Never Say Die by J. T. Brannan

Author:J. T. Brannan [Brannan, J. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

They had been heading south, across the Sumida River toward the Chuo ward and its infamous red-light Ginza district, but had altered course to drive back north toward the Taito ward which was directly across the river from the Ryogoku Kokugikan where they had just come from.

There had been little talk in the car since Cole’s obligation had been accepted, and he had used the opportunity to track their progress, memorizing their route in case he should need to use it again.

With darkness slowly falling, they entered the Taito area, which housed Ueno Park – a place famed more for its indigent population than for its beauty. And Cole could see that the rest of the area was much the same, a stark contrast to the relative luxury Cole had seen across the river.

Taito was obviously a low rent place, and Cole thought back to what he had read about the area during his research. But he soon found he didn’t need to – Mitsuya had found his voice again, and began to play the part of tour guide.

‘Not quite so impressive as other parts of Tokyo, eh?’ he asked with some amusement. ‘Our own offices used to be here, believe it or not. A lot cheaper than Marunouchi, I can tell you that. But times change, and we managed to move on and upwards. Time hasn’t changed this area though,’ he said with a mixture of regret and resignation, but also a hint of superiority.

Cole could see what he meant; the neighborhood was a glut of low-rise housing and cheap eateries, wrapped up in concrete and despair. He could see homeless men and women everywhere, businesses boarded up, other citizens moving carefully through the urban decay almost as if it might infect them if they lowered their guard for a second. It wasn’t the Tokyo that they showed in the glossy brochures.

‘San’ya,’ Mitsuya said. ‘At least that’s what this area used to be called, it’s been broken up into smaller neighborhoods now but it’s still the same to me. A lot of day laborers live here, lots of cheap housing. I used to live here myself, a long time ago.’ He shrugged, not sure whether to be melancholy or joyous. ‘It dates back to the Edo period, the place was designated for lower caste workers – tanners, butchers, leather workers, slaughterers. The burakumin. A perfect place for a ninkyo dantai group like the Omoto-gumi to get started, eh? The workforce was already here, ready and willing.’

The limousine had slowed, cruising the quiet, darkening streets, and Cole felt an air of menace surrounding him, encroaching on him.

‘So what sort of place are we going to?’ Cole asked.

‘Oh,’ said Mitsuya with a warm smile, ‘you will like it a lot. It’s a special place of ours, off the beaten path, a secret club. We have gambling there, sometimes we arrange animal fights – you know, cocks, dogs, you name it. Big business.’ His smile widened. ‘And then there are the girls, of course.

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