The Heike Story (20 page)

"Good! I can watch you and your sister at your dyeing, as I did on that first day I saw you."

Kiyomori grew enthusiastic over the plan and had men start immediately on the work. By summer it was completed.

"Now, with the stream running through the garden, there will be fireflies about. I must get my father to come and see this," said Kiyomori.

On the same night that Tadamori and Ariko, Kiyomori's stepmother, were visiting Rokuhara, the monks from Mount Hiei arrived in the capital.

Ariko and Tokiko, who were about the same age and could almost be taken for sisters, seemed to find much pleasure in each other's company, and the sight of them with his three grandchildren playing about them gladdened Tadamori, who sat and sipped his wine in a pleasantly reflective mood. He enjoyed the thought that this once easygoing and heedless son of his was now not only a trusted court official, but Lord Aki, the master of a new mansion. For Kiyomori, mellowed with wine, life seemed to have reached its ripest moment.

"Had Tsunemori only come with you, he might have played his flute for us," he remarked.

"Do you enjoy listening to the flute?" Ariko replied. "If you have one, let me play something for you."

Kiyomori turned to Tokiko and asked her to bring his flute.

Tadamori sat and watched the fireflies weaving over the stream; as he slowly drank his wine, he listened to Ariko play, and soon was leaning against a post, dozing. Tadamori suddenly sat up, awake; someone was running in by the front gate and racing toward the enclosure by the stables. There was a shout, and he could hear the retainers in their quarters stirring excitedly.

"They've come!"

Tokitada, Tokiko's brother, appeared in the room in great agitation, crying out that the monks of Mount Hiei had arrived in the capital. Behind him crouched Kiyomori's retainer, Heiroku.

From their blanched faces it was clear that they both knew the serious nature of this announcement.

Ariko's eyes sought Tadamori's as she put down her flute.

"A pity this had to happen tonight," Kiyomori murmured to himself, and then turned to his father with a smile. "So they've come at last!"

Now wide-awake, Tadamori sat up erect, remarking quietly: "So they've come, have they? We'll have to go out and face the tempest. Those monks from Mount Hiei are as inevitable as thunderstorms in summer and gales in the autumn. In all likelihood this house will be blown away like leaves before a whirlwind."

"I realize it," Kiyomori replied, "and I can only bow to the will of heaven, but not to the will of these men. I can always build again upon the ruins of this house."

"If your mind is made up, then far be it from me to counsel you otherwise, Kiyomori, but if you're prepared to lose your home, then I'm ready to give up my son. Should you fall in the fight, I still have another son, Tsunemori, and after him a grandson, Shigemori.

"Father, there's no need to be anxious. I pray that the monks will come here first; for I fear what may happen if they decide to march on the Cloister Palace."

"His majesty has been warned to make no concessions to Mount Hiei this time, or they'll otherwise make a practice of harassing him. He has already refused to hand over the Kagashirayama manor to Mount Hiei."

"That is undoubtedly the real reason for this armed protest and not that affair at Gion. Tokitada's brawl with those monks was a commonplace and not anything they would ordinarily take seriously."

At these words Tokitada and Heiroku, who had withdrawn to the hall, came forward.

"No, brother, it is true that I gave several a beating. They found fault with Heiroku for some small misdemeanor, ordered him to prostrate himself in apology, demanded the name of his master, and finally insulted us in language no warrior would put up with, so I went at them. If you hand me over to the monks, there should be no trouble at all. Let me give myself up to those men at Gion. Forgive me for what I've done."

"Wait, wait, Tokitada, where are you off to?" Kiyomori demanded.

"I must be the reason for this serious disturbance," cried Tokitada.

"Didn't I tell you to leave this matter to me? Have you taken leave of your senses? Haven't I already said that I would face the consequences? And you—Heiroku—mind you, I'll settle this affair singlehanded. If there is need for it, my father is here to help. Understand, Heiroku, that if I intend to use you as a scapegoat, there's no need for me to repeat that I'm prepared to take the consequences. I seem to hear thousands of voices—the voices of the common folk in the market-place—urging me to go forward and do what must be done. . . . More is at stake now than my life. On me turns the future of the warriors. Let's not quibble longer, lest this rare opportunity slip through my fingers."

In the pained silence that followed, the retainers could be heard arming themselves in readiness for Kiyomori's orders.

"Father, will you stay a little longer?"

Tsunemori's arrival on horseback, accompanied by several retainers and horses, brought Tadamori to his feet.

"No, this has been a most refreshing evening. . . . And, Kiyomori, the worst may yet happen, so I suggest that you send the women and children to a safe place before morning."

With such words of caution, Tadamori unhurriedly made his way out to the courtyard and mounted his horse. Kiyomori saw Ariko into her litter, then climbed into his saddle, saying that he would go with them part of the way. With his brother riding beside him, Kiyomori slowly led the party out by the gate.

Fireflies clustered on their saddles and were caught in their sleeves. A flutter of wind set numberless small insects whirling into eddies of brightness.

As the procession of twenty arrived at the Gojo Bridge, Kiyomori glanced back over his shoulder and saw how the watch-fires of near-by Gion lit up the sky balefully.

Morning. The capital looked strange. Every house was shuttered, not a soul was abroad. The great avenues were deserted as at midnight. Now and then a warrior clattered by. Ten horses, twenty horses went past; then three or four, led by soldiers, proceeded in the direction of the Court; officials hurried by to their duties at the Palace.

"I wish to have a word with Kiyomori, Lord Aki. I am Tadamasa of the Heike. Where is he on duty?"

All eight gates of the Cloister Palace were crowded with warriors in full armor. Tadamasa, Kiyomori's uncle, had slipped away unaccompanied from the Court and come seeking his nephew.

A warrior stopped to reply: "Lord Aki may not have come yet. There's a rumor that the monks will attack his residence before they march on either the Court or the Palace."

"Ah, I see, he's more concerned for the safety of his own property than the Palace. Sounds very like him. I shall be off to Rokuhara, then."

Tadamasa turned his horse's head east and galloped off toward Gojo Bridge. As he neared it, he noticed a figure on horseback coming toward him. The horse ambled, swinging its tail comfortably.

"Ho! Uncle, and where are you off to?" Kiyomori called out as Tadamasa sped past.

Tadamasa reined in his horse sharply and wheeled to a stop. As Kiyomori came toward him, he burst out angrily:

"Ha, so it's you, Kiyomori! Mind that speech of yours! What do you mean by 'where are you off to'? As soon as I heard that more than two thousand monks had arrived from Mount Hiei, my first thought was for you. Alas, I said, here you were at long last rid of your poverty, able to build yourself a mansion, and the end so soon in sight. I was sorry for you, and felt for you as only an uncle can for his nephew. I was sure I could help you, and was on my way to you at top speed."

"That—was most kind of you," said Kiyomori laughing airily, though he politely inclined his head, "but, uncle, don't you realize with whom we are dealing? No one, not even his majesty, dares to oppose those who come with the sacred emblem. No matter how much help you offer, we are helpless against these monks from Mount Hiei. Unless you have come to view the ruins of my house, your words, to say the least, are comical. I realize you meant this most kindly."

"Hmm—I now understand. I met your father at dawn at the Justice Department and he seemed to think as you do. In fact, the two of you are exactly alike. ... So neither of you cares what happens. You're completely indifferent to what happens."

"My father speaks for himself, and I for myself. There's nothing odd in keeping cool. On the contrary, what's the matter with you? These armed petitions aren't anything unusual."

"Enough. The more you chatter, the more I realize that you and your father are cowards."

Tadamasa, unwilling to admit that this nephew of his was now a man, persisted in his habit of bullying Kiyomori as though he were the same ragged youth of ten years ago. Kiyomori, on the other hand, tolerated Tadamasa only because he was his father's brother. He knew no one he disliked more thoroughly. Lately, he had noticed a certain apprehensiveness in Tadamasa and sensed that Tadamori's promotion to the Justice Department, as well as his new title and rank, were somehow unnerving to his uncle, though Tadamasa had no reason to envy them since he had recently received an important post at Court.

"Come, get down, Kiyomori, get down and listen to what I have to say."

"No, I'm on my way to see to the defense of the Palace, and this is no time for me to be loitering."

"And you who should be among the first at the Palace— what do you mean by ambling along at this hour as though reluctant to be on your way?" said Tadamasa, hurriedly dismounting and seizing Kiyomori's stirrup.

"Now what do you want?" Kiyomori asked impatiently, dismounting reluctantly, and seating himself under one of the pine trees along the highway.

"Now listen to me. If you refuse, from this very day I renounce all the sacred ties of blood between us," Tadamasa declared.

"Now what do you mean by that?"

"You are completely blinded by love of your wife. Tokiko has you dancing at her will."

"Do you speak of my wife?"

"Who but Tokiko? You have let her talk you into causing this disaster, fatuous husband that you are! I've never known such stupidity as yours. Why don't you hand over Tokitada to the authorities of Mount Hiei?"

"Ah, just a moment, I don't quite understand. Are you saying that since Tokitada is my wife's brother, I have listened to Tokiko's pleadings and that I am therefore responsible for this serious situation?"

"That may be it. I don't need to ask you, since that much is obvious to me, your uncle:"

"So that's it, and that's how it appears to you?"

"Swear to me here and now that you will give up Tokitada and your houseman Heiroku while you remain a prisoner in your own house and await judgment. I, in the meanwhile, will ride at once to Gion and speak to the monks myself. They will then have no reason for pressing their demands, and we shall avert a calamity."

"I refuse."

"What!"

"Let them tear me limb from limb before I hand over those two."

"Why do you refuse? Of what value are the lives of those two compared with their majesties' peace of mind?"

"Tokitada and Heiroku are not alone guilty. Should misfortune visit the Court, that can only be the result of its continued abuses. If the Palace is attacked, that can only be the result of misgovernment. I can hardly be held responsible for the outcome."

"Are you mad, Kiyomori? Those shameless words of yours!"

"No more shameless than those you've been spitting out until now. My wife is very dear to me, but she doesn't make up my mind for me."

"Very well, very well. ... I've said enough. Let come what may! I've also heard you say something that can't be overlooked. Whatever happens to their majesties is no concern of yours?"

"That I did say, undoubtedly."

"You traitor! You base one!"

"Indeed?"

"The gods will surely rain down punishment on that impious head of yours! What a monster to have for a nephew! . . . No, I shan't risk my position at Court because of you. I wash my hands of you, Kiyomori!"

"Why, what a temper you're in!"

"You and Tadamori—the pair of you—spurn my offers of help. Wait and see, you will regret this. . . . No, I've no reason to be concerned further for you. Tell your father this: from this moment, I, Tadamasa, renounce all claim to being a member of the Heike clan."