“Lies!” Sano knew better. Instead of trying to escape, Hirata was investigating their accusers. His inquiries must have led him to the Official Quarter, where he’d surely killed in self-defense. Sano’s heart sickened as he watched the false charges multiply. Belatedly he noticed that Old Carp mumbled because his mouth was swollen. “What happened to you?” Sano asked.

Old Carp tried to smile, but winced instead. “Governor Nagai found out about how I tricked the spies by pretending I was you last night. Today he sent someone to teach me a lesson. But the beating wasn’t too bad; Old Carp is tough. And a good joke like that was worth the price, yes?”

“No,” Sano said, appalled because the servant had suffered on his account. And since he could no longer solicit Old Carp’s help, how would he escape his watchers?

The desperate energy that had carried him through the day suddenly vanished. He felt weak from hunger, pain, and blood loss. Now that his enemies knew his arrest had not halted his investigation, they aimed to isolate him, to strip him of the power to exonerate himself and expose their crimes. Sano was utterly alone, virtually helpless. Yet even as he experienced the crushing black pressure of despair, his detective spirit rallied. A new plan took shape in his mind. However, he first had to restore his strength.

“I need more medicine and a fresh dressing for this wound,” he told Old Carp. “Have the maids bring me a meal, heat the bath, and prepare my bed.”

Soon Sano was fed, clean, and wore a new bandage on his shoulder. He retired to his bedchamber, where the futon, piled with soft quilts, offered an irresistible invitation to rest. But Sano feared sleep as much as he craved it.

Somewhere in the night was the assassin who’d shot him; he was surrounded by enemies. Sano dressed in fresh outdoor wear and re-fastened his swords at his waist. Eschewing the futon, he lay on the floor with his neck propped on a wooden headrest. Alert to the approach of danger, hand grasping his long sword, he skimmed the surface of sleep. But fatigue quickly pulled him into deep, dark oblivion.

He was walking through a boundless forest of flowering cherry trees that gave off a peculiar acrid odor and crackling noise. Somewhere a temple bell tolled repeatedly, its sound loud and dissonant. In the distance stood a woman, arms waving in frantic agitation, pale kimono swirling in the hot, dry wind. Sano recognized Aoi, and his heart swelled with joy. He shouted her name, but the bell drowned out his voice. He ran toward her.

Then, as he drew near, he saw terror on Aoi’s face and realized she wasn’t beckoning, but waving him away. He couldn’t hear her voice, but read the words her lips formed: No! Danger. Run! Sano ignored the warning. Reaching Aoi, he clasped her in his arms.