fully counted out. He decided against a visit to the bathhouse to
get some relief for his itching body. If he did not catch Wada
tonight, his chances would rapidly disappear.
Turtle made his appearance late in the day, about the
time when appetizing smells wafted from Oyoshi’s cooking
pots. Since Tora planned to visit every low dive in town and
thought his fine new uniform too good for what might happen,
he was changing into a plain dark robe when Turtle appeared
in his door.
“Where have you been?” Tora demanded. “I thought you
were going to be my servant.”
“Sorry, master. I was working for you all morning. Had to
advance my own money to get some information.”
Tora looked at him suspiciously. “What information?”
“Nobody has seen Master Wada anywhere.”
Tora grabbed Turtle by the neck and shook him. “You
crook,” he cried. “You think I’ll pay for that kind of news? You’re fired.” He pushed the small man away in disgust.
“No, no. Wait. There’s more. Today he sent a message to old
Motoko.”
“Who’s old Motoko?”
“She keeps whores and makes assignations.”
“Ah.” Tora felt a thrill of satisfaction. “So the bastard is at it
again. Do you know what he plans to do?”
Turtle shook his head regretfully. “Motoko won’t talk to me.
We’re competition.”
“Well, I was going to look for him tonight anyway. I’ll stop
by the Golden Phoenix again. Maybe this new girl is as big a fool
as Little Flower.”
“I can find out for you,” wheedled Turtle.
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311
“Can you? Good. Do it.”
Turtle’s face fell. “You mean now? Before I eat? And aren’t
you going to pay me what you owe?”
“If you’re quick about it, there’ll be some food left. What do
I owe you?”
Turtle mentioned a reasonable amount, and Tora paid.
Turtle looked at the coppers in his hand thoughtfully and said,
“You know, sometimes it costs more. For example, the Golden
Phoenix is very expensive.”
Tora snapped, “I don’t expect you to go there as a paying
customer. If you have any brains, you should be able to
ask one of the waiters or servants if the Willow Cottage is still
available.”
Before leaving his room, Tora gave his half armor, the hel-
met, and the long sword a longing glance, but he settled for his
short sword, tucked out of sight under the loose jacket.
As before, he sat down to dinner with Oyoshi’s family. Turtle
was not back, but his sister had laid a cushion for him. There
was, however, another guest tonight. Little Flower, dressed more
modestly and without paint on her face, knelt next to Oyoshi,
ostensibly to help with the children.
Tora saw her with a slight panic, but approved of her ap-
pearance and told her so. She blushed and smiled shyly. He was
struck by how much she resembled the young women with
whom he usually flirted and he smiled at her.
“You look very handsome also,” she murmured, encouraged
by his compliment. “Why are you not wearing your uniform
tonight?”
Her question reminded Tora of his failed efforts with Wada
and he became glum again. “I don’t know what I’ll get into
tonight,” he said grimly. “Better not ruin the uniform. Some
people have no respect for an honest military man.”
Instantly she looked alarmed. “What are you going to do?”
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Tora was touched by her concern, but thought it best to
sound manly and determined. “I’m going to get that bastard
Wada tonight. If I have to, I’ll fight him, his constables, and the local guard to find my master.”
“Oh, no! You’ll get yourself killed,” she moaned, turning
quite pale.
“Well,” he snapped, hurt by her lack of confidence, “since
you’re in no shape to set the bastard up for me, I’ll have to get
him any way I can.”
Little Flower gave a small sob and ran from the room.
Oyoshi said reprovingly, “You shouldn’t tease her so. She’s
fallen in love with you.”
Tora stared at her. “She hardly knows me. Why would she do
a stupid thing like that?”
“Oh, you men!” Oyoshi refilled his bowl with large chunks
of some excellent grilled fish and topped this off with stewed
eggplant and mushrooms. “Little Flower has never met a man
like you before.” She gave him an appraising look as she passed
the food across. “She says you’re as handsome as Genji, as strong
and brave as Fudo, and as loving and kind as the goddess
Kannon herself.”
“Nonsense.” Tora blushed and turned his attention to his
food and to joking with Oyoshi’s children.
Turtle returned, out of breath and with an anxious eye to
the leftovers. He announced, “Nobody’s reserved the Golden
Phoenix’s cottage tonight or tomorrow night.” He snatched the
bowl his sister had filled from her hand and fell to.
“I hope you had the brains to ask if Wada ever comes as a
regular customer,” Tora growled.
“Never,” mumbled Turtle through a mouthful of food. “The
food’s no good and the charge too high. He eats and drinks in
the Crane Grove or at Tomoe’s restaurant.”
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313
“Hmm. We’ll start with them first. You can come along as
soon as you’ve stuffed your belly.” He stretched and readjusted
the sword under his sash.
Turtle’s eyes widened. He lowered his bowl, his face
shocked. “You’re going to make trouble. Somebody’s going to
get hurt. I think I’ll stay home.”
Tora gave him a look of disgust. “Nonsense. I may need you.
But you can wait outside for me. Just be there when I come out.”
They left soon after. It was almost dark and the wind still
blew sharp from the sea, signaling the end of summer. The
streets were nearly empty. People had gone home to eat their
rice, or to one of the wine shops whose lights winked invitingly
up and down the main street of Mano.
When they did not find Wada at either of the establishments
Turtle had mentioned, Tora began a systematic search of all the
restaurants and low dives, looking grimmer by the minute.
He did not see Wada but had another kind of success. In
one crowded wine shop, a burly guest rose when he heard
Tora’s question and walked over. “Who wants to know where
the lieutenant is?” he demanded in a belligerent tone.
Tora’s hopes lifted marginally. “The name’s Akaishi. Who
are you?”
“Ikugoro. Sergeant of constables. So what’s your business
with the lieutenant?”
“I have a few questions. Maybe you’ll do.” Tora gestured
with his thumb toward a quiet corner.
The other man’s small eyes narrowed even further. “What
makes you think I’ll talk to you?”
Tora looked around. He did not want to pay for wine for one
of Wada’s thugs, but a brawl would get him nowhere and cause
people to get hurt. The three men Ikugoro had been sitting
with were watching. Inspiration came to his assistance. He dug
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his faked dispatch with its official seals from his sash and held
it before Ikugoro’s face. The light was bad and he didn’t think
the sergeant could read in any case. “I shouldn’t be showing
you this,” he said in a low voice, “but since you’re his second
in command, I’ll let you in on a little secret. As you see”—he
pointed to the first line of writing—“I’m an inspector for the
imperial police in the capital. It’s my duty to visit different
provinces to check up on our appointees.” Looking around
in case someone was listening, he quickly put his document
away again.
Ikugoro’s face had fallen almost comically. “B-but what do