"What would you like to study?"
"Learning."
"What would you like to learn?"
"About the whole world."
"What are the things you'd like to do?"
Hiyoshi smiled. "That I won't say."
"Why not?"
"I want to do things, but unless I do them, talking about them will only sound like boasting. And if I talked about them out loud, you'd all just laugh."
Shohaku stared at Hiyoshi, thinking how unusual he was. "I think I understand a little of what you say, but you're mistaken about the martial arts being the practice of small techniques."
"What are they, then?"
"According to one school of thought, when a person has learned a single skill, he will have mastered all the arts. The martial arts are not simply techniques—they are of the mind. If one cultivates the mind deeply, one is able to penetrate everything, including the arts of learning and government, see the world for what it is, and judge people."
"But I'll bet the people here consider striking and piercing their opponents as the best art of all. That should be useful for a foot soldier or the ordinary rank and file, but would it be essential for a great general who—"
"Watch your mouth!" scolded one of the samurai, landing a solid punch on Hiyoshi's cheek.
"Ow!" Hiyoshi put both hands over his mouth as though his jaw had been broken.
"These insulting remarks cannot be ignored. This is getting to be a habit. Master Shohaku, please withdraw. We'll take care of this."
The resentment was widespread. Almost all those who had heard Hiyoshi had something to say.
"He insulted us!"
"It's the same as mocking the household regulations!"
"Inexcusable ass!"
"Cut him down! The master won't blame us for it."
In their anger, it seemed they might carry out their threat, dragging him into the thicket and cutting his head off there and then. It was difficult for Shohaku to stop them. It took all his strength to calm them down and save Hiyoshi's life.
That evening, Nohachiro came to the servants' quarters and called softly to Hiyoshi who was sitting all alone in a corner, making a face as though he had a toothache.
"Yes. What is it?" His face was badly swollen.
"Does it hurt?"
"No, not much," he lied. He pressed the damp towel to his face.
"The master has asked for you. Go through the rear garden so that you won't be seen."
"Huh? The master? Well, I suppose he's heard about what happened today."
"The disrespectful things you said were bound to reach his ears. And Master Hitta came to see him a little while ago, so he must have. He may carry out the execution himself."
"Do you think so?"
"It's an iron rule of the Matsushita clan that servants should not be slack in their practice of the martial arts, day or night. When the master has to make a special effort to uphold the dignity of the household regulations, you should consider your head already lost."
"Well, then, I'll run away from here. I don't want to die over something like this."
"You're talking nonsense!" He grabbed Hiyoshi's wrists. "If you ran away, I'd have to commit seppuku. I've been ordered to bring you along."
"I can't even run away?" Hiyoshi asked artlessly.
"Your mouth is really too much. Think a little bit before you open it. Hearing what you said today, even I thought you nothing but a boastful monkey."
Nohachiro made Hiyoshi walk ahead of him, and he kept a firm grip on the hilt of the sword. White gnats swarmed in the gathering darkness. The light from lamps inside spilled out onto the veranda of the library, which had just been sprinkled with water.
"I've brought Monkey." Nohachiro knelt as he spoke.
Kahei appeared on the veranda. "He's here, is he?"
Hearing the voice above his head, Hiyoshi bowed so low that his forehead touched the garden moss.
"Monkey."
"Yes, my lord."
"It seems that a new type of armor is being made in Owari. It's called domaru. Go buy a set. It's your home province, so I presume you'll have no trouble moving around freely."
"My lord?"
"Leave tonight."
"Where to?"
"To where you can buy domaru armor." Kahei took some money from a box, wrapped it, and tossed it in front of Hiyoshi. Hiyoshi looked back and forth between Kahei and the money. His eyes filled with tears that rolled off his cheeks and onto the backs of his hands.
"It would be best if you left without delay, but you don't have to be in a hurry to bring back the armor. Even if it takes several years, find me the best possible set." Then he iaid to Nohachiro, "Let him out by the rear gate quietly, and before the night is over."
What an abrupt turnabout! Hiyoshi felt a chill creep over him. Here he had expected to be killed for running afoul of the household regulations, and now…the chill came from his reaction to Kahei's sympathy—his sense of gratitude—and it penetrated to the very marrow of his bones.
"Thank you very much." While Kahei had not spelled out what he had in mind Hiyoshi already understood.
His quickness bewilders the people around him, Kahei thought. It's only natural that this breeds resentment and jealousy. He smiled bitterly and asked aloud, "Why are you thanking me?"