doshima governor’s son had fled the island, he had headed either

to Echigo or Awa Province. More likely the latter because of the

unrest there. During troubled times, a man could disappear with-

out a trace. The question was, did the escape have anything to do

with the master’s disappearance. Well, he was about to find out.

When they reached the gate of the provincial headquarters,

Tora told his companion that he would probably have to

wait outside, then identified himself and his errand to a guard

engaged in lively repartee with several young women. The

guard waved Tora through with barely a glance.

Shocking discipline, thought Tora. Not even a request for

papers. In fact, the guard had only bothered to bar the way to

the ragged Turtle.

Inside the compound, Tora saw more signs of slovenly stan-

dards. Off-duty guards were shooting dice with clerks, and trash

blew across the graveled courtyards. He made his way to the gov-

ernor’s residence without being stopped. Nobody seemed to care

who he was or where he was going.

Inside the residence, he found neither guards nor servants,

nor the customary clerks and secretaries. Eventually he almost

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stumbled over a dozing servant and asked directions. The

man yawned and pointed toward a door before turning over to

resume his nap.

Expecting the door to lead to another hallway, Tora opened

it and stepped through. To his dismay he had walked into a

study occupied by two elderly gentlemen. One of them was

clearly the governor.

Tora bowed deeply. “This insignificant person humbly

apologizes. There was no guard outside the door.”

The two gentlemen did not seem surprised. The governor

behind the desk was a thin, pale man in official black silk robe

and hat, while a chubby individual in brown sat toward the side.

Both looked drawn and dejected.

“Come in, whoever you are,” said the governor. His voice

was so listless that Tora had trouble hearing him. “Close the

door behind you if you have anything to say that you would

rather not have overheard.”

Tora closed the door.

“I’m Mutobe and this is Superintendent Yamada. Why are

you here?”

Yamada’s brown silk gown was stained and wrinkled, he was

hatless, and his gray hair was carelessly tied. He also looked as

though he had been weeping.

Tora saluted. “Lieutenant Tora from the provincial guard of

Echigo. I carry a dispatch from my master to you, Excellency.”

“What?” The governor shot up and stretched out his hand

eagerly. “Hand it over! Thank heaven he’s all right. What can

have happened?”

The dispatch, as Tora knew very well, was from Seimei. They

had all put their heads together to concoct a document that

would look authentic without revealing the true purpose

of Tora’s journey. Seimei had written it out in official style and

affixed both the provincial seal and the Sugawara stamp.

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

249

The governor unrolled the paper, ran his eyes over it, and

sank back down. Looking up at Tora, he said, “Lord Sugawara

did not write or dictate this, I think.”

Tora glanced at Yamada and cleared his throat. “I am to report

back on a prisoner called Yoshimine Taketsuna. He left Echigo for

Sadoshima a month ago. We expected to receive confirmation of

his safe arrival. Instead there has been no news at all.”

Superintendent Yamada cried, “Ah, Taketsuna. Poor fellow.

Yes, he got here, all right. In fact, he was staying with me and my daughter for a while. We became very fond of him even in the

short time he was with us. What a pity! What a pity!”

Tora turned cold. If his master was dead, what would he do?

What could he tell the master’s lady, left all alone in a cold

northern land with a baby son? His fear and grief cut through

the thin veneer of protocol he had acquired reluctantly. He

took a few strides across the room until he towered over the two

elderly men. “What happened?” he demanded harshly. “Why

was no one informed?”

Tora’s rude and disrespectful tone made Mutobe flinch, but

his companion gave Tora a kindly look. “Ah, I don’t blame you

for being upset, my good fellow. You must have been fond of

him, too.” Tora did not like that “must have been.” He glared at

Yamada, who continued, “I don’t quite understand the ins and

outs of it myself, but Taketsuna wasn’t his real name, apparently.

Frankly, I never thought of him as anything but a gentleman,

and Masako . . .” He paused and sighed. “Masako is my daugh-

ter. She’s disappeared also. We’re at the end of our ropes, the

governor and I. Both of our children gone, heaven only knows

where. And now here you are, asking about Taketsuna.” He

shook his head sadly.

Tora thought respect for his betters was all very well, but

there were more important things at stake here. “Tell me what

happened to . . . this Taketsuna,” he demanded of Yamada.

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“We don’t know. He’s gone,” said Yamada. “In fact, he was

the first to disappear.”

Tora blinked. Gone? Perhaps not dead, then. “When, where,

and how?” he asked.

“Wait, Yamada,” said the governor. “We do not know

how much this young man knows. You have already said

too much.”

Tora closed his eyes and clenched his fists. Patience, he

reminded himself. He was on his own and he must not make

a mistake. Looking at the governor, he said, “Sir—Excellency—

do I take it that you have told Superintendent Yamada

about Yoshimine Taketsuna? I thought nobody was to know

besides you.”

The governor flushed and looked away. “Yamada is perfectly

safe,” he said. “You don’t understand my problems. After my

son escaped with the superintendent’s daughter, my people

refused to follow orders. Superintendent Yamada was the only

one with whom I could discuss the situation. He knows

that . . . Taketsuna was sent here to investigate my enemies.”

Tora felt more anger building inside him. “You shouldn’t

have done that, sir.”

Mutobe blustered weakly, “Who are you to tell me what I

can or cannot do, Lieutenant?”

Tora stiffened. “I’m Lord Sugawara’s personal retainer and

I’ll gladly die for him and his family. I don’t mind stepping on

anyone’s toes, provided I find him. So you’d better tell me what

you know, and hope he’s still alive. Your blabbing to everybody

about this may have cost him his life. And if it did, I’ll be back.”

His hand moved to the grip of his sword.

Mutobe paled. “I assure you . . . I had no occasion to tell

until after the incident. And then I only told Yamada. No

one else knows.”

“What incident?”

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251

“My son’s escape.” He bit his lip and glanced at Yamada.

“Toshito is innocent and fled to save his life. I had no hand in it but was instantly accused of having helped him, and now—”

Tora interrupted, “Yes, never mind. What about my master?”

“Ten days ago, Lord Sugawara was on his way back from

Tsukahara. I don’t know if he was successful in solving the case.

He never arrived. Of course I ordered a search, but we found

no trace of him. They say he escaped or joined with bandits

or pirates. With the trial just a day away, my son despaired and

fled, and after that I could do nothing more. I live here like

a prisoner now. The servants and the guards simply ignore my

orders. I don’t know if anyone is still looking for your master. I