IN THE SHADOW OF THE GO-INKYO[U]
Said a neighbour next day, on meeting his fellow-gossip--"Ah! Is it
Goémon San? It is said the Go Inkyo[u] is to be congratulated." Kamimura
Goémon sniffed. He was a long man; with long face, long nose, long thin
arms, long thin legs; a malicious man, who longed to give advice to his
fellows which they much disliked to hear, and liked to see them writhe
under the infliction. In fact this epitome of length rarely spoke in
good faith or temper--"The Go Inkyo[u] is to be congratulated? Escaping
the troubles of this world, perhaps he has fallen into worse troubles in
the next." At this unorthodox reply Mizoguchi Hambei showed surprise.
Continued Goémon--"The Go Inkyo[u] died a leper, eaten by the rats. Such
an end hardly calls for congratulations." Mizoguchi gasped, with round
eyes and round face. "Extraordinary!"--"Not at all," replied Kamimura,
complacently tapping the palm of one hand with the elongated fingers of
the other. "The Go Inkyo[u] drove out O'Iwa San from Tamiya. He gave
O'Hana in her stead to Iémon as wife. Hana the harlot! Cursed by O'Iwa
in dying, he has met this frightful end. Akiyama, Natsumé, Imaizumi will
surely follow. As will all those involved in the affair."--"But is O'Iwa
San really the cause of the death? The Go Inkyo[u] in life was not the
most careful of men in conserving health." This was timidly interjected
by a third party. Kamimura suppressed him with a scowl--"Of course it is
O'Iwa San. Has she not been seen? The women of the house answer for it.
Only Kibei the sceptic, and Kakusuké who would face the devil in person,
attempt to deny it." He threw up a hand. With unction--"Ah! It inspires
fear. Small is the profit of wickedness and malice. He is a fool who
indulges in either.... How cold it is for the time of year!"
Said the interloper--"But the congratulations have to be rendered all
the same. It will be necessary to attend the all-night watch. How
vexatious! Perhaps O'Iwa San will not appear. There is no getting out of
it?"--"Certainly not," answered Kamimura. "The Go Inkyo[u] was the head
of the ward association. Twelve neighbours have been invited to the
watch. At dawn the body is to be prepared. A pleasant undertaking, if
all that is said be true! The viands will be of the best, the wine no
worse and plentiful. None must fail to attend." He smacked his lips. The
others likewise, but much less heartily.
It was an unwilling band which crawled in laggard procession through
rain and mud and the length of the Teramachi to Kwaiba's house. A
_do[u]shin_, the ward chief, a rich man, the mansion displayed all its
splendour. The atmosphere, however, was oppressive. Kibei greeted the
guests with heartiness, and accepted their condolence and gifts with
lavish thanks and the cheerful face of him that profiteth by the
funeral. Kakusuké was his main aid in connection with the Go Inkyo[u]'s
last appearance. Occasionally a timid white-faced woman was seen, but
she would flit away from the scene of these festivities, to seek the
companionship of her panic-stricken fellows. Entering the funereal
chamber the body was found, laid out and decently swathed so as to
cover, as far as possible, the horrible nature of the death. On a white
wood stand was the _ihai_ in white wood, a virtuous lie as to the
qualities of the deceased. It ran--Tentoku Gishin Jisho[u] Daishi. Which
can be interpreted--"A man of brilliant virtues, virtuous heart, and
benevolent temperament." Screens, upside down, were placed at the head:
"Alas! The screen: the carp descends the fall."[30] Akiyama, Natsumé,
Imaizumi, were the last to appear. The former had been composing a
violent quarrel between his two friends--the long and the fat. Much
recrimination had passed, and the usually peaceful Imaizumi was in a
most violent and truculent humour. He glared with hate on Natsumé, who
now aided Akiyama in efforts to soothe his anger. On entering the
assembly the looks of all were composed. "A retribution for deeds in the
past world. Old; but so vigorous! The offering is a mere trifle. This
Kyuzo[u] would burn a stick of incense." Kibei extended his thanks and
suppressed his smile as much as possible. He was breathing with full
lungs for the first time in weeks. The storm was over; happiness was
ahead; the clouded sky was all serene. "Thanks are felt. This Kibei is
most fortunate: nay, grateful. Such kindness is not to be forgotten
during life."--"The Inkyo[u] an _hotoké_; Iémon Dono and O'Hana are the
husband and wife not present?" The question came from some one in the
room. "O'Hana San is very ill. Her state is serious. Iémon does not
leave her." Akiyama answered for the truant pair. Kibei's joy was
complete.
Akiyama, Natsumé, Imaizumi were standing by Kwaiba's body. Kamimura
slowly approached. The long man's face was longer than ever; longer,
much longer than that of Natsumé; and Kibei was not in the running.
Goémon meditatively fondled his nose; on the pretence of concentrating
thought, and for the purpose of relieving that member from the savour
arising from Kwaiba's bier. This was no bed of roses--"Yes, the Inkyo[u]
is indeed dead." He sniffed. "Soon it will be the turn of all of you--to
be like this;" another sniff--"of Iémon and O'Hana, of Natsumé and
Imaizumi, of this Akiyama San." The latter gave a violent start. With
hand to his nose also, he turned on the intruder. Continued Goémon--"A
plot was concocted against O'Iwa San. Beggared and driven from the ward,
deceived and sold as a street harlot, this death of the Inkyo[u] is but
the first in the roll of her vengeance. Kamimura speaks with pure heart
and without malice. You men are not long for this world. Is Akiyama San
reconciled? And...." He pointed a skinny finger at Kyuzo[u], then at
Jinzaémon. "You show it. Your eyes are hollow; your nostrils are fallen
in. The colour of the face is livid. You seem already to be _hotoké_,
prepared to lie with the Go Inkyo[u]." Akiyama found his tongue. He
burst out in a rage--"The jest is unseemly. Kamimura San goes too far.
It is true this Cho[u]zaémon gave counsel to Ito[u] Kwaiba. Kyuzo[u] and
Jinzaémon took some part in what followed. But we acted on the orders of
Ito[u] Dono, of Iémon San. On the first will be visited any grudge."
Goémon laughed harshly. He pointed to the corpse. "Here he lies. How did
he die? Goémon does not jest, and the argument of Akiyama San is rotten.
The master bids the servants to beat the snow from the bushes. The snow
falls on them; not on him. How now Akiyama San?" Cho[u]zaémon turned
away discomfited. All three felt very bad--in mind and body.
The bell of Sainenji struck the eighth hour (1 A.M.). Just opposite, its
clangour filled the whole mansion with a ghostly sound. In the depths of
night this inert mass of metal seemed a thing of life, casting its
influence into the lives of those present, rousing them to face grave
issues. Noting the absence of Natsumé, the round-faced, round-eyed,
round-bodied Imaizumi followed after. Kibei came forth from the supper
room, to find his guests all flown. "Where have they gone to, Kakusuké?"
He looked around in amazement--"They were taken with pains in the belly.
With this excuse they departed. Yotsuya is afflicted with a flux." The
_chu[u]gen_ answered in the dry and certain tone of one unconvinced.
Kibei shrugged his shoulders. "There is naught wrong with wine or
viands?"--"Nor with the guests," replied Kakusuké. "They are cowards,
who have caught some inkling as to the not over-nice death of the Go
Inkyo[u]."--"The latter day _bushi_ are not what the _bushi_ were of
old; at least this brand of them. Ah! These wretched little bureaucrats;
_bushi_ of the pen. Two men to eat a supper prepared for twelve sturdy
trenchers. Well: two are enough to wash the corpse. Lend a hand
Kakusuké."--"Respectfully heard and obeyed," replied the _chu[u]gen_.
The white dress for the last cover to the body was laid ready. Secured
by Kwaiba many years before in a pilgrimage to the holy Ko[u]yasan, the
sacred characters were woven into its tissue. Kakusuké dragged a large
tub into the bathroom. Kwaiba's body was unswathed and placed in it.
Kakusuké eyed his late master with critical and unfavourable eye.
"Naruhodo! The Go Inkyo[u] is a strange object. No eyes: nose, ears,
lips gone; his expression is not a pleasant one.... Nay! The Wakadono is
awkward. Throw the water from head to feet.... Take care! Don't throw it
over Kakusuké. He at least is yet alive. The Wakadono is wasteful. More
is needed. Deign to wait a moment. Kakusuké draws it from the well." He
opened the side door and went outside. Kibei drew a little apart from
the body. It stank. A noise at the sliding window (_hikimado_) in the
roof made him look up. Oya! Oya! The face of O'Iwa filled the
aperture--round, white, flat; with puffed eyelids and a sightless glare.
With a cry of horror and surprise Kibei sprang to the door. As he did so
slender attenuated hands groped downward. "Kakusuké! Kakusuké!"--"What
is it, Wakadono?"--"O'Iwa: she looks down through the _hikimado_! She
seeks the Inkyo[u]!" Kakusuké gave a look upward--"Bah! It's the cat. Is
the Wakadono, too, getting nerves? They are a poor investment."--"The
cat!" Kibei sighed with relief. Nevertheless he kept his hand on his
sword.
He turned round--to give a shout of surprise--"Kakusuké! Kakusuké! The
body of the Go Inkyo[u] is no longer here." As the astonished
_chu[u]gen_ came running to look into the empty tub, both men nearly
fell over in their wonder. The body of the Inkyo[u] was whirling around
the neighbouring room in execution of a mad dance. Followed by Kakusuké,
his worthy son and heir sprang in pursuit. Invisible hands led Kwaiba
and the pursuers into the darkness of the garden, into the rain and
storm. Kibei heard the steps just in front of him. He pursued madly
after them. "To lose his parent's body--this was against all rules of
Bushido[u]." Thus comments the scribe of Nippon. Kibei could commit all
the moral and physical atrocities except--failure in filial conduct to
parent and lord; the unpardonable sins of the Scripture of Bushido[u].
Kakusuké soon lost his master in the darkness. Disconcerted and anxious
he returned to secure a lantern. The wind promptly blew it out; then
another, and a third. He stood on the _ro[u]ka_ in the darkness to wait
the return of the Wakadono. For the first time Kakusuké had noted
failing purpose in his young master. He was more solicitous over this
than over the strange disappearance of the Inkyo[u]'s body. Was the
Wakadono losing his nerve; as had the O'Dono?
In time Kibei reappeared. To Kakusuké's inquiring glance--"Kibei
pursued to Myo[u]gyo[u]ji; then up the hill. Here sight was lost of the
Inkyo[u]. The darkness prevented further search. A lantern is next to
worthless in this gale. Kakusuké, go to the houses of Natsumé and
Imaizumi close by. They are young and will aid Kibei in the search."
Kakusuké did not demur. Pulling his cape over his head, off he posted.
He asked but to come across the Inkyo[u]'s body, in O'Iwa's company or
not made no difference to this iron-hearted servitor. His mission was
fruitless. The two men had expressed the intention of spending the night
at the Kwaiba wake. Neither had as yet returned. Grumbled Kibei--"The
filthy fellows! With this excuse to their wives they seek new pastures
at Nakacho[u] (Shinjuku), to spend the night in dissipation. 'Tis
Natsumé who is the lecher. Gladly would he wean Imaizumi from his barely
wed wife."--"Or wean the wife from Imaizumi Sama! Wakadono, nothing can
be done now. The dawn should be awaited." With these sage comments the
_chu[u]gen_ squatted at respectful distance from his master. From time
to time one or other arose, to look sceptically into the empty tub in
which once had reposed the Inkyo[u]'s body. Finally both nodded off into
sleep. At dawn--don, don, don, don, came a loud knocking on the outer
gate. Kakusuké went out, to return with astonished face and portentous
news. The dead bodies of Natsumé Kyuzo[u] and Imaizumi Jinzaémon had
been found at the foot of the _baké-icho[u]_, a huge tree close by the
guardhouse. Finger tip to finger tip three men could not girdle this
tree. With the bodies of the men lay that of a woman. Two corpses, man
and woman, were stark naked. Kibei's presence, as the successor to
Kwaiba's office, was required.
He prepared at once to start for the Okido[u]. The tale was in time
learned from the prolix Kamimura Goémon, who had witnessed part at least
of the scene. As he was knocking at his door on the Shinjuku road,
having just returned late from the watch at Kwaiba's house, rapid steps
were heard in the street. A man, recognized as Kyuzo[u], passed, running
at top speed. He dragged along by the hand a woman, the wife of
Imaizumi. The two were nearly naked. Close in the rear pursued Imaizumi
Jinzaémon, his drawn sword in his hand. They sped up the wide road.
Goémon stepped out, to follow at a distance this flight and pursuit. At
the _icho[u]_ tree the fugitives were overtaken. The woman was the first
to be cut down. Kyuzo[u] turned to grapple with the assailant. Unarmed
his fate soon overtook him. He fell severed from shoulder to pap. Having
finished his victims Imaizumi seated himself at the foot of the tree,
and cut open his belly. "Long had such outcome been expected," intoned
the long-nosed man. The case needed no explanation. Others echoed the
opinion of Goémon, who was merely many fathoms deeper in the scandal of
the neighbourhood than most of them. It was agreed to hush the matter
up. Reporting his own experience, to the astonishment of his hearers,
Kibei, accompanied by Kakusuké, started down Teramachi toward
Samégabashi. As they passed the Gwansho[u]ji attention was drawn by a
pack of dogs, fighting and quarrelling in the temple cemetery. A white
object lay in the midst. With a shout the men sprang in. Tearing up a
grave stick Kibei rushed into the pack, driving off the animals. There
lay the body of Ito[u] Kwaiba, brought hither by the hands of O'Iwa to
be torn and mangled by the teeth of the brutes. Thus was it that the
funerals of Ito[u] Kwaiba, Natsumé Kyuzo[u], and Imaizumi Jinzaémon took
place in one cortége on the same day and at the same time. The
postponement in the first instance--was it providential?