Akitada hesitated. Sometimes it is better not to know too

much, and he got a distinct feeling that this was one of those

times. But he could not help himself. “You mentioned trouble

and the need to be wary. I cannot be wary if I don’t know what

the trouble is. Your visit to Sadoshima suggests that there was

serious concern about another plot against His Imperial

Majesty. I think that is what the letter alludes to when it speaks

of ‘certain matters’ and why you undertook such a long journey

in the first place. But when you arrived you found that Prince

Okisada had been poisoned by the son of the governor. Some

might wonder if this Toshito had acted on behalf of His

Majesty.”

The short man sucked in his breath sharply. They both

stared at him as if he had suddenly been transformed into

something alien, as if a field mouse had turned into a fox before

their eyes.

Then the thin man chuckled softly and said, “Bravo! That

was quite clever of you. You will do very well.”

The short man made a face. “Let us be careful,” he warned.

“Never mind. Sugawara is quite right. He will need to know

a little more. The danger of an insurrection may be over now

I s l a n d o f E x i l e s

19

that the prince is dead, but what if it is not?” He paused to pour

himself another cup of wine and drank.

“It all began three months ago when we—I refer to the pri-

vate office of the emperor—heard rumors of some trouble

between the governor of Sado Island and its chief constable. As

you may imagine, His Majesty is vitally interested in anything

which pertains to the tragic situation of his brother. It is a

pity that we are not kept better informed.” He harrumphed.

“But that is neither here nor there. We checked into the matter

and found that the quarrel was unrelated to the prince. Appar-

ently Mutobe, the governor, in a bout of ill-advised zeal, over-

stepped his powers and interfered with law enforcement on

Sadoshima.”

“Forgive me, Excellency, but I do not understand what this

has to do with the prince’s murder.”

The thin man bit his lip and exchanged a glance with his

friend. “We traveled to Sado to verify the facts.”

Akitada shook his head. “I do not think so. The journey

to Sado Island from the capital is long and dangerous. In this

instance, Your Excellencies appear to have undertaken the jour-

ney without escort and incognito. Would a minor squabble

between two provincial administrators really cause His Majesty

to send his most trusted advisors on such an assignment?”

“Look here, young man,” blustered the short visitor, “you

ask too many questions. We have explained as much as you

need to know. Now it is up to you to find out who killed the

prince and why.”

Akitada bowed. Nobody said anything for a while.

Finally the thin man sighed again. “As you know, Sadoshima

is a notorious haven for pirates who ply the ocean up and down

the coast. Not far to the north from here, our armies are fight-

ing the Ezo warlords again. With the prince on Sadoshima, you

can see what our enemies might do.”

20

I . J . P a r k e r

“You were afraid that the prince might become a hostage to

the Ezo?”

“That was one possibility,” agreed the thin man.

Akitada suddenly saw the real danger and the full dilemma

faced by his two noble visitors. The other, unspoken and un-

speakable, scenario was that Okisada himself had been negoti-

ating with the Ezo in another attempt to seize the throne.

Akitada felt a cold shiver run down his spine. The bloodshed

along the path of such an army led southward by a claimant to

the throne would be unimaginable. The people of Echigo and

his own small family would certainly be victims in such a war.

The Ezo, their hostile barbarian neighbors to the north, had

threatened the peaceful life of Japanese peasants for hundreds

of years. Recently their chieftains had submitted to the emperor

in Dewa and Mutsu Provinces, but the military strength and

expertise of these warlords had grown. They rebelled often, and

still posed a continuous threat to the nation.

“Will you accept the assignment?” asked the thin man.

Akitada bowed. “Yes, Your Excellency, provided that my do-

ing so is properly authorized by you in His Majesty’s name.”

“It is not likely that you will be told anything if you go there

in an official capacity. Much better that you travel incognito.”

Akitada said, “Perhaps I could travel as a peddler or peasant,

carrying my papers sewn into my clothing. Nobody pays atten-

tion to common people. But I must have properly authorized

documents.”

They did not like it, but the thin man finally agreed. “Let us

sleep over it. We are tired and you will wish to make prepara-

tions.” He looked at Akitada. “May I suggest that you stop shav-

ing? Otherwise you will hardly convince anyone that you are a

peasant or vagrant.”

“There is one other small problem,” Akitada said nervously.

“I have not received my salary since I arrived here with my

I s l a n d o f E x i l e s

21

family. My retainers have not been paid, though they have car-

ried out the duties of secretary of the tribunal and constabulary

officers. I have exhausted my own funds making repairs and

cannot leave my people destitute.”

They looked at him in amazement. It occurred to Akitada

that they were probably so wealthy that they would never find

themselves in his desperate situation.

The short man said, “But why did you not draw on the

provincial treasury for salaries and expenses? Everybody does.”

“I had no authorization, Excellency.”

The short man blurted, “That old law? Nobody follows that

any longer. Don’t you know anything? It boggles the mind

that—” The thin man put a restraining hand on his sleeve, and

he concluded, “Hmph. Well, do so immediately. Collect what is

owed you and enough to see your family and staff through the

next week or two. You should be back by then.”

The thin man said more gently, “These days provincial

administrators are expected to draw funds from the local treas-

ury, Sugawara. That is why they send an examining official to

settle accounts when you leave your post.” He nodded to his

companion, and they got to their feet.

“Thank you.” Akitada was not sure whether he felt more

ashamed of his ignorance or happy that his financial woes were

solved. He decided on the latter. “Allow me to offer you my

quarters,” he said in a spirit of wanting to share his good for-

tune. “They are not much, but my wife and I will do our best to

make you comfortable.”

The short man cast a glance at the patched ceiling and bro-

ken shutters of Akitada’s office. “Thank you, but we have already

taken rooms at the local inn.”

Akitada accompanied them to the front of the tribunal hall.

From the height of its veranda, they could see across the tribu-

nal walls and the roofs of the provincial capital all the way to the 22

I . J . P a r k e r

sea. On this clear day, it was just possible to make out the long

hazy outline of Sadoshima on the horizon. It seemed another

world.

In the courtyard, the constables were just finishing their

drill. When Tora, one of Akitada’s own men and their tempo-

rary lieutenant, looked up and saw them, he called the consta-

bles to attention. Arranging his cheerful face into sterner

lines, he saluted stiffly as the two noble gentlemen descended