The Harsh Cry of the Heron (34 page)

So he had been right
in his instinct not to trust the Muto unquestioningly.

‘Would these same
malcontents accept you?’ Takeo asked.

Taku poured more wine
for them both, and drank. ‘I don’t want to offend you, Lord Takeo, but these
things have always been decided within the family, not by outsiders.’

Takeo took his own
cup and drank without replying. Finally he said, ‘You are full of bad news
tonight. What else do you have to tell me?’

‘Akio is in Hofu, and,
as far as we can find out, plans to winter in the West - I fear he is going to
Kumamoto.’

‘With  ...  the boy?’

‘It seems so.’
Neither of them spoke for a few moments. Then Taku said, ‘It would be easy
enough to get rid of them in Hofu, or on the road. Let me arrange it. Once Akio
is in Kumamoto, if he contacts my brother he will find a welcome there, even a
refuge.’

‘No one is to lay a
hand on the boy.’

‘Well, only you can
decide that. One other thing I’ve learned is that Gosaburo is dead. He wanted
to negotiate with you for his children’s lives, so Akio killed him.’

For some reason this
news, and the bluntness of Taku’s delivery, shook him profoundly. Gosaburo had
ordered the deaths of many - one, at least, Takeo had carried out himself - but
that Akio should turn on his uncle, as well as Taku’s suggestion that he
himself should have his own son killed, reminded him forcefully of the
relentless cruelty of the Tribe. Through Kenji, he had kept them in check, but
now his control of them was being challenged. They had always claimed that
warlords might rise and fall but the Tribe went on for ever. But how would he
deal with this intractable enemy who would never negotiate with him?

‘Therefore you must
come to a decision about the hostages in Inuyama,’ Taku said. ‘You should order
their execution as soon as possible. Otherwise the Tribe will scent weakness,
and that will cause more dissent.’

‘I will discuss it
with my wife when I am back in Hagi.’

‘Don’t leave it too
long,’ Taku urged him.

Takeo wondered if Maya
should return with him -but he feared for Kaede’s peace of mind, and her health
during her pregnancy. ‘What will we do with Maya?’

‘She can stay with
me. I know you feel that we have let you down, but despite tonight we are
making progress with her. She is learning to control the possession - and who
knows what use we may be able to make of her. She tries to please Sada and me:
she trusts us.’

‘But surely you do
not plan to stay away from Inuyama all winter?’

‘I should not move
too far from the West. I need to keep an eye on my brother. Maybe I will winter
in Hofu: the climate is milder, and I can hear all the gossip that comes
through the port.’

‘And Sada will go
with you?’

‘I need Sada,
especially if I am to take Maya.’

‘Very well.’ His
private life is none of my business,

Takeo thought. ‘Lord
Kono will also go to Hofu. He is returning to the capital.’

‘And you?’

‘I hope to get home
before winter. I will stay in Hagi until our child is born. Then in the spring
I must go to Miyako.’

Takeo returned to Maruyama
castle just before dawn, drained by the events of the night, wondering what he
was doing as he summoned up all his flagging energy to take on invisibility,
scale the walls and get back to his room undetected. His earlier pleasure in
the skills of the Tribe had faded. Now he felt only distaste for that dark
world.

I am too old for
this, he told himself as he slid open the door and stepped inside. What other
ruler sneaks around his own country at night in this way, like a thief? I
escaped the Tribe once, and thought I had left it for ever, but it still
enmeshes me, and the legacy I have passed on to my daughters means I will never
be free.

He was deeply
disturbed by all he had uncovered: above all, by Maya’s state. His face
smarted; his head ached. Then the mirror came back to him. It indicated foreign
goods were being traded in Kumamoto. But the foreigners were supposed to be
confined to Hofu, and now Hagi: were there other foreigners in the country? If
they were in Kumamoto, Zenko must be aware of it, yet he had said nothing about
it - neither had Taku. The idea that Taku was hiding something from him filled
Takeo with anger. Either Taku was hiding it or he did not know. The affair with
Sada also troubled him. Men became careless when they were ensnared by passion.
If I cannot trust Taku, I am doomed. They are brothers, after all. . .

The room was already
light by the time he slept.

When he woke he
ordered arrangements to be made for his departure, and instructed Minoru to
write to Arai Zenko, requesting him to wait on Lord Otori.

It was afternoon when
Zenko came, carried in a palanquin and accompanied by a train of retainers, all
in splendid dress, the bear’s paw of Kumamoto clearly displayed on robes and
banners. Even in the few months since they had met at Hofu, Zenko’s appearance
and retinue had changed. He had become more like his father than ever,
physically imposing and with increased self-confidence: his demeanour, his men
and all their garments and weapons spoke of lavishness and self-regard.

Takeo himself had
bathed and dressed with care for this meeting, putting on the formal robes that
seemed to increase his stature with their stiff wide shoulders and long
sleeves. But he could not mask the wound on his cheek, the raking slashes, and
Zenko exclaimed when he saw it, ‘But what happened? You are hurt? Surely there
has not been some attack on you? I had heard no news of it!’

‘It’s nothing,’ Takeo
replied. ‘I walked into a branch in the garden last night.’ He will think I was
drunk, or with a woman, he thought, and will despise me even more. For he
caught in Zenko’s expression scorn as well as dislike and resentment.

The day was cool and
damp, rain having fallen in the morning. The red leaves of the maples had
turned darker and were beginning to drift downwards. Now and then, gusts of
wind blew suddenly through the garden, making the leaves flutter and dance.

‘When we met in Hofu
earlier this year, I promised we would discuss the question of adoption at this
time,’

Takeo said. ‘You will
understand that my wife’s pregnancy makes it advisable to delay any formal
proceedings.’

‘Of course we all
heartily hope that Lady Otori gives you a son,’ Zenko replied. ‘Naturally, my
sons would never take precedence over yours.’

‘I am aware of the
trust you have placed in my family,’ Takeo said. ‘And I am deeply grateful to
you. I regard Sunaomi and Chikara as my own children . . .’ He thought he saw
Zenko’s disappointment, and felt, I must offer him something. He paused for a
moment.

He had promised the
opposite to his daughters, and he did not approve of betrothing children while
they were still young, yet he found himself saying, ‘I would like to propose
that Sunaomi and my youngest daughter, Miki, be betrothed when they come of
age.’

‘It is a very great
honour.’ Zenko did not sound overwhelmed by this suggestion, though his words
were entirely appropriate. ‘I will discuss your unsurpassed kindness with my
wife when we receive the formal documents of all the offer entails: what
estates they will receive, where they are to live and so on.’

‘Of course,’ Takeo
said, thinking, And I must discuss it with my wife. ‘They are both still very
young. There is plenty of time.’ At least the offer is made. He cannot claim
that I have insulted him.

Shigeko, Hiroshi and
the Miyoshi brothers joined them shortly after this, and the discussion moved
on to the military defences of the West, the threat or lack of it posed by the
foreigners, the produce and materials in which they wanted to trade. Takeo
mentioned the mirror, asking idly if many such objects were to be purchased in
Kumamoto.

‘Perhaps,’ Zenko
replied evasively. ‘They are imported through Hofu, I suppose. Women love such
novelties! I believe my wife has received several as gifts.’

‘So there are no
foreigners in Kumamoto?’

‘Of course not!’

Zenko had brought
records and accounts of all his activities: the weapons he had forged, the
nitre he had purchased; everything seemed to be in order, and he repeated his
protestations of fealty and allegiance. Takeo could do no more than accept the
records as genuine, the protestations as sincere. He spoke briefly about the
proposed visit to the Emperor, knowing that Kono would have already discussed
it with Zenko; he emphasized its peaceful nature, and told Zenko that both
Hiroshi and Shigeko would accompany him.

‘What about Lord
Miyoshi?’ Zenko asked, glancing at Kahei. ‘Where will he be next year?’

‘Kahei will stay in
the Three Countries,’ Takeo replied. ‘But he will move to Inuyama until my safe
return. Gemba comes with us to Miyako.’

No one mentioned that
most of the forces of the Middle Country would be waiting on the Eastern
borders under Miyoshi Kahei’s command, but it would not be possible to keep
this news from Zenko. Takeo thought fleetingly of the dangers of leaving the
Middle Country unprotected - yet both Yamagata and Hagi were almost impossible
to take by siege, and they would not be undefended. Kaede would hold Hagi
against any attack, and Kahei’s wife and sons would do the same in Yamagata.

They continued
talking until late in the evening, while wine and food were served. As Zenko
took his leave he said to Takeo, ‘There is one more thing we should discuss.

Will you step outside
on the veranda? I should like it to be in private.’

‘Certainly,’ Takeo
agreed with affability. It was raining again; the wind was cold. He was tired,
craving sleep. They stood under the cover of the dripping eaves.

Zenko said, ‘It is
about the Muto family. My impression is that many in my family, throughout the
Three Countries, while they have the greatest respect for my mother and
yourself, feel it is - how can I put it? -unlucky, even wrong, to have a woman
as their head. They consider me to be Kenji’s eldest male relative, and
therefore his heir.’ He glanced at Takeo. ‘I don’t want to offend you, but
people know of the existence of Kenji’s grandson, Yuki’s boy. There are
whisperings that he should inherit. It could be a sensible move to institute me
quickly as head of the family: it would silence these whisperings and reassure
those in favour of upholding tradition.’ A slight smile of satisfaction played
briefly on his face.

‘The boy is of course
heir to the Kikuta,’ he went on. ‘Better to keep him away from the Muto.’

‘No one knows if he
is alive or not, let alone where he is,’ Takeo said, all pretence at affability
stripped from him.

‘Oh, I think they do,’
Zenko whispered, and noticing Takeo’s immediate reaction of anger added, T am
only trying to assist Lord Otori in this difficult situation.’

If he were not my
brother-in-law, if his mother were not my cousin and one of my oldest friends,
I would order him to take his own life! I must do it. I cannot trust him. I
must do it now, while he is in Maruyama and in my power.

Takeo was silent
while the conflicting thoughts raged.

Finally he said,
striving for mildness, ‘Zenko, I must advise you not to push me any further.
You have vast estates, sons, a beautiful wife. I have offered you a deeper
alliance with my family through marriage. I value our friendship and hold you
in the highest esteem. But I will not allow you to challenge me—’

‘Lord Otori!’ Zenko
protested.

‘Or to bring civil
war on our country. You have sworn allegiance to me; you owe me your life. Why
do I have to keep repeating this? I am weary of it. For the last time, I am
advising you to return to Kumamoto and enjoy this life you owe to me. Otherwise
I will demand that you end it.’

‘You will not
consider my thoughts on the Muto inheritance?’

‘I insist that you
support your mother as head of the family and obey her. Anyway, you have always
chosen the way of the warrior - I do not understand why you are interfering
with the workings of the Tribe now!’

Zenko was as furious
now, and masked it less successfully. ‘I was raised by the Tribe. I am as much
a Muto as Taku.’

‘Only when you see
some political advantage in it! Do not think you can continue unchecked to
undermine my authority. Never forget I hold your sons as hostages to your
loyalty.’

It was the first time
Takeo had directly threatened the boys. Heaven forfend I have to make good this
threat, he thought. Yet surely Zenko would not risk his sons’ lives.

‘All my suggestions
are only to make the whole country stronger, and to support Lord Otori,’ Zenko
said. ‘I am sorry I spoke. Please forget it.’

They had been outside
alone as two individuals.

When they returned,
they seemed to Takeo to assume their roles as if in some drama, driven by the
hand of fate to play out their parts to the end; the audience room, decorated
with gold embossments on the pillars and beams, filled with retainers in their
resplendent robes, had become the setting. Masking their mutual anger, they
made their farewells with icy politeness. Zenko’s departure from Maruyama was
planned for the following day, Takeo’s for the day after.