them felt like speaking. A cold hand pressed against the base of his neck, like he had heard the depths of a hundred black hells calling out from Hatsumi’s tortured throat.
He wished Akao were here. He hadn’t seen the dog in so long, he was growing worried. He knew the dog would find him, if he were still alive. But what if Akao had encountered those same bandits earlier, somewhere else in his ranging? Perhaps Akao was lying dead in the forest, hacked to pieces.
He was used to silence, but now he needed to talk. “How far is it?”
Kazuko started. Her face was still pale, and she was wringing her hands.
“How far to your home?” he asked again.
“About four days’ journey.”
He did not relish the thought of dragging the stretcher behind him for four days. But he was happy that the sound of his voice seemed to calm her. “Where were you traveling?”
“We were returning from Lord Tsunetomo’s estate. About two days’ travel from here.”
“That is a long journey with only four bodyguards.”
“My father is not a powerful lord. But those were some of his best men.”
“They sold their lives dearly to save you. Even the strongest warriors can be overwhelmed by numbers and treachery.”
“Father will be unhappy they are dead.”
“They died like true warriors. Your father will be happy that you are alive.”
“Yes, I am alive.” She sighed deeply and looked at Hatsumi. “It could be me lying there, not Hatsumi. If not for you, we would all have died terrible, terrible deaths. I am happy to be alive, but I feel so badly for Hatsumi. How she must be suffering!”
He did not know what to say.
They walked in silence for a long time. Ken’ishi tried to think of things to say that would lighten her mood, but without success. Finally, he said, “Why did you go on this journey? Is Lord Tsunetomo a friend of your father?”
“He is a powerful lord from the Otomo clan. My father wants him for a friend, I suppose.”
“What do you mean?”
“I wish I understood it myself.”
“What did you see there? A powerful lord must have a great castle.”
Her face brightened as recollections danced behind her eyes. “We attended a wonderful flower-viewing party.” Her voice grew dreamy and distant.
“A flower-viewing party? I have never heard of such a thing.”
Her surprise was evident on her face. “Truly? Everyone goes to see the cherry blossoms this time of year.”
“Not everyone, it seems. I have seen the cherry blossoms, though. They are beautiful. But having a party to watch them seems a bit . . . useless.”
“Oh, there are many reasons to have a party!” she said. “To be surrounded by nature’s beauty makes life worth living.”
“Perhaps, but sometimes nature is not so beautiful. I grew up in the mountains. Beauty won’t keep you warm in the winter, or fill your belly.”
“You have led a difficult life.”
“Yes, but it made me strong. Many times, I wished for things like a warmer blanket or a bigger meal, but when I look back now, I know the lack of them has strengthened me. Have you ever passed a day without eating? Or seen anything truly horrible, before today?”
“Well, no,” she said. Then she raised her nose and sniffed. “I have been blessed with a fortunate birth, a reward for past lives well spent.”
“That is one way of looking at it.”
“Tell me, then, O Wise One,” she said with a smirk, “what ‘horrors’ have you seen?”
He thought for a moment. “I have seen how grave diggers live. And leatherworkers. I would rather live alone in a cave.” He shuddered at the memory of the relentless stench and how they were reviled by everyone around them. “I have seen innocents slain by callous brutes. I have seen homeless whores, outcast and starving.”
Her playfulness vanished, and she looked down. “You have seen a lot.”
“I have walked a great distance.”
“I have seen practically nothing.” Her plump bottom lip protruded just a
He wished Akao were here. He hadn’t seen the dog in so long, he was growing worried. He knew the dog would find him, if he were still alive. But what if Akao had encountered those same bandits earlier, somewhere else in his ranging? Perhaps Akao was lying dead in the forest, hacked to pieces.
He was used to silence, but now he needed to talk. “How far is it?”
Kazuko started. Her face was still pale, and she was wringing her hands.
“How far to your home?” he asked again.
“About four days’ journey.”
He did not relish the thought of dragging the stretcher behind him for four days. But he was happy that the sound of his voice seemed to calm her. “Where were you traveling?”
“We were returning from Lord Tsunetomo’s estate. About two days’ travel from here.”
“That is a long journey with only four bodyguards.”
“My father is not a powerful lord. But those were some of his best men.”
“They sold their lives dearly to save you. Even the strongest warriors can be overwhelmed by numbers and treachery.”
“Father will be unhappy they are dead.”
“They died like true warriors. Your father will be happy that you are alive.”
“Yes, I am alive.” She sighed deeply and looked at Hatsumi. “It could be me lying there, not Hatsumi. If not for you, we would all have died terrible, terrible deaths. I am happy to be alive, but I feel so badly for Hatsumi. How she must be suffering!”
He did not know what to say.
They walked in silence for a long time. Ken’ishi tried to think of things to say that would lighten her mood, but without success. Finally, he said, “Why did you go on this journey? Is Lord Tsunetomo a friend of your father?”
“He is a powerful lord from the Otomo clan. My father wants him for a friend, I suppose.”
“What do you mean?”
“I wish I understood it myself.”
“What did you see there? A powerful lord must have a great castle.”
Her face brightened as recollections danced behind her eyes. “We attended a wonderful flower-viewing party.” Her voice grew dreamy and distant.
“A flower-viewing party? I have never heard of such a thing.”
Her surprise was evident on her face. “Truly? Everyone goes to see the cherry blossoms this time of year.”
“Not everyone, it seems. I have seen the cherry blossoms, though. They are beautiful. But having a party to watch them seems a bit . . . useless.”
“Oh, there are many reasons to have a party!” she said. “To be surrounded by nature’s beauty makes life worth living.”
“Perhaps, but sometimes nature is not so beautiful. I grew up in the mountains. Beauty won’t keep you warm in the winter, or fill your belly.”
“You have led a difficult life.”
“Yes, but it made me strong. Many times, I wished for things like a warmer blanket or a bigger meal, but when I look back now, I know the lack of them has strengthened me. Have you ever passed a day without eating? Or seen anything truly horrible, before today?”
“Well, no,” she said. Then she raised her nose and sniffed. “I have been blessed with a fortunate birth, a reward for past lives well spent.”
“That is one way of looking at it.”
“Tell me, then, O Wise One,” she said with a smirk, “what ‘horrors’ have you seen?”
He thought for a moment. “I have seen how grave diggers live. And leatherworkers. I would rather live alone in a cave.” He shuddered at the memory of the relentless stench and how they were reviled by everyone around them. “I have seen innocents slain by callous brutes. I have seen homeless whores, outcast and starving.”
Her playfulness vanished, and she looked down. “You have seen a lot.”
“I have walked a great distance.”
“I have seen practically nothing.” Her plump bottom lip protruded just a
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