Free White Serpent Castle by Lensey Namioka Page B

armed men started to attack us!”
    â€œThe chamberlain’s men will be even more excited before the evening is over,” said Saemon, coming over to join the three men. “I hear that Jihei is planning to post his men in the women’s quarters tonight so that they can catch the White Serpent Ghost if it tries to make an appearance.”
    â€œJihei is determined to expose the ghost as a fraud,” said one of the retainers.
    â€œThen we’ll have to join the ghost hunt, won’t we?” said Saemon.
    Matsuzo frowned. He didn’t know what Zenta’s exact intentions were, but he was certain that they wouldn’t want to be actively helping the chamberlain. “I don’t think that Zenta and I will be joining you,” he said coldly.
    â€œAh, but our efforts to chase the ghost will be doomed to failure,” said Saemon, grinning. “My men and I will see the ghost in all the wrong places, and we will be chasing in a dozen different directions. It is certain to heighten the fun.”
    Matsuzo finally understood. “In that case I think we’d like to join you after all,” he said, laughing. “But where is Zenta? I haven’t seen him since we left the dining hall.”
    Even as he spoke, voices were heard coming down the path. Zenta appeared, escorted by three women of gigantic stature. They were talking animatedly and seemed to be in high spirits. When they saw Saemon’s party they stopped. Bowing politely, the women left.
    Matsuzo stared after them with fascinated horror. “You have very strange tastes,” he told Zenta. He himself much preferred women of dainty build.
    â€œDon’t you like these women warriors?” said the ronin. “They are magnificent fighters, and they gave me some exciting moments a little while ago.”
    â€œSpeaking of excitement, did you hear about the ghost hunt?” asked Matsuzo. He described Saemon’s plans.
    Zenta’s eyes brightened. “Excellent! I would have suggested such a plan if you hadn’t mentioned it first.” He and Saemon then began a discussion of strategic ways to post the men.
    Â 
    Two hours later Matsuzo was wondering what had happened to the promised excitement. He was cold from sitting motionless for so long, and he had a terrible cramp in his legs.
    In the courtyard at the heart of the castle, the persons of high rank lived in clusters of rooms with their attendants, and the various apartments were connected by zigzagging wooden walks covered against the weather.
    Matsuzo was sitting in the shadowed corner of one wooden walk which connected Lady Kaede’s apartments with those of Lady Tama. He could just make out Zenta in another corner. Somewhere out of sight, Saemon’s men were keeping watch on the walk that led from Lady Tama’s rooms to the apartments of the chamberlain.
    So far, it had been absolutely quiet, and Matsuzo found it increasingly difficult to stay vigilant. After all, he had had a very long day. He thought about the thick quilts filled with silk floss that he had seen earlier in his room, and he felt an overwhelming longing for bed.
    He knew that he was dreaming. In his dream a dark shape was looming over him, and he could see burning eyes staring down at him. He could not move. All his limbs ached, and he felt cold and sick. Then he realized that he was not asleep at all, and that there really was something between him and the moonlight. There was a hiss of someone sucking his breath.
    At this sound Matsuzo came fully awake at last. He looked up and found that the huge dark shape standing over him was Jihei.
    Matsuzo stumbled to his feet, moving as quickly as his numbed and aching legs would allow. It was not until he was face to face with the other man that he realized Jihei was not looking at him at all.
    Jihei was staring at something behind Matsuzo. There was such an expression of fear and loathing on his face that Matsuzo felt