Falling Through Glass by Barbara Sheridan Read Free Book Online Page A

chamber pot from the floor outside and placed it in the right corner behind a small bamboo screen.
    “It isn’t the privacy you’re used to, but I think you’ll be comfortable enough.”
    “Thank you,” Emmi said, stepping inside. Though she wanted to scream when Yamanami shut the door and placed a large iron lock through the wooden bars, she kept silent.
    “I’m going to check on that food tray, and then I’ll be back.”
    “All right.”
    When he left, Emmi unrolled the thin futon mat and curled up in the center. She prayed that this was all a nightmare, that she’d wake up and find it had all been a bad dream. That wish fell apart quickly once the male prisoners began calling out to her a few minutes later.
    “They bring you to entertain us?”
    “You smell sweet.”
    “I get the first taste.”
    Emmi covered her ears and hoped Yamanami would return soon. When the outer door to the jail slid open, she crawled to the front bars and looked out.
    She could make out Yamanami in the dim lantern light. He was carrying a dinner tray. Behind him was another man, who veered off toward the prisoners’ cells.
    Emmi gasped when she heard scuffling and what could only be the sound of men being beaten. A man’s voice issued threats and orders of silence.
    “Pay it no mind, child,” Yamanami said as he set the tray down then unlocked the door.
    “But—”
    “They savaged and murdered a woman who was gathering information for the shogunate. They don’t deserve your mercy.”
    He slipped the open lock through one of the door crossbars, then picked up the tray and set it on the floor beside the futon. Emmi’s empty stomach rumbled at the smell of the soup, steaming tea and flat bread. She noticed that there was enough for two.
    “If you don’t mind, I thought I’d sit here with you.”
    “Well…”
    Yamanami smiled a rather sad smile. “It’s quite safe, I promise you.”
    “Yamanami-san,” a man said.
    Emmi looked up at the man who had accompanied the vice-commander inside. He was dressed in a dark kimono, his black hair pulled back into a high ponytail.
    “Forgive the interruption. I don’t think you’ll have any further trouble tonight from that scum.”
    Yamanami sighed, and Emmi had the distinct impression that he didn’t have much of a stomach for this part of the job.
    “Thank you, Saitou-san.” He turned back to her. “Maeda-dono, this is Saitou Hajime, captain of the third unit.”
    Emmi managed to stop herself from saying “I know.” Saitou was portrayed quite often in anime and manga. The drawn versions didn’t come close to grabbing the intensity of the real man.
    Saitou bowed to her then addressed his commander once more. “I will be making rounds through the compound tonight if you need anything.”
    “Thank you.”
    The fierce samurai headed to the door, pausing long enough to order the prisoners to cease their groaning and sniveling else he’d “make them stop.”
    “I think he’s more frightening than Hijikata.”
    “You might be right.” Yamanami removed the cover from the food dishes. “We’d better eat this before it gets cold.”
     
    * * * *
     
    At the sound of the quiet knock, Hijikata Toshizou turned toward the inner door. “Enter.”
    His chief investigator slipped inside and knelt, bowing deeply.
    “As of now, my sources within the Shoshidai have no information on any girl scheduled to be questioned in connection with rebel activities. It’s possible the girl may have information on another matter, or it might be that the confusion surrounding the current changeover between governors has let something slip through the cracks.”
    Hijikata stroked his chin. His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “This bureaucratic confusion is all unbelievably convenient for our friend, Nakagawa no miya—oh that’s right, he calls himself Fujiwara in public.” Hijikata snorted. The emperor’s nephew shouldn’t go about putting on the pretense of a commoner. Men of the court