The soothsayer nodded, still studying Tora’s face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Your face is interesting. That forehead and chin! Hmm. And the way your ears are placed. Yes. You will have a fine future.”
Tora was pleased. “You read faces, too? I thought soothsayers only used the stalks and coins.”
The soothsayer smiled. “I’m of Korean descent and my father passed some of the old skills on to me. There is not much call for it, because few people have fortunate faces. Especially lately. Yours is the first in a long time. Most faces are ordinary, and this year too many have death written on them. I warn them, and they go to buy an amulet.” The soothsayer sighed. “As if it mattered.”
Tora was puzzled by this, but decided to stick to his purpose. “About Tomoe. Why did you give her your place?”
“She bought it. Paid me handsomely for it.”
“Did you ask her where she got the money?”
“I didn’t have to. She told me she sold her mirror, since she wouldn’t need it any more. A great pity.” He shook his head. “She was a beauty.”
Tora stared at him. “A beauty?”
“Oh, yes. The bones of the face don’t change even when disease destroys the skin. I see beyond the outer shell. She was both beautiful and good. But I could tell that she was marked by death all the same.”
“You saw that?”
“Oh, yes. About a week ago. I told her to go away, far away. She believed me, but she said she needed two more pieces of silver before the end of summer.”
“What for?”
“She didn’t say.”
Tora pondered this while the diviner rearranged his divining stalks and the three copper coins. There were two people waiting. He must hurry. “Sorry to take up your time. Just one more question. Tomoe was afraid of somebody. Do you happen to know what that was all about?”
“No. She never mentioned it.” The soothsayer looked sharply at Tora, then added, “You knew her better than I. Many bad people come to this market. One kept watching her, a tall man. He looked dangerous, like a soldier, or maybe a highway man. He had a very bad face. I don’t think she knew.”
Tora fished ten coppers out of his sash. “Well, thanks anyway.” He made a move to get up.
“What about your fortune?”
“I really came about Tomoe. Besides, you already told me about my face.”
“No. You shall have your fortune. A friend of Tomoe’s is a friend of mine. Poor people must help each other. What is your question?”
“Well then, will I find Tomoe’s killer?”
The soothsayer picked up the three copper coins and showed them to Tora. “See, they have characters on one side only. If I toss them, like this, some fall face up, some face down. Face up means it’s yin or even, with a value of two. Face down is yang, or odd, with a value of three. Added up, the first throw gives us a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. If the total adds up even, it’s a ‘yes,’ if odd, a ‘no.’ ”
Tora stared at the coins. “That’s a ‘yes,’ isn’t it?”
The soothsayer nodded and smiled.
“Good!” Tora was immensely pleased. His master had never trusted the predictions of diviners and soothsayers. It was always right to do what was needful when it was needful, he used to say, whenever someone urged postponement because the time was inauspicious or the direction of a journey was forbidden. Now Tora would not only prove him wrong, but solve a murder without his master’s help.
The soothsayer said, “I think you may have unexpected troubles on the way. You must be careful.”
Tora grinned. “Don’t worry. Nothing can happen to me. You told me I have a great future.”
The soothsayer did not return his smile. “Let’s consult the gods.” He took up his bundles of yarrow stalks, separating them and placing them in strange combinations between his fingers, then laying them down and starting the process again. Tora ventured to clear his throat.
“Don’t interrupt!” growled the soothsayer.
Tora sat, wondering what was happening and wishing he could leave.
After a long time, the soothsayer sighed and gathered up his stalks. For a long while he sat looking at Tora without speaking. Then he said, “It is good and not good. You will succeed, but terrible things will come to pass.”
“What things?”
“There will be great grief. More I cannot say.” He sighed deeply. “These are evil days for many.” He scooped up Tora’s coppers and bowed. “Be safe, Tomoe’s friend.”
CHAPTER TEN
When Akitada arrived at the ministry with the notes for his memorial to the emperor, he found the number of petitioners grown so large that they were sitting two deep along the walls of the reception hall. He stopped in dismay. It was impossible to deal with all of their petitions today unless he was given an additional staff of ten clerks. Besides, there was the draft of his memorial to the emperor. He wanted to polish and dispatch it this very day. As he stood there, considering these things, he saw that they looked even more disappointed than he felt. He wondered if he was properly dressed and checked to see if his hat was askew. He was wearing his comfortable everyday robe again. But still they whispered and looked troubled. Ah. It must be his black eye. Relieved, he smiled and said, “I’m glad to see you. Please, do not let my black eye worry you. I assure you I can read and write well enough. But there are too many of you to…”
To his surprise, one after the other of them rose, bowed, and left until there was only a handful still waiting. He shook his head and went into his office. Nakatoshi followed and closed the door.
“Why did they leave so quickly?” Akitada asked him.
“I’m not sure, sir.” Nakatoshi was also looking at Akitada’s eye. “Perhaps they left because you said there were too many.”
Akitada snorted. “If so, they are the most humble and polite group of litigants I have ever seen. Do I look particularly frightening?”
Nakatoshi flushed. “Not to me, sir.”
Akitada laughed. “The eye looks worse than it feels. Let’s get to work.” He glanced at the draft of his memorial and the stack of new paperwork beside it, rubbed his hands, and sat down behind his desk.
Soga’s desk. With his hand already extended toward the top document on the pile of ministry business, he looked up. “Any news from the minister?”
“No, sir.”
“I don’t recall signing the daily report Sakae was to prepare. What happened to that?”
“We sent only one.”
“Why only one?”
“The messenger came back with a note. We’re not to send anything else from the capital until the minister asks for it.”
“Strange.”
“Yes. There was no explanation.”
A brief silence fell while they considered Soga’s peculiar order.
“Hmm,” said Akitada finally. “Well, let’s get started on this. And then I want to see the people who are waiting. That old fellow-what was his name?-the one whose house was taken over by his nephew. Is there any news on that case?”
“Mr. Chikamura. We verified that he is indeed the owner of record and sent some constables to tell the
