The Open Road Page 5

  “This cup has a false bottom. Squeeze it here, and it releases what is inside.” The crane secretly demonstrated, then brought forth a pair of dice. “Now – conceal these normal dice in your hand. Allow the other team to throw first! The fox will surely hide the official dice, and swap them for loaded dice of her own.” The crane put the cup into Moko’s hands. “Insist on shaking the cup yourself before Tonbo’s first throw. Squeeze the secret catch, and trap her loaded dice inside the cup. Then slip the normal dice into the cup.” The crane spirit was alive with malicious delight. “It’s brilliant! The Spirit Hunters will now be rolling with normal dice. When it is time for your throw, squeeze the cup and retrieve their loaded dice. You then will be using their own cheating dice against them! A clear moral victory!”

  Sano Moko was quite overjoyed.

  “And it is not really cheating, since it uses their own foul trick against them!”

  Moko and the crane toasted one another. They laughed heartily, then strolled forward to begin the game.

  The audience cheered. Looking the very picture of innocence, Sura strode towards the other team and opened her arms wide.

  “Dear colleagues – if you are ready we shall begin!” The fox indicated the empty circle that was now ringed with eager spectators. Chiri was just dusting the tatami mats clean, with Bifuuko whirring her wings to help blow away any lingering dirt. Sura motioned the way for the Sano team to enter the inner circle.

  “Now, are we agreed on the rules? Both sides make three rolls in a row. We total the score. The team with the highest overall total wins.”

  Sano Moko gave a sharp nod of her head.

  “Agreed! Tonbo san – you may have the honour of making your three rolls first.”

  The innkeeper brought forward a pair of dice. Sura helped the man through the crowd, but accidentally bumped him. The dice fell to the ground. The fox dusted the man off in apology.

  “Oh how clumsy of me! Here, let me retrieve them!”

  The fox passed dice back to the innkeeper, who bobbed his head in gratitude. Sano Moko and the crane spirit traded sly, knowing glances. The crane strode forward, bringing the wicker dice cup.

  “Please, let us use this handsome cup!” The innkeeper dropped the dice into the cup, and the crane swiftly turned to Sano Moko. “Moko san, please shake the dice and make sure that they move freely.”

  Sano Moko took the cup in her hands, squeezing it so that the secret hatch opened inside, trapping the dice. She dropped the pair of dice that she held concealed in her palm into the cup, and shook it so that the rattle could be heard. Satisfied, Moko passed the cup to Tonbo. The crane rubbed her hands together in satisfaction.

  “Good! Tonbo san. It is your roll.”

  Tonbo jogged the dice cup in his hand. He flicked a glance over towards Sura.

  “Is there any special way I should be doing this?”

  The fox seemed quite unconcerned. She lifted her drink in salute.

  “Not particularly.”

  Tonbo seated himself, shook the cup, and clapped it onto the floor face-down. He lifted the cup, and the innkeeper called out the score.

  “Seven! Two and five – seven!”

  Sano Moko and the crane spirit smiled: clearly these were very ordinary dice. The innkeeper picked up the dice, showing them clearly to one and all, then dropped them in the cup and handed it back to Tonbo.

  The big samurai made a second roll. He lifted the cup to show a pair of threes. The innkeeper positively crowed.

  “Six! The honoured samurai rolls a six!”

  Kuno frowned, but Sura seemed unworried by the lacklustre scores. She helped herself to another drink as the dice were shaken and cast for Tonbo’s final roll.

  “Five! The samurai rolls a five! Making a total of twenty.”

  Some spectators groaned – others cheered. Sano Moko looked utterly confident as she took up the cup.

  “Tonbo san! You clearly should give up gambling.”

  Sura waved the back of her hand. “Just take your rolls.”

  Sano Moko secretly discarded the dice, dropping them into the crane spirit’s empty sakē cup. She squeezed the wicker dice cup to liberate the loaded dice, and shook the cup vigorously left and right. Moko slammed down the cup, then whipped it up again with an enthusiastic “Ha!” – smirking confidently at the crowd.

  The innkeeper scuttled back and forth, quite astounded.

  “Two!”

  Sano Moko and her companions all gaped at the dice. Moko snatched them up – then saw Kuno’s stern eye upon her. She blankly dropped the dice back into the cup, and shook it to and fro.

  Moko made another cast. Everyone leaned forwards, and she plucked the cup up off the mats to reveal yet another pair of ones.

  “Two! The honoured lady scores a two!”

  The crane spirit hurried over to Moko with a large cup of sake. She took the dice cup from Moko as the samurai drank. As she passed the dice cup back, the crane whispered eagerly into Moko’s ear.

  “It’s alright, Sano San! I switched the old dice back!”

  Moko positively gnashed her teeth.

  “Fool! The most they can roll is a twelve! The Spirit Hunters will still win!”

  The crane spirit wilted. Mathematics was apparently not her strongest suite. Annoyed, resigned and aware that something had gone horribly wrong, Sano Moko made her final cast of the dice. She scored nine points. The innkeeper threw up his hands in sympathy.

  “And a nine! That makes a total of thirteen! The Spirit Hunters are the winners!”

  The audience applauded – wagers changed hands. Someone clapped Tonbo on the back and hurt their hand. Deflated, Sano Moko and the crane spirit retreated back to their dinner table. Moko was utterly astounded.

  “I don’t understand it! We cheated. We should have won!”

  The crane felt a sudden horrible, creeping suspicion.

  “Unless…. They knew that we would cheat, and so the dice they substituted were actually weighted to lose…”

  Sano Moko blinked.

  “Which means that they knew that we knew that they would cheat…!”

  The crane shot a dire glance at Sura. The fox looked over towards her and gave a cheery little wave. The bird could only stand there and seethe.

  “Damn but I hate foxes!”

  Sura received two drinks from a well-wisher, and carried them over to Chiri, standing with her in a quiet corner. Chiri had retrieved the loaded dice that the crane spirit had discarded into an empty cup. She shook the two dice quietly out into her hand. The two dice merged, shimmered, and took shape once again as Daitanishi the earth elemental.

  Sura handed a drink to Chiri.

  “Thank you Chiri!” The fox polished Daitanishi with her sleeve. “And thank you, Daitanishi san, you clever little thing!”

  The earth elemental sniggered. He hopped back up onto Chiri’s shoulder, where he went into a conversation with Bifuuko. Perfectly happy, Chiri raised her cup to Sura and the others in salute.

  “Kampai!”

  “Kampai!” Sura tossed back her drink in a single draft. “Oooh – we need plum wine! The crane needs to buy me a plum wine!”

  Chiri looked loving and patiently at Sura.

  “You are planning on going over to there to rub it in?”

  “Oh yes! Absolutely! Life’s little pleasures must be wrung out to the full! Hey – it’s a Taoist thing!” Sura looked contentedly at the glowering crane spirit. “Oh – this is killing her! This is absolutely killing her!”

  Sura gave a blissful sigh.

  “I love being a fox.”

  The next morning bloomed clear and fine across the broad expanse of Mirror Lake. The feet of the mountains were covered with flowering plum and cherry blossoms, their colours reflected brilliantly across the water. The torii gate shone red and striking upon its little isle.

  Sura kitted herself out for a day of ghost hunting. She had painted up a dozen new spell papers, working through the first hours of the
morning, using arts almost forgotten in the human world. She tied her long hair back into its white-tipped ponytail, and pulled on her breastplate over her robes. A fistful of throwing spikes in a little sheath went through her sash, next to her long, straight kodachi short sword. Fresh white chains of spell papers were folded and hung from beneath the head of her long spear. She finished the whole ensemble by slinging a large jug of cherry wine across her back. Sura marched out of the inn and into the gardens, finding the others patiently awaiting her. She handed each of her companions a pair of spell papers for safety’s sake, hanging a charm from the shoulder plates of Tonbo and Kuno’s armour, and pinned another to Chiri’s sleeve.

  The four Spirit Hunters set out into the village streets. Maids from the inn all came out to excitedly wave them off, pointing out the road that lead towards the haunted lodge. Village people emerged from shops and houses to eagerly wave farewell. They followed after the Spirit Hunters all the way to the edge of the village, merrily nudging one another and laughing. The entire village seemed to be in a holiday mood.

  Kuno looked over towards the villagers and frowned.

  “They all seem remarkably cheerful for residents of a haunted town.”

  Sura shrugged. “They know our reputation! They know their troubles are all over!” The fox waved to the nearest villagers. “Good morning! We’ll soon be right into it!”

  For some reason, the villagers all laughed. Some of them seemed to be making bets. Sura ignored it all, and pointed to an impressive camp enclosure over by the road.

  Lord Ishigi himself was waiting at the road. He was attended by his hatamoto – his inner bodyguard – as well as samurai, foot soldiers, and a gaggle of delighted maids.

  Ishigi was dressed for a holiday, with comfortable robes and a parasol to shade him. He strode merrily forward with maids and men, actually coming forward to greet the Spirit Hunters as they arrived. The group knelt and bowed, and Lord Ishigi beamed.

  “Ah, Spirit Hunters! Something told me it would be you!”

  Kuno was immensely pleased. He bowed to Ishigi.

  “My lord! It is an honour to see you again.”

  “It is a delight to share so fine a morning with you.” Lord Ishigi waved his fan towards the road. “Come come – I will show you to the pass myself.”

  Kuno blinked with surprise.

  “My lord! You do us too great an honour!”

  “No no! I insist! It will be most edifying to see you at your work.” Ishigi smoothed his handsome moustache.

  “I wish to be the first to witness your progress.”

  Lord Ishigi decided not to ride – it was a lovely day for a stroll. He indicated that the Spirit Hunters should walk beside him. The entire swarm of bodyguards, maids, soldiers and servants came along in a merry procession, as Lord Ishigi indicated a side road off and away from the lake.

  The path led off amongst rows of gnarled old plum trees heavy with budding blossoms. The entire procession walked amiably on towards a narrow mountain pass. Lord Ishigi chatted cheerily with Sura about monsters fought and cases solved. Birds sang in the trees, and a cool breeze drifted from the lake, stirring the budding cherry flowers.

  They came to a rise in the road, where the tree line finally ended. Lord Ishigi surveyed the path, then pointed the way forward with his fan.

  “The Lodge of Doves was just down here. The avalanche site is easily spotted. Do be careful of the loose stones. I should not like you to be hurt.”

  Kuno bowed.

  “You are too kind, my Lord.”

  “A shrine was set up at the site. Quite impressive, I am told! Not that it receives all that many visitors…” Lord Ishigi gave a shrug. “The gate is unlocked. Most groups march straight in.”

  Chiri stood to one side, examining the pass. Her tall pink ears twitched, and she tilted her head.

  “Most groups?”

  Lord Ishigi was eagerly straightening his robes. He ushered Kuno forward along the path.

  “Now now! You must be getting along. The inn is expecting your speedy return!”

  Lord Ishigi’s men had set up a viewing enclosure for him complete with a stool, banners, refreshments, parasols and screens. He waved happily to the Spirit Hunters as they bowed to him and walked off towards the pass. Ishigi samurai and foot soldiers lined a rise beside the road. As the Spirit Hunters passed, Lord Ishigi formally opened up his fan, took position, and bellowed out a ritual battle cheer.

  “Ei! Ei!”

  The soldiers flung up their arms and bellowed out a joyous reply.

  “Oooooooooooooh!”

  The Spirit Hunters walked onwards. Tonbo hung back for a moment, looked over the Ishigi camp, and scratched his stubble in puzzlement. Shouldering his massive tetsubo, he followed his friends up into the pass.

  The path moved into a narrow mountain pass overshadowed by magnificent cliffs. A slim, brilliant waterfall spilled down from high above, splashing into a rocky pool.

  A mansion stood at the gateway to the pass. Tall palisades coated in weathered old plaster surrounded gardens and a great, wide hall. The heavy gates were slightly open, as if beckoning guests to enter. But the rear half of the entire compound had been buried beneath a mass of rocks and boulders: the fallen cliff had crashed down to obliterate a large section of the old manse.

  The crossbeam above the heavy gate held a Sanskrit inscription of four symbols. Sura sank into cover and moved carefully closer through a screen of ferns, cautiously inspecting the ruins from a distance.

  Chiri, Tonbo and Kuno joined her. Kuno whispered quietly toward Sura.

  “What are those symbols?”

  Sura peered at the gate and ducked back down. “Sanskrit: love, laughter, revelry and gaiety.”

  “People after your own heart.”

  Sura pulled carefully back behind rocks and boulders. She held a whispered conference with her companions.

  “Alright. I’ve got my shield wards ready. We go in there carefully and professionally. Chiri – take your elementals, climb the wall in rat form and scout the way ahead. Kuno, Tonbo, you make a rush to the wall over at the far corner near the rock slide once she signals the all clear. I’ll follow. We’ll avoid the gate, hop the wall at the back, and slip in quietly. Then we lay the spell papers down secretly, make a noise to attract the ghosts and trap ‘em cold!” The fox looked to each of her friends. “Agreed?”

  The others all nodded – brisk, efficient and professional. Sura whirled her spear and tucked it underneath her arm. She rose to carry out the mission, eyes flashing as the breeze stirring heroically through her hair.

  “The Spirit Hunters are on the job!”

  Chapter 4

  A warm morning sun stole softly inward through closed shoji screens. The light caressed slowly across the tatami mats, passing delicately on into a great, wide bedroom.

  It was a vast, opulent room decorated in the most lavish possible style – the finest that the Mirror Lake inn had to offer. Female underwear lay strewn carelessly across the floor. Robes – obi belts and robes. They had been dropped carelessly amidst the remains of an impossibly lavish feast: plates of food, bowls of half-eaten delicacies and empty bottles scattered all across the floor.

  Sura lay in bed in her ‘half-and-half’ form – naked, furred and utterly luxuriant. She felt an immense, absolute wellbeing – sated, pampered and utterly at peace with the universe. There was a gorgeous scent in her nostrils, and a delicious warmth beside her. Sura rolled over, making a noise of total satisfaction, feeling something warm, supple and silky cuddled up against her. The fox gave a smile and opened up her blurry eyes.

  She was nose to nose with Chiri. They were both utterly naked.

  Both women went from a dreamy smile to sheer confusion. Suddenly they each catapulted backwards, both fighting for the same quilt to cover themselves. Chiri was also in half-and-half form, white furred and blushing. She tried to cover herself with her hands as both she and Sura flashed glances over the scattered evidence of dis
carded underwear and sakē jugs. They stared at one another in horrified astonishment – then both women gave a screech of shock.

  Hastily wrapped in robes, the pair came stumbling out of the inn. Both raced to the stream in the garden, and began to vigorously wash out their mouths. They finally slowed down and shot one another guilty, mortified looks, haunted by blurred, half remembered flashes from the night before.

  They looked at the other side of the stream.

  Tonbo and Kuno were both there, hurriedly washing out their mouths. The Spirit Hunters all stopped and looked at one another, utterly embarrassed.

  The team all rose and walked back towards the inn together – stiff and utterly mortified. Sura kept her eyes on the path ahead.

  “Let us never speak of this again…”

  The inn’s main balcony was packed with villagers, who all cheered in unison as the Spirit Hunters trudged up from the stream. At the other side of the garden, Lord Ishigi, his hatamoto, his guards and his maids all waited merrily, with his lordship sitting in state upon a stool covered with a tiger skin. Lord Ishigi opened up his fan in gleeful salute, and the Ishigi samurai all threw up their arms and cheered in unison.

  Kuno tried to keep his composure. He maintained a stiff face as he marched along beside Sura.

  “So it seems we were possessed?”

  The fox was taking the incident with far less grace. She stomped along with ears flat and tail held low. “Alright, alright! It happens! Incident over – let’s move on.”

  Seething, Sura led the way back into the inn. A maid had laid out two tables for breakfast: red rice, fried bream, and rice cakes, each laid out for two. Sura sat herself down, tossing aside a sprig from a sacred tree that lay beside the food.

  “Yes – ha ha. A newlywed’s breakfast.” The fox irritably opened a bowl and found that it contained sweet porridge. “This is a real spectator sport for you people, isn’t it.”

  Sano Moko emerged from her sleeping room – tousled and deeply annoyed by all of the activity. She peered at the formal breakfast in confusion.