The Heike Story (83 page)

"Yes, but there are groups of other musicians coming as well."

"Are you not musicians of the Abй family?"

"You actually recognize us!"

"I, too, am one of the Abй of Kyoto."

"You too?"

The musicians suddenly hurried forward in a body and surrounded Asatori with eager questions.

That night Asatori went with the musicians to their inn, not far from Kurama Mountain, and talked with them late into the night.

"You are no ordinary musician," they said, curious and admiring; "tell us something about yourself."

"I have given up music to become a physician."

"What made you give up your post at the Court?"

"I was not happy there."

"You didn't like the narrow life it imposed on you?"

"Yes, that is more or less what it was," Asatori replied, and added: "I was in the hills collecting herbs, and when I saw you I could not help wanting to talk to you. How would it be if I went with you and saw something of the festival? If you can think of something I can do, I shall only be too glad to be of use."

A few welcomed the idea of including Asatori in their party, but some hesitated, and it was not until the following morning that they agreed to take Asatori with them.

On Kurama Mountain they were lodged in one of the dormitories where other groups of musicians were also staying. Rehearsals were going on in all the monasteries, where novices were practicing their parts in the sacred dramas. Asatori went each day to the rehearsals, certain that he would find Ushiwaka.

As the day of the festival drew near, the monasteries echoed from dawn until dark with the sound of drums, bells, flutes and flageolets. One night Asatori stole away to a shrine near the dormitory in which he now knew Ushiwaka lived, and, drawing out his flute from its case, began to play. He had succeeded several days ago in slipping a message into Ushiwaka's sleeve, and for two nights in succession had come here to play his flute, expecting Ushiwaka to appear. This was the last night he dared to come, lest his playing cause the monks to suspect him.

Ushiwaka hid in the shadows not far from the shrine and listened to Asatori play. As Asatori began to put away his flute, Ushiwaka stole up and stood beside him silently.

"Who are you?" Asatori asked, startled.

"Is it you that have been playing his flute these several nights?"

"Are you Ushiwaka?"

"And you—who are you?"

"It was I that put that note into your sleeve."

"Yes, but tell me who you are. Who are you? Are you trying to play a trick on me?"

"No, that I am not. I am a physician, and Asatori is my name," Asatori said, prostrating himself.

"A physician who plays the flute—and so beautifully?"

"Let me tell you of that later. Since you are afraid to trust me, take this. Your mother asked me to give this to you. There is a letter to you in the case."

Ushiwaka stooped and picked up the object that Asatori laid at his feet, said nothing, and disappeared into the shrine. There by the light of the sanctuary lamp he read his mother's letter. "I pray for your happiness morning and night," the letter began. "Obey your superior in all things. It makes me happy to think that you are diligent in your studies. This image which I send you by a messenger belonged to your father, Yoshitomo of the Genji. It was his last gift to me. . . ."

The rest of the letter spoke of Tokiwa's prayers and hopes for him—that he would put away all thought of a warrior's life and follow the ways of peace and holiness as a priest.

Asatori waited for Ushiwaka to appear, then finally rose and peered into the sanctuary; there he saw Ushiwaka staring thoughtfully at the letter before him. He quickly slipped in and knelt before Ushiwaka and began to speak to him of his mother, imploring Ushiwaka to heed all that she had written.

Ushiwaka said nothing for a time; then he finally looked up. "Yes, Asatori, I know what my mother wants of me."

"You do?" Asatori replied eagerly.

"But—" Ushiwaka went on, "my mother is a woman and cannot understand. From her letter I can tell how truly womanly she is. If only I could meet her! Is she at all like the mother of whom I dream all the time?"

"Do you really want so much to see her?"

"What stupid things you keep saying!"

"There's no reason why you shouldn't see her after you've taken the vows. When people recognize you as a great sage and a holy man, I am sure that you will be allowed to return to the capital to see her. Even the Heike may some day welcome you among them."

"I can't wait so long. I must see her now. . . ."

"If you make the wrong choice, you may never see her."

"Is it unnatural for me to want to see my mother?"

"You must remember the Heike."

"Who are they, and what are they to me? Are they gods? Are they supernatural beings?"

"It is war that brought all this unhappiness on you, and you must turn away from those things which bring about war."

"Is this to go on forever? Am I to stay as I am, a prisoner here from the time I was born?"

Asatori went on: "It is for us to find a way of life which will not bring conflict or create a hell on earth. Only by following the path which leads to peace will you show how much you love your mother. The world cannot be changed overnight, nor can we escape karma."

"Was that all you came to tell me, Asatori?" Ushiwaka asked, wrapping the letter round the image and thrusting them into the folds of his tunic. Suddenly he stamped his foot at Asatori, who knelt before him.

"Now I know who you are," he said. "You're the one who spied on us that night in the valley. Off with you! I'll see that my answer reaches my-mother. Don't stay here any longer—go at once —now!"

As he spoke, Ushiwaka ran from the shrine and disappeared into the surrounding woods. Asatori tried to follow him, but Ushiwaka had already vanished.

USHIWAKA ESCAPES

The morning haze rose like steam from the mountain. It was the last day of the three-day festival. Thousands of lamps glimmered in the early dawn and the chanting of sutras and the sound of music were everywhere. It promised to be another sweltering day.

"Ushiwaka's looking quite elegant, isn't he?"

"Not a bit like him, when he's all dressed up!"

"You must be Ushiwaka. Come, let's see if you really are."

The novices were gathered in a room behind the dance stage and teasing Ushiwaka, who wore a poppy-colored tunic and trousers of a deep purple. His hair was arranged in an elaborate knot on his head. While the other novices laughed and shouted and leaped about in their excitement, Ushiwaka alone sat apart, quietly waiting.

"You're worried, aren't you," one of his companions asked.

Ushiwaka shook his head. "No, I couldn't sleep at all last night."

"You're lying! What kept you awake, then?"

"I was too excited."

"Excited? About what?"

"Today, of course."

"Queer, aren't you?" Another novice snorted and then ran off to join his companions who were leaning over the balustrades of a gallery.

A great shout went up: "Just look at the crowds today!"

"There are still more coming up! Like ants in a procession!"

"Where, where? Let me take a look!"

The novices climbed onto the balustrades and swarmed up pillars in their excitement. While their backs were turned, Ushiwaka sprang to his feet and disappeared down a hall into his room. From behind the books on his small writing-table he snatched a small case, took out the silver image, threw the case away, and carefully placed the image in the inner folds of his tunic; he patted it to see that it was safe, then tightened the sash around his waist.

"Ushiwaka! Ushiwaka, where are you?"

The sound of voices startled Ushiwaka, who ran back, replying as he ran.

A score of novices were already lined up, and a monk who saw Ushiwaka shouted at him angrily:

"Where were you anyway?"

"I went to the privy."

"You're lying! I saw you coming from your room."

"I was tightening the sash of my trousers."

A monk led the procession, cutting a path through the crowds. Musicians followed him, sounding bells and gongs; after them marched high priests and the many novices who were taking part in the sacred dramas.

Hotter and hotter it grew, and not a cloud was to be seen as the procession made its way round the mountain, from shrine to shrine, from temple to temple. The novices panted and perspired, straggled, broke rank as their high spirits got the better of them, and dodged and darted about. Ushiwaka, the smallest of them, marched at the end, orderly and sedate. His eyes, however, were busy, darting to left and right among the watching pilgrims, and sometimes a gleam of recognition came into his eyes as he tramped on after the rest.

When the four-hour march round the mountain ended, the novices scattered for their noonday meal and then prepared themselves for the dances in which they were to take part. All afternoon and into the night the dancing and music went on. Bonfires were lighted all over the mountain. Multitudes of pilgrims pushed and jostled one another, moving from one performance to the next. Novices wriggled their way through the crowds, anxious not to miss anything. Ushiwaka alone wandered about aimlessly on the fringes of sightseers, until without warning a man approached him from behind, threw a thin, summer cloak about him, and whispered:

"Now, sir!"

"Is that you, Masachika?"

"I will go with you as far as the road leading down to the valley."

"That road has been fenced in."

"No matter—hurry!"

Ushiwaka started running. No sooner was he out of sight than Masachika put his fingers to his lips and gave two shrill whistles. Several men quietly slipped through the crowd, absorbed in watching the bamboo-splitting rites, and disappeared into the night. Not long after, priest after priest, taking part in the rites, quickly left the scene.

Someone was heard to say: "A monk was killed at the barriers to one of the valleys."

People were soon talking among themselves excitedly. A novice had broken through a barrier and escaped. He had killed two guards as he got away. No, a Tengu had done it, people claimed.

The rumor soon reached the musicians, who were resting and drinking in their quarters. Asatori, who had been drinking with the rest, sat up.

"A novice escaped? Who was it? What was his name? Is this true?" he asked his companions, and then stealthily left his seat to slip away outside.

The Tengu were now gathered in the hut where Asatori had first seen them.

"The first step has now been safely taken and we congratulate you," said one, turning to Ushiwaka, who huddled among the dark bodies that surrounded him, still dazed by his narrow escape.

One of the men, who seemed to be older and more experienced than the rest, interposed: "It's a little too early to congratulate ourselves. Remember, we still have to reckon with the Chieftain Hidehira, and, furthermore, we've done this without Kichiji's consent. It's easy enough to get away from Kurama Mountain, but how are we going to manage the rest? If luck is with us, Kichiji will be told of this; otherwise it will be practically impossible for us to elude Kiyomori's soldiers and escape east."

Another broke in: "But this was our last chance. In any case, Ushiwaka took matters into his own hands."

"We won't depend on Kichiji. If he refuses help, then we'll manage the rest ourselves. Remember, we expected this to happen when Ushiwaka said that he would escape on his own. There was nothing else we could do, and it would have been cowardly to do otherwise."

"Hardly cowardly. It's only proper to take every precaution in a matter as serious as this."

"There's not much use in arguing about this, I carefully warned Konno-maru of what would happen tonight. It worries me that he hasn't appeared yet."