The Snow Empress_ A Thriller Part 7

Hirata could tell how little Sano liked being treated like a dog on a leash, forced to conduct the investigation on the terms of a madman, when all he wanted was to find his son. But Sano bowed to the Ezo and said, "Greetings. Your presence is appreciated." Hirata knew he was trying to make up for their poor treatment, in the hope of willing rather than forced cooperation. "I am investigating the murder of Tekare, who was Lord Matsumae's mistress. I need you to answer some questions."

After the Rat translated, the chieftain's shrewd glance flicked from Sano and Hirata to the Matsumae guards stationed around the room. Awetok clearly understood that the newcomers were under some kind of duress even if he didn't know the details. He spoke, his voice steady. "As you wish," the Rat said, and the process of questions and translations, answers and more translations, began.

"Did you know Tekare?" Sano asked.

Nods all around. The chieftain said, "She was from our village."

"Why were you in town when Tekare was murdered? Wasn't trade season already over by then?"

"We came to rescue her."

"Rescue her?" Sano frowned in the same puzzlement that Hirata felt. "From what?"

While the chieftain spoke at length, Hirata sensed anger behind his calm tone, building inside the other barbarians. "Lord Matsumae stole Tekare from us. He turned her into a slave for his pleasure. As if it isn't enough that he forces us to sell our goods to his clan for ridiculously low prices, he helps himself to our women."

Offense darkened Gizaemon's face. He rapped out an order to Awetok. The Rat said, "He told him, "Watch your mouth. Any more criticism of Lord Matsumae, and you'll be beaten.""

"Tell him he has my permission to speak frankly," Sano said. As the Rat conveyed his words, Sano turned to Gizaemon. "Whether or not you approve of my investigation, Lord Matsumae wants it. It may be his best chance of regaining his sanity. Your interfering won't help him." Sano paused for an instant. "Or maybe it's not him that you're trying to help?"

"Of course it is," Gizaemon said, annoyed. "I've served him since he was born."

But people didn't stand in the way of justice unless they had something to lose, Hirata knew from years of detective experience. And Gizaemon had already given him and Sano enough reason to be suspicious of him. They should have a little talk with him later.

Tekare was only one of many Ezo women who were mistresses to j.a.panese men," Sano reminded the chieftain. "Why did you want to rescue her in particular?"

She was the shamaness of our village."

Sano leaned forward, intrigued by this new fact about the murder victim. Hirata's own interest quickened at the introduction of Ezo spiritual tradition, which might relate to the mystic martial arts and his own quest. "What does a shamaness do?" Sano asked.

"She diagnoses and cures diseases with potions, rituals, and exorcisms. She's our conduit between the spirit world and the human world. Without her, we cannot call upon the spirits to help us and protect us. So you can understand why we want her back."

Apparently Lord Matsumae had worsened the hostilities between the Ezo and the j.a.panese by taking a most important person from her tribe as his s.e.x slave.

"Aside from being important to the village," Sano said, "what kind of person was Tekare?"

"She was a strong, capable woman."

Even though Hirata didn't know what Awetok was saying until it was translated, he sensed that Awetok was deliberately speaking of the dead in the most general, uncritical terms. He also perceived the mental energy that the chieftain gave off while Sano asked questions.

"What did you think of her?" Sano said.

"I thought very highly of her abilities. She was the most powerful shamaness I've seen in my lifetime."

"And you?" Sano addressed the other men.

They echoed the chieftain's opinion. Evasions all around, Hirata noted. Either they couldn't think for themselves, they didn't want to contradict their leader, or they hadn't cared for the woman.

Sano then asked each man what relation he had to her. The chieftain was her uncle by marriage, one man her brother-in-law, another her cousin. The Ezo village evidently consisted of several interrelated families. Urahenka identified himself as her husband. Well, well, Well, well, Hirata thought as the blue-beaded strongman rose to the top of the hierarchy of Ezo suspects. Hirata thought as the blue-beaded strongman rose to the top of the hierarchy of Ezo suspects.

"Were you on good terms with Tekare?" Sano asked him.

Urahenka spoke with bitter resentment. "We were on no terms at all. I hadn't seen her in almost three years. Not since she was taken from me."

Hirata imagined how would it be to have his own wife stolen and forced to be somebody else's mistress. He felt a twinge of guilt because he'd neglected Midori while studying martial arts. He missed his sweet, loyal wife, and he sympathized with Urahenka in spite of himself.

"Was your marriage satisfactory before she was taken?" Sano asked.

"Yes. I loved her. I wanted her back. But now she's gone. I'll never see her again in this life."

He emphasized his words by pounding on his heart, grasping the air with his hands, then letting them drop while his shoulders sagged in grief. The language barrier and his foreignness made gauging his truthfulness difficult. Hirata focused on the field of mental energy that surrounded him. It hummed with contradictory vibrations.

"Where were you the night Tekare died?" Sano asked.

Urahenka glared at Sano. "Do you mean, did I kill her?"

Gizaemon barked out a command in Ezo language, obviously ordering Urahenka to answer, not ask questions.

"I didn't!" Urahenka balled his fists, more angry at the tacit accusation than fearful of punishment.

"That's what he's been saying all along," Gizaemon muttered. "That's what they've all been saying."

"Maybe it's true," Sano said, his tone even. He addressed the young barbarian: "If you expect me to believe you're innocent, then tell me where you were the night of the murder."

"I was at the camp."

When asked individually, each Ezo, including the chieftain, said they'd all been at their camp, together, the whole night.

"That alibi's worth nothing," Gizaemon said disdainfully. "The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds always lie for each other."

Chieftain Awetok raised his hand. Sano nodded permission for him to speak. "The Matsumae soldiers were guarding our camp. We couldn't have left without them knowing. We were there. Ask them."

Sano turned a questioning look on Gizaemon. Hard to keep track of the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. They move through the forest like ghosts, there one moment, gone the next," Gizaemon said. "Could have sneaked out and back in, n.o.body the wiser."

Urahenka shouted angry words. Gizaemon snapped at him.

"'If you want to find out who killed Tekare, you're looking at the wrong people,"" the Rat interpreted. ""Don't speak until you're spoken to.""

Sano's chest swelled with a breath of vexation. Hirata could tell how tired he was of Gizaemon getting between him and the suspects, how helpless he felt to do anything about it while a prisoner, and how desperate he was to look for his son instead of indulging a madman. But when Sano addressed Urahenka, his manner was patient, controlled.

"Which people do you suggest I look at?"

"j.a.panese!"

n.o.body needed the Rat to translate that. Sano said, "But Tekare was shot with a spring-bow, an Ezo hunting weapon."

"It was a trick by a j.a.panese. To make us look like we killed her."

Urahenka let loose a stream of imprecations. Gizaemon stalked over to him and shouted at him.

"He's insulting the Matsumae clan," the Rat explained. His feral eyes shone with nervousness. "Gizaemon is telling him to watch his mouth."

Chieftain Awetok spoke words of caution that Urahenka ignored. Urahenka sprang to his feet. He and Gizaemon yelled into each other's faces.

"'You j.a.panese want to stamp us out. You started by killing my wife, and you won't stop until we're all gone and you can take over our land,"" the Rat interpreted. "'Show some respect, you animal, or you'll be the next to die.""

The other men stood, rallying around Urahenka, their furious voices joining his. Hirata surmised that they belonged to a faction of Ezo that wanted to fight j.a.panese domination. As they argued with Gizaemon, he shoved them. They shoved back. The guards went rushing to support Gizaemon, swords drawn.

Dismay gripped Hirata because he realized that a war could start here, in this very room. Sano leaped up and shouted, "Stop! Everyone back off!" Hirata called upon the mystical power within himself. A strong, calming energy flowed from him over Gizaemon, the guards, and the barbarians. Chieftain Awetok uttered a warning. His lips kept moving after the sound from them stopped. He flexed his hand, as though casting a spell.

Later Hirata couldn't have said which tactic had worked, or whether all of them together had. But the guards sheathed their weapons and retreated. Urahenka and the other Ezo men dropped to their knees. Gizaemon squatted, surly but tamed, near the dais. All the combatants looked relieved but confused; they didn't know what had happened, either. But the tension had been diffused.

As Sano and Hirata resumed their seats, Hirata sent Chieftain Awetok a curious gaze. The chieftain sat silent and impa.s.sive, but Hirata detected a sly glint in his eye. Hirata felt more strongly than ever that the old Ezo man possessed abilities that he couldn't fathom but were far beyond his own, and knew things Hirata needed to know.

"Just a few more questions," Sano said. He fixed his solemn attention on the Ezo, measuring each man. "Did you kill Tekare?"

Each shook his head and said a word that clearly meant "No." Their gazes met Sano's as the chieftain spoke. "We are innocent."

Sano gave no hint of whether he believed them, although Gizaemon snorted. "Then who do you think did?"

Chieftain Awetok answered. The other Ezo nodded. "If I were you, I would talk to a j.a.panese named Daigoro. He's a gold merchant who lives in f.u.kuyama City. He's known for mistreating our women."

This wasn't the first time Hirata had seen people point the finger toward others and shift suspicion away from themselves. But at least he and Sano had a new lead to follow. And Hirata was inclined to believe that the Ezo were innocent. He realized he'd chosen sides with the barbarians against his own j.a.panese countrymen.

Thank you for your a.s.sistance," Sano said, as courteous as if the Ezo had given it voluntarily.

Chieftain Awetok spoke a question. Gizaemon said, "Of all the nerve. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d is asking you for a favor, Honorable Chamberlain."

With an obvious effort, Sano ignored Gizaemon. "What is it you want?"

"A proper funeral for Tekare, according to the traditions of our people. Without one, her spirit can't cross over to the realm of the dead. It lingers in this world, haunting Lord Matsumae."

"I'll see what I can do," Sano told the chieftain.

Awetok bowed in thanks. Once more Hirata felt the shape and texture of the chieftain's mental energy. Now he knew what it meant. When Sano spoke to him, the chieftain understood. Awetok knew j.a.panese.

A group of guards rushed into the room. "Begging pardon for the interruption, but there's bad news," said the one with the deer antlers on his helmet.

"Well, what is it?" Gizaemon said.

"The honorable chamberlain's wife is missing."

9.

"How come you know j.a.panese?" Reiko asked.

"I live in castle..." The Ezo woman raised three fingers.

"Three years?"

Nodding, she touched her ear. "I listen."

They stood in the shed together. It was cold, dim, and smelled of the dogs, who sniffed and wagged their tails around Reiko. Reiko felt safe, hidden from Lord Matsumae's troops.

"What's your name?" Reiko asked.

"Wente." She pointed at Reiko, shy and inquisitive.

"Reiko."

They smiled at each other. Wente bowed, humble as any j.a.panese peasant, and said, "Many thanks."

Reiko nodded, aware that Wente was expressing grat.i.tude because Reiko had stepped in to protect her yesterday. "I'm sorry for how Lady Matsumae treats you."

Wente made a gesture of resignation that said volumes about what the Ezo endured from the j.a.panese. She studied Reiko as if curious about this rare j.a.panese who wasn't cruel. "Yesterday. In Lady Matsumae's room. I heard." She groped for words, then cradled her arms, the universal sign language of a mother holding a child, and pointed at Reiko. Pity darkened her eyes. "I sorry."

This was the first sign of genuine caring about her kidnapped child that anyone in Ezogashima had shown Reiko. It broke down Reiko's self-control. Tears burned down her cold cheeks. Wente stood by, awkward and embarra.s.sed.

"I sorry. I sorry," she repeated, almost as though she were personally to blame and asking forgiveness.

"I don't know what to do anymore." Reiko's tears froze as she wiped them away. A dog licked her hand. Its dumb, animal comfort jolted a sob from her. "n.o.body will help me."

"I help you."

"How?" A glimmer of light pierced Reiko's grief.

Eyes shining with gladness at being able to offer salvation, Wente said, "Boy here."

Caution warred with the joy that leaped in Reiko. "But-but Lord Matsumae's troops killed the men who brought my son. They must have killed Masahiro, too."

"No, no." Wente shook her head, adamant.

"How do you know?" Reiko said, desperate to believe.

"I listen. I see." Wente beckoned Reiko to the door of the shed and pointed upward, at the white tower of the keep, which rose beyond and above the palace. "He there."

"How did Lady Reiko get out?" Gizaemon demanded.

"I don't know," Deer Antlers said. "One moment she was in her room. The next time we checked on her..." He spread his empty hands.

"You idiot, Captain Okimoto! Letting a woman trick you!" Gizaemon turned in one direction, then another, so upset he was almost literally beside himself.