Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [538]
A little rattled, Shinzō said, “It doesn’t have anything to do with how many times you come. My father doesn’t like to receive people. If he doesn’t want to see you, why do you keep coming back?”
Undaunted, Osugi cackled, “Doesn’t like to see people! Why does he live among them, then?” She bared her teeth.
The idea of calling her a dirty name and letting her hear the click of his sword being released crossed Shinzō’s mind, but he didn’t want to make an unseemly show of temper, nor was he sure it would work.
“My father is not here,” he said in an ordinary tone of voice. “Why don’t you sit down and tell me what this is all about?”
“Well, I think I’ll accept your kind offer. It’s been a long walk and my legs are tired.” She sat down on the edge of the step and began rubbing her knees. “When you speak softly to me, young man, I feel ashamed for raising my voice. Now, I want you to convey what I say to your father when he comes home.”
“I’ll be glad to do that.”
“I came to tell him about Miyamoto Musashi.”
Puzzled, Shinzō asked, “Has something happened to Musashi?”
“No, I want your father to know what kind of man he is. When Musashi was seventeen, he went to Sekigahara and fought against the Tokugawas. Against the Tokugawas, do you hear? What’s more, he’s done so many evil deeds in Mimasaka that no one there has anything good to say about him. He killed any number of people, and he’s been running away from me for years because I’ve been trying to take my rightful revenge on him. Musashi’s a useless vagabond, and he’s dangerous!”
“Now, wait—”
“No, just listen! Musashi started playing around with the woman my son was engaged to. He actually stole her and made off with her.”
“Hold on now,” said Shinzō, raising his hand in protest. “Why tell such stories about Musashi?”
“I’m doing it for the sake of the country,” Osugi said smugly.
“What good will it do the country to slander Musashi?”
Osugi rearranged herself and said, “I hear that slick-tongued rogue is soon to be appointed an instructor in the shōgun’s house.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“A man who was at the Ono dōjō. I heard it with my own ears.” “Did you, now?”
“A swine like Musashi shouldn’t even be allowed in the shōgun’s presence, let alone be appointed tutor. A teacher to the House of Tokugawa is a teacher to the nation. It makes me sick just to think of it. I’m here to warn Lord Hōjō, because I hear he recommended Musashi. Do you understand now?” She sucked in the saliva at the corners of her mouth and went on: “I’m sure it’s to the country’s benefit to warn your father. And let me warn you too. Be careful you don’t get taken in by Musashi’s smooth talk.”
Fearing she might go on in this vein for hours, Shinzō summoned his last ounce of patience, swallowed hard and said, “Thank you. I understand what you’ve said. I’ll pass it on to my father.”
“Please do!”
With the air of someone who has finally achieved a cherished goal, Osugi got up and walked toward the gate, her sandals flopping noisily on the path. “Filthy old hag!” cried a boyish voice.
Startled, Osugi barked, “What? … What?” and looked around until she spotted Iori among the trees, showing his teeth like a horse.
“Eat that!” he shouted, and flung a pomegranate at her. It struck so hard it broke.
“Ow-w-w!” screamed Osugi, clutching at her chest.
She bent to pick up something to throw at him, but he ran out of sight. She ran to the stable and was looking inside when a large, soft lump of horse manure struck her squarely in the face.
Sputtering and spitting, Osugi wiped the mess from her face with her fingers, and the tears began to flow. To think that traveling about the country on her son’s behalf had led to this sort of thing!
Iori watched at a safe distance from behind a tree. Seeing her weeping like an infant, he was suddenly very ashamed of himself. He half wanted to go and apologize