Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [542]
“Isn’t there any way … ?”
“Certainly not!”
“Have mercy,” sobbed Matahachi, clinging to Takuan’s knees.
Takuan stood up and kicked him away. “Idiot!” he shouted in a voice that threatened to lift the roof off the shed. The ferocity of his glare was beyond description—a Buddha refusing to be clung to, a terrifying Buddha unwilling to save eyen the penitent.
For a second or two, Matahachi met the look resentfully. Then his head dropped in resignation, and his body was racked with sobs.
Takuan took the razor from the top of the woodpile and touched Matahachi’s head with it lightly.
“As long as you’re going to die, you may as well die looking like a disciple of the Buddha. Out of friendship, I’ll help you do that. Close your eyes and sit quietly with your legs crossed. The line between life and death is not thicker than an eyelid. There is nothing frightening about death, nothing to cry over. Don’t weep, child, don’t weep. Takuan will prepare you for the end.”
The room where the shōgun’s Council of Elders met to discuss matters of state was isolated from other parts of Edo Castle. This secret chamber was completely enclosed by other rooms and hallways. Whenever it was necessary to receive a decision from the shōgun, the ministers would either go to his audience chamber or send a petition in a lacquered box. Notes and replies had been going back and forth with unusual frequency, and Takuan and Lord Hōjō had been admitted to the room several times, often remaining there for day-long deliberations.
On this particular day, in another room, less isolated but no less well guarded, the ministers had heard the report of the envoy sent to Kiso.
He said that though there had been no delay in acting on the order for Daizō’s arrest, Daizō had escaped after closing up his establishment in Narai, taking his entire household with him. A search had brought to light a substantial supply of arms and ammunition, together with a few documents that had escaped destruction. The papers included letters to and from Toyotomi supporters in Osaka. The envoy had arranged for shipment of the evidence to the shōgun’s capital and then rushed back to Edo by fast horse.
The ministers felt like fishermen who had cast a big net and not caught so much as a single minnow.
The very next day, a retainer of Lord Sakai, who was a member of the Council of Elders, made a report of a different sort: “In accordance with your lordship’s instructions, Miyamoto Musashi has been released from prison. He was handed over to a man named Musō Gonnosuke, to whom we explained in detail how the misunderstanding came about.”
Lord Sakai promptly informed Takuan, who said lightly, “Very good of you.”
“Please ask your friend Musashi not to think too badly of us,” said Lord Sakai apologetically, uncomfortably aware of the error made in the territory under his jurisdiction.
One of the problems solved most quickly was that of Daizō’s base of operations in Edo. Officials under the Commissioner of Edo descended on the pawnshop in Shibaura and in one swift move confiscated everything, both property and secret documents. In the process, the unlucky Akemi was taken into custody, though she was completely in the dark regarding her patron’s treacherous plans.
Received in audience by the shōgun one evening, Takuan related events as he knew them and told him how everything had turned out. He ended by saying, “Please do not forget for a moment that there are many more Daizōs of Narai in this world.”
Hidetada accepted the warning with a vigorous nod.
“If you attempt to search out all such men and bring them to justice,” Takuan continued, “all your time and effort will be consumed in coping with insurgents. You won’t be able to carry out the great work expected of you as your father’s successor.”
The shōgun perceived the troth of Takuan’s words and took them to heart. “Let the punishments