Minobu recognized all of the faces. He was impressed that the regimental commanders were all in attendance. Other important Dragoon officers were present as well, Natasha Kerensky among them. He was honored by the presence of such notable warriors.
Minobu stopped five meters from the door and let Wolf go on. The mercenary stepped up to Michi and said quietly,
“He has asked me to serve as kaishaku-nin.Where do I stand?”
“Next to the water bucket. You will be slightly behind him, to his left. Kneel there until it is time.” Michi noted that Wolf showed none of the tension he would have expected. Suspecting that Wolf did not understand the nature of the kaishaku-nin,he asked, “Are you well-versed in the sword?”
“What's that got to do with it?”
“The kaishaku-ninstrikes off the head of the principal before the pain grows so great that he shames himself.” Wolf's eyes went wide. “You did not know?”
“No!”
Michi lowered his head. “I understand. I shall serve then.” Wolf grabbed his arm.
“No. He asked me. I'll do it,” Wolf ground out. “Is that the sword I'm supposed to use up there?”
Michi looked Wolf full in the eye, gauging his emotional state. “If you strike poorly, you will shame yourself and his memory.”
“What choice do I have? I'll do my best.”
“In unusual circumstances, the kaishaku-ninis permitted other weapons,” Michi said. “Like what?”
“A pistol.”
“At least that's something I know how to use.”
Wolf started into the room, but Michi stepped into his way. The Kuritan fumbled at his holster with his left hand. “Please, Colonel Wolf, use mine. Allow me to share in the honor.”
Wolf took the offered laser pistol and walked to his place. The assembled Dragoons fell into silence as their Colonel entered the room.
Minobu waited until Wolf was settled. He stepped through the doorway, and bowed to the gathering. Calmly, looking neither left nor right, he walked to the cushion and knelt facing the door.
He sat quietly for a minute, composing his thoughts. Settled into a state of peace, he reached to his right, picked up the tray, and placed it before him. With great care, he mixed
the ink and dipped the brush in it. For an instant, his hand poised motionless above the paper, then it began to move, creating kanjicharacters in short, precise strokes. Speaking clearly, he spoke the words he wrote:
War bares a sword's steel.
Autumn leaves reflect color,
A samurai's blood.
He laid the brush across the ink dish and returned the tray to its former position. Sinking back into his kneeling position, he waited as Michi approached up the aisle formed by the Dragoons.
Michi carried a white lacquered tray, balanced carefully in his good hand. On it were a ceramic drinking dish and a small flask of sake. Michi knelt and placed the tray before Minobu. They bowed to one another.
Minobu took the flask in his left hand and filled the dish in two pours. He returned the flask precisely to its place. Raising the dish to his lips, he took two sips. After a pause, he drained it in two more sips and returned the dish to the tray.
Michi bowed and removed the tray to the back of the room.
Minobu knelt quietly, a great calm reigning within. One minute stretched into two, then three. At last, he spoke.
“I, and I alone, am accountable for the unfortunate losses among those for whom I was responsible. For this failure, I disembowel myself. I beg all of you present here to do me the honor of witnessing the act.”
Minobu bowed to the assembled Dragoons. Their faces showed reactions ranging from disgust to dignified concern to vengeful satisfaction. Through the insulation of his detachment, Minobu noted that only Kerensky remained as dispassionate as he.
As Minobu straightened from the bow, he shrugged his torso free of his upper garments. He tucked the sleeves of his kimono under his knees. Naked to the waist, he waited, hands resting lightly on his thighs. His face was expressionless.
Michi again approached, bearing another white lacquered tray. This time Minobu's wakizashilay on the shining surface. The sword was closely wrapped with rice paper, which was tied at three points with a red cord. Only three centimeters of the blade's shining steel was visible at one end. At the other, the lacquered wood handle was bare, showing the Tetsuhara family mon.
Carefully, he knelt and placed the tray in front of Minobu. The sword lay with its edge toward Minobu, pointing to his left. Michi bowed, rose, and walked around to Minobu's right. He crossed behind his sensei.Stopping slightly behind Wolf, he knelt next to the Dragoon.
“Jumonji,”Minobu said in a low voice that did not reach beyond the two men kneeling behind him.
Michi leaned over to Wolf and whispered, “He asked you to wait until he has made the second, crosswise cut.”
Wolf's nostrils went wide as he sucked in air, but he nodded slightly to confirm his understanding.
In a deliberate motion, Minobu reached out a steady hand and took the sword that lay before him. He looked down at it. In its shining surface, he saw reflections of all that had made his life worthwhile. Its shine was the sheen of his honor.
He turned the point toward his abdomen and focused his ki.
He stabbed the sword deeply into his flesh, on the left side below his navel. He drew it slowly across to the right. Turning the sword in the wound, he cut upward toward his heart.
He felt no pain. His kiliberated him from that. There was a small click behind him to the left.
Oblivion.
Wolf's nostrils stung from the sour scent of bile and singed hair. Tears blurred his vision as he knelt to free the short sword from Minobu's limp hands. He shoved the bloody blade into its scabbard and picked up Minobu's long sword as well.
“What are you doing, Colonel?” Michi asked, appalled by the lack of respect shown to the sword. “The swords must go to his family.”
“Don't worry, Michi. They will. I only want to arrange for a suitable messenger.”
Epilogue
ComStar First Circuit Compound
Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra
17 August 3028
“You are most welcome here, Colonel Wolf,” Julian Tiepolo almost shouted.
Heads turned to stare at the black-jacketed mercenary. Wolf threw the ComStar Primus a contemptuous glance and returned to scanning the crowd in the room below him. His gaze swept the festive assembly gathered for the occasion of the marriage of Prince Hanse Davion of the Federated Suns to Melissa Steiner, heir to the Archonship of the Lyran Commonwealth. Wolf was a predator searching a flock for his prey.
The mention of the mercenary's name cut through the noise around Takashi Kurita and captured his attention. He turned to look across the room at the short man standing at the top of the stairs. Despite his size, the mercenary's presence suddenly dominated the room.
It was plain that Wolf was agitated. He hefted a meter-long bundle swathed in black and silver-brocaded fabric. The motion made his wolf's-head epaulet glitter with a hard light that matched the look in his eyes. People sidled away from that cold stare.