The Japanese Lantern by Isobel Chace

Author:Isobel Chace [Chace, Isobel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Cries of “akabo” went up the whole length of the platform and the red-capped porters rushed madly about, trying to carry as many pieces of luggage as they possibly could.

“We will leave the luggage here and go round to the office first,” Yoshiko suggested. “My father s car is there and we can pick it up and then drive on to Kyoto.”

Jonquil sleepily agreed. It was far too early in the morning for her to be properly awake, though the bustle all around her was exciting, and she was conscious of Alexander’s tight little hand holding hers, while he drank in the scene through wide eyes.

Osaka has been called the Venice of the Orient. In the first light of dawn it was quite lovely. The network of canals reflected the first rays of the sun, pulling the pearly light towards the mouth of the great Yodo River. Already people were at work, standing knee-deep in the water and rinsing the long lengths of dyed fabric with slow, deliberate movements.

“Don’t they find it hard on their feet?” Jonquil asked.

Yoshiko shrugged her shoulders.

“Perhaps,” she said.

The offices of the chemical firm were in a large modern block, close to Nakonoshima, the civic centre of the city. It was the nearest thing to a skyscraper that Jonquil had ever seen. It seemed that Osaka was not as frightened of earthquakes as Tokyo, for the buildings towered up above the eight-story limit of the capital. Inside it was like stepping into America—fitted carpets, the very latest in office equipment and air conditioning. It was somehow surprising to Jonquil, who had not expected anything on that scale.

The porter smiled and bowed several times in quick succession, speaking in a rapid Japanese that Yoshiko answered in monosyllables, her eyes darting round the building as though she were nervous of running into someone.

“He says that someone will bring the car round for us,” she said at last. “I do hope they hurry, we still have quite a long drive in front of us.” Then almost as an afterthought, “You do drive, Jonquil?”

“Yes, but I haven’t a Japanese licence,” Jonquil said cautiously. What she had seen of the traffic had not inspired her with any desire to take the wheel.

“It doesn’t matter,” Yoshiko said carelessly. “My father has a chauffeur.”

Two young men came through the plate glass doors at that moment and walked towards them, chatting as they went. One of them went into the lift, but the other stopped, his black eyes watching Yoshiko intently. Immediately Yoshiko bowed to him, her smile fixed and her whole expression formal. The young man bowed back.

“This is Kagami-san, Jonquil,” Yoshiko murmured. “Miss Kennedy.”

The young man bowed again to Jonquil, but his eye never left Yoshiko’s face.

“What do you do in Osaka?” he asked at last in excellent English.

“I am going home to Kyoto, Yoshiko said demurely.

“Ah, yes. Matsui-san comes home tomorrow, I have heard.”

The young man took out a cigarette case and offered Jonquil one before taking one himself. Immediately Yoshiko

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