Part 21 (2/2)

oWhy did you tell those lies about me? Contempt roughened Sano's tone. He flung Iis.h.i.+no up against a tree. oI never asked the Dutch captain for weapons, or conspired with Dr. Huygens to overthrow the government, and you know it. When Iis.h.i.+no cringed and trembled, Sano shouted, oSpeak up! I want an answer, now. Why did you lie?

Surprisingly, the interpreter's toothy grin reappeared. oI didn't lie, ssakan-sama, I didn't lie, he said. oI only told my version of the truth, which is different from yours. The tribunal will decide which version to believe.

Of all the incredible nerve! oThere's no one here but you and me, so you might as well drop the act, Sano said, locking a hand over Iis.h.i.+no's throat and pinning him to the tree. oYou're going to explain why you lied. Then we're going to Governor Nagai so you can retract your statement.

Iis.h.i.+no kicked, thrashed, and managed to choke out, oMy statement has already been entered into the official record. I couldn't retract it even if I wanted to. And if you kill me, it will only convince the tribunal of your guilt.

Much as Sano hated to admit it, the interpreter was probably right on the first point as well as the second: If Governor Nagai and Chamberlain Yanagisawa intended to destroy him, they wouldn't let Iis.h.i.+no change his statement. Reluctantly Sano released the interpreter, who collapsed to the ground with a moan of relief.

oWhere were you the night Jan Spaen disappeared? Sano demanded.

Clambering to his feet, Iis.h.i.+no made an exaggerated show of wiping mud from his garments, avoiding Sano's gaze. oI went to the governor's mansion in the afternoon to translate some Dutch doc.u.ments. By the time I finished, it was so late that the city gates were closed, and I couldn't go home. I slept in the office, and didn't know the barbarian was missing until I reported for work on Des.h.i.+ma.

Sano thought that Iis.h.i.+no must be confident that the governor's staff would confirm his story, either because he really had been there, or because they had orders to protect him. oWhat about the night before last? Sano asked, curious to see what alibi Iis.h.i.+no would present for Peony's murder and the attack on himself.

oI was at home with my wife. Iis.h.i.+no beamed. oShe is Governor Nagai's niece.

And the unimpeachable source of another unbreakable alibi. oAnd last night? Were you on Des.h.i.+ma?

Iis.h.i.+no sidled up the road. oI should go back to the funeral, he said. oMy services might be needed. Of course I was not on Des.h.i.+ma last night. The junior interpreters cover the late s.h.i.+ft. I was at home until the governor's messenger summoned me to your hearing.

oI'm not through with you yet, Sano said, blocking Iis.h.i.+no's path. oWhat was your relations.h.i.+p with Jan Spaen?

Iis.h.i.+no tried to step around Sano, failed, then grimaced in resignation. oI know you're thinking maybe I killed the barbarian, ssakan-sama. But I didn't. I liked Spaen the way I do all the Dutch ”they're my friends. At Sano's surprised look, he amended hastily, oOh, not in any improper way; I never favor barbarians. But I enjoy being with them. You see, they have no choice but to accept my company. They have to listen to me and talk to me. They can't run away when they see me coming, or brush me off the way other people do.

He sighed, and his face took on a mournful cast. oAll my life I've had difficulty making friends. When I was young, the other boys at the temple school shunned me and played cruel jokes on me. One night they carried my bed outside while I was sleeping and put it beside the river. When I got up, I fell in the water and almost drowned. Learning the Dutch language was my salvation, my salvation. If not for the barbarians, I would be a very lonely man. And Jan Spaen was nice to me. He told me about his adventures. He followed my advice when I taught him how to behave in this country. I would never have done anything to hurt him.

Hearing the pained sincerity in Iis.h.i.+no's voice, Sano felt an unexpected rush of pity for the interpreter. He hadn't realized how much Iis.h.i.+no minded being disliked; some obnoxious men were unaware of the antipathy they inspired, or indifferent to it. How sad that a j.a.panese should turn to foreigners for friends.h.i.+p because his countrymen shunned him.

oYou might be more popular if you stopped being so bossy and critical, Sano suggested.

The interpreter's wide eyes blinked in surprise. oBut it's my duty to correct people when they're doing something wrong, he said with self-righteous pomp. His head bobbed emphatically. oIf they don't appreciate my advice, it's because they're too sensitive or proud to benefit from my superior wisdom.

oMaybe you shouldn't always a.s.sume that your wisdom is superior, Sano said, though he saw the futility of trying to change Iis.h.i.+no's att.i.tude. The interpreter seemed destined to remain friendless. oYou can't be right all the time.

oI beg to differ ”at least in your case, ssakan-sama. Iis.h.i.+no grinned smugly. oBecause you should have heeded my warning against getting too close to the barbarians. Maybe then you wouldn't be in all this trouble.

He dodged around Sano and scurried up the hill toward the burial ground. As Sano watched him go, he glimpsed other possible motives for Iis.h.i.+no's actions. Did the interpreter so greatly resent the universal rejection of his advice and friends.h.i.+p that he'd taken revenge on Sano, a convenient target? Were both Iis.h.i.+no and Ohira p.a.w.ns of Governor Nagai and Chamberlain Yanagisawa?

Or was Iis.h.i.+no a criminal, trying to hide his guilt by destroying a man who might expose and destroy him?

Sano retrieved his horse and started down the road toward town. It was afternoon now; Kiyos.h.i.+ would have had plenty of time to reflect on his dire situation. Perhaps he was ready to tell the truth about why he'd been in the cove last night, and supply answers that the suspects had not.

Chapter 24.

YOU CAN SEE Kiyos.h.i.+ if you want, but don't expect him to talk, said the warden, leading Sano through Nagasaki Jail. oHe hasn't spoken a word to anyone since he arrived.

In the prison's dim corridors, ironclad doors studded dingy plaster walls. From behind these issued the wails of inmates, most of whom were convicted criminals awaiting execution. The air reeked of excrement, rotten food, and sickness. Patrolling jailers banged on the doors, ordering the inmates to shut up and behave. Sano tried not to picture himself and Hirata as prisoners. He would clear their names, and Kiyos.h.i.+ was going to help him.

oHe's in here, the warden said, unbarring a door. oJust call when you're done, and I'll come let you out.

Sano entered the cell; the warden secured the door behind him. Except for a wastebucket in one corner, the room was unfurnished. Rain streaked past the single window at ceiling level and dashed the tile roof. A tray of rice and pickles sat beside Kiyos.h.i.+, who knelt in the middle of the dirty floor. Stripped of his swords and shoes, he wore a ragged muslin kimono and didn't react when Sano spoke his name.

Sano squatted across from the youth, s.h.i.+vering in his wet garments and the unpleasant chill exuded by the prison walls.

oKiyos.h.i.+? Sano repeated. oCan you hear me?

The boys face seemed made of ivory, the handsome features sharp, pale, and devoid of animation. A split lip and bruised cheekbone added touches of livid color. His eyes focused inward; his hands lay motionless, palms down, upon his thighs. Yet Sano perceived an aura of agony radiating from Kiyos.h.i.+. All thought of using verbal or physical aggression to force the truth out of him fled Sano in a rush of sympathy. The boy's lies had incriminated Sano, but also condemned himself to a disgraceful death.

oHow are you feeling, Kiyos.h.i.+? Sano asked quietly. oAre the jailers treating you well?

No answer. The youth's expression registered no sign that he even knew anyone was in the room with him. Sano, seeking a way to reach him, turned to the tray of food.

oIt doesn't look as if you've eaten, he said. oWould you like to now?

Then, seeing the condition of the food, he grimaced in disgust. The rice was burnt, the radish pickles moldy. A stale, sour smell arose from the mess.

oWarden! Sano shouted. The man opened the door so fast that Sano guessed he'd been eavesdropping outside. oTake this garbage away and bring something better.

The warden frowned. oHe's supposed to be treated the same as the other prisoners ”he eats what they eat; no special privileges of any kind. Governor Nagai's orders.

How quickly and completely the governor had withdrawn favor from his former protAcgAc, Sano thought. Did he really believe in Kiyos.h.i.+'s guilt, or want to distance himself from an accomplice turned scapegoat?

oBring hot soup, fresh rice, and sake, Sano told the warden. oI'll take the responsibility.

oSuit yourself. Shrugging, the warden took the tray and left.

When the new provisions came, Sano set them in front of Kiyos.h.i.+, but the youth made no move to eat. Sano held a spoonful of soup to Kiyos.h.i.+'s mouth.

oDrink this, he coaxed. oYou'll feel better.

The soup trickled down Kiyos.h.i.+'s immobile lips and onto his kimono, as did the liquor Sano offered next. Sano wiped the young man's face with his own sleeve, then spoke in a calm, quiet tone, feeling his way.

oFrom what I can tell, you're a dutiful, hardworking samurai. And you must be intelligent to learn Dutch.

Sano paused, waiting for a response, but Kiyos.h.i.+ didn't even blink. Sano continued, oI don't believe you would ever want to break the law, or intentionally hurt anyone. Isn't that why you're suffering now? Because even though you didn't commit the crime you confessed to, you've hurt so many people. Not just me, but the people to whom you owe your highest loyalty: your father, Governor Nagai, Interpreter Iis.h.i.+no... and Junko.

Though the young samurai's face retained its icy pallor and stillness, Sano detected a faint reaction to Junko's name: The atmosphere around Kiyos.h.i.+ vibrated like a taut samisen string when touched too lightly to make a sound.

oJunko must love you very much, to disobey her father by meeting you secretly, Sano said. oShe would be heartbroken if you should die ”especially for something you didn't do.

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