Session 36. (01/05/02)

While Sugiyama prepares for his mission by packing some useful herbs and black silk, he reviews the plan in his mind. [vignetted scenes from future action with voice-over by Koreyasu] "A few years ago the Daimyo of Hyuga wiped out a dissident clan, the Sasaina clan. It is now rumoured that one of the clan, a man named Urakami, escaped the slaughter and has become an officer in the Hyugan army, just waiting for his chance for revenge on the Daimyo, either as a direct attack against him or bringing down his regime.

"A local Hyugan agent, Akimoto, has been duped into believing that he has found a second surviving member of the clan, a man named Ikeda. He has no suspicions that Sugiyama is not Ikeda - he has been tracking down the planted trail and believes this to be the biggest coup of his life. The agent is receiving a large fee to deliver Ikeda to the Hyugan High Command to be interviewed and co-opted to find Urakami, as the only person that knows the spy by sight.

"The clan came from Nango, a village in the mountains inland from Hyuga Town. The story and both survivors are fictitious, though of course the slaughter of the clan is true... When Sugiyama has gained the trust of the commanders he has to discover what the Hyugans' secret weapon is - how do they manage to hit patrols in unlikely places with the right number of men?"

Sugiyama completes his preparation by breaking into Nobeoka theatre and stealing props from the noh plays^*. Then he heads down to Hyuga, successfully sneaks into the town and makes his way to the rendezvous with the Hyugan agent (Kafue Motsuaato, 10 o'clock). Sugiyama has been given a description of the agent, but nevertheless announces his (assumed) name loudly by ordering a room from the innkeeper. As the innkeeper disappears to make arrangements, a small greasy man sidles up to Sugiyama (Ikeda) and introduces himself as Akimoto. He buys Sugiyama a drink and motions him to a quiet table. He gives a patriotic talk about helping Hyuga and promises money and status if Sugiyama will accompany him to talk to the Hyugan commanders. Sugiyama agrees and they set off immediately on horseback. As they ride into the mountains Sugiyama realises that they are heading for Nango, supposedly his birthplace, so he comments on how long it is since he saw it. When they reach the village they find it has been turned into a military camp. Fortification has been added to the larger houses, and two in particular catch his eye. After he is given a place to sleep the remainder of the night, Sugiyama slips out and finds that one of the fortified buildings is the temporary headquarters of the Hyugan army commanders, and the other is a prison. He then has a few hours sleep before his meeting with the commanders.

The other troubleshooters are all staying in Nobeoka to take advantage of the availability of teachers. Mariko continues learning the biwa and in her spare time teaches Kimori rhetoric. Emiko learns bojutsu at the shrine, where news of her 50 GP donation has leaked out and results in the priests falling over themselves to teach her for free. Komako studies meditation at the temple, though he has to pay for his tuition.

In Nango, Sugiyama is taken (not invited) to see the Hyugan commanders. In a darkened room in the fortified headquarters building, he meets five senior bushi: Miyoshi Okimoto, Goto Hamanari, Wada Mochiyo, Naïto Katsumi and Inagaki Iwao. They question him imperiously, asking the name of the Nango spy and his description. Sugiyama gives a vague description. The commanders believe the spy is in Hyuga Town where many troops have gathered after the fall of Nobeoka, the withdrawal from the Mimi valley and the destruction of Ishiyama castle - which is why the prison has been temporarily relocated to Nango. Okimoto tells Sugiyama that he is to find the spy and arrest him. If he is successful he will be rewarded with gold and a commission to work for the daimyo. Sugiyama is to return to Hyuga Town to begin his search, and report to the other senior commander there, Kada Toyonari. Sugiyama is given a document bearing Okimoto's seal entitling him to go anywhere.

Sugiyama sets off for Hyuga Town, riding back with the Hyugan agent, who chatters on about what he will do with his reward. Arriving in Hyuga mid-afternoon, Sugiyama is glad to see the back of the agent. He goes to see Toyonari, but he is out. Sugiyama gets a briefing from his assistant. Then he goes and visits various barracks, gathering information, gossip and rumour. He hears once again of the success of Hyugan patrols against Iyo scouting parties. Even the Hyugans are surprised at their unblemished record of success.

In Nobeoka, Emiko overhears a tale of woe related by a visitor to the shrine. A girl tells the story of her father, an old samurai called Danchishiro Watashio. His staff are being found dead or becoming missing never to be heard from again. He wants to hire some trouble-shooters to find out what is happening. He wants outsiders as he has a suspicion that a rival clan is at work and now he can't be sure if it's an inside job because some of the dead have been found in the secret alcoves of his house only known to his family.

Emiko promises the girl some help, hoping to gain some goodwill for the invaders (and get some budo) and goes to fetch the others. They all travel to the girl's home, a farm a few miles north of Nobeoka. They have not seen much of the war, concentrating on running the farm. Emiko begins by meditating to see if there is any magic involved. She finds that there has been no magic performed recently, but there is the aura of magic around the place. Komako goes off on his own and questions the remaining staff. They answer politely but very briefly. Five of the staff have disappeared over the last five months. The last two have not been found. The first three appeared to have been strangled. Komako also learns that the house has been bought fairly recently. The previous family died with no heir to take over the land. Danchishiro was given the house and land as a gift for his loyal and long service (in which he lost an arm).

Mariko and the others, talking to Danchishiro and his daughter, learn more of the story. The previous owner of the house was a brutal man who beat his wife. The wife's father took his daughter away whilst the husband was out. When the man returned he flew into a rage, and was seen riding out off. The next day the father was found murdered in his house, the wife was never seen again. That was about 20 years ago. The brutal man died alone. After his death the daimyo confiscated his estate. Its has been used by various samurai since then. The house of the murdered father and daughter is located a short distance down the main road. The buildings are now dilapidated and stand in ruins. The trouble-shooters set off to investigate.

In Hyuga Town, Sugiyama returns to see the commander. But as he approaches the local command post, he sees the commander going into the building. He recognises him, but can't place where he has seen him. Sugiyama's well-honed wits tell him to brazen it out, and he goes up to the door. As he reaches for the handle his memory comes flooding back - it is the former commander of Ishiyama Castle, whom he saw (and who saw Sugiyama) during the first raid on the castle. It's time for some quick thinking!

Next week: Wit or twit - what will Sugiyama do now?

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