The Masuda Affair by I. J. Parker Read Free Book Online Page B

and glared at him. ‘So you finally show your face again. What’s the matter? Are the girls fed up?’
    Tora said, ‘I hope you haven’t been looking into the stew pot again, Turnip Nose. I hate curdled stew.’
    ‘I hope it gives you a bellyache.’
    Tora made a face at her. ‘It will. You’ll kill us all one of these days.’
    ‘You think you’re so smart. Here -’ she held out a stained basket – ‘run to the market and get a good-sized bream for your master’s dinner. And be quick about it. He’ll want his food as soon as he’s had a bath.’
    ‘For Buddha’s sake, woman,’ Tora cried. ‘I just got back from riding all the way to Otsu and beyond.’
    ‘Then it’s time you made yourself useful around here.’ She pushed the basket at him.
    ‘Aiih!’ Tora jumped back in mock horror.
    ‘It’s the fish basket, stupid!’
    ‘I know. I meant
you.
’ He gave a bellow of laughter, and she threw the basket at him with a curse and ran out, slamming the door behind her.
    ‘You shouldn’t tease her,’ said Genba.
    ‘That one brings nothing but joy,’ Tora grumbled, bending for the basket, ‘when she leaves.’
    ‘She’s a good cook. Give me the basket. I’ll go. You look dead on your feet.’
    Tora relinquished the basket. ‘She’s short, fat, stupid, ugly, lazy, and mean. A woman like that is spitting into the wind of fate. And her bad karma is ruining our lives.’
    ‘Get some rest, brother. You’ll feel better.’
    Tora collapsed on a pile of straw. ‘You’re right. Thanks.’
    Genba swept up the basket with one hand and trotted out.
    Akitada retreated from the scene in the garden to his study, and Tamako turned back to her work. Seimei watched her for a moment, then got up from his seat on the veranda and shuffled after his master into the house. He found Akitada seated behind his desk, drumming his fingers on the lacquered surface and scowling.
    ‘Will you have some tea now, sir?’ Seimei asked.
    ‘Yes. Thank you.’
    Akitada continued drumming, while the old man lit the coals in a brazier under the water pot and selected a twist of paper with powdered tea leaves and orange peel.
    ‘Was your journey successful?’ Seimei asked.
    ‘Hmm. What? Oh, that. Quite successful.’
    Seimei eyed his master. ‘I was afraid there were problems when you were gone longer than expected.’
    Akitada sighed. ‘I found a small boy, Seimei. And I lost him again. Don’t mention the matter to your mistress because it might upset her, but I’m worried about that child.’
    ‘Ah.’ Seimei cocked his head at the kettle, gauging the moment when the steam would whistle from the spout. Not yet. He poured a little of the powder into a cup and glanced at Akitada. ‘You are worried, sir?’
    ‘Apparently, he belongs to a fisherman and his wife. He has been beaten and starved, Seimei. I saw his poor body. It was covered with bruises, and he was just skin and bone. And he’s such a nice little boy. Do you think I should buy him?’
    ‘Buy him?’ Seimei’s jaw dropped. ‘To do what?’ The water came to a sudden rolling boil, sending a hissing thread of steam from the narrow spout. Seimei snatched the kettle up and poured. Stirring the tea with a bamboo brush, he brought the cup to Akitada. ‘What did you have in mind for the child, sir?’
    The question was uncomfortable. ‘I don’t know. I suppose I thought he would be company. That I could teach him. He’s deaf-mute, you know. Or perhaps just mute. I’m not sure.’
    Though he had not been invited to do so, Seimei sat down on a cushion. ‘You miss Yori,’ he said firmly. ‘It is quite natural to feel such a loss.’
    ‘You think I’m acting like a fool,’ objected Akitada. ‘I felt sorry for the child. He needed help. Is that so hard to grasp?’ He saw the pity in the old man’s face and threw up his hands. ‘Oh, very well. Have it your way. All I know is that for the day and night I had the boy I felt whole again. And now that he is