Previous First
[continuing chapter 9]
Hiroki was sipping tea, and toying with a cube of sweet bean paste in the hope he could make his mind focus on the scattered threads of the story, when Tetsuo slunk into the room. For all his solidity he looked like a small boy who had been caught stealing, and the first words he said were, “I’m very sorry, Hiroki. I have made a mess of my assignment.”
So nobody is having a good day. “What happened, Tetsuo?”
30 April, 2020
29 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 9.3
Previous First
[continuing chapter 9]
“I can spare you only a few minutes,” the arms master said as he entered the room. Sitting cross-legged on the dais, he added in a manner not quite so curt, “Please accept my thanks for the report you sent me yesterday. Though it seems you have given me more questions than answers.” The arms master, thought Hiroki, did not look good today. There were blue-gray smudges under both eyes, and the eyes themselves looked swollen and sore. The last time Hiroki had seen the arms-master, he had sat erect and alert; this afternoon he seemed almost to sag into the cushion on which he sat.
“I regret my failures, lord,” Hiroki said. “And I beg your forgiveness. But I have been unable to find a single person with a believable reason to wish your sister’s death. Even the wakashū, Togashi Shokan, who seems never to have been anything but rude to her, had much more to gain from her life than from her death.”
[continuing chapter 9]
“I can spare you only a few minutes,” the arms master said as he entered the room. Sitting cross-legged on the dais, he added in a manner not quite so curt, “Please accept my thanks for the report you sent me yesterday. Though it seems you have given me more questions than answers.” The arms master, thought Hiroki, did not look good today. There were blue-gray smudges under both eyes, and the eyes themselves looked swollen and sore. The last time Hiroki had seen the arms-master, he had sat erect and alert; this afternoon he seemed almost to sag into the cushion on which he sat.
“I regret my failures, lord,” Hiroki said. “And I beg your forgiveness. But I have been unable to find a single person with a believable reason to wish your sister’s death. Even the wakashū, Togashi Shokan, who seems never to have been anything but rude to her, had much more to gain from her life than from her death.”
28 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 9.2
Previous First
[continuing chapter 9]
“Someone is going to kill that shit-worm very soon,” Shiro said. “I just hope it’s me.”
“How many times do I have to tell you to stay calm in situations like that?” Hiroki asked him. “The man was trying to throw you off-balance and you let him. Tetsuo is able to keep his temper.” He picked up his pace, wanting to be away from Togashi’s house as quickly as possible. “I don’t see why you find it so difficult.”
[continuing chapter 9]
“Someone is going to kill that shit-worm very soon,” Shiro said. “I just hope it’s me.”
“How many times do I have to tell you to stay calm in situations like that?” Hiroki asked him. “The man was trying to throw you off-balance and you let him. Tetsuo is able to keep his temper.” He picked up his pace, wanting to be away from Togashi’s house as quickly as possible. “I don’t see why you find it so difficult.”
27 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 9.1
Previous First
The eleventh day of the second month
The wakashū’s mansion compound did not look any less run-down now that he had returned to the neighbourhood. Hiroki was sure he could get inside the place without having to deal with the cranky old gatekeeper, if only because there were so many gaps in the ill-maintained walls.
“Still a mess,” said Shiro, extending himself to look over Hiroki’s shoulder. “I’d be ashamed to live in that.”
"Maybe better-looking inside?" Tetsuo said, taking his turn to look. “Shouldn’t someone from the capital be able to find a decent place to live? We’re strangers here and we found one.”
CHAPTER NINE
IMBALANCE
The wakashū’s mansion compound did not look any less run-down now that he had returned to the neighbourhood. Hiroki was sure he could get inside the place without having to deal with the cranky old gatekeeper, if only because there were so many gaps in the ill-maintained walls.
“Still a mess,” said Shiro, extending himself to look over Hiroki’s shoulder. “I’d be ashamed to live in that.”
"Maybe better-looking inside?" Tetsuo said, taking his turn to look. “Shouldn’t someone from the capital be able to find a decent place to live? We’re strangers here and we found one.”
26 April, 2020
What Did You Do During the Pandemic, Daddy?
 |
| Painting by Alfons Spring, before 1908 From Wikimedia Commons |
No, I am not baking. Nor am I learning a new language, nor participating in online dance parties, nor am I binge-watching "I, Claudius" (which The Economist seems to have recommended as family entertainment during the lockdown), nor listening to the collected lectures of Bertrand Russell. Though that last one (another Economist suggestion) has at least the virtue of somewhat appealing to my sense of curiosity.
Of course I haven't been writing. A lot of writers I know are unable to write at the moment, and in this I'm no different. Where I do stand apart is in having the luxury to not write and still be able to contribute toward the household expenses. I'm grateful for this.
What I have been doing, a lot, is reading. In some cases I've been revisiting old favourites (Asterix, Tintin, the social comedies of Georgette Heyer, the histories of Barbara Tuchman) and in other cases I've been experiencing new-to-me books my friends have long recommended. The historical novels of Robert Neill, and the YA novels of Robert A. Heinlein, for example. Not only have I been enjoying reading the Heinleins, I have also enjoyed the (virtual) conversations about them I've been having with Do-Ming.
By a fortunate coincidence I decided, last New Year's Eve, that in 2020 I would keep a list of the books I read. As a result I am in a position to confirm that, in the six weeks we have been confined to quarters, I have read forty books. My total for 2020 is 104 books read, with four currently on the go.
For some reason I find reading much more soothing than watching any sort of video.
25 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 8.5
Previous First
[Concluding chapter 8]
“This letter came for you about an hour ago, sir.” Jiro handed Hiroki a carefully folded piece of paper. Hiroki slid a finger along its length; the paper was thick, well-made. Expensive. But not a love-note, Hiroki thought, or it would be tied to a branch or twig or spray of blossoms. Not that he knew anyone in the capital who would be writing him love-notes in the first place. Perhaps I should teach Katsumi how to write poetry as well as read it.
“Will all of you gentlemen be taking evening rice here tonight?” the servant added, stepping back to a respectful distance.
[Concluding chapter 8]
“This letter came for you about an hour ago, sir.” Jiro handed Hiroki a carefully folded piece of paper. Hiroki slid a finger along its length; the paper was thick, well-made. Expensive. But not a love-note, Hiroki thought, or it would be tied to a branch or twig or spray of blossoms. Not that he knew anyone in the capital who would be writing him love-notes in the first place. Perhaps I should teach Katsumi how to write poetry as well as read it.
“Will all of you gentlemen be taking evening rice here tonight?” the servant added, stepping back to a respectful distance.
24 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 8.4
Previous First
[Continuing chapter 8]
“Can you find a way to get this to Inaba?” Hiroki handed a string of cash to Katsumi. “I believe he would resist if I tried to give this to him directly.” The sun had reached the tops of the western hills and the ground, mercifully, had solidified again as the temperature dropped. He found himself anticipating a hot bath and a restoring bowl of soup one they had returned to their rented mansion. The mansion’s bath-house was finally open, its large and comfortable tub now available to him.
“Why would you do this for him?” she asked.
“Why did you escort us to him?” he asked in reply.
[Continuing chapter 8]
“Can you find a way to get this to Inaba?” Hiroki handed a string of cash to Katsumi. “I believe he would resist if I tried to give this to him directly.” The sun had reached the tops of the western hills and the ground, mercifully, had solidified again as the temperature dropped. He found himself anticipating a hot bath and a restoring bowl of soup one they had returned to their rented mansion. The mansion’s bath-house was finally open, its large and comfortable tub now available to him.
“Why would you do this for him?” she asked.
“Why did you escort us to him?” he asked in reply.
23 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 8.3
Previous First
[Continuing chapter 8]
“My father was a captain in the service of Kōzai Motomori, who served Hosokawa Takakuni,” Inaba said, apparently not caring that he spoke with his mouth full. Shiro had brought millet porridge with stewed vegetables, a poor man’s food, but Inaba seemed not to care about anything but the quantity of the porridge.
“Never heard of him,” said Tetsuo. The four men, squatted around the fire-pit, which Inaba had kindled into life while they awaited Shiro’s return. Katsumi stood a little behind Inaba, observing the conversation but not participating yet. “His position was minor but my father was honoured to serve the Hosokawa, who had a great name.” He paused and sipped water from the bamboo bottle Katsumi had given him.
[Continuing chapter 8]
“My father was a captain in the service of Kōzai Motomori, who served Hosokawa Takakuni,” Inaba said, apparently not caring that he spoke with his mouth full. Shiro had brought millet porridge with stewed vegetables, a poor man’s food, but Inaba seemed not to care about anything but the quantity of the porridge.
“Never heard of him,” said Tetsuo. The four men, squatted around the fire-pit, which Inaba had kindled into life while they awaited Shiro’s return. Katsumi stood a little behind Inaba, observing the conversation but not participating yet. “His position was minor but my father was honoured to serve the Hosokawa, who had a great name.” He paused and sipped water from the bamboo bottle Katsumi had given him.
22 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 8.2
Previous First
[Continuing chapter 8]
“I am going ahead to tell him you are coming,” Katsumi said, quickening her pace. Hiroki felt a smile tugging his mouth; he couldn’t remember any woman, other than Lord Tanuma’s wife, who would have charged off this way without asking a man’s permission first. He said nothing to her as she left, and raised his hand to halt Shiro and Tetsuo and to forestall any comment from them.
“I suppose we wait here, then,” Tetsuo said once Katsumi had disappeared from view, sounding as if his day had just been ruined.
[Continuing chapter 8]
“I am going ahead to tell him you are coming,” Katsumi said, quickening her pace. Hiroki felt a smile tugging his mouth; he couldn’t remember any woman, other than Lord Tanuma’s wife, who would have charged off this way without asking a man’s permission first. He said nothing to her as she left, and raised his hand to halt Shiro and Tetsuo and to forestall any comment from them.
“I suppose we wait here, then,” Tetsuo said once Katsumi had disappeared from view, sounding as if his day had just been ruined.
21 April, 2020
No, It DOESN'T Look Like a Crown
 |
| Image ganked from Wikimedia Commons |
This week has been one of those moments. I will spare all of you the details, because honest to ghod who needs to read some more whining from a writer who can't write? But it hasn't been like me to miss a day of posting a chapter from the current serialization, and I definitely missed it Monday.
In fact, I didn't even realize I had forgotten about the task until more than twenty-four hours later.
Well, it has been that sort of experience for many if not most of us, I suspect. It has been interesting, accommodating oneself to the process of communicating with friends through video and/or audio chat services, and finding oneself forbidden from entering grocery stores or markets on account of age and alleged infirmity.
And, of course, to find oneself wondering, from time to time, when certain medical appointments and surgeries are going to be allowed to resume.
Sowing Ghosts 8.1
Previous First
The tenth day of the second month
The next morning Hiroki, Tetsuo and Shiro met Katsumi in front of her tea-shop a little after sunrise. The weather continued mild, though the colour of the sky proclaimed the possibility of rain and so all three men wore straw raincoats. Katsumi apparently did not own such a thing — or she did not mind being wet — and her sole concession to the current conditions were geta on her feet and her kimono tucked up into her sash to keep their hems out of the mud.
“Your companions are aware of your promise?” she asked Hiroki as they set out.
“We are,” Shiro said. “That doesn’t mean we’re happy about it.”
“Quiet,” Hiroki told him. To Katsumi he said, “We intend to behave honourably.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
EXCURSION
The next morning Hiroki, Tetsuo and Shiro met Katsumi in front of her tea-shop a little after sunrise. The weather continued mild, though the colour of the sky proclaimed the possibility of rain and so all three men wore straw raincoats. Katsumi apparently did not own such a thing — or she did not mind being wet — and her sole concession to the current conditions were geta on her feet and her kimono tucked up into her sash to keep their hems out of the mud.
“Your companions are aware of your promise?” she asked Hiroki as they set out.
“We are,” Shiro said. “That doesn’t mean we’re happy about it.”
“Quiet,” Hiroki told him. To Katsumi he said, “We intend to behave honourably.”
16 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 7.4
Previous First
[Concluding chapter 7]
“I brought you a book,” Hiroki said, handing the scroll to Katsumi. “I was hoping to spend some time discussing it with you, but I have more duties tonight and so cannot stay. Our renga lesson likewise must remain a thing of the future.”
“I will always have time to talk poetry with you,” Katsumi said, smiling broadly as she took the book and stroked the fingers of one hand along the wooden case. “Tomorrow, perhaps.” The night was comparatively mild for the second month, and so the tea-shop was largely empty, allowing Hiroki to hold his interview with Katsumi at a table rather than on the floor in her partition at the back.
“Tomorrow would be good,” Hiroki told her, anticipating being free of his responsibilities to Lord Miyoshi. “In the meantime, I would be most pleased to hear of what you have learned for me.”
Her reply astonished him. “I will tell you some of what I know,” she said, “in exchange for a promise from you.”
[Concluding chapter 7]
“I brought you a book,” Hiroki said, handing the scroll to Katsumi. “I was hoping to spend some time discussing it with you, but I have more duties tonight and so cannot stay. Our renga lesson likewise must remain a thing of the future.”
“I will always have time to talk poetry with you,” Katsumi said, smiling broadly as she took the book and stroked the fingers of one hand along the wooden case. “Tomorrow, perhaps.” The night was comparatively mild for the second month, and so the tea-shop was largely empty, allowing Hiroki to hold his interview with Katsumi at a table rather than on the floor in her partition at the back.
“Tomorrow would be good,” Hiroki told her, anticipating being free of his responsibilities to Lord Miyoshi. “In the meantime, I would be most pleased to hear of what you have learned for me.”
Her reply astonished him. “I will tell you some of what I know,” she said, “in exchange for a promise from you.”
15 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 7.3
Previous First
[Continuing chapter 7]
Hiroki set the book aside. The characters had begun to blur together in his mind and it had been some time, he realized, since he had really understood any of the short poems he had been reading. It wasn’t an expensive book, nor was it comprehensive, but it was written in Japanese and not Chinese characters and so he had bought it, expecting Katsumi to be able to read it.
Poetry was far from the forefront of his mind, he knew, and neither — to his regret — was Katsumi, really. What he really wanted to think about was threats, of whom he had too many; and suspects, of whom he seemed to have no shortage; and evidence, of which there seemed to be too little.
[Continuing chapter 7]
Hiroki set the book aside. The characters had begun to blur together in his mind and it had been some time, he realized, since he had really understood any of the short poems he had been reading. It wasn’t an expensive book, nor was it comprehensive, but it was written in Japanese and not Chinese characters and so he had bought it, expecting Katsumi to be able to read it.
Poetry was far from the forefront of his mind, he knew, and neither — to his regret — was Katsumi, really. What he really wanted to think about was threats, of whom he had too many; and suspects, of whom he seemed to have no shortage; and evidence, of which there seemed to be too little.
14 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 7.2
Previous First
[Continuing chapter 7]
“I would appreciate some information from you, Lord Hosokawa,” Hiroki said as he poured the sake, “after the experience Tetsuo and I have just had.” He glanced across the room, to see Tetsuo very carefully not looking at him or at Lord Hosokawa. The shop they were in officially sold tea and chewy rice pastries, but Hiroki had had no trouble persuading the proprietor to bring a jug of sake. Very good sake, he was pleased to discover.
“Oh, dear. I hope it was nothing serious. Where is your other companion? The good-looking one.”
“Shiro is making inquiries at the arms master’s mansion,” Hiroki said. “It is not with the arms master that I am concerned just now, though. It is Yanagimoto Kataharu. Tetsuo and I have just escaped having to kill four of his partisans.”
[Continuing chapter 7]
“I would appreciate some information from you, Lord Hosokawa,” Hiroki said as he poured the sake, “after the experience Tetsuo and I have just had.” He glanced across the room, to see Tetsuo very carefully not looking at him or at Lord Hosokawa. The shop they were in officially sold tea and chewy rice pastries, but Hiroki had had no trouble persuading the proprietor to bring a jug of sake. Very good sake, he was pleased to discover.
“Oh, dear. I hope it was nothing serious. Where is your other companion? The good-looking one.”
“Shiro is making inquiries at the arms master’s mansion,” Hiroki said. “It is not with the arms master that I am concerned just now, though. It is Yanagimoto Kataharu. Tetsuo and I have just escaped having to kill four of his partisans.”
13 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 7.1
Previous First
The ninth day of the second month
“Hiroki, have you found yourself a woman you’re not telling us about?” Shiro smiled as he spoke, but his voice accused.
“Why shouldn’t he have?” Tetsuo responded. He flexed his shoulder a bit. “If the weather keeps warming up, Hiroki, I’m going to feel limber enough to start working out with the swords again.”
“Don’t be in any hurry, Tetsuo.” Hiroki took a deep breath; the wind was from the south for a change, and so the scent it carried owed more to vegetation and less to conflagration. It would be nice to believe that spring was getting ready to make its appearance, but Hiroki knew the capital and so he knew better. Spring would arrive hear earlier in the year than it did in the highlands of Kozuke province, but it still arrived at its own convenience, and not that of people who didn’t like cold weather. He shifted his staff so that it rested on his shoulder. The end stayed pointed down, the tip just above the surface of the street, as was polite.
CHAPTER SEVEN
INQUIRY
“Hiroki, have you found yourself a woman you’re not telling us about?” Shiro smiled as he spoke, but his voice accused.
“Why shouldn’t he have?” Tetsuo responded. He flexed his shoulder a bit. “If the weather keeps warming up, Hiroki, I’m going to feel limber enough to start working out with the swords again.”
“Don’t be in any hurry, Tetsuo.” Hiroki took a deep breath; the wind was from the south for a change, and so the scent it carried owed more to vegetation and less to conflagration. It would be nice to believe that spring was getting ready to make its appearance, but Hiroki knew the capital and so he knew better. Spring would arrive hear earlier in the year than it did in the highlands of Kozuke province, but it still arrived at its own convenience, and not that of people who didn’t like cold weather. He shifted his staff so that it rested on his shoulder. The end stayed pointed down, the tip just above the surface of the street, as was polite.
10 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 6.5
Previous First
[Concluding chapter 6]
“Would you permit me to buy you some new kimono?” Propping himself on one elbow, Hiroki traced a fingertip of the opposite hand along the innermost of Katsumi’s under-kimono. It was most pleasant, the way she shivered slightly when he increased the pressure of fingertip against the soft, worn raw silk. “Shiro wants to buy new clothes and I will accompany him. And I would like to give you something.”
“I thought you would never ask, my lord,” she replied with a smile. “You see? Already I am learning to respond to gentlemen of culture as a courtesan of quality would.” After a very brief struggle she giggled. “Oh, that’s nice,” she said when Hiroki’s finger edged past the fabric and onto her skin. She shifted a little so she could face him without having to turn her head too much, something her hairstyle did not easily permit.
“Are you comfortable?” she asked. “It seemed to me you were—somewhat unhappy when you got here tonight.”
[Concluding chapter 6]
“Would you permit me to buy you some new kimono?” Propping himself on one elbow, Hiroki traced a fingertip of the opposite hand along the innermost of Katsumi’s under-kimono. It was most pleasant, the way she shivered slightly when he increased the pressure of fingertip against the soft, worn raw silk. “Shiro wants to buy new clothes and I will accompany him. And I would like to give you something.”
“I thought you would never ask, my lord,” she replied with a smile. “You see? Already I am learning to respond to gentlemen of culture as a courtesan of quality would.” After a very brief struggle she giggled. “Oh, that’s nice,” she said when Hiroki’s finger edged past the fabric and onto her skin. She shifted a little so she could face him without having to turn her head too much, something her hairstyle did not easily permit.
“Are you comfortable?” she asked. “It seemed to me you were—somewhat unhappy when you got here tonight.”
09 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 6.4
Previous First
[Continuing chapter 6]
“What do you know about the wakashū, Togashi Shokan?” Hiroki asked Kanegawa. The secretary was still confined to the stuffy storage building, but Hiroki was pleased to see that a number of mats and futon had been moved into the space, so that Kanegawa would perhaps be a bit more comfortable. “We have been to his house,” — Hiroki’s gesture encompassed Shiro, who stood just behind Hiroki with his back against the door — “and there is nobody there. Or at least nobody of any significance.”
“One elderly servant,” Shiro said, in a lazy, disgusted drawl, “who pretended to be completely deaf. He’d better have been deaf, because I don’t ordinarily accept that sort of rudeness and insolence.”
“The point is,” Hiroki said to Kanegawa, “that Togashi seems to have vanished, and if this is a coincidence it is a most unfortunate one. His lover, Lord Hosokawa, tells me he has no idea where the wakashū has gone. Do you have any idea where he might be?”
[Continuing chapter 6]
“What do you know about the wakashū, Togashi Shokan?” Hiroki asked Kanegawa. The secretary was still confined to the stuffy storage building, but Hiroki was pleased to see that a number of mats and futon had been moved into the space, so that Kanegawa would perhaps be a bit more comfortable. “We have been to his house,” — Hiroki’s gesture encompassed Shiro, who stood just behind Hiroki with his back against the door — “and there is nobody there. Or at least nobody of any significance.”
“One elderly servant,” Shiro said, in a lazy, disgusted drawl, “who pretended to be completely deaf. He’d better have been deaf, because I don’t ordinarily accept that sort of rudeness and insolence.”
“The point is,” Hiroki said to Kanegawa, “that Togashi seems to have vanished, and if this is a coincidence it is a most unfortunate one. His lover, Lord Hosokawa, tells me he has no idea where the wakashū has gone. Do you have any idea where he might be?”
08 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 6.3
Previous First
[Continuing chapter 6]
“Thank you for your message,” Hiroki said as lowered himself to Katsumi’s futon. “I apologize for the delay in coming to see you. I have been unexpectedly busy.”
“You’re investigating the murder, then?” Katsumi wore a new kimono today, a pale winter blue with golden herons printed on it. Again, the kimono had been of a high quality, once. “The arms master must think very highly of your skills.”
“Does everyone in this city know of the murder already?” Hiroki didn’t know whether to be irritated or amused.
“There may be a mat-maker or pickle-seller who doesn’t,” she replied, “but those of us who care about our city knew within a few hours of it happening.”
[Continuing chapter 6]
“Thank you for your message,” Hiroki said as lowered himself to Katsumi’s futon. “I apologize for the delay in coming to see you. I have been unexpectedly busy.”
“You’re investigating the murder, then?” Katsumi wore a new kimono today, a pale winter blue with golden herons printed on it. Again, the kimono had been of a high quality, once. “The arms master must think very highly of your skills.”
“Does everyone in this city know of the murder already?” Hiroki didn’t know whether to be irritated or amused.
“There may be a mat-maker or pickle-seller who doesn’t,” she replied, “but those of us who care about our city knew within a few hours of it happening.”
07 April, 2020
Who Feels Like Writing?
.png) |
| Image from Wikimedia Commons: Doctor Schnaubel von Rom, mid-17th century |
If it wasn't for the fact I've got several months' worth of material ready for posting (Sowing Ghosts is eighteen chapters long, meaning a dozen chapters to go and a dozen weeks of posts just requiring formatting and scheduling) this blog would certainly have fallen off a cliff by now.
I am somewhat bemused to realize that this period of isolation isn't bringing me any wonderful new discoveries. Cooking? I already do a lot of that. Hoarding? Not necessary, because we have always planned our shopping fairly thoroughly, and we tend to buy fresh meat, veg, and fruit once a week, and to buy only what we know we're going to need.
Reading? It's what I do for pleasure anyway. (This year I decided to keep track of my reading: as of the end of March I had read or reread 75 books, and I added another seven titles to the list in the first week of April.)
But I sure don't feel like writing. For me writing is my full-time job, and at the moment I don't really have the attention span to cope. I'm down to the final few scenes of the first draft of a new novel... and there's just nothing there. I can't even get myself excited about revision and rewriting.
Okay, there's nothing new in that. I can never get myself excited about revision and rewriting.
Sowing Ghosts 6.2
Previous First
[Continuing chapter 6]
“My Lord Hosokawa,” Hiroki said, bowing with careful formality. “Might this person ask you a question?” He had found Lord Hosokawa on Muromachi Avenue, just south of the abandoned shōgun’s palace—and not far from the decaying pile occupied by the missing wakashū.
“Why so formal, my lord?” the boy asked. His smile could have been mistaken for a friendly one. “You are not in service to me, are you?”
Hiroki felt himself squirm a little at the my lord; it had been said with a knowing air that did not bode well for Hiroki’s secrets. “I am not,” he said, “nor am I your lord.”
“I have been having some doubts about that,” Lord Hosokawa said. “But I can see this bothers you. I will wait until some other time, then.” He raised an eyebrow. “Might a man offer you tea? Or is your inquiry of an urgent nature?”
[Continuing chapter 6]
“My Lord Hosokawa,” Hiroki said, bowing with careful formality. “Might this person ask you a question?” He had found Lord Hosokawa on Muromachi Avenue, just south of the abandoned shōgun’s palace—and not far from the decaying pile occupied by the missing wakashū.
“Why so formal, my lord?” the boy asked. His smile could have been mistaken for a friendly one. “You are not in service to me, are you?”
Hiroki felt himself squirm a little at the my lord; it had been said with a knowing air that did not bode well for Hiroki’s secrets. “I am not,” he said, “nor am I your lord.”
“I have been having some doubts about that,” Lord Hosokawa said. “But I can see this bothers you. I will wait until some other time, then.” He raised an eyebrow. “Might a man offer you tea? Or is your inquiry of an urgent nature?”
06 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 6.1
Previous First
“Hiroki, what do we do if we have to be out at night?” Tetsuo pointed at the gates set into the middle of the intersection of Kita No Kōji Street and Horikawa Avenue. “Those get locked up at night, I’ll bet.” He used his uninjured arm to point. Hiroki was satisfied with the way the wound was healing, but Tetsuo apparently took no chances.
“They wouldn’t dare keep us out,” Shiro said. “Of any street we wanted to go down.”
“I really don’t know.” Hiroki hated having to admit this, but the gates were new to him, and a mystery. The inhabitants of the capital were now, Katsumi had told him, bound together in neighbourhood associations. Nobles were joined together with artisans and moneylenders and even porters and day-labourers, the poorest of the poor, in bonds of mutual protection. In some cases they had even built gates into the streets, gates they could close and guard when night fell. His previous forays into the city in the darkness hadn’t taken him through any such gates, but there were still a lot of them. And it appeared that nearly everyone still living in the city belonged to one of these neighbourhood groups.
CHAPTER SIX
COMPLICATION
“Hiroki, what do we do if we have to be out at night?” Tetsuo pointed at the gates set into the middle of the intersection of Kita No Kōji Street and Horikawa Avenue. “Those get locked up at night, I’ll bet.” He used his uninjured arm to point. Hiroki was satisfied with the way the wound was healing, but Tetsuo apparently took no chances.
“They wouldn’t dare keep us out,” Shiro said. “Of any street we wanted to go down.”
“I really don’t know.” Hiroki hated having to admit this, but the gates were new to him, and a mystery. The inhabitants of the capital were now, Katsumi had told him, bound together in neighbourhood associations. Nobles were joined together with artisans and moneylenders and even porters and day-labourers, the poorest of the poor, in bonds of mutual protection. In some cases they had even built gates into the streets, gates they could close and guard when night fell. His previous forays into the city in the darkness hadn’t taken him through any such gates, but there were still a lot of them. And it appeared that nearly everyone still living in the city belonged to one of these neighbourhood groups.
03 April, 2020
Sowing Ghosts 5.4
Previous First
[Concluding chapter 5]
“A monkey could have got over the wall without being seen,” Tetsuo said, disgusted. That he said this while in the custody of two guards was not exactly a testimony to the truth of his allegation, though. Shaking his head, Hiroki showed the guards his letter of authority from the arms master and they departed, albeit with profane reluctance.
“Tell me what you learned,” Hiroki said.
“I want to know what happened to you,” Shiro said, laughing. “How is it those guards didn’t take your head?”
“Not now, Shiro. Well, Tetsuo?”
[Concluding chapter 5]
“A monkey could have got over the wall without being seen,” Tetsuo said, disgusted. That he said this while in the custody of two guards was not exactly a testimony to the truth of his allegation, though. Shaking his head, Hiroki showed the guards his letter of authority from the arms master and they departed, albeit with profane reluctance.
“Tell me what you learned,” Hiroki said.
“I want to know what happened to you,” Shiro said, laughing. “How is it those guards didn’t take your head?”
“Not now, Shiro. Well, Tetsuo?”
02 April, 2020
Adam Schlesinger
Mr Schlesinger died yesterday of Covid-19 at the age of 52. The news was a gut-kick to me, because if there is a single songwriter who made my world sing over the past 25 years it was he. He amazed me with songs (usually co-written with Chris Collingwood) that were in essence tiny perfect short stories (in the vein of Ambrose Bierce or O Henry) about complete losers who somehow managed to be charming anyhow, or at least for three minutes they were.
I first heard about Fountains of Wayne from Stephen King, in an article he wrote for Entertainment Weekly. Immediately went out and bought Utopia Parkway, and within a couple of weeks of that bought everything else Fountains of Wayne had recorded to that time. And then bought everything else as it came out. I even bought Tinted Windows, the eponymous only album of the supergroup he formed with members of Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins, and Hanson. Not his best work but still worth listening to.
And I'm pretty sure most of you have heard something he wrote, because the guy was a machine. His first hit record was actually a song recorded by a band that didn't exist: "That Thing You Do" by the Wonders, from the Tom Hanks movie of the same name.
He also wrote a lot of material for TV, which I've been discovering today and laughing with through the tears. "It's Not Just For Gays Anymore," for example, as sung by Neil Patrick Harris at the Tony Awards. Or the 150-odd songs he co-wrote for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."
Rolling Stone is a pretty good place to start if you want to learn more about this guy. Then go out and buy Fountains of Wayne albums. Welcome Interstate Managers is best, but buy them all.
Sowing Ghosts 5.3
Previous First
[Continuing chapter 5]
This is not like spying, Hiroki thought, looking at the two women kneeling before him. When spying for Lord Tanuma he had mostly been interested in numbers: how many armed men an enemy could call on, how many days it would take to gather them, how many ri those men could travel in a day as opposed to the distance Lord Tanuma’s own men could walk or ride.
Now he was expected to learn something very specific, which could only be learned through the examination of individuals, many of whom he had been raised to consider not only unequal to him, but in many cases not even fully human. These women, for example: until he had realized what he was doing, all he had seen was two female servants, selected by Shiro from amongst who knew how many in the household. They were dressed as menials always dressed; they moved in the same deferential shuffle as all menials adopted; they kept their faces averted, so their superiors would not be required to make eye contact unless those superiors wished it.
[Continuing chapter 5]
This is not like spying, Hiroki thought, looking at the two women kneeling before him. When spying for Lord Tanuma he had mostly been interested in numbers: how many armed men an enemy could call on, how many days it would take to gather them, how many ri those men could travel in a day as opposed to the distance Lord Tanuma’s own men could walk or ride.
Now he was expected to learn something very specific, which could only be learned through the examination of individuals, many of whom he had been raised to consider not only unequal to him, but in many cases not even fully human. These women, for example: until he had realized what he was doing, all he had seen was two female servants, selected by Shiro from amongst who knew how many in the household. They were dressed as menials always dressed; they moved in the same deferential shuffle as all menials adopted; they kept their faces averted, so their superiors would not be required to make eye contact unless those superiors wished it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)