Read Online The Gilded Fan (Choc Lit) by Christina Courtenay - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christina Courtenay
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take you to Nagasaki safely.’
‘Thank you. For everything. I’m sorry to be putting you to so much trouble.’
‘Think nothing of it. You’re the only sibling I have left, so of course I’ll do everything I can to help you.’ Midori could see the deep affection in his eyes and knew that although he’d never say it out loud, he loved her, as she did him.
Midori thought of the others, two older sisters she had never known who had died young, and a little brother who hadn’t made it past his first birthday. ‘I suppose it’s just as well there is only me,’ she said. It had made the bond between them stronger. ‘Can I write to you, do you think?’ She didn’t want the link severed completely, even if they never saw each other again.
‘You can always try. Perhaps the trading ships could bring your missives. I will have to find a trustworthy individual in Nagasaki who can forward any letters to me. I’ll see what I can arrange …’
Midori had thought imprisonment would become easier to bear at night, when she couldn’t see the filth around her or the other miserable inmates, but she soon found out she was wrong.
With darkness came all sorts of sounds, magnified by her suddenly more acute hearing, and they all increased her terror tenfold. The rustling of the cockroaches and rats on the floor made it seem as if it was teeming with wildlife, even though she knew there probably weren’t as many as she was imagining. The sinister wheezing of someone’s breath appeared to be right next to her ear, rather than at arm’s length. Worst of all, the screams of some poor soul being tortured echoed around the prison with alarming clarity now they were no longer drowned out by everyone else’s chatter or moaning.
As the hours passed she started to calm down and tried to make her brain function enough to make some sort of plan. She had to help herself, and there must be a way out of here, if only she could think of something. Unfortunately, being terrified had a way of freezing her thought processes, which didn’t help. Pulling herself together, she took some deep, calming breaths and tried to meditate.
She heard the door being opened, but kept her eyes closed and continued with her soothing mantra. Going deeper and deeper inside her own mind, she attempted to reach a state of utter calm. She was almost there, when a hand grabbed her arm and she was roughly yanked to her feet.
‘Your turn. The judge wants to see you,’ a harsh voice informed her.
‘What? Who? No! Where are you taking me?’ Midori felt dazed and confused, her brain not yet fully returned to earth, but she knew one thing for sure – she didn’t want to be taken anywhere else. This room may be a nightmare, but there was a certain safety here, nevertheless.
The guard didn’t pay any attention to her protests, but hauled her out through the door and across a courtyard. Through a gate they went, Midori digging in her heels as best she could. It was to no avail as he was a strong man. They continued along a corridor where the sounds of the torture victim’s screams became louder. Midori’s stomach cramped with fear. She wasn’t afraid of the kind of pain encountered in normal, everyday life, such as could be caused by accidents or fighting, but the excruciating pain inflicted here, on purpose, was something else altogether. Thinking about it would only make matters worse, however, so instead she tried to memorise details of her surroundings. If she was to escape, knowing her way around would be vital.
The man came to a halt at last and knocked on a door, which was thrown open from inside on squeaking hinges. With his hand still clamped around Midori’s arm, he pulled her through, leading her down the middle of a long, dimly lit room. It looked a bit like Ichiro’s Great Hall, although on a smaller scale. The painted scrolls decorating the walls were slightly frayed at the edges and the
tatami
mats none too clean. Nevertheless, it was
‘Thank you. For everything. I’m sorry to be putting you to so much trouble.’
‘Think nothing of it. You’re the only sibling I have left, so of course I’ll do everything I can to help you.’ Midori could see the deep affection in his eyes and knew that although he’d never say it out loud, he loved her, as she did him.
Midori thought of the others, two older sisters she had never known who had died young, and a little brother who hadn’t made it past his first birthday. ‘I suppose it’s just as well there is only me,’ she said. It had made the bond between them stronger. ‘Can I write to you, do you think?’ She didn’t want the link severed completely, even if they never saw each other again.
‘You can always try. Perhaps the trading ships could bring your missives. I will have to find a trustworthy individual in Nagasaki who can forward any letters to me. I’ll see what I can arrange …’
Midori had thought imprisonment would become easier to bear at night, when she couldn’t see the filth around her or the other miserable inmates, but she soon found out she was wrong.
With darkness came all sorts of sounds, magnified by her suddenly more acute hearing, and they all increased her terror tenfold. The rustling of the cockroaches and rats on the floor made it seem as if it was teeming with wildlife, even though she knew there probably weren’t as many as she was imagining. The sinister wheezing of someone’s breath appeared to be right next to her ear, rather than at arm’s length. Worst of all, the screams of some poor soul being tortured echoed around the prison with alarming clarity now they were no longer drowned out by everyone else’s chatter or moaning.
As the hours passed she started to calm down and tried to make her brain function enough to make some sort of plan. She had to help herself, and there must be a way out of here, if only she could think of something. Unfortunately, being terrified had a way of freezing her thought processes, which didn’t help. Pulling herself together, she took some deep, calming breaths and tried to meditate.
She heard the door being opened, but kept her eyes closed and continued with her soothing mantra. Going deeper and deeper inside her own mind, she attempted to reach a state of utter calm. She was almost there, when a hand grabbed her arm and she was roughly yanked to her feet.
‘Your turn. The judge wants to see you,’ a harsh voice informed her.
‘What? Who? No! Where are you taking me?’ Midori felt dazed and confused, her brain not yet fully returned to earth, but she knew one thing for sure – she didn’t want to be taken anywhere else. This room may be a nightmare, but there was a certain safety here, nevertheless.
The guard didn’t pay any attention to her protests, but hauled her out through the door and across a courtyard. Through a gate they went, Midori digging in her heels as best she could. It was to no avail as he was a strong man. They continued along a corridor where the sounds of the torture victim’s screams became louder. Midori’s stomach cramped with fear. She wasn’t afraid of the kind of pain encountered in normal, everyday life, such as could be caused by accidents or fighting, but the excruciating pain inflicted here, on purpose, was something else altogether. Thinking about it would only make matters worse, however, so instead she tried to memorise details of her surroundings. If she was to escape, knowing her way around would be vital.
The man came to a halt at last and knocked on a door, which was thrown open from inside on squeaking hinges. With his hand still clamped around Midori’s arm, he pulled her through, leading her down the middle of a long, dimly lit room. It looked a bit like Ichiro’s Great Hall, although on a smaller scale. The painted scrolls decorating the walls were slightly frayed at the edges and the
tatami
mats none too clean. Nevertheless, it was
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