The Cloud Pavilion (30 page)

As they neared the boat, the owner came into clearer view. His long hair was greased back into a knot. His robes hung on him, reminding Sano of a clothes stand. There didn’t appear to be anyone else on board, but the windows of the cabin were closed; Sano couldn’t see inside it or below the deck. He and his companions had just reached the dock, when four samurai came hurrying down a street that led between the teahouses to the river. The four headed for the dock. When they saw Sano, they stopped in surprise. He recognized them as his own troops.

“What are you doing here?” Sano kept his voice calm. “You were supposed to watch Joju.”

“We followed him here from the temple,” the leader said. “We just saw him get on that boat.”

Shock and dismay filled Sano. The exorcist was already with Lady Nobuko. But that gave Sano the chance to catch him in the act of rape.

Looking toward the boat, Sano saw the owner looking straight back at him. The man had heavy purplish bags under wary eyes; black moles peppered his cheeks. Three more men appeared, climbing up from under the deck, to see what the commotion was all about. They were samurai, heavyset and tough and armed with swords,
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hired to guard the brothel.

Suddenly Gombei shouted, “Look out! They’ve come to raid your boat!”

In the cemetery, Nanbu called to Jirocho, “What is this?” His face was ugly with anger. The dog on his leash growled. “You told me to come here and pay blackmail, and now you shoot at me and kill my men. Are you crazy?”

“Not crazy, just practical,” Jirocho said. Nanbu’s men held lanterns up to him, the better to see his face. He posed like the lead actor onstage in a Kabuki drama. The flames and shadows exaggerated his predatory smile, the ferocity in his eyes. “It’s obvious you came to fight instead of paying. Forgive me if I changed the odds in my favor.”

Reiko counted only twenty men still standing in the cemetery. Jirocho’s forces outnumbered Nanbu’s and Ogita’s by a good margin, and the gangster had his adversaries surrounded.

“I told you we shouldn’t have come,” Ogita said bitterly.

“Ah, Ogita-
san
. How nice to see you.” Jirocho’s voice dripped vindictive scorn. “Where’s Joju the exorcist?”

“How should I know?” Ogita retorted.

“Two out of three will have to do, then.” Jirocho beckoned. “Stop hiding behind your guards. You and Nanbu-
san
, step closer.”

When neither man budged, his gang drew their bows, aimed arrows and spears. Ogita and Nanbu reluctantly moved toward the wall upon which Jirocho stood. Peering around the crematorium, Reiko and her comrades had a clear view of them. “Good,” Jirocho said, then addressed their men: “Hold your lanterns up to their faces.”

“What is this?” Nanbu said again, but he’d lost his bluster. Illuminated by the lanterns, he showed as much anxiety as rage.

Jirocho reached behind him. Reiko saw a small hand reach up from the darkness on the other side of the wall and grasp his. A girl dressed in a white kimono printed with blue irises scrambled onto the wall beside Jirocho.

Chiyo gasped. “Fumiko!”

The dogs began to bark at the girl. She seemed not to notice anyone but Jirocho. She gazed up at him, her eyes filled with adoration.

Jirocho yanked his hand free of hers. He jerked his chin toward Nanbu and Ogita and said, “Which one is it?”

Fumiko reluctantly moved her gaze from her father to the two men. A frown creased her forehead. Ogita said in disgust, “It’s just as I thought: She doesn’t know. That’s why Jirocho blackmailed both of us, and the priest, too, it seems. Nanbu-
san
, I tried to tell you it was a trick. But you wouldn’t listen. Now look at the mess we’re in!”

“Shut up!” Nanbu said.

“Open your robes and take off your loincloths.” Jirocho was obviously determined to repeat the examination done at Edo Jail, with better results. Nanbu and Ogita looked at each other in consternation. “Do it, or my men will.”

Nanbu cursed as he and Ogita stripped. Loincloths shed, they held their robes open, displaying their genitals. Reiko saw the huge, dark mole on Nanbu’s penis.

“He’s the one,” Fumiko said, her shrill voice ringing clear. She pointed at Nanbu.

Reiko saw another pair matched up in the sordid game of criminals and victims. Nanbu had raped Fumiko, Ogita had raped Chiyo, and that probably left the absent Joju guilty of the nun’s violation and suicide.

Jirocho fixed Nanbu with a gaze as cold as steel in winter. He said to his gang, “We’ll have to kill everybody. We don’t want any witnesses.”

The gangsters armed with spears jumped down from the wall. As they faced off against Nanbu’s and Ogita’s troops, Ogita cried, “Wait! I’ll give him to you, if you let me go. I promise never to talk!”

His men grabbed Nanbu and shoved him toward Jirocho. Struggling to free himself, Nanbu let go of his dog’s leash. He pointed to Jirocho and yelled, “Attack!”

The dog charged. It sprang higher than Reiko had thought possible, up to the top of the wall. Jirocho stepped backward, too late. The dog caught his ankle in its teeth. As it fell, it dragged Jirocho with it. Jirocho yelled and flailed his arms. He and the dog crashed into the cemetery together in a tangle of thrashing, howling, and cursing.

“Father!” Fumiko exclaimed, and jumped off the wall.

A cry of distress burst from Chiyo. She rushed from behind the crematorium toward Fumiko.

“No! Don’t!” Reiko drew her dagger and ran after Chiyo.

Lieutenant Tanuma called, “Lady Reiko, stop!” as he and her other bodyguards followed.

The dog savaged at Jirocho’s throat. Jirocho shouted, “Help!” and beat at the animal. Fumiko grabbed the dog by its spiked collar. His men hurried to his aid, but Nanbu’s troops and dogs headed them off. Chiyo seized Fumiko by the arm. Reiko, close behind Chiyo, saw Fumiko tugging at the dog.

It turned on her and lunged. She screamed and reeled backward, throwing up her arms to protect her face. Chiyo hurled herself between the dog and Fumiko. The dog struck her with all four huge paws, a missile of solid flesh and bone. Chiyo went down. Reiko slashed at the beast, heedless of the laws against hurting dogs. Her blade opened a bloody gash in its side. Now it turned on her. Pure, mindless savagery blazed in its red eyes. It sprang for her throat, its mouth open in a vicious snarl, its throat a gaping red maw. Reiko lashed out her dagger and cut the dog across its belly in midair. It uttered a piercing yowl. Blood and intestines poured from the wound as the dog landed on the ground, panting and squirming.

Reiko hurried to Chiyo. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” Chiyo said while Reiko helped her to stand. “Where’s Fumiko?”

Reiko looked around. Jirocho struggled to his feet; his face, neck, and hands were bloody from dog bites. Fumiko stumbled toward him, around gangsters battling Nanbu’s troops. Ogita stumbled through the melee, yelling, “Get me out of here!” His guards fought their way toward him.

“You’re not going anywhere, you traitor!” Having drawn his sword, Nanbu frantically parried jabs from the gangsters’ spears. He ordered his men, “Don’t let him get away.” A few quit the fight against the gangsters and blocked the gate. “Bring me the girl!” Nanbu shouted.

His men snatched at Fumiko. She dodged. Lieutenant Tanuma called to Reiko, “Take Chiyo outside where you’ll both be safe. I’ll rescue Fumiko.”

He and her other guards ran around the cemetery, lashing their swords at the troops chasing Fumiko, trying to herd her out of danger. Chiyo joined the chase. Reiko ran after Chiyo. They caught up to Fumiko. Nanbu’s men surrounded them, swords raised, dogs straining on leashes. Reiko swung her dagger while Chiyo and Fumiko hid behind her. The men laughed and feinted at her; they made her spin, circle, and duck. They were so sure she was a typical, harmless female that they grew careless. She sliced a man on his arm. He yelped in surprise. Another man seized Reiko from behind, picked her up, and threw her.

One moment she was flying through air and smoke; the next, she thudded facedown in the weeds, her breath punched out of her, gasping. Chiyo screamed, “Watch out!”

Reiko raised herself on her elbows and saw the man she’d wounded rushing upon her, sword raised in both hands, face contorted with rage. She rolled out of the way just before his blade came down. It struck the ground where she’d lain. Miraculously, she still had her dagger in her hand. As she regained her feet and fought her attacker, she saw another of Nanbu’s men grab Fumiko. He passed the kicking, struggling girl to Nanbu.

“Jirocho!” Nanbu shouted. “I’ve got your daughter.” He held his blade to her throat. “Call off your gang, or she’s dead!”

He obviously didn’t know that Jirocho had cast off his daughter and had only taken her back as part of his scheme to avenge the insult to himself. Reiko was horrified because she knew Jirocho meant to kill Nanbu and didn’t care if Fumiko died, too.

The gangsters faltered and retreated from the battle. Reiko was surprised to see that they evidently weren’t so sure of their master’s intentions. Nanbu’s men maintained their fighting stance. Lieutenant Tanuma and her other guards stood between Reiko and her attacker and shielded her with raised swords. Everyone looked toward Jirocho.

He stood speechless, arms dangling. He beheld his daughter, captured by the man who’d raped her, and his ravaged, bloody face took on an expression of pure anguish.

Shock stunned Reiko. He did care about Fumiko after all. Reiko realized that despite his outlaw status, he was a conventional man who observed the mores of society. He’d rejected his daughter because he felt obligated to, not because he’d stopped loving her. Now he regretted that his plan had put her in danger. Reiko read the other thoughts that he couldn’t hide. The child he’d disowned had saved him from Nanbu’s dog. Even as he realized he’d made a mistake by casting her off, he feared he would lose her for good.

The crackle of the body burning inside the crematorium was loud in the silence. The people in the cemetery were as still as the corpses that littered the ground. Even the dogs quieted. Fumiko stood in Nanbu’s grasp, regarding her father with hopeful anticipation. Everyone waited to see what Jirocho would do.

Gombei ran toward the boat, yelling to the owner, “You have to leave now!”

Jinshichi hurried after him. “We’re coming with you!”

“Hey!” Marume yelled. “Stop!”

Sano and Hirata were already racing after the two oxcart drivers. The boat owner shouted commands. Two peasant crewmen bolted up from below deck. One untied the ropes that moored the boat. As Gombei and Jinshichi hit the gangplank, the other crewman tried to raise it. The three
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on board blocked the gate in the boat’s railing. They drew their swords.

“Get off,” one of them ordered the oxcart drivers.

“Take us with you, or they’ll kill us,” Gombei cried.

“You brought them here. You traitors!”

As Hirata caught up with Gombei and Jinshichi, one of the
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cut the two men across their throats. Blood spurted as they collapsed. The quick, brutal violence horrified Sano even though their deaths were punishment well deserved. Hirata kicked their bodies into the river. Swords drawn, he and Sano clambered up the gangplank, which was slick with blood. Marume and Fukida and their other troops were close behind them. Hirata lunged at the guards on the boat. His blade moved in arcs and slashes too fast for the men to parry. They fell back even as their master shouted at them to stop the intruders. Hirata and Sano leaped aboard.

The crewmen disconnected the gangplank. It fell, carrying Marume, Fukida, and the rest of Sano’s men into the river with it. The oars began to move as the crew below deck rowed. The boat pulled away from the bank.

“I’ll handle this,” Hirata called to Sano as the guards rallied and he began to fight them. “Save the shogun’s wife!”

Sano grabbed the boat owner by the front of his kimono and held the sword to his neck. “Where is she?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Sano flung the man into the battle raging between his guards and Hirata. As the boat accelerated down the river, people peered curiously out from the teahouses. Sano saw Marume and Fukida in the water, swimming after the boat. He tried to slide open the cabin door. The wooden panel felt oddly heavy. It was loose in its frame, but locked from the inside. He applied more strength, felt the lock break, and stepped inside.

Dim, silvery light enveloped him. He heard grunts, cries, and rustling that quickly ceased. An odd softness on the floor cushioned his feet. The boat tilted; the door slid shut. Sano found himself in a world of eerie silence. Unnerved, he clutched his sword. As he gazed at his surroundings, he discovered why he couldn’t hear any noise from outside.