Akitada, who had been gritting his teeth against stabs of pain from his back and shoulder, nodded. “I promise to rest frequently, but your visit gives me joy.” He paused. “My family and my friends have given me back my life by their devotion. I have been blessed.”

Nakatoshi was visibly moved and touched Akitada’s hand. “I have some reassuring news,” he said. “In view of your having been at death’s door, several of the most powerful Fujiwaras have been getting nervous. They’ve had prayers said for you in the shrine to your ancestor, and they have cancelled the investigation into your conduct.”

Akitada made a face. “I suppose I should be grateful, but nothing less than an apology and acknowledgment of my service in Kyushu will make me forgive them.”

“I know. It made me angry too, but we must think of the future now that you’re with us again.”

Nakatoshi left soon after to make room for Akitada’s brother-in-law. He brought the same news and a message from Akiko that she hoped soon to have more information about Lady Ogata.

This did not, however, materialize. Lady Akiko was more frustrated than Akitada, who thought of the crane pavilion murder off and on, but without real interest. It seemed clear enough that Lady Ogata was Sadako, the daughter of Soga Ietada and wife of Minamoto Masakane. Her death must be connected to her past. Masakane’s rash act of slapping an emperor had affected not only the young man but also his wife and the people around her.

His next visitor was Fujiwara Kaneie. He came to report with great satisfaction on a change of heart by the grand minister.

“I’m overjoyed to see you up and around,” he said, after congratulating Akitada on having escaped official censure. “My only regret is that I’m still stuck with that infernal Sakanoue who has been acting as if I didn’t exist. In fact, I’ve had to file a complaint against him. He had the nerve to sign some important papers without consulting me.”

Akitada smiled. “I, too, regret that you’re stuck with him.”

“I wish there were some way to get rid of him, but I have thoroughly irritated my powerful cousins by my repeated protestations.”

“I think you have done so on my account, sir. I’m very grateful for your support and friendship.”

Kaneie blushed. “Not at all, my dear Akitada. I’m in your debt. All I know about the law I learned from you.” He sighed. “It’s all been so unfair!”

“Well, I seem to have been forgiven at any rate.”

On this happier note, Kaneie chatted a little about life at the ministry and then took his leave.

Akitada still spent much time resting. Pain radiated over his entire back if he was sitting or standing for any amount of time, and his left arm hurt down to the fingertips every time he moved it. He was also easily tired, but sleep escaped him. Sometimes, as he lay there, waiting for the pain to subside and sleep to come, he thought of the lady of the crane pavilion. Now that they knew her story, they should be able to put a name to her killer.

He wondered if perhaps Lady Sadako’s father had not really rejected her. But if so, why had she left the nunnery and taken up life beside the Kamo River, living on alms? And why had she later hidden herself away in the Takashina mansion?

Genshin knew her past but protected her secret. Unlike the nun Seikan, Genshin had not questioned her suicide. But both the nun and he had spoken of Sadako as being happy. Genshin had ascribed her contentment to her faith in Buddha. It did not make sense. But since he found no answer, Akitada usually fell asleep.

One day, there was a pleasant surprise. A messenger arrived with a heavy package containing ten gold bars and a bag of silver coins. The Minister of the Right had released Akitada’s accumulated salary for the past six months, plus a rather generous additional payment to cover expenses he had incurred in travelling to Kyushu and furnishing the tribunal there. The money was very welcome, and Akitada spent the day with Saburo, organizing the Sugawara accounts and ordering much needed supplies.

“Saburo,” he said, looking at the neat figures in his account book, “we can afford a tutor for the children. What about that poor schoolmaster of yours?”

Saburo clapped his hands. “Oh, thank you, sir! Tora and I have taken them a bit of money and some food, but they’re still in dire straits. May I go tell them?”

“Yes, but make sure he understands that he comes on trial.”

The schoolmaster came, nearly speechless with hope. Akitada probed his background with some questions, and being satisfied, introduced him to the children. The arrangement proved satisfactory, and Kobe’s tutor returned to his former duties with a present.

In time the pain in Akitada’s back lessened. But about that time, Tora brought some shocking news. “Sir, the superintendent has been dismissed from office.”

“What?”

“They say it was over the case of the blind shampoo girl. The judge filed a complaint.”

Akitada did not know what to say. So it had happened after all. Kobe had warned him that he was in danger. But he had risked his position anyway to do what Akitada had intended. He had interrupted the trial to save an innocent woman. Akitada did not doubt for a moment that Kobe had taken this step because he, Akitada, had been lying at death’s door and there was no one else to finish the job.

“I have incurred a great debt,” he said to Tora. “I wish I knew how to help Kobe. I want to see him. I wonder if I could manage to get on my horse.”

“Absolutely not, sir. You can’t leave the house yet.”

“Well, maybe a chair could be called? Where is Kobe? At his home?”

“I think so. But sir, it’s too soon. Do you want me to take a message?”

In the end, Akitada wrote a letter and Tora delivered it himself. An hour later, Kobe arrived at the Sugawara house.

He looked a little anxious when he entered Akitada’s room. More shocking was the fact that he was no longer in his impressive crimson uniform but wore an ordinary gray silk robe and a small black hat. He could have been any low-level clerk bustling about in one of the many administrative halls at the beck and call of every nobleman and guards officer. The change in clothing diminished him; he looked smaller, older, and less distinguished.

Akitada managed a smile as he gestured to a cushion. “Forgive me for not rising. I’m afraid it still hurts too much to get to my feet and then sit back down.

Kobe sat and smiled back. “I’m very glad to see you’re so much better than I’d been led to believe. Should you be up already?”

“Yes. Besides I’m impatient to catch up on what I’ve missed.” He paused to give Kobe a searching look. “Tora told me your bad news. I’m deeply sorry and very angry that they’ve treated you this way.”

Kobe’s mouth twisted. “Karma and shadows follow a man everywhere. You know that well enough.”

“My fortune seems to have improved. I seem to have been forgiven, and today they sent me my pay. I feel all the more responsible for what happened to you.”

Kobe looked astonished. “Why? I came to my senses almost too late. In fact, if I’d acted sooner, you wouldn’t have been attacked. So don’t talk to me of responsibility.”

“I hear you arrested Kanemoto and his woman.”

“Yes, and they couldn’t wait to heap accusations on one another. She told us about Kanemoto’s strangling of the gambler Hankei. Naturally, she claimed she was an innocent bystander. When I didn’t believe her, she threatened me with retaliation. It seems one of her clients holds a rather important position in the government. I ignored this and told Kanemoto what she had said. He retaliated by informing us that she had killed the moneylender Nakamura.”

“She owed Nakamura money?”

“Oh, yes. It seems Kanemoto refused to pay her debts and told her to take care of them herself, so she did. By killing the man! She told Nakamura that she would meet him at the bathhouse and buy back her IOUs. Instead she cut his throat and took the papers she had signed, letting Sachi take the blame for the murder.”