Harakiri Page #7

to sentimental tales.

If you really think

that samurai honor

is ultimately nothing more

than a facade...

then you never had a chance

of swaying us.

So in the end,

these have been nothing but the

useless grumblings of a cranky old man.

But it does no good

to lament that now.

Well, then,

forgive me

for my long-winded recitation.

I will now proceed with the ritual.

Wait.

Before that,

I must return some items

that belong to this house.

For easier identification,

I have placed name tags on each.

Please examine them carefully.

Master Hayato Yazaki,

and Master Umenosuke Kawabe -

I understand they're both among

the best swordsmen of the lyi Clan,

held in high esteem

for their bravery and honor.

But, Counselor,

gentlemen,

let me set your minds at ease.

I took only their topknots,

not their lives.

In the case of Hayato Yazaki...

it was six days ago.

Hold it!

In the case of Umenosuke Kawabe,

it was five days ago, on May 8th.

However,

when it came to that master swordsman

of the Shindo-Munen-Ichi school,

Master Hikokuro Omodaka,

I had a little more difficulty.

Perhaps aware of what had happened

to Yazaki and Kawabe,

I could not catch him off guard.

In fact, to be honest,

I found myself at quite a loss

as to how to deal

with Master Omodaka.

May I enter?

If you reach for your sword,

I'll slice you in one motion

from shoulder to waist.

But I fear...

the lintel will catch

the tip of my blade.

If you lunge to the side,

then this pillar will get in the way.

It took a few days to locate your home.

My apologies for the delay.

I ask you to make ready.

This is obviously no place

for a sword duel.

It's a bit far, but I must ask you

to accompany me to Gojiin-gawara.

As miserable a hovel as this is,

your landlord will be inconvenienced

if you do not return.

And without someone to retrieve your

remains, your soul will wander aimlessly.

I suggest you leave a note.

It should indicate you're going

to Gojiin-gawara

for a duel with Hikokuro Omodaka

of the lyi Clan.

Taking advantage of the wind

was brilliant,

but a blade can do more than cut.

It can also stab,

or even snap another blade in two.

Swordsmanship untested in battle

is like the arit of swimming

mastered on dry land.

On the other hand,

I had not seen battle either

since the siege of Osaka Castle

Taking his head

would have been difficult enough,

but taking only his topknot

proved more difficult still.

Whatever the differences in skill,

for a samurai to have

his topknot taken

is the same

as having his head stricken off.

It is an ineptitude, a disgrace,

that can scarcely be atoned for

even by death.

Yet these men claim illness

and shirk their duties

while waiting for their topknots

to grow back. Counselor!

This house boasts of its red armor

and maritial valor,

but it seems that even

in the great House of lyi,

samurai honor is nothing more

than a facade.

Maniac!

Cut him down!

Fall back!

Hanshiro Tsugumo

has been killed, Counselor.

And our casualties?

What were the casualties

among our men?

Masakatsu Sugita, Sobei Uemura,

Ichiro Shinmen, Uemon Yoshioka -

four dead.

Eight more seriously wounded.

The ronin from Hiroshima...

Hanshiro Tsugumo,

committed harakiri.

All our own men died of illness.

The House of lyi has no retainers

who could be felled or wounded

by some half-starved ronin.

Former retainer of the Fukushima Clan,

Hanshiro Tsugumo,

committed harakiri honorably,

according to his wish.

All our men died of illness.

Their deaths have nothing to do

with Tsugumo's.

Furithermore, we cannot allow

any more to die of illness.

See that the wounded

are treated immediately.

I have just returned, Counselor.

Hikokuro Omodaka,

last night at his home -

Kawabe and Yazaki both claim illness,

but in fact -

- Fool!

Why did you not order them

to commit harakiri on the spot?

Go back immediately

and order them to do so.

And take some skilled swordsmen

with you.

If they fail to willingly disembowel

themselves, make them do it by force.

Of course, these two men, and Omodaka

too, did not officially commit harakiri.

They died of illness.

- Sire?

- Imbecile!

You weren't born yesterday.

You know the ways of the world.

How can you not realize

the implications? Idiot!

I am on my way, sire.

The former retainer of the Fukushima Clan,

Hanshiro Tsugumo,

died by harakiri

at 6:
00 in the evening.

His speech and behavior

had been somewhat erratic.

Many of those present felt

he showed signs of derangement.

Furthermore, it has become clear

that when another former retainer

of the Fukushima Clan,

one Motome Chijiiwa, asked to commit

harakiri in January of this year,

we did not err in our chosen response.

Word of the martial rigor of this house

echoed throughout Edo.

In the present case too,

word of our resolute handling

spread across the city

before two days were out.

As a result, on the third day,

in a formal session at Edo Castle,

Lord Doi took the occasion

to confer words of praise

upon our young master Bennosuke

as follows:

"'At peace, yet ever vigilant. '

Let the House of lyi

continue to embrace this principle,

and your fortunes are sure to prosper

for ages to come. "

The 16th day of May,

1630.

HARAKIRI:

THE END:

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