The Initiate Brother Duology Read Online Free

Master wondered, was he to get around this? “Let me consider your words and take counsel with the seniors of my Order. To do as you suggest would be to break the practices of a thousand years, Sister Morima. You must realize that such a decision cannot be made quickly. I will say no more and, please, understand that I can promise nothing.”
    “Ah, Brother Nodaku, your reputation for wisdom is indeed well deserved. I thank you, a thousand times over! You honor me to listen to me for so long.” She bowed to him. “If you were to decide to allow us to be presentat a time of examination—and I realize you have not promised this—but if; when would this be?”
    The Supreme Master looked up for a second as though he needed to calculate when such a momentous day would come.
    “It will be nearly nine years from now, Sister Morima.”
    “A short time, Brother, the days shall fly!” She clapped her hands together like an excited child. “How close to nine years, Supreme Master?”
    He paused again. “Eight years from now on the seventh moon.”
    She drained her cha and then said with emotion, “May you attain perfection in this lifetime!”
    And may you attain perfection
tonight
that I might be done with you, the Supreme Master thought.
    “The ship did not have a large cargo to unload here, Brother, I’m sure they must be waiting for me. May I ask one more thing before I leave? When might we expect a decision on this matter?”
    “I cannot say, Sister.”
    “Perhaps you could give me some estimation, that I might allow my Sisters a time to which they may look forward?”
    “I cannot say, Sister Morima,” the monk repeated, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
    She bowed. “As you say, Brother, it was not my intention to impose upon you.” She rose from her cushion with surprising grace and bowed again, the old monk rose with her and bowed simultaneously.
    “I have kept you too long, Brother. You have honored me with this interview. I am in your debt.”
    “It is I who am honored, as your visit has graced our monastery. There can be no debt in such a matter.”
    The nun bowed a last time and backed out of the room. At the door she stopped for a second, catching the Supreme Master’s eye. “What if this young one develops a perfect ear for truth?”
    The Supreme Master ignored what was implied in this question, answering without hesitation, “Then he shall see not only the truth of Botahara’s words but also the truth of our sacred work.”
    A senior Neophyte came down the hall to escort the Sister through the maze of Jinjoh Monastery. She nodded as though acknowledging the wisdom of Brother Nodaku’s answer, turned on her heel, and was gone.
    The Supreme Master stood for a moment, staring at the closed shoji, andthen slid aside the screen that opened onto his private porch. A swallow flitted off the almost completed nest, protesting the intrusion in a high voice. The Supreme Master did not step out onto the wooden deck but instead hung back in the shadow provided by the roof. In the courtyard below he could see the junior Initiates practicing the Form. He took a half step forward, bringing more of the courtyard into view, until he could see all of the students, each standing in his own Septima—the geometric design identical to the one set into the Supreme Master’s wall.
    The instructor moved slowly and with perfect grace before the rows of pupils. They had come to the end of the sixth closure now and most of the students were faltering, though an untrained eye would never have been aware of this. Shuyun was in the second row, conspicuous for his small size and for his confidence. The boy’s movements were precise and flowing, executed without hesitation.
    Sotura-sum had not exaggerated. The senior Neophyte’s form made the more advanced students look clumsy; indeed, he rivaled the instructor in his control. The Supreme Master watched, fascinated by the spectacle.
    “Never before have I seen such a