The Fires of the Gods

I.J. Parker
CHARACTERS

MAIN CHARACTERS:

Sugawara Akitada nobleman, senior secretary in the Ministry of Justice

Tamako his wife

Tora his retainer and sidekick

Genba another retainer

Seimei his secretary; a faithful family servant

Hanae amp; Yuki

Tora’s wife and baby son

Kobe superintendent of the Capital Police

CHARACTERS INVOLVED IN THE ARSON CASE:

Tojiro amp; Takeo homeless boys

Koichi, Shinichi amp; Seiji three deaf mutes; ‘collectors’ for a protection gang

Haruko

Koichi’s daughter

Jirokichi burglar, aka ‘the Rat’

Hoshina his girlfriend; owner of a wine shop

Kaneharu a small merchant

Watanabe a rich merchant

Abbot Shokan abbot of the Seikan-ji temple

CHARACTERS INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF A SENIOR OFFICIAL:

Kiyowara Kane the Junior Controller of the Right

Lady Kiyowara his wife

Katsumi his son and heir

Lady Aoi

Lady Kiyowara’s cousin; a shrine virgin

Ono Takamura a court poet

Prince Atsunori the Minister of Central Affairs

Fuhito

Lord Kiyowara’s major-domo

OTHERS:

Munefusa

Akitada’s subordinate in the Ministry of Justice

Nakatoshi a former subordinate

Fujiwara Kaneie the Minister of Justice