TAIKO: AN EPIC NOVEL OF WAR AND GLORY IN FEUDAL JAPAN

Nobunaga repeated this over and over, but he doubted that he himself had that abil­ity, which certainly had nothing to do with strategy, tactics, or authority.

'You're certainly up early this morning, my lord. You can see what we have done to the castle wall.'

Nobunaga looked down at his feet and there was Tokichiro, already kneeling with both hands pressed to the ground.

'Monkey?' Nobunaga burst out laughing. He had just now seen Tokichiro's face, which, after three days and nights without sleep, looked as if it were covered with a

half-dried, rough plaster coat. His eyes were bloodshot and his clothes were smeared with mud.

Nobunaga laughed again, but quickly felt sorry for the man and said seriously, 'You've done well. You must be sleepy. You'd better sleep for an entire day.'

'Thank you very much.' Tokichiro basked in the praise. To be told that he could sleep all day to his heart's content, when the province itself did not have a day of rest, the greatest praise of all, Tokichiro thought as tears soaked his drooping eyelids. Even as he felt such satisfaction, however, he added, 'I have a request, my lord.'

'What is it?'

'A reward,' Tokichiro said clearly, startling the attendants. Wouldn't this alter Nobunaga's rare good mood? They were concerned for Tokichiro.

'What do you want?'

'Money.'

'A lot?'

'No, just a little.'

'Is it for you?'

'No.' Tokichiro pointed in the direction of the moat. 'I'm not the one who did the construction. I would like just enough to divide among the workers over there, who are so tired they've fallen asleep.'

'Speak to the keeper of the accounts and take as much as you need. But I should do something to reward you, too. How much is your stipend now?'

'I receive thirty kan'

'Is that all?'

'It's more than I deserve, my lord.'

'I'll raise it to one hundred kan, move you to the spearmen's regiment, and put you in charge of thirty foot soldiers.'

Tokichiro remained silent. Strictly in terms of the office, the positions of overseeing charcoal and firewood and overseer of building works were reserved for high-rank samurai. But the blood of youth ran through Tokichiro's veins, and it had naturally been his hope for a number of years to see active service with the archers' regiment or the musketeers. Being in charge of thirty foot soldiers was the lowest rank of troop leader among the commanders. But it was a job that pleased him far more than being in charge of stables or the kitchen.

He was so happy that he forgot discretion for the moment, and spoke thoughtlessly with the same mouth that had been so courteous before. 'While I was working on the construction, there was something I was constantiy thinking about. The water supply in this castle is poor, no matter how you look at it. If the castle were besieged, drinking water would be lacking, and in a short while the moat would dry up. If something were to happen, the castle would only be good for making a sortie. But in the case of an attack by army that had no chance of victory in the field…'

Looking off to the side, Nobunaga pretended not to hear. But Tokichiro was not going to stop halfway. 'I've always thought that Mount Komaki was far superior to Kjyosu both in terms of water supply and in terms of attack and defense. I would like suggest strongly that you move from Kiyosu to Mount Komaki, my lord.'

At this suggestion, Nobunaga glared at him and barked, 'Monkey, that's enough! You're getting carried away. Go away and sleep right now!'

'Yes, my lord.' Tokichiro shrugged. I've learned a lesson, he thought. Failure is easy under favorable circumstances. One should be rebuked when he's in a good mood. I'm still not experienced enough. I let my happiness get the better of me, and went too far. I have to admit I'm still inexperienced.

After he had distributed the reward to the workers, he still did not go home to sleep, but rather walked around the castle town alone. In his heart, he could see the figure of Nene, whom he had not met for some time.

I wonder what she's been doing recently? As soon as he thought of Nene, he began to worry keenly about his self-sacrificing and obstinate friend, Inuchiyo, who had left the province and turned Nene's love over to him. Since Tokichiro had served the Oda clan, the only one to whom he had opened up his heart in friendship was Inuchiyo.

I'll bet he stopped in at Nene's house. Having to leave the province as a ronin, he wouldn't know when he would be able to see her again. No doubt he said something to her before he left, Tokichiro thought. To tell the truth, more than love or food, Tokichiro needed sleep right now. But when he thought about Inuchiyo's friendship, courage, and loyalty, he couldn't just sleep.

One true man will recognize another. So why did Nobunaga not recognize Inuchiyo's true value? Yamabuchi Ukon's treachery was known for some time, at least by Inuchiyo and Tokichiro. He could not figure out why Nobunaga was not aware of this, and he wondered with displeasure why Inuchiyo, who had wounded Ukon, was being punished.

Well, he said to himself, maybe it was punishment, or maybe banishing him was re­ally an expression of Nobunaga's love. When I spoke thoughtlessly, with a know-it-all face, I got a good rap from him. I have to admit that talking about the poor water supply and advocating a move to Komaki in front of the other retainers was bad manners, he thought as he walked around the town. He was not ill, but periodically he felt as though the earth were moving beneath him. In his sleepless state, the autumn sun seemed horri­bly bright.

When he saw Mataemon's house in the distance, it seemed as though his drowsiness had been shaken off; breaking into a laugh, he hurried his step.

'Nene! Nene!' he shouted. This was the residential quarter of the archers, and not an area of imposing roofed gates and mansions. The small, snug samurai houses with their neat front gardens and brushwood fences were lined up peacefully in rows.

It was Tokichiro's habit to speak in a loud voice, and when he unexpectedly spied the figure of his sweetheart, whom he had not seen for some time, he waved and hurried along with unfeigned emotion. So much so that every house in the neighborhood must have wondered what was happening. Nene turned around, her white face showing open surprise.

Love was supposed to be a well-kept secret. But when someone calls out so loudly that all the neighborhood windows open, and even her mother and father hear inside the house, it's only natural that a young girl would be embarrassed. Nene had been standing in front of the gate, staring vacantly at the autumn sky. But hearing Tokichiro's voice, her face turned bright red and she hid, trembling, inside the gate.

'Nene! It's me, Tokichiro!' At this point, Tokichiro raised his voice even higher, and ran up to her. 'I'm sorry to have neglected you. I've been very busy with my duties.'

Nene was half-hidden inside the gate, but since he had already greeted her, she bowed gracefully through necessity. 'Your health should come first,' she said.

'Is your father at home?' he asked.

'No, he's out.'

Rather than inviting him in, she stepped back a little.

'Well, if Master Mataemon is out…' Tokichiro quickly realized how she might be embarrassed. 'Then I'd better leave.'

Nene nodded as though this was what she wanted, too.

'I just came to ask if Inuchiyo had dropped by.'

'No, he hasn't.' Nene shook her head, but the blood rushed to her face.

'He came, didn't he?'

'No.'

'Really?'

Watching the red dragonflies flit about, Tokichiro was lost in thought for a moment. 'He didn't show up at