Shike by Robert J. Shea (the reading list txt) 📕

At sundown on the day the Muratomo seized control of the Imperial Palace, Horigawa and a small contingent of bodyguards stopped at the Shima residence. Horigawa sent for Taniko.

“I got your message. You are a dutiful wife. But by the time it reached me I had already learned of the Muratomo coup. How did you escape from the palace?”

“I was able to slip out through the north-east gate before Domei’s men had complete control of the palace. The palace grounds and buildings are so complicated; they’re hard to guard and easy to escape through if you know your way around.”

What Taniko did not add was that a frightened Akimi had awakened her before dawn. “You are in danger. You must leave the palace now, by the north-east gate. It isn’t guarded yet.”

“What’s happening, Akimi-san?”

“Domei is about to seize the palace and take the Emperor and Empress prisoner.”

“Why? He must be mad. It’s his duty to protect the Emperor.”

“He’s been abused for too long. He wants to take control of the government and avenge himself on his enemies. His men are ready to move at sunrise. This is your last chance to get out. Hurry and dress.”

Taniko’s mind was racing. “It’s my duty to stay here with the Empress.”

“No one will hurt the Empress. But you are Horigawa’s wife. Even though he likes you, Domei will have to use you as a hostage to try to get Horigawa. We know that Horigawa won’t put himself in Domei’s hands to save you. That means Domei may have to hurt you. You must get out now.”

“I must warn the Empress.”

Akimi’s beautiful face was grave: “I won’t let you do that. I’ll turn you over to Domei’s men.”

“Do you approve of what Domei is doing?”

“Approve? I have loved him for twelve years. I’m part of his family. My son is a Muratomo. I saw Domei’s father beheaded. I watched the Takashi seize every opportunity to insult him, to grind him into the dirt. Yes, I approve. If he did not fight back he would not deserve to be chief of the clan.”

“Yes, I see.” Taniko was dressing quickly with Akimi’s help. “Of course he must try to win back all that his family has lost. But to seize the Emperor is unheard of. What if Domei can’t hold the palace? The Takashi have tens of thousands of men over at the Rokuhara. I don’t trust this way of doing things. It’s too simple and too violent. It makes Domei look like a rebel.”

Tears glittered in Akimi’s large eyes. “I know, Taniko, I know. I’m terrified for all of us, for Domei, for my son, for Domei’s other sons. He’s wild-desperate. He has to do something. He isn’t cunning, as the Takashi are. He thinks he can cut through the net they’ve woven around him with a single sword stroke.” She sighed. “There’s no turning back now. It’s in motion. Our karma will decide what happens.”

Hurriedly, wrapped in a heavy cloak, Taniko followed Akimi out of the Wisteria Hall. In the distance, before the Hall of Military Virtues, she could see dark, square masses of men gathered. The clink of weapons and armour carried clearly through the cold, still, pre-dawn air. She followed Akimi along a winding path through the twisted trees planted in the north-east corner of the palace grounds. They came to an ox-drawn carriage held by a servant. The women said goodbye and Taniko got into the carriage. The guards at the north-east gate were apparently not involved in the plot. They didn’t question Taniko and let her through. Soon afterwards she was at the Shima mansion.

Now Horigawa said, “As soon as Domei feels he has the palace under control he’ll send men after me, and I don’t intend to give him the pleasure of catching me. The Muratomo may attempt to take you as a hostage. Take your carriage and follow me to Daidoji as quickly as you can. We’ll be safe there until Sogamori returns to the capital.”

“There’s no need for me to take a carriage,” said Taniko. “I can ride as well as you. Perhaps better.”

“Thank you for reminding me that I married a rustic wife,” said Horigawa.

Taniko looked at him levelly. “You married a samurai wife.”

Heavily cloaked against the cold of the last month of the year, Horigawa, Taniko and their party, riding without stopping, took half the night to reach Horigawa’s country estate, the manor called Daidoji. The samurai and peasants on the estate had heard nothing of the events in the city and were amazed to see their lord and his lady suddenly appear at the gate.

“Dig a pit deep enough to bury a man behind the guards’ quarters,” Horigawa ordered the steward, “and cut a length of bamboo that will reach to the bottom. Post a lookout above the pass. I want to know at once if armed men ride this way.” Without another word to Taniko or anyone else, he disappeared into his quarters. A moment later Taniko heard the steward’s angry voice commanding servants to take lanterns and shovels down to the guards’ quarters and begin to dig.

It was the hour of the ox, the blackest part of the night. Taniko went to her chamber in the women’s house, tended by sleepy maidservants she had come to know on -previous visits to the manor. She had a charcoal brazier brought in to warm the room and wrapped herself in as many robes and quilts as she could find. But she could not sleep. She lit an oil lamp and settled down with The Tale of the Hollow Tree given her over a year ago by Akimi.

Strange, she thought, that of all the women she had met at Court her closest friend should be Akimi, Domei’s mistress. It had begun with the incident of the dog, and after that, as they talked, she had found she could share thoughts with Akimi as she had never been able to do with another woman. Although Taniko would never have said so, the Empress was a rather dull person, the other women of the Court even more so. Taniko’s career as a lady-in-waiting would have been unbearable without Akimi.

And now, thought Taniko, I am in flight from Domei with Akimi’s help, and comforting myself with a book Akimi gave me.

It was two years since her marriage to Horigawa. She found the prince as repulsive as ever, but his conjugal visits were, happily, infre quent. He seemed to want a wife mainly because a man in his position was expected to have one or more wives. While it must be bad karma that had afflicted her with a husband like Horigawa, she had learned not to consider herself uniquely unfortunate. Many other women had unappealing husbands. Perhaps most did. Rebirth as a woman was probably a punishment for misdeeds in a previous life.

Still, there was much pleasure in her life. Living in the Imperial Palace most of the time, serving the Empress, she felt close to the centre of things, where she had always wanted to be. The letters she translated for Horigawa brought her news of the fabled land of China. Horigawa’s