I Parker - The Masuda Affair

‘As for us,’ Tamako said briskly when Tora had left, ‘what shall we do first?’

They spent an agreeable evening wandering around Otsu so that Tamako could see the courtesan’s house and the Masuda mansion on the hill. They paid brief visits to Warden Takechi and Judge Nakano, and Tamako managed to charm both men. The judge gave permission for the boy’s visit to the capital.

Then they went to Mrs Yozaemon’s. She was outside with Nori, feeding her chickens. The boy clung to her skirt when he saw Akitada. She invited them into her house, finding cushions and something to drink and eat while telling Tamako how Akitada had saved her son from the false charge.

Tamako smiled at Nori, but the boy did not smile back. Akitada said gently, ‘The lady is my wife. I told her about you, and she wanted to meet you.’

Tamako said, ‘I used to have a little boy just like you, Nori. He was four years old when he died. How old are you?’

The boy held up a hand, five fingers extended.

Tamako nodded. ‘Five. I thought so. We still have some of Yori’s toys. Would you like to come for a visit and play with them?’

A visit? To play with his son’s toys? Akitada was confused, but when the boy looked at him, he rallied and said, ‘We would be very happy if you paid us a visit.’

Nori went to clutch Mrs Yozaemon’s skirt.

‘He’s very shy,’ she apologized, stroking his hair.

‘Well,’ said Tamako, ‘we’ll come back tomorrow. Then, if he changes his mind, he can ride back with us.’ She said to the boy, ‘We have horses, and we’d go back along the river where the fishermen catch fish with cormorants. Would you like to see that?’ The child released his hold on Mrs Yozaemon’s skirt. Tamako smiled. ‘And then we’ll go on to the capital. You could see the emperor’s palace and see the guard exercising their horses and practicing with bows and arrows. And Cook would take you to the market. The market there is much bigger than here. They have all sorts of entertainers and storytellers in the capital. And many animals are for sale. Cats, and dogs, and birds in cages. Even fish and singing crickets.’

The boy’s eyes flew to Akitada again. Perhaps he recalled their visit to the Otsu market. Some of the resentment faded from his expression. Akitada admired Tamako’s skill and offered, ‘There’s a cat at our house,’ suppressing a twinge of guilt about Tora’s dog.

The small face lit up. He came to stand between them. Looking from one to the other, he nodded with great solemnity.

‘He loves cats,’ said Mrs Yozaemon, clapping her hands. ‘What a nice time you’ll have, Nori.’

Night was falling when they returned to the inn. Tora was waiting for them. ‘No sign of Ishikawa,’ he said glumly.

Akitada shook his head. ‘I don’t like it. I’m worried about those women in Uji, especially now that his mother is aware of our suspicions. I think you should ride back there and keep an eye on the house.’

‘Tonight?’

Seeing Tora’s shock, Akitada relented. ‘Well, I suppose it can wait till morning, but leave at daybreak. We’ll follow later with the boy’

They parted. Akitada walked close to his wife so he could catch a trace of the orange-blossom fragrance and brush her arm casually. He was intensely aware of her, and his heart was beating faster with hope. Would she allow him to make love to her? He thought he could not bear it if she rejected him again, after all this time, when he wanted her so much. He stole a sideways glance at her face. How could he ever have forgotten how beautiful his wife was? And as he thought it, he saw her blushing.

‘The bath is ready, sir, madam,’ announced the inn’s nosy maid and waited to see what they would do next.

‘Thank you,’ Tamako said. ‘We’ll find our way.’

‘Would madam like me to assist?’

‘No. My husband will assist me.’

The maid giggled and left.

Akitada looked at Tamako and murmured, ‘I shall enjoy that.’

The corners of her mouth twitched. ‘Shall you?’

‘Oh, yes. Let’s hurry,’ he murmured into her ear.

Making love can take circuitous routes. Caresses are exchanged under the guise of untying a sash or removing silk socks for the other person, and it is only natural to help scrub a back or rinse it with a bucket of warm water. Such moments allow a man to admire his wife’s body, and a wife to touch her husband while being merely helpful.

When they returned to their room, they found their bedding spread and food waiting. For all they knew it was delicious, but they were not hungry for food.

Much later, Akitada dozed off with his sleeping wife in his arms and a smile of complete happiness on his face.

Tora arrived back at Lady Saisho’s house early the following morning. He had left while it was still dark and ridden as fast as he could without breaking his horse’s legs.

The house lay silent in the gray dawn amid the roaring of the waters and eerie drifts of mist rising from the river.

He was worried. Nothing had prevented the women from setting out for the capital to warn Sadanori and Ishikawa. He decided to make sure. After tying up his horse a little distance from the house, he walked along the fence to the back where Lady Saisho’s rooms overlooked the river gorge. Worrying about waking the dog brought back unhappy memories of Trouble.

At the corner, he turned and followed a narrow footpath along a steep wooded slope until both fence and path ended at the cliff edge. There, he looked up at the house. He saw the moon-viewing platform outside Lady Saisho’s room only twenty feet away, but the ground was treacherous with loose rocks, and below the river tumbled through a gorge so deep that it was impenetrable mist and noise. The very air above it seemed to suck at his body. He eased around the fence.

The thought of setting off a rock slide and plunging into the gaping darkness far below made him shudder. He began to crawl upward on his hands and knees. He had almost reached the platform, and could make out the dim light of a candle burning inside behind the closed blinds, when noise reached his ears. It was muffled by the roaring waters, but he thought he heard shouts and the dog barking. He reached the veranda and stood up.

Two women’s shadows moved behind the blinds. Breathing a sigh of relief, Tora hoisted himself up on the veranda. The boards were slick with dew and treacherous, but he was not going back.

A third shadow appeared inside, a man who knelt and bowed. A servant or messenger? Tora crept up to the blinds and put his eye to a crack and suppressed a gasp. The face that had appeared for a moment was the face of Ishikawa. Then he heard voices.

‘What is this? What do you want here at this hour?’ Lady Saisho sounded angry.

Ishikawa said, ‘Begging your pardon, My Lady, but my master was concerned about your safety. And I just heard from Seijiro that you had visitors.’

‘What is that to you or my son?’

‘Your son has reason to suspect that Lord Sugawara is plotting against him.’

Mrs Ishikawa cried, ‘Oh, son, you’re not in trouble again?’

‘Nonsense, Mother.’ Ishikawa’s voice was harsh. ‘Beware of your rash tongue and remember the two noble houses we serve. Foolish words can do much harm.’

Lady Sadanori snapped, ‘You will not speak that way to your mother in my presence. She is upset enough with your behavior. We are safe, and you may leave.’

‘I’m sorry, My Lady. Seijiro says that Lord Sugawara’s party is planning to return. It will be best if he finds you gone. You may gather a few things and return with me to the capital. Seijiro is getting the sedan chair ready.’