Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [429]
They started quietly for the priest’s house. Before they had gone ten paces, the man in the lead gasped and stepped back. The others instantly came to a dead halt, their eyes riveted on the back veranda of the timeworn shrine building. There, against a backdrop formed by the shadow of a plum tree laden with green fruit, stood Kojirō, one foot propped on the railing and a malevolent grin on his face. To a man, the students turned pale; some had trouble breathing.
Kojirō’s voice was venomous. “I gather from your discussion that you still haven’t learned, that you’ve decided to write a letter of challenge and have it delivered to me. Well, I’ve saved you the trouble. I’m here, ready to fight.
“Last night, before I’d even washed the blood off my hands, I came to the conclusion there’d be a sequel, so I followed you sniveling cowards home.”
He paused to let this sink in, then continued in an ironic tone. “I was wondering how you decide on the time and place to challenge an enemy. Do you consult a horoscope to pick the most propitious day? Or do you consider it wiser not to draw your swords until there comes a dark night when your opponent is drunk and on his way home from the licensed quarter?”
He paused again, as though waiting for an answer.
“Have you nothing to say? Isn’t there a single red-blooded man among you? If you’re so eager to fight me, come on. One at a time, or all at once—it’s all the same to me! I wouldn’t run from the likes of you if you were in full armor and marching to the beat of drums!”
No sound came from the cowed men.
“What’s the matter with you?” The pauses grew longer. “Have you decided not to challenge me? … Isn’t there even one among you with some backbone? “All right, it’s time now to open your stupid ears and listen.
“I am Sasaki Kojirō. I learned the art of the sword indirectly from the great Toda Seigen after his death. I know the secrets of unsheathing invented by Katayama Hisayasu, and I have myself created the Ganryū Style. I’m not like those who deal in theory, who read books and listen to lectures on Sun-tzu or the Six Secrets. In spirit, in will, you and I have nothing in common.
“I don’t know the details of your daily study, but I’m showing you now what the science of fighting is all about in real life. I’m not bragging. Think! When a man is set upon in the dark as I was last night, if he has the good fortune to win, what does he do? If he’s an ordinary man, he goes as quickly as he can to a safe place. Once there, he thinks back over the incident and congratulates himself on having survived. Isn’t that right? Isn’t that what you would do?
“But did I do that? No! Not only did I cut down half of your men, I followed the stragglers home and waited here, right under your noses. I listened while you tried to make up your weak minds, and I took you completely by surprise. If I wanted to, I could attack now and smash you to bits. That’s what it means to be a military man! That’s the secret of military science!
“Some of you have said Sasaki Kojirō is just a swordsman, that he had no business coming to a military school and shooting off his mouth. How far do I have to go to convince you how wrong you are? Perhaps today I’ll also prove to you that I’m not only the greatest swordsman in the country but also a master of tactics!
“Ha, ha! This is turning into quite a little lecture, isn’t it? I’m afraid if I continue to pour out my fund of knowledge, poor Obata Kagenori may find himself out of a stipend. That wouldn’t do, would it?
“Oh, I’m thirsty, Koroku! Jūrō! Get me some water!”
“Right away, sir!” they replied in unison from beside the shrine, where they had been watching in rapt admiration.
Having brought him a large earthen cup of water, Jūrō asked eagerly, “What are you going to do, sir?”
“Ask them!” Kojirō sneered. “Your answer’s in those weasely, empty faces.” “Did you ever see men look so stupid?” Koroku laughed.
“What a gutless bunch,” said Jūrō. “Come on, sir, let’s go. They’re not going to stand up to you.”
While the three of them swaggered