Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [168]
“That’s Susukida’s house there,” said Yasoma.
“The one with the bracketed roof over the gate?”
“No, the corner house next to it.”
“Hmm. Big, isn’t it?”
“Kanesuke’s made a name for himself. Until he was thirty or so, nobody had ever heard of him, but now …”
Matahachi pretended to pay no attention to what Yasoma was saying. Not that he did not believe it; on the contrary, he had come to trust Yasoma so thoroughly that he no longer questioned what the man said. He felt, however, that he should remain nonchalant. As he gazed at the mansions of the daimyō, which ringed the great castle, his still youthful ambition told him, “I’ll live in a place like that too—one of these days.”
“Now,” said Yasoma, “I’ll see Kanesuke and talk him into hiring you. But before that, what about the money?”
“Oh, sure,” said Matahachi, aware that a bribe was in order. Taking the money pouch from his breast, he realized that it had shrunk to about a third of its original bulk. Pouring it all out in his hand, he said, “This is all I have. Is it enough?”
“Oh, sure, quite enough.”
“You’ll want to wrap it up in something, won’t you?”
“No, no. Kanesuke’s not the only man around here who takes a fee for finding somebody a position. They all do it, and very openly. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Matahachi kept back a little of the cash, but after handing over the rest began to feel uneasy. When Yasoma walked away, he followed for a few steps. “Do the best you can,” he implored.
“Don’t worry. If it looks as though he’s going to be difficult, all I have to do is keep the money and return it to you. He’s not the only influential man in Osaka. I could just as easily ask help from Ono or Gotō. I’ve got lots of contacts.”
“When will I get an answer?”
“Let’s see. You could wait for me, but you wouldn’t want to stand here in this wind, would you? Anyway, people might suspect you were up to no good. Let’s meet again tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“Come to that vacant lot where they’re holding sideshows.”
“All right.”
“The surest way would be for you to wait at that sake vendor’s where we first met.”
After they settled on the time, Yasoma waved his hand and walked grandly through the gate to the mansion, swinging his shoulders and showing not the slightest hesitation. Matahachi, duly impressed, felt Yasoma must indeed have known Kanesuke since his less prosperous days. Confidence swept over him, and that night he dreamed pleasant dreams of his future.
At the appointed time, Matahachi was walking through the melting frost on the open lot. As on the previous day, the wind was cold, and there were a lot of people about. He waited until sundown but saw no sign of Akakabe Yasoma.
The day after that, Matahachi went again. “Something must have detained him,” he thought charitably, as he sat staring at the faces of the passing crowd. “He’ll show up today.” But again the sun set without Yasoma’s appearing.
On the third day, Matahachi said to the sake vendor, somewhat timidly, “I’m here again.”
“Are you waiting for someone?”
“Yes, I’m supposed to meet a man named Akakabe Yasoma. I met him here the other day.” Matahachi went on to explain the situation in detail.
“That scoundrel?” gasped the sake vendor. “Do you mean he told you he’d find you a good position and then stole your money?”
“He didn’t steal it. I gave him some money to give to a man named Susukida Kanesuke. I’m waiting here to find out what happened.”
“You poor man! You can wait a hundred years, but I daresay you won’t see him again.”
“Wh-what? Why do you say that?”
“Why, he’s a notorious crook! This area’s full of parasites like him. If they see anybody who looks a little innocent, they pounce on him. I thought of warning you, but I didn’t want to interfere. I thought you’d know from the way he looked and acted what sort of character he was. Now you’ve gone and lost your money. Too bad!”
The man was all sympathy. He tried to assure Matahachi that it was no disgrace