The Heike Story (58 page)

In the meantime the Nose, who had finally traced Kiyomori's whereabouts, arrived.

As soon as he appeared, Kiyomori sprang to meet him, inquiring anxiously: "What's happened to the scoundrel?"

"Got away," the Nose replied. At this news Kiyomori hurriedly prepared to depart, saying that he would ride back in his own carriage. Bamboku at once went off to see that the carriage was made ready. Norimori eyed the departing figure with distaste. He had never liked or trusted Bamboku, and as an added precaution ordered ten of his own retainers to accompany Kiyomori.

The following morning Kiyomori woke later than usual; while he was putting on his court robes and preparing to leave for the Palace, his wife's maid appeared at his dressing-room to say: "My mistress wishes you to breakfast with her and is awaiting you, my lord."

Kiyomori started. "Breakfast?—It's only in the evening that— What does she want with me in the morning?" he replied, and hastily finished dressing as though more urgent matters required his attention.

"I'm late as it is, leaving for the Court. Councils and other business. . . . Tell the mistress I'll be back in the evening."

Ordering his carriage to be brought round to the main portico, Kiyomori quickly drove off. It was true that his days were a round of increasingly onerous duties. His appearance at the Palace was usually the signal for the higher officials and his subordinates to descend on him with demands for advice, confirmation, decisions. There was a certain awe mingled with the eagerness with which the courtiers approached him. Court circles had recently induced Kiyomori to accept a higher rank, one he formerly declined, and it was now generally acknowledged that Kiyomori held preponderating influence with the throne.

New influences had been at work since his father Tadamori's time, when a warrior occupying Kiyomori's post at Court would have scandalized the nobles and created hostility. Kiyomori's confident bearing, too, reflected the change. He was the new era; no decision could be made without him, or regarded as final without his consent. The warrior class, in short, had come into power, and Kiyomori's word was absolute in the conduct of state affairs.

Fujiwara Koremichi, known to be partial to the Heike, was made Prime Minister at this time, and Kiyomori, who liked him as a man he could trust, insisted on submitting all important decisions to Koremichi. The appointment pleased Kiyomori further because the Prime Minister's daughter was Lady Shimeko, Tokiwa's former mistress.

"I was pleased to learn that you sustained no injuries."

Kiyomori was taken aback by this greeting when he unexpectedly met Koremichi in one of the Palace corridors.

"What's this?" he asked, mystified.

"You appear quite unshaken by it. In fact, that's quite like you. I heard you had an encounter with one of the Genji last night. That's the rumor, at least."

"Ah? Yes, of course, that," Kiyomori countered.

"Precisely."

"So it's all over the Court, is it?"

"Yes, it caused quite a sensation when they heard that your assailant was Yoshihira of the Genji. You will have to be more discreet about going out at night," Koremichi added with a meaningful look.

"These spring nights, you know, are—irresistible." Kiyomori laughed, but the warning took effect and Kiyomori returned straight home that night, only to be met by Tokiko's reproaches.

"At your time of life, too! I must ask you not to repeat this again—this stealing out at night by the rear gate of the rose court!"

"When did I ever—"

"Do you think I don't know what has been going on? Aren't Shigemori and our other sons the heads of families, too, with their own households and retainers, and with posts at Court?"

"But what does that have to do with me?"

"I don't see how you can go on pretending to be innocent. With everyone looking up to you as the master of Rokuhara, I really can't understand how you can go off every night with that disreputable Red-Nose to visit your enemy's widow. Don't you realize what a scandalous performance that is? Nor am I saying this out of jealousy."

"Yes, you begin to resemble her more and more."

"Do you think I am joking?"

"No, I'm listening to you quite seriously, and that's why I'm sighing. If you become more like my stepmother, just where am I going to find peace?"

"I have no objections whatever to your keeping a mistress in the rose court, or the other new apartments. There's not much that a wife can do when a man's fancy runs in that direction. But of all women—Yoshitomo's widow!"

"Enough. I understand."

"If only you promise not to behave as you've been doing, I won't say a word more. But how can you expect me not to be upset when I hear that one of the Genji tried to murder you?"

"Ah, so you too are one of those virtuous wives. ... I begin to find something in favor of such women as the Lady of Gion."

"What are you mumbling to yourself now? If you refuse to take me seriously I shall ask your stepmother to come and speak to you herself. She can decide whether I'm being unreasonable or not."

"No, I humbly beg pardon, but don't for all the world ask her to come here."

"Then you'll give up this disgraceful carrying-on with Tokiwa, I take it? And you'll raise no objections if I speak to Itogo and Bamboku myself?"

"Whatever you wish," Kiyomori replied pettishly.

That night Kiyomori sat at the window of his wife's boudoir, gazing moodily at the misted moon. He had made a surprising discovery: Tokiko, so long preoccupied with the care of their children, who rarely questioned his coming and going, was inordinately jealous.

The following day Tokiko summoned her brother, Tokitada, to her room. It may have been the warm spring weather that caused it, but Tokitada thought his sister appeared rather flushed.

"Tokitada, I wish you to be very firm with Itogo. I have my husband's full consent to this."

"Itogo? What do you wish me to do?"

"Needless to say, it's about Tokiwa. Her three children are taken care of, and there's no reason why she should stay here in Rokuhara any longer."

"But that's hardly a matter for me to decide."

"But you're in charge of the Criminal Department here, and you can't very well say that you're not responsible for her. Tell Itogo to free her, or else send her to a nunnery and see that she takes the vows. See that there is an end to this disgraceful gossip."

"Ah, now I begin to understand. But, Tokiko, you must admit that you're partly to blame for Kiyomori's philandering."

"You think so, do you, Tokitada? You will do me the favor of telling me why you think I'm to blame."

"Well, Tokiko, you have without realizing it become old— let yourself fade, and with never a thought of how you might repair the ravages of the years in order to hold your spouse. What's happened was more or less to be expected."

"When a woman has had several children, it's only natural that she fades. Is it her fault that she is no longer—attractive?"

"No, Tokiko," Tokitada laughed, "you mustn’t lose your temper like that. I only speak to you with such frankness because you are my sister. I'm simply warning you that a woman must— no, a wife—must learn new graces as she grows older, if she doesn't wish to be cast off by her husband later on."

"Then what do you propose that I do?"

"Despite the years, evoke a subtle aroma of something fresh and exciting."

"I'm no dancing-girl, if that's what you mean!"

"Now that's exactly the kind of thinking common to shrews. What I say is true not only of Kiyomori, but of me. Anyway, when a man reaches his forties, he's ready to make his impression on the world, but suddenly discovers that his wife cuts a poor figure beside him."

"That's probably all you men find to talk about when you're together!"

"As a matter of fact, we do. The complaint seems to be general that, though we love our wives, they do age and stagnate."

"Pure egotism. . . ."

"You're right. We men are a selfish lot, but a man's ego must have a chance to stretch under his own roof before he can face the world and fight its battles. There's an old saying that a man begins to fall prey to doubts when he reaches his forties. We seem to be facing that stage just now, but Kiyomori is about to do great things, take my word for it."

"Do you expect me to believe that? You're another of those who encourage him in such delusions."

"No, you'll find that when he makes a name for himself, you, in spite of yourself, will have to assume those graces and accomplishments which will make you a fit mate, or otherwise fade into a nonentity when his star is rising."

"I've had enough of your talk. You will please leave me now."

"Just one thing more."

"What is it?"

"Wasn't it you who encouraged that merchant Bamboku to come here? It was a great mistake on your part to trust that vulgar fellow. I understand that the Nose has been performing the office of an intermediary in this affair with Tokiwa. As a matter of fact, that night when Yoshihira attacked Kiyomori, Norimori shook his head over the whole affair because that rascal was also there."

Tokitada made the best of his opportunity to tell his sister what he thought of her, and Tokiko retreated into silence, gazing resentfully at the faint smile playing on Tokitada's face. Quarrels between them took place from time to time and Tokiko usually came off the loser, but there was a tightening of her lips now which showed her determination to have the last word this time.

"Yes, I shall deal with Bamboku myself. Meanwhile, I wish you to see Itogo and find out what he intends to do with Tokiwa. You will please see that there is no delay."

"In any case, I understand."

"Not 'in any case'—I want it understood that those are my husband's orders," Tokiko said sharply, recalling as she did so the gossip about Tokiwa's undimmed loveliness. She, the wife, rudely shaken out of her complacency, realized that the world sympathized not with her, but with Tokiwa, whom she now examined with the critical eye of a rival.

That same day Red-Nose also was summoned by Tokiko.

"You may consider yourself unwelcome here. I order you to stop coming from now on."

"Yes—" the usually quick-witted Nose answered lamely, and after a pause added: "Have I done anything to offend you, my lady?"

"Your conscience can best tell you that."

"If I have displeased you, I can only right matters by cutting my throat."

"Do so, then. You know better than anyone else that you have good cause to do so. Here I've let you come and go in my house because I found you amusing, and all you've done is take advantage of me. You've been making a fool of my husband by abetting him in this intrigue with Tokiwa."

"Dear me, that—" the Nose exclaimed, clapping a hand to his head and struggling to remonstrate with Tokiko. But Tokiko had already risen to her feet and swept out of the room with an angry swish of her robes.

THE CROW

Bamboku sent one of his clerks to the western section of the capital where a modest villa, built by some nobleman for his mistress, stood vacant. The clerk had been instructed to purchase the villa without delay. This took place on the day following Red-Nose's dismissal from Rokuhara, and by evening the house was ready for a new occupant. Bamboku had more than enough domestic help to accomplish this quickly, not to mention

carriages, ox-carts, and handcarts on which were loaded bedding, kitchen equipment, boudoir furnishings, and the like. The Nose himself spent the entire afternoon arranging the garden to his taste, turning out rooms and even sweeping them, and by dark every screen stood in place in the main rooms; curtains depended where they belonged and even a small oratory and elegant writing-table had been installed in one of the smaller rooms.

"Well, well, this has been a busy day! Come to think of it, we haven't done badly at all. This should certainly please her," the Nose sighed contentedly, looking around at his handiwork by the light from a tall lampstand.

A gentleman alighted from his carriage, leaving it with his attendants in a small grove a discreet distance from the villa. It was Kiyomori.

"Excellent, excellent, indeed! Very quiet here, too. A nice garden, small—and a stream running through it," Kiyomori remarked as he passed down the halls, glancing here and there.