Autumn Bridge by Takashi Matsuoka Read Free Book Online

war. The ambassador, however, had told her that Robert had received the wound during naval actions on the Mississippi River, actions for which he had been awarded numerous commendations for valor. She found Robert’s modesty endearing. Indeed, she found many things about him endearing, not the least of which was his ability to speak English. That was perhaps what Emily had missed most during these long years in Japan — the sound of an American voice.
    Once at the doorway, Robert turned to face her. Apparently, he felt the need to stand at some remove in order to say what he had to say. His face still displayed a squinch. “You are a young unmarried woman, without the protection of father, husband, or brother, living in the palace of an Oriental despot.”
    “I would hardly call Lord Genji a despot, Robert. He is a nobleman, rather like a duke in European countries.”
    “Please. Let me continue while I have the courage to do so. As I was saying, you are a young woman, and, moreover, a very beautiful young woman. That alone would be enough to ignite gossip in any circumstance. To make matters worse, the ‘duke,’ as you style him, whose roof you share—”
    Emily said, “I would not phrase it that way.”
    “—is one notorious for debauchery even among his own debauched peers. For God’s sake, Emily—”
    “I must ask you not to use the Lord’s name in vain.”
    “Excuse me,” he said, “I forgot myself. But surely, you can see the problem now.”
    “And is that how you see it?”
    “I know you are a woman of impeccable virtue and utterly steadfast morality. My concern is not with your behavior. Rather, I fear for your safety in such a place. It borders on the miraculous that you have remained here unmolested for so long. Isolated this way, at the mercy of a man whose every whim is an ironclad command to his fanatic followers, anything could happen, anything, and no one could help you.”
    Emily smiled kindly. “I appreciate your concern. But really, your fear is entirely without foundation. Your generous characterization of my appearance is not shared by the Japanese. I am considered quite hideous, not unlike the demons that periodically appear in their fairy tales, breathing fire. No person is less likely to excite ungovernable passions in the Japanese than I, I assure you.”
    “It is not the generality of Japanese that concerns me,” Robert said, “just one person in particular.”
    “Lord Genji is a true friend,” Emily said, “and a gentleman who conforms to the highest standards of decency. I am safer within these walls than I would be anywhere else in Edo.”
    “The highest standards of decency? He consorts with prostitutes on a regular basis.”
    “Geisha are not prostitutes. I’ve explained that to you many times. You willfully refuse to understand.”
    “He worships golden idols.”
    “He does not. He expresses reverence for his teachers and ancestors by bowing to the images of Buddhas. I’ve explained this also.”
    Robert went on as if he hadn’t heard her. “He has murdered dozens of innocent men, women, and children, and caused many others to be killed. He has not only condoned suicide, which is sin enough, but he has actually ordered others to commit the act. He has decapitated, or caused to be decapitated, more than a few of his political enemies, and has compounded those atrocities by actually delivering the severed heads of those unfortunates to their families and loved ones. Such cruelty is beyond belief. My God, do you call this conforming to the highest standards of decency?”
    “Calm yourself. Here. Have some tea.” Emily needed the pause. All of the issues he had raised were easily answerable, if not completely defensible, save one. The murder of the villagers. Perhaps if she left that aside and addressed the other issues, he would not notice.
    Robert seated himself. He was breathing rather heavily, overexcited as he had been by his recitation of Genji’s