The 47 Ronin Story by John Allyn Page B

circumstances.
    The next day, however, there were two messages from Edo that stopped all laughter. The first was from Araki, who was now back in Edo. He had personally called on the Shogun's councilors to ask them to give Oishi's petition special consideration,
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    but he frankly said there was little cause for hope. The second message was from Horibe, the acting leader of the Edo group, and it was a demand for prompt action against Kira. Oishi felt the sharp pain in his side flare up as he read it. He was sure his men in Edo were under constant surveillance by Chisaka's spies, and knew an attack at this point would be doomed to failure, but he felt helpless in explaining this to Horibe at such a distance. He was too closely followed to go to Edo himself, but somehow Horibe, an impetuous young man, must be made to understand that they had to wait for results on the petition. He finally decided that the best thing to do was send Hara, who could speak to his former comrade in arms better than anyone else. Accordingly, he asked Kataoka to do something far beyond the call of duty and take over the archery classes in Osaka. Kataoka agreed with a rueful smile, and Hara came to Yamashina for extensive briefing in Oishi's arguments before he left for Edo. He was also warned to be on guard against any tall, thin strangers with deep voices.
    The next few weeks were anxious ones. In spite of Hara's strong feelings on the subject of what should be done with Kira, Oishi trusted his fierce old lieutenant to faithfully represent the opinion of his leader while dealing with Horibe. In this trust Oishi was not mistaken, but unfortunately Hara was not able to convince the young samurai in Edo that waiting was the best policy. Their tempers were riled daily by their observations of Kira and they were hot to act without delay. Accordingly, Hara wrote that in spite of all the good reasons why Oishi should not come to Edo, the situation was so serious he had better make the trip anyway.

    Chapter Seven
    This message upset Oishi tremendously. He was gravely concerned lest the Edo group go ahead and take action on its own and he finally decided, after first cursing Hara for a fool, that his reasoning was sound and that the sooner he went the better. There were other things he could take care of in Edo at the same time, and so in any event the trip would not be wasted.
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    For his aides on the trip, Oishi decided to take his Kyoto relatives, Shindo and Koyama. Neither of them were to his taste as traveling companions, but because they were not ex-retainers of Lord Asano a visit to Edo with them was less likely to be construed as warHke. Also, although they had sworn allegiance to his cause, he felt they lacked real dedication and that exposure to the fanatical Edo group might heighten their sense of purpose.
    They set out on the Tokaido—the road to the eastern sea—in late October, at a time when the hills were afire with the flaming colors of autumn and the days had become cool enough so that the weather on the long journey would be comfortable. It was
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    still an ordeal for Oishi to sit all day on top of a pile of bedding laid over a pack saddle with his legs crossed or else hanging down by the horse's neck in the cavity between the trunks on each side. The pace was slow and Oishi and his companions rocked endlessly back and forth under their large straw umbrella hats. They made no attempt to disguise themselves, as this would only give an impression of secrecy they were anxious to avoid.
    There were fifty-three posts, or barriers, between Kyoto and Edo with the leagues marked by small tree-topped hills. For shade there were straight rows of firs planted on each side of the winding two-lane road. There were also huts of green-leaved branches every two or three leagues where the travelers could relieve themselves in special receptacles in order that