Death of a Doll Maker (17 page)

Tora sighed. “It must have been hard for Maeda to work under that bastard Okata.”

“Yes. The sins of superiors poison the staff. That is why we have a rigorous system of evaluation. But Maeda will have his reward.” He did not mention that his predecessor, Governor Tachibana, had given Okata excellent evaluations, while Okata had always reported mediocre performances for Maeda, listing a number of reprimands for insubordination.

An hour after Maeda’s message, a wet and bedraggled messenger arrived from Lord Fujiwara with the order for Akitada to report immediately to Dazaifu. Akitada looked out at the driving rain and then at the dripping soldier, and sighed.

“I have to go to Dazaifu, Mori,” he said. “I’ll try to be back by nightfall. If there is any trouble, Tora and Saburo will know what to do.”

*

Tora and Saburo offered to go with him, but since none of them knew the tribunal staff very well yet, they were needed here. Akitada changed into his good green brocade robe and white silk trousers. The proper court costume required on this occasion was singularly impractical for a ride through this downpour, but he could not afford to offend Fujiwara. He put on boots over his slippers, tucked his court hat into his sleeve, and covered himself with a straw raincoat and straw hat.

Thus attired, he mounted his horse and, accompanied by the muddy messenger, set out on the highway to Dazaifu.

There were fewer people traveling in this weather, but contingents of soldiers passed now and then, their trotting horses spattering Akitada. He tried to pull the straw coat over his white trousers, but the soaked straw resisted and hung more and more heavily on his shoulders. Since there was nothing to be gained from a slower pace, he drove his horse at a gallop most of the way. Nevertheless, when he dismounted in front of the administration hall and divested himself of the wet straw items and the boots, he found his fine robe wrinkled and water-stained where the rain had leaked through the straw, and dirt spatters on his white trousers. He put on his hat, the only item that had escaped a drenching, and walked to Lord Fujiwara’s office.

The servant glanced at his clothes and smirked, but he opened the door and announced, “Lord Sugawara, Your Excellency.”

Akitada went in and bowed. As last time, Fujiwara was at his desk, and his clerks and secretaries were at theirs. All stared.

Akitada cleared his throat. “Sorry, sir, but the weather is very bad.”

“If this is a complaint, you may forget it,” Fujiwara said coldly.

Akitada flushed and glanced at the clerks and secretaries. Such a tone to a senior official was highly improper in front of them. He said, “I beg your pardon?”

“I called you because Captain Okata was here. He claims you dismissed him.”

Akitada felt his anger choking him. He had not even been asked to sit down. He was here to be publicly reprimanded like a small boy who had broken a favorite dish. He glared at Fujiwara. “That is correct.”

“What possessed you to do such a high-handed thing? It is the function and privilege of this office to make senior appointments to the police and military of Kyushu. You had no right. I have reinstated Okata, who is a fine officer.”

The room swam before Akitada’s eyes. To be sure, Kyushu was a special case as administrative areas of the nation went, but surely a governor could not permit outside powers to interfere in the administration of his province? He tried to clear his head and review the laws applicable to provincial administrations. Commanding officers of the police were dispatched from the capital to the various provinces, but they served only with the approval of the governor.

Akitada bit his lip. “I regret Captain Okata rushed here before my report could reach you, sir. Okata was dismissed for cause. He has shown gross negligence in the past and is universally despised by the people in Hakata. There is reason to think he is responsible for a miscarriage of justice in a recent murder case where he suppressed evidence. In addition, he has proved to be impossible to work with, ignoring the Chikuzen tribunal completely and insulting its staff, including myself.”

Fujiwara frowned. Disrespect toward higher-ranking appointed officials was clearly a serious charge, more serious than miscarriage of justice, for example. He said, “Well, I expect you provoked him. He
is
rather set in his ways. I’ll have him apologize.”

“Sorry, sir. I will not work with Okata. He is dismissed. If you do not support me in this matter, I’ll resign.”

Silence. Everyone in the room held his breath.

Fujiwara woke belatedly to the presence of his staff listening with avid ears to a confrontation between two ranking noblemen. He got up. “We’ll settle this in my study.”

Akitada followed him. In the private room, Fujiwara finally had the grace to gesture to a cushion. Akitada remained standing. “Thank you, but I prefer to stand. I shall not change my mind and see no point in a long discussion.”

Fujiwara stared at him. “You’re out of order, Sugawara. I’m your superior.”

“My apologies, my Lord, but I hold my appointment from His Majesty, just as you do. I have responsibilities and duties, just as you do. When these conflict, I must choose what most closely applies to my assignment. I would remind you I am evaluated each year. With Okata running the Hakata police, I cannot carry out my duties as governor. I must also remind you that I have received certain secret instructions which a man like Okata would jeopardize. Under the circumstances, I must stand by my decision.”

Fujiwara deflated with gratifying promptness. “Ah, well. There is the special assignment. Hmm, yes. I see your point, though I cannot imagine … never mind. Very well, have it your way. But the man will be your enemy, and he has friends and supporters. He may give you more trouble dismissed than he would as police chief.”

“I shall deal with him if he should be so foolish.”

Fujiwara pursed his lips. “If there’s trouble, I cannot give you any assistance, you know.”

“I know.”

A silence fell. Akitada thought bitterly that it was always thus with his superiors: they handed out difficult assignments but refused to become involved if problems arose. His wet trousers stuck uncomfortably to his legs and itched, reminding him of the miserable homeward journey.

He cleared his throat. “If I may be excused then?”

Fujiwara nodded. Akitada turned and started for the door when Fujiwara said, “Wait! I’m somewhat troubled by those reports concerning your predecessor. You received my messages?”

Akitada turned back. “Yes, I did. Since Lord Tachibana left two weeks before my arrival, and everybody seems to agree he took ship for home, I did not consider it my duty to search for him.”

“No, of course not. But it’s strange, isn’t it?”

“Yes. He may have encountered pirates, or perhaps his ship ran aground somewhere.”

“Not pirates. We would have heard. And he’s been gone a whole month now. Surely someone would’ve found him if his ship got lost. Besides, there are no reports of missing ships.”

“He may have taken a smaller vessel. And there are many uninhabited islands in the Inland Sea.”

“Yes. All the same.”

“It
is
strange, sir. Is there something about Lord Tachibana that causes this concern?”

Fujiwara chewed on his lower lip. “No-o,” he said. “Not exactly. Well, there was gossip. I wondered if he was the reason they sent you.”

“I was sent to replace him before his term had expired. It suggests something caused his recall.”

Fujiwara peered at him and nodded. “Yes, exactly. What was it? Come on, surely you can tell me.” His tone was almost pleading.

“I wasn’t told myself, sir. I had hoped to learn the reason from you, or in Chikuzen, but as you know, the customary clearing of provincial accounts was handled by your office. What gossip were you referring to?”

“Oh, it concerned his personal wealth and, er, a certain behavior. But making money while serving as a governor is not uncommon, and his accounts were correct. As for amorous liaisons, he isn’t the first nobleman in Kyushu to enjoy a vacation from his family.” He frowned. “Well, keep your eyes and ears open, Sugawara.”

This time Akitada made him a slight bow.

15

A CASE IS CLOSED

W
hen Tora returned to Hakata the day after his master’s visit to Dazaifu, he found Maeda in his office, looking stunned.

“My congratulations, Chief,” he said with a grin.

Maeda focused. “Was this your doing? No, surely not. It takes more than a clever wag from the capital to remove Okata from his chosen post.”

Tora said modestly, “As provincial inspector, it was my duty to report on conditions in Hakata. My master’s the one does the hiring and firing.”

Maeda shook his head. “Well, I thank him for his confidence, but he knows nothing about me. Surely this is not the way things should be done?”

Tora raised an eyebrow. “You disapprove?”

“Well, no. Yes, I do. He cannot have known what he was doing. Besides, this won’t work. Dazaifu makes those appointments.”

“Oh, it has already worked. My master got back from there yesterday. You’re confirmed.”

Maeda gulped. “I don’t believe it.”

Tora folded his arms across his chest and frowned. “I’ve heard better acknowledgments for favors of this magnitude.”

Maeda blushed, then chuckled. “Sorry, Tora. Of course I do appreciate your good words, and I’ll thank the governor in person. But this is pretty unheard of.”

“Oh, you’re on probation. And my master says he’s been warned Okata will try to make trouble.”

“Yes, it’s likely.” Maeda grimaced. “Well, to work then. There’s news about the Mitsui case.”

“Yes?”

“The old man was found hanged in his cell yesterday. He was about to be transferred to Tsushima. Apparently he couldn’t face it. His son had paid him a visit earlier, and all seemed quiet. The guards paid ignored him or slept, as the case may be. I’ll deal with them later.”

Tora thought about it. “It means the case really is closed,” he said.

“Oh yes. It was closed after the judge pronounced his verdict, but now we don’t even have reason to clear a possibly innocent man. The crazy thing is I feel bad about it, confession or not.”

“Well, as has been pointed out: why would an innocent man confess?”

“I wish I knew.”

They sat in silence, contemplating the vagaries of the investigation which had brought them together.

Finally Tora sighed. “What now? Any news of Yoko?”

“No. We posted notices. I have too much to do today to start talking to people again. Her husband was here this morning. The man’s frantic. I tried to tell him she might have gone off with a friend, but he swore she had no friends. Women friends, he said.” Maeda gave a snort. “Not surprising, really. Women don’t care for other women who are on the prowl for their men. I finally told the poor fool what her neighbors had been saying. He got angry and stormed out.”

“I think I’ll look in on Mrs. Kimura and the kids. Maybe she’s heard something.”

“Be my guest.”

Tora grinned. “Speaking of guests, now that you’re in receipt of a lieutenant’s salary, you can pay for the next meal at the Golden Dragon.”

Maeda burst into laughter. “Just say when.”

*

Tora stopped to buy some sweets from a vendor and then walked to Mrs. Kimura’s house.

He noted that Mitsui’s house was inhabited again. Laundry was draped over the rickety fence, and a large number of very grimy children were throwing stones at a mangy dog tied to a fence post. Tora waded in, slapped the boy who had just scored a painful hit, threatened the rest of the children with the same if they tormented any more animals, and untied the dog. The animal sped away, its tail between its legs. The children raised an outcry, and a fat and dirty woman came to the door, cursed Tora, and handed out a few more slaps.

Hiroshi had moved in his family.

Tora shook his head and went next door into a very different world.

He could hear them singing as he walked through the bamboo gate, the children’s voices high and clear, and old Mrs. Kimura’s slightly cracked but spirited. He smiled to himself and thought their visit to Kyushu had not been completely wasted. Of course, most of the credit for rescuing the children went to Saburo.

They greeted him with shy smiles. He held up the paper with the sweets. “I brought you something,” he said, “but I see you’ve already eaten, so I think I’ll keep these for myself.”

“Oh, no!” cried Kichiro. “We’re quite hungry. Aren’t we, Naoko?”

“Hush, Kichiro. We’re not hungry. Auntie has cooked a very good gruel for us.” She paused, her eyes on the sweets. “But we might manage a sweet.”

Tora and Mrs. Kimura laughed, and he passed his present over.

The children made him deep bows and ran outside into the garden, their cheeks bulging with the treats.

“Has something happened?” the old lady asked, eyeing Tora shrewdly.

He flashed her his big smile. “I came for the pleasure of seeing you, Mrs. Kimura.”

“Nonsense. I could see it in your face.”

Tora sobered. “As it happens, there is some news. Did you know Okata has been relieved of his post and Maeda appointed chief in his stead?”

“Oh!” she cried, clapping her hands. “That’s wonderful news! Thank you, Tora. You’ve made me very happy.” She paused. “But there’s something else?”

Tora nodded. “Your neighbor killed himself in jail.”

Her face fell. “Poor Mitsui, though he wasn’t a very nice man. His sentence was too much to bear, I suppose. That good-for-nothing son of his has already moved his family into his parents’ house. He looks very smug and goes out drinking every night. His wife fights with her neighbors, and the children are little savages. I’m still amazed that his father doted on the boy. He wasn’t a very nice child either.”

“I’m not surprised. They had a falling out before the murder, though. I think the old man must’ve berated him for gambling and losing his job. “

They went out on the veranda. Kichiro was spreading some paste on twigs with a piece of wood. He already had four or five small branches laid out along the edge of the veranda.