Death on an Autumn River (12 page)

The women covered their mouths and giggled again.

The old woman shot them a glance.  “You know what I mean, don’t you girls? Hehehe.  So long as your husbands are at work, what do they know?”  Her daughter pulled her sleeve and muttered, “Please, Mother!”

Lieutenant Saeki was getting impatient.  “Never mind all that.  Get on with what you saw.”

The old woman glared at him.  “Thighs and buttocks!  That’s what counts in a man,” she said firmly, giving the lieutenant’s a disparaging glance.  But she relented and turned back to Akitada.  “There was a youngster with them.  A city boy, wearing a prissy robe and hat, like you.”  She grinned.  “Couldn’t see his thighs and buttocks, but he was young and tall and eager.  The kind of boy a woman can teach a thing or two.”

It must have been Sadenari.  Akitada asked the lieutenant, “Where is the Black Dragon now?”

“It left hours ago.”

Akitada thanked the old woman, and took Saeki aside.  “We must go after that ship.  I believe my clerk was tricked and is on board.”

Saeki shook his head.  “Can’t be done, sir.  If he’s really on the Black Dragon, and there’s no proof of that, he’s on his way to Kyushu.  You can’t catch that ship.  It’s one of the fastest.  And on its homeward journey, it’ll be even faster.”

Akitada bit his lip.  What if the Black Dragon was run by pirates?  Otherwise, surely they would have brought Sadenari back.  He said, “Perhaps Watamaro could help us.”

Saeki grinned.  “The Black Dragon’s not a pirate ship.  It belongs to Watamaro, sir.”

*

Akitada and the lieutenant stopped at the Kawajiri harbor to ask if a young man of Sadenari’s description had been seen climbing into a boat with some sailors returning to the Black Dragon.  They found no witnesses, perhaps because the ship was already in the channel and on the point of departure. 

It was after dark before he reached Naniwa again.  Although he was tired and his arm throbbed again, he went straight to Nakahara’s office.  He almost did not recognize the room.  Someone had removed the disordered piles of confiscated goods, and the space was now large, spare, and businesslike.  All the empty space and the flickering light of candles and oil lamps emphasized the impression that he was walking into a court session.  Governor Oga, Nakahara, and Munata awaited him, seated side by side like judges of the underworld awaiting the souls of wrongdoers. 

Oga, his corpulence compressed in a stiff brown brocade robe and his double chins nearly strangled by the collar, sat in the middle and addressed him coldly and without preamble.

  “Finally!  Whatever the details and circumstances of your assignment, sir, it seems to me that it should have been handled differently.  I don’t hold with secretiveness and prevarication.  You should have reported to me when you first arrived here.”

He had a point.  Courtesy as much as proper protocol required that the highest ranking official be apprised of problems immediately.  But Akitada’s instructions had been to speak with Nakahara and investigate the matter quietly.  The trouble was that it had not remained quiet.

Akitada bowed.  “My apologies, Governor.  I arrived here with specific instructions from the Ministry of the Right to check out an internal matter connected with the foreign trade office.  Since that office is separate from the provincial administration and operates directly under the Ministry of the Right, I was not required to notify you.  Things got out of hand when my clerk was abducted and I was attacked while searching for him in Kawajiri.”

Oga huffed rudely.

Akitada ignored this and continued, “I’m afraid the situation has become dangerous.  I thought it best to notify you.  Provincial forces may be needed to arrest and punish the guilty.  It turns out that Sadenari may have been taken away on a ship and must be rescued.  His father is a court official who is much respected.  I think any indifference shown by the province or the prefecture would not sit at all well with his friends or the central government.”

This was an exaggeration.  Sadenari’s family was of very minor importance, but Oga might not know that.  More importantly, Akitada had reminded Oga of his authority in the investigation.

Oga hooted his derision.  “The young fool probably just went off on a little jaunt.  It’s ridiculous to link his going on board a ship with some sort of conspiracy or with pirates.  Ever since the Sumitomo rebellion, certain people have nursed unreasonable fears about a few ambitious fishermen who try to improve their lot by stealing small items from careless skippers.  There have always been cases of piracy on the Inland Sea.  It’s our version of the thieves and robbers in the capital who terrify the courtiers in their very offices.”

It did not help that the comment about the lack of security in the capital was deserved.  Akitada fully agreed with Oga that flagrant crimes committed in the very heart of the government enclosure were a shameful sign of a lack of control.  But a far bigger problem for the emperor and his ministers was the threat of an uprising in the provinces.  That might topple the government and cost thousands of luves.

Munata and Nakahara, their faces were stiff with disapproval, agreed with Oga.  Akitada’s anger and his worry about Sadenari had caused him to speak much too harshly to Nakahara and Munata earlier.  It had got him nothing but stubborn non-cooperation and hostility.  Now the governor had joined their faction.  He felt defeated.

“What is it that
you
recommend doing, Governor?” he asked after a moment.

“Nothing at all.  The police have done all that needed to be done.  Your clerk has gone on a sea voyage.  The young have an adventurous spirit and get carried away by foolish notions.  My own son . . .”  He stopped himself.  “When your clerk gets tired of his explorations, he’ll return.  And you were careless and tangled with some rough men from the waterfront.  Fortunately, nothing much happened.  As for the notion of someone selling shipping information to the pirates, it seems to me if that were the case, the information would have come from Hakata in Kyushu where the ships originate, and not from here. I propose informing His Gracious Excellency, the Minister of the Right, that we have met, discussed the situation, and found that the reports were mistaken.  No doubt, you will wish to return to your duties in the capital.”

 Akitada struggled to keep his temper.  “You’ll forgive me, Governor,” he said, his voice shaking a little, “but the report is mine to make, and I will certainly not put my name to what you propose.  What is more, if you impede my investigation, I shall make my own report to His Excellency.  I suggest you offer some cooperation instead.  His Excellency specifically required the local administration to do so in his letter to Nakahara.  Perhaps Nakahara would be good enough to show His Excellency’s instructions to you?”

Nakahara gulped and reached into a document box that stood before him.  He handed Oga the minister’s letter.  Akitada was fairly certain that he had shared its content with the other two men already.

Oga barely glanced at it.  “Bah, what is this besides the usual court language on every document?  It means nothing.”

Such disrespect was profoundly shocking.  Akitada looked at Munata and Nakahara to see if he had heard correctly.  Munata’s face was expressionless, but Nakahara squirmed a little and avoided his eyes. 

“In that case,” Akitada said coldly, “we have nothing else to discuss.  My thanks for your hospitality, Nakahara, but I shall move to the official hostel for the remainder of my stay.  Someone will come for our things.”  He barely nodded to the others.  

Nakahara made some sputtering protest.  Akitada had reached the door when it opened and Yuki stood there with Watamaro. 

For once the burly ship owner was not smiling.  He bowed to Akitada and said, “Forgive me.  I was just coming to see you, sir.  Lieutenant Saeki told me that your clerk has been taken aboard the Black Dragon.  Is this true?”

“Don’t believe a word of it, Watamaro,” cried the governor before Akitada could speak.  “Come in, and let’s try to unravel this ridiculous story.”

Akitada turned to give Oga a look.  Then he took Watamaro’s arm. “Thank you for coming so promptly, Watamaro.  If you don’t mind, I’d like a word in private.  Let’s go outside.”

Watamaro hesitated.  He bowed deeply to the governor, but Akitada was firm.  Either this man was about the plot against him and Sadenari, or he was innocent.  Akitada intended to find out. 

As they walked down the hallway, Watamaro asked, “What was that about, sir?  Has anything else happened?  Why are we talking in private?”

“In a moment.”

They gained the veranda and took the stairs into the courtyard.  The governor’s entourage milled about by the light of torches, but Akitada found a dimly lit and quiet corner where they could not be overheard.

“I’ve sent another ship after the Black Dragon and several messengers overland to various ports where the captain may stop,” Watamaro said.  “If your clerk is on board, we’ll get him back.” 

“Thank you.  But there’s also another matter.  I very much need assistance from a man like yourself.  It seems the pirates on the Inland Sea have been getting help from someone here in Naniwa.  I came to find out who that is.  My clerk was abducted because he was asking too many questions, and shortly afterwards I was lured to a deserted street in Kawajiri and attacked.  I think someone is taking steps to halt my investigation.  And it seems I cannot expect any help from the local officials.”

Watamaro looked dumbfounded.  Gradually the dismay and shock gave way to acute embarrassment.  “I hardly know what to do or say, sir.  This has put me into a very difficult position.  Forgive me, my Lord, but I’m only an ordinary man.  The local authorities can make an end of my business if they take it into their heads that I’m acting against them.  The governor can have me arrested and my property confiscated, and Munata and Nakahara can make it impossible for my ships to dock here or to get shipping permits.”

It was true enough.  Watamaro could not take his side.  Akitada nodded.  “Yes.  I’m sorry I asked.  I don’t insist that you show your support publicly.  But I’m grateful that you’re helping me to get my foolish young clerk back.”

Watamaro bowed.  “Yes, of course.  You have my word.  And I’ll try to keep you informed if I learn anything about the other matter.”

“Thank you.  Where is the ship taking him?”

“The Black Dragon is Kyushu-bound and a fast ship.  I don’t think any of my people are corrupt.  Perhaps the youngster went on board and was forgotten in the activities of departure.  The ships have to take advantage of wind and tide, you see, and the ships’ masters are not going to turn around once under way.”

That might have happened, but Akitada did not think so.  Still, he nodded.  “I don’t want to keep you.  Thank you again. You’d best make some explanation to the governor and the others.  I’ll be staying in the government hostelry.”

Akitada watched Watamaro hurry back inside before setting out for the government accommodations.  He still did not know anything.  Before him lay the night, and the vast Inland Sea shimmered like a tarnished silver mirror in the moonlight. 

The hostel for government personnel was near the prefecture.  Akitada walked in, found a man dozing over his guestbook, and clapped his hands sharply.  The man was hugely fat and slow to wake or move.  Eventually, he raised a round and greasy face to Akitada, blinked eyes that sat deep in the flesh of his face, and asked, “What do you want?”

This did not promise well, and the accommodations lived up to the promise.  When Akitada had communicated his wish for a room and handed over his government chit to prove that he was entitled to it, the fat man pushed the guest ledger his way and rubbed water on a mangy bit of ink stone.  Akitada used the worn-out brush to write his name under that day’s date.  He saw that he was joining only two other guests.  The fat man shouted, and a skinny little girl appeared.

“The second eastern chamber,” he growled, and the little girl lit a small oil lamp and headed for a hallway leading off to the right.

“You’ll need to send a servant for two bags,” Akitada said.  “They are at Director Nakahara’s house.  My name is Sugawara, but there will be two bags.  One is mine, the other belongs to my clerk Sadenari.”  The manager grunted and Akitada followed the little girl.

She looked to be about eight or nine years old and should have been skipping along.  Instead, she crept forward silently until she reached a door.  This she opened and stepped aside for him to enter.

The room was small and mean, the rafters bare to the roof as they had been in the Flying Crane, but it had walls and a wooden floor.  Solid sliding doors led to the outside but were closed.  Akitada went to open them and found a strip of veranda without railing.  The moon shone fitfully among moving clouds but showed a narrow space of weeds and beyond it a wooden fence in poor repair.  Roofs of other buildings blocked the rest of the view.

He turned back to look around.  The little girl had followed him in and had lit another oil lamp.  Now she was struggling with a roll of bedding almost larger than she was.  He went to help her.  The bedding was plain cotton, worn, but clean.  Akitada noted that the room contained also a small writing desk, a water container, and a small brazier.  With the bedding spread out, there was little space left.