Even the grizzled soldier choked at the thought.
"So that no disgrace might come to him. And I—I, also, should have died—before he knew. Then he would not have been harmed. As long as the thin paper was between us he was safe—safe as if I were yet in China. But you do not know how sweet that was—to sleep in his arms, to wake in his arms—with the words he spoke that night he married me again in my ears? But while I slept the clock struck. Ah, you know him only as a soldier! I know him as a lover! A husband! A god!"
Still this soldier, brought up to the religion of sacrifice, thought of the serving-woman sacrificially dead there in the moat.
"Was Isonna an eta, too?"
"She was an eta, too," said Hoshiko.
"Gods! And we think you lack spirit—courage—devotion!"
"No! We are brave!" she said piteously. "We are as ready as you to die for the emperor! If you will only learn to let us!"
"I believe you!" said Zanzi.
"Shall I tell you?" she begged. "He is not at fault. Let me plead for him!"
"Yes, tell me," he said.