Akitada sat up. “Really? The master? An old man with a very long white beard and long hair?”
“You’ve met him, sir? Very impressive. Amazing how educated those mountain priests are. He spoke as well as anyone I ever met, sir. And so does Kaoru, now I think of it.”
Akitada raised his brows. “A well-spoken woodcutter? You surprise me. And the
“He thought I was a fugitive looking for sanctuary. It seems he has told the outcasts to take in anyone who’s in trouble with the law. That could account for Uesugi’s hatred of them. They had some toothless deserter hiding there who assaulted one of their women andg ot his arm broken for it. They don’t want him, but the
Akitada’s brows contracted in an angry scowl. “Things have gone far in this godforsaken province. Not only am I prevented from upholding the law, but there is a conspiracy afoot to harbor criminals right under our nose.” He fell into a gloomy abstraction. “Worse and worse!” he muttered. “The Uesugi govern, the merchants are gangster bosses, and outcasts hide all those criminals who are not already protected by the other two factions. Where does that leave us?”
“Out in the cold,” quipped Tora, opening a shutter and peering up at the sky. A blast of freezing air blew in.
“Close that,” Akitada snapped, “and pay attention!”
“Things may not be as hopeless as they seem, sir,” Hitomaro said. “I think the outcasts are fighting the Uesugi in their own way. And I’ve found them very decent people. They not only took care of me, but they also tend to a madwoman there. Spooky creature. She’s Kaoru’s grandmother and a soothsayer. She kept looking at me and babbling about blood and murder.”
Akitada said grudgingly, “Well,we are in their debt for helping you, in any case.”
“And none of the smalltradesmen will have anything to do with Sunada.”
Akitada sighed. “Yes, that is good. I must be patient.”
“What about Kaoru, sir?”Hitomaro asked.
“When he comes, bring him to me. At least he’s not likely to be working for Uesugi. If he is moderatelyintelligent and does not help our prisoners to escape, you may train him toreplace that rascal Chobei. Now you had both better get on with preparationsfor our first court session.”
“Sir?” Hitomaro avoided Akitada’seyes. “May I have a few hours off this afternoon? It, er, concerns the outcasts.”
Akitada opened his mouth to ask for details but, thinking better of it, he nodded. His lieutenants left.
As soon as they were gone,Seimei came in. He gave Akitada an anxious look and asked, “How about a nicecup of herbal tea, sir? I know you don’t like the taste, but I found some honey.”
“No need, Seimei. I feel much better, but if you are free, there is some work.”
For the next hour they drafted the notices to be posted around town, set the clerks to work copying them,prepared a list of witnesses Akitada wanted called, and wrote instructions about the arrangements for the hearing. When they were done, Seimei left to get matters organized.
At midday one of the junior clerks brought Akitada a bowl of rice gruel and some pickled vegetables. He ate hungrily and took another of Oyoshi’s pills with the wine. For the first time in days his stomach felt pleasantly full, and a general sensation of well-being pervaded his body.
After his meal, he just sat quietly, savoring the return of his health. He found he was once again looking forward to the challenges ahead. Now that he had begun to take action, he felt confident of establishing control over the province. The hearing on Sato’s murder would be the first step. He would show the local people how things were supposed to be done. And Uesugi was little more than a silly, posturing borderlord. Only the distance from the capital and the venality of past governors hadkept him in power. His good times were over.
Into this euphoria walked Judge Hisamatsu. Announced by Hamaya, he entered, bowed stiffly, and took the seat offered by Akitada.
“Your visit is very welcome,”Akitada said with a smile. “I have wanted to greet you officially, Hisamatsu.As you may have heard, my own background is also in law. May I ask when you attended the university?”
Hisamatsu, who had been glowering, gulped. “Ah, quite a few years ago, Excellency. I don’t believe wecould have met,” he said frostily.
“No, perhaps not. Do you recall the names of any of your law professors?”
Hisamatsu waved this away. “Names.What are names? But I shall never forget their teachings. Their wisdom is with me every day.”
“Ah, no doubt you studied under Ogata, then.”
Hisamatsu hesitated just a fraction, then said, “Of course. What a legal scholar!”
Satisfied that Hisamatsu had not attended the imperial university, which had never had anyone by the name Ogata teaching there, Akitada relaxed. “This province seems backward in many ways. No doubt there is much lawlessness and you are kept very busy.”
Hisamatsu gave a small laugh. “Oh,yes. Very busy. I earn my salary many times over.”
Akitada nodded and looked thoughtful. “I was afraid of that. I, on the other hand, seem to have few cases to occupy my time.”
Too late Hisamatsu saw the trap. “Oh, I am perfectly capable of handling the caseload, Excellency. And that brings me to the matter I wished to discuss.”
Akitada faked surprise. “Forgive me. I misunderstood your purpose. I thought this was merely a courtesy visit.”
Hisamatsu flushed. “Yes, yes.That, and, well, it has come to my attention-just today, as a matter offact-that your Excellency has taken an interest in a minor case of mine.”
“I cannot imagine what you mean.”
“The murder of a local innkeeper?”
Akitada chuckled. “I see. Youwere joking. A minor case? Very funny. Well, actually, it looked interesting to me. Complicated. I rather enjoy complicated cases, don’t you?”
Hisamatsu blustered, “Your pardon, Excellency, but you must have been misinformed. The case is very simple and straightforward. We have the culprits in jail. They have confessed. Allthat is left is for me to pronounce sentence.”
“Ah, Hisamatsu, I thought perhaps you had jumped to conclusions there. A good thing I checked into it. We can’t have a miscarriage of justice at the beginning of my tenure here, you know. How would it look? The people have a right to be reassured that they can place their trust in their new governor.”
Hisamatsu was becoming angry. “Miscarriageof justice? I fail to see how you can charge such a thing. Confessions,Excellency. We got confessions. Really, I do not understand what all the fussis about. It will be very much better if you just let the law take its course.”
“Better for whom, Hisamatsu?”
“Why, for everyone. Justice must be served. The victim demands it. The widow demands it. The people of this province demand it.”
“What about the accused? You have arrested three men. Shall they be given justice? No, no, Hisamatsu. In this case due process has not been served. Only two of the men have confessed,and then after the most brutal beatings. I myself have seen their wounds. I trust you are familiar with the regulations pertaining to torture of prisoners?”
Hisamatsu looked startled. “If those constables have exceeded their duty, I shall certainly have them punished.” He paused. “But this will make no difference, for the accused will repeat their confessions in my court. The evidence is clear.”
“Possibly Okano and Umeharawill do so. They are as timid as mice. But Takagi will not confess. In any case, you are not ready to hear the case. You have yet to check the three men’s testimony.”
“Check what?” yelped Hisamatsu.“They confessed. They had the gold and the knife. And Takagi is retarded. Youdon’t expect a brute like that to cooperate right away?”
“The law states that you must have confessions to find men guilty.”
“Trust me, Takagi will confess.”
Akitada said dryly, “Yes, I suppose you will find a way. But your way is not mine. And I will investigate the case myself.”
