samurai to kill peasants on a whim.
Magistrate Ueda nodded in grim disapproval. “After the third fatal brawl, I reprimanded Kumashiro.” This was the usual penalty for samurai whose misdeeds became too numerous for social acceptability. “’Kumashiro promised to control himself, yet his behavior only grew worse. He started attacking prostitutes at illegal brothels. He beat two of them to death and strangled a third.
“By then, I’d decided that Kumashiro had grossly violated honor and was a menace to the public. I imprisoned him and charged him with multiple murder. He would have been put to death, but his clan, who are prominent Tokugawa vassals, negotiated a deal with the shogun. In exchange for paying a large fine, Kumashiro would enter a monastery as the only punishment for the deaths he caused.” He shook his head regretfully. “So he’s joined the Black Lotus sect, hmm?”
“He’s chief security officer and second-in-command to the high priest,” Reiko said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he has continued his old ways,” said the magistrate.
Nor would Reiko, after witnessing his brutality toward Haru. He seemed a much likelier murder suspect than the orphan girl. Surely now Sano would agree that Kumashiro merited investigation.
“What about the others?” Reiko asked.
“The name Miwa strikes my memory. I believe the doctor has appeared in my court.” The magistrate rose, walked to a bookshelf, removed a ledger, and turned pages. “Yes, indeed. Here is the record of his trial, six years ago. Dr. Miwa was arrested for peddling rhinoceros-horn pills that were actually pebbles coated with gray paint and minced cat hair. Ordinarily this sort of fraud calls for death by decapitation, but since no one was hurt and it was Miwa’s first offense, I ordered him to return his customers’ money or spend a month in jail.”
He scanned the record, then said, “That’s interesting: my chief clerk has made a note that Dr. Miwa was destitute and went to jail until a priest named Anraku repaid the customers and freed Miwa.”
So that was how Miwa and Anraku had joined forces, Reiko thought. She interpreted the doctor’s criminal record as evidence of his shady character. He, too, warranted more investigation. “Have you ever met Abbess Junketsu-in?”
“I do not recall that I have.” Magistrate Ueda perused an index of criminals and shook his head. “She does not appear here, at least not under her religious name.” Upon entering a convent, women often took new names that ended with -in. “However, she may have a record under her previous one. What is she like?”
Reiko described Junketsu-in’s inappropriate appearance and manner.
“Perhaps her history lies in trade with men,” said the magistrate. After considerable time spent searching other ledgers for records containing mention of the Black Lotus, he said, “Ah. This is it. Eight years ago, a courtesan named Iris was brought before me. She and another courtesan were rivals for the favor of the same wealthy client. Iris physically attacked the other courtesan. I sentenced Iris to a flogging.
“And my clerk has again made a note on the record. Shortly after Iris returned to the pleasure quarter, a priest named Anraku discharged her debts and bought her freedom.” Women sold into prostitution paid off their purchase price with their earnings, but since they also had to pay for their keep, they seldom gained liberty unless a wealthy patron interceded. “She joined his temple and took the name Junketsu-in.”
“Then all three Black Lotus members have dark pasts,” Reiko said, especially intrigued by the discovery of Junketsu-in’s violence toward a woman. Could the abbess have strangled the female victim? Had she beaten and tried to murder Haru, whom she so obviously disliked?
After turning more pages, Magistrate Ueda said, “There are no records for High Priest Anraku.”
“Such valuable information on three out of four suspects is more than I expected. Thank you for your help, Father.” Reiko hid her disappointment. That Anraku recruited criminals into the Black Lotus spoke ill of his character; that his followers seemed determined to keep her away from him aroused Reiko’s suspicions. Reiko had to learn more about him, but how?
Then inspiration struck. She knew two people who might be able to help. She would visit them today.
“Daughter.” Magistrate Ueda regarded her with somber scrutiny. “I am worried about the use that you intend to make of the information I’ve given you. Religion may have reformed these criminals, but if that’s not the case, then they could be dangerous. Give the information to your husband and let him deal with them.”
“I will,” Reiko said, wanting to reassure her father, yet determined to take matters into her own hands if necessary.
She bid Magistrate Ueda farewell, then looked in on Haru. The girl was fast asleep, a guard stationed outside her door. Would that she proved to be as innocent as she looked! Reiko left the mansion. As she rode in her palanquin toward Edo Castle, she wondered how Sano’s investigation into the sect was going.
13
The multitudes shall abandon their lands,
They shall come on purpose to this place.
Here lotus blossoms adorn a clear pond,
jeweled trees burn bright in the darkness of night.
– FROM THE BLACK LOTUS SUTRA
The rain had ceased by the time Sano arrived at the Black Lotus Temple. Sunlight sparkled in puddles along the central path where Sano walked. Worshippers strolled; children ran and laughed. The colors of their clothing, the dripping foliage, and the patches of blue sky among the fleeing clouds were bright in the clean, fresh air.
A priest who’d escorted Sano during his inquiries on the morning after the fire greeted him outside the main hall. “Greetings, Sosakan-sama. I am at your service.”
“Thank you, but I’d like to explore the temple on my own today,” Sano said.
The priest said, “Very well,” bowed, and departed.
So much for Reiko’s claim that the sect was trying to restrict the investigation, Sano thought. He walked to the novices’ quarters. These were secluded, but looked ordinary and well kept. From inside came the sound of youthful voices, chanting: “I offer gratitude to the god of the world, the god of thunder, the god of the sun, the god of the moon, the god of the stars, and all other deities who protect the followers of the Black Lotus Sutra. I praise the supreme truth hidden in the Black Lotus Sutra and give thanks for the benefits I have received. I offer praise and deepest gratitude to High Priest Anraku, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Power. I pray for spiritual enlightenment, to erase the negative karma created by my past actions, and to fulfill my wishes in this life and in the future. I pray for the truth of the Black Lotus Sutra to bring nirvana to all mankind.”
The chanting gave way to chatter. A priest greeted Sano at the door.
“I’d like to speak with the novice monks,” Sano said.
“Certainly,” the priest said. “It’s time for our noon meal. Will you please join us?”
A noisy crowd of youths ranging from early teens to mid twenties, all sporting muslin robes, swarmed out of the building. They knelt on the veranda. When Sano introduced himself, they studied him curiously. He noted their rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and healthy bodies. Servants brought out the meal. Tasting his share, Sano found the fresh vegetables and noodle soup delicious.
“Are you happy here?” he asked the novices seated nearest him.
Amid chewing, bulging cheeks and cheerful smiles, they chorused, “Yes, master.”
Sano noticed that the priest had vanished, leaving him alone with the novices. “Tell me how you spend your days.”
An adolescent with a pointed face said, “We get up at sunrise and pray. Then we have our morning meal.”
“We clean our rooms,” offered a muscular youth of perhaps twenty years. “The priests teach us religion until noon, when we eat again.”
“Is the food always like this?” Sano asked.
“We get rice and fish and eggs and pickles and fruit, too.”
Other novices chimed in: “We get to play for an hour, then we study until dinner.” “Afterward, we take baths.” “At sunset, we have prayers.” “Then we go to bed.”
