The Samurai's Garden (15 page)

****

The next night, Hiro read with light from a lantern. Hanako had gone to bed early, but he wanted to absorb all the news from Tokyo he could find. A recently arrived ex-samurai had brought an issue of a new publication from Yokohama called the
Daily News
and had given it to Hiro. The newcomer had told Hiro that a new issue of this publication came out every day, filled with domestic as well as foreign news. This was a new development. In the past, large newspapers like this were owned by foreigners and reflected European concerns. He read, fascinated by the news of the new government. It seemed Emperor Meiji was determined to make Japan an international power and embraced the knowledge and skills of the Western nations. Hiro nodded in approval.

Turning the page, Hiro's eyes suddenly zeroed in on the one name that made his blood run cold.
Hideyori Kato
. He sat up and pulled the paper close. Was the man on his way north? Would the former
daimyo
and his followers pose the next threat to this village?

Hiro quickly scanned the article. Apparently Kato-san had tried to form an alliance with other former
daimyo
, working toward the goal of overthrowing the Meiji government and restoring the former feudal system. But the others had soon seen the futility of his cause and abandoned him. Now, the Imperial Palace had received word of his plans and was looking for him, intending to charge him with treason. But he had disappeared.

Kato-san was now an outlaw, a refugee. Where had he gone? Was he alone, or was he leading a dangerous band of
ronin
? Was he the person the local
ronin
had been awaiting? He was an evil man. Until there was no doubt that he was eliminated, the militia had to keep going for the protection of the villagers.

The village now counted six former samurai among their residents, but they were spread out. Watanabe-san now lived west of the village on land the Nakamuras had provided, learning the farming trade with the brothers. The new samurai, Yoshimori-san, lived with a farmer north of the village. Fukazawa and Kobayashi stayed in the village. The villagers embraced all the newcomers heartily, bringing them gifts of food and other tokens of their appreciation.

With nightfall coming earlier in the winter, evening fighting drills stopped. Hiro convinced the men to stay fit by exercising.

"You must work to keep your reflexes and your muscles strong," he insisted. He proposed a compromise. Instead of the outdoor drills, he invited the men to one of the large open rooms inside his home to practice the art of
kendo
. Using long wooden sticks, he taught the basic sword techniques. Most of them would come once or twice a week, but some, like the Nakamura brothers, came more often. Hiro was impressed at the dedication of these brothers. Even the youngest, Yoshiro, worked with a fierce determination.

Since travel was often difficult in the harsh winter weather, Watanabe, Yoshimori, and the two soldiers in the village held their own sessions at their locations. People were encouraged to go to one of them whenever they could.

Families were reminded to keep their flares in a convenient place so they could be used at the first sight of any rogue soldiers. The Nakamura family provided extra flares for families living farther away from the village.

Hiro just prayed any warning would come soon enough.

****

When he wasn't teaching villagers to fight or working on the farm, Hiro studied. Agriculture was a fascinating science. It was so amazing, how something as tiny as a seed could grow into a plant, providing food and nourishment for people and animals. On a visit to Sapporo, he had found an interesting book on flowers. He told Hanako about an idea for growing some of the plants he read about.

"Why would you want to do that?" Hanako asked, looking up from her sewing. Her distraction caused her to prick her finger, and a red stain grew on the white fabric. She sighed. The Widow Nakamura had just shown her how to make these pretty stitches, and she was eager to decorate her new home with things she had made herself. If the stain didn't wash off, she would have to start her project over.

Hiro, reading by the light of another lamp, waved a hand at the book he read.

"It says here the soil in this part of the island is good for growing flowers. I'd like to expand the flower garden and try out several different kinds."

"Flowers are pretty, but you can't eat them."

"Some flowers can be eaten. But I want to try some of these techniques. There is an article here about rotating crops. Certain kinds of plants actually put minerals back in the soil, so the earth doesn't get worn out from having the same plants grown year after year. And it says here that certain flowers can help your vegetables by keeping pests away. I'd like to try that out here." He looked up and gazed directly into her eyes. "If it's all right with you."

She opened her mouth to remind him the land was legally his now, but found she was intrigued by his choice of words. He was still giving her the right to object if she had misgivings about his plan. The thought filled her with happiness.

She nodded her assent. "It sounds reasonable to try out this procedure on a small scale. Tell me more about it."

Listening to her husband's animated voice, she marveled at the difference a year had made. Last winter, she had been huddled alone in her tiny hut, struggling to keep warm. Now, her immediate concerns were getting her stitches even, and wondering how to keep her husband from digging up her entire vegetable farm to plant flowers.

Six months ago, she had been afraid of the changes marriage would bring. Now she wondered why she had ever hesitated.

****

Hanako swept her already clean floor for the third time that day. She wiped her spotless table and straightened the books on Hiro's shelf. After she had fainted in the field, Hiro had hired several local boys to assist in the fields. She'd wanted to supervise, but he would only allow her to do so in the cool mornings and late in the afternoons. A chair had been set out for her at the edge of whatever field was being worked. She'd felt ridiculous sitting there doing nothing. Now and then, she would sneak out of her chair to do some work herself, but always Hiro would come over from his flower beds to urge her back to her seat or to take her back to the hut for a rest.

She had to admit the mid-afternoon naps were nice. Never had she imagined that she would be able to lie down in the middle of the day. But as her body changed, her energy waned quickly, and she argued less when Hiro brought her back to the house.

Today, rather than nap in the house, she decided to go outdoors and relax by the stream. Fishing net in hand, she sat on the bank. Hiro had already checked on her twice, making sure she sat in the shade and assuring himself that she sat securely on a flat rock on the creek side. The water tumbled over a shallow area, and Hanako had only to reach out her net and scoop the carp as they swam past. But the creek was relatively quiet today, and Hanako had to wait. A soft footfall behind her diverted her attention. Ginjiro stood behind her, a respectful distance away.

"Has my husband sent you as my keeper?"

"Tanaka-san worries about you and the child."

"I've fished here over half of my life. Nothing will happen to me."

Ginjiro said nothing for a moment. Hanako squirmed under his scrutiny. "Must you stay here? I know what I'm doing!"

He simply smiled. "Yes, you do. As do I."

"You're doing nothing, except to annoy me and frighten away the fish!"

He shook his head. "No, my lady. I am providing peace of mind for a friend."

"Peace of mind?"

"Yes. Tanaka-san knows the possibility of danger is small, but he knows also the unexpected can happen. If I am nearby, he will not worry that the effect of the unexpected will be great." He hesitated before adding, "Please help him to cope. If he could help you carry this child, he would gladly do it. But the gods have decreed only a woman can do this. All he can do is to make sure you are safe."

Hanako digested this point of view as she continued to wait for the fish to cross her vantage point. The afternoon's bounty was small, and she wasn't entirely sure whether it was because the fish were absent, or because she was too preoccupied to notice when they went by.

The next day, Ginjiro continued to act as a silent sentry whenever she ventured from the house. She spent hours grooming the horse, feeding the chickens, and doing other light chores, always aware of his presence. But now, having a new understanding of Hiro's reasoning, she came to accept it.

Hiro had summoned a prominent physician from Sapporo to come and examine her, demanding that she have only the best care. She had an extra-soft futon on which to rest and a great assortment of the freshest food to eat. She was used to eating her own homegrown vegetables and fish caught from the nearby stream, but now she sampled delicacies brought in from across the island, shellfish and ocean fish full of protein and nutrients to insure a healthy son.

Hiro had suggested they hire someone to come and cook for them, but Hanako had adamantly opposed the idea. "I need something to do besides simply growing larger and larger with our child," she'd declared. "You haven't complained about my cooking before. If you want me to eat this special food, I will do so, but you must let me prepare it."

But even cooking a large meal each evening didn't provide enough to keep her busy all day. Having worked so hard all her life, she was restless and bored with the inactivity. She wondered if her own mother had continued to work in the fields right up to the moment of childbirth, like many other women in the area. How she wished she had a mother to confide in, or even an aunt or grandmother!

She had complained about her boredom to Reiko during her last visit. The kindly neighbor had simply nodded sympathetically but offered no words of encouragement or advice. Hanako wondered if Reiko thought her ungrateful or eccentric. Most women would probably not complain of having too much time. She needed to learn patience.

The next day, Reiko returned with a bundle tied in a colorful silk scarf. Opening it, she produced two sets of knitting needles and several balls of yarn. "When I was with child, I found comfort in knitting. It kept my hands and mind busy while allowing the rest of my body to rest. If you like, I will show you how to make a small blanket for your child."

Hanako was overjoyed at the prospect of learning to knit something for the baby. Growing up, she had been envious of other girls who wore scarves and sweaters knit by their mothers or grandmothers. Having neither, she had endured the harsh winters without the warmth of those articles. Her child would always be warm, she vowed. She set about learning the skill with determination.

Reiko was a patient teacher, gently guiding Hanako's hands, taking out rows of uneven and missed stitches. All the while, she kept up a flow of conversation, drawing out all of Hanako's questions and fears, offering reassurance and advice. Hiro's reaction to her pregnancy was a topic they discussed more than once.

"I don't understand why he refuses to let me go to the north field. The cabbages are probably wilting from the sun!"

"You have other workers who are caring for those crops."

"But the work will go faster if I join them."

"If the plants can wilt from too much sunshine, so can you. Didn't your husband find you lying in the field after you had worked too hard?"

She was forced to admit that her fainting incident had occurred after a long day in the sunshine. "I could go only in the morning."

Reiko laid a hand on hers and waited for Hanako to look into her eyes. "Child, be thankful your husband has your health and comfort uppermost in his mind. I have seen women lose their children because they weren't able to rest and take nourishment when they needed it most. Let him take care of you while you keep your child safe in your womb."

Ashamed of her ungratefulness, Hanako nodded and returned to her knitting.

Reiko returned often, bringing more yarn and maternal comfort. Hanako looked forward to each visit. Once the blanket was finished, Reiko taught Hanako some fancier stitches. At first the needles seemed to have a mind of their own, but with practice the rows were almost as even as Reiko's. If the child was a girl, she would have some pretty clothes. She thought of her own clothing as a child — they had been castoffs given to her by sympathetic townspeople. Until she had married Hiro, she had never worn anything new, or what could be called pretty. This child would indeed be fortunate.

As a result of Reiko's visits, the months of Hanako's pregnancy flowed much faster. The baby now had clothing and lovely new bedding, and, thanks to another successful harvest, would eat good, nutritious meals.