They were sitting close to each other, and he became aware of his wife’s scent. Feeling suddenly awkward, he stole a glance at Tamako’s profile, a shell-like ear, and graceful neck. He wanted to trace that elegant hairline with his finger, to bury his face in the hollow between that soft and fragrant neck and her shoulder. He wanted to make love to his wife.
Caught between fear and daring, he was struck by the ridiculousness of his hesitation. They were alone. They were married. He had every right to caress her.
His hand was half raised when Tamako turned her head. Their eyes met, and her lips parted. Tender, moist, and welcoming lips. Eyes that became soft and warm. His hand found the warmth of her skin just above her collar, smooth as silk, strange and yet familiar. He felt an intense pleasure at her response, at the way she leaned into his hand and raised her face to him. Murmuring her name, he was about to reach for her with his other hand when the door opened and Seimei returned.
The old man stopped. ‘Oh,’ he said and started to back out again.
The spell broke. They moved apart and were again Akitada and Tamako, husband and wife with years of marital familiarity and distance between them. Tamako sighed softly.
Suppressing his frustration, Akitada said, ‘Come in, come in. Did you find anything?’
If the old man’s skin had not been so bloodless, Akitada could have sworn he blushed. ‘Yes, indeed, sir. Her Ladyship was quite right. The powdered root of torikabuto is recommended for a belly ache, also for colic and pain. But it is very powerful and must be given in extremely small doses.’
‘Or it will kill?’ asked Akitada.
‘Oh, yes. Quickly. It is said that it takes the breath away and chills the blood, and the patient dies in great pain.’
Akitada looked at Inabe’s scroll. ‘It fits. But surely the poison was not administered as a medicine.’
Tamako leaned closer and extended a slender hand to point. ‘Look. The symptoms did not occur until the doctor’s third visit.’
Akitada was distracted by her perfume and nearness. He moved a little and for a moment their bodies touched warmly before she moved away.
Seimei cleared his throat. ‘Tora was very anxious to speak to you.’
Akitada sighed. ‘It’s about his miserable cur. Come to think of it, I never had a chance to ask him why he did not meet me in Otsu.’
Seimei was startled. ‘You don’t know, sir? He found a murdered woman early this morning and was kept by the police.’
‘What?’ Akitada was on his feet. ‘Why didn’t anybody tell me?’
‘I’m sure he tried to, sir.’ There was a note of reproof in Seimei’s voice.
Akitada grunted and dashed from the room.
It was getting dark outside. Genba was drawing water at the well. From the corner of the house came the sound of coughing. The ancient carpenter was shuffling off to his evening rice.
‘Where is Tora?’ Akitada called out to Genba.
Genba put down the wooden bucket. ‘He left, sir.’
‘Left? To do what?’
‘You told him to get rid of Trouble.’ Seeing Akitada’s frown, Genba explained. ‘He’s trying to find a home for him. It won’t be easy. Trouble’s not a handsome animal. And letting him loose will just mean he’ll be killed. Tora’s very fond of that dog.’
Akitada had not intended this. Shaking his head at the misunderstanding, he sat down abruptly on one of the steps. It creaked alarmingly, and when he looked, he saw that a large crack had opened up. This reminded him of the condition of his home. ‘I’m afraid the next earthquake will bring the roof down around our ears,’ he muttered. ‘I’ve been neglectful of my responsibilities.’
Genba tried to cheer him up. ‘The house is very solid, sir. The carpenter comes every day, and with three of us working together, we’ll have all the problems fixed in no time.’
But Akitada knew better. For one thing there was no money. He had no idea how long he could pay the ancient carpenter. For another, his neglect extended to his family as well as his home. It was a miracle Tora had stayed with him all these years – that any of them had stayed. He looked at Genba, a huge man, a former wrestler gone to seed. His short, bristly hair was grizzled, and the massive body had turned soft and flabby. When he and Hitomaro had first joined Akitada’s family, they had both been strong young men. Hitomaro had given his life for him, and Genba, in his own way, was still doing so. Genba had never married and had served him quietly, never making demands, never complaining about his lost chances in the ring. Akitada had begun to treat him as a fixture, almost with the same disrespect that Yori used to show him. Genba had been there to be made use of. They had taken his devotion for granted, and Akitada had even begrudged him the food that was Genba’s only weakness.
‘I’m sorry, Genba,’ Akitada said now. ‘I’m truly sorry about many things. I haven’t been myself lately. Tora need not have given the dog away, just confined him somewhere.’
Genba’s anxious face brightened. ‘I’ll tell him. He’ll be very happy, sir.’
Akitada sighed. ‘Are you happy here, Genba?’
Panic appeared in Genba’s face. ‘Why do you ask, sir? Have I done something wrong?’
‘No.’ Akitada rose to put a hand on Genba’s shoulder. ‘No, my old friend. Not you. The fault is mine. I beg your forgiveness. You must tell me next time I’m unreasonable or… cruel.’
‘Oh, I could never do that… I mean you never… You could never be cruel, sir. As for being a bit distracted, well, we know you don’t mean it.’ He broke off helplessly.
Akitada embraced him. ‘Thank you,’ he said, very moved. ‘And thank you for watching over all of us while I… was busy elsewhere and Tora had his own problems. I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t been for you and Seimei.’
Genba blinked rapidly and muttered, ‘It was nothing, sir.’
‘Did Tora by any chance tell you about a murder he discovered this morning?’
‘No. He’d just got back from talking to the police and was depressed and very anxious to see you.’
‘I was in a hurry and thought it was about the dog. Tell Tora to bring the dog back and then come to report to me.’
But Akitada waited in vain for Tora to return. Eventually, he spread his bedding in his room and went to sleep there.
In the morning, he got up and looked immediately for Tora. He found him sitting on the bottom step of the stairs, his shoulders slumped and his head in his hands. There was no sign of the dog.
‘Where’s Trouble?’ Akitada asked. ‘Didn’t Genba tell you to bring him back?’
Tora rose and turned. It was obvious that he had not slept. ‘I tried, sir,’ he said. ‘I went back last night, but he’s gone. They took him away. I shouldn’t have left him there. I could tell they’d mistreat him. But they had children, and I thought Trouble would like that. Someone to play with. He’s just never had that before. I think that’s what made him the way he was. There wasn’t a bad bone in that dog’s body. He was bored.’
Tora sounded near to tears, and Akitada felt very guilty. ‘I’m sorry, Tora. I suppose Genba mentioned that I didn’t mean it. Do you know where these people took the dog?’
Tora shook his head. ‘I didn’t ask. They’re travelers. Vagrants. The whole family works at temple fairs. The kids tumble and beg a few coppers from the pilgrims. The husband and wife are jugglers and musicians. The husband thought he could train Trouble to do tricks.’
‘Dear Heaven.’ Akitada pictured that clumsy, big, unattractive animal trying to dance on a ball or jump through flying hoops. ‘What gave him that idea?’
Tora looked shamefaced. ‘Me. I was getting pretty desperate by then, so I talked him up a bit. Funny thing was, as I was talking, Trouble had that intelligent expression he gets sometimes. But you’re right. He’ll never learn any tricks. They’ll beat him first, and then maybe they’ll kill him. He gave me such a look when I walked away’
Akitada remembered how it had felt walking away from the boy in Otsu and did not know what to say. Tora had a beaten manner about him that he did not like. When they had fallen out over Hanae, he had been angry and defiant. Now he just looked hopeless.