It looks to be a fine one.”
“I don’t know. I hope so. I know it is well made, but I haven’t tested it yet. Or I have tested it, but only on a fly.”
“A fly?” Enomoto was surprised. Finished oiling his sword, he slid the blade smoothly into its scabbard.
Kaze waved his hand. “It’s a silly thing, of no matter.”
Enomoto politely let the subject drop.
“I have been talking to some of your men,” Kaze said, “and I’ve been impressed by their caliber.”
“Yes, they are good. You’ve also been wandering about the villa.”
Kaze smiled. “I like to walk. After so many days on the road, it’s in my blood. I simply took a walk around the villa grounds.”
Again politely, Enomoto let this topic drop, too.
“I was surprised that men of such caliber were not able to protect Hishigawa better when he was attacked by bandits.”
“I understand it was eight bandits to my three guards,” Enomoto said.
“Yes, but the three were able to kill only one of the bandits before they were slain.”
“Then perhaps they are not too good,” Enomoto answered. “I’ve been thinking that lately.”
“Perhaps,” Kaze said. He looked at Enomoto speculatively, and Enomoto coolly returned his gaze. Enomoto was more closed than the first time Kaze had talked to him. He wondered why.
“Hishigawa mentioned that he’s been robbed like that before.”
“Yes, earlier this year.”
“They killed his guards but didn’t harm him?”
“Yes, they could see he was no threat to them. Despite his samurai ancestors, he barely knows how to hold a sword.”
“Was he carrying a lot of gold that other time, too?”
“Yes, a lot. When he’s moving an especially large amount, he likes to go along because he doesn’t trust anyone. You said you had an idea that would save him from this bother. Have you told Hishigawa-san yet?”
“No. I’m waiting. If there’s no need to tell Hishigawa, I won’t.”
Enomoto said nothing.
“Hishigawa mentioned that there was an attempt on his life….” Kaze let the statement hang, but Enomoto did nothing to pluck it down.
Instead Enomoto said, “I suppose it’s a dangerous time for everyone. You, for instance, seem to be doing a great deal of traveling, looking for this child. It’s a strange story. Why would you be looking for this child?”
“Call it a whim.”
“Few men put out great effort for a whim.”
Kaze smiled. “Perhaps I am foolish.” He returned to his agenda, trying to garner information about Mototane. “Has Hishigawa ever been attacked here, at the villa?” he asked. He didn’t bother to use a casual tone, for he knew it wouldn’t fool Enomoto.
“No,” Enomoto said. “We have many guards here. It would require a large group of men or a fool to attack Hishigawa-san in this place.”
Kaze wondered if Elder Grandma’s missing grandson, Mototane, was such a fool.
CHAPTER 16
Soft skin, bright brown eyes,
a mother’s gentle touch, and
a heart of evil.