The deep voice of Satsuma-no-kami brought all heads towards him: “Permission is requested of the august magistrates to ask a question.”
“The august daimio is entreated to speak,” murmured one of the judges.
“Condescend to state the charge against the ronin Yuki.”
“The obdurate witness has refused to testify regarding the second charge against the accused tojin.”
“The charge has now been admitted. The testimony is no longer required,” remarked Satsuma.
The judges conferred. If any wished to carry on the martyrdom of their victim to the bitter end, their lust for cruelty gave way before the general eagerness to curry favor with the most powerful of all daimios. The eldest judge bowed to him, and responded obsequiously: “Wisdom flows from the lips of Satsuma-no-kami! The testimony of Yuki the ronin is no longer required. He is free to go.”
The daimio drew out his sheathed dirk, and handing it to an attendant, spoke with deliberate distinctness: “Present this gift to Yuki, the brave and loyal ronin, from one who values heroic conduct. Ask him to await me in company with my retinue.”
The torturers had already loosened their cords. When the attendant delivered the dirk and message, Yuki faced the daimio, and holding the gift above his head, kowtowed until his forehead touched the bloodstained stones. He rose and staggered across the pit to the steps, where attendants hastened forward to support and conduct out into the open the man favored by the great daimio. Even the magistrates followed the departure of their tortured victim with envious glances.
Only Midzuano the Chief Counsellor had not been diverted by this touching incident, and at a whisper from him, the nearest magistrate called to me sharply: “The tojin prisoner has yet to answer the third charge.”
I stepped back before the centre of the platform, and replied: “Instead of coming to Nippon as a spy, I accompanied Yoritomo Sama my friend for the purpose of warning his country to prepare for the appearance of my country’s fleet.”