Five Decembers by James Kestrel

Author:James Kestrel [Kestrel, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 9781789096125
Publisher: Titan Books; Titan Publishing Group
Published: 2021-10-18T16:00:00+00:00

***

Later on, McGrady went barefooted across the yard carrying his bamboo tray of gifts. In his other hand, he had an iron kettle filled with boiling water. He bathed, crouching in the cedar tub and trying to make his hot water last as long as he could. He used his soap, and his razor, and shaved. It had been more than a month, and it destroyed the blade. There had been fifty in the box. He had no illusions. He’d have to ration them. He put on the two robes, and went back to the house before he froze.

Sachi had gone upstairs to bed. Her father was still by the hearth. The fire was burning low. There were only a few lights on. The room smelled of tea and fresh bamboo. The house was silent and cold, except for a small ring of warmth close to the fire. It was like being in a forest. Takahashi lifted a brown bottle from the table. He tilted its neck toward McGrady’s empty teacup.

“What is that?”

“Sake,” Takahashi said. “Very good sake.”

“All right.”

Takahashi poured for them. McGrady sat back down.

He lifted his cup, and raised it to Takahashi. The man represented a government that had caused all of his problems. The man’s personal intervention might well have saved his life. So McGrady was torn as to whether and how completely he should express his thanks. He settled on a nod.

“Mr. Takahashi.”

“Detective McGrady.”

They drank. Takahashi wasn’t kidding. It was very good sake. It was ice cold, from sitting outside. It was dry and sharp.

“What are we going to do?” McGrady asked.

“I’ve given this some thought. I’ve discussed it with Sachi.”

“And?”

“Obviously, I will be at the Ministry much of the time. You can’t risk going out.”

“I’d thought at least that far.”

“You can’t sit and be idle,” Takahashi said. “I propose a regimen.”

“Of what?”

“Study,” Takahashi said. “Sachi will teach you Japanese.”

“You’d leave me alone with your daughter?”

Takahashi looked at him, and then nodded.

“I would,” he said. “I believe that, like Sachi, you are not stupid. It’s occurred to you that if you dishonored her, I would turn you out. Which would be the end of you.”

“Fair enough.”

“In any case, the studying will help her, as well. She will perfect her English. One of you will benefit at the end of the war. The other will possess an amusing parlor trick.”

“You got an idea which way that’s going to go?”

“The best Japan can hope for is a stalemate in the Pacific, and a truce.”

Takahashi refilled their cups. They drank.

“You’re scared for Sachi,” McGrady said. “You’re hiding her. Same as me.”

Takahashi had been about to drink. But he set his cup down.

“It’s not just because my wife left us. It’s not just because of what happened when Miyako left. But those, of course, are considerations.”

“I understand.”

“I would feel better if you found the man who killed Miyako.”

“And when I do?”

“I recognize that when you find him, you’ll likely be outside of your jurisdiction. Don’t you think?”

“That’s probably true.”

“Then you should be prepared to do whatever is necessary.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.