The Crane Pavilion (22 page)

But this beautiful view did nothing for Akitada’s mood. He did not want to be here. He sat down and looked resentfully at the abbot.

Genshin was both heavier and older, and this did not suit him. It gave Akitada some satisfaction to see that the years had not left the handsome Tasuku unscathed. Only the large, soulful eyes remained. No doubt they were still useful in turning people’s heads.

Before Akitada could say anything, a small boy, beautifully dressed in a red brocade robe and white silk trousers, came in with a tray which he placed between them.

Genshin smiled at him. “Thank you, Sadayoshi. That was very neatly done.”

The boy grinned, revealing a missing front tooth, and bowed before scampering out.

“A novice,” Genshin explained. “One of the sons of the chancellor. He is a good boy.”

Perhaps it was meant to impress or even intimidate him. Akitada did not know what to say to it. He would not wish a monastic life on his own son, even if there were compensations of comfortable living. But many of the highest ranking nobles dedicated younger sons and daughters to the religious life, hoping thereby to gain entrance to paradise after their own deaths. He covered the awkward silence by taking a drink from the lacquered cup. The fruit juice was delicious, with a taste of oranges and wild berries.

Genshin was studying him. “I heard something about you from time to time,” he said. “You are still in the Ministry of Justice, I think?”

Akitada was not, but he nodded rather than giving explanations.

“And your efforts at finding out evil and arresting evil-doers have, I think, brought you considerable distinction over the years,” Genshin went on. It was said teasingly, implying that such activities were trivial amusements.

Akitada did not take the bait, if that was what it had been. It must be an uncomfortable subject for the abbot, who had been involved in one of Akitada’s earliest investigations and had trusted him to keep a secret that would most certainly disqualify him from his present position.

“I’m still engaged in the same line of work,” he said stiffly.

Genshin smiled. “Ah, you came with an ulterior motive then. No, no, don’t apologize. I’m very grateful that your work has finally brought you to me, Akitada. I have often thought of you, and always with great fondness.”

The same was not true for Akitada, who had rarely ever thought of Tasuku, and when he did, it had been with distaste. But this was not the time to rake up the past. Suddenly aware of an oversight that must have struck the other man as very rude, he asked, “How are you these days?”

“Well enough, as you see.” Genshin’s manner had become cooler; perhaps he had finally sensed Akitada’s dislike.

It did not matter. Akitada said, “The fact is that I do have a particular reason for my visit.” He hoped to get the interview over with as quickly as possible. “There has been a death in your former home in the city. I assume you are aware of it?”

Genshin’s gaze did not waver. “Yes, of course. Regrettably, one of my tenants has chosen the path into the darkness rather than the Way to salvation. I was saddened to hear it.”

Akitada said curtly, “She was murdered.”

Genshin’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Perhaps you’ll consider it good news, in that the lady did not take her own life. I assume the Way is still open to her?”

Genshin compressed his lips. “Don’t sneer at such matters, Akitada. You have changed. You used to be kind and gentle when I knew you. Now you are hard and cruel. If this is what a life spent dealing with human violence does to a man, I regret it very much. As to your question, yes, if she did not take her own life, Lady Ogata may be well on her way to salvation by now. She was a good person and a devout believer. But I am sorry to think
you
have taken a false way, and that it has deprived you of the joy you once found in your life.”

Akitada flushed. It was true that his life had become joyless. And there had been other joyless periods before as well, but these had been caused by other losses. Every time, a man lost something he loved, he became diminished, and his life became more of a burden. But this was not the time to discuss such matters. He bit his lip and said, “You don’t seem at all curious about her murder. I’m interested in what you can tell me about the lady. You allowed her to live on your property, so I assume you were close?”

Genshin chuckled softly. “I see you don’t believe I could change. In your eyes, I shall always be the frivolous seducer of women. Even in your youth, you disapproved strongly of my life, though you did not precisely say so then. I recall out final meeting. Perhaps I should have realized then how very disappointed and angry you were with me, but I was rather upset myself at the time. Never mind. I see we must speak more bluntly now. I was not Lady Ogata’s lover. Neither recently, nor before I took my vows. I have not touched a woman since then.” He made a face. “The sacred scriptures teach us that women are dirty and unworthy of salvation because of their inferior condition. Women seduce us to satisfy their own desires for pleasure, pleasure that is both physical and mental. They glory in their power over us, and in our weakness we stray from the path to salvation.”

“Don’t insult my intelligence with such nonsense,” snapped Akitada. “I lost my wife this past spring. She was the purest creature I ever knew, the kindest and most supportive of wives, the most generous and forbearing companion. She is the one who gave me strength. You know nothing about women in spite of your wild past.”

Genshin raised his brows. “I did not know of your loss. I’m very sorry, Akitada.”

“Spare me the condolences. I’m anxious to be on my way. Just tell me what you know about Lady Ogata and why you decided to offer her shelter and support.”

The abbot looked at Akitada reproachfully and said nothing.

“Can you live with your conscience, letting a killer go free?”

“I rather doubt this will happen,” Genshin said, making a face. “You are not the man to let a murder rest. But I will not betray a confidence. You used to respect such things long ago.”

Akitada got up. “Don’t remind me! You, too, have changed, Tasuku,” he said harshly. “You used to be merely a selfish courtier, taking your pleasure wherever you pleased. But I see you’ve become something altogether more despicable.”

Genshin turned his head slightly, and Akitada saw that the door to the interior was slightly open, and a number of avidly listening monks and young boys were peering at them. They looked aghast. No doubt they had never heard their holy abbot spoken to in this manner. He knew he should apologize and leave as quickly as possible.

Genshin said quite calmly to his listeners, “Close the door and go away, please. There is no need for concern.” To Akitada he said, “Sit down again, Akitada. I regret that you think so poorly of me. I will tell you what I may without betraying the confidence.”

Akitada said nothing but sat down again.

“One of the men who worship here came one day and told me of the shocking condition of a young woman of high birth. Having made a foolish marriage, she found herself abandoned by her family and her husband. She lived in a small shack beside the Kamo River where kind people would sometimes leave her some food. Greatly shocked by the story, I went to see for myself, and found this to be true. She gave her name as Lady Ogata and accepted refuge in my house in the city and a small stipend from the temple. It is barely enough for her food and certainly not what a rich man would spend on his mistress.” Genshin gave Akitada another reproachful look. “I could do no more without setting tongues wagging—clearly a forlorn hope, given your visit. You may think what you wish, but over the years I have given refuge to others like her, and they promised to look after her. I never saw her again after that day.”

Akitada thought this over. “You say she was of high birth. Who was she? Why was she abandoned?”

Genshin shook his head. “That I will not tell you. When I was told she had committed suicide, I believed it. She had lived a short and very sad life. But she did not seem desperate to me when I talked to her beside the Kamo River. Rather there was a strange joy about her. I took it to be of a spiritual nature. She said she was a devout believer in the Way.” He paused. “And now I must see to my duties. I wish you well, Akitada. I wish you the serenity of Lady Ogata.”

Akitada made his return journey in such a temper that he no longer saw the beauty of the mountains around him, or the vast view of the capital, spread before him in the golden haze of the evening sun.

23
A Good Name is Forever

It was nearly dark by the time he entered the capital. As soon as he reached First Avenue, he headed east, turned down one of the smaller streets and arrived at his sister’s home.

His brother-in-law, Toshikage, held a modest rank similar to his own, but unlike Akitada he had inherited vast provincial estates so that his income was only affected by an occasional poor harvest. The ready supply of funds allowed him to settle for posts that did not strain his energy while allowing his wife to enjoy the company of the highest-ranking ladies in the nation.

It was the latter fact that made her a very useful ally in the present case, and Akitada was eager to share with her the information he had gleaned from Genshin. It was little enough, but with her own knowledge of society gossip it might be enough.

Toshikage’s servants knew him well and took his horse, directing him to their master’s study. Toshikage, it seemed, was home early. This was not unusual, and Akitada was happy enough to see him. He liked Toshikage.

He found his brother-in-law dusting and rearranging his collection of small figurines and lacquer boxes. They had, in fact, met over Toshikage’s love and care for small works of art, though in that case it had been a figurine belonging to the emperor which had mysteriously disappeared while in Toshikage’s possession. Akitada had just returned from service in the far north and found his older sister married to a man suspected of having stolen imperial treasures, and his younger sister’s lover in jail on a murder charge. Those had been tumultuous months in his life, also marked by the death of his step-mother. Both men had proved to be innocent, and both had won Akitada’s respect and gratitude as he theirs.

Now Toshikage greeted him with a cry of joy and a long embrace. “My dear Akitada,” he kept repeating while squeezing him quite hard. “My very dear Akitada. It gives me such pleasure to see you.” He released Akitada long enough to study his face anxiously. “How are you, brother? Holding up all right? Must be strong for the children, you know. She would have wished it.”

Akitada smiled a little bleakly as he freed himself. “I know,” he said. “I try. But enough sad talk. I’m parched from a ride into the mountains. Any chance of some of your good wine?”

Toshikage bustled off to fetch two cups and a flask of wine, carried these to his veranda and placed two pillows. Akitada sat down gratefully. He had become stiff in all the weeks he had kept to his room without any exercise. Now he was tired, and his back and weak leg pained him.

“So you had a pleasant ride?” Toshikage asked, smiling at him. “Good, good. Can’t sit still all day. Bad for the constitution. You’ll soon be your old self again, you’ll see.”

Akitada smiled back and nodded. He would never be his old self again, he knew, but Toshikage was such a naturally cheerful fellow that talk of death and loss made him quite miserable.

“I went to speak to an old acquaintance of mine, Abbot Genshin.”

“Oh, him! He’s got quite a reputation I hear. I didn’t know he was a friend of yours.”

“Not a friend.” Akitada grimaced at the memory of that very unpleasant meeting. “Or at least not any longer. I knew him as a student when he was Takashina Tasuku.”

“I see. He no longer pleases you? He’s supposed to be a very learned and holy man.”

“Learned perhaps. Tasuku was always a very good student. Holy, I doubt. He still flatters the powerful and seeks their company.”

Toshikage chuckled. “Akiko would remind you that you should learn from him.”

Akitada managed another smile. “Yes. I actually came to speak to her also. She knows a little about a case I’m interested in.”

Toshikage clapped his hands. “Oh, good! You’re working again. That’s great news. I don’t mind telling you, we were very worried about you. Yes, very worried. Akiko couldn’t sleep at night for thinking about you and the children.”

This surprised Akitada, but his sister had surprised him once or twice before. He promised himself to be more patient with her irritating habits in the future. He said, “I’m sorry to hear it. It’s been very difficult, and still is. She may have told you that I lost my position in the ministry and, unless the grand minister relents, I am without income for the foreseeable future. It seems I shouldn’t have left my post in Kyushu to come home.”

Toshikage’s face fell. “She did say something, but surely, brother, such a thing will not be allowed to happen. No, I think you both take a much too negative view of things.” His face brightened. “Come, take another cup of wine and cheer up.”

Toshikage was notorious for not worrying about imminent disasters. But he might be right in this case. There was no point in assuming the worst would come to pass. Akitada drank another cup of wine and felt grateful for Toshikage’s cheerful outlook.

They were interrupted at this point by Akiko, who sailed in, her face flushed and her silk robes fluttering behind her. When she saw her brother, she stopped. “Akitada!” she cried. “Why didn’t someone tell me? Is anything wrong? Did you get news from court?”

Her worries about his career and livelihood were foremost in her mind, and for Akitada this cancelled out the more positive mood her husband’s optimism had produced.

He shook his head. “No, Akiko. At least … I haven’t been home yet. I just returned from a visit to the Daiun-ji temple.”

“Oh?”

Toshikage smiled at his wife. “On your way to see the empress? My dear, your costume is exquisite! And so are you!” He turned to Akitada, “Isn’t she breathtaking? No woman can carry off those colors with such grace and elegance.”