And so was her voice. “I am so glad you returned. I told Kiko it was quite unconscionable to turn away a wounded man, but the girl is very protective of me. Please accept my apologies.”
Akitada smiled, bowed, introduced himself, and was invited to take a seat on the veranda. Lady Kose offered him refreshments, which he politely refused. He responded by paying her compliments on her work with the azalea. She was inordinately pleased by these, hiding her smile behind dirt-stained fingers. “I dabble a little in making my small world appear larger,” she said and gestured at the garden. Akitada saw that its size was modest but appeared to encompass a wide and varied landscape. The only full-sized trees belonged to Lady Kose’s neighbors. They stretched their enormous limbs over her garden walls as if they were reaching greedily for the toy-like cushions of clipped azaleas and the miniature moon bridges that spanned a tiny stream. The flowering camellia trees had already dropped their petals in the recent heat, but late azaleas still bloomed in shades of rose and crimson. Dwarfed black pines, maples, and cypresses grew from small hills and mountains, and the stream wound, like a diminutive river, between them and flowed into a tiny pond that reflected the cloudless sky above. Small birds seemed to feel at home here, and somewhere a cicada sang. Lady Kose’s retreat looked unreal-an island of peace surrounded by a threatening world.
Convention required more expressions of interest and small courtesies. Eventually the old lady signaled a return to the purpose of Akitada’s visit. “I trust you are not unduly troubled by your injury?” she inquired politely.
“No. It will soon heal. However, I have been trying in vain to find the young woman who was the cause of it.”
Lady Kose’s eyes widened. She dropped the knife which had been trimming an azalea twig. “You were attacked by a female?” Her tone and expression showed how deeply shocked she was. “A fox spirit or a goblin, surely.”
Akitada laughed. “Not at all. The damage was done by a very real thug, and the young lady was also as substantial as you and I. I happened along and interfered when three hoodlums waylaid her not far from here.”
She clapped her hands. “Oh, just like the brave Sadamori who captured a gang of robbers all by himself.”
“Well, not really. They got away. And I also lost the young lady in the process. I wondered if you could help me find her again.”
Lady Kose was overcome with emotion. She clasped her hands together and, forgetting to cover her mouth, smiled at him with blackened teeth. “What a romantic tale!” she cried. “Young lovers separated by fate and yearning for each other. It’s Lord Narihira and the Ise Princess all over again. I must remember to note it down later. Oh, how I hope you will find her and live happily ever after.”
Akitada was beginning to feel a little out of his depth. “Er, I am afraid the lady is a stranger to me. I am investigating a murder and think she may have some information.”
Now Lady Kose was nearly quivering with excitement. “A murder? Perhaps a crime of passion or a feud between families? And the killers attacked this young woman also? How terrible! But you came to her rescue and, like Yorimasa, you will slay the monsters.”
This conversation was becoming difficult. The old lady seemed determined to make up her own fantastic story. Akitada said firmly, “Thank you for your good opinion of me, but I must make a start first. This young woman was dressed as a nun, but I have reason to believe that she is really a married woman who may live in one of the houses nearby.” Heaven only knew what she would make of this.
But Lady Kose made an abrupt return to the real world. “A young gentlewoman, you say? Hmm. It wasn’t Kiko or I, of course.” She giggled. “Secretary Ki’s wives are all of middle age, though his first lady has been talking of taking the veil. I believe Secretary Ki is becoming difficult these days. Older men, you know. Then there is Professor Takahashi. But of course he is a bachelor. No women in his house at all.” She twitched her nose. “And Wakasa has sent his family to the country, as has Minister Soga. His Excellency Enshin is a widower, and Assistant Lieutenant Akizane keeps his place only for amusements. His family lives elsewhere. Lord Yasugi, who owns the large villa across the street, comes for an occasional brief visit, but he has returned to his estates. I am afraid there are no young gentle-women hereabouts.”
“I think somebody must still live in the Yasugi house. I heard a zither when I passed. When I knocked at the gate, someone was peering out at me from the gatehouse, but nobody opened.”
She stared at him. “Hah!” she said. “I wonder.”
“Could someone be hiding in the villa?”
“You mean the young woman who was dressed up as a nun?”
“Yes.” It sounded far-fetched and he added, “Or someone who may have seen her.”
Lady Kose turned. “Kiko!”
The little maid appeared. “Yes, madam?”
“Do you remember telling me that Lord Yasugi left for the country with his whole family?”
“Yes, madam. It was last week. Three carriages he had, and four wagons for servants, and many, many porters.”
“Ah. Did all his ladies leave with him?”
“I think so, madam. All the servants left.”
“Yes, of course. Nobody would stay without servants. Thank you.” Lady Kose turned back to Akitada. “There you have it. Kiko knows all the servants around here. There is nobody across the street. Perhaps the music came from another house?”
Akitada did not think so, but he said, “Perhaps.” Lady Kose had no more information. With a sigh, he rose, bowed, and said, “Thank you for your kindness and for allowing me to see your wonderful garden.”
She looked disappointed. “Must you leave so soon? I wished to ask more questions about this interesting young woman of yours. You see, I write stories. Kiko seems to think they are good. And I could tell you more about the family across the street.”
Akitada hesitated, then took his seat again.
“A pity they are gone,” she said. “There are all sorts of ladies there when they are in town. Yasugi has three wives and two grown daughters. His third lady is not much older than the daughters. It was a very romantic marriage. They say he took pity on a young widow, but I think he lost his heart. Like the Tale of Lady Ochikubo, though she was no widow. But both ladies were in very straitened circumstances, and both gentlemen very rich. It is a wonderful thing that men are so passionate. Now that the daughters are young women, I think we shall soon have page boys running back and forth, carrying love poems.” She raised a hand to her mouth and giggled.
“You have been very kind,” said Akitada firmly, “but since the family is gone, I really don’t see how they can be involved in this.” Afraid that she would trap him into more of her romantic fantasies, real or imagined, Akitada bowed again, and retreated quickly.
“Please come back,” she cried after him.
Across the street loomed the long wall and gatehouse of the Yasugi residence. The unseasonable heat made the air above the tiles shimmer against the green trees and blue roofs like iridescent silk. He marveled that a wealthy man would leave such a valuable property unattended. Someone was inside, and that someone was hiding. He thought of the three ruffians.
But would robbers play the zither? Not likely!
He decided to walk around the perimeter of the property and look for another entrance. The northern boundary wall adjoined a small wood of pines and cedars. It was thickly overgrown, but Akitada found a footpath that followed the wall and seemed to be a shortcut to the next street. The wall was solid, but on the next street there was a small secondary gate to the service area of the Yasugi property. This gate was locked from inside and nobody answered his knock. The next cross street was the one where the attack had occurred, and Akitada knew that wall was blank. He returned to the footpath. When he turned the corner, he caught a glimpse of a man who seemed to disappear into thin air before his eyes. The path lay empty, and yet he was certain that a moment ago a figure had been there.