As Sano and Hirata staggered the remaining short distance up the incline, Lord Miyagi began to sob. "You can't get away with this. And it won't do for you to be executed for murder. How would I get along without you?"

"You couldn't." Bitter triumph rang in Lady Miyagi's voice. "For thirty-three years I've served you, always fulfilling your wishes, protecting you from the consequences. I killed that girl from next door because she caught you spying on her in the privy when we invited her over. I was afraid she would make trouble, so I poisoned her tea. This is just one more thing I must do, so that no one ever separates us."

Then Lady Miyagi had committed the unsolved murder that Magistrate Ueda had mentioned. Even as fear licked at Sano's heart, wild hope surged within him. It sounded as if Reiko was still alive. Panting, he rounded the pavilion and skidded to a stop. His lantern shone upon three figures, defining them in flickering highlights and deep shadow. Lord Miyagi knelt on the path, which bordered a precipice and ended at a sheer drop into a dark abyss. From far below this came the rush of water. Some ten paces away, Lady Miyagi stood near the edge, holding Reiko by the hair. Wind swirled their brilliant robes.

"Reiko!" cried Sano.

The daimyo turned a tear-stained face to Sano. Lady Miyagi spun around. She held a dagger to Reiko's throat. Reiko's face was a mask of terror. When she saw Sano, gladness filled her eyes. She started to speak, but Lady Miyagi jabbed her with the tip of the blade, rasping, "Quiet!"

"Drop the dagger," Sano ordered Lady Miyagi, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. Dread a.s.sailed him. "You're under arrest for the murders of Lady Harume and Choyei." He guessed that Reiko must have somehow discovered the truth, provoking Lady Miyagi's attack. "Killing my wife won't help you." Setting down his lantern, Sano beckoned. "Let her come to me."

"Do as he says, Cousin," begged Lord Miyagi.

The weapon wavered in Lady Miyagi's unsteady hand, but she still gripped Reiko tightly. Desperation glazed her eyes. Her long hair whipped in the wind. Sano barely recognized the prim matron he'd met two days ago. Cheeks flushed, chin bloodstained, and teeth bared in a grotesque rictus, she looked like a madwoman. And Reiko's life depended on his ability to reason with her.

"Sosakan-sama, my wife is not really a bad person," said Lord Miyagi. "It's Lady Harume who was evil. She was blackmailing me. My wife only wants to protect me."

Sano said to Lady Miyagi, "If you let Reiko go, I'll advise the shogun to take the special circ.u.mstances into account. I'll recommend a lighter sentence." His spirit recoiled from the thought of letting a murderer escape justice, but he would say anything, do anything, to save Reiko. "Just come away from the precipice, and let's talk."

Lady Miyagi didn't move. Sano saw Reiko's throat contract, heard her breathing accelerate, and saw the gla.s.siness of her eyes. "Relax, Reiko," he called, fearing she would die of terror. "You're going to be fine."

"Listen to the sosakan-sama," Lord Miyagi beseeched his wife. "He can help us."

But Lady Miyagi's red-eyed gaze bypa.s.sed Sano as if he didn't exist, fixing on her husband. "Yes, Harume was evil." Replete with sincerity, the words issued from some dark, secret place inside her. "She had the audacity to conceive your child."

"My child?" Confusion lifted Lord Miyagi's voice. "Whatever are you talking about?"

"The child Harume was carrying when she died," Lady Miyagi said. "I saw her at the shrine of Awashima Myojin." This Shinto G.o.ddess was the patron deity of women. "She hung a prayer tablet beside the altar, asking for a safe delivery of the child. I poisoned the ink-to kill them both."

"But I never even touched Harume!" The daimyo crawled past Sano to kneel near his wife. "Cousin, you know what I am. How can you think I fathered a child on her?"

"If it wasn't you, then who else?" Lady Miyagi demanded. "Not the shogun, that impotent weakling." Glaring down at her husband, she lowered the dagger. "All these years, I've tolerated your affairs with other women and never complained, because I didn't think you would touch them; didn't think you could. I believed that in your heart you were true to me."

Dividing his attention among Lady Miyagi, the dagger, and Reiko, Sano eased closer, sending his wife a silent message: Just a moment more, and I'll save you!

"I thought we were spiritual lovers. Mated forever, like the swans on our family crest. Sharing everything." Lady Miyagi's mouth turned down; tears spilled over her face. "But now I know better. You sneaked away and bedded Lady Harume without telling me. You betrayed me!"

"Cousin, I never-"

"I know how much you want a son. I couldn't let Harume's child be born. That would have encouraged you to beget another, from one of your ladies. She would become your new wife, and the child your heir. You would have cast me aside. How could I survive without your protection?"

At last Sano understood the true reason for Lady Harume's murder. A misunderstanding had fostered jealousy. The unborn child, not the mother, had been the intended victim of the poison. Quietly Sano crept up on Lady Miyagi and Reiko.

"You killed Wren and Snowflake so they couldn't have sons by me." Dumbfounded, Lord Miyagi shook his head. "But why kill a drug peddler?"

Conviction hardened Lady Miyagi's teary gaze. "I did it so he couldn't identify me as the person who bought the poison. I was going to kill that odious freak-show proprietor who found out and tried to blackmail me, but I lost the chance. Don't you understand that I did it all so everything would stay the same between us?"

"Cousin, I would never cast you off," Lord Miyagi wailed. "I need you. Maybe I've never said so before, but I love you." He extended his clasped hands. "Please, give the sosakan-sama his wife, and come to me!"

"I can't." Lady Miyagi took a step closer to the edge of the precipice. Sano's heart banged against his rib cage; he halted in his tracks, throwing out an arm to keep Hirata back. Any movement might goad Lady Miyagi into hurting Reiko. "I've watched you look at her. I know you want her. The only way I can make sure she never bears you a son is by killing her."

She yanked the dagger up, poking the tip into the soft flesh under Reiko's jaw. Terror shot through Sano. "Listen. Your husband wasn't the father of Harume's child," he said, fighting to keep calm. "He didn't betray you. Harume had another lover. And Reiko is mine. She's not available for Lord Miyagi's use. So give her to me, now."

Lady Miyagi met his plea with a blank stare. Deep in her own world of skewed perception, she seemed impervious to logic. Slowly she turned away, dragging Reiko to the brink of the precipice.

"No!"

Sano rushed toward the women, but Hirata leapt in front of him. The young retainer grabbed Lord Miyagi in a double armlock. "Lady Miyagi, if you hurt the sosakan-sama's wife, I'll throw your husband over the edge," Hirata yelled.

It was a strategy that hadn't occurred to Sano; his mind had been focused on Reiko. Now he held his breath as he watched Lady Miyagi's head jerk around. When she saw the daimyo, she froze, drawing a sharp hiss of breath.

"Cousin, help, I don't want to die!" Sobbing, Lord Miyagi kicked and struggled in Hirata's grip.

"You can save him," Sano said. A pool of hope spread in his heart. "Just drop the dagger. Then walk this way." Moving down the hillside, he gestured for Lady Miyagi to follow. "Bring Reiko to me."

Lady Miyagi's gaze flashed from her husband to Sano, then Reiko. An anguished moan escaped her. Sano felt indecision weakening her resolve, like cold water cracking hot porcelain, yet she didn't move.

"Hirata?" Sano said.

The young retainer hauled Lord Miyagi to the edge. "Help, Cousin," the daimyo mewled.

No one else spoke. No one moved. Only the sounds of wind and rushing water broke the silence. The great wheel of the heavens seemed to stall, halting moon and stars on their celestial paths. Deranged by jealousy, Lady Miyagi apparently wanted to save her husband, but not without securing her position in his life. Perhaps she also needed to punish him for his imagined betrayal. Sano felt the night expand, vast and dark and terrible as the impa.s.se that the negotiations had reached. Despair overwhelmed him.

Then a series of crashing noises came from the forest. Running footsteps pounded up the slope. Beyond Lady Miyagi and Reiko, a man burst into view. He wore a soiled kimono and carried a spear.

"Lieutenant Kushida." Wonder hushed Sano's exclamation. He saw Hirata stiffen with surprise, and heard the daimyo utter a startled grunt. Lady Miyagi turned slightly, eyes darting, trying to watch everyone at once.

"It must have been him following us in the woods," Hirata said. "What's he doing here?"

The lieutenant ignored Sano, Hirata, Reiko, and Lord Miyagi. Pointing his spear at Lady Miyagi, he shouted, "Murderer!" His monkey face was streaked with dirt; his matted hair hung loose around his shoulders. "Day and night I've hunted the killer of my beloved Harume. At last I've found you. Now I shall avenge her death, appease her spirit, and reclaim my honor!"

Now Sano understood why Kushida had gone to Daikon Quay. He'd tracked down Choyei and forced the dying peddler to reveal the ident.i.ty of the customer who had bought the arrow toxin. He was the man whom the landlord had heard in Choyei's room. Then he'd stalked Lady Miyagi. Before Sano could react, the lieutenant lunged at Lady Miyagi. She shrieked and lurched sideways across the path toward the pavilion. The spear blade ripped through the sleeve of her robe. Cursing, Kushida attacked again. As Lady Miyagi lashed out with her dagger in an attempt to defend herself, Reiko broke free. She stumbled along the path, trying to avoid Kushida's vicious thrusts. When Sano rushed to help her, the shaft of the spear banged him on the shoulder.

Hirata flung Lord Miyagi aside. Drawing his sword, he charged at Lieutenant Kushida. "I'll take care of him, sosakan-sama. You save Reiko."

Thrusting and dodging, he drove Kushida down the hill. Sano reached for Reiko, but Lady Miyagi slashed his arm with the dagger, shrieking, "Get away!"

Sano drew his sword and chopped at Lady Miyagi's blade. Reiko drew a dagger from her sleeve and joined the battle. Then Sano felt someone come up behind him. He whirled and saw Lord Miyagi waving a sword.

"I won't let you hurt my wife." His droopy features tightened by fear, the daimyo took an awkward swipe at Sano.

Sano dodged the strike. He battered at the daimyo's sword, intending to subdue rather than kill. "You can't win, Lord Miyagi. Surrender."

Reiko slashed at Lady Miyagi, who parried. Their slender blades clashed with a sweet, steely ring. Whirling and feinting at the edge of the drop, amid billowing robes and hair, they engaged in a dance of violent grace. Reiko fought with practiced skill, Lady Miyagi with reckless ferocity. From down the hill, Sano heard Lieutenant Kushida shouting at Hirata, "Leave me alone. I must avenge Lady Harume's death. It's the only way I'll ever know peace."

Lord Miyagi struggled against Sano's superior skill. Sweat glistened on his woeful face. A lifetime of self-indulgence had left him ill suited for combat. Quickly Sano knocked the sword out of his hand. Helpless, he cowered on the ground. He looked at his wife, whose robes hung in bloodstained tatters where Reiko had cut her. A groan of misery issued from him. Sano could see his vision of life without a devoted slave; jail, exile, or confiscation of the family estate as punishment for his wife's crimes. Then Lord Miyagi raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"I accept defeat," he said with quiet dignity. "Please allow me the privilege of committing seppuku."

The daimyo drew his short sword, gripping it in trembling hands, the blade pointed at his abdomen. Closing his eyes, he murmured a prayer. Either he was taking the coward's way out of a difficult situation, or some vestige of samurai honor lived within him. Then he gulped a deep breath. With a piercing scream, he drove the sword into himself.

"Cousin!" Lady Miyagi rushed over and knelt beside her husband, who writhed and moaned in the agonies of death. Dropping the dagger, she caressed the daimyo's face with her b.l.o.o.d.y hands.

A great convulsion spasmed his body. He looked up at his wife, and his lips mouthed unintelligible words. Then he went limp in her arms.

"Oh, no. My darling. No!" Ugly, choking sobs wracked Lady Miyagi.

Panting from exertion, Reiko joined Sano. Gingerly he crouched, reaching for Lady Miyagi's dagger, though he didn't think she would resist arrest now. Then her hand shot out and grabbed the weapon, pointing it at him. Grief twisted her mouth; her face was livid with anger, smeared with blood and tears. "You destroyed my husband," she whispered."You'll pay for this."

Sano raised his sword. But instead of attacking him, Lady Miyagi a.s.saulted Reiko, crying, "You took away my beloved. Now I'm going to take yours!"

Caught off guard, Reiko dodged too late; the blade missed her heart, but cut her shoulder. Then they were fighting again, with Reiko's back to the precipice and Lady Miyagi between her and Sano. Sano sheathed his sword and seized Lady Miyagi from behind, locking his hands around hers on the hilt of the dagger. As they grappled for control of the weapon, she fell forward on top of Reiko. Sano fell with her. They landed at the very edge, heads extended into empty s.p.a.ce.

Reiko screamed, slashing Lady Miyagi's face with her dagger. Lady Miyagi howled. Sano wrenched the weapon away from her. At the same moment, she bucked, throwing him free. Then Reiko gave an enormous heave. Like an acrobat in a street show, Lady Miyagi flipped heels over head. Hands clawing wildly at Reiko, she soared into the air over the precipice and seemed to hang there for an instant. Sano threw himself on top of Reiko, anchoring her. Then Lady Miyagi plummeted out of sight. A high, thin scream followed her. There was a series of diminishing thuds as her body struck the rocks. Then silence.

Sano helped Reiko to her feet. Arms tight around each other, they peered down into the darkness. The moonlight gleamed faintly on Lady Miyagi's robes. She didn't move.

Hirata ran up to them, carrying Lieutenant Kushida's spear and his own sword. He bled from cuts on his hands, arms, and face. "Kushida is wounded, but he'll live. What happened here? Are you all right?"

Sano explained. Then he, Reiko, and Hirata were suddenly locked in a fierce embrace, faces pressed together. A catharsis of weeping shook them. As their blood and tears mingled, Sano experienced a deeper satisfaction than ever before at the end of a case. His wife was safe, his dearest comrade restored to honor. Each of them had played a crucial role in the investigation. Their shared victory was infinitely sweeter than the lone heroics of Sano's past.

"Let's wake up our troops and go home," he said, wiping tears from his cheeks.

Still embracing, with Sano in the middle, they started down the hill.

40.

Three days after the death of Lord and Lady Miyagi, a guard captain escorted Chamberlain Yanagisawa to the shogun's private audience chamber. A banner printed with the characters for secrecy decorated the entrance, indicating that a meeting of extremely confidential nature was in session. Sentries stood outside, ready to repel intruders.

"Please go right in, Honorable Chamberlain," said his escort. "His Excellency awaits you."

Somewhere in the city below Edo Castle, a funeral drum beat. As the guards opened the door, Yanagisawa swallowed the metallic taste of fear. His destiny would be determined here and now.

Inside the chamber, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi knelt upon the dais. On the floor to his left, Lady Keisho-in and Priest Ryuko sat side by side. The shogun's mother glared at Yanagisawa, then turned away in a huff. Ryuko flashed the chamberlain a glance of smug triumph before respectfully lowering his eyes. Opposite them, in the place of honor at the shogun's right, knelt Sosakan Sano, his expression carefully neutral.

A volcano of jealous hatred erupted in Yanagisawa. The sight of his enemy occupying his own usual position seemed a realization of his worst nightmare-that Sano had replaced him as their lord's favorite. Yanagisawa wanted to rail against the outrage, but a crude display of temper would ill serve his interests. His whole future depended upon skillful handling of the situation. He needed to remain in absolute control. Kneeling before the dais, he bowed to the shogun.

"Good morning, Yanagisawa-san," said Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. His voice held none of its customary affection, and he didn't smile. "It is unfortunate that this session must interfere with your, ahh, administrative duties."

"On the contrary-I'm honored to be called to your presence at any time." Although the chilly reception filled him with dread, Yanagisawa spoke as if he had no idea that this secret meeting had been called because his plot against Sano had backfired and he was now facing treason charges. "My service is yours to command."

"I have summoned you here to resolve some, ahh, serious issues that have been raised by Sosakan Sano and my honorable mother," said the shogun, nervously toying with his fan.

Chamberlain Yanagisawa's heart thumped like a wild creature trying to escape the cage of his body. Though he'd envisioned this scene countless times since Ryuko had come to his office, the reality was still terrible. He must conquer his fear and concentrate on repairing the damage he'd done himself.

"Certainly I shall cooperate in any way I can, Your Excellency." Yanagisawa made his expression reflect puzzlement and a somber eagerness to please, inserting just the right note of innocence into his voice. "What seems to be the problem?"

"It appears that you have, ahh, tried to frame my beloved mother for the murder of Lady Harume, and to ruin my dear, loyal sosakan by forcing him to accuse her. This is not only treason of the, ahh, highest order, but also a personal betrayal." Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's voice was high and tight; tears glistened in his eyes. Lady Keisho-in muttered angrily as she patted her son's hand. Ryuko smiled ever so slightly at Yanagisawa, while Sano watched everyone with wary alertness. "For fifteen years I've given you everything you desire-land, money, power. And you repaid my, ahh, generosity by attacking my family and my friend. This is an outrage!"

"It would be if it were true," Chamberlain Yanagisawa said, "but I can a.s.sure you that it is absolutely not." Sweat drenched his armpits and his hands turned to ice, but he knew exactly what he must do. Letting shock and hurt register on his face, but careful not to overact, he said, "Your Excellency, whatever led you to believe I committed such heinous acts?"

"Ahh-" The shogun gulped and blinked. Overcome by emotion, he gestured weakly toward Sano.

"You ordered Shichisaburo to plant a letter written by Lady Keisho-in among Harume's possessions for me to find," Sano said.

The sosakan-sama's cautious tone signaled his knowledge that the battle wasn't over, despite Keisho-in's smirk and Ryuko's veiled gloating. While Sano explained how the ruse had been discovered, Yanagisawa shook his head in dismay, then let feigned anger harden his features.

"Shichisaburo acted without my orders or my knowledge," he said.

Lady Keisho-in gasped. "Incredible!" Ryuko's eyes narrowed. Sano frowned.

"Is that so?" Hope lifted the shogun's voice. "Do you mean that it's all the boy's fault, and you had nothing to do with the, ahh, plot against my mother and the sosakan-sama?"

Chamberlain Yanagisawa felt the weight of victory shift in his direction. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi still cared for him, desiring reconciliation as much as justice. "That's exactly what I mean."

The shogun smiled in relief. "It seems we've misjudged you, Yanagisawa-san. A thousand pardons."

Now the double purposes of Yanagisawa's plan came together. Shichisaburo would take the blame for the failed plot, and the natural course of events would end their affair. No longer would he awaken dangerous cravings in Yanagisawa, or undermine his judgment and strength. Yanagisawa bowed, humbly accepting the shogun's apology, preparing for the next round.

Just as he'd expected, Sano said, "I suggest that Shichisaburo be allowed to tell his version of the story."

"Oh, very well," the shogun said indulgently.

Soon Shichisaburo was kneeling before the dais at Yanagisawa's side. Worry pinched his small face. He looked to Yanagisawa for rea.s.surance, but the chamberlain refused to meet his lover's gaze. He couldn't wait to be rid of the despicable creature.

"Shichisaburo, I want you to tell us the truth," Tokugawa Tsunayoshi said. "Did you, upon your own initiative, without, ahh, directions from anyone else, steal a letter written by my mother and hide it in Lady Harume's room?"

Of course the boy would spill the whole story, Chamberlain Yanagisawa knew. But it was a humble actor's word against his own, and he could easily make Shichisaburo look like a liar.

"Yes, Your Excellency, I did," said Shichisaburo.

Yanagisawa stared at him, astonished. Excited mutters arose from Lady Keisho-in and Priest Ryuko; the shogun nodded. Sano said, "Your Excellency, I think that the present company is intimidating Shichisaburo. We'll have a better chance of learning the truth if you and I speak to him privately."

"No!" Shichisaburo's cry rang out. Then his voice dropped. "I'm all right. And I-I am telling the truth."

Confusion rendered Chamberlain Yanagisawa speechless. Was the actor crazy, or just stupid?

"Do you realize that you are admitting that you, ahh, tried to frame my mother for murder?" the shogun asked Shichisaburo. "Do you understand that this is treason?"

Trembling visibly, the boy whispered, "Yes, Your Excellency. I am a traitor."

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi sighed. "Then I must condemn you to death."