Gloria Oliver (24 page)

Toshi stared at the tube, not quite daring to believe what was about to be given to him. Free passage through a lord’s land? He’d never heard of such a paper being bestowed on anyone.

Asaka set the tube down, then brought out the next item to be presented.

“This I give to you as a symbol of your status as a messenger for myself and Lord Asano. Once you have reached Narashi, wear it proudly, and use it to remind yourself of whom you serve and what needs to be done.”

Toshi stared at the samurai in shock as the latter held out a sheathed wakizashi. Its red-colored handle was emblazoned with the Asaka clan’s symbol. “I—”

“Take it.” Asaka’s tone was only momentarily harsh. “You’ve earned it.”

Trying hard to keep his hand from shaking, Toshi took the sheathed blade. Bowing in thanks mostly to keep his red face from being seen, he held on to the short sword. “Thank you, Asaka-sama.”

“You must seek out Lord Asano once you’ve reached his castle in Narashi. I have every reason to believe he’s still alive,” Asaka continued. “If not, you may deliver the object to his ruling descendant.

Under no circumstances are you to give it to anyone else.”

“You won’t try to see Lord Asano yourself, sir?” He wasn’t sure why, but he had a feeling he already knew the answer to his question.

The cold metal mask met his gaze head-on. “Not unless it proves necessary. I’m no longer certain we’ll be able to enter the castle grounds. There are too many unknowns at this time to foresee what will eventually occur.”

“Hai.” He tried hard not to guess at these unknowns.

“At nightfall, you’ll be escorted to shore and guided a short way into the mainland. We’ll remain with you until dawn. After sunrise, you’ll begin your journey. We’ll follow the same path at night.”

Toshi looked away, the wakizashi gripped in his hand. A dizzy feeling overtook him as things suddenly appeared to be happening too fast. “Hai.”

“Do you have any questions? Is there anything you feel you’ll need that hasn’t been provided for you?”

the samurai asked.

He managed to look up and shake his head. “No, Asaka-sama.”

“Good. I’ll see you again at nightfall.”

He bowed as the samurai stood up and stayed that way until he had gone.

“Toshi-kun, are you feeling all right?” Miko touched his arm.

He nodded, not feeling steady enough to speak. His journey would soon be upon him and it made him feverish. “Yes, I’m all right, Miko-san. I—I guess I’m just a little overwhelmed.” He tried hard to smile, hoping to disguise his growing uneasiness.

Miko reached out for him and held him close. He was too amazed by the hug to protest.

“You are such a delight. Please, Toshi-chan, don’t ever change!”

“Do the clothes fit all right, Toshi-kun?”

“Yes, Miko-san, they’re fine.” He considered reminding her there was no reason why they shouldn’t, since they were his, but decided against it as he watched her fold his dirty clothes for the third time.

“How much longer do I have?”

Miko looked up at the question. She set the folded clothes aside as she realized what she’d been doing.

“You’ve long enough to eat everything on your plates and even let it settle for a little while.”

He took the hint and started eating. He watched the geisha out of the corner of his eye as she got up and packed his things into the large basket, including his boken and wakizashi. She placed everything neatly inside except for the kettle and the three things Asaka had given him.

“It might be best, Toshi-kun, if you kept these on your person.”

Without comment, he took them from her and slipped them inside his tunic.

“I’ll have to leave the packing of the kettle up to you,” she said.

Following her stare, he realized he hadn’t thought much about the kettle lately. His whole life had been changed because of it, yet he still didn’t understand why such a simple item was worth all they had gone through so far. There had to be something about the kettle that wasn’t obvious, something he couldn’t see. But what?

Leaving the warmth of his blankets, he walked across the room and picked it up. He was somewhat amazed to find the eerie coldness about him ease a little. He wished he’d noticed this before. Opening the basket, he nested the kettle in the packaged foodstuffs and reclosed the lid. With three quick steps he rushed back to his futon and its waiting warmth.

He finished his dinner and fidgeted, knowing the time for his journey would be upon him soon. His muscles tensed as he abruptly felt the ship rise toward the surface. He opened his mouth to say something, only to find Miko staring at him, her eyes ablaze.

“Toshi-kun, it’s time,” she said.

Nodding as words failed him, he stood as she did. He helped her fold his blankets for the last time.

When they were through, he picked up the basket and slipped his arms through its thick straps. He held the wide, almost conical hat, in his right hand.

“I’m ready.”

Mitsuo gave him an acknowledging nod and opened the door. Toshi walked out into the hall and tried to ignore the weight resting on his back. Going out on deck, he found all the crew gathered there wearing light infantry armor. Asaka stood before them.

Toshi averted his eyes to the floor and tried to bow. Mitsuo and Miko simultaneously reached out for him as the extra weight on his back tried to pitch him forward. He rebalanced himself with their help, his cheeks flaming. He looked up in surprise as laughter rolled from those standing before him. He was even more astonished to see his lord was standing among them, seemingly unbothered by their amusement or his blundering.

Asaka nodded to him once and then stepped over to the railing of the ship. Mitsuo touched Toshi’s arm to urge him forward. Doing as he’d been bid, he followed their lord.

Keeping aware of the load on his back, he swung over the rail to climb down into the skiff. He tensed for a moment as Asaka reached up to steady him. He sat still in the bottom as Mitsuo and Miko came to join them.

He studied the glowing ship as the boat pulled away, knowing his time on it was over. He stared in amazement as the rest of the crew started jumping into the water. He glanced over at Miko, wanting desperately to ask what was going on. He held his tongue as he reminded himself they were in the presence of Asaka.

He kept his eyes on the ship during their trip to shore and continued to do so even as they disembarked onto a small moonlit beach. As the crew appeared from the depths of the sea, he realized every last one of them had left the ship, even the steersman. He couldn’t take his eyes away from the ship as the crew gathered together. Something seemed to be wrong with it, but he couldn’t quite figure out what. With a gasp, he realized the ship was sinking.

Turning around to tell someone, not sure whether the ship was supposed to be doing that or not, he found he wasn’t the only one watching. Every single one of them was looking at the ship, their hands pressed together as if in prayer.

He turned back around, a small chill rising up his back, as the ship continued to sink. It became harder and harder to see; its eerie light was fading. His mind filled with questions, but he couldn’t bring himself to disturb the solemn silence around him to ask them.

Abruptly, he found he could no longer stand to look. He’d been a prisoner within the ship for a time, yet it felt as if he were watching it die. Instead, he studied the faces of those around him. He stared at the large variations of color filling each set of empty eyes.

It wasn’t long before some of the others turned away as well. Eventually, even Asaka stopped staring out into the sea’s darkness and led the way into the mainland.

Trying to watch his footing in the almost total darkness, Toshi made his way to the geisha’s side.

“Miko-san?” he whispered.

“Yes, Toshi-kun?”

He hesitated a moment, hoping no one was listening. “What was wrong with the ship?”

Miko’s masked face swiveled toward him. “Wrong? Nothing was wrong with it. If anything, everything was right. The ship has been released from its supernatural life. It has become what it should have become some time ago. It has once again become part of the cycle of nature and life.”

He stumbled over an unseen rock. Moments passed as he struggled to regain his balance with Miko’s help.

“The ship had regained its honor,” she said. “It has finished the service it had been meant to perform. Its duty is over. Now, it is free.”

“Oh.”

He glanced ahead, grass-covered ground spreading before him as far as he could see. Small clumps of bamboo were the only things breaking the monotony. After a short while, the group reached a line of trees. In silence, they all filed into the deeper darkness.

Miko’s hand fell on his arm to help guide him, since he’d lost most of what little sight he’d had left.

Struggling to be careful with his footing, he was very glad when Asaka called out to them to halt.

“This is where you will remain until daylight, Toshi-kun,” Miko said. “Try to get as much rest as you can.”

Gratefully removing the heavy basket from his shoulders, he worked hard in the darkness to remove his traveling blankets from inside it. As he laid them out, he realized he couldn’t hear the others. Swallowing hard, he tried to fight the feeling he was suddenly alone. A wave of dread coursed through him as he realized this would be how it would feel once he’d started the journey in the morning—alone.

“We’ll be leaving soon, Toshi-kun,” the geisha said.

He sat up.

“Dawn is almost upon us, and Asaka-sama wishes to speak to you before we go.” Miko was sitting next to him.

“Hai.” He straightened his clothes and hair as much as possible, even as Asaka’s green eyes floated toward him. Toshi bowed.

“When you feel it is bright enough to travel, head south until you reach the cutter’s road. We’ll follow behind you as best we can at nightfall. Remember to steer clear of others if you’re able.” Asaka bowed toward him. “Our trust is with you.”

“Thank you, Asaka-sama.” He bowed to the ground, swallowing hard. He hoped the samurai’s faith wouldn’t prove to have been misplaced. He heard the others start to walk away and felt a touch of fear enter his heart. He found Mitsuo and Miko standing before him.

“Young one, remember the lessons I’ve taught you. Practice them daily. I will know if you do not,”

Mitsuo said.

He stared at the bent skeleton, caught offguard by the emotion in his voice. “I will, Sensei. I promise.”

Mitsuo patted him solidly on the shoulder and then walked away. Toshi stared after him, puzzled by the unusual gesture.

“He will miss you, I think.” Miko glanced over at him. “Mitsuo is never as happy as when he has a student to torture into the true way.” Her sleeve rose to cover her mouth as she turned to stare fondly at the departing samurai. “I’ve left breakfast for you over there,” she added. “Make sure you eat all of it.

Growing boys who will soon be men need to eat all they can.”

He nodded gratefully.

“Toshi-kun, please be careful. The world can be a dangerous place if you don’t take care.”

“I will, Miko-san, I will.” He felt his nervousness rising.

“Keep this with you, for company.” She pressed one of her wig’s silver bells into his hand and closed it.

He could find nothing to say. He held up the small bell, though he could hardly see it, and made it ring in the darkness.

“We’ll see you again. Soon,” Miko said.

He felt her hand graze his cheek, and then she was gone. As he was swallowed totally by silence, he knew he was truly alone.

He waited for the dawn, eventually wondering how the others were going to protect themselves from the sun. He knew from experience his companions could survive in the deep shadows of a forest, but would they be able to find such places throughout the course of the journey? Might the group, perhaps, be able to sink into the earth as the ship sank into the sea?

Pondering those questions rather than his abandonment, he fumbled in the dark until he found the breakfast Miko had left for him. With a relish he didn’t feel, he ate all he found. His gaze strayed more and more often in the direction the others had gone.

As the sky grew lighter, he sighed and repacked his blankets into the basket. Using the sun to figure out which direction was south, he raised the basket up on his back and shoulders and set off without once looking back.

It didn’t take long for Toshi to find the cutter’s road in the cool, misty morning. Following it in a southeasterly direction, he studied his map and wondered how far he’d be able to travel in a day. Though he wasn’t well-traveled, he doubted it would take him more than two weeks to reach Narashi.

Or so he hoped. Unlike the foreigners’ maps, those of his own country were somewhat less concerned with imparting accurate distances, mostly because they’d yet to find a better way to do it, though they still gave a good representation of what you might expect to encounter on the way. So, it would take about two weeks, unless he ran into trouble. If that happned there’d be no telling how much longer it might take.

With effort, he pushed those thoughts away and continued on his way.

The forest was thick on both sides of the road, and the vegetation was trying hard here and there to reclaim it. As the morning wore on, the day began to heat up; and with it came the sapping pull of humidity.

After a time, he stopped next to a small shrine on the side of the road. Grimacing, he removed the heavy basket from his back. He opened up his shirt and then splashed a bit of his water on his shoulders where the basket’s straps had begun to rub them raw. With a discontented sigh, he wished he’d thought to bring along some of Miko’s healing salve.

Regretting every movement of his arms as he dug out lunch from the basket, he ate but left a small portion of it in the shrine. Kneeling, he sent a quick prayer to the shrine’s kami, the guardian of travelers, for protection on the road.

By mid-afternoon, his shoulders felt as if they were on fire. Periodically, he’d moved the straps to other sections of his shoulders, but by that time there were no spots left untouched. His legs started to complain about carrying the load and walking so long. He doubted he’d ever had to travel so far in his life. In the city, everything you needed was only a few hours away, and that was if traffic was heavy. Out here, there was nothing but beautiful countryside as far as the eye could see.