The Scent of Sake (10 page)

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trance, where he was greeted by Hana, the wet nurse Masa, and Rie, who scowled at the screaming infant as O-Natsu handed him to Masa.

That evening the baby was brought for inspection before Kinzaemon and Hana. Rie and Jihei sat at one side of the table, Rie’s parents on the other. Even as Rie’s heart was breaking, she made sure that no expression was visible on her face. As she watched her mother undress the baby while the wet nurse held him, she burned with shame. Once again she had let down her family and the house. Then and there she determined that one way or another she would redeem herself, but how?

Yet first things first. It was necessary to confirm that Yoshitaro was a baby boy, normal in all respects. Hana held him toward Kinzaemon, who looked the infant up and down and nodded. She then took each of the baby’s hands and feet in turn and shook them gently to test his reflexes. She wrapped him up again.

“Thank you, Masa,” Hana said. “You may take him now.” She handed over the wiggling infant. Masa stood holding him for another moment to listen to Kinzaemon’s verdict.

“He seems a fine, healthy boy, yes. We’ll make him into a first-rate brewer.” He glanced at Jihei and nodded.

Rie looked around the table at her father, her mother, her husband, these her closest family members, none of whom seemed concerned for her feelings. She did not speak, nor did Jihei. Her mouth tightened. She glanced with distaste at the squirming infant, curdled milk dribbling down his chin onto his wrapper. This puking flesh, creature of her husband’s infidelity, would remain here under her nose, an eternal reminder of his geisha’s bloodline. A hard knot of rage gripped her stomach at the betrayal of those she loved most. Her fists clenched. She felt her nails press into her palms. She rose abruptly, excused herself, and left the room. As she passed the pillar she stopped and pounded her fists against it.

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She walked quickly out the door nearest the garden, opened the gate, and went to her rock. It had grown dark and she could not see the koi in the pond. She leaned heavily against the rock, so often a source of comfort. Tonight there was no comfort anywhere. There was no moon. She could not stop the flood of tears rolling down her face. She bit her lip and reached in her obi for a handkerchief. Not only had she failed to produce an heir, her most important responsibility, but here under her eyes was this geisha’s child, this product of Jihei’s philandering installed as heir, as the future Kinzaemon XI. She felt as though her life had ended. Her goal of working for the house, her father, proving once and for all that she could be responsible, that she was worthy of her father’s love by producing a successor to the Omura line, was beyond her reach. She bowed her head and could not stop sobbing. She sat there ignoring the passage of time. Then she felt black anger overcome her, a wild fury the likes of which she had never felt before.

The morning after the baby’s arrival Rie rose even earlier than usual, determined to be the first one up in the family. Hard work seemed the best antidote to the outrage she felt at the illegitimate infant Jihei had brought into the house. She felt energized, determined to somehow redress this betrayal. She walked through the chilly corridors to see to preparations for breakfast. O-Natsu was already there, supervising the kitchen maids. Rie paused. She noticed a small boy with protruding front teeth boiling rice in a huge black cauldron, his thin form completely enveloped in steam. She watched him for several minutes, and then approached O-Natsu.

“Good morning, O-Natsu,” she said softly. “Who is the boy boiling the rice?”

O-Natsu bowed. “Oh, good morning. He came with the workers from Tamba this year. His name is Shin’ichi. He’s thirteen, almost fourteen.” O-Natsu looked at Rie inquisitively and turned back to the stove.

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Rie, always alert for good workers, walked over to the boy and watched his fast, efficient work.

“Very good, Shin’ichi. You seem to like to work.” She smiled. The boy bowed rapidly three times. “I have always wanted to work in a brewery, Madam. And this year Toji-san allowed me to

come.” He bowed again and gave a toothy smile.

“I see.” Rie paused. “Well, how would you like to do errands for us in the office?”

Shin’ichi put his hands stiffly at his sides and bowed repeatedly. “Oh, yes, Madam, very much.”

“Well then, Shin’ichi, please come to the office tomorrow morning early. We will find someone else to cook the rice.” This conscientious boy might prove important in the house’s future with Kin facing retirement.

The thin figure continued bowing as Rie nodded, then turned and left the kitchen.

O-Natsu walked over to Shin’ichi. “You have attracted Oku-san’s favor.” She looked directly at him. “See that you don’t disappoint her. She will treat you fairly.”

“Oh, I will never disappoint her,” he replied. He bowed again.

That evening Rie opened the door of the inner office and found Kin sitting alone, as she hoped.

“Excuse me, may I come in?” she asked softly. She had long been thinking of ways to help the house. A solid idea had formed over the past week.

“Yes, do.” Kin beckoned toward the seat opposite him.

“Kin-san,” Rie began, seating herself, I have an idea, two suggestions, for our business.” She smiled.

Kin nodded. “Yes?”

“They will help White Tiger, I’m certain.”

“Well, what is it? Your suggestion about our Edo shipments was useful.” He looked at Rie.

“Can’t we expand our moneylending and gold-silver exchange?

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That way we can counter any risk in increasing production and shipments to Edo.” She tapped the table with her fan.

Kin nodded and scratched his cheek. “You may be right. Yes, far less risk in moneylending, gold-silver exchange too. They are traditionally safe, and we always get a faster return on the financial side. More secure too. I’ll take it up with your father and husband.”

Rie nodded. “You know my husband seems much more cautious in business than you or Father. Or than I am.” She bit her lip. She knew Kin understood.

“That’s the survival strategy of smaller houses, O-Josama. They can’t afford the risks we can. It’s often written in their house rules: ‘take no unnecessary risks.’”

“Is that so?” She sipped a cup of tea pensively. “And another thing. A boy is boiling rice in the kitchen. He seems so capable I would like you to consider using him in the office.”

“We could try him out. How old is he? Why don’t you bring him to the office tomorrow? I’ll give him a task, and if he does it well I’ll recommend him to your father.”

“Thank you, Kin-san. He must be thirteen. Yes, I’ll bring him in early.” She smiled. Kin was even more receptive than she had hoped. Pragmatism . . . that was the key to approaching him.

Early the next morning Rie met a smiling, bowing Shin’ichi at the kitchen door, before anyone had started work.

“Good morning, Madam,” he said in his high piping voice when Rie greeted him.

“Yes, Shin’ichi. Good. Come, we will go to the office and you will meet our
banto,
Kin. I believe he has a job for you this morning.” She motioned for him to follow.

Shin’ichi bobbed up and down three times and trailed Rie, who slid open the door to the inner office.

“Good morning, Kin-san. Here we are.” She glanced through

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the door to the outer office where barrels of sake were stacked at one side of the room from floor to ceiling. Near the front entrance was a low table on which stood three small barrels and rows of tasting cups to entice customers.

Kin bowed smartly and, noting her glance toward the door to the outer office, he closed it and turned to Rie and Shin’ichi. Shin’ichi shivered and thrust his hands into his sleeves but stood respectfully back from the hibachi.

“How is your rheumatism this morning, Kin-san?” Rie inquired.

“We have to expect it in winter.” He rubbed his hands together briskly.

“Well, I never hear you complain.” Rie motioned Shin’ichi to her side.

“Here is Shin’ichi, the boy I mentioned,” she said.

Kin looked at the smartly bowing boy. His hawk eyes took in Shin’ichi’s erect posture, alert eyes, respectful manner.

“Good. Yes, we can use someone who is not afraid of work, an extra hand. Well, Shin’ichi, you can begin by picking up an order of yeast this morning at the Hayashi place. Here, this is how to find it.” Kin sketched a map on a small piece of rice paper and handed it to Shin’ichi, who looked at it closely, then slipped it into his sleeve.

“It will take you most of the morning to get there and back. You can take the cart outside the number one kura,” Kin instructed. He walked back through the corridor and out to the street, Rie and Shin’ichi behind him.

He slid open the front entrance and ducked under the hanging

noren
banner bearing the White Tiger logo.

“Here. You know how to pull one of these, don’t you?” Kin indicated the wooden cart.

Rie watched Shin’ichi nod, adjust his straw sandals, then ma—

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neuver between the two handlebars. He picked them up and started off down the road at a run, bowing to Rie and Kinzaemon as he left.

“I hope you’ll be pleased with his work, Kin-san. Be strict with him as you always are. Father won’t object, will he?”

“Not if he does his work well,” Kin said.

Rie had a hunch that Shin’ichi, young though he was, might prove more capable than any of the clerks working under Kin, and she followed her instinct in matters of business.

Rie walked to her mother’s room early one evening several months later. Sounds of the baby playing in the room, mingled with voices, caused Rie to pause outside the shoji. She recognized Jihei’s and her mother’s voices.

“Excuse me,” Rie called.

“Yes,” her mother replied. “Come in, Rie.”

Rie found her mother and Jihei playing with Yoshitaro, who was crawling back and forth between them, chortling. All three were enjoying themselves. Upon seeing them together, Rie suddenly felt dizzy as if she couldn’t breathe.