Read Online Rashomon Gate by I. J. Parker - Free Book Online Page B

would look on the practical side. The answer is no; it would have been impossible. We know all of our students by sight and interview the few candidates who come from the provinces. The winner was one of ours. I saw him on the day of the examination, and I read his paper. It was in his handwriting."
    "Could you have misjudged his earlier performances?"
    Hirata grimaced. "No, though I certainly tried to think so. The winning essay was beyond anything he had ever done before. His approach to the complex question was original, his argument completely logical, his citations from the Chinese sources were abundant, accurate, and brilliantly appropriate, and his style was remarkable." After a pause, he added, "And this from a student who was not yet fluent in the Chinese language, had shown deplorable ignorance of the five classics on previous occasions, and could hardly make a great deal of sense when discussing current issues in his native tongue." Hirata ran a hand over his brow and shook his head. "Talking about it makes me ill. I should have demanded an investigation."
    "Perhaps he memorized someone else's text, or a draft of the paper was smuggled in?" Akitada suggested.
    "Neither. Memorizing would not have helped since he had no prior knowledge of the topic. Besides I doubt his knowledge of Chinese was good enough. As to passing him a draft, security, as you know, is very tight. The candidates are searched, led to their cubicles, and handed the examination topic and the sheets of blank paper by a faculty proctor."
    "Then the proctor must have passed him the paper."
    "Yes." Hirata's voice sounded dismal, but some color had returned to his face.
    "I think the time has come for names."
    Hirata sighed. "You would find out in any case. The student's name was Okura. I am thankful to say that he received a government appointment to a department where he can do no damage. There were four of us assigned as proctors, Takahashi, Fujiwara, Ono and myself. I was not the one who administered the question to Okura. Oe directed the whole affair, and it may be possible to find out from him who was assigned to Okura."
    At this moment the door flew open, and Nishioka bounded in.
    "There you are!" His bright eyes took in the scene and his nose quivered excitedly. "Important business? Or have you forgotten the meeting? The others are all there already."
    "Thank you for reminding us," said Hirata dryly, getting to his feet.
    They followed Nishioka to the Nando-in the central hall of the school of Chinese classics. As Nishioka had said, most of the others were already assembled, clustered about in small groups or sitting in their places studying sheets of paper. Oe stood apart with Ono, apparently giving his junior last minute instructions. Near them hovered Takahashi with a murderous expression on his face.
    Akitada made the rounds, bowing and exchanging pleasantries, without meeting anyone of interest until he recognized a familiar face. By now the most senior of the professors, the Confucian scholar, Tanabe, had seen him and was coming his way with a broad smile of welcome. He looked a little more frail and much grayer. Tanabe must be in his sixties by now, a small-boned man with pale, ascetic features and the bowed shoulders of the perpetual scholar.
    "My dear Sugawara," he cried, acknowledging Akitada's respectful bow, "I am so very glad to see you again. Nishioka told me that you have joined our faculty. I have been following your career with great interest. You are to be commended on your connection with the Lords Motosuke and Kosehira. You have made a very promising beginning."
    Momentarily taken aback that Tanabe should know about his friendship with the Fujiwara cousins, Akitada recalled that the old gentleman had a childlike admiration for the aristocracy and was well informed about all the important members of the ruling Fujiwara clan. The thought suddenly crossed his mind that such veneration could lead even a scholar of Tanabe's repute