The Salaryman's Wife Read Online Free

interjected.
    “You’re into crime?” I asked uneasily. It was astrange hobby for anyone, let alone such a straight-looking young man; by the way Yuki rolled her eyes, you could tell she agreed. But the Japanese were the authors of the world’s most frightening ghost stories, so I understood where his passion might be rooted.
    “This is the ghost capital of Japan! Do you know its great story?” Taro asked.
    I knew Shiroyama’s general history. The town was once the seat of a feudal lord, Geki Uchida, who built a castle admired throughout Japan. And, Taro was telling me, Lord Uchida was the man behind Shiroyama’s growth as a decorative arts center.
    “Lord Uchida made much work for the people, cutting wood for furniture and designing shunkei . I am sorry for my poor English, but I cannot translate it exactly,” Taro said.
    Setsuko Nakamura, who had taken a prime spot at the hearth with Hugh, sighed impatiently. “ Shunkei is Shiroyama’s famous lacquer which is used for bowls and tableware. The lacquer is extremely thin that you can see the grain of the wood underneath. Therefore, it is considered beautiful.”
    “Is it possible to find antique shunkei around here?” I was intrigued by the idea.
    “Yes, but I’m certain it would be too expensive for you.” Setsuko’s cold, perfectly shadowed eyes rested on me briefly, then turned back to Hugh.
    “It’s not the lacquer that’s interesting, it’s the ghost story,” Taro grumbled. “Lord Uchida’s eldest son ruled the house after his death, but unfortunately he was a very poor leader. Therefore, a cousin decided to take over. The eldest son was murdered. Hisfamily escaped except for one daughter, Miyo, who stayed and tried to fight with the cousin.”
    “Physical fighting?” I asked, a dramatic picture forming in my mind.
    “Like many samurai ladies, she carried a small knife inside her kimono for possible bad situations. She used it on her cousin.” Taro paused, eyes sweeping the crowd to make sure we were all with him. “It was not a deadly wound. His servant took the knife and prepared to execute her, but this cousin had a kind heart and let her live. The shame of failing was too strong for Princess Miyo. She did not want to join her family again. Perhaps they would think the new lord spared her because…” He pursed his lips, and I imagined he was thinking of rape.
    “The soldiers released her outside the castle. She ran to the forest and was never seen again. But over time, some people who have walked in the woods tell stories about seeing a beautiful girl in a fine, old-fashioned kimono. She stands before them and then is vanished. And when it is very windy weather, people like to say Miyo is crying.” Taro Ikeda bowed to applause, his story over.
    “So it’s really mostly superstition,” I said. I didn’t believe half of it, but thought that would be rude to say.
    “Not for me! This is my historical project. I’ve done research at the museums here. With a metal detector, I have searched the forest for evidence of weapons and other things.”
    “He finds only beer cans,” Yuki sniffed.
    “Yes, I was unsuccessful.” Taro didn’t soundupset. “Probably her treasures were taken many years ago.”
    “In my opinion, this conquering cousin sounds quite generous to his enemies. How did he perform as a leader? Was he able to build up the town’s economic base?” Hugh spoke from his halt-sprawled position at the fire. I had grown sick of watching Setsuko go through an elaborate ritual of warming a flask of sake-over the flame before pouring a splash in a tiny lacquer saucer for him. The ritual of a woman caring for her man. Where had Mr. Nakamura gone, anyway?
    Taro shrugged. “Everyone agrees that the new ruler saved the town. He forced the people to concentrate on lumber, work far more important to the future than shunkei lacquer.”
    “Is that true?” I asked Mrs. Yogetsu in Japanese when she came in to refresh Setsuko and