The Harsh Cry of the Heron (9 page)

His departure left
them in silence. Minoru finished noting what had been said thus far and laid
down his brush.

Kono said, ‘I have to
speak of a somewhat delicate matter. It may be best if I talk to Lord Otori
alone.’

Takeo raised his
eyebrows and replied, ‘My scribe will remain.’ He gestured to the rest of the
attendants to leave the room.

When they had gone,
Kono did not speak for a while. When he did, his voice was warmer and his
manner less artificial.

‘I want Lord Otori to
know that I am merely an envoy. I have no animosity towards you. I know little
of the history of our two families - the unfortunate situation with Lady
Shirakawa - but my father’s actions often distressed my mother, while she was
alive, and myself. I cannot believe that he was entirely without fault.’

Without fault? Takeo
thought. All the fault lay with him: my wife’s suffering and disfigurement, the
murder of Amano Tenzo, the senseless slaying of my first horse, Raku, all those
who died at the battle of Kusahara and in the retreat. He said nothing.

Kono went on, ‘Lord
Otori’s fame has spread throughout the Eight Islands. The Emperor himself has
heard of it. His Divine Majesty and his Court admire the way you have brought
peace to the Three Countries.’

‘I am flattered by
their interest.’

‘It is unfortunate
that all your great achievements never received imperial sanction.’ Kono smiled
with seeming kindness and understanding. ‘And that they stem from the illegal
death -1 won’t go so far as to call it murder - of the Emperor’s recognized
representative in the Three Countries, Arai Daiichi.’

‘Lord Arai died, like
your father, in the Great Earthquake.’

‘I believe Lord Arai
was shot by one of your followers, the pirate Terada Fumio, already a criminal.
The earthquake resulted from the horror of Heaven at such a treacherous act
against an overlord: that is what is believed in the capital. There were other
unexplained deaths that concerned the Emperor at the time: Lord Shirakawa, for
instance, possibly at the hands of one Kondo Koichi, who was in your service,
and who was also implicated in my father’s death.’

Takeo replied, ‘Kondo
died years ago. This is all past history. In the Three Countries it is believed
that Heaven took a hand in punishing my grandfather’s brothers and Arai for
their evil deeds and betrayals. Arai had just attacked my unarmed men. If there
was any sort of treachery, it was his.’ Earth delivered what Heaven desired.

‘Well, his son, Lord
Zenko, was an eyewitness, and a man of his probity will tell the truth,’ Kono
said blandly. ‘My unpleasant duty is to inform Lord Otori that, since you have
never sought the Emperor’s permission or endorsement, have never sent tax or
tribute to the capital, your rule is illegal and you are requested to abdicate.
Your life will be spared if you retire in exile to some isolated island for the
remainder of your days. The ancestral sword of the Otori must be returned to
the Emperor.’

‘It is beyond my
comprehension that you dare to bring such a message,’ Takeo replied, masking
his shock and fury. ‘It is under my rule that the Three Countries have become
peaceful and prosperous. I have no intention of abdicating until my daughter is
old enough to inherit from me. I am willing to enter into treaties with the
Emperor, and anyone else who approaches me peacefully; I have three daughters
for whom I am prepared to make political marriages. But I will not be
intimidated by threats.’

‘No one really
thought you would be,’ Kono murmured, his expression unreadable.

Takeo demanded, ‘Why
have you come suddenly now? Where was the Emperor’s interest years ago, when
Iida Sadamu was pillaging the Three Countries and murdering its people? Did
Iida act with a divine sanction?’

He saw Minoru make a
very slight movement with his head, and tried to rein in his temper. Of course
Kono hoped to enrage him, hoped to bring him into an open statement of defiance
which would be construed as further rebellion.

Zenko and Hana are
behind this, he thought. Yet there must be another reason why they - and the
Emperor - dare to move against me now. What weakness are they exploiting? What
additional strengths do they now think they possess?

‘I intend no
disrespect to the Emperor,’ he said carefully. ‘But he is revered throughout
the Eight Islands for his pursuit of peace. Surely he will not go to war
against his own people?’

Surely he cannot
raise an army against me?

‘Lord Otori cannot
have heard the latest news,’ Kono said with an air of sorrow. ‘The Emperor has
appointed a new general: the descendent of one of the oldest families in the
East, lord of many countries and leader of tens of thousands of men. The
Emperor seeks peace above all things, but he cannot condone criminal activity,
and now he has a strong right arm with which to enforce punishment and justice.’

The words, so softly
spoken, had all the sting of insult, and Takeo felt a wave of heat. It seemed
almost unendurable to be considered a criminal: his Otori blood rebelled
against it. Yet for many years he had settled challenges and disputes by shrewd
negotiation and diplomacy. He did not believe these methods would fail him now.
He let the words and the insult wash over him while he regained his
self-mastery, and started considering what his response would be.

So they have a new
warlord. Why have I not heard of him? Where is Taku when I need him? Where is
Kenji?

The extra arms and
men Arai had been preparing: could they be in support of this new threat? The
arms: what if they were firearms? What if they were already on their way to the
East?

‘You are here as the
guest of my vassal, Arai Zenko,’ he said finally. ‘And therefore as my guest. I
think you should extend your stay in the West, visit your late father’s estate,
and return with Lord Arai to Kumamoto. I will send for you when I have decided
how to reply to the Emperor, where I will go if I am to abdicate, and how best
to preserve peace.’

‘I repeat, I am only
an envoy,’ Kono said, and bowed with apparent sincerity.

Zenko returned and
the midday meal was prepared: lavish and delicious as it was, Takeo hardly
tasted it. The conversation was light and courteous; he attempted to contribute
to it.

When they had eaten,
Kono was escorted by Zenko to the guest apartment. Jun and Shin had been
waiting outside on the veranda. They rose and followed Takeo silently as he
returned to his own rooms.

‘Lord Kono is not to
leave this house,’ he said to them. ‘Jun, set guards at the gates. Shin, take
instructions at once to the port. Lord Kono will stay in the West until I give
written permission for him to return to Miyako. The same applies to Lady Arai
and her sons.’

The cousins exchanged
a glance but made no comment beyond, ‘Certainly, Lord Otori.’

‘Minoru,’ Takeo said
to the scribe. ‘Go with Shin to the port and find out details of all embarking
vessels, particularly those bound for Akashi.’

‘I understand,’
Minoru replied. ‘I will be back as soon as possible.’

Takeo settled himself
on the veranda and listened to the mood of the house change as his instructions
were carried out: the tread of the guards’ feet, Jun’s fierce, insistent
commands, the nervous scurry of maids and their whispered comments, one
exclamation of surprise from Zenko, Hana’s murmured advice. When Jun returned,
Takeo told him to stay outside his rooms and let no one disturb him. He then
retired within, and went through Minoru’s account of the meeting with Kono
while he waited for his scribe to return.

The characters leaped
from the page at him, stern and graphic in Minoru’s near-perfect hand. Exile,
criminal, illegal, treachery.

He fought to control
the rage that these insults provoked, aware of Jun barely three strides away
from him. He only had to speak one order, and they would all be dead: Kono,
Zenko, Hana, the children . . . their blood would wash out the humiliation that
he could feel staining his bones, corroding his vital organs. Then he would
attack the Emperor and his general before the summer was over, drive them back
to Miyako, lay waste the capital. Only then would his rage be assuaged.

He closed his eyes,
seeing the patterns of the screens etched into his eyelids, and breathed out
deeply, remembering another warlord who had killed to wipe out insults and had
come to love killing for its own sake, saw how easy it would be to take that
path and become like Iida Sadamu.

He consciously put
the insults from him and thrust the humiliation aside, telling himself his rule
was ordained and blessed by Heaven: he saw this in the presence of the houou,
in the contentment of his people. He came to the decision again that he would
avoid bloodshed and war as long as possible, and that he would do nothing
without consulting Kaede and his other advisers.

This resolution was
tested almost immediately, when Minoru returned from the harbour officials’
record room.

‘Lord Otori’s
suspicions were correct,’ he said. ‘It looks as though a ship left for Akashi
on last night’s tide, but its cargo examination certificate had not been
completed. Shin persuaded the harbour master to investigate immediately.’

Takeo narrowed his
eyes, but made no comment.

‘Lord Otori must not
concern himself,’ Minoru said to reassure him. ‘Shin hardly had to be violent
at all. The men responsible were identified; the customs official who allowed
the ship to leave, and the merchant who handled the freight. They are being
held, awaiting your decision on their fate.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Neither of
them has admitted to the nature of the cargo.’

‘We have to suspect
the worst,’ Takeo replied. ‘Why else avoid the inspection procedures? But do
not speak of it openly. We must try to recover them before they reach Akashi.’

Minoru smiled
slightly. ‘I have some good news for you too. Terada Fumio’s ship is waiting to
dock. They will be in Hofu at the high tide this evening.’

‘He has come at just
the right time,’ Takeo exclaimed, his spirits lifting immediately. Fumio was
one of his oldest friends, and, with his father, supervised the fleet of ships
with which the Otori carried out trade and defended their coastline. He had
been away for months with Dr Ishida, on one of their frequent voyages of trade
and exploration.

‘Tell Shin to take a
message to Fumio that he may expect a visit tonight. No need to make it explicit,
he will understand.’

He was deeply
relieved on several counts. Fumio would have up-to-date news of the Emperor; if
he could leave at once he had a good chance of catching up with the illegal
shipment; and Ishida would have medicine, something to relieve the insistent
pain.

‘And now I must speak
to my brother-in-law. Please ask Lord Zenko to come here at once.’

He was glad to have
the excuse of the customs officials to rebuke his brother-in-law. Zenko
expressed his profound apologies and promised to arrange the executions
himself, assuring Takeo that it was an isolated occurrence, an instance of
human greed, nothing more sinister.

‘I hope you are
right,’ Takeo replied. T want you to assure me of your complete loyalty to me:
you owe me your life; you are married to my wife’s sister; your mother is my
cousin and one of my oldest friends. You hold Kumamoto and all your lands
through my will and my permission. Yesterday you offered me one of your sons. I
accept your offer. Indeed I will take both of them; when I leave for Hagi they
will accompany me. From now on they will live with my family and be brought up
as my sons. I will adopt Sunaomi, if you remain loyal to me. His life and his
brother’s will be forfeit at the slightest sign of disloyalty. The question of
marriage will be decided later. Your wife may join her sons in Hagi if she
desires, but I am sure you will want her to remain with you.’

Takeo watched his
brother-in-law’s face closely during this speech. Zenko did not look at him.
His eyes flickered slightly and he spoke too quickly in reply.

‘Lord Takeo must know
that I am completely loyal to him. What did Kono say to you that prompted this?
Has he spoken of affairs in the East?’

Don’t pretend you don’t
know! Takeo was tempted to challenge him directly, but decided it was not yet
the time.

‘We will disregard
what he said: it is of no importance. Now, in front of these witnesses, swear
your fealty to me.’

Zenko did so,
prostrating himself, but Takeo remembered how his father, Arai Daiichi, had
sworn an alliance with him only to betray him, and in the extreme moment had
chosen power over the life of his sons.

The son will be the
same, he thought. I should order him now to take his own life. But he shrank
from such an act, for all the sorrow it would cause to his own family. Better
to keep trying to tame him, rather than kill him. But how much simpler it would
be if he were dead.

He put the thought
from him, committing himself once again to the more complex and difficult path,
away from the deceptive simplicities of assassination or suicide. Once Zenko
had finished his protestations, all faithfully recorded by Minoru, Takeo
retired to his own apartments, saying he would dine alone and retire early
since he intended to leave for Hagi in the morning. He was longing to be in the
place he regarded above all others as his home, to lie with his wife and open
his heart to her, to see his daughters. He told Zenko the two boys must be
ready to travel with him.