Kaoru was pale now, but heanswered in a steady voice. “It belongs to a dead man, sir. That arrow is partof a set of contest arrows used by the late Lord of Takata’s elder brother.”
“Ah. I was sure I had seen somelike it in the Uesugi armory. It suggests that one of Uesugi’s own people shotKaibara.”
“No!”
Akitada raised his brows. “No?How else could this arrow get out of the armory?”
Kaoru looked at it as ifmesmerized. “The servants attach magic powers to … to these arrows and …there is much coming and going of servants at Takata. No doubt someone took itfrom the armory.”
“No doubt,” Akitada said dryly.“You seem well informed about the household. Have you spent much time there?”
A flush slowly rose on theother man’s face. “I did not steal the arrow, sir,” he said stiffly.
Akitada smiled. “Of course not,”he said affably. “I ask because I had hoped for information about the manor. Wewill move on Takata and demand Uesugi’s surrender today.”
“You will?” Relief gave way toexcitement. “Then the rumors are true. He will refuse to surrender and you willhave to attack the manor. May I join you, sir?”
Akitada felt depressed by theother man’s eagerness. “The bloodshed will be terrible. You would almostcertainly be killed. Besides, you are needed here.”
Kaoru bit his lip. His eyessearched Akitada’s face. Finally he said, “I could be of use. I know the manorvery well, having carried wood there all my life, ever since I was a small boyand went with my father.” He added, almost as an afterthought, “He was awoodcutter also.”
“A woodcutter, eh?” Akitadastudied the other man. “Tell me,” he asked casually, “where did you learn toread and write Chinese characters?”
“Chinese characters? I don’t…oh, you mean the jail records. I know just a few, for brevity.”
Akitada nodded. “Quite correctand appropriate for official documents. Our native tongue is more useful for poetryand the ladies’ romances. However, few people are adept at Chinese, especiallyat legal terminology, and I would guess your style is as good as Hamaya’s.Where did you learn it?”
Kaoru fidgeted. “A Buddhistpriest taught me when I was young,” he finally said.
Akitada smiled. “Really? ABuddhist priest? I see. You have a gentleman’s education and are a verytalented young man, Sergeant.”
Kaoru flushed more deeply. “Ido not lie either, sir,” he snapped.
“No, I can see that.” Akitadapaused a moment. Having enjoyed Kaoru’s discomfiture, he decided he hadtormented the young man enough. “Perhaps you would not mind drawing me a planof the manor. I am particularly interested to know if there is access by meansother than the main gate.”
Kaoru brightened. “There is oneway, sir. A hidden door and secret passage. But it will admit only a few men.”He reached for Akitada’s ink cake, poured a few drops of water in the dish andbegan to rub ink. “It’s in the northeast wall and leads to a narrow passageinside the wall. You come out in one of the closed galleries. Its purpose is toallow the lord and his family to escape, or to send out messengers if the manoris under siege.” Pulling over some paper with one hand, he dipped a brush intothe ink and began to sketch rapidly. “Here, sir. That’s where the exit is.”
Akitada bent over the plan andnodded. “Hmm. It could be just what we need. What about guards?”
“I doubt many know about it.Besides, only one man at a time can use it. There is a movable panel that canbe barred from inside.” Kaoru paused and then asked hesitantly, “Will you haveto tell many people about this, sir?”
“Don’t worry, your secret issafe. Only Tora and Hitomaro will know.”
Kaoru stared at him, butAkitada kept his face impassive. After a moment, Kaoru said, “I take it theyare to go in and then open the main gate for Takesuke’s men? I don’t think thatwill work, sir. The secret passage may not be guarded, but it is a long wayfrom the gate, and they do not know their way about. Please allow me toaccompany them.”
Akitada thought about it andnodded. “You may be right, and I suppose you are the only man for the job atthat.”
The other man blinked but saidnothing.
“Very well,” Akitada said,folding up the plan. “The four of us then.”
“Surely not you, sir? Whatabout Genba?”
“Genba has great strength andcourage, but he has never learned to use a sword. Besides, someone has to stayhere.”
“But what if something goeswrong . . . the place is crawling with warriors. Think of your lady.”
Akitada had looked in on Tamakoduring the night and watched her sleeping peacefully. The thought that theymight not meet again, and worse, that his decision would destroy her also,perhaps as soon as the following day, had sickened him. Now he glared at Kaoruand snapped, “I’m going.” Seeing Kaoru’s dismay, he added more calmly, “We willneed something to distract the soldiers’ attention.”
They sank into a glum silence.
“I think I have an idea,” Kaorusuddenly said, “but it will mean withdrawing the siege troops a little.”
“That can be arranged. Go on.”
“My grandmother is a
Akitada nodded, but his heartsank. Hitomaro’s madwoman from the outcast village. He had little respect forsuch practices, and in this case their lives would depend on Kaoru’s senilegrandmother.
Kaoru saw his expression andsaid, “My grandmother is well known at the manor. She used to serve as a lady’smaid there many years ago when she was a young girl, and she still has friendsamong the servants.”
“Surely Uesugi will not admither at the present time.”
“On the contrary. He willwelcome her because he is superstitious. If Takesuke withdraws and she shows up,he will ask for a prediction about his chances.”
“Ah.” Akitada considered it,then shook his head. “No, I cannot permit it. It would put your grandmotherinto extreme danger.”
“She won’t stay long. Besides,they will be afraid to harm her.”
“But how will she be able tocreate a disturbance, yet leave before the alarm is given?”
“She will have help. She willonly tell Uesugi his future and leave a message with one of the servants.Koreburo will take care of everything else. He could set a small fire perhaps?”
Akitada considered the drawingagain and nodded slowly. “Yes, it might work. A small conflagration with muchsmoke, easily put out. Just here, I think. Where the southern gallery makes aturn.” He pointed, then looked up. “Did you say Koreburo? Isn’t that the oldman who used to play
Kaoru nodded. “He will be eagerto help. He blames Makio and Kaibara for Hideo’s death.”
“Does he indeed? He did not sayso to me.”
Kaoru shrugged. “He’s a strangeold fellow, but he could have picked up something from the other servants. Inany case, he can be trusted.”
Akitada gave the other man along look, then nodded. “Very well. I will give detailed instructions toTakesuke before we meet. Meanwhile, you can make your arrangements.”
Kaoru rose and bowed. “Youhonor me with your confidence, sir. Allow me.” He stepped to the shutters andthrew them open, letting in a gust of cold air. There was a full moon, fitfullyrevealed by dark clouds, but in the east the darkness grew faintly lighter. “Itwill be dawn in an hour. If I leave for my village immediately and carry mygrandmother part of the way to Takata on my horse, Koreburo should be readybefore the noon rice. Shall we meet below the manor at the start of the hour ofthe horse?”
“Yes.” Akitada came and lookedat the driving clouds. “When will the great snow start? I have been expectingit for weeks.”
“Perhaps today, perhaps later.”Kaoru spoke with the indifference of a local man. “The snows will come in theirown time.” He smiled suddenly. “It will still be possible to send the news tothe capital that we have taken Takata.”
Akitada raised his brows butsaid only, “We will need a signal from inside the manor.”
“When all is ready, Koreburowill give the cry of the snow goose. If that is all, sir, I shall be on my way.”
