Red Chrysanthemum Read Free

pressure to get rid of you because he’s afraid to offend them and have them turn on him.”
    The possibility hadn’t escaped Sano’s notice. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He experienced a twinge of surprise at the life he led. How far he’d come from his humble origin as a son of a ronin, earning his rice by teaching martial arts! Such bizarre twists of fate had brought him here! And his exalted status was a mixed blessing.
    He hated living in constant fear for his life, with hardly a moment of solitude or freedom. Politics was dirty business. He would have preferred a good, clean sword battle any day. And the higher he rose, the greater the danger of falling. Most days Sano was confident that he could stay on top, but he was almost forty years old and sometimes he felt his mortality. His hair was turning gray. Stiff muscles irritated him. A bad beating three years ago, from an assassin dubbed the Ghost, didn’t help. Still, his job as chamberlain was not only his duty but his destiny, a source of satisfaction as well as trouble.
    General Isogai said, “Here’s something else to keep in mind: If you go down, so do a crowd of other folks.” His gaze touched on each elder before returning to Sano.
    “The time may be coming when we and your other allies can no longer afford to be associated with you,” said Uemori.
    “For the sake of self-preservation, we may be forced to make different arrangements,” Ohgami concluded.
    Sano had foreseen the possibility of losing their support; allegiances constantly shifted in the bakufu. But that didn’t lessen his dismay that it could happen so soon. Should his allies desert him, Sano would be doomed to demotion, banishment, and perhaps death. His family would suffer even more.
    “I appreciate your loyalty, and I understand your position,” he said in an attempt to appease the men. “What would you have me do?”
    General Isogai answered, blunt, forceful: “Back off on making any more enemies.”
    “Placate the ones you already have,” Uemori said.
    “Try to avoid getting in any more trouble,” said Ohgami.
    During the tense, unfriendly silence that followed, Detective Marume appeared in the doorway. “Excuse me, Honorable Chamberlain.” The tall, burly samurai had been a member of Sano’s detective corps when Sano was sosakan-sama; now he was a bodyguard and general assistant. “Sorry to interrupt, but Hirata-san is here to see you.”
    Sano was surprised; although Hirata was technically his chief retainer, they didn’t have much to do with each other these days. While Sano ran the government, Hirata kept busy investigating crimes.
    “It can’t wait.” Marume’s expression was somber rather than characteristically jovial.
    Sano dismissed General Isogai and the elders. As he and Marume walked down the corridor, Sano said, “What’s this about?”
    “Your wife. There’s been some kind of trouble.”
    “Reiko?” Alarm jolted Sano. He hurried to his private quarters. There he found Hirata and Reiko kneeling in her chamber. With them was Reiko’s old childhood nurse Osugi.
    Hirata looked relieved to see Sano. “Greetings.”
    “What’s going on?” Sano noticed that Hirata appeared healthier, more fit, yet strangely older than the last time they’d met a few months ago. But Reiko quickly captured his attention.
    She was wrapped in a quilt, shivering violently despite the summer heat. Her hair hung in damp strings. Her face wore a stunned, sick expression. Her complexion was blanched, her lips colorless. Osugi hovered anxiously near her, holding a bowl of hot tea. Reiko beheld Sano with blurred eyes, as if she couldn’t quite figure out who he was.
    “What’s wrong?” he exclaimed as he knelt beside her. He started to take her in his arms, but she flung up her hands to prevent him.
    “Don’t touch me!” she cried. “The blood. It’ll get on you.”
    “We washed it off, little one,” Osugi said in a soothing voice. “It’s all