Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [328]
“Otsū! What are you doing out here? You’re sick.”
“I was worried about you. Why did you leave without saying anything to anyone? Where have you been all this time? The lamps were lit and the gate closed and still you didn’t return. I can’t tell you how worried I was.”
“You’re crazy. What if your fever goes up again? Go back to bed, right now!”
“Why were you crying?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“I want to know now. There must have been something to upset you so. You went chasing after Takuan, didn’t you?”
“Hmm. Yes.”
“Did you find out where Musashi is?”
“Takuan’s evil. I hate him!”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Uh, no.”
“You’re hiding something from me.”
“Oh, you’re both impossible!” wailed Jōtarō. “You and that stupid teacher of mine. I can’t tell you anything before you lie down and I put a cold towel on your head. If you don’t go back to the house now, I’m going to drag you there.”
Seizing her wrist with one hand and beating on the gate with the other, he called furiously, “Open up! The sick girl’s out here. If you don’t hurry up, she’ll freeze!”
A Toast to the Morrow
Matahachi paused on the pebbled road and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had run all the way from Gojō Avenue to Sannen Hill. His face was quite red, but this was due more to the sake he’d drunk than to the rare physical exertion. Ducking through the dilapidated gate, he trotted round to the little house beyond the vegetable garden.
“Mother!” he called urgently. Then he glanced into the house and muttered, “Is she sleeping again?”
After stopping by the well to wash his hands and feet, he entered the house.
Osugi stopped snoring, opened one eye and roused herself. “Why are you making such a racket?” she asked grumpily.
“Oh, are you finally awake?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“All I have to do is sit down for a minute and you start griping about how lazy I am, nagging at me to search for Musashi.”
“Well, pardon me,” Osugi said indignantly, “for being old. I have to sleep for my health, but nothing’s wrong with my spirit. I haven’t felt well since the night Otsū got away. And my wrist, where Takuan grabbed it, is still sore.”
“Why is it every time I feel good, you start complaining about something?”
Osugi glared. “You don’t often hear me complain, in spite of my age. Have you found out anything about Otsū or Musashi?”
“The only people in town who haven’t heard the news are old women who sleep all day.”
“News! What news?” Osugi was immediately on her knees, crawling closer to her son.
“Musashi’s going to have a third bout with the Yoshioka School.” “When? Where?”
“There’s a sign at Yanagimachi with all the details. It’s going to be in Ichijōji Village early tomorrow morning.”
“Yanagimachi! That’s the licensed quarter.” Osugi’s eyes narrowed. “What were you doing loafing in the middle of the day in a place like that?”
“I wasn’t loafing,” Matahachi said defensively. “You always take things the wrong way. I was there because it’s a good place to pick up news.”
“Never mind; I was just teasing. I’m satisfied you’ve settled down and won’t go back to the wicked life you were leading. But did I hear you right? Did you say tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, at five o’clock.”
Osugi thought. “Didn’t you tell me you knew somebody at the Yoshioka School?”
“Yes, but I didn’t meet them under very favorable circumstances. Why?”
“I want you to take me to the school, right now. Get yourself ready.”
Matahachi was again struck by the impetuousness of the aged. Without making a move, he said coolly, “Why get excited? Anybody would think the house was on fire. What do you expect to accomplish by going to the Yoshioka School?”
“Volunteer our services, of course.”
“Huh?”
“They’re going out to kill Musashi tomorrow. I’ll ask them to let us join them. We may not be much help, but we can probably get in at least one good blow.”
“Mother, you must be joking!” Matahachi laughed.
“What do you find so funny?”
“You’re so simple-minded.”
“How dare you speak that