"Yes." The boy straightened his shoulders. "Sakanoue was our bailiff. His father before him held the same position and his father's father. It was hereditary. My ancestors and my grandfather had always trusted the Sakanoue family, and they, in turn, were well rewarded. But when Sakanoue started to buy land while reporting shortages in our rice crops, my grandfather became suspicious and called him to the capital with the accounts. I know this, because my grandfather told me about it. That was when he warned me against him. My grandfather was quite angry, but I think Sakanoue talked his way out of the shortages, for my grandfather was going to send him back to the country. Then, the day before my grandfather died, they had a terrible argument. It concerned my sister."
Akitada interrupted, "How do you know this? Were you present?"
The boy shook his head and stared at the clenched fists in his lap. He swallowed and said, "I had my own quarters in my grandfather's house. That afternoon I was in the garden. I could see servants rushing about. Then my grandfather came from his rooms and ran along the open gallery to my sister's pavilion. I could tell he was very angry, so I stood and waited, and he came right back, shouting for someone to get Sakanoue. "The boy paused and looked at Akitada defiantly. "I went to listen on the veranda outside my grandfather's room. He was shouting at Sakanoue, but I could not make out the words. Then Sakanoue came out, and he looked… like a devil would look, I think."
"I see. What about your sister? Did you have a chance to speak to her?"
"No. I have not seen my sister for more than a month. I do not know if she is alive. Sakanoue claims she has married him." The boy almost choked on the words.
"Yes. That is what people say. Now you had better tell me what happened next. Why did your grandfather travel to the mountain temple when there was trouble in his family?"
"When my father died, my grandfather had a dream. In the dream my father appeared to him and told him that he must pray for him on the first day of the fourth month at sunrise, or the family would die out with me. My grandfather has carried out those instructions every year since then."
"Good heavens!" said Akitada, staring at the boy. "Do you plan to continue the tradition?"
"Of course! "The boy hesitated. "If I live to do so."
A heavy silence hung between them. Of course. The child stood between Sakanoue and one of the richest estates in the country. For a fanciful moment, Akitada wondered if the prince had actually performed the prescribed ritual on this occasion. He asked, "What were you told about the events at the temple?"
The boy tossed his head. "They came back with this story that my grandfather had gone into the shrine hall and stayed there. When he did not come out, Sakanoue and the others opened the door. My grandfather had disappeared. They all said the gods must have come for him, for there was no other way for him to leave."
"They?"
"My grandfather's companions. Besides Sakanoue, there were retainers, servants, and some of his friends."
"I shall need their names. Did they all watch and witness the disappearance?"
"Yes. Or so they said."
Akitada pulled his earlobe. "You know that they would have been investigated carefully before the emperor would lend his support to the story of a miracle?"
"His Majesty has been bewitched by Sakanoue," said the boy. "I wish I had been there! I wish I had stayed up to see my grandfather leave! I wish I had spoken to him one last time, but I expected to see him the next day. I was to ride with him in his carriage. He sent a message that I was to go to bed early to be ready for the journey."
Akitada was startled. "Journey? What journey?"
"We were to move to the country the next day. Grandfather wished to supervise the estates himself to make certain there were no future shortfalls."
"This plan to remove to the country, was it sudden?"
"Yes. The servants were all complaining about it. You never saw such a bustle of packing. There were boxes and chests everywhere, and the yard was full of wagons, clothes hampers and crates of bedding when I got up in the morning."
"So you were up when the news of your grandfather's death arrived?"
"Yes. General Soga, one of the gentlemen who had accompanied Grandfather, came shouting and knocking at the gate. When they let him in, his horse was all lathered up and he almost fell off in his hurry. I had heard the noise and I ran out to see what was happening. He saw me and took me inside. Then he told me that Grandfather had disappeared. Later Sakanoue arrived with the others. He said the gods had taken Grandfather to be with them, and we must be happy about it and build a shrine to his memory. He also said that he was my elder brother now, since he had married my sister. I told him he was lying and spat in his face. That's when he hit me and locked me in my room. Later that day he came and brought me here."
"That must have been terrible. I am very sorry," said Akitada helplessly, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder. But the child moved aside, and Akitada let his hand drop.
"I know Sakanoue killed my grandfather," the boy said fiercely. "You will prove it! Then I shall take control of my family and you will be rewarded."
Akitada said, "I shall certainly try."
"I was told by Tora that you are working on Nagai's case," the youngster continued. "I feel certain he is innocent, and his problem should not trouble you overmuch. Are you also helping with the murder of Professor Oe?"
"Not at the moment."
"Good!"The little lord rose. "In that case, you will be able to start investigating Sakanoue immediately. Remember the reward." He gave Akitada the tiniest of bows and was gone.
Akitada sat looking after him and laughed softly. Reward indeed! Young Lord Minamoto certainly knew how to put on the airs of the great man accustomed to giving orders. Still, the boy's awareness of his obligations was quite admirable and he had displayed considerable courage in his defiance of Sakanoue. On the whole, he thought, the young man showed much promise.
It was too late to go home, so he sent a servant to the staff kitchen for his noon rice and ate it alone in his room. When he was done, Hirata came in. Akitada saw with concern that the older man looked very tired and drawn again.
"How are you feeling today?" Akitada asked. "You gave me a scare yesterday."
"It was nothing. I am quite well again. Indigestion is one of the infirmities of old age. The reason I stopped in was to tell you that Sesshin has called a meeting. We had better be on our way."
Akitada was momentarily at a loss. "Sesshin?"
"The abbot of the Pure Water temple, but more importantly the director of the university. He is also our professor of Buddhism, a function he does not often carry out, because he prefers to live in his mountain villa which he intends to convert into a temple. He arrived about an hour ago; Oe's murder brought him back. No doubt he will disappear again as soon as he has appointed Oe's replacement."
"Hardly a testimonial of his devotion to the institution," said Akitada sarcastically, getting up and adjusting his hat and robe. Even at the best of times he had little respect for Buddhist clergy, and this one seemed lazier than most. "Isn't Ono back? Won't he take over for Oe?"
Hirata shook his head dubiously. "I have no idea. Ono has hoped for just this chance for a long time. I think it is the only reason he put up with Oe's abuse. But he is not the man Oe was, and Sesshin knows this."
They walked across the grounds to the Buddhist temple, discussing the effects of murder on their fixed routines. At one point, Akitada said, "Oh, young Minamoto spoke to me earlier. He has asked me to look into the matter of his grandfather's disappearance. He believes the prince was murdered by Sakanoue."