Ingrid Parker - Rashomon Gate – A Mystery of Ancient Japan

"I had to wrap your rib cage very tightly to keep the bones in place," boomed Genba's voice into his ears. "They should heal just fine, provided you avoid too much movement."

The relief was overwhelming. Akitada said weakly, "Oh!" and opened his eyes again. He thought. There had been something else he needed to ask. "But how did I get here? And what is this about Hitomaro?" He craned his neck, risking another jolt of pain, to look for the burly swordsman.

Tora told him, "It was a lucky thing Hitomaro did not trust that snake Okura and went back to follow you. Come over here, Hito, and tell him what you did."

Hitomaro crept up reluctantly. "I'm sorry I disobeyed you, sir," he muttered, his eyes lowered, "but glad I could be of service."

"What happened?"

"I caught up with you on Omiya Avenue, between the corner and the first palace gate where the paulownia trees hang over the walls of the palace. They were lying in wait for you, one in the tree above you, the other on the wall. When the first one dropped down on you, the other jumped from the wall with a knife. Only by then I was there and made short work of them."

Tora cried, "Beautiful work, brother! Couldn't have done better myself."

"Heavens," said Akitada weakly. "You saved my life. Who were they?"

Hitomaro hung his head even lower. "I'm afraid I had to kill them, sir. There was so little time. But I'm sure Okura was behind this. It occurred to me that if a man promises such rewards, he doesn't expect to be called to account." He gave Akitada an earnest look and added, "If the dead thugs cause any problems for you, sir, I am prepared to turn myself in."

Akitada could guess what such a promise would mean to him. "Nonsense!" he said. "I won't allow it. It seems I owe you an apology. I am sorry for the way I treated you. What happened to the bodies?"

"I had to leave them there and carry you back."

"If they are known criminals, chances are we won't hear any more about it. However, I am deeply indebted to you, my friend, especially since you tried to warn me. Facing two armed assassins single handedly was a very brave thing to do."

Hitomaro grinned. "Not at all, sir. They were not trained fighters, and I had my sword."

Akitada said, "You seem to have a remarkable understanding of human nature, Hitomaro. You were quite right to warn me, and I was careless. It was highly unlikely that Okura would let me live, let alone pay off so handsomely. I owe you my life and must find a way to repay you. We have very little money, but perhaps there is some other service I can do for you. Feel free to ask for anything that may be of use to you."

Hitomaro shook his head, but he exchanged a glance with Genba.

"Come," said Akitada, "I see there is something. What is it?"

Hitomaro said shyly, "You owe me nothing, sir. I was in your service at the time. But if it would make you feel better, Genba and I have been very happy here. We would be grateful if you allowed us to serve you in the future."

Fleetingly Akitada thought of the family finances. Well, he must find a way somehow. "Of course. But I cannot pay either of you what you deserve."

Genba cried, "We want no pay. You see, sir, you're not getting a bargain. We have both committed crimes."

Akitada winced and closed his eyes. "Not murder?" he asked weakly.

"Murder," they said in unison.

"But they had no choice," cried Tora.

"Really, sir," remarked Seimei, "if you heard their stories, you might understand. Remember, though a man wear rags, his heart may be brocade. And even Master Confucius had his troubles."

Akitada grimaced. "I see it's a conspiracy. Very well. Tell me about it."

Genba said, "Thank you, sir," bowing deeply. "My complete name is Ishida Genba. I am a wrestling master by profession, just as my father before me. Our school was in Nagato province, and one day the governor watched one of our exhibition bouts and promptly sent his oldest son to me for instruction. The boy was a weakling and resented me bitterly. We quarreled and he tried every way to blacken my name. One day he threatened to tell his father a particularly nasty lie about me. During the subsequent lesson we engaged in a practice bout. There was an accident and he broke his neck." Genba heaved a deep sigh and shook his head.

Akitada looked at him with sympathy. "Accidents will happen in your profession," he said. "If you give me your word that you did not intend to kill the boy, I am satisfied."

Genba looked at him bleakly. "Of course I did not intend to kill him. That would have been dishonorable and made me unfit to teach the sport. He insisted on trying out a dangerous move because he was angry. I had my arm around his neck when he suddenly flipped backwards. His neck snapped. But that is not the death I meant. I was arrested and killed two men in jail."

"What?"

"The night before my trial the governor sent two guards to my cell to strangle me. I killed them both and escaped."

Akitada was silent with shock for a moment. He did not doubt for a moment that the governor had meant to take revenge for his son's death. Genba would certainly have been cleared of the charge of murder. He said, "I am sorry for your misfortune. You have already paid a heavy price for what was apparently due to a spoiled boy's carelessness. I am inclined to give you the chance to prove your innocence by your future actions, but what if someone recognizes you?"

"Nagato is far from here, sir, and since I left, the governor has died. Besides I'm greatly changed in appearance."

"Very well then."

Tora and Seimei burst into relieved laughter and slapped Genba on the back. The wrestler bowed deeply and thanked Akitada with tears in his eyes.

Akitada looked at Hitomaro.

"I cannot claim either accident or self-defense, sir," the burly man said bluntly. "I meant to kill the man and went after him knowing that he was no match for my sword."

Akitada raised his brows. "A drunken brawl?"

"No. I was cold sober. And I would do it again." He met Akitada's astonishment with fierce determination.

"You are brutally honest," Akitada said. "Surely there were some extenuating facts. Were you very young?"

When Hitomaro shook his head, Tora urged, "Tell him the reason."

Hitomaro heaved a deep breath. "I have no intention of ever using it again," he said, "but my family name was Takahashi. My people are from Izumo province."

Akitada was startled. He had heard of the Takahashis. They were an old, respected military family who had come down in the world.

"Ten years ago my father, my grandparents, and all my brothers and sisters died in a smallpox epidemic. That left only my mother and myself. I took a wife to carry on the family name." Hitomaro lowered his head and stared down at his clenched fists. "My wife Michiko was very young," he murmured. "She was also very beautiful, and I…"He bit his lips. "The son of a neighbor, a powerful family with many manors and hundreds of retainers, saw Michiko and made advances. She told me about it, and I went to warn him off. He was a haughty sort of man and there were words. No, I did not lay a hand on him then. That came later."

Again he paused to stare at his hands. His face worked as if he had to force the rest of the story out by sheer willpower. "I had to leave home for a few days on business. When I came back, my mother greeted me with the news that my wife had hanged herself. She had been only seventeen and expected our first child. Michiko left me a letter explaining that our neighbor had raped her, and she could not live with the shame she had brought to our family."

The room had become very still. Hitomaro's eyes left his hands and wandered to the ceiling.

"That's when I went and killed him," he said calmly. "My mother and I had to flee after that. She died the following winter in the mountains from cold and lack of comfort." Looking at Akitada, he said bitterly, "I have nothing left to live for. A man in my position, whose only skill is in his sword, is always prone to being used for other men's violent purposes. It is for that reason that I wish to serve you rather than selling my fighting skills to the highest bidder."