Tora, his eyes round with suspense, shook the Rat’s arm impatiently and made him cough again. Otomi refilled the Rat’s cup. He drank, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and continued.

“Oh, it was a gruesome sight,” he said, his voice rising a little. “It was a whole crowd of oni, as evil a set of devils as you’ll ever meet, and passing before his very eyes. There were near a hundred of them, he said, and they looked horrible. Some had only one eye in the middle of their face. Some had horns, or pointed ears and long noses, some had long red hair all over their bodies. There were some as thin as chopsticks, and some as round as chestnuts. And in front walked a giant with a face like fire and claws for hands. They all gathered by an old well in the middle of the temple courtyard.”

Akitada exchanged a smile with Ayako. He enjoyed the tale and was beginning to feel benevolent toward the Rat.

“Now,” continued the Rat, “what with the moon and all them torches, it was bright as day, and my friend could see they had a young lady with them. The young lady was as beautiful as a fairy and had jewels in her hair and she was crying. But the evil demons only laughed and mocked her, pulling her this way and that. They tore off her gown and ripped the jewels from her hair, and she was lying there in the dirt...” The Rat paused and looked at Ayako. “Storytelling is hungry work. Would there be some soup left?”

Ayako went to fill a bowl and brought it to him. He raised it to his lips, slurped noisily, chewed, and asked, “Where was I?”

Tora said impatiently, “The beautiful lady was lying there all naked ...”

“Not naked,” cried the Rat, shocked. “I never said ‘naked.’ You have a filthy mind, Tora. No, she was still wearing her underrobe. But not for long ...”

“There, I knew it!” muttered Tora.

“Will you shut up? If you keep interrupting, I’ll never get done. I said not for long, because the giant with the red eyes and fiery flames shooting from his face got in a fight with the others over the jewels. He roared like the fiend he was, but the other devils were too fast for him and ran away. So he roared some more and then he saw the lady lying there in her thin gown and went to get that off her. The lady screamed, and he ripped, and she fought him. And then he took his knife, shoved it in her, and fell upon her body ...”

Ayako gasped, and the Rat broke off and said piously, “In the presence of ladies I can’t talk about what happened next, but demons are nasty creatures. Anyway, when he was done with her, he dumped her in the well and went away. My friend was frightened to death and left the capital that very night.”

Tora heaved a sigh of pleasurable horror, but Ayako glared at the Rat. “I might have known you’d come up with something dirty,” she spat. “I don’t believe a word about this friend of yours. You made up the whole thing yourself, you and your nasty mind.”

The Rat wheezed. “I saw you. You had your ears wide open, girl.” He cackled. “Women act like prudes, but they talk dirt with their girlfriends.”

“Why, you...” Ayako half rose amid the general laughter.

Akitada caught her hand to pull her back down beside him when his eyes met Higekuro’s knowing smile.

* * * *

THIRTEEN

HIDESATO AND

THE HARLOT

T

he following morning Akitada attempted to see the governor again but was told that Motosuke had returned late and was still asleep. Tora, chastened by his master’s outburst the evening before, made no comment when Akitada canceled their usual workout for a visit to the bathhouse. Seimei was another matter.

“What is wrong with the tribunal bath?” he asked.

“Nothing. But the bathhouse has...masseurs, and since I injured my shoulder . . .” Trailing off, Akitada busied himself with his morning rice.

Seimei was distracted from the bathhouse issue. “You were lucky you only hurt your shoulder. Your ancestors must shudder at the risks you take with their good name. Stealing into a monastery with low-class companions like thieves in the middle of the night! Imagine the scandal if you had been caught. It would have been the end of your career.”

“More than likely it would have been the end of my life.” Akitada smiled, his mind on Ayako.

“It is no joking matter,” cried Seimei. “After years of disappointment, you got this chance to make a name for yourself. Imperial inspector before your twenty-sixth year and you choose to behave in this reckless fashion! Remember, the path to success makes for a long and troublesome journey, but the way back is quick and easy.” Seimei’s voice broke.

Akitada’s conscience smote him. “I’m sorry I made you worry, old friend,” he said. “You’re right, it was a very risky thing to do, but I had no other choice. Consider it part of the troublesome journey to success.”

Seimei’s face lit up. “Ah. You have solved the case.”

“Not quite. Let’s say we are closer to the answer.” Pushing away his empty bowl, Akitada rose and went to keep his appointment at the bathhouse.

It was nearly midday before he got back. He took up Otomi’s scrolls and walked across the compound to the governor’s residence. Akinobu greeted him with a smile and led the way to the library.

They found Motosuke, sleek as usual, in figured blue silk over pale green trousers, eating heartily from a large number of dishes.

“His Excellency is here, sir,” announced Akinobu, and withdrew.

“Elder brother!” Motosuke cried, apparently still enamored of his new honorific for Akitada. He smiled and waved his chopsticks in the air. “Welcome, welcome! Forgive my not rising. I got back late last night and here I am, just now eating my morning rice. Shameful, isn’t it?” He pointed the chopsticks at a cushion near him. “Have a seat. Have some fish. Or some abalone? Pickled radish? Nothing? Well, then, Akinobu says you stopped by twice, last evening and again this morning. I am devastated that I missed you. What happened?”

“It’s a long story. Permit me.” Akitada went to hang Otomi’s scrolls from a standing screen.

Motosuke peered at them, then clapped his hands. “The deaf-mute girl! You’ve found her. Oh, they are very nice. Very nice, indeed. And is she as pretty as they say, eh?”

“She is very pretty, yes. But that is not why I brought the pictures.”

“If you say so. I am delighted you discovered a local beauty.” Akitada flushed against his will, and Motosuke’s eyes twinkled. “Ah! I see the way it is. Ha, ha. And I thought you a dull dog. Or worse, a fondler of boys, like our saintly abbot.”