Kobe peered at the sky. ‘Probably the first quarter of the hour of the horse.’
‘So late,’ muttered Akitada, remembering at the same time his duties as a host. ‘It’s time for the midday meal. I hope you’ll share my simple meal.’
Kobe nodded. ‘Thank you. Tora and I were quite finished discussing his adventure when you came. You have nothing to add, do you, Tora?’
Tora shook his head. ‘Only to say again that I don’t think Jirokichi’s involved. I think he stumbled on the arson by accident.’
‘Perhaps,’ Kobe said. ‘We must find the fellow. I’ll have his girlfriend brought in.’
‘She promised to talk to me,’ Akitada said. ‘I never got back.’
Tora said, ‘You must’ve laid it on thick, sir. She wouldn’t give me so much as a comment on the weather when I talked to her.’
‘I told her you were at death’s door after saving this Jirokichi’s miserable life.’
Tora snorted. ‘Well, I’d better go feed my son.’ He bowed to Kobe and walked away. Akitada was relieved that he looked much better.
He and Kobe went to Akitada’s study, where Seimei waited with a tray holding wine and cups. ‘Will you want refreshments, sir?’ he asked Akitada.
‘The superintendent reminds me that it’s time for the midday rice. Have cook send us something.’
After Seimei left, they looked at each other in silence for a moment.
‘You had a close call,’ Kobe finally said.
‘Yes. I’m not sure Demon and I would have survived, if Genba and your men had not come when they did. The water was nearly to my head.’
Kobe raised an eyebrow. ‘Demon?’
Akitada chuckled. ‘There was a rat in the pit. He perched on my shoulder when the water rose.’
‘Dear heaven.’
‘He gave me courage. Did you find the youngster I was chasing?’
Kobe shook his head. ‘I’ve put more men on it. They’re systematically combing that part of the city. Tora says he’s one of the arsonists.’
‘Perhaps, but he was not with the others when they tortured that poor little thief.’
Kobe grimaced. ‘Jirokichi. They call him the Rat. You have a fondness for rats, it seems. He has a reputation, that one. It’s surprising that he was tortured by a gang. Thieves generally protect each other.’
‘Tora says Jirokichi works alone, and those juveniles were bent on revenge for an earlier incident. What is strange is that one gang apparently turned on the other to set him free. I think it means those boys work outside the organization. You found the evidence of arson in the warehouse?’
Kobe nodded. ‘So far, the older men and the girl haven’t talked, but I’ve postponed serious questioning until I can be there. We’re still rounding up all the street boys in the area.’
‘It struck me as significant that the gang freed Jirokichi and then let the young devils run. Perhaps one of the gang has a relative among the arsonists.’
‘Perhaps. But the protection racket run by the organization has been threatened by the fires. Merchants stop paying if their shops burn anyway.’
They sat in silence, pondering this, until Seimei and Tamako’s maid brought in trays of food. There was rice, a vegetable dish, fried bean curd, and pickled melon.
Akitada was hungry and ate with relish, but Kobe only picked at his food. He said suddenly, ‘Do you think the fires have a political purpose, that they are directed at Michinaga and his sons?’
‘Yes. But it’s hardly something I can meddle in.’
Kobe sighed. ‘I have to meddle in it, and I’m no more fit to face the consequences than you.’
‘I know. But you must inform Chancellor Yorimichi, at any rate. Can you talk about your investigation of the Kiyowara murder?’
‘Yes.’ Kobe speared some melon with a chopstick and chewed. ‘As I said, the suspicion falls on the son. He was overheard quarreling with his father. When we asked him about that, he was evasive and looked frightened. So far his mother has protected him, and word has come down from the chancellor’s office to handle the family gently.’ Kobe grunted his disgust.
‘What about the weapon?’
‘No sign of it, but we could not very well search the mother’s pavilion. Whatever it was, it crushed the skull in several places. Most of the damage was to the front of the head. You would think Kiyowara would have defended himself against the attack, but perhaps the first blow was unexpected and struck with great strength. A man, even a young man, could deliver such blows in anger. And he kept striking after his father was down.’
Akitada tried to imagine Katsumi in a violent rage and failed.
Kobe asked, ‘What will you do about the case?’
‘I cannot return to the residence, but mean to talk to the major-domo again. He lives outside. I’ll let you know if there is any new information.’
Kobe pushed his bowl aside. It was still half full. ‘Well, I’d better go and arrest the son.’
Akitada said quickly, ‘Don’t! There might be another explanation. Let me ask a few more questions.’
‘Very well, but it cannot wait much longer. I’ll be following up the business of the arsonists until I hear from you.’
Akitada reached across his desk and opened a small box, taking from it Tora’s amulet. ‘Tora found this in the street after he collided with one of the young rascals. I believe it may belong to the youth Tojiro.’ He waited until Kobe had opened the pouch and looked at the amulet inside. ‘I want to know more about that boy who looks like Katsumi. This is a religious object. I’ll start with Abbot Shokan, I think. He has lost an acolyte and has been suppressing information.’
Kobe reinserted the amulet and handed it back to Akitada. He frowned. ‘Do you think this Tojiro is related to the Kiyowaras or that he is the abbot’s missing lover? You can’t have it both ways.’
Yes, that was the problem. Back in the pit, with Demon perching on his shoulder, it had seemed entirely feasible. Akitada said evasively, ‘I wish I knew. Perhaps it’s a family keepsake. And Tojiro keeps appearing in both cases.’
Kobe gestured towards the amulet. ‘You have only that amulet and a vague resemblance to young Kiyowara. It seems farfetched.’
‘Yes. I had not meant to tell you this much.’
Kobe chuckled and got up. ‘Well, let me know what happens. It’s time I went to see what our prisoners have to say for themselves.’
THE SANDALWOOD TREE
It rained off and on throughout the day, but Akitada enjoyed the excursion. He was finally back on his own horse. The animal was his single weakness for luxury, and he had steadfastly turned down astonishing offers for it from wealthy and powerful men.
Besides, the rain had cleansed the air over the capital, which had been heavy with the stench of smoke and wet rubble for weeks. In the country, the farmers tended their fields, opening sluices to control the abundance of water that had gathered in ditches and holding ponds. The crops looked green and healthy.
Later, in the forest, dripping branches released their moisture in a sibilant cadence, and small birds groomed themselves among the wet branches.
Abbot Shokan received Akitada eagerly. ‘You’ve found him,’ he cried. ‘I knew it. If anyone could, it would be you. Come, come. Sit and tell me. Did you bring him back with you? But no, they would have told me. When will he return?’
Akitada sat, waiting out the effusion. Perhaps his lighter mood had shown in his face. He rearranged his expression. ‘I am very sorry to disappoint Your Reverence, but if I have found your acolyte, I have misplaced him again.’
Shokan’s face fell. ‘What can you mean?’
