The thought of setting off a rock slide and plunging into the gaping darkness far below made him shudder. He began to crawl upward on his hands and knees. He had almost reached the platform, and could make out the dim light of a candle burning inside behind the closed blinds, when noise reached his ears. It was muffled by the roaring waters, but he thought he heard shouts and the dog barking. He reached the veranda and stood up.
Two women’s shadows moved behind the blinds. Breathing a sigh of relief, Tora hoisted himself up on the veranda. The boards were slick with dew and treacherous, but he was not going back.
A third shadow appeared inside, a man who knelt and bowed. A servant or messenger? Tora crept up to the blinds and put his eye to a crack and suppressed a gasp. The face that had appeared for a moment was the face of Ishikawa. Then he heard voices.
‘What is this? What do you want here at this hour?’ Lady Saisho sounded angry.
Ishikawa said, ‘Begging your pardon, My Lady, but my master was concerned about your safety. And I just heard from Seijiro that you had visitors.’
‘What is that to you or my son?’
‘Your son has reason to suspect that Lord Sugawara is plotting against him.’
Mrs Ishikawa cried, ‘Oh, son, you’re not in trouble again?’
‘Nonsense, Mother.’ Ishikawa’s voice was harsh. ‘Beware of your rash tongue and remember the two noble houses we serve. Foolish words can do much harm.’
Lady Sadanori snapped, ‘You will not speak that way to your mother in my presence. She is upset enough with your behavior. We are safe, and you may leave.’
‘I’m sorry, My Lady. Seijiro says that Lord Sugawara’s party is planning to return. It will be best if he finds you gone. You may gather a few things and return with me to the capital. Seijiro is getting the sedan chair ready.’
Tora cursed softly. He wondered how many men Ishikawa had with him.
Lady Saisho broke the short silence with an outraged: ‘How dare you tell me what to do? I’m not going anywhere!’
Tora relaxed a little and wondered how Ishikawa would manage that one. He was beginning to like Sadanori’s mother.
Ishikawa muttered something under his breath. ‘We’re wasting time,’ he said. ‘I have my orders. You must get dressed or you’ll leave in your nightclothes.’
Mrs Ishikawa whimpered. ‘Son, you mustn’t speak that way to Her Ladyship. It isn’t proper.’
‘You will have to tie me up then,’ snapped Lady Saisho, ‘for I will not go.’
Ishikawa’s voice sounded desperate. ‘You must. Your son’s life is at stake.’
Lady Saisho snorted. ‘Ridiculous. I shall see you dismissed for this.’
Mrs Ishikawa burst into tears and rushed to her son. He pushed her aside, saying harshly, ‘Get her ready, Mother. You’re both leaving now. It’s a fine thing when women set their minds against men.’
‘You’re nothing but a servant, Ishikawa.’ Lady Saisho folded her arms and turned her back on him.
Outside, Tora considered. If he burst in on the scene, he might well find himself surrounded by Ishikawa’s people and killed. That would not serve anyone. On the other hand, Ishikawa would prevail over Lady Saisho. He sounded determined enough. In that case, he, Tora, could do nothing but trail them to the capital.
He turned to cast an uneasy glance at the gorge gaping below, when he heard a woman’s cry of pain.
Inside, behind the blinds, two figures were struggling; the third rushed to help and was flung aside so violently that she came stumbling through the blind, slipped on the boards, and fell. It was Mrs Ishikawa.
Lady Saisho cried for help, and Tora made up his mind. He flung aside the torn blind and jumped into the room.
Ishikawa had hold of Lady Saisho – in her night robe and with her white hair hanging loose.
‘Let her go,’ Tora growled.
They stared at him. Ishikawa released the old lady and reached for his sword.
Tora’s own sword was tied to the saddle of his horse. He crouched, his eyes on Ishikawa.
Lady Saisho said, ‘Put away that weapon, Ishikawa! How dare you bring a sword into my quarters?’ When Ishikawa ignored her, she raised her voice. ‘Seijiro!’
Ishikawa laughed. ‘Seijiro isn’t coming.’
But Seijiro did come. He slunk in nervously behind a couple of frightened maids, who burst into the room to clutch at Lady Saisho.
Tora decided Ishikawa was alone. ‘Don’t be a fool,’ he said. ‘Why kill more people?’
Ishikawa called to Seijiro, ‘He’s a robber. Grab him.’
Seijiro took a step forward.
‘No.’ Lady Saisho shook off the two maids. ‘Ishikawa’s gone mad, Seijiro,’ she said. ‘Disarm him and lock him up until we can send for my son.’
Seijiro blinked and stopped in indecision.
Tora said, ‘Ishikawa’s wanted for murder.’
Ishikawa laughed. ‘Yes, yours.’ He started forward. ‘You won’t live to repeat your slander.’
The tall candles flickered and spattered in the draft from the torn blind. Tora risked a glance, but this was a lady’s room and contained no convenient weapons. The maids whimpered, and behind him, Mrs Ishikawa sobbed her heart out. Tora shivered. The current of air carried the musty smell of rotting things – the rank breath of the gorge. He feared having his back to it and moved away from the door.
Lady Saisho said, ‘Only a coward would cut down an unarmed man.’
Ishikawa shot her a venomous glance. ‘A gentleman does not cross swords with scum.’
Tora ignored the slur in the supreme confidence that he was a soldier and Ishikawa was not. Even an unarmed man could win against an inexperienced fighter, and this Ishikawa was a coward as well, as Lady Saisho had pointed out. Though he held a sword, the former student hesitated, not sure how to proceed. It was a great deal easier to strike an old man down when his back was turned than to use an unfamiliar sword against a young and alert adversary. Tora kept his eyes on Ishikawa’s sword hand and waited.
Mrs Ishikawa scrabbled on the veranda behind him, and Ishikawa’s hand tightened its grip. The next moment, he lunged at Tora. Tora spun away easily, catching Ishikawa’s sword arm with his left hand and jerking it. Ishikawa gasped, stumbled, and fell to his knees.
Short and sweet, Tora thought, and twisted the sword from Ishikawa’s hand. He was about to put its point against the other man’s neck, when the women screamed, and a heavy weight hit his back, pitching him forward to the floor. He landed on his chin, jarring his teeth and nearly knocking himself out. Half dazed, he realized that Ishikawa’s mother had come from behind and flung herself on him. She was clawing at his throat and head, and he was about to throw her off when someone stepped hard on his hand. He lost his grip on Ishikawa’s sword as pain shot up his arm, but the pain cleared his head. With a curse, he tossed the woman off and rolled away. He heard rather than saw the blade strike the boards near his shoulder and rolled again until he came up against a wall. The room seemed filled with movement and noise, but he focused on Ishikawa. When the sword hissed down again, he flung himself forward and grabbed for Ishikawa’s legs. Ishikawa skipped away, but his sword had missed.
Tora managed to get to his feet and put some distance between himself and his attacker. He was still a little dizzy and his hand throbbed, but he no longer had the river gorge behind his back. Ishikawa was now about ten feet away, his face contorted with rage.
His mother cowered on the floor, her mouth open in mute fear. The others huddled in a corner, Seijiro standing in front of Lady Saisho, and the maids cowering behind. The fight was between him and Ishikawa – and possibly that vicious mother of his.
Ishikawa laughed. He had found his courage at last. ‘Look who’s the coward now,’ he cried. ‘I think I’ll kill you slowly. One cut at a time. Like this.’ He darted for Tora with the quickness of a snake and struck at his thigh. Tora felt the blade sear his skin as he jumped out of the way. He was now close to the women’s bedding and risked getting tangled in it, but his move had taken Ishikawa towards the platform. He danced about a little, then feinted again. Tora, cursing the other man’s agility, jumped aside again, too far this time, so that he slipped on a silk quilt and almost fell.