Part 20 (1/2)

Sano emitted a harsh, humorless laugh. oI will not confess! The evidence is false. The witnesses have twisted everything I've said or done. This trial is a farce!

Nagai shook his head gravely. oYour objections are duly noted. But the evidence ”presented by trustworthy witnesses ”supports my own judgment of your poor character and evil motives. You have chosen the way of the traitor over the way of the warrior. Therefore I charge you with six counts of treason: running a smuggling ring; using a murder investigation to persecute j.a.panese citizens; conspiring with Dr. Huygens to overthrow the government; giving the Dutch captain supplies in exchange for weapons; enlisting Chinese military support through Abbot Liu Yun; and practicing Christianity.

Treason! A samurai's ultimate disgrace; punishable by death. Horror sickened Sano. oThe charges are ridiculous and totally unfounded. I've been framed. I'm innocent!

Too late Sano realized how perilously his negative att.i.tude, his fascination with the Dutch, and his desire for truth and justice had jeopardized his life and Hirata's. His actions had landed him in the power of Governor Nagai, Interpreter Iis.h.i.+no, and Chief Ohira. Sano was sure that one or all of them were involved in the smuggling, and had framed him to protect themselves from the consequences of his discovery. Perhaps this had all been planned in advance, with Chamberlain Yanagisawa's sanction. Again Sano had a sense of strange tensions among Nagasaki's bureaucrats. He recalled his suspicion that they didn't want Jan Spaen's murder case solved. Had they killed Peony and shot him?

oHowever, because of your rank, Nagai continued, oyou can't be imprisoned, or tried and sentenced immediately. A special tribunal, composed of magistrates from three provinces, shall convene to hear your case. It will take approximately three days to gather them in Nagasaki.

Sano could guess the outcome of his trial. The magistrates, like the local authorities, were undoubtedly Chamberlain Yanagisawa's minions; he needn't expect fairness or leniency from them. He could already feel the weight of iron shackles around his wrists and ankles; he could see soldiers leading him to the execution ground, and hear the hiss of the sword that would sever his head....

oI won't tolerate this charade! he burst out.

oYes. Well. Governor Nagai's heavy shoulders lifted in a shrug. oI regret to say that you have no choice. Also, I am relieving you of responsibility for the murder investigation. o oBut I'm making progress on it, Sano protested. oIf the Dutch captain doesn't receive the head of Jan Spaen's killer in two days, he'll attack Nagasaki. I must be allowed to ”

Nagai cut off the interruption: oThat no longer concerns you, and the subject under discussion is your fate. Until the tribunal convenes, you will enjoy the temporary freedom due a man of your samurai status and high position under these circ.u.mstances. But do not misbehave, or try to leave town. We will be watching you.

As the guards escorted Sano from the hall, he turned for a last outraged glare at Nagai, Iis.h.i.+no, and Ohira. oYou're not going to get away with this!

The door slid shut on the three men who were now his enemies, and his prime suspects in the murder of Jan Spaen.

Chapter 21.

AT DAYBREAK, SANO, escorted by Governor Nagai's men, returned home to find troops stationed outside his mansion. More troops swarmed the corridors; in the reception room, the commander had lined up the frightened servants.

oWhere is Hirata? he barked at them. oHas he been here? Speak up, or die!

A mixture of relief and concern filled Sano as he hurried to his chambers. Hirata was still free. But for how long, and would he survive?

Sano thought of what he might have done to avoid this catastrophe. He should have ended the investigation after Peony's confession and ignored the mysterious lights. He shouldn't have boarded the Dutch s.h.i.+p, or sought acquaintance with Dr. Huygens and Abbot Liu Yun. He should never have taken the job in the first place! Now he rued the inner compulsions that had inspired his rash actions. Yet there seemed nothing to be done except continue as he'd begun.

He grabbed the wooden pa.s.s that would admit him to Des.h.i.+ma. Fortunately he hadn't been carrying it at the time of his arrest. He hated to risk more treason charges by a.s.sociating with the barbarians, but he saw only one way to exonerate himself and Hirata: He must defeat the enemies who had framed them. He must prove to the tribunal that his motives were proper and his investigation was legitimate by exposing the smugglers ”the real traitors ”and Director Spaen's killer. Only then would he regain his freedom and honor. Also, Sano felt responsible for averting the threat of war. Now he must reinterrogate the Des.h.i.+ma barbarians, who were once again murder suspects and surely involved in the smuggling.

oMaster, master! Old Carp rushed into the room. oIs it true that you and Hirata-san are accused of treason?

oFalsely accused, Sano corrected. Tucking the pa.s.s inside his cloak, he said, oIf Hirata contacts you, tell him... To give himself up, and face execution? Resist arrest and die? Or run away to live as a fugitive outlaw? oTell him to hide and pray.

Sano hurried to the kitchen for a quick meal of rice cakes and dried fish, washed down with water, to fill his empty stomach. Then he rode out the gate, hoping to evade any secret pursuers.

The sun's hazy scarlet disk rose over the city like a battle standard, pouring a sullen, ruddy glow over buildings, streets, and morning crowds. A warm, damp wind blew. The sea was opaque, colorless, and edged with whitecaps. Huge, dark storm clouds smudged the sky. At the Des.h.i.+ma guardhouse Sano presented his pa.s.s.

oThis is no longer valid, the guard said.

oOn whose orders? Sano demanded.

oGovernor Nagai's.

He should have expected the governor to revoke his access to the island, Sano thought bitterly. Nagai didn't want him to gather evidence against his accusers, or clear his name. Then an alternative plan occurred to Sano.

oWhen is Director Spaen's funeral? he asked.

oThis morning. At the hour of the snake.

According to custom, the Dutchmen would leave Des.h.i.+ma and accompany their dead comrade's body to the burial ground, offering Sano a chance to find out what a.s.sistant Director deGraeff and Dr. Huygens knew about the smuggling. For now, perhaps a talk with Chief Ohira would reveal the criminals' ident.i.ties, enabling Sano to appease the Dutch captain before tomorrows deadline, and prevent a war.

IN ADDITION TO his duties as commanding officer of Des.h.i.+ma, Chief Ohira was responsible for upholding law and order and resolving civil disputes in the street that led to the island's bridge. His mainland headquarters consisted of a shopfront beside the gate. Sano reached it just as rain began to pelt the city in windswept bursts, clattering on the tile roofs. Umbrellas sprouted; pedestrians took cover. Sano dismounted and left his horse beneath the building's deep eaves. Barred windows gridded the plaster walls; blue curtains printed with the Ohira family crest covered the doorway. Through it Sano followed two samurai, who dragged between them a peasant whose hands were tied behind his back.

The spa.r.s.ely furnished office smelled damp from the rain. Flanked by two sergeants, Ohira knelt behind a desk on the dais before an a.s.sembly of townspeople. The two samurai dumped the captive peasant on the floor. Curious about the stoic man whose son awaited execution, Sano knelt to watch the proceedings, which evidently concerned minor crimes that fell under Ohira's jurisdiction.

oWho is this person, and what is his offense? Chief Ohira asked the sergeants.

oYohei, a servant on Des.h.i.+ma. He tried to enter the island without a pa.s.s.

Ohira frowned. oWhat have you to say for yourself, Yohei?

The servant bowed. oHonorable Chief, I had my pa.s.s when I left home. He was a meek-looking man with dazed eyes. oBut it was gone when I got to Des.h.i.+ma; I must have lost it along the way. If I'd known, I would have come straight to you and reported the pa.s.s missing. I never would have tried to enter the island, I swear.

Sano expected Ohira to let the servant off with a warning and send him to Governor Nagai's office for a replacement pa.s.s. But the chief's frown deepened. oAttempting to enter Des.h.i.+ma without a pa.s.s is a serious offense, he said sternly. oAs a punishment, you shall spend the rest of the day chained to the gate; your shame and disgrace will deter would-be criminals. Dismissed.

oNo, please, I beg you!

The servant prostrated himself before the chief, whose unyielding expression didn't change. From the back room the sergeants fetched iron chains and shackles, fastened them around the servant's wrists and ankles, and dragged him outside. Sano wondered whether Ohira's personal troubles had occasioned his extreme punishment of an honest mistake. Was the chief venting his anger on the unfortunate servant ”or might he actually approve of cruel justice, even for his son?

Chief Ohira turned to Sano, and his guard went up, as if an invisible suit of armor had suddenly grown on him. He said to his sergeants, oClear the room, then see that no one disturbs myself and the ssakan-sama.

Unflinchingly he held Sano's gaze while the sergeants obeyed, then said, oI should have thought you'd be meditating on your wrongs, cleansing your spirit, and preparing to die like a proper samurai. Bitter antipathy roughened his tone. oWhat do you mean by coming here now?

oWhat do you think? Sano strode up to the dais, hot with fury at this man who had incriminated him.

Then a closer look at the chief unexpectedly awakened his pity and admiration. Ohira's ashen skin was so taut that Sano could see every brittle bone in his face. The shadows rimmed his eyes like bruises; his emaciated body seemed little more than a skeleton beneath the folds of clothing. Ohira must be mortally ill with grief for Kiyos.h.i.+; yet, like a true samurai, he continued to perform his duties. Sano spoke more politely than he'd intended.

oI want to know why you framed me for treason.

Ohira glared. oI can a.s.sure you I don't know what you're talking about, he said through clenched teeth. oYour accusation is ridiculous, though criminals often try to s.h.i.+ft the blame for their misdeeds. What I fail to understand is how you could corrupt a decent, honorable youth like my son. When you arrived in Nagasaki, I knew you would be trouble. But I've underestimated your evilness.

Sudden doubt arose in Sano. Maybe Ohira wasn't part of the smuggling ring and had nothing to do with Spaen's murder, or Peony's. Maybe, truly believing that Sano was a villain who had destroyed Kiyos.h.i.+, he wanted revenge. Maybe Governor Nagai had simply exploited this desire in order to create more evidence against Sano. Now Sano changed tactics.

oI don't think Kiyos.h.i.+ is guilty, he said. oBy telling the truth, you may be able to save him.

Ohira rose and stepped off the dais. As he walked to the window, his wasted muscles quaked with the effort. oOf course Kiyos.h.i.+ is guilty, Ohira said, turning his back on Sano to look outside.

In the rainy street, the servant stood chained to the gate, his head ducked in shame while a crowd jeered and threw horse dung at him. oKiyos.h.i.+ was caught in the act; he confessed, Ohira said. oHe must endure his punishment: It's the law. No one can save him now.

Yet Sano detected a fissure of hope in his stony voice. oAre Governor Nagai and Interpreter Iis.h.i.+no involved in smuggling? Or are you and they following Chamberlain Yanagisawa's orders to ruin me?