The old woman watched him. “You’ll fall down the mountain, too. Better get back here.” She sounded anxious.
She was not nearly as nervous as Tora, whose boots kept slipping on the wet ground. Nevertheless, he moved slowly downward. A small crippled pine was strong enough to hold on to, and he mastered another long step. Soon he would be at the edge of the outcropping and able to see past it. But the next stretch was tricky. The more he felt around with his free foot, peering down, the shakier he felt and the more tenuous the next step became. It might just be feasible if he could reach that old root protruding from a crack, but he would have to let go with his other hand and trust the root would hold his weight. If it did not, then both he and the master were lost.
The old woman had fallen silent. Tora did not bother to see if she was still there. He thought of Hanae and Yuki. They deserved better than to have him die today by falling off a mountain. And the master might already be past saving. He reflected sadly that they had always deserved better than a husband and father who was forever looking for danger and excitement.
He let go and flung himself downward, catching the root which cracked ominously but held long enough to let him take another quick step to a small ledge.
Catching his breath, he looked down and gasped.
The master lay some twenty feet below him, prone on another ledge, one so narrow that his arm and one leg hung over the side. He was not moving. Tora was afraid to call out, because he might startle him into make a sudden move and tumble over the side. Below was a straight drop no man could survive.
But the continued stillness of the figure below might mean that rescue was already too late.
Tora looked back up and realized for the first time that he had no way of bringing up his master’s body. In fact, he did not know if he could climb back up to the top himself.
Akiko Investigates
Tamako was pacing. She was far more upset than at any time since the terrible illness had taken their son Yori. There were similarities, she thought. Both times she had had a premonition, a very strong conviction that disaster loomed, and that she must act to avert it. Only she did not know how any more now than she had then.
This time it was Akitada who might be taken from her. Perhaps he had already been taken. The possibility of having lost him was unbearable. For all that he had frequently irritated her in the past with his stubbornness, Tamako knew him to be a gentle and caring man who loved her. To her, he was everything, perhaps even more than the children, though the thought shamed her. If his duties and interests took him away too much and occupied his mind to the exclusion of his wife and family, then that was a man’s privilege. A woman lived for her husband and children. Oh, what would become of all of them?
Into her terrified imaginings burst her sister-in-law.
“Wait until I tell you,” she cried, eyes sparkling with excitement and her movements those of a young girl. “Where’s Akitada? Send for him. He must hear this!”
When Tamako made no move, her eyes sharpened. “You’ve been crying,” she said accusingly. “You look terrible. What’s the matter with you?”
The reprimand did nothing to steady Tamako. “Akitada’s not come home,” she wailed. “Something’s happened to him. Oh, Akiko, what shall I do?”
“What? Don’t be silly. Nothing’s happened to him. Nothing ever happens to Akitada, you know that. He gets into a bit of trouble and immediately gets back out. What do you mean, he hasn’t come home?”
Tamako explained with a shaking voice.
“Oh, is that all? You know very well that his horse may have gone lame and he decided to spend the night somewhere. Just hope he doesn’t have a girlfriend someplace.”
That was so ridiculous it made Tamako smile. “Not Akitada,” she said loyally.
“He’s a man,” Akiko said darkly.
Tamako shook her head. “No. I have this feeling. Something’s wrong. And he’s been working on this cursed case. He knew it was dangerous and asked me about it, but I told him he should go on with it.” Tears started flowing again.
Akiko went to the door and called for the maid.
Sumiko appeared, saw her weeping mistress, and cried, “What’s happened to the master?”
“Not you, too,” snapped Akiko. “Go make your mistress some soothing tea. And if you put honey and a little juice from an orange in it, you can bring enough for two.”
The maid disappeared, and Akiko made Tamako sit down and tell her where Akitada had gone and why. “Surely,” she said, “there’s nothing to be found after all those months and when the police have already investigated.”
“Perhaps not, but your brother was restless. So many things have gone badly lately. I thought he should have something to occupy him.”
Akiko was amused. “I see you manage your husband much the way I manage mine.”
They exchanged a smile. Tamako asked, “What was the great news you were bringing when you came in?”
“Oh, I’ve had such fun, Tamako. No wonder my brother gets involved in every murder he comes across. You should have seen me. I asked questions, put my nose into matters that shouldn’t have concerned me, told such fibs, and flattered so grossly that Akitada would have been proud of me. And I got results. I wish he were here. You know, I sometimes get the feeling he hasn’t a great deal of respect for me.”
Tamako blinked. “Oh, I’m sure you’re wrong. It’s just that his mind is always on other things.”
“Yes, that’s true. The man cannot pay attention. I have a notion I may be much better at this than he is.” Akiko grinned. “I do wish women could get about more. Perhaps I could specialize in crimes committed in the women’s quarters. I think I’d be very good at that.”
Sumiko came with the tea, and the ladies sipped. Tamako found that she had relaxed and regarded her sister-in-law fondly. “Thank you for coming,” she said simply. “I needed your visit.”
Akiko waved that away. “You and I always got along. I give Akitada credit for choosing the right wife. Even Mother agreed. Now let me tell you what I found out.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Well, I visited Lady Kishi yesterday. She seemed in good spirits, and we talked a bit about children. I said I worried every day about securing the futures of my mine. She made suggestions for the boys, and we drifted quite naturally to the fate of girls, then to marriage and husbands who have outside interests.” Akiko paused to giggle. “You and I don’t have that problem, but I pretended I was familiar with her predicament.”
“Akiko! How can you speak that way of your husband who is the best of men?”
Her sister-in-law preened herself a little. “I make sure he stays interested. But to go on, her main worry is also for her children. She says she’s decided to ignore the prince’s escapades and wait for the day when a son of hers will gain enough power to provide his mother with the status she desires. So, I don’t think she would have bothered with having the emperor’s woman killed. It doesn’t make sense. Kishi knows what’s good for her.”
“Her name is Lady Masako,” Tamako corrected. “She never was in His Majesty’s bed. And you cannot believe everything people tell you.”
“How do you know she’s not shared his bed?” Akiko raised her brows quizzically.
“Well…”
“She was a woman. And as you pointed out, you can’t believe everything. Women don’t tell their lovers the truth. It’s entirely possible the child she carried was the emperor’s.”
“Oh, Akiko. How horrible! Surely she wouldn’t have gone to the prince while expecting His Majesty’s child.”
Akiko smiled and shook her head. “His Majesty’s still a boy. He’s not nearly as dashing as Prince Atsuhira, a mature male with the most extraordinary good looks.”