I. Parker: Death on an Autumn River

“And how will you protect the mother and child after we leave here?”

They were silent.

Akitada relented a little. “Oh, well. I suppose the crowd outside was sympathetic. I’ll mention the situation to the prefect.”

Tora asked, “How did your visit go, sir?”

“Munata has decided to cooperate.”

Tora whistled. “Thank heaven. I thought we’d fallen among all the devils in hell. What about Watamaro?”

“He seems to have taken flight. I’ll report to the court, but the matter is out of my hands.”

“And the local officials?”

“They, too, will have to face charges. At the very least, negligence in carrying out their duties; at worst malfeasance. I doubt if anyone can prove plans for an insurrection.”

“Lots of weapons in that warehouse,” Saburo pointed out. “Why collect them if not to outfit an army?”

“True, but the warehouse burned.”

Silence fell again.

After a while, Tora brightened a little. “So, shall we go home?”

“Not quite yet. There is still Akogi. We have to go back to Eguchi.”

*

The following day, Akitada rode again through the gates of the River Mansion. He was more elegantly attired than last time. The fine blue silk robe and white silk trousers were the only clothes he still owned and had been intended for the few official occasions when formal clothing was required. Tora and Saburo, both neatly dressed in blue cloth robes, dark trousers, and small black caps, rode side by side behind him. They, in turn, were followed by ten armed soldiers from the prefectural guard.

The lady’s servants rushed to help Akitada down and take his horse. Betto Kakuan hurried down the steps of the main building. He led him to a small reception room close to the river.

The sounds of water traffic and shouts from passing boats drifted in through the open doors and should have cheered him. But the day was distinctly chilly, the sky overcast. A cold rain had fallen overnight. Autumn showed its harsher side, hinting at the snows to come. The year was drawing to a close.

Dreary, rainy days always cast him into a somber mood, and recent events made his thoughts more bitter and funereal. At home, the memories of Seimei would surround him. He would finally have time to grieve. Not even holding his wife and little daughter in his arms again would ease that pain.

He had come because of Akogi, a young life extinguished before she could taste it. He had no proof that she was murdered, but his every instinct and what he had learned convinced him that she died horribly. Most likely, she had been held under water until she stopped struggling.

The door opened, and the lady of the River Mansion tripped in, followed by another female. On this occasion, the lady’s costume was strictly formal and proper for a ranking court lady of mature years.

Her companion carried a small folding screen, prettily painted with wisteria blooms overhanging a pond with playing koi. This she set up between her mistress and Akitada before taking her own seat in a corner of the room.

“A pleasure to welcome you again, my Lord,” the lady said from behind her pretty screen and an open fan. “I was disappointed by your abrupt departure the other night.”

Perhaps she expected an apology or a comment on his discovery of Sadenari. Akitada ignored her. With his sternest face, he said coldly, “I have been told, Lady Kazuko, that you arranged meetings between Oga Yoshiyo and the girl Akogi. As a result of those meetings, both have died.”

She made a startled movement. “Oh, that poor young man,” she said softly. “I grieve for him. He was the son I never had. Such a sweet boy. It is a great loss to his father.”

“I doubt his father thanked you for introducing him to Akogi.”

“But I did not,” she cried. “At least not directly. The governor knows that very well. It was he himself who asked my help in the matter.”

“Perhaps you’d better explain.”

She moved her head impatiently. “I don’t understand. Why should I explain to you? And why did you come here with armed soldiers? I belong to the great chancellor’s family and live here under imperial protection.”

“I serve under special orders from the Minister of the Right. The prefect supplied the escort. As for this visit: during my investigation into local ties to piracy, the case of the murdered child courtesan came up. Since her murder involves the highest-ranking official in the province, I thought it best to look into it.” This skirted the question of his authority. He hoped she would be nervous enough not to demand proof.

She did not. Instead, she pleaded with him. “Murder? I know nothing about any murder. Oga is a doting father, and the boy was his only son. He wanted the best for him, but Yoshiyo always had his head in his books and talked about taking the tonsure. That handsome boy!” She paused to shake her head at the shocking thought. “His father has been a guest at some of my little parties and thought I could show the lad what he’d be missing in a religious life. I obliged him. I invited the reigning choja , this year’s queen of the courtesans in Eguchi, and several other exquisite women. The boy came with his father. He was shy around the women, but he did speak to the young girl who attended the choja .”

Akitada knew what was coming and waited.

With a small sound of impatience, she continued. “Yoshiyo returned the very next day. Without his father. He asked me to arrange meetings with the young one. I argued. To no avail. There were difficulties. The woman who runs the Hananoya wouldn’t hear of it, at least not without being paid the presentation money. He paid it and forgot all about becoming a monk. The two lovers met here, in the pavilion overlooking the river. They made a charming couple, and I thought all was well, but then the young fool went to his father to ask for money to buy her out. He wanted to make her his wife. You may imagine what happened next. The governor raged down here like a fiery dragon. He swept in and threatened me. Me!” She shuddered at the memory.

“I see. What did you do?”

“Nothing. Why should I? Let him deal with his own family problems. He left to speak to the woman at the Hananoya, and that’s the last I know of it.”

“And then the girl was murdered?”

Again the impatient movement behind the screen. “Not murder. She must have drowned herself in despair.”

“From what you say about the young people being deeply in love . . . or at least thoroughly infatuated with each other . . . I think Akogi would have run away to be with him. She would not have killed herself.”

Lady Kazuko said irritably, “Have it your way. I told you all I know. And now you may leave and take your soldiers with you.”

And that was that.

*

His next visit was to the Hananoya, the brothel where Akogi had trained. He left the soldiers outside but took Tora and Saburo with him. The owner was a short, middle-aged female whose elaborately twisted hair looked false and who wore an inappropriate and costly silk brocade gown. She smiled, bowed deeply, and asked how she might serve the honored gentleman.

“I have some questions regarding one of your women,” said Akitada.

“This insignificant person is at your lordship’s service. Nakagimi, the current choja resides in this house. Alas, she is not available, but my other young ladies are as pretty and very talented. How may we please you?”

Akitada sat down and waved to Tora and Saburo to do the same. “Send for her. I’ll wait.”

So her name was Nakagimi. He had been too besotted to ask her.

The Hananoya’s owner blinked. Then she bowed. “My deepest apologies, your Honor, but a choja cannot be summoned at short notice. She receives invitations, and if she feels like it, she attends.”