Spring Steel

H U G O' S    L I T E R A R Y    U N I V E R S E

Short Stories 

Photograph by Brad Poland

The sun, as it started to appear on the horizon, slowly dispersed away with weak light rays the gray atmosphere that surrounded everything until a few minutes before. The light was starting to be born on the line on which water and sky touched, and the blue of the celestial vault was slowly arising to the beat of the waves which, one after the other, were breaking on that beach. The place looked deserted, for the seagulls’ cawing and the sound of the marine breeze at certain times, was all that could be heard. But they were there. Sitting face to face, on their heels, with their backs straight and their eyes closed, in seiza form, they were doing the ritual meditation. Their respective katanas laid on the sand, by them. They were preparing to engage in combat on a matter of honor.

Yoritomo and Toshi knew each other since childhood, for their families had always lived in Kyoto. They were never friends, and if there was something between them, it was a certain admiration and a vague rivalry. Yoritomo belonged to a stately samurai family. His father was very dear to the Shogun, and he would be entrusted with important special missions. He was, besides that, the military counsel to whom the Shogun would listen the most. He wasn’t part of the Shogun’s body of generals; he was his personal advisor. Needless to say that Yoritomo’s family was engaged exclusively in political and military matters, and was winning power rapidly among the important families of Japan. Yoritomo’s upbringing consisted in special training in these matters, in perfect learning of all samurai etiquette’s complexities and in the practice of the code of Bushido. War and politics had made an ambitious man of him, ill tempered to a certain point, and when needed, harsh and cruel. Nevertheless, he had a profound conscience of his reality, he was a reflexive man and had an extreme attachment to his beliefs. He was willing to respect, and even to admire an adversary when he was worthy of it.

Toshi belonged to a family of ancient reputation, which origin was lost in the night of time, but that was supposed to be around the time of the establishment of Nara as the country’s capital. The family traditions told that many of their ancestors had been great warriors and strategy and martial arts masters. But the family, even if it had certain power, was distanced from the then ruling Shogun. The head of the family didn’t agree with the bloody proceedings used to subdue large portions of the country, and had tried to convince the Shogun to adopt a more humane policy, that would respect the lives of the peasants and that would avoid frequent wars with so much bloodshed. But he wasn’t successful. The Shogun took as his counsel Yoritomo’s father and followed an opposite method. The consequences made Toshi’s father angry and he decided to retire from military service, opening a martial arts school: a ryu specialized in empty hand techniques and kenjutsu, the art of swordsmanship.

Toshi had learned much from the Buddhist monks that lived in a monastery nearby. He had understood the need for discipline, asceticism and piety. He had practiced zazen for a long time, he studied during long sessions the example set by his samurai ancestors and thought constantly about them. He learned the Bushido in his family’s history and in the practice of combat arts. To that point, his upbringing was compatible with Yoritomo’s: their family traditions were similar, they practiced the Bushido with reverence and were good strategists. But something unexpected happened: Toshi converted to Catholicism as a result of his close contact with the Jesuit mission established close to his quarters as well.

One of Toshi’s closest friends had discovered the new faith thanks to a Spanish missionary. He was an intelligent young man that wanted to learn in detail the doctrine that these European foreigners preached. During months of learning he progressively realized that the spiritual experience he was having was something superior to what Buddhism and their traditional ancestors worship could offer. A relationship with a divine person answered more to his needs and aspirations than the impersonal illumination of Buddhism. To feel appreciated and loved by God the Father and by Jesus Christ as a brother, even if like an adoptive brother, and the consequences arising out of this for his life, were more than Buddhism could offer. And the behavior arising from this personal relationship with God had a deeper and more committed root than the ritualism of the cult to their ancestors. Thankfulness and motivation to seek good for his brothers was arising directly from this experience as an inexhaustible source.

This was the experience that was offered to Toshi. And Toshi went further than his teacher. He soon understood that solidarity among men sustained by charity bonds would, in the long run, be more efficient to build the society of his time than the bloody and repressive methods used by the Shogun. And he knew well the man behind those actions. The injustice that his greed for power was creating by means of conquest produced hard feelings in all provinces, and with them, the possibility of bloody rebellions all over the country. This would plunge the nation in a situation of great disorder and in which injustices would multiply with unforeseeable effects. So he decided to request a meeting with Yoritomo, in order to convince him that his strategy was erroneous and that it would cause terrible evil.

II.

The clarity that invaded the room came from the windows on its upper side. Thanks to it, the few drawers that were placed next to the walls, the tatamis that covered the elevated portion of the floor, and the streak on the wooden floor could be seen clearly. Yoritomo, seated on his heels, was studying some writings he had displayed on a small table.

--"Come in, come in, --Yoritomo answered when a servant announced Toshi’s visit. --I have received a note from you requesting an interview. You and I haven’t talked for a very long time. What’s on your mind?"

--"I have wanted to come and see you to warn you of the great danger that the Shogun, your family, Japan’s fate and us are in. You can prevent it from happening."

--"Explain yourself, Toshi. Our power is growing, we control the most important clans and provinces of the islands, and our armies secure on strategic spots our independence against any foreign invasion. You are imagining things."

--"The problem is simple. The clans are unhappy. The peasants have lost too much. Your armies could control a revolt, perhaps two. But not independent rebellions throughout the whole territory of the islands. The price of your power has been too much bloodshed."

--"And what do you suggest, great wise man, Toshi? You won’t deny that you have the experience of generations of military men in your family."

--"Why don’t you try a new perspective? Make alliances with the powerful clans of each province. Group the peasants by provinces as well and execute agreements with each group independently. It is clear that for these alliances to take place you will have to grant them various privileges and prerogatives, and maybe even certain autonomy. But you will have their friendship. Besides, you won’t be able to demand more than what is fair. If they feel you are abusing your power, they will turn against you. Think about it."

--"Alliances, privileges, autonomy. You are somewhat crazy. The only alliances we will make will be those that give us military advantages. The peasants are dogs that do not deserve our consideration. We have always taken from them what we have wanted to take!"

--"Think about it carefully, Yoritomo. If you don’t do the right thing, neither you nor me will escape what will come."

Silence filled the room after Toshi’s departure. Yoritomo knew Toshi was correct, but to do this would be contrary to the Shogun’s conquest policy and against the teachings he had received in his family training. He knew his father and could influence him, but he would need good reasons to do it. After all, he, Yoritomo, wanted peace under his rule more than a war under his command. This was the moment to make a decision.

III.

The delicate smell of the flowers was bringing calm to Toshi, who was enjoying a beautiful sunset at his father’s house. The pines, the pond with some fish of various colors, and the stone lamp, brought memories from his childhood to his senses. The singing of the birds would bring music to the surrounding atmosphere, full of life and freshness. Despite of the uneasiness that his recent interview had brought him, that wasn’t the moment to think about it. He was absorbed in the contemplation of nature. The last sun rays were giving a dramatic touch to the scene. All living things, so active a while ago, would slowly start to fall asleep upon the coming of darkness.

Yoritomo was taken to Toshi’s presence. His face was gloomy, it showed that he was bringing bad news. The host received him kindly and invited him to spend the last moments of sunset in his garden. They walked among the trees and by the pond in silence. When they came to the little sand garden, they became tense. The situation could be easily guessed.

--"What is your decision, Yoritomo? I suppose you have come to tell me."

--"It’s hard to explain. I have thought a lot about your proposal and I think you are correct. I have tried to convince my father about his strategy being mistaken, without success. Nevertheless, all this reached the Shogun’s ears somehow. He has considered you dangerous because of the influence that, due to the reputation of your family, you could have on me and the other clans. He wishes to dishonor the name of your clan and take you off the way. My father has entrusted me with the painful task of your execution, but you know that I can not do it because it would be a murder even if the Shogun is able to disguise it accusing your family of treason."

--"It is necessary that I get out of his reach."

--"The only way would be to travel abroad. But from outside the country, you will not be able to do anything for Japan, due to the control the Shogun has over the nation."

--"What do you propose, then?"

--"When the Shogun accuses your family of treason to dishonor it, you respond to the accusation. Since this a matter of honor, you will have to engage in combat with me. We fight and you kill me with honor. That way you will get your name clean from dishonor and the Shogun will know you are correct in your assessment."

--"If there is not another way, it shall be done this way. When will we fight?"

--"At dawn on the fifth day from tomorrow. By then the Shogun will have done what he is set to do and you will have responded according to what we talked."

Yoritomo and Toshi said good bye. During the following days they would prepare physically and spiritually for combat. Both knew this was the best way out, and even this way they might not be able to prevent a civil war. Toshi was left during that night and the following days to find in the bottom of his soul a better solution, one that would not force him to cause more suffering or to take a life. He had a great responsibility on him.

IV.

From a distance, Yoritomo’s father and one of the Shogun’s agents looked upon them, to make sure that all was done as it should be done. Their horses were sensible to danger and started to get nervous, moving more than their riders would allow them to with the reins. The sound of the waves coming with a slow and fresh breeze bringing the smell of the oceanic immensity would give one the feeling that such instant would last an eternity, waiting patiently for an outcome bringing tragic consequences. Loneliness filled the surroundings, the sand, the rocks, the vegetation, and specially the red round sun, of titanic dimensions, that was starting to rise, leaving behind its cradle in the sea.

Both fighters made the ritual greeting, a bow while they were still sitting, and then rose up. Already with their swords to their waist, aware that they were being observed, they started to study each other. At that moment they shouldn’t be mates, but adversaries, which implied a sacrifice in itself at this point. They started to move, face to face, with a circular pattern. They changed sides repeatedly, seeking an opportunity to strike that would finish the encounter. Both were well guarded, and they knew it. Quick as a lightning, Toshi unsheathed and delivered a descending cut on his opponent’s head. Yoritomo blocked it with his sword moving a step to the left at the same time. Immediately, he delivered a thrust forward, avoided by Toshi with a quick movement to the right. Both opponents resumed the movement on a circular pattern that they had started earlier, then Yoritomo delivered a cut upwards towards his adversary’s chin, who detoured its trajectory with his blade and finished the movement twisting it with such strength, that he threw the sword away from his opponent’s hands.

Yoritomo fell on his knees on the sand, and sat on his heels, as his opponent stood by him, lifting his katana over his head, waiting for the moment to strike. Yoritomo should, at that moment, take his sword and push it into his stomach performing a side cut, as the rite of seppuku prescribed, and Toshi should cut his head off when Yoritomo’s body arched forward. It was the way of an honorable death, in the best Japanese warrior tradition. But at the moment of starting the motion to cut into his stomach, Toshi took Yoritomo’s blade from his hands, preventing him from performing the ritual.

Yoritomo looked upward towards his opponent, and found him offering him his hand to help him stand up. He hesitated for a moment. He wished to finish this affair giving a new chance, more than to Toshi, to a new way to see the world. By accepting Toshi’s offer, he was parting definitively with his family tradition. But he decided to accept the challenge. Under his father’s gaze, he took the hand of his new friend and rose up. He bowed in the direction where the two men stood, and both friends left. The situation awaiting for them would be full of hardship, obstacles and maybe even suffering. But the building of a better world can begin when two rivals set their weapons aside and work together to build it.