Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [448]
At the moment, Sado was walking in the general direction of the riding ground. “Have you seen the Young Lord?” he asked of an apprentice samurai coming toward him.
“I believe he’s at the archery range.”
As Sado threaded his way down a narrow path, he heard a voice asking, “May I have a word with you?”
Sado stopped, and Iwama Kakubei, a vassal respected for his shrewdness and practicality, came up to him. “You’re going to talk with his lordship?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“If you’re not in a hurry, there’s a little matter I’d like to consult with you about. Why don’t we sit down over there?” As they walked the few steps to a rustic arbor, Kakubei said, “I have a favor to ask. If you have a chance during your talk, there’s a man I’d like to recommend to the Young Lord.”
“Someone wanting to serve the House of Hosokawa?”
“Yes. I know all sorts of people come to you with the same request, but this man’s very unusual.”
“Is he one of those men interested only in security and a stipend?” “Definitely not. He’s related to my wife. He’s been living with us since he came up from Iwakuni a couple of years ago, so I know him quite well.” “Iwakuni? The House of Kikkawa held Suō Province before the Battle of Sekigahara. Is he one of their rōnin?”
“No. He’s the son of a rural samurai. His name’s Sasaki Kojirō. He’s still young, but he was trained in the Tomita Style of Kanemaki Jisai, and he learned the techniques of drawing a sword with lightning swiftness from Lord Katayama Hisayasu of Hōki. He’s even created a style of his own, which he calls Ganryū.” Kakubei went on, listing in detail Kojirō’s various exploits and accomplishments.
Sado was not really listening. His mind had gone back to his last visit to the Tokuganji. Though he was sure, even from the little he’d seen and heard, that Musashi was the right sort of man for the House of Hosokawa, he had intended to meet him personally before recommending him to his master. In the meantime, a year and a half had slipped by without his finding an opportunity to visit Hōtengahara.
When Kakubei finished, Sado said, “I’ll do what I can for you,” and continued on to the archery range.
Tadatoshi was engaged in a contest with some vassals of his own age, none of whom was remotely a match for him. His shots, unerringly on target, were executed with flawless style. A number of retainers had chided him for taking archery so seriously, arguing that in an age of gun and lance, neither sword nor bow was any longer of much use in actual combat. To this he had replied cryptically, “My arrows are aimed at the spirit.”
The Hosokawa retainers had the highest respect for Tadatoshi, and would have served under him with enthusiasm even if his father, to whom they were also devoted, had not been a man of substantial accomplishments. At the moment, Sado regretted the promise he’d just made to Kakubei. Tadatoshi was not a man to whom one lightly recommended prospective retainers.
Wiping the sweat off his face, Tadatoshi walked past several young samurai with whom he’d been talking and laughing. Catching sight of Sado, he called, “How about it, Ancient One? Have a shot?”
“I make it a rule to compete only against adults,” Sado replied.
“So you still think of us as little boys with our hair tied up on our heads?” “Have you forgotten the Battle of Yamazaki? Nirayama Castle? I have been
commended for my performance on the battlefield, you know. Besides, I go in for real archery, not—”
“Ha, ha. Sorry I mentioned it. I didn’t mean to get you started again.” The others joined in the laughter. Slipping his arm out of his sleeve, Tadatoshi became serious and asked, “Did you come to discuss something?”
After going over a number of routine matters, Sado said, “Kakubei says he has a samurai to recommend to you.”
For a moment there was a faraway look in Tadatoshi’s eyes. “I suppose he’s talking about Sasaki Kojirō. He’s been mentioned several times.”
“Why don’t you call him in and have a look at him?”
“Is he really good?”
“Shouldn