The following morning, the sky above Tokyo was clear. The two men travelled to a Western-style building located not far from Ito’s home. It was constructed in the Beaux Arts style, its exterior built of stone, with colonnades. The building was grand in scale and expensive in appearance, even compared to the houses Sherlock had seen in Tokyo’s upscale residential areas. At a glance, he might have assumed it belonged to a foreign minister. But Ito said the owner of this residence was Japanese.
Although the building was Western, Ito and Holmes still removed their shoes in the foyer. In this home, there were many more servants than there had been at Ito’s estate. The two were led into a spacious reception hall. The hall, too, was Western in design. Its dusky natural stone walls were decorated with antiquated weaponry from around the world. There was a boomerang used by Aboriginal hunters, as well as an Aztec atlatl. There was also a bola—three round stones connected by cords—a throwing weapon originating in Southeast Asia, but also used by groups such as the Eskimos, and by the Pampas Indians of South America to hunt ostrich. It was the Inca Empire’s weapon of choice for long-range warfare.
Ito pointed to the bola. “There is a similar weapon in Japan. It is called the mijin, a type of chain and flail.”
Many collectors in London held similar tastes. From a European point of view, none of these items were particularly rare. But such a collection was likely quite uncommon in the Far East. Holmes was most intrigued by the descriptive plaques affixed beneath each weapon, rather than by the weapons themselves. “I see these plaques are quite unsparing with this one particular kanji.”
“Ah, furu.” Ito nodded. “It means ‘old.’ The plaques include words such as ‘antiquity,’ ‘ancient,’ ‘archaeology,’ ‘discovered in old geological strata’…With so many ancient items decorating the walls, it is only natural that this character would come up so often.”
“Fascinating. I must admit that I am greatly intrigued by the Eastern alphabets.”
“Intrigued? All of these items from around the world, and it is the plaques that draw your attention.”
“I must confess to being quite familiar with varied weapons of antiquity. I’m afraid this display offers little new to rouse my interest.”
“Then tell me, what is this?” Ito pointed to an object resembling a lanyard. The cord had been coiled, but it looked to be around six feet in total length. In the center of the cord there was an oval patch, knitted from wool.
“That is a huaraca,” Sherlock replied. “A variety of sling used by the cultures of the Andes. A stone is placed into the center patch and then the rope is folded in two, held by the ends, and swung. The stone is propelled using centrifugal force. The huaraca also arrived in Japan during the Yayoi period, but never achieved significant popularity. The few that were discovered have simply been referred to as slings.”
Ito peered at the plaque under the sling in amazement. “Most impressive. You are brilliant as always, Mr. Holmes.”
“Nonsense. Even a pawnbroker knows a great number of things. To be useful, knowledge must serve the purpose of deduction.”
“Deduction? Very well, what can you infer about the owner of these pieces?”
Sherlock looked over the displays, voicing each thought as it occurred to him. “Like you, he is originally from the Choshu Domain. He has a natural fighting spirit, but has found himself stranded and alone in tight predicaments. Again like you, he has enjoyed the frequent company of women, and was often in charge of procuring funds for dalliances—he was artful in convincing the Choshu leaders to part with such dispensations. You have frequently availed yourself of his skills.”
A laugh escaped Ito’s lips. “Amazing! How did you find out so much?”
“You entered this estate without greeting the master of the house, so you have likely been friends since youth. And while I’m sure the man in question has any number of comrades, the range and variety of this collection of weapons, from so many nations and times, leads me to infer they were collected through trial and error—from a desire to overcome peril through his own resourcefulness. The weapons, however, are disappointingly impractical and have since become mere decoration. Moreover, collecting all of them would have demanded significant capital.”
“Indeed.”
“And from the scale of the house he appears to be a man of means. Many of the highest posts in government seem to now be filled by members of the former Choshu Domain. But luxury of this magnitude would be impossible for a government official, unless they were colluding with conglomerates and other businessmen to misappropriate funds. What is likely then is that you recognized his ability for fundraising while together in the Choshu Domain, and this has allowed him now to involve himself with the Ministry of Finance—”
He saw Ito’s expression stiffen. He glanced at something beyond.
Sherlock fell silent and turned to follow his gaze. A man dressed in kimono stood behind them. He was about five years older than Ito, with deep wrinkles creasing his brow. His hair was long, longer than Ito’s, and his beard had been cut short. Also like the other Japanese man’s, this man’s expression was stern, but the countenance around their eyes differed. Where Ito’s eyes were piercing, this man’s were more bovine and obtuse, and it was more difficult to discern what he was thinking. He had an angry expression and began speaking in Japanese.
“Inoue,” said Ito, speaking in English. “Please speak in English, so that your other guest may understand.”
The man whom Ito had referred to as Inoue directed his gaze toward Sherlock. “It’s true, I am the man who was left behind at the British legation. I do not know who you are, but if you have come now to protest you are rather late.”
Ito glanced at Inoue and grimaced. “Things only went sideways that day because you forgot to bring the gunpowder.”
“I hid it so well that I forgot to bring it! You were better prepared, you remembered to bring the saw. It is thanks to you that we succeeded in setting fire to the legation at all.”
“Inoue,” said Ito, casting an uncomfortable glance at Sherlock. “Perhaps you could avoid particulars?”
So. Inoue must be one of the men who had helped Ito burn down the British legation, before Ito first came to London. A vague memory stirred in Sherlock, who addressed himself to the man. “Are you, perhaps, the man who came running into the Hamish restaurant that day? Ito, myself, and my brother, Mycroft, were there, and you came carrying a newspaper. There was an article about a Western attack on the Choshu Domain.”
Inoue furrowed his brow. He seemed to be having trouble recalling the event, which was only natural. It had been 27 years ago.
Ito, however, nodded emphatically. “You are correct. He was known as Monta Shiji at the time, but he is now known as Kaoru Inoue. You recognized me immediately, Mr. Holmes, but you did not recognize my friend so quickly.”
“As might be expected. I met you a second time at Baker Street. I have not seen Mr. Inoue since I was ten years old.” Sherlock approached Inoue and extended his hand. “Mr. Inoue, it is a pleasure. Sherlock Holmes, at your service.”
Inoue shook his hand, but his face remained unsure. “Sherlock Holmes…I believe I have heard that name before.”
“He is a renowned consulting detective,” Ito provided.
“A detective?” Inoue’s face grew steely. “You have brought him here because you wish to investigate me?”
Sherlock grinned. “Set your mind at ease, Mr. Inoue. I have no intention of looking into your personal accounts, or reviewing your payments and deposits. After all, I believe your corruption has already come to light and you have since accepted your share of blame.”
“My blame?” Inoue frowned. “What exactly do you mean?”
“It is a weekday morning. Instead of departing for work you have fortified yourself at home, and are dressed in only a kimono. It is impressive that you possess the means to lead such an untroubled life even after having lost your position.”
Inoue glared at him. “Yes, now I remember. There was an impertinent child in the restaurant that day. He talked far too much.”
Ito laughed, evidently pleased. “You remember, then. No need to be so guarded, Inoue. Mr. Holmes is a friend. Mr. Holmes, Inoue has held government posts at various times over the years, just as you have surmised. Presently, he is taking a leave from government. But it is not because of finances. Inoue has been trying to revise the unequal treaties.”
“Is that so?” Sherlock asked.
Inoue sank down upon one of the sofas with a groan. “After becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs I proposed appointing foreign judges. Ito betrayed me.”
Ito appeared chagrined. “I wanted to avoid a divided cabinet. I thought you understood.”
Inoue snorted. “I’d thank you to refrain from attributing anything nefarious to my wealth,” he said, returning his attention to Sherlock and gesturing about the room. “Unlike Ito, I did not come from impoverished circumstances. I was attached to the Mori Clan, though I imagine that means little to you. Regardless, I came from noble lineage and therefore was quite comfortable to begin with.”
“Noble lineage?” Ito raised his eyebrows. “A mid-level samurai at best, I would say.”
Inoue grunted. “Ito, why are you here?”
“Russia is pressuring us for Tsuda’s execution again. Since you worked on the construction of the Rokumeikan, I believe you’ve enjoyed a strong relationship with the legation. You even boasted of having close friends there.”
“And you were hoping for inside information? I have a secret for you, then. Nicholas is aboard one of the warships moored in Daiba.”
“We already knew that.”
“You did?” Inoue seemed disappointed. “I haven’t heard anything else particularly interesting.”
Sherlock watched him carefully. “Do you have any idea why Nicholas has now returned in secret?”
“A pretext. They needed a port in Asia at which to dock. Nicholas’ attendants are currently secretly negotiating with King Rama V, of Siam. But Siam is an independent nation, not a colony of one of the Great Powers, meaning Russia cannot approach their ports on unofficial business. Though independent, Japan is more flexible and our harbors are conveniently located.”
“What are they negotiating?”
“Nothing very important. During Nicholas’ visit to Siam the Russians failed to take proper records, so they wish to see what the Siamese have recorded.”
“I see. I heard recently that the photographer hired by the Russian military forgot the arrangements.”
Inoue nodded. “Not only the photographer. The Russian delegation made a number of embarrassing mistakes.”
“After the older brother caught cold, and their most competent attendants were sent back to Russia?” Sherlock asked.
“Precisely. Their translator was inexperienced and there were a number of concerns as to whether or not Nicholas’ statements had been adequately conveyed to King Rama. Since this could affect diplomatic relations in the future, the Russians are hoping to compare Nicholas’ records with the Siamese and correct any inaccuracies.”
“Is that all? Then why should Tsarevich Nicholas be forced to wait aboard a warship in Japan?”
Inoue sighed. “While comparing records, there was apparently disagreement over what Nicholas may or may not have said. According to the Siamese records, when King Rama expressed his dissatisfaction at France’s establishment of the Kingdom of Luang Prabang as a protectorate, Nicholas agreed with him. The Russians, however, insisted that Nicholas had said nothing. There was also a disagreement over whether Nicholas had or had not said that tom yum kung was better than borscht.”
Sherlock laughed through his nose. “I doubt Nicholas himself is very concerned with correcting the record on such matters.”
“It does seem unlikely. Perhaps the Russian court is being overly cautious.”
A look of consternation had appeared on Ito’s face. “This is the reason that Tsarevich Nicholas has docked in our country?”
“Ostensibly. The trouble with Siam was likely just an excuse to mobilize their warships. Comparing records is hardly so important. By seizing on the blunders their delegation made in Siam, they have found an excuse to station their ships here. And they can claim, outwardly at least, they only took port here because Japan is a trustworthy country.”
“Are you saying that Russia hopes to cause trouble for Japan while evading international notice and interference from other countries?”
“In all likelihood. In particular, they’d probably want to avoid any meddling from the British legation. They are rivals in the Far East, after all.”
It was a persuasive theory. It would explain why Ambassador Shevich and Lt. Colonel Kanevsky had been so guarded before, and had accused Sherlock of being a spy.
This meant that after the attack on Nicholas at Otsu, Russia had already resolved to take a hard stance against Japan. But they pretended to withdraw at first in order to avoid British opposition. They accepted Sanzo Tsuda’s original sentence only in order to deceive the other Western powers as they tightened the screw in secret. Was that the situation here?
But there were several witnesses on the Russian side who attested that Nicholas’ initial gratitude toward Japan had not been false. At the very least, Nicholas felt an affection for Japan that had not been significantly altered immediately after the incident. To the bewilderment of even his attendants, however, he now referred to the Japanese as yellow monkeys. How much was genuine feeling on Nicholas’ part, and how much a Russian conspiracy?
Ito crossed his arms. “Is there no one in our cabinet who has influence with the Russians? Someone from our side who could speak openly with someone from their side?”
Inoue leaned back against the sofa. “No one with the military. They are hostile. The only possibility I can think of is Munemitsu Mutsu, the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce.”
“Mutsu has connections to the Russians?”
“There is a book that the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce has been desperate to acquire for some time. The Complete Work on Russian Natural Sciences. It covers the latest research in fields from meteorology and geological science to natural philosophy, biology, earth sciences, astronomy and so on.”
“Yes,” Ito nodded. “I have heard of the book before. When I was Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce mentioned it frequently.”
“Is natural science that important?” Sherlock inquired.
“We immersed ourselves rapidly in Western technology,” replied Ito. “And after technology we moved onto economic systems, and then to medicine. But we have put off developing the natural sciences.”
“Why not simply invite advisors from Britain? Or from some other Western country?”
“You misunderstand. What we want are Russia’s research results. Europe and America are far away from us, and their geographic conditions differ greatly. Russia possesses research facilities in China and has collected steady data from them. That data is included in The Complete Work on Russian Natural Sciences. Right now, Japan suffers flood damage each time a typhoon hits, and earthquakes are a serious threat. Heavy rains or droughts could endanger our food stores. It is vital that we deepen our knowledge of the natural environment.”
“France for our military, Germany for our constitutional assembly,” Inoue proclaimed. “Japan looks to the West for its models. If we had to begin from scratch, progress would take us many decades. For the natural sciences, Russia is our only choice. The experts all agree on this.”
“Then you only need to obtain a single copy of The Complete Work on Russian Natural Sciences?”
Inoue shook his head. “It is not the sort of work that can be obtained through a bookseller. Genpaku Sugita’s New Text on Anatomy—created from a translation of Anatomische Tabellen—was a simple enough matter. This would prove much more challenging.”
Ito sucked his teeth. “There are very few copies of the Complete Work in existence. Each is imprinted with a serial number, and access to all copies is carefully restricted. Only research facilities approved by the Ministry of State Property are allowed to view copies of the book. Reproduction is also forbidden. In truth, requesting a copy is similar to requesting state secrets.”
Sherlock shrugged lightly. “With conflict with Russia worsening, I imagine obtaining a copy should prove impossible for the immediate future.”
Inoue straightened up. “Regardless, the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce has the strongest connections to Russia. His department is more concerned with matters of peace, and he has many acquaintances in the Ministry of State Property.”
“This Minister Mutsu? What manner of Russians is he acquainted with, specifically?”
“One moment. Let me see my notes.” Inoue rose from the sofa and retrieved a pocketbook from the bookshelf. He began flipping through the pages. “There are only a few on the Russian side who are open to reason to begin with. Ah, here it is. The Ministry of State Property. Soslan Chekhov and….yes, Anna Luzhkova.”
Ito slumped his shoulders. “Those two again. Come to think of it, they did say that they were with the Ministry of State Property.”
Apparently discovering new contacts would prove more difficult than they had thought. “An earnest pair, and both naturally retiring. If we were to request a meeting with the Ministry, they would probably push it onto those two,” Sherlock said to Ito.
“I see why they were chosen as attendants.” Ito returned his attention to Inoue. “Isn’t there anyone else? Any Japanese person you know with a strong connection to Russia?”
“None.” Inoue returned his pocketbook to the bookshelf. “You know as well as I do that attempting to revise the unequal treaties is a very thorny path. Approaching a Great Power from our side gets us nowhere. Even on a personal level, it is nearly impossible to build friendships on equal terms.”
Sherlock and Ito gave each other perplexed looks.
A thought suddenly seemed to occur to Inoue. “Of course. How about those two?”
“Those two?” asked Ito.
“The rickshaw drivers,” said Inoue. “Jizaburo Mukohata and Ichitaro Kitagaichi. Seeing as they are receiving lifelong pensions from Russia, they must have contact information for whomever handles the payments.”
“Ah, them.” A look of disappointment crossed Ito’s face. “Whatever contacts they have, I’m sure our people are already aware of them.”
“But wait,” Sherlock said excitedly. “That may indeed be a capital idea. The rickshaw drivers have received medals from Nicholas, as well as a great sum of money. It follows that the Russians may have been less guarded in their presence, or even have taken a liking to them.”
Inoue smiled and nodded. “You may be on to something. When they were invited aboard the warship they were asked to come in their rickshaw uniforms rather than in formalwear. They were brought aboard just past noon but the medal ceremony didn’t occur until later that evening. There was some worry that they had been invited aboard only to be made fools of, but they apparently received a warm welcome from the ship’s crew.”
Sherlock’s confidence grew. “Russia may be willing to lower its guard if it’s the two rickshaw drivers who contact them. Perhaps we will even learn some information that would have been unattainable through government channels. More to the point, Nicholas is still aboard the Laskar. We may manage to meet with him directly.”
Ito was more dubious. “You think we should go ask the rickshaw drivers to spy for us?”
“Of course not. I will not be going. The rickshaw drivers will likely be found in some public house or establishment of ill repute. Even should the Russians be less guarded about two drivers, they may still be under watch. I would only draw unwelcome attention. And of course, I would be unable to communicate with them.”
“How then do you propose we…” Ito trailed off mid-sentence. He stared at Sherlock in disbelief. “No, you don’t mean…”
Inoue’s face lit up. “There are two of them. So there should be two of us.”
Ito cradled his head in both hands. “Tell me this is a nightmare,” he muttered.