Free Moonshadow by Simon Higgins Page B

regarding him warily. Good hearing, he thought, no bladed weapons that were visible. And he admitted to being a private investigator! What was going on here?
    'You seem familiar, sir,' Moon lied confidently. 'Are you not a famous wrestler?'
    The man's eyes momentarily lit up then seemed to grow fixed and probing. Just as the innkeeper had warned!
    'I once wrestled, but that was years ago. You would have been too young to see me fight.' Katsu shrugged, grinning disarmingly. 'Perhaps all sumo types are somewhat alike?'
    This fellow, Moonshadow decided, might prove to be quite dangerous. Cool natured and quick-witted, he should be responded to with care. The hasty question about wrestling had been a mistake. It had given the stranger his first insight into Moon, that he was a good – maybe trained – observer. A pity he should have learned that so quickly.
    Who had sent him? What was he really after?
    'Forgive my rudeness, I meant no disrespect,' Moon said. 'A detective, then? How exciting! But surely you can't be after a person like me?' He laughed, gesturing expansively. 'No murderers here! Just a dull, hard-working messenger from Edo!'
    'Indeed?' Katsu chuckled, too knowingly for Moon's liking. 'Well, in fact, my current case involves no murders. It's all about a hero, actually, not a villain. I have been knocking on doors enquiring of many a hard-working youth today.' From his robe he yanked a patterned cloth purse.
    'You see, I seek a certain brave boy pilgrim. I've been hired by . . . let's just say by a pious client who wishes to remain anonymous.'
    'Hired to do what?'
    'To honour this daring young man for his charity and valour. My client witnessed his chivalry near Hakone on the Tokaido, and says that Lord Buddha will not let him sleep until the boy is rewarded!' Katsu shook the purse, making its contents jingle.
    'Are you he, by any chance? I must observe, you are the right age and height and generally fit the description I have.'
    'As many do, I suppose,' Moon said casually. Katsu nodded and shrugged again.
    For a split second, Moon wondered if the girl had sent this Katsu. He quickly dismissed the thought. Her again! Why did he keep thinking of her? He forced himself to concentrate on the detective. This man – and his story – felt all wrong. Whoever he was, whatever he really wanted, he was no ally of the Grey Light.
    Katsu's random movements, the vitality in his eyes and his steady, silent breathing told Moon three things. The detective was very physically strong, mentally sharp and highly disciplined. He gave nothing else away, a warning in itself. Only a fool would trust him, for he was definitely a player in this game. But on whose side?
    Moonshadow's nimble mind flashed back to a series of lessons Badger had given him on how to deal with authorities like magistrates or the police. It had all seemed tedious at the time, and despite having learned by then to appreciate Badger, he had still come to find those particular sessions as irritating as Saru-San's many fleas. Now he realised their profound worth and felt grateful that he could recall so much of Badger's advice. Don't just listen to their questions , the archivist had warned. Consider their unspoken strategy: where the questions are leading . They will try to trap you with your own answers, so choose each word with care . Any new facts you blurt will come back at you like shuriken. Remember that to mislead them, you must move, breathe and even glance as one wholly innocent.
    'I'm neither the hero you seek,' Moon stretched as if the whole matter was starting to bore him, 'nor even a pilgrim!' He patted the calligraphy on his clothing. 'Just a poor runner of messages between the eastern and western capitals.'
    'Hmm,' Katsu nodded amiably, 'and just arrived from Edo, you said?'
    Moon sensed the snare in his questioning. 'I said from Edo, yes. But not just arrived. I've been in the area several days, delivering letters in both Otsu and Kyoto.' He almost