the garden. The sweeping proved impossible with only one arm, so he confined himself to whatever he could do in terms of tidying up. But even that was exhausting. He could not remember when he had felt so weak and tired. Eventually, he sat down on the steps to Akitada’s study, leaned his head against a post, and closed his eyes.
Seimei found him there. ‘What are you doing?’ he scolded. ‘Sleeping when so much is to be done? The courtyard looks terrible. Go and sweep it immediately. We will have company.’
Tora opened his eyes blearily. ‘Can’t,’ he said.
‘What? Did you drink yourself into a stupor?’
Tora sighed and got to his feet. He felt awful. ‘What do you need me to do, old man?’
Seimei peered at him. ‘What is the matter with that bandage?’ He came closer, looked at Tora’s face, then reached up to touch it. ‘Amida,’ he murmured. ‘Here, sit down again. You have a fever.’
Tora obeyed gratefully. Seimei undid the bandage, pursed his lips, and shook his head. ‘That looks bad. It may have to be cut again.’
Tora’s heart sank. ‘Not that. Can’t you wrap some of your herbs around it, or dab on that stinking paste that draws out the poison?’
Seimei sighed. ‘I can try, but we had better call the doctor. Now, back to bed with you.’
Tora would have preferred to doze fitfully through the morning but, true to his word, Seimei came to treat him with evil-smelling ointments, bitter infusions, and painful squeezing of the oozing wound. He was followed by an anxious Hanae, who hid her panic behind anger. She accused him of wanton carelessness in seeking out trouble, of allowing himself to get stabbed, of not caring for his injury, of not caring about her or his baby son.
Just when the worst storm had blown over, and he was trying to find a comfortable position to rest in, Seimei returned with the doctor. The bandages came off again; there was more painful poking and squeezing, much head- shaking and pursing of lips, and then the doctor left, promising to send a good barber along to cut into the festering wound.
They left, and Akitada took their place. Here at last, Tora found some sympathy.
‘Does it hurt a lot?’ his master asked, looking worried. ‘Why didn’t you tell us? You did far too much yesterday. I blame myself. I should have known that you needed to rest, but my head was full with preparations. I’m sorry, Tora.’
That brought tears to Tora’s eyes, and he turned his head away. ‘No, no, sir,’ he muttered thickly. ‘It’s nothing. It doesn’t even hurt.’ That was a lie, of course. ‘And I had a lot fun.’ That was true enough. The memory dried his tears, and he turned back to Akitada with a grin. ‘They were great, those fellows, weren’t they? Oh, the racket we made! I swear we made the roof shake over Her Ladyship.’
‘There wasn’t an evil spirit anywhere near our place. I expect they’ll keep their distance in the future, now that you’ve taught them some respect.’
‘Right.’ Tora chuckled weakly. ‘And how’s your lady today? And the little one? What will you name her?’
His master’s face broke into one of his rare smiles. ‘Both are well. You saw her. Isn’t she the most exquisite little creature? It’s miraculous that we should have produced something so very beautiful. I don’t believe there’s ever been an imperial child to compare with her. We’ve decided to call her Yasuko. It’s one of the names approved by the doctor of divination. What do you think?’
‘It’s a fine name, sir. And your daughter is as beautiful as her parents.’
Akitada laughed happily. ‘As her mother, perhaps, but certainly not anything like the long-faced, scowling old dog who is her father.’
‘Well, perhaps girls aren’t supposed to take after their fathers.’
His master seemed to think this very funny also. ‘Her mother tells me that she has an enormous appetite. Surely that means she’s a strong child.’
He sounded a little uncertain about this. Tora knew that he would always fear losing another child. ‘I could hear her voice all the way into the garden,’ he said. ‘I think she screamed louder even than Yuki did when he was born.’
‘Really? Yes, she does have a very strong voice.’ His master chuckled again.
Seeing so much happiness where there had been none for so long, Tora almost forgot the pain in his arm and the fierce headache that had developed over the past hour, and smiled back.
His master patted his good arm and said, ‘You must rest now. Genba will be home soon, and meanwhile we’ll manage quite well. I’m perfectly capable of raking the courtyard, and the women are busy sweeping the reception room and preparing festive delicacies for the guests. I’ll stop in again a little later.’
Akitada had almost finished raking the courtyard. He liked the activity; it allowed him to think of his little daughter and of having once again a family. One of the first things he had done this day was to send a courier to the farm to inform his people there of the birth of the child and to call Genba home. In his joy, expense was nothing to him. The following days would bring many visitors.
There would be many happy times ahead: playtime with Yasuko, excursions into the countryside with Tamako once she was recovered, shared books, time spent on the veranda to admire Tamako’s garden in its summer greenery as the baby played between them. He would play his flute for them…
Hanae broke into his daydreams. ‘Sir? Sir, we have no foods to offer visitors, and the cushions in the reception room look very worn and dirty to me. Also, perhaps there should be more wine – and candles, in case some of your friends stay past dusk. Do you want me to go into the city?’
Akitada set aside his bamboo rake. ‘No, you’re needed here to help look after our patients and the two little babies. I’ll see to it that provisions are delivered.’
Hanae did not argue. Poor girl, he thought, watching her run back into the house: we ask far too much of her and give her little credit.
He, too, went inside, changed into a decent robe, and helped himself to more gold from the money chest. Seimei was absent, most probably looking after Tora.
It was a glorious morning as he strode down the street outside his residence. A neighbor saw him and came running from his house to congratulate him. The good news had spread. Akitada was happy. He felt as though he were walking on clouds. The willows lining the canals on Suzako Avenue swayed gently in a light breeze. Children splashed in the water, and a pair of guards officers in their bright tunics trotted by on their fine horses.
When he reached Rokujo Avenue, he decided to simplify his chores by seeking out a few of the best food merchants, placing his orders, and having them delivered immediately. A silk merchant displayed handsome cushions in festive colors of rose and yellow. He purchased these on the spot. The merchant was very pleased to send his clerk with them to the Sugawara residence. All of this naturally involved a generous infusion of gold, but in Akitada’s present mood that did not matter. What mattered was speeding up the process so that he could return quickly and look in on mother and child. In the market, he found young men offering their services to carry purchases or messages. Choosing the cleanest and most polite of these, he hired him for the rest of the day to answer the gate and perform other services. Loading the young man down with a number of other purchases, Akitada returned home, pleased that he had discharged his duties so quickly and efficiently.
He found Tamako in good spirits and his daughter asleep. Hanae, drawn and worried, reported that the doctor had looked in on Tora and sent his assistant for a man skilled in surgery. Between them, they had cut open Tora’s swollen arm and removed a good deal of blood and poison. Tora had not been cooperative, but was sleeping now.
Tamako said, ‘Make her go and tend to her husband, Akitada. It isn’t right that she should spend all her time here when I feel perfectly well.’
Hanae protested that Tora was sleeping, and so was Yuki, who was with him. She needed to see to the preparations for the afternoon’s callers.
‘All is in good hands,’ Akitada assured her. ‘The food will be delivered already prepared. And so will the cushions and gifts for well-wishers.’
Hanae looked doubtful, but left.
Akitada felt a pang of concern for Tora. But being relieved of visiting him immediately, he spent a pleasant hour admiring his sleeping daughter and chatting with his wife about his purchases in the city.
‘It must have cost a good deal,’ she said at one point when he had regaled her with a description of the delicacies he had selected and the excellent wine he had tasted and ordered to be delivered in ten large jars.
He waved her concern aside with a light heart and, seeing that the baby was awake, he leaned over her to make faces and funny sounds.
