The Way of the Traitor: A Samurai Mystery (9 page)

oSsakan-sama, I've worked with barbarians for nine years, nine years. Interpreter Iishino bustled along beside Sano. oAnything you want to know about them, just ask me.
Sano slowed his pace. He'd longed to see Deshima and the Dutch, yet he felt extremely unequal to the challenge of interrogating the barbarians. The confrontation on the ship had shaken his confidence in his personal strength and his country's, and he regretted the naA_vetAc that had made him believe himself capable of this investigation in which he must succeed "or lose his honor, and his life.
They reached the iron-banded gate. At the guards' knock, it swung open. Inside stood Deshima Chief Officer Ohira, flanked by two more guards.
oSsakan-sama. Chief Ohira bowed. oWelcome to Deshima. The stiff greeting conveyed no warmth, and Ohira looked even more miserable than he had at Governor Nagai's mansion earlier. The bones of his face seemed sharper, the cheeks more sunken, the pouches beneath his eyes darker. Oddly, the murder seemed to have exacted an even greater physical toll from him than Director Spaen's disappearance had. After all, the security threat to Japan had ended with the barbarian's death, as should the threat of punishment for Ohira and his staff. oI await your orders.
To buy himself time, Sano said, oBefore I see the barbarians, I'll inspect the island. Perhaps he could find clues as to how Director Spaen had escaped, and who had killed him.
Ohira ushered Sano and Iishino through the gate. A short passage, bordered by high fences, led to Deshima's main street. Entering the world he'd often imagined, Sano found it disappointingly small, yet still intriguing. The street curved along the island's lengthwise axis, between two-story wooden cottages. On the ground floors of these, sliding doors faced the road; above, barred windows formed orderly rows beyond covered balconies. A sentry stood at each door; others patrolled the street or perched on the roofs. Chief Ohira had indeed made sure that no more barbarians escaped.
oThese buildings have all been searched? Sano asked.
oOf course. Annoyance tightened Ohira's features. oI can assure you that no corner was overlooked during the hunt for Director Spaen, and I would have reported any evidence of foul play. This incident wasn't caused by negligence on my part, and if the killer isn't caught, it won't be my fault.
oI'm not accusing you, Sano hastened to say, surprised at the chiefs defensiveness. oIf I've given you that impression, I apologize. But I'd like to look inside the houses and see everything for myself.
Resentment smoldered in Ohira's bloodshot eyes, but he nodded. At his command, the sentries opened doors, showing Sano large storerooms with shuttered windows, all empty except for one, which contained crates and bundles.
oThose came on last year's ship, but were not sold then, Interpreter Iishino explained, head bobbing. oThe law says they must be stored until the next ship arrives, then offered for sale again along with the new goods.
Sano examined the warehouses and the vacant rooms upstairs, but found nothing remarkable. Under Chief Ohira's glowering gaze, he proceeded to the streets east end. There stood a guardhouse with more sentries inside. At its doorway Sano saw buckets and ladders " firefighting equipment "and a short, cylindrical structure faced with stones.
oA cistern? he guessed, moving closer to inspect the barbarian's possible escape route.
oFresh water comes to Deshima through bamboo pipes, from the river. Chief Ohira tapped the cistern's wooden lid. oThis is kept nailed down, except when the servants fetch water.
oIs there another access to Deshima besides the bridge?
oYes. The water gates.
Ohira led the way to the island's opposite end, past another guardhouse, and into a large corner compound where more sentries paced. This contained a house with a prominent entry porch and latticed balcony; two cottages; a long one-story building; and two small, square ones with plaster walls, ironclad doors, and tile roofs. Grudgingly Ohira named each buildings function: oMy office. The interpreters' office; the governors deputies' office. The store where the barbarians sell their goods to Japanese merchants. Fireproof warehouses.
At his orders, two guards opened a wide double gate in the fence. Sano saw stone steps leading down to the sea, and, perhaps twenty paces beyond, the signs warning ships away from Deshima.
oWere the gates open last night? he asked the guards.
Chief Ohira answered. oNo. They're opened only when the Dutch ship's crew and cargo are ferried to or from Deshima. And I can assure you that the gates, and every part of the island, are under constant watch.
oIncluding last night?
oIncluding last night.
Sano examined the steps, but saw no footprints or other signs that anyone had recently descended them. oDoes the island have a drainage system? he asked.
Chief Ohira tilted an exasperated glance skyward. oUnderground pipes empty into the harbor below the sea. They're narrow and crooked; nothing except water can pass through. Obviously anxious to finish the tour, he said, oWhat do you want to see next?
Interpreter Iishino chimed in, oShow him the perimeter of the island, and Director Spaen's rooms. Maybe he'll find something you missed.
oI don't take orders from you, Ohira snapped. oAnd how dare you suggest that I'm incompetent?
Hands raised in supplication, Iishino grinned. oMy apologies if I offended you, but I'm only trying to help.
oWell, don't!
The chief's reaction seemed extreme, even considering how unpleasant it must be to work with Iishino on a regular basis. Sano knew he would worsen his already adversarial relationship with Ohira if he took Iishino's side, but he did intend to examine the areas the interpreter had suggested.
oInterpreter Iishino, wait for me at Spaen's quarters, Sano said. oI'll meet you there after Chief Ohira shows me the perimeter.
His attempt to defuse the conflict sent Iishino bustling off toward the main street, but didn't pacify Ohira, who told the guards to close the water gates, then stalked away.
Sano followed. oWould last night's storm have interfered with security on Deshima?
Ohira gazed straight ahead as they followed a path that ran between high fences along the islands outer curve. oI maintain strict control over Deshima. The weather does not interfere with it.
Something must have, Sano thought. He saw no scratches on the fences' smooth, weathered boards, or anything caught on the spikes to suggest that a man had climbed over them. He wondered if Ohira's defensiveness indicated mere resentment of a challenge to his authority, or guilt. What had really happened on Deshima last night?
oWhen and where was Director Spaen last seen? Sano asked as he and Ohira turned the corner and moved down the islands west side.
oAt midnight. When the guards inspected his room, he was there. They locked him in.
Regardless of how Spaen had gotten out of his room, he could have been gone for hours before anyone discovered him missing. oYou must be well acquainted with Director Spaen by now. Have you any idea where he went when he left Deshima?
Halting abruptly, Chief Ohira faced Sano. oI don't fraternize with the Dutch. Fury whitened his nostrils. oI don't break the laws. And if I knew anything about Spaen's murder, I can assure you I would have said so.
Sano's doubts about Ohira increased. If the chief was as blameless as he claimed, wouldn't he be eager to cooperate with Sano? Stress sometimes affected people in odd ways, yet Sano couldn't trust someone so antagonistic.
oI'll speak to your staff, he said, oand see what they know about last nights events.
An unhealthy sweat glistened on Ohira's face, as if from a febrile illness. oI can assure you that I've already questioned all the guards, servants, and interpreters. He glared at Sano. oNo one saw, heard, or knows anything. They're all trustworthy; you can believe they're telling the truth.
Sano believed that subordinates often knew things they didn't tell their superiors, but he didn't argue. Ohira couldn't deny him access to Deshima's staff, and the chief knew it. oLet's finish inspecting the perimeter, shall we?
This they did, to no avail, then returned to the main street. oAre you satisfied? Ohira asked, a gleam of righteous vindication in his eyes.
oFor now. I'll examine Director Spaen's quarters next.
oThis way, Ssakan-sama, this way, Iishino called from outside one of the houses. He led them up a flight of stairs to the balcony and slid open the door.
The first thing Sano noticed when he entered the dim chamber was the rancid odor of barbarian. He opened the four shuttered windows "two overlooking the street, two above the rear garden "and noted the intact bars.
oWe already checked those, Chief Ohira said from the doorway, where he stood with his arms folded.
This finding, combined with his observations on the rest of the island, forced Sano to conclude that if Director Spaen had escaped Deshima without leaving a trace, he must have had help from someone on the Japanese staff. Had that person killed him, too? Temporarily postponing speculation on this dangerous subject, Sano observed the room's unusual features.
In one corner, a quilt-covered futon sat upon a low wooden platform. So it was true that barbarians didn't sleep on the floor. A long-legged table held a carved ivory pipe and leather tobacco pouch, an oil lamp, a ceramic water jug and basin, and a crumpled rag "evidence that barbarians did bathe occasionally. Sano examined the straight razor, and a comb with yellow hairs caught in it. The mirror above the table reflected with amazing clarity his own surprised face. A flat, round gold case on a chain contained a miniature version of Governor Nagai's clock. Sano opened the cabinet that stood against the opposite wall.
Inside hung dark cloaks, trousers, and surcoats, and white shirts. A rack above held two broad-brimmed black hats. Below stood a pair of shiny black leather shoes. A chest beside the cabinet held black stockings and peculiar white pants, shirts, caps, and robes that Sano guessed were barbarian underwear and nightclothes and, oddly, three short lengths of rope, kinked and frayed as if once knotted.
oWhy are these ropes here? Sano asked his companions. oIs anything missing?
From the doorway, Ohira made an irritated sound. Interpreter Iishino shrugged and said, oBarbarians have strange customs. He pawed through Director Spaen's apparel. oAll here except for one suit of clothes, which he must have been wearing when he left.
So Jan Spaen had either planned a short absence, or had preferred to travel light. oWhat's in there? Sano asked, indicating a door in the room's interior wall.
Iishino opened it and the windows in the adjoining chamber. oDirector Spaen's office.
To Sano, accustomed to the bare austerity of Japanese rooms, the office seemed very full and cluttered. Papers littered a high desk; goose feathers with ink-stained tips served as writing implements. Ledgers stood piled around an open iron chest. Sano lifted the stiff leather cover of one volume and saw columns of scrawl. He examined the long-necked stringed musical instrument that leaned against the wall, and the high wooden seat whose back looked like a section of a ladder. He studied the strange objects on the windowsill, the materials mounted on the wall above the desk "and realized that, knowing little of Dutch culture, he could scarcely hope to glean information about Jan Spaen's character and motives from his possessions.
oTell me what these things are, Sano said to Iishino. Chief Ohira had walked to the window, where he gazed down at the garden.
oThis is Director Spaen's lute, Iishino said, tapping the musical instrument. oHe played very well, and sang and danced, too. When he went to Edo to pay homage to the shogun, His Excellency was very impressed with his talent, very impressed.
Hurrying to the windowsill, Iishino held up a stack of cards with a colored picture of a female barbarian on one side and strange symbols on the other; two long, curved, pointed teeth; and a leathery conical object.
oDutch playing cards "Director Spaen liked to gamble "tiger fangs, from India, and a rhinoceros horn from Africa. He was a great hunter. The interpreter's eyes misted with regretful admiration. He pointed at the wall above the desk. oMaps of the world, the whole world, with all the trade routes marked. These pins show the places Director Spaen had been. Iishino touched each one. oJapan, China, Taiwan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Africa, and all over Europe.
The maps were beautifully rendered in colored inks, with foreign script designating nations and cities. Sano, never having seen a map of the entire world before, felt a stab of surprise at how tiny Japan looked. How insignificant the Tokugawa empire must seem to the barbarians!
oThis is Piet Hein, Iishino said, tapping a black-and-white drawing of a mustached barbarian. oHe captured the Spanish silver fleet. Director Spaen admired him very much, very much. He said Hein inspired him to join the East India Company and fight his own battles for wealth. And this is a painting of a teahouse in Leyden, Director Spaen's home city.
Surrounded by a gilt frame, the miniature painting depicted a group of laughing male barbarians who toasted one another, played cards and musical instruments, or fondled huge-bosomed female barbarians, while dogs and fowl scampered underfoot. The work seemed vulgar and overcolored compared to Japanese prints, but the realism was stunning. One could almost step into the scene.
oIs anything missing from this room? Sano asked.
oNot that I can tell.
oWhat do these papers say? Preferring to interpret evidence himself, Sano hated the ignorance that left him dependent on another man's knowledge.
Iishino riffled the papers on the desk. oThese are Director Spaen's calculations of profits on the sale of Dutch goods. He had to bring the accounts up to date before leaving Japan on the ship that just arrived. Another trader will take his place on Deshima, along with a new staff. None of the Dutch are allowed to stay more than two years, two years. Otherwise, they might get too friendly with Japanese citizens.