Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [32]
“The bath?” said Otsū. “Come, I’ll show you.”
She set her tray down and began leading him along the passageway. Suddenly the samurai rushed forward and hugged her from behind.
“How about joining me in the bath?” he suggested lecherously.
“Stop that! Let go of me!” cried Otsū, but the man, turning her around, held
her face in both big hands and brushed his lips against her cheek. “What’s wrong!” he cajoled. “Don’t you like men!”
“Stop it! You shouldn’t do that!” protested the helpless Otsū. The soldier then clapped his hand over her mouth.
Takezō, oblivious of the danger, leapt up onto the passageway like a cat and thrust his fist at the man’s head from behind. The blow was a hard one. Momentarily defenseless, the samurai fell backward, still clinging to Otsū. As she tried to break away from his hold, she let out a shrill scream. The fallen man began shouting, “It’s him! It’s Takezō! He’s here! Come and take him!”
The rumble of feet and the roar of voices thundered from inside the temple. The temple bell began signaling the alarm that Takezō had been discovered, and from the woods throngs of men began converging on the temple grounds. But Takezō was already gone, and before long search parties were once again sent out to scour the hills of Sanumo. Takezō himself hardly knew how he’d slipped through the swiftly tightening net, but by the time the chase was in full swing he found himself standing far away, at the entrance to the large dirt-floored kitchen of the Hon’iden house.
Looking into the dimly lit interior, he called out, “Granny!”
“Who’s there!” came the shrill reply. Osugi ambled out from a back room. Lit from below by the paper lantern in her hand, her gnarled face paled at the sight of her visitor.
“You!” she cried.
“I have something important to tell you,” Takezō said hurriedly. “Matahachi isn’t dead, he’s still very much alive and healthy. He’s staying with a woman. In another province. That’s all I can tell you, because that’s all I know. Will you please somehow break the news to Otsū for me? I couldn’t do it myself.”
Immensely relieved to have unburdened himself of the message, he started to leave, but the old woman called him back.
“Where do you plan to go from here?”
“I have to break into the stockade at Hinagura and rescue Ogin,” he replied sadly. “After that, I’ll go away somewhere. I just wanted to tell you and your family, as well as Otsū, that I didn’t let Matahachi die. Other than that, I have no reason to be here.”
“I see.” Osugi shifted the lantern from one hand to the other, playing for time. Then she beckoned to him. “I’ll bet you’re hungry, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t had a decent meal for days.”
“You poor boy! Wait! I’m in the midst of cooking right now, and I can give you a nice warm dinner in no time. As a going-away present. And wouldn’t you like to take a bath while I’m getting it ready?”
Takezō was speechless.
“Don’t look so shocked. Takezō, your family and ours have been together since the days of the Akamatsu clan. I don’t think you should leave here at all, but I certainly won’t let you go without giving you a good hearty meal!”
Again Takezō was unable to reply. He raised his arm and wiped his eyes. No one had been this kind to him for a long, long time. Having come to regard everybody with suspicion and distrust, he was suddenly remembering what it was like to be treated as a human being.
“Hurry on round to the bathhouse, now,” urged Osugi in grandmotherly tones. “It’s too dangerous to stand here—someone might see you. I’ll bring you a washcloth, and while you’re washing, I’ll get out Matahachi’s kimono and some underwear for you. Now take your time and have a good soak.”
She handed him the lantern and disappeared into the back of the house. Almost immediately, her daughter-in-law left the house, ran through the garden and off into the night.
From the bathhouse, where the lantern swung back and forth, came the sound of splashing water.
“How is it?” Osugi called jovially. “Hot enough?”
“It’s just right! I feel like a new man,” Takezō called back.
“Take