The Pillow Book of the Flower Samurai by Barbara Lazar Read Free Book Online

nodded and grinned, his long black beard, with white threads, bobbing up and down.
    The rest of the samurai were cackling now. It was worse than it had been at home. All these strangers were making fun of me. Akio chortled again. I stood there, helpless, tight fists and lips. I thought about jerking their topknots, pulling out their hair, kicking them in the stomach – after they had taken off their armour. I knew of nothing that could kill a dragon but a sword.
    When the laughter stopped, the tall one patted my head. I wanted to bite his hand. Not a good idea. That would not make Father proud.
    ‘What is your name?’
    ‘Kozaishō, Master.’ I bowed, rigid and small – resentments had stiffened my entire body.
    ‘There is no need for ill temper, Kozaishō,’ he whispered to me. ‘We do not laugh at you. We laugh at our own assumptions.’
    I did not know what that meant, and remained silent. At least he had said that they were not laughing at me. At what were they laughing?
    ‘What do you do here, Kozaishō?’ the tall one asked.
    ‘I live in Lesser House.’ I pointed.
    Akio glanced at the tall one with eyes I did not understand. I bowed, and the wind blew across the field. Large clouds formed in the clear sky, taking the shape of a huge dragon.
    ‘Akio,’ Master Isamu, the tall one, shouted. All the samurai turned. ‘Kozaishō has brought an omen of good fortune.’
    ‘Master Isamu, if I may be permitted to speak?’
    The older man’s eyes turned to Akio.
    ‘When I first spoke to Kozaishō today, a white pheasant came out of those trees and flew on to this field.’
    If they were omens of good fortune, would I be sent home? Would Proprietor Chiba stop hitting me?
    ‘So, Kozaishō brings two different omens of good luck.’ Master Isamu announced again. He raised his voice to the gathered samurai: ‘Kozaishō must be welcomed here at any time.’
    After that, he spoke quietly to me: ‘Come. Akio will take you to a safe place to watch us. I will ask permission for you to join us, but until then, you may observe as your . . . duties allow.’
    ‘You can visit us, little one,’ whispered Akio. I could not help but smile when I bowed to him. ‘You are special, Kozaishō. As special to me as my own girls.’
    Later I learned about the many swords in the world. The Sacred Sword, encrusted with jewels, was special and different from any practice sword. He told me more about Cloud Cluster – the name of the Sacred Sword found in the dragon’s tail. I never understood, though, why they had laughed so much.

II. The Practice of Omens
    My family had measured time by harvests and seasons. People counted time differently at Proprietor Chiba’s sh ō en . There, the day was divided into animals’ names. Tashiko told me the story of the hours:
    Once upon a time, the Emperor of Jade declared to all of the animals that he would name only twelve for the names of the years and the hours of each day. The twelve animals who arrived before him first would protect the people for one year. All of the animals wanted to be chosen. Alas, the cat was too excited and forgot what day it was. He asked his friend the rat, but the rat saw a chance to be rid of a rival and gave the wrong day. The day before, the robust ox decided to leave early, knowing he walked slowly. The rat hopped on to the ox to take advantage of the ride. The ox thought he would be first, but before he entered the Heavenly Palace, the rat jumped off his head and arrived first, with the ox behind him. The energetic tiger, king of the animals, reached the Heavenly Palace next. Then the serene hare, the mighty dragon, the wily snake, the forceful horse, the passive sheep, the clever monkey, the orderly cockerel, the trust worthy and loyal dog and, finally the persistent pig. The next morning, the cat came to the Heavenly Palace, delighted to be first. The guard told him to go home, wake up earlier next time and wash his face. Ever since, the cat and the rat