ericlustbader.the ninja-第31部分

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　kneeling　on　the　tatamis　before　a　green　lacquered　table。　She　wore　a　traditional　Japanese　robe　and　her　long　gleaming　hair　had　been　put　up　with　ivory　sticks。　He　thought　that；　at　that　moment；　she　had　never　looked　so　beautiful　or　so　regal。　She　was　a　far　cry　from　the　icy　aristocracy　of　Itami；　yet　perhaps　even　because　of　that　he　had　far　more　admiration　for　his　mother。　Of　Itami's　kind　of　woman　there　were　plenty　in　books　of　photographs　he　had　seen　of　an　older；　pre…war　Japan。　But　oh；　Cheong　1　There　were　none　to　touch　her。　She　carried　with　her　a　nobility　of　soul　that　Itami　could　never　hope　to　attain；　not　in　this　life；　at　least。　Though　Itami　was　strong；　her　magnetism　was　nothing　pared　to　Cheong's　power；　for　she　wielded　an　inner　tranquillity　that　was　as　profound　as　the　utter　stillness　of　a　hot　summer's　day；　a　living　jewel；　unique。　She　was；　as　Nicholas　thought　of　it；　of　a　whole　cloth　and　this　he　respected　and　admired　above　all　else。
　He　had　no　great　desire　to　talk　to　Itami　but　it　would　have　been　very　bad　manners　for　him　to　leave　the　house　without　acknowledging　her　presence；　his　mother　would　be　furious　and；　quite　naturally；　blame　herself。　This　he　did　not　want　and　thus；　some　time　later　in　the　afternoon；　he　pulled　open　the　shoji　and　stepped　through。
　Itami　looked　up。　'Ah；　Nicholas；　I　did　not　know　that　you　were　home。'
　'Good　afternoon；　Aunt。'
　'Excuse　me　a　moment；'　Cheong　said；　getting　effortlessly　to　her　feet。　'The　tea　is　cold。'　For　some　reason　she　would　not　overtly　use　the　servants　when　Itami　was　around。　She　left　them　alone　and　Nicholas　began　to　feel　unfortable　under　the　mute　scrutiny　of　Itami's　gaze。
　He　went　over　to　the　window；　gazed　out　at　the　forest　of　cryptomeria　and　pine。
　'Do　you　know；'　said　Itami；　'that　hidden　within　that　forest　is　an　ancient　Shinto　shrine？'
　'Yes；'　Nicholas　said；　turning　round。　'My　father　told　me。'
　'Have　you　seen　it？'
　'Not　yet。'
　'And　did　you　know；　Nicholas；　that　within　that　shrine　is　a　park　filled　with　mosses？'
　'Forty　different　varieties；　I　think；　Aunt。　Yes；　I　know　of　it　but　I　am　told　that　only　the　priests　of　the　shrine　may　look　upon　it。'
　'Perhaps　it　is　not　so　difficult　as　that；　Nicholas。　I　cannot　imagine　you　wanting　to　bee　a　priest。　It　does　not　suit　you。'　She　rose；　said　unexpectedly；　'How　would　you　like　to　take　me　there？　To　the　shrine　and　to　the　park？'
　'When？　Now？'
　'Certainly。'
　'But　I　thought…'
　'All　things　may　be　possible；　one　way　or　another；　Nicholas。'　She　smiled　and　called：　'Cheong；　Nicholas　and　I　are　going　for　a　walk。　We　won't　be　long。'　She　turned　back　to　him　and　reached　out　her　hand。　'e；'　she　said　gently。
　They　walked　silently　until　they　came　to　the　verge　of　the　forest。　There　they　turned　right　along　the　grass　for　perhaps　two　hundred　metres；　when　she　abruptly　guided　him　inward。　He　found　that　they　were　on　a　narrow　but　well…worn　track　through　the　trees　and　underbrush。
　'Well；　Nicholas；　you　must　tell　me　how　you　like　your　training　at　the　dojo；'　Itami　said。　She　walked　carefully　in　her　wooden　geta；　using　the　point　of　her　lacquered　paper　parasol　as　a　walking　stick　to　help　balance　her　on　the　uneven　ground。
　'It　is　very　hard　work；　Aunt。'
　'Yes。'　She　waved　a　hand　as　if　dismissing　this　statement。　'But　this　is　not　something　that　you　had　not　anticipated。'
　'No。'
　'Do　you　enjoy　all　the　hard　work？'
　He　glanced　up　at　her；　wondering　what　she　was　getting　at。　He　had　absolutely　no　intention　of　telling　her　of　the　growing　animosity　between　himself　and　Saigo。　That　would　not　do　at　all。　He　had　not　even　told　his　parents。　'At　times；'　he　said。　'I　would　wish　to　move　on。'　He　shrugged。　'I　am　impatient；　I　suppose。'
　'There　are　times　when　only　the　impatient　are　rewarded；　Nicholas；'　she　said；　stepping　over　a　tangled　root。　'Here；　help　me　the　last　few　feet；　won't　you？'　She　gave　him　her　arm。　'Ah；　there　we　are。
　They　were　in　a　clearing；　and　as　they　moved　out　from　the　shade　of　the　pines；　Itami　lifted　her　parasol　over　her　head　and　opened　it。　Her　skin　was　as　white　as　snow；　her　lips　deep　red；　her　eyes　as　dark　as　nuggets　of　coal。
　The　deep　lacquered　wall　of　the　temple　was　awash　in　shimmering　sunlight　so　that　he　was　obliged　to　squint　until　his　eyes　accustomed　themselves　to　the　brightness。　It　was　as　if　he　were　gazing　at　a　sea　of　gold。
　They　began　to　walk　along　the　crushed　limestone　gravel；　a　blue…white　stippled　path　that　pletely　encircled　the　temple；　one　could　tread　it　forever；　never　getting　closer　to　or　farther　away　from　one's　goal。
　'But　you　have　survived；'　she　said　softly。　'That　is　gratifying。'　They　had　reached　the　verge　of　the　steep　wooden　steps　up　to　the　bronze　and　lacquered…wood　doors　which　stood　open；　shadowed；　silent；　hunkered　down　fortably　as　if　waiting　for　something　or　someone　to　arrive。　They　paused　there。　She　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　so　lightly　that　if　he　had　not　seen　it；　he　might　not　even　have　felt　its　weight　there。　'I　had　grave　doubts　when　your　father　came　to　me；　requesting　that　I　help　gain　entrance　for　you　in　a　suitable　ryu。'　She　shook　her　head。　'I　had　no　choice　but　to　acquiesce　and　honour　dictated　that　I　made　no　ment　of　my　own；　but　I　was　concerned。〃　She　sighed。　'In　a　way　I　pity　you。　How　strange　your　life　will　be。　Westerners　will　never　fully　accept　you　because　of　your　oriental　blood　and　the　Japanese　will　despise　you　because　of　your　occidental　features。'　Her　hand　lifted　into　the　air　like　a　butterfly　and　her　forefinger　gave　him　a　fragile　and　fleeting　touch　on　the　point　of　one　cheek。　She　stared　at　him。　'Even　your　eyes　are　your　father's。　Her　hand　dropped　to　her　side；　it　was　as　if　she　had　never　made　the　gesture。　'But　I　am　not　so　easily　fooled。'　She　turned　her　implacable　gaze　away　from　him　and　said；　'Let　us　go　inside　and　pray。'
　'Beautiful；　isn't　it？'　Itami　said。
　And　he　had　to　agree。　They　stood　beside　a　slow　meandering　brook　which　tumbled　down　across　moss…covered　rocks　from　a　height　of　perhaps　two　metres；　certainly　not　more。　Everywhere　was　green；　even　the　water；　even　the　pebbles。　To　Nicholas　it　looked　as　though　there　were　four　thousand　species　of　moss　here　instead　of　the　forty。
　'And　peaceful；'　she　continued。　'It's　so　peaceful　here。　The　outside　world　does　not　exist。　Gone。'　She　folded　her　parasol　in　the　shade　of　the　overhanging　cryptomeria。　She　inhaled　deeply；　her　small　head　thrown　back。　'It　is　as　if　time　itself　had　dissolved；　Nicholas。　As　if　there　had　been　no　twentieth　century；　no　expansion；　no　imperialism　…　no　war。'　She　closed　her　eyes。　'No　war。'　He　watched　her　closely　until　her　eyes　flew　open；　staring。　'But　there　was　a　war。'　She　turned。　'Shall　we　sit　on　this　stone　bench？　Good。　Perhaps　the　shogun　…　one　of　the　Tokuga…was；　even　…　sat　just　here　where　we　are。　There。　It　gives　one　a　sense　of　history；　does　it　not？　A　continuity？　A　feeling　of　belonging？'　She　turned　to　him。　'But　not　you；　I　suspect。　Not　yet；　anyway。　We　are　alike　in　that　respect。　Oh；　yes　we　are。'　She　laughed。　'I　see　by　your　expression　that　you　are　surprised。　You　shouldn't　be。　We　are　both　outsiders；　you　see；　forever　cut
　off　from　that　which　we　desire　the　most。'
　'But　how　can　that　be？'　Nicholas　protested。　'You　are　a　Nobunaga；　a　member　of　one　of　Japan's　oldest　and　most　noble　houses。'
　Itami　smiled　at　him　just　the　way　a　predator　might　and　he　saw　her　white　even　teeth；　glistening　with　saliva。　'Oh　yes；'　she　breathed；　'a　Nobunaga；　indeed。　But　that；　like　a　great　deal　else　in　Japan；　is　merely　the　exterior：　the　gorgeous　lacquered　coat　which　hides　the　rotting　hulk　underneath。'　Her　face　was　no　longer　beautiful；　squeezed　as　it　was　by　the　anguish　she　felt。　'Listen　well　to　me；　Nicholas。　Honour　has　fled　us　here；　we　have　allowed　ourselves　to　be　corrupted　by　the　Western　barbarians。　We　are　a　despicable　race　now；　we　have　done　such　hideous　deeds。　How　our　ancestors　must　shudder　in　their　graves；　how　their　kami　must　yearn　for　the　final　resting　rather　than　the　return　to　this　…　modern　society。'
　Her　voice　had　risen　somewhat　and　now　Nicholas　sat　quite　still　beside　her；　allowing　the　air　to　cool。　But　she　would　not　or　perhaps　could　not　rest　now。　It　had　been　difficult；　he　suspected；　for　her　to　begin　this。　But；　once　she　had　overe　the　initial　inertia；　nothing　could　stop　her。
　'Do　you　know　what　the　zaibatsu　are；　Nicholas？'
　'By　name　only；'　he　said；　once　more　uncertain　of　the　ground　she　had　put　them　on。
　'Ask　your　father　to　explain　the　zaibatsu　to　you　one　day；　will　you？　The　Colonel　knows　a　great　deal　about　them　and　you　should　know；　too。'　Then；　as　if　it　explained　it　all；　she　said；　'Satsugai　works　for　one　of　the　zaibatsu。'
　'Which　one？'
　'I　hate　my　husband；　Nicholas。　And；　do　you　know'　…　she　laughed　shortly　…　'only　your　father　knows　why。　It　is　so　ironic。　But　life　is　ironic。　It's　a　devil　withholding　from　you　what　you　desire　the　most。'　Her　tiny　hands　were　clenched　like　baby　fists　in　her　lap。　'What　good　being　a　noble　Nobunaga　when　I　must　forever　carry　with　me　the　shame　of　my　great…grandfather？　My　shame　is　as　inescapable　to　me　as　your　mixed　blood　is　to　you。
　'My　great…grandfather　left　the　service　of　the　shogun　when　he　was　twenty…eight　to　bee　a　ronin　…　do　you　know　what　that　is？'
　'A　masterless　samurai。'
　'A　warrior　without　honour；　yes。　A　brigand；　a　thief。　He　turned　mercenary；　selling　his　strong　capable　arm　to　the　highest　bidder。　Enraged　by　this　unseemly　and　dishonorable　behaviour；　the　shogun　sent　men　out　into　the　countryside　to　track　him　down；　and　wh