Read Online The 47 Ronin Story by John Allyn - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John Allyn
Tags: Fiction, Historical fiction, General, Action & Adventure, Literary Collections, Japanese, 47 Ronin, Ronin
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the sword do not lose face with their comrades."
Hara looked at him with respect. His own mind was incapable of seeing into the situation so deeply and he was impressed by a leader who had both brains and a fighting heart.
"It must be hard for you," he said humbly, "to have to consider the views of all. . . . You know you can always rely on me to carry out your orders."
Oishi smiled at him. "Thank you, old friend. I know I can count on you in any crisis."
Hara bowed his head in gratitude and together they walked on. When they reached the stables, Oishi took a moment to inspect the rows of stalls where the few remaining horses stood unbrushed and with tangled manes. He shook his head in dismay at their condition, then called for the head groom. When the man appeared, as shabby looking as his charges, Oishi unexpectedly gave orders that the horses were to be
• 66-
Chapter Four
combed and their hooves pared so that they would appear at their best. The groom was amazed at his words and happily hurried away before Oishi could change his mind. Hara's mouth, too, had fallen open at the command.
"Then you are going to fight?" he asked uncertainly.
"Not necessarily," said Oishi. "But even if we decide to evacuate the castle peaceably, it wouldn't do to post our last guard on shabby mounts, would it?"
Hara could not help but agree and turned to watch the groom as he briskly started to work. Then he realized that Oishi was staring at him and he faced his leader somewhat uneasily.
"I've forgiven you for your remarks at the meeting," Oishi said, "but I cannot so easily excuse you for not telling me about your meeting with Daigaku and Lord Toda before you returned to Ako. Without that information I might have made a blunder that could have cost us all our lives for nothing."
"I'm sorry," murmured Hara.
"I might be more inclined to forgive you, however, if you promise you'll do nothing to harm Mimura for his brave act."
Hara grimaced, then nodded reluctantly. He had been looking forward to the pleasure of beating the talkative servant to within an inch of his life.
"Keep that promise," Oishi said gravely, "or I will let everyone know that you tried to deceive me."
His manner told Hara that this was no idle threat, and the old warrior bowed thoughtfully as Oishi walked away. Then he scratched his head and sighed.
Now Oishi faced the first real test of his leadership. •67 •
If too few appeared at the second meeting, all hope of revenge would be lost. At the appointed hour, he watched from inside the castle door as the samurai assembled. He was intent on counting them when he was startled by the arrival of someone at his side. It was Hara, also anxious to see who was with them and who was not. As they counted together it was soon apparent that the turnout would be much smaller than the day before; when the time came for the meeting to begin there were only sixty or so present out of the original three hundred.
Hara was bitterly disappointed but Oishi took this development more philosophically.
"At least now we know who we can depend on," he told Hara with a wry smile.
"But what about the siege?" Hara asked anxiously. "You said that would be our next step if the petition was denied, didn't you?"
Oishi pointed to the group outside. "There can be no siege. Not with those few men at our disposal. And if you look closely you'll see that many of them are either too young or too old to put up a good fight."
Hara shook his head. "Then we have no choice but to surrender and give up everything without a struggle."
Oishi smiled, but it was not a pleasant smile. "Oh, we still have a choice to make." Then he stepped out before the assembly and raised his arm for silence. In his hand he held two documents.
"I have here a petition to the Shogun's representatives requesting leniency for the survivors of the Asano clan—that they be allowed to keep their land and other possessions because of their long and illustrious history
Hara looked at him with respect. His own mind was incapable of seeing into the situation so deeply and he was impressed by a leader who had both brains and a fighting heart.
"It must be hard for you," he said humbly, "to have to consider the views of all. . . . You know you can always rely on me to carry out your orders."
Oishi smiled at him. "Thank you, old friend. I know I can count on you in any crisis."
Hara bowed his head in gratitude and together they walked on. When they reached the stables, Oishi took a moment to inspect the rows of stalls where the few remaining horses stood unbrushed and with tangled manes. He shook his head in dismay at their condition, then called for the head groom. When the man appeared, as shabby looking as his charges, Oishi unexpectedly gave orders that the horses were to be
• 66-
Chapter Four
combed and their hooves pared so that they would appear at their best. The groom was amazed at his words and happily hurried away before Oishi could change his mind. Hara's mouth, too, had fallen open at the command.
"Then you are going to fight?" he asked uncertainly.
"Not necessarily," said Oishi. "But even if we decide to evacuate the castle peaceably, it wouldn't do to post our last guard on shabby mounts, would it?"
Hara could not help but agree and turned to watch the groom as he briskly started to work. Then he realized that Oishi was staring at him and he faced his leader somewhat uneasily.
"I've forgiven you for your remarks at the meeting," Oishi said, "but I cannot so easily excuse you for not telling me about your meeting with Daigaku and Lord Toda before you returned to Ako. Without that information I might have made a blunder that could have cost us all our lives for nothing."
"I'm sorry," murmured Hara.
"I might be more inclined to forgive you, however, if you promise you'll do nothing to harm Mimura for his brave act."
Hara grimaced, then nodded reluctantly. He had been looking forward to the pleasure of beating the talkative servant to within an inch of his life.
"Keep that promise," Oishi said gravely, "or I will let everyone know that you tried to deceive me."
His manner told Hara that this was no idle threat, and the old warrior bowed thoughtfully as Oishi walked away. Then he scratched his head and sighed.
Now Oishi faced the first real test of his leadership. •67 •
If too few appeared at the second meeting, all hope of revenge would be lost. At the appointed hour, he watched from inside the castle door as the samurai assembled. He was intent on counting them when he was startled by the arrival of someone at his side. It was Hara, also anxious to see who was with them and who was not. As they counted together it was soon apparent that the turnout would be much smaller than the day before; when the time came for the meeting to begin there were only sixty or so present out of the original three hundred.
Hara was bitterly disappointed but Oishi took this development more philosophically.
"At least now we know who we can depend on," he told Hara with a wry smile.
"But what about the siege?" Hara asked anxiously. "You said that would be our next step if the petition was denied, didn't you?"
Oishi pointed to the group outside. "There can be no siege. Not with those few men at our disposal. And if you look closely you'll see that many of them are either too young or too old to put up a good fight."
Hara shook his head. "Then we have no choice but to surrender and give up everything without a struggle."
Oishi smiled, but it was not a pleasant smile. "Oh, we still have a choice to make." Then he stepped out before the assembly and raised his arm for silence. In his hand he held two documents.
"I have here a petition to the Shogun's representatives requesting leniency for the survivors of the Asano clan—that they be allowed to keep their land and other possessions because of their long and illustrious history
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