The 47 Ronin Story Read online

  Hara, still muttering, put away his sword and sat

  .19.

  down. He watched carefully as Mimura opened the pantry door and stepped through. In a moment there came the sounds of a slap and a yelp of pain, and Hara smiled as Kataoka laughed out loud.

  "That'll take care of the young monkey," he shouted and made the most monkeylike grin at his command. The others smiled and Kataoka was pleased that he had helped his master forget his troubles, if only temporarily.

  "I wish all the Edoites were so easily handled," said Lord Asano as he sighed and helped himself to some rice. "But I'm afraid that's not the case. Especially with those who have a little authority."

  The two samurai exchanged glances. They knew what their master meant.

  "These court dandies all ought to have their heads removed," growled Hara, and Kataoka nodded in agreement. "They talk and dress like women and are just as troublesome."

  "Anyway, it'll all be over after today," Lord Asano said. "Then we can go home to Ako and forget this place. Think what it must have been like in the old days when daimyo like my father had to stay here half of every year."

  The others agreed that the present arrangement was better than that, and finished eating their rice. Hara looked sorrowfully into the bottom of his bowl and Lord Asano knew what he was thinking.

  "At least in the old days we had a little meat and fish to go with our rice, eh, Hara? Well, maybe we will again some day if the Shogun's Life Preservation Laws are ever rescinded. They may benefit the animals, but they don't do us humans much good." He put his bowl down and sighed again. "Most of the laws around here seem only meant to torment us.

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  Chapter Two

  And the court's rules of etiquette are completely beyond me. If only I didn't have to depend for instructions on someone like Kira!"

  He spat out the name like a curse and again Hara and Kataoka exchanged worried looks. They knew he would not elaborate on this subject—it would be beneath him to discuss his personal grievances with them—but from what they had heard they knew that Kira, the court Master of Ceremonies, was making his life miserable. And they also knew there was nothing they could do about it.

  Kira's name stuck in Lord Asano's mind like a bone in his throat. He had never known such a miserable time in the capital before, and it was a place he had never enjoyed visiting. This time, however, he was an unwilhng participant in the official proceedings instead of a mere spectator and was thrown into much closer contact with the Sho-gun's underlings. Kira was not even of daimyo rank, having no fief of his own and being ruler of nothing. But the fact that he had been sent to Kyoto some years before to study ceremonial procedure at the court of the Emperor gave him prestige and power that he had since used to good advantage in exacting bribes from those who had to depend on his tutelage.

  Lord Asano had written about Kira only the night before in a letter to his chief retainer Oishi. Although Oishi was slightly older, he was less experienced in the ways of the court at Edo than his master, and Lord Asano was able to express his feelings about Kira in the guise of offering advice on how to behave in the capital.

  "Kira is the man to watch out for," he had written. '*He enjoys the confidence of the Shogun and appears

  •27 .

  to be a faithful servant, but in truth he is an unscrupulous bribetaker and uses his office solely for his own ends. There is seemingly no way of dealing with such men except to play their game, but this I refuse to do. Consequently, Kira is giving me a rough time of it, even with only one day to go. Regardless of what happens, however, I will not pay Kira for his services, which are supposed to be supplied by the court. This may be a stubborn attitude, but as far as I am concerned it is the only honorable one for a samurai to take. I do not expect that I alone can turn back the wave of decadence that seems to have engulfed the court, but I can try to hold my head above the dirty water as long as there is a breath left in me."

  He wondered if Oishi would understand. In Ako there was nothing to compare with the Shogun's court and he himself would not have believed such corruption existed if he had not seen it with his own eyes. Still, Oishi thought like a true samurai and could appreciate his feelings. He doubted that his words would ever be taken as practical advice, but at least it was good to get the matter off his chest.

  He finished eating and rose with a sigh.

  "Time to put on my 'clown suit,' " he told Kataoka, and together they moved out of the room as Hara sat scowling at the forces that were troubling his master.

  At the castle Kira was up early, too. As Master of Ceremonies for all court functions he was obliged to be impeccable in dress as well as in manner and he took pains to maintain high standards. The robes laid out for him were similar in style to those the visiting daimyo and officials of the court would be wearing,

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  Chapter Two

  but the color scheme he had chosen of dead black with a huge white crest on each oversized sleeve guaranteed him a more striking appearance than any of them.

  Although scarcely middle aged, Kira affected to be older because he thought it added to his dignity. Except for two deep frown lines creased into his brow, however, his face was free of wrinkles and his heavy-set body was hard and agile. His teeth, in accord with the latest fashion, were blackened so that when he opened his mouth to speak, his listeners saw only a dark, toothless hole.

  Strangely enough, for one in such exalted if temporary power over the daimyo of the land, Kira was worried about the behavior of one of them. Lord Asano was of the old school of samurai and did not seem to realize that in this modern age bribes in the right pockets would do him more good than meaningless affirmations of loyalty to the Shogun. And for this reason he constituted a threat to Kira's way of life.

  For three days now Kira had tried by flattery, by hints, and finally by insults to convey the idea to Lord Asano that it was customary to bestow gifts of money on the court Master of Ceremonies for his services. But Lord Asano had continued to ignore him, and Kira's fear was that if he got away with this act of ingratitude it could set a bad precedent. Kira's stipend as a court officer was not large and he had no desire to lose any extra benefits because of Lord Asano's stubbornness. Somehow, there must be a way to get to his man. He had never failed in the past to get what he wanted from these noble young fools and he was determined that this time would be no exception.

  .2i.

  His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a breathless servant with the announcement that the Shogun Tsunayoshi wanted to see him immediately. He hurried to put on his robes, cursing because he could not finish dressing in the leisurely way he had planned. Then he hastened out the door and across the palace grounds to the inner palace, wondering all the while what could be troubling the Shogun this early in the morning.

  In the twenty-first year of his reign, Tsunayoshi had every reason to be contented. There had been no uprisings against his office for several decades, mainly because his ancestors had been so thorough in uniting the country, first by conquest and then by assigning fiefs in strategic locations to blood relatives. His predecessors had also done him a favor by expelling all foreigners, except for one small group of Dutch traders on an island at the extreme southern tip of the country. The Christian influence had lingered for some time, even after the expulsion, but sixty years before, at Shimabara, the last large-scale massacre of such deviants had left the country free of even this minor annoyance.

  Now, after years of peace, the towns were growing, the merchants were prospering, and the arts were flourishing. It was true that the price of rice was going up, due to short supplies from the farmers who seemed strangely unable to get the most from their land, but on the whole Tsunayoshi was free from any pressing problems of state. But that is not to say that he had no problems at all.

  As Kira entered, puffing more heavily than was really necessary, he could see that Tsunayoshi was indeed in an anxious state. Kira bowed as low as his robe
s would permit and then raised his eyes to the tall,

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  Chapter Two

  thin man in his fifties, who was pacing mincingly up and down the ornate reception room.

  Tsunayoshi's concern, it turned out, was not with any pressing matters of state, but rather with how the performance of his dancing group would be received at the ceremonies. He had selected and coached the boys himself and was concerned that they give a good account of themselves. So much so that he had decided another rehearsal was in order and this was why he had summoned Kira. He wanted the boys assembled in the Hall of the Thousand Mats as quickly as possible so they could run through their dance once more before the distinguished guests arrived.

  "You don't know how much this means to me," he told Kira, with a womanish wave of his kimono sleeve. "I've worked so hard to make this performance a success—it's just got to come off perfectly!" Kira bowed his head. "I sympathize with Your Excellency but I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. The ceremonies will be carried out smoothly as always."

  "The ceremonies, yes—but the dance, that's what's important to me. This is something new for such an occasion and if it fails, I'll be laughed at by everyone."

  "No one would think of doing such a thing," Kira reassured him.

  "The experts will laugh behind my back even if they don't say anything," Tsunayoshi said knowingly. "But enough of that—everything else is all right, isn't it? No problems at your end, I hope?"

  "There are always problems, Your Excellency, but nothing I can't handle myself."

  "Good," smiled the Shogun. "That's what I like to hear from my courtiers. I wish they were all as efficient as you."

  '25 '

  Kira smiled back at him, revealing his blackened teeth. "All I know was learned from your example."

  He bowed and started to leave, then hesitated and turned back in feigned reluctance. "There is one rather troublesome young daimyo, but I hope I will be able to correct his awkwardness before it embarrasses us."

  "You mean Asano, don't you? I've noticed that he doesn't seem as much at ease as the others. Do you want me to speak to him?"

  "No—I don't think that will be necessary. He'll be all right once I get him to understand his proper place."

  "Yes—well, I leave that to you. But get those young boys over here in a hurry, will you?"

  "I will obey," Kira answered formally with a bow, and hurried away as fast as his elaborate robes would permit. He knew from experience that Tsunayoshi was not long on patience.

  Dressed in his ceremonial robes, with every detail of his costume checked and double-checked against the rules of dress for the court. Lord Asano was carried to the palanquin that was to take him to the Shogun's castle. Kataoka, also more splendidly dressed than usual, was about to give the order for the eight burly bearers to pick up their poles when Lord Asano's wife appeared in the doorway of the mansion and called out. Kataoka called to the bearers to wait, then stepped aside so his master could converse with his wife in privacy.

  "Please," she said as she leaned in the window to him, "please promise me you'll keep your temper. Show the court of Edo that we from the country also know our place in society. Perhaps—perhaps it's not

  .2(5.

  Chapter Two

  too late even now to put a few coins in the right palms. ..."

  Lord Asano made a gesture of impatience, but his expression softened as he saw her concern. His words were reproving, but his manner was gentle.

  "In solemn matters of this sort, giving more than a token gift to the court Master of Ceremonies would be a cheap and vulgar act and I refuse to stoop to such a level. My councilors agree ..."

  "Your councilors agree because you've already made up your own mind and they know it would be useless to oppose you. I can see that if you can't . . . At least promise me you'll take his instructions in good grace and not lose your temper, won't you?"

  "I promise," he said, and satisfied that he meant it, she stepped back and forced a smile of farewell. Lord Asano now motioned to the waiting Kataoka and the bearers were given the signal to move out.

  As they rounded the corner of the house Kataoka saw Hara watching them go and caught an unspoken warning in the big man's eyes: "Take good care of our master." Kataoka nodded as he passed and then Hara disappeared behind them.

  They moved through a portion of the immense garden that surrounded the mansion and Lord Asano noticed that even though the trees were bare the grounds were still remarkably beautiful in the early morning light. There was no single distinguishing feature, only a total impression of natural serenity, meticulously planned by his grandfather at a time when there were still wars or threats of war and the daimyo were required to spend long periods in the capital. Now, of course, things were different. There had not been even a minor uprising for as long as Lord Asano could remember. It occurred to him, as it

  • 27 •

  had many times before, that Hfe must have been more exciting in grandfather's day when a sword was something to settle your differences with and not just a badge of rank.

  The palanquin was carried briskly out the gate, Kataoka trotting alongside, but as they entered the din and crowds in the narrow alleys of the city the bearers were obliged to slow to a walking pace. Most of the tradesmen and shoppers gave way when they recognized the crested palanquin of a daimyo, but in the press of humanity not all noticed its presence, or pretended not to, and kept doggedly about their business until they were firmly pushed aside.

  Lord Asano had never gotten used to this flocking together of the classes that one found in Edo. From the highest ranking nobles of the court to the lowest commoner, all gathered at this center of commerce to buy from the prospering merchants. There were other types present, too, including a few threadbare ronin, or masterless samurai. Farmers who could not make a go of it had come to the city to find work and there were plenty of these, proudly disdaining to ask for bread. At the opposite extreme were the professional beggars, calling loudly for alms in the cocky, Edolike manner that recalled to Lord Asano the boy who had made such a mess of the fire that morning. He might be out of a job now but the chances were he was not worried. Anyone with his brass would require little apprenticeship to take to the streets to cry for handouts or to become a pseudoreligious mendicant and beg in the name of a nobler cause.

  The din was overwhelming now, but over it there came another sound, a chant for the dead, and Kataoka directed the bearers to pull over to the side to let a funeral procession pass. Through the window

  .2S.

  Chapter Two

  of the palanquin Lord Asano could see that the funeral group consisted of only two men, both servants, and that the rough casket they carried slung from a pole between them was unusually small. Kataoka was standing perplexedly by the side of the palanquin when Lord Asano spoke and startled him.

  "Not the best omen to begin the day with, eh, Kataoka?"

  Kataoka turned to see that his master was not smiling and felt compelled to do something to alleviate his black mood. The servants with the casket had stopped their chanting now and as they came nearer one of them began to grumble about the load. In desperation, and also in annoyance at the man's bad manners, Kataoka called out to him.

  "Ho! Your load is small enough. What are you complaining for? Can't you show more reverence for the dead?"

  The servant laughed roughly at this and shouted to his companion. "The man wants to know why we don't show more reverence for our passenger. Shall I show him?"

  "Sure," the other man responded. "Why not?"

  By now they were abreast of the palanquin and they stopped to set the casket down in the middle of the alley. The servant who had spoken first came forward and smiled broadly at Kataoka, then winked and flipped open the lid of the box. In it lay the body of a small dog, cut almost in two in an accident. The servant winkecf at Kataoka again as the jostling crowd pressed close, all trying to see what was causing such interest.

  "S
he was never treated so well in all her life," the servant yelled at Kataoka, who was momentarily at a loss for words.

  "Where are you taking her?" he finally mumbled.

  "To the burying grounds, of course. Where do you think? Don't you know the law says dogs have to be buried just like people? We're only carrying out the Shogun's orders."

  He covered the box and moved back to the end of the pole.

  "Well, the least you can do is carry them out without complaint," Kataoka told them both. "You don't seem to realize how lucky you are that our exalted Shogun was born under the sign of the dog." He paused for dramatic effect as they lifted the pole to their shoulders. "What do you think you'd be carrying if he'd been born under the sign of the horse?"

  The two men laughed loudly, as did all those in the crowd who overheard, and Kataoka was pleased to see that even Lord Asano smiled. He chuckled at his own cleverness, then gave the bearers the order to move out and once again they were plunged into the tumultuous sea of humanity that flooded the street.

  Inside the palanquin. Lord Asano was thinking about the dead dog. To him it was typical of the topsy-turvy world of Edo that animals should be treated like humans. He knew he would never understand this place and wished again to be out of it. He sighed, then leaned forward to watch with more interest as the palanquin was carried out of the last alleyway and onto a broad street which paralleled the castle moat.

  The waters of the moat were below street level at this point and barely visible. What was most apparent was the high wall of gigantic blocks of granite beyond the water, forming an insurmountable barrier around the unseen castle. Now the bearers turned and moved alongside the moat, jogging up a little hill toward an

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  Chapter Two

  entrance gate which guarded a narrow high-flung bridge over the still waters below.

  There were guards at the gate who came to attention as the palanquin approached. They were armed with lances and halberds which were held at the ready while Kataoka identified the party and stated the reasons for the visit. Then, waved on with a shout, they crossed the bridge into the grounds of the castle itself. On the right as they entered was a long wooden structure which quartered a full company of on-duty guards. The armed men outside it again challenged the palanquin and again Kataoka had to go through the formality of identification.