He was in a difficult position. Having chosen the path of justice, he now owed his life to a member of a gang. He bit his lip, then said, ‘Look, I realize you don’t want the police involved in this, but there’s the matter of the fires, and of Jirokichi. I promise to do my best to keep you out of it.’
Koichi shook his head and growled deep in his throat.
The girl said, ‘No police. We did this for Jirokichi, not for you.’
‘That bastard over there knows all about the fires. At least let me have a go at him.’
Koichi growled again. Tora saw that the other two looked ready to attack him. The girl said sharply, ‘You’d better leave now.’
So much for his having saved Jirokichi and gotten a knife in his arm for his trouble.
Tora said, ‘Jirokichi needs a doctor. He’ll have to be carried home. I’ll help, but I’ve only got one good arm.’
She said, ‘That’s our business. We were just waiting for you to come round and leave. There’s nothing else for you to do here.’
‘Look,’ Tora blustered, ‘I’m the one who found him. He’d be dead by now if I hadn’t come. The bastards you’re protecting would have killed him. If he’s your friend, you owe me something, and I’d at least like some information.’
She shook her head. ‘No. We don’t work with the police, and we don’t rat out our own.’
‘I’m not the police.’ But Tora saw their faces and knew that it was useless. How had they found out about him? His eyes went to Jirokichi. The Rat was watching him. ‘You told them I was with the police,’ he said accusingly. ‘Damn you, Rat. I don’t want your filthy gold, but I could’ve used some support.’
Koichi got to his feet with an angry grunt. The other two followed. Koichi pointed towards the door.
‘You’d better go,’ said the girl. ‘And you’d better not come back.’
Words failed Tora. He took a step towards them and found he was still holding his boot. With a curse, he bent to put it back on. The vicious pain in his left arm made him sick to his stomach. He was in no shape to argue. Shaking his head, he stumbled out of the warehouse and into the sweet-smelling night air.
FAMILY MATTERS
Akitada had taken to sleeping in Tamako’s room after spending that pleasant night with her. He did so for the companionship, not for sexual gratification. Perhaps he had also hoped to be there when the child came.
The first warning came sometime in the middle of the night. He woke because Tamako moaned beside him and then clutched his arm. Her fingers dug almost painfully into his skin.
‘What? What is it?’ he asked, coming awake slowly, then finding himself immediately in a panic. He had pent up his fears over the past days, pushing them aside, telling himself that Tamako looked and felt much better, and that all was quite well. Childbirth was a natural process. Women had children all the time and came through it very well. Tamako had survived the first birth in spite of some difficulties.
Yes, there had been difficulties, even beyond the immense snows that had isolated them. But then there had been Doctor Oyoshi, that kind and gentle man who had helped her through it and, more importantly, helped him as well. He had been a gibbering idiot by the time Yori was born.
And now it was about to happen again.
Tamako’s grip on his arm gradually relaxed. ‘The child,’ she said, after the pain had passed away. ‘It’s coming this time. I’ve been feeling the pains for a while now. I’m sorry, Akitada, but could you wake Hanae and the others?’
The others were her maid Oyuki and Seimei.
Akitada scrambled out of the bedding. ‘Yes, of course. Right away. Can I do anything? Are you thirsty? Do you want screens put up around you? What about lights?’
‘No, Akitada. The women will see to it. You’d better make yourself a bed in your study. This will take a while.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll be right here.’
‘Thank you, but there’s no point to it. I’ll be well looked after.’ She bit her lips and closed her eyes, clutching at the bedding as another pain started. ‘Now please go!’ she gasped.
Akitada grabbed his robe and ran.
The maid was the first he shook awake. She slept in the eave chamber of Tamako’s pavilion and knew immediately what was happening. Then he hurried barefoot across the compound to Tora’s quarters and pounded on the door. Tora appeared, sleepy-eyed and clutching his bandaged arm.
‘Sorry, Tora. Where’s Hanae? The child is coming.’
Tora’s eyes widened and he turned, but Hanae had heard and was already there, tying the sash on her gown and then twisting her hair back.
‘Perhaps Tora had better go for the doctor,’ she said. ‘Sometimes it’s quicker the second time around.’
Akitada saw the way Tora cradled his arm and shook his head. ‘No. Seimei said he was to rest. That was a very nasty cut. I’ll go myself. Just as soon as I wake Seimei and put on my boots.’ Tora protested, but Akitada overruled him. ‘I’ll be glad to have something to do,’ he said. ‘You rest that arm and look after your son.’
Seimei was awake and gathering his herbal remedies. He greeted Akitada with a smile. ‘A happy day, sir. And perhaps another son.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Akitada, too distracted to contemplate it. ‘Hanae said it would be quicker than last time. That’s good, isn’t it?’
Seimei chuckled. ‘I am sure Her Ladyship will think so. You are getting a doctor?’
Akitada nodded. ‘I’m going myself. And I’d better get a monk, I suppose, if it’s really urgent.’
‘It is always best to take an umbrella before the rain starts. Don’t forget that you will need some money, sir.’
Akitada hurried back to Tamako’s room to make sure she was being looked after. He arrived just in time to hear her moaning again. He shuddered and was tempted to leave, but made himself creep closer. The women had set up screens around Tamako and covered them with white cloth. He peered over and saw that the bedding had been changed to white hemp, and that Tamako was draped in a tent-like white hemp gown. Her eyes were closed, and her face was flushed and covered with moisture. Oyuki knelt beside her, mopping sweat from her face, and Hanae was on the other side, holding her hand and murmuring encouragement. Tamako writhed and tossed her head from side to side. Her long hair was spread all over the bedding and the floor. Akitada fought rising nausea as he watched her agony, and he swallowed convulsively. He felt utterly helpless and unwanted.
When the pain passed, she relaxed. Breathing heavily, she opened her eyes and looked up at Akitada blearily.
‘Go away,’ she said.
She sounded almost angry, and a shocked Akitada retreated to the door. ‘Is… is everything going well?’ he asked.
Hanae called out, ‘Yes, sir. But it will be best if you see to the arrangements. It may not take long now.’
Akitada obeyed gladly. In his room he found money and his boots. He put them on with shaking hands. Then he left, running all the way to the doctor’s small house half a mile away. He was out of breath as he rang the bell. Nothing happened, and he pounded on the door until the doctor’s servant appeared.
‘Quick,’ Akitada said. ‘Your master’s needed.’
The servant seemed unsurprised. He asked the honored name of the caller and the nature of the emergency, then left to inform the doctor. Akitada paced anxiously until the physician appeared, followed by his servant carrying his satchel. He dispatched them to his home and breathed a sigh of relief.
At a more moderate pace, Akitada next proceeded to the small temple where they had made arrangements for a monk to chant sutras during the birth and later to say an appropriate prayer to the Buddhas of the three worlds for the child. He had little faith in this having any practical effect, but now that the time had come, he decided to engage three monks instead of the one who had been requested. He told himself that Tamako would be able to hear the chants of three monks better and feel reassured. Then he paid an additional three pieces of gold to have sutras recited in the temple.
