Page 14 of The Tainted and the Tamed
But wouldn’t it be delightful if she did?
“It’s little more than a few acres of forest land,” said the landowner, interrupting his thoughts. “Why interrupt progress over a few birds and rabbits?”
“You’re right.” Haruki raised himself to standing, forcing the landowner to do the same. “Itisjust a few acres of forest land. So then it won’t trouble you if it remains just how it is.”
The man visibly bristled as he straightened his suit coat. But even as he bowed, he said, “For the cities to have progress, there must be resources provided by the countryside.”
A harsh, low laugh vibrated in Haruki’s throat. It seemed to catch the landowner by surprise.
“I’m aware of how rapid industrialization works,” Haruki said, amusement balancing the edge to his voice. “I’m also aware of what it does to country folk like us, and to the land we love. You cannot play with Mother Nature. She bites.”
Haruki narrowly resisted the urge to flash the points of his eye teeth as he said, “Thank you for visiting, Mr. Fukuda.”
Without acknowledging the landowner’s bow, Haruki made for the exit behind him, leaving the man to Mr. Uno’s care.
What a fool,Haruki thought as he stalked down his private hall. But the state of the air, water and earth wasn’t just the fault of land and factory owners, eager to get their slice of the growing national wealth. It was chairmen like Haruki, too, who did nothing to stop it.
As dusk stretched over Fusae Castle’s grounds, Haruki took his first steps out into the night, savoring the soft streaks of color left on the horizon.
Dr. Setouchi had left the door cracked open for him, the lantern already burning on his desk. A lock of the doctor’s salt-and-pepper hair had come loose, hanging over his face as Setouchi wetted a dip pen. True to form, Setouchi wrote on, the obstructing hair too unimportant to notice, just as the invention of the fountain pen was of no consequence. Setouchi was set in his ways.
For some reason, Haruki found this incredibly comforting. Steadying, almost.
“Good evening, doctor,” Haruki called out.
Setouchi did not look up from the notes he was making. “You said you would come in three days.”
“Change of plans.” Haruki settled onto the cushion, wrinkling his nose as the odors of its last occupant puffed out. Someone from town and—
Was that camphor?
“Should I be concerned?” Setouchi asked.
Haruki shifted. “I’ll have a visitor soon. I won’t have time to come back.”
“Very well.”
Turning to Haruki at last, Setouchi extended his hands, feeling along Haruki’s throat as though he were still mortal. When the doctor was finished, Haruki automatically opened his mouth.
“Hold out your hands.”
This was not part of their routine.
“What for?” Haruki asked, even as he complied. Setouchi turned them over, then pressed down on them. He grunted, unable to budge Haruki’s arms.
“Have the herbs I offered you been useful?” Setouchi asked.
“I can’t tell.”
“Be more specific.”
“I don’tfeelany different. Except—”
Setouchi fixed his scrutinizing gaze on Haruki. “Except what, Chairman?”
Haruki looked down, as though he were a mere boy. “I’ve begun to crave the company of another young woman. ‘Crave’ is a poor choice of words. I aminterested in the prospect ofanother’s company.”
“A poor choice of words, yes.” Setouchi’s head bobbed. “But perhaps a telling one. This woman’s scent appeals to you?”
