theincident at our gate.”
Hitomaro’s face fell.
“You did very well,” Akitadasaid consolingly. “What did you think of the garrison?”
“Very lax discipline, sir. Noguards at the gate, soldiers gambling and drinking, and I walked in on thecommandant making love to one of his men in the middle of the day.”
“I would not put too muchimportance on Takesuke’s sexual preferences,” Akitada said. “Such things are commonamongst warriors. Garrison life breeds familiarity. But if Takesuke supportsUesugi, the lack of discipline may be good news for us.”
Hitomaro nodded. “I thought I’dtalk to the judge next. Undercover.”
Akitada raised his brows. “Ithought you had met.”
“It was pretty dark and I don’tthink he bothered to look at me. Chobei, of course, could be a problem.”
“Well, good luck. Be carefulwhat you say to him. We don’t want to alarm our enemy yet.”
Hitomaro returned to hisquarters to change. He put on a plain dark blue gown of the type any scribe orstudent might wear and tucked a small black cap in his sleeve. After a moment’sthought, he removed a small package from a spare pair of boots and placed it inthe other sleeve. Then he put on his straw cape, hat, and boots again, and wentto saddle his horse.
Bythe time he approached the thatched gate of the judge’s country house, theweather had turned bitterly cold. The sleeting had stopped, but now a sharpwind pushed the gray clouds across the sky at great speed, tossing the barebranches of the willows beside Hisamatsu’s villa and cutting like ice needlesthrough Hitomaro’s light clothes. He knocked at the gate with his fist.
It creaked open slowly. An oldman peered out, grumbling irritably when he saw the horseman.
“Is your master at home?”Hitomaro asked.
“The maids are out, the boy’sout, the groom and Mr. Chobei are visiting West village, but me and the masterare in.”
It could not be better.Hitomaro smiled at the grumpy servant, who opened the gate fractionally wider.Hitomaro rode into a dirt courtyard. The villa, a one-story house thatched in arustic manner, had five or six outbuildings and storehouses. The old servantled the way to the main house where Hitomaro dismounted and tied his horse to apost. In the entryway, he shed his wet straw cape and boots and put on hisblack cap.
“Tell your master,’’ he said, “thatI’m a student and have come from afar to make the judge’s acquaintance.”
The old man grunted and tookhim to a spacious room. It was dark because the shutters had been closedagainst the weather, but he lit a few rush lights, which provided meagerillumination. Shelves filled with books and papers sprang into being, but thelight was too feeble to reach them. Hitomaro was about to take a closer lookwhen a door squeaked behind him. He swung around and found himself facing thejudge.
“I am Hisamatsu,” the judgeannounced in a nasal voice, enunciating every syllable carefully. He blinked athis guest. “Who are you?”
Hitomaro bowed deeply and said,“It is a great pleasure to meet your Honor at long last. The fame of youraccomplishments has reached far, and since I am visiting this province, Istopped to pay my respects and perhaps benefit from your wisdom. My name isHitomaro.”
The judge came a little closerand peered at him nearsightedly. “Family name?” he demanded.
“Saga, your Honor. From Izumiprovince.”
“Really? A fine family.”Hisamatsu thawed. His round face broke into a smile. “You have come tocongratulate me, no doubt. Please sit down!”
Hitomaro obeyed.
The judge lowered his stoutfigure with a grimace, clapped his hands for the servant, and ordered wine andfood. The old man glared at him, then shuffled out, muttering under his breath.
“Forgive these rustic mannersand surroundings,” Hisamatsu said, frowning after the servant. “I have not yetmoved into my official residence.”
Hitomaro looked around. “Youare too modest. Surely this is a charming and delightful retreat for a scholar.”
“Scholar?” His host glanced atthe room vaguely. “Oh. You refer to my former work. I retired recently from aposition as district judge. No time for that sort of thing now. As adviser tothe Lord of Takata I can hardly worry about local crime. No, no.”
“Advisor to the Lord of Takata?Surely your talents lie in the legal field, your Honor.”
Hisamatsu pursed thin lips. “Youngman, you cannot possibly know all my talents, as you call them. As a judge I amperfectly trained to formulate and administer laws, and for someone with visionthere are no limits in government. The Lord of Takata is expanding histerritories into Dewa province. In fact, the establishment of a northern empireis not out of the question. His Lordship relies on me for advice on the mostconfidential matters of state. Keep this to yourself, but I expect officialappointment soon and will then take over the local administration.” FixingHitomaro with a sudden suspicious stare, he asked, “Is this not what broughtyou here in the first place? News of our august leader has surely spread toIzumi province.”
This sounded so patently mad ittook Hitomaro’s breath away. The girl in the market had been right. He put onan apologetic expression and bowed deeply. “Forgive me, Excellency,” hestammered. “We have indeed heard rumors. I should have offered my humblefelicitations right away but thought it wiser not to speak of it. Besides, Ihave always aspired to be a great judge like you and could not help thinkingthat your elevation must be a great loss to jurisprudence. Your children mustbe very proud of their father.”
“I have no children. Cannotabide them.” Hisamatsu was appeased by the flattery. “So you wish to be ajudge? Let me tell you, there’s no advantage in it. Any upstart court officialcan order you about.” He nodded for emphasis. “But true genius rises above thecommon run of things. I’m afraid my own nature is quite different from yours.”
Hitomaro sincerely hoped so. “Icould never compare myself to a great mind like yours,” he said. “Indeed, Ifeel that I am in the presence of an intellect like that of… of MasterConfucius. In your presence I am ashamed of my lack of education. I managed toqualify for the imperial university in the capital, but family mattersprevented my going. Now the best I can hope for is to become a tutor tomerchants’ sons.”
A brief silence fell. Hisamatsucontinued to stare at him. “You qualified for the imperial university, you say?”he finally asked. “And you are looking for work?”
Hitomaro bowed humbly.
“People become rather touchinglydependent on someone like me,” Hisamatsu said. “It pleases me to help thembetter their lot in life. Perhaps you could assist me. Mind you, I expectcomplete loyalty, and no doubt you have much to learn.” He sighed. “But Isuppose we must expect to train our future officials.”
Hitomaro expressed himselfoverwhelmed with gratitude and then pointed to the books on the shelves. “Isthat a complete set of the Chinese masters, I see?” he asked. “I’m afraid,Excellency, my Chinese is not fluent.”
Hisamatsu waved the objectionaway with a pudgy hand. “Never mind that. I don’t bother with Chinese. Thelocals are not able to grasp it. Those are translations.”
“In that case, how soon may Istart? I hope with your guidance …”
Hisamatsu interrupted, “I am avery busy man. But come tomorrow anyway. No sense in wasting time.” He lookedat the door.
Recognizing dismissal, Hitomaro made several deep bows and murmured, “Thank you, Excellency. I am most gratefulfor the opportunity,” as he backed out of the room.
He almost fell over the old mancrouching in the dark hallway.
“I’m leaving,” he told theservant, unnecessarily since he had clearly been eavesdropping.
The servant scowled. “Yourhorse is in the stable. Get it yourself. Do you think I have nothing better todo than wait on every fellow who calls?”
“I suppose,” Hitomaro said, “yourmaster has many visitors since he has become such an important person.”
“Pah,” said the old man.
“Looking after all thoseimportant guests must be a chore for an elderly person like yourself. I assumethey stay here? Perhaps even families with children?”
“Are you mad? He hateschildren, and nobody stays here. What is it to you?”
