Many years ago, when he was still young, he had found himself in front of the censors to receive a stinging rebuke. That, too, had not been altogether deserved, but he had been young then, untried, and humble in his own inexperience. Now he was middle-aged and had served his country for more than twenty years. He had risked his own life and that of his retainers. He had lost Seimei, and Tamako had died in his absence because of the demands of his position.
Perhaps he might have averted her death if he had been here. He would at least have had a chance to ease it, to hold her in his arms, to tell her how much he loved her.
And for all his sacrifices and the many significant services he had performed for his country, he was now being humiliated, laughed at by men who had never had to risk anything. Anger welled up again and was instantly suppressed.
What did it matter when he had lost his wife—and the child he had never had a chance to get to know?
But he felt in need of some kindness and turned his feet toward the Ministry of Ceremonial. His friend Nakatoshi served as senior secretary there. Nakatoshi had once been Akitada’s clerk. His capabilities and family connections had earned him his present rank and position, and he had reached the same level as Akitada. Unlike others, Nakatoshi had been sorry to leave the Ministry of Justice and had in time become a close friend.
Nakatoshi was in—he had always been a most conscientious official—and greeted Akitada by getting up and coming to embrace him. His face shone with pleasure and concern.
“How are you, my dear friend?” he asked as he released him and invited him to sit. He studied Akitada’s face. “You look pale and thin. Are you well?”
Akitada gave a snort of bitter amusement. “Seeing that I’ve just lied to Kinsue’s Senior Secretary about having been too ill to report in a timely manner, that’s probably a good thing. No, my health is well enough, but I seem to have created a problem for myself.” He paused, then added, “And for my people. I seem to have lost my post at the ministry and am likely to be dismissed from government service.”
Nakatoshi gasped. “You must be joking.”
“It’s no joking matter, Nakatoshi.”
“Are you quite sure? I cannot believe it.”
Akitada gave him a bleak smile. “I come to you directly from the meeting. The truth is, I only know the Senior Secretary by name. The others didn’t bother to introduce themselves. One was middle-aged and fat. He had the look of one of the Fujiwaras of the chancellor’s family. The other was in his early twenties and supercilious. They enjoyed themselves.”
“But that’s outrageous! After all you’ve done and sacrificed for them! Does Kinsue know?”
“I have no idea.”
Nakatoshi sat stunned, shaking his head mutely. It was clear that he felt Akitada’s humiliation personally. It was why Akitada had come to his friend, and he started to feel a little better.
“Well,” he said more firmly, “I must make the best of it. If you know of any post that I might fill, anything at all that will keep the roof fixed and food on the table, I’d be very grateful.”
“Of course, but there is nothing a man like you could accept. Those posts are in the hands of the chancellor and his brothers. We must change their minds—if they have indeed already made them up. What about your old post at the ministry.”
“Already filled.”
“Already? Akitada, that suggests planning. Who hates you enough to want to ruin you?”
“Many people. The Sugawaras have never lacked for powerful enemies. We don’t have to do anything to make new ones. I should have known, but when the news came about Tamako … I wasn’t thinking straight. Nothing mattered then. All I felt was rage against fate. When fate itself was bent on destroying me, a few Fujiwaras hardly mattered.”
Nakatoshi frowned. “Yes, I can understand that. But we cannot be certain that the ruling family is behind this. There’s something about it that seems to be very bureaucratic. The censors?”
“These days I don’t even know who the censors are. Never mind. I must look about for something to do. And that reminds me. There was a time when I was forced to earn some money solving problems and finding people. I could do so again. As a matter of fact, it was you who brought a case to my attention. I refer to the lady who hanged herself in Abbot Genshin’s mansion. Just what was your interest in this?”
Nakatoshi looked embarrassed. “Well, Akitada,” he said after a moment, “it was really only that I had heard of it and hoped you might be interested. I had no other reason. It seemed to be a bit of a puzzle and I thought it would be a good idea to get you out of your room, that’s all.”
Akitada had suspected as much. “Then Genshin didn’t ask you to contact me?”
“No. But Akitada, if there’s anything odd about the death, we could bring it to his attention. He’s quite rich.”
“I’m aware of it. But I will not beg for work, especially not from Genshin.”
Nakatoshi hung his head.
After a moment, Akitada said, “What was Genshin’s involvement with the lady?”
Nakatoshi looked up. “None at all, as far as I know. Or rather that’s what he claims. He heard of her abject poverty and offered her refuge in his residence. She had no income, but he provided a small amount of his rice income to pay for her food.”
Akitada thought of the bare room and the two trunks, one filled with costly costumes, the other holding a few ordinary, rough pieces of clothing. But this charitable Genshin was nothing like the Tasuku he once knew. “And what do you think?” he asked.
“I have no knowledge. All I can say is that I believed the story. He’s well known for his charities and has done similar things before.”
Akitada nodded. “So they say. I used to know him many years ago. He chased women then, but only those most highly placed. He ruined many of them and cost one her life. I cannot get those tales out of my head. The similarities to this lady’s situation are too great. She seems to have ended up in such a destitute condition because of some scandal.”
“Oh.” Nakatoshi absorbed this. “If he’s involved, that would be very shocking indeed. Genshin is very highly respected and serves as Her Majesty’s religious teacher. It means he has access to the private apartments of the imperial ladies.”
“Dear heaven. Setting the fox to watch the chickens.” Akitada shook his head. “I wonder if I made a mistake many years ago when I agreed to keep his secret.” He sighed. “It’s so hard to know what to do sometimes. I must trust that others certainly knew what I knew then.”
Nakatoshi, though deeply shocked, had no comment, and the two friends parted soon afterward.
16
The Gamblers
Over the next week, Tora and Saburo waited. They hoped to find a good time to speak to Akitada. Finally, Tora tried to raise the subject of the blind girl, but Akitada snapped, “I have more important things on my mind. We are out of funds and it doesn’t look as though I can count on a salary for the foreseeable future.”
Shocked, Tora sat down uninvited. “What will you do, sir?”
“For the time being, I must await word from above. But it will be just as well if we make some preparations. Genba tells me that there is no more feed for the horses. You and Genba will take them to the farm tomorrow. They can graze there. I’m afraid I cannot pay you and the others more than a small portion of your pay. We must make certain we have money for food during the coming months. Tell the roofer that I have changed my mind, and the repairs will have to wait until spring.” Akitada thought for a moment. “I wish someone offered to pay us for looking into the case of Genshin’s mysterious lady.”
Tora offered, “He seems rich enough.”
“No! I will not ask him.” Akitada pursed his lips in thought. “Something is very strange about that story. I don’t like the cursory way her death was investigated. I think we’ll take another look at the people there and talk to the nun when she returns.”