"Hearn,.Lian.-.Otori.02.-.Grass.For.His.Pillow.v1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hearn Lian)

bluster, perhaps, but no more than that in the long run. As things
have turned out now, he is our best hope for peace.” He glanced at
me. “That’s what we desire above all. We need some degree of
order for our work to flourish.“

“Arai will return to Inuyama and make that his capital,” Yuki said. “It
is easier to defend and more central than Kumamoto, and he has
claimed all Iida’s lands by right of conquest.”

“Unh,” Kotaro grunted. He turned to me. “I had planned for you to
return to Inuyama with me. I have matters to attend to there for the
next few weeks, and you would have begun your training there.
However, it may be better if you remain here for a few days. We
will then take you north beyond the Middle Country, to another of
the Kikuta houses, where no one has heard of Otori Takeo—where
you will start a new life. Do you know how to juggle?”

I shook my head.

“You have a week to learn. Akio will teach you. Yuki and some of
the other actors will accompany you. I will meet you in Matsue.”

I bowed, saying nothing. I looked from under my lowered eyelids at
Akio. He was staring downward, frowning, the line deep between
his eyes. He was only three or four years older than I was, but at
that moment it was possible to see what he would be like as an old
man. So he was a juggler. I was sorry I had cut his clever juggler’s
hand, but I thought my actions perfectly justified. Still, the fight lay
between us, along with other feelings, unresolved, festering.

Kotaro said, “Kenji, your association with Lord Shigeru has singled
you out in this affair. Too many people know that this is your main
place of residence. Arai will certainly have you arrested if you stay
here.”

“I’ll go to the mountains for a while,” Kenji replied. “Visit the old
people, spend some time with the children.“ He smiled, looking like
my harmless old teacher again.

“Excuse me, but what is this person to be called?” Akio said.

“He can take a name as an actor for the time being,” Kotaro said.
“What his Tribe name is depends—”

There was some meaning behind his words that I did not
understand, but Akio all too clearly did. “His father renounced the
Tribe!” he burst out. “He turned his back on us!”

“But his son has returned, with all the gifts of the Kikuta,” the
master replied. “However, for now, in everything you are his senior.