Black Lotus

34

The highway approaching the Zōjō temple district lay beneath a clouded indigo night sky. Faint radiance from the full moon behind the clouds touched the hilltops. The forest bordering the road loomed still in the windless air. Hoofbeats and the steady rhythm of marching steps came from the direction of Edo to the north.

Sano, clad in full armor, rode beside Hirata near the head of a procession that numbered two hundred troops mounted and on foot, including all his detectives and guards, plus other Tokugawa soldiers from Edo Castle. Their lanterns illuminated grim faces beneath iron helmets.

“What if we’re too late?” Hirata said anxiously. “If the Black Lotus has hurt Midori…”

“We’re almost there. She’ll be fine,” Sano said.

Yet he, too, was worried that they wouldn’t reach the temple soon enough to rescue Midori. The necessary preparations for this expedition had consumed hours that might have cost Midori her life.

After Haru had confessed and agreed to inform on the Black Lotus, Magistrate Ueda had adjourned the trial. Sano and Hirata had thoroughly interrogated Haru about the sect’s activities. She’d confirmed Pious Truth’s story and admitted that she’d been among a group of sect members responsible for the trouble in Shinagawa, which was a rehearsal for an attack on Edo. She’d claimed to know where High Priest Anraku’s underground arsenal and prison were, and agreed to guide Sano there.

Next, Sano had reported the news to the shogun. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi had vacillated, torn between fear for his regime and fear of his relatives’ disapproval. In desperation, Sano had resorted to a ploy that Chamberlain Yanagisawa often used. He had praised the shogun for his wisdom and flattered his pride, then gently hinted that he would be making a terrible mistake to ignore the threat of the Black Lotus. When the shogun had begun yielding to Sano’s stronger will, Sano had described in lurid detail the widespread destruction that would occur unless they crushed the sect now. Finally, the frightened shogun had signed an edict granting Sano permission to do whatever was necessary to protect the regime.

Sano, ashamed of his manipulative, dishonorable behavior, had taken the edict and fled before the shogun could change his mind. Then Sano had gathered troops for an invasion of the temple. Things had turned out better than he’d expected-with one hitch.

Haru had balked at going to the temple. She’d cried, screamed, and struggled against his troops as they tried to put her in a palanquin, and called for Reiko. Even though they threatened to burn her, she still resisted, and she had the advantage because Sano needed her to guide him through the Black Lotus underground. Sano didn’t want Reiko involved in the expedition; nor did he welcome further association between her and Haru. But he feared that he wouldn’t get the promised cooperation from Haru unless someone calmed her down, so he’d hurried home to fetch Reiko.

He’d found her sitting alone in her chamber. Her eyes were red from crying, and she regarded him with wariness, but Sano had no time to indulge emotions or attempt a reconciliation. He wasn’t sure that the latter was possible; Reiko’s speech in the Court of Justice represented the final, intolerable act against him.

“Haru is being difficult,” Sano said. “She’s calling for you. I want you to coax her into going to the Black Lotus Temple. Then you’re coming along to help me control her.”

Reiko gaped, momentarily stricken speechless. “I can’t,” she said in a hoarse, unsteady voice. “I don’t ever want to see Haru again.”

“This is the least you can do to make up for your interference,” Sano said, unrelenting.

Reiko had unhappily assented. She’d soothed Haru, coaxed her into a palanquin, then climbed in with her. Now Sano turned in his saddle, looking backward at the palanquin, which trailed near the end of the procession. The trial should have destroyed Reiko’s sympathy for Haru, but still… Had he made a mistake by bringing his wife?

The forest gave way to fields and thatched houses, and finally the procession entered the narrow lanes of the temple district. Reiko sat in the palanquin, enduring the rapid, jouncing motion of the bearers’ steps. She fixed her gaze on the temple walls moving past the open window because she couldn’t stand to look at Haru, seated opposite her. Imprisoned with the girl, Reiko felt ill with hatred, polluted by the acts of violence Haru had committed. Whether or not Commander Oyama or the husband deserved punishment for hurting Haru, she was a criminal, marked for death. Yet Haru remained a living presence impossible to ignore. The warmth from her body, the smell of her sweat and sour breath, nauseated Reiko.

Several times during the trip, when Haru had started to speak, Reiko maintained a frosty silence, but as they neared the Black Lotus Temple, she turned to face Haru. “I suppose you’re proud of the way you tricked me,” she said in a quiet voice that shook with rage.

Huddled miserably in the corner of the palanquin, Haru mumbled, “No, I’m not proud. I’m ashamed.”

“The first time we met, you guessed that I would be useful to you,” Reiko said bitterly. “All along, you must have been congratulating yourself on how smart you were to take advantage of the sōsakan-sama’s gullible wife.”

“That’s not true. “ Haru’s eyes reflected hurt and alarm. “I was sorry I had to lie to you. I only did it because you wouldn’t have helped me if you knew what I’d done.”

“Oh, stop making excuses,” Reiko said, furious. “You accepted my hospitality and the things I gave you, all the while laughing behind my back.”

“I never laughed,” Haru protested.

“How it must have pleased you to see me make a fool of myself defending you in court!” The memory humiliated Reiko.

“It didn’t please me,” Haru said vehemently. “I hate myself for deceiving you, after you were so kind to me. You’re my friend, and I love you.” Her face crumpled. “I’m so sorry for hurting you. Please forgive me.”

Reiko expelled her breath in a gust of contempt and folded her arms. She supposed that Haru’s company was the least punishment she deserved. And Reiko foresaw no opportunity to cleanse the dishonor from her spirit, or to reclaim what she’d lost.

Before they’d left Edo, Sano had told her to watch over Haru and make sure she behaved well, but not to do anything else whatsoever. He’d spoken as if he doubted whether Reiko could perform this simple task. And he was right to doubt her, Reiko thought miserably, after she’d defied him and failed at the investigation for which she’d had such high hopes.

“I want to make up to you for the trouble I caused,” Haru said, “so I’m going to tell you something.” She laid her hand on Reiko’s. “We can’t go to the temple-it’s dangerous. You must tell your husband to turn back.”

Outraged, Reiko recoiled from Haru’s touch. “You must be mad to think I’ll believe more of your stories! It’s obvious that you want to get out of leading us to Midori and the arsenal, and you want me along to help you shirk your obligations and run away. Well, expect no more favors from me.”

“But I’m not lying this time,” Haru said, frantic. “You’ll get hurt if we go inside the temple. Please, heed my warning.”

She clutched at Reiko, babbling, “We’re the third sign. Anraku will send forth his army to destroy the world. If we don’t turn back, you’ll be the first to die.”

“Be quiet! Leave me alone!” Pulling away, Reiko pressed her hands over her ears. “I won’t listen to any more of this!”

The Zōjō temple district was dark except for a halo of light crowning the Black Lotus precinct.

“It’s as if they’re expecting us,” Sano said, disturbed to think that spies within the bakufu had forewarned the sect. He’d hoped to take it by surprise and thereby quickly subdue the members.

“They won’t keep me away from Midori,” Hirata said in a hard voice.

The procession reached the temple gate, which stood wide open and unguarded. Although Sano sensed danger in the temple, Midori’s presence there beckoned him. He led the procession into the precinct. The lanterns along the main path burned; light shone in the windows of all the buildings. As Sano, Hirata, and the other mounted samurai filed up the path, their horses’ hooves clattered on the paving stones, echoing across hushed, vacant grounds. The foot soldiers and palanquin followed. Sano’s detectives had orders to take troops into the buildings and arrest the occupants while Haru led Sano, Reiko, and Hirata on a search for Midori, but before they could proceed with these plans, a wild cry shattered the night.

Out of the gardens and woods stormed hundreds of nuns and priests, their voices raised in a deafening chorus of howls, white robes flying. Brandishing swords, daggers, spears, torches, and clubs, they charged the procession.

Alarmed, Sano drew his sword and shouted to his troops: “Prepare for battle!”

Nuns and priests surrounded them. Sano had expected resistance from the Black Lotus, but not this full-scale attack. Dismay flooded him. He’d hoped to rescue Midori and dissolve the sect without anyone getting hurt, but the Black Lotus gave him no choice except to fight back. Now his men fended off priests and nuns. The air resounded with wild yells and the clang of striking blades.

“Stay together!” Sano ordered his troops, but they scattered, forced apart by the mob. He saw white-robed figures swarming around the palanquin, and horror gripped his heart.

Reiko, though probably armed with her dagger as usual, was no match for so many attackers. The intensity of his fear for her told Sano how much he loved his wife, in spite of everything. And he needed Haru alive to locate Midori. Anxious to protect the women, he urged his horse through the melee, toward the palanquin.

A young priest assailed him with a spear. Sano parried and reined in his rearing horse. He slashed the priest’s chest. The youth dropped his spear; blood spread across his robe, and rapture illuminated his face.

“Praise the glory of the Black Lotus!” he cried, then fell dead.

Sano saw Hirata and his detectives cutting down more priests and realized that the sect members were inept fighters-probably peasants, without the benefit of long-term training. He was loath to slay weaker opponents, despite their determination to kill him.

“Surrender, or you’ll all die,” Sano shouted at the horde.

But the priests and nuns continued attacking. More cries of praise arose from the defeated. They seemed like mindless puppets sacrificing their lives to defend their leader’s territory. Still, their sheer numbers overwhelmed Sano’s forces. Each samurai battled multiple attackers.

Several soldiers lay dead, trampled by the mob. New legions of armed nuns and priests poured from buildings to replace those killed. Blades jabbed and clubs pounded at Sano, and he cut down more sect members as his horse plowed a path to the palanquin. Then he noticed nuns and priests moving toward the gate. Some carried only weapons or torches, but others lugged bulky bundles on their backs.

Sano realized that his arrival at the temple had set in motion the Black Lotus’s deadly scheme. The members were heading off to attack the city.

“Stop them!” Sano yelled to his troops. “Don’t let them out of the temple!”

“Merciful gods,” Reiko said, horror-stricken as she gazed through the palanquin’s window at the battle outside.

“See? I told you the truth,” Haru said eagerly. “Now can you believe what I say?”

The bearers had set down the palanquin, which now sat stranded on the ground, its thin walls offering scant protection from the horde. Reiko relived the terror of the ambush in Nihonbashi, yet this was far more serious. The troops formed a protective circle around the palanquin, but the nuns and priests fought them ruthlessly. Reiko and Haru were sitting targets for savagery.

“If you knew this would happen, then why didn’t you say so before we left town?” Reiko demanded of Haru.

The girl shook her head in chagrin.

“We could have brought more troops,” Reiko said, “but now it’s too late. And do you know what I think?” She grabbed the front of Haru’s robe, yanked the girl close, and shouted, “You didn’t really know what would happen. You’re just trying to turn circumstances to your own advantage.”

Then a disturbing alternative occurred to Reiko. “No. You knew, and you wanted us to come and be killed!”

She let go of Haru and peered out the window, looking for Sano. She heard him shouting, but she couldn’t see him in the chaos of darting figures. Blood-spattered corpses lay strewn across the ground, mostly Black Lotus, but some samurai; horses ran free, their saddles empty. Fires smoked in the grass, ignited by fallen torches.

“High Priest Anraku’s day of destiny is here,” Haru said in a wondering, exultant voice.

As fear for her husband’s life chilled Reiko, she became aware of a compelling need to set things right with Sano. She loved him and desperately wanted him to love her again. The thought of them dying estranged from each other tore at her heart. She longed to help him fight the Black Lotus, but she’d promised to watch over Haru.

A gang of nuns broke through the defense and stormed the palanquin, their faces contorted in maniacal fury. Shrieking, they beat clubs against the vehicle. Some grabbed the poles and rocked the palanquin, throwing Reiko and Haru from side to side. Others thrust spears through the window. Haru screamed. Reiko drew the dagger strapped to her arm and struck at the blades. Soldiers closed in, slashing at the nuns. Reiko saw women release their spears as their eyes went blank and they fell away from the window. But one nun lunged through the window, snarling and clawing.

Reiko struck out with her dagger and gashed the nun’s throat. Warm, thick blood spurted on Reiko. She cried out as the dead nun collapsed across her legs. Then she heard the palanquin’s door open. Turning, she saw Haru scramble out.

“Haru!” Reiko called in alarm.

She grabbed for the girl, but missed. Thoughts raced through her mind: If Haru got away, Sano would never forgive Reiko. In a flash, she was out of the palanquin.