The Heike Story (33 page)

Before Kiyomori had time to put off his armor for a night's sleep, he was ordered to take three hundred soldiers, cross Mount Hiei, and go to the towns of Otsu and Sakamoto on Lake Biwa in search of Tameyoshi and his sons and arrest them. Secret agents reported that Tameyoshi was hiding in a temple on the other side of Mount Hiei and was waiting to cross the lake to escape east by the Tokaido highway. But a careful search of Mii-dera Temple and its environs yielded nothing; nor was there any trace of the fugitives in Otsu or the small fishing settlements between it and Sakamoto, so Kiyomori turned his search to Izumi Crossing, on the estate of one of the near-by monasteries. The small settlement, to whose teahouses the monks went for their dissipations, was a landing-place for vessels plying back and forth across the lake, and the bawdyhouses buzzed with excitement when Kiyomori and his troopers arrived to surround it in a house-to-house search. The headman and brothel-keepers were summoned and questioned by Kiyomori. Then a garrulous, elderly woman appeared, offering some information.

"Now, I can't say whether it was Tameyoshi or not, but a fisherman told me that early this morning six or seven warriors in very fine armor were taken across the lake to Omi."

While Kiyomori was questioning the woman, a gong began to sound an alarm, and wild shouts were heard at the approach to the village. News of Kiyomori's arrival had reached the monastery and the monks had armed and descended in a body to expel the trespassers. By the time Kiyomori reached the scene, he found his soldiers engaged in a fierce fight with the monks. Arrows whistled through the air as the monks fell upon Kiyomori's soldiers with their powerful halberds. Kiyomori quickly drew his bow and was taking aim at a heavily built monk when the latter threw up his hands with a shout.

"Ya! Is it you, Kiyomori of the Heike? Wait, Lord Harima! If it's you, I'll pick no quarrel with you here!"

"What, you refuse to fight? What cowardly priest is this?"

"I am Abbot Jisso of this near-by monastery."

"What?"

"Have you forgotten that we met eight or nine summers ago —in June—at the foot of Gion Hill when we marched on the capital with the Sacred Shrine? There was only one warrior who dared to defy us and shot at the sacred emblem. Surely you haven't forgotten that day!"

"That was I, Kiyomori of the Heike.”

"That one arrow turned us back. We swore then that we would some day have our revenge. There were others, however, who secretly admired you, and I was one of them."

"And then?"

"I swore that I would try to meet you some day, certain that you would be interesting to talk to."

"Wherever you say. At any time that pleases you."

"Yes, but what's the reason for this disturbance?"

"No harm was intended. I have orders to capture Tameyoshi. This was entirely unavoidable."

"Withdraw your men at once. We'll meet some other day."

"As you say. I'm ashamed to admit it, but we've made a mistake."

Disgruntled by their failure to capture Tameyoshi, and raging at the monks' attack on them, Kiyomori's men withdrew only after they had set fire to the villagers' huts.

After twenty days nearly every person of account had been captured and imprisoned, except for two—Tameyoshi of the Genji and Tadamasa of the Heike, Kiyomori's uncle.

As he rode back to Rokuhara, Kiyomori consoled himself with thoughts of shedding his armor for a steaming bath, and after that, sleep. He had just crossed Gojo Bridge when an ill-kempt figure in priest's robes, his face masked by a scarf and almost completely concealed by a wide pilgrim's hat, darted toward Kiyomori from the shade of the trees.

"Ah, Lord Harima, wait! Wait!"

The man cast away his pilgrim's staff as he threw himself at Kiyomori and clung to a stirrup. "I—it is I, Lord Harima, your uncle!"

"What?" Kiyomori started in astonishment and quickly ordered his soldiers to stand back. He reined in his horse and stared blankly at the ragged figure, scarcely able to believe his ears. "Leave me here. Get over there in the shade and wait," he ordered his men.

The priest collapsed against Kiyomori's stirrup, weeping: "Oh, my nephew, this is your uncle, Tadamasa. Save me! ... I implore you, my own flesh and blood, to have mercy. I came to you, my last hope, Lord Harima, my own nephew, spare me! Oh, spare me!"

"Here, let go! Kiyomori has no uncle. You have no reason to call me your nephew."

"What do you mean—you? Am I not your father's brother?"

"Didn't Tadamasa of the Heike, in that summer nine years ago when I went out to meet the monks from Mount Hiei, fear for his safety and renounce all blood-ties with the Heike7"

"Ah, but that was so many years ago. . . ."

"You had no pride then, neither do you now."

"I was mistaken. ... I made the greatest mistake of my life when I let the Minister Yorinaga draw me into that conspiracy. I take back those words disclaiming all ties with the Heike."

"Too late for regrets. I accept no excuses. You're a common criminal—a traitor."

"Do you mean that you're willing to see me captured and executed?"

"Why don't you plead with the throne? I'll have nothing to do with you. My orders are to arrest all rebels. My duty is to hand you over to the authorities."

"You're heartless! . . . Ah—"

"Out of my sight! Go wherever you will! Go, otherwise you shall be made a prisoner."

"No, no! I have hidden many days in the hills with scarcely anything to eat, and I have barely dragged myself here by escaping the watches at the crossroads. If I go elsewhere, I shall surely be caught by other soldiers. . . . Yes, you, Lord Harima, shall punish me by striking off my head!"

"Why choose me for your executioner? Why not surrender yourself to the authorities? If that is distasteful to you, then take your own life like a true warrior."

"I shall do neither. I came here seeking mercy of my own nephew. If he refuses me, then no appeal to either heaven or earth can save me. I choose to have that nephew behead me. That's my last wish. Come, Lord Harima, strike! Strike off my head!"

Here was this impossible uncle of his, Kiyomori thought. Tadamasa, however, knew Kiyomori. He had known him from the time he was a sniveling youngster, as a wretched, poverty-stricken youth. He also knew how easily his nephew was moved to pity, and Tadamasa was ready to take advantage of this. He was sure that Kiyomori would not have the heart to turn against him. Tadamasa was certain that his tears would get him off lightly. And it was as Tadamasa had surmised, for Kiyomori felt completely helpless, as though he were the victim and not his uncle.

That same night he lodged Tadamasa in one of the houses at Rokuhara and the following evening paid a visit to Shinzei in secret. Kiyomori, who appeared buoyant even in the strenuous days following the fighting, now seemed listless and worn. Something was weighing on his mind, and he stared vacantly at the lights in Shinzei's guest chamber, waiting for Shinzei to appear.

THE RIVER OF BLOOD

Both Kiyomori and his host were flushed with the wine that Lady Kii poured for them. After they had tossed off several cups to celebrate their victory, Lady Kii, anticipating an exchange of confidences between the two men, dismissed the servants and waited on them herself.

"Behead him you must. There's nothing else to do except to behead him. You'll never be much of a man if you're softhearted," Shinzei repeated, taunting Kiyomori for his lack of spirit. "You're troubled by the thought that Tadamasa is your uncle, but didn't he disclaim blood-ties with you?"

"Yes, he feared the consequences of that affair of the Sacred Shrine, and that same morning renounced all kinship with me."

"Then he has no claims on you."

"But there are—"

Shinzei's bloodshot eyes held Kiyomori's as he continued: "Blood-ties—but I thought that the late Emperor Shirakawa was your real father, not Tadamori of the Heike."

"Yes, that I learned from my father at the time he died. Though I may be the Emperor Shirakawa's son, what did he ever do for me? Tadamori was more than a father to me. How can I ever forget him? Tadamasa is his brother, and I cannot endure the thought of making him my prisoner, much less beheading him."

Shinzei laughed. "You are much too good-natured." Turning to his wife, he said: "Was there ever anyone with such senseless scruples?"

Lady Kii replied: "I'm afraid I don't quite understand. What is it that troubles him so?"

"Well, listen. Kiyomori comes here to me moping, and when I inquire what troubles him so, he tells me he is ready to give up his new title and lands that Tadamasa of the Heike may go free."

"Dear me, so Tadamasa of the Heike came to you because you are his nephew?"

"He hides him and then after much painful thought comes to me, begging me to intercede for Tadamasa at Court. I have been reproving him for a fool. Now what do you make of this?"

"I hardly know what to say—"

"Even you, a woman, who have had to perform many a distasteful task in secret to meet the wishes of Lady Bifukumon and of his late majesty, must smile at this womanish shrinking of a chief of the Heike—this Lord Harima."

"This is too much, Shinzei—making me an object for ridicule. As I have just said, I have made up my mind."

"Do I still see traces of dejection and irresolution in you? You seem lively enough, but I detect signs that you're still troubled."

"Nothing—nothing more serious than the petty qualms common to doltish youths. I find it difficult to harden myself to this. . . ."

"It is entirely another matter in your case. Tadamasa is a rebel, and you are merely carrying out the commands of the throne. He no longer has any claims on you. No ties of blood exist between you."

"That I know. It shall be done. I no longer hesitate."

"It would be folly to spare him; you may only bring misfortune on yourself. Who can say that if he goes free, he will not rally the Heike in other parts of the country and bring an army against you?"

"True. I have shown myself a coward. If the throne orders it, it shall be done tomorrow."

"The sooner the better, for if it becomes known that you gave him sanctuary, there's no telling what will happen to you and all the Heike.”

"You are undoubtedly right."

His irresolution gone, Kiyomori left Shinzei's mansion. A cool wind blew on his fevered cheeks, but a nauseating dizziness suddenly overcame him, causing him to reel in his saddle. The thought of what was expected of him made Kiyomori's head swim with horror. His whole being shrank from the thought of decapitating his uncle. A deep melancholy came over him, and he shook his head and beat on his temples with his clenched fists in desperation. A born coward. . . . Much as he detested Tadamasa, he saw no escape from this thing.

Tadamasa awoke late in the morning in a dim, barely furnished room in the servants' quarters. He found a medicinal bath prepared for him on his arrival, and later had gorged on a supper of gruel; assuring himself that his life was safe, he had slept soundly. He finished his morning meal with zest, and his thoughts then turned to his sons, who had been scattered during the fighting. Where were they now? Had they been captured or killed, he wondered,

"Is Tadamasa of the Heike here?"

Startled from his musings, Tadamasa stared at the personable warrior in his early thirties who walked in. There was something familiar about him, and yet Tadamasa saw no resemblance between him and Kiyomori.

A note of bravado crept into Tadamasa's voice as he replied: "I am he. Who are you?"

"Tokitada, under-secretary at the Court."

"Ah, Lady Harima's brother. Contrary to my expectations, Lord Harima most generously gave me refuge. I commend myself to you, sir."

"So I understand. The warrior must be worthy of his name to the very end. If you care to shave or arrange your hair, I will wait a few moments for you."

"Wait for me? Am I to be taken elsewhere?"

"That will be at four o'clock this afternoon. I have been sent to put you in bonds."

"Eh? Bind me? Who gave such orders?"

"Lord Harima himself."

"Impossible! Call Lord Harima! Tell him I must speak with him."