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story with a knife in our hearts.'
'His mother was an unusual woman,' he began slowly. 'When it was suggested
that she sleep with Takeo - it was when the Tribe first got their hands on
him: no one trusted him; none of us thought he would stay - I was almost
afraid of telling her. To ask Yuki to do such a thing - it was common enough
in the Tribe, and most women did what they were told, but it seemed like an
insult to Yuki. When she agreed I realized at once that she wanted him. I had
to watch her seduce him; not once but many times. I had not realized I would
feel such pain, or such hatred for him. I had never really hated anyone
before; I killed because it was expedient, not out of personal emotion. He had
what I most wanted, and he threw it away. He left the Tribe. If he ever feels
the smallest part of what I felt, it will be only justice.'
He glanced up at Hana. 'I never slept with her,' he said. 'I regret that more
than anything. If I had been able to, just once . . . But I would not touch
her while she was carrying his child. And then I made her kill herself. I had
to: she never stopped loving him; she would never have brought the boy up to
hate him in the way I have. I knew he must be part of my revenge, but as he
grew, showing
no sign of any talents, I could not see how. For a long time I thought it was
hopeless: time and again, far more skilful assassins than Hisao failed. Now I
know Hisao will be the one. And I will be there to witness it.' He stopped
abruptly.
The words had poured from him. He has kept this bottled inside him for all
these years, Hana thought, chilled by all he said, yet flattered and excited
that he confided in her.
'When Takeo returns from the East, Kaede will have been informed of all this,'
she said. 'It will drive them apart. She will never forgive him. I know him:
he will flee from her and from the world; he will seek refuge in Terayama. The
temple is barely guarded. No one will be expecting you. You can surprise him
there.'
Akio's eyes were half closed. His breath came in a deep sigh. 'It is the only
thing that will assuage my pain.'
Hana was seized by the desire to draw him to her, to ease some of the pain:
she was sure she could console him for the death - she hesitated to name it
murder - of his wife. Yet she prudently decided to save this pleasure for the
future. She had something else that she wanted to discuss with Akio.
'Hisao has succeeded in forging a weapon small enough to be carried
concealed.' she said. 'No one will get close enough to Takeo to kill him with
the sword, but the firearm can be used from some distance, isn't that right?'
Akio nodded and spoke more calmly, as if relieved to change subjects. 'He has
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tried it out on the seashore. It has a longer range than a bow, and the bullet
is much faster than an arrow.' He paused for a moment. 'Your husband is
particularly interested in the use of this
weapon, because of the way his father died. He wants Takeo to die as
shamefully.'
'It has a certain justice about it,' Hana agreed. 'Quite pleasing. But to be
completely certain of success, surely you will give Hisao some rehearsal? I
would suggest a trial run to assure everything works, that he does not lose
his nerve, that his aim is true under stress.'
'Does Lady Arai have anyone in mind?' Akio looked directly at her, and as
their eyes met her heart jumped with excitement.
'As a matter of fact, I do,' she said quietly. 'Come a little closer and I
will whisper his name.'
'There's no need,' he replied. 'I can guess.'
But he moved closer anyway, so close she could smell his breath and hear his
heartbeat. Neither of them spoke or moved. The wind rattled the screens, and
from the port came the cries of gulls.
After a few moments she heard Zenko's voice from the courtyard.
'My husband is back,' she said, rising to her feet, not sure if she was
relieved or disappointed.
Lord and Lady Arai moved frequently between Kuma-moto and Hofu: their arrival
in the port city shortly after the foreigners' return was therefore no cause
for surprise. The ship the foreigners came in had left almost at once for
Akashi with Lady Maruyama Shigeko, Sugita Hiroshi and the fabled kirin, which
was farewelled with pride and sorrow by the people of Hofu, who had taken a
proprietorial interest in it ever since its first astonishing arrival in their
port. Terada Fumio set sail shortly after, to join his father, Fumifusa, off
the cape, along with the Otori fleet.
The foreigners had often been guests at Lord Arai's residence: the fact that
they were invited again immediately seemed unremarkable. Conversation flowed
more easily, for the interpreter had grown bolder and more confident, and Don
Carlo had become quite fluent.
'You must think us very foolish,' he said, 'for we did not know of the
Emperor. Now we realize we should ha\ e approached him, for we are the
representatives of our king, and monarchs should deal with monarchs.'
Hana smiled. 'Lord Kono, who has recently returned to the capital himself, and
whom you have met here, I believe, is related to the imperial family, and
assures us Lord Arai enjoys the Emperor's favour. Unfortunately, Lord Otori's
assumption of the leadership of the Three Countries could be considered
unlawful, which is why he has gone to plead his case.'
Don Joao in particular looked interested when this was translated. 'Then
perhaps Lord Arai can help us approach His Imperial Majesty?'
'It will be my great pleasure,' Zenko replied, flushed with anticipation as
much as with wine.
The woman, their interpreter, translated this, and then said several more
sentences. Don Carlo smiled somewhat sorrowfully, Hana thought, and nodded his
head two or three times.
'What did you say?' she questioned Madaren directly.
'Forgive me, Lady Arai. I spoke of a religious matter to Don Carlo.'
'Tell us more. My husband and I are interested in the ways of the foreigners,
and open to their beliefs.'
'Unlike Lord Otori, alas,' Don Carlo said. 'I had thought he would be
sympathetic, and I held great hopes
for the salvation of his beautiful wife, but he has forbidden us to preach
openly or to build a church.'
'We would be interested in hearing about these things,' Hana said politely.
'And in return would like to know how many ships your king now has in the
Southern Isles, and how long it would take to sail here from there.'
'You have some new scheme,' Zenko said that night when they were alone.
'I know a little about the foreigners' beliefs. The reason why the Hidden have
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always been hated is because they obey the Secret God rather than any worldly
authority. The foreigners' Deus is the same, demanding total allegiance.'
'I have sworn that allegiance many times to Takeo,' Zenko said. 'I do not like
the idea of being known as an oath-breaker, like Noguchi; to tell you the
truth, it is the only thing that still restrains me.'
'Takeo has rejected Deus - it is clear from what we have heard tonight. What [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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