Dishonour by Tim van Aerde

Dishonour BY TIM VAN AERDE

From being a highly regarded samurai to an outcast in just a few days, Saigō sighed. He looked out over the water seeing the capital of Sri Lanka, Kotte, closing in. “The only way you can redeem yourself is go to the kingdom of Sri Lanka and redeem yourself in the eyes of Buddha,” his father had told him. Having no choice but to follow his father’s command to regain his honour, he had set out on his journey to Sigiriya fortress, a holy place for Buddhist monks.

The harbour of Kotte was as busy as any other harbour all over the world, the wharf swarmed with people as ships arrived and left. The merchants yelling trying to sell their goods to people walking by. Saigō pushed himself through the crowd trying to leave the busy harbour. After lots of pushing and here and there a kick he managed to leave the area. He walked the quiet streets trying to find a way to get outside the city walls. After finding a local who spoke the common tongue, he was told the directions to the city gate. Soon with the directions of the local he found the city gate and set foot outside the walls, the path leading him deeper inland.

The bottom of his hakama1 had been stained with mud after walking through the forest. He had encountered a relay post where they had horses, but they had denied him access. Grumbling through the forest he continued his journey, Sigiriya fortress was a three day walk so had to find shelter during the nights. His goal for tonight was a small village about a one day walk from Kotte. The journey was slowed by the vegetation that was sprawling all over the path, using his sword he cut through vines and branches to clear a path ahead of him. Being confident in his abilities with his blade he did not pay attention to what he was doing, his mind focusing on the sounds of the forest, the chirping of the birds and the calls of wild animals. His focus was suddenly interrupted by a scream, he looked to his side and saw a young boy clutching his arm, blood seeping between his fingers. The boy looked beggingly at Saigō to help him, but Saigō ignored him and used his feet to push him aside so he could continue, leaving the boy behind.

As the sun started to disappear behind the horizon, the village started to appear in the valley below. Smoke coming from the chimneys, the smell of food being cooked hit him in the face and he quickened his pace down the mountain. When he entered the village, he was greeted by the village elder. “Paiḷaigaænaīmae2 sir, are you looking for a place to stay?” “Yes, I was told you would have a place for me to rest tonight.” “Then you have been informed correctly sir,” The village elder smiled, “We have lodging for you in the village barn.” Saigō raised his eyebrow “A barn?” “Yes sir, is there a problem with that?” the village elder frowned, seeing the foreigner becoming agitated. “Well, I expected better treatment,” Saigō began to raise his voice, “I assumed you people would treat warriors with more respect.”

1 A type of traditional Japanese clothing

2 Welcome in Sinhala

The village elder’s eyes widened “You are a warrior you say, excellent. We have use of your skill.” “And why would I help you?” “If you help us, we help you.” The village elder smiled. Thinking for a moment how to proceed Saigō nodded, “If I help you, I will get a better place to sleep?” “Yes sir” “Well, what do I need to do?” The village elder pointed towards a hut in the Northern part of the village, “Our Swami3 will tell you the details, go eat something first. Then come me at the hut.” The elder quickly walked away leaving Saigō alone again.

After some struggles Saigō managed to get some food, it seemed few of these locals spoke the common language. Once he managed to get some food, he sat down only to be disturbed by an old woman hitting him with a stick. “Hey, quit that,” Saigō yelled at her, “I am trying to eat here.” The woman ignored his words and kept hitting him with her stick. “Pitaratyanna4” sheyelled at him, hitting him on the shins. Before things could escalate the village elder appeared again behind the old woman, he talked to her in their own language and the old woman walked away, angrily swinging her stick left and right hitting some unsuspecting children in her path. “Why did she do that?!” “Well, sir warrior you are sitting on not just a rock” the village elder grabbed him by the arm trying to drag him away. “I suggest you move before you get in more trouble.” Saigō laughed “What trouble, it is just a stupid rock.” “I wouldn’t joke about that sir warrior.” “Why not? It’s just a rock.” “Sir warrior, I kindly suggest you move before we have to take rash action!” Saigō sighed “Because you asked so nicely, now let me finish my food.” The elder nodded at him, “Good, now it is time you meet our Swami.” “I haven’t been able to eat my dinner!” The elder smiled “See it as penance for sitting on the Lingam5, now come.” Saigō grumbled and followed the elder leaving his dinner behind.

They knocked on the door and entered the house of the Swami. As the village elder entered, he put his hands together and bowed to the statue of Brahma and nudged Saigō to do the same. With some hesitation Saigō did the same as the elder. The house was small and cramped, a strong smell filled the room and on the far side of the room sat an old looking man. “That is our Swami” the elder whispered to Saigō.

3 Religious leader in the Hindu religion

4 Go away in Sinhala

5 A holy stone referring to the god Shiva

The Swami was only wearing pants, his legs crossed, and he seemed in meditation. Saigō scanned the Swami and noticed three white horizontal stripes, those being crossed by a vertical red stripe. After a while the silence was finally broken by the Swami. “So, you are the warrior that will help us?” “Yes, I am. What is it that you need me to do?” To Saigō’s surprise the Swami started to laugh, “Hahaha, so anxious to start. Yet he does not know what he agrees too.” Saigō looked at the village elder to see how he reacted, but no reaction was visible on the man’s face. “Well, if you would tell me what needs to be done that would be helpful.” “So eager for death are you boy?” Focussing on his breath Saigō tried to calm himself “Eager? No. Ready? Yes.” “Well, it’s a good thing you are ready.” The Swami joked. Saigō started to lose his patience, his face turning red. “Stop speaking in riddles old man and tell me what needs to be done!” The Swami raised his hands and pointed at the statue of Brahma, “his sons are the problem.” “His sons?” Saigō looked confused, “I didn’t know Brahma had sons.” “Few outside our religion do, for they are Rakshasa. Man eating demons. There is not known much of the Rakshasa, but one thing is certain. The Rakshasa will feed.” “What do you mean feed?” Saigō frowned wondering what the Swami meant. “They feed on power or on human flesh, in our case it is the latter.” The mood changed in the room, there was no more smile on the Swami’s face. A chill went over Saigō’s spine, “It feeds on human flesh?” “Yes” “And how do you suppose I will stop this, Rakshasa?” “You are a warrior are you not?” The Swami pointed at the blade of Saigō. “I have heard the stories about your warriors.” Feeling like he was now trapped Saigō only nodded, he could no longer decline the request, or he would admit he was not a great warrior and suffer the shame. “Good, but don’t you worry. We will not let you go alone,” The Swami turned around and grabbed an object covered in silk cloth. “We will give you a weapon that will be able to kill the Rakshasa.” He handed the object to Saigō. Saigō accepted the object and removed the silk cloth from the object, revealing a dagger. A heavy steel dagger, decorated with silver and brass. Holding it up to the light the dagger sparkled in the light. Without saying a word Saigō wrapped it up again and returned it to the Swami, “I do not need such a weapon, my own sword will be enough.” “If you say so,” The Swami returned the dagger to its place, “before you go there are two things you need to know. One, the Rakshasa can only be killed by severing head from body. Two, its name is Kirmira.” The Swami shuddered as he spoke out the name, “Using the name of a Rakshasa is dangerous, do not say it unless absolutely necessary.” “I understand” “Tomorrow Nuwan will lead you to the Rakshasa, for now rest.” He gestured with his hand that they were dismissed. The village elder bowed and left the room, Saigō following. “You seem certain of your skills sir warrior.” “Why shouldn’t I? I have been trained since I was 5 years old.”

The village elder looked at the sun, it was slowly disappearing below the Western horizon. “You should rest, you have a long journey tomorrow.” The village elder led Saigō to the village barn. “You can sleep here tonight. But do not open the door for anyone till sun rise.” Saigō nodded and entered the door closed behind him. The barn he was in wasn’t any special, just your average village barn. Saigō sighed and put down his stuff, ready to collect some fresh hay to sleep upon.

“Saigō” a voice whispered. Saigō jumped up looking for the one who called his name, but none where there. He must have imagined it, he laid down again and closed his eyes. “Saigō” He again jumped up and looked around again no one was there, but this time he saw a bright light shine through the cracks of the barn door. He looked through the cracks, on the open ground in front of the barn a building was ablaze. Fire roared through the sky, screams of people filled the air. Shocked Saigō fell backwards, the smell of burning flesh filled his nose. “Why did you do this Saigō?” a voice whispered in his ear. Looking beside he saw the one who said it. “Father?” “You have dishonoured us Saigō!” Saigō bowed down in respect and fear, “it was not my intention father.” “Be silent!” The voice of his father was as a whip. No more word was said by Saigō, his body trembling afraid to move. Afraid of his father’shate. Then he realised nothing was there anymore, the screams of the people were gone and so was his father. Afraid of more ghosts Saigō crept into a corner, his blade close and went back to sleep.

Saigō was awoken by the crow of the rooster, the sun had risen in the east. He rubbed his eyes and tried the shake away the memory of last night. He opened the barn doors and looked at the open ground before the barn, there was no trace of what he saw last night. After he had managed to get a bite to eat, he was disturbed by a young boy. “I have been told to guide you,” the boy jumped around seemingly unable to stand still, “my name is Nuwan and what is yours?” “My name is Saigō, now stop jumping around.” Nuwan stopped jumping and stood still, seemingly impatient for Saigō to finish eating. “Come on sir, we have to go.” Sighing Saigō finished his meal and stood up, “Let’s go then, which way do we go?” Nuwan ran to the left but soon returned, “Sorry wrong way,” and he ran to the right. Leaving Saigo behind, he shook his head at the boys impatience and followed Nuwan down a dirt path, the village looking at the pair worryingly. Saigō ignored their looks and kept walking.

Nuwan led him deeper and deeper into the jungle, following a muddy path. They kept walking as the sun kept rising in the sky, when it reached its peak Nuwan stopped, “We rest here.” Without saying much more, he sat down and grabbed a package wrapped in leaves and started eating. Impatient Saigō watched as the boy ate, trying to encourage Nuwan to eat quicker with his stare. They continued down the path; the ground slowly started to change. Instead of the mud it felt more solid, leaves and vines still covered the ground, so they could not see what was below. Slowly two

pillars came into view, one on either side of the path, Nuwan stopped. “I go no further.” Without saying another word Nuwan turned around and ran the way they came from. Saigō tried to catch the boy, but he was too slow, now he was alone in the jungle. Though his mind told him he most certainly was not alone. He turned towards the pillars and studied them; on them symbols were carved in a language unknown to him. A black substance covered part of the symbols, claw marks decorated the top part of both pillars, like a great predator had carved them. Saigō shuddered and continued down the path, the sun had passed the highest point by now and was now making its decent towards the western horizon.

The jungle started to get less dense and the ground more solid, when Saigō looked down he saw he was walking on a stone path. Giant flat stones covered the ground guiding the way further, when he turned the corner, he was faced with an open plain. A giant area was completely cleared of all trees, in the middle stood a stone temple. This must be it, the place the Rakshasa hid, he sat down and prepared himself as he had been taught. The words of his father echoed in his mind, “Always be prepared to die, that is the way.” Saigō fixed his hair and pulled up his sleeves so they wouldn’t be in the way. He sighed deeply and walked towards the temple. The air was still in this place, it did not feel the same as in the jungle behind him. Clouds slowly started to cover the sky blocking the sun from shining its light on the open flat. “Kirmira! Show yourself.” A giggle filled the air, a gust of wind went through Saigō’s hair. “I am already here warrior.” A voice said behind him. Saigō turned around but was faced with nothing. A giggle once again filled the place. “You sure you are ready?” Saigō drew his blade, “as ready as I will ever be.” “Such certainty, hmm maybe you are ready. Maybe you are not.” With that Kirmira jumped down towards Saigō, ready to rip him apart with its claws. Metal and claws clashed, Saigō held his blade high blocking the attack. Kirmira didn’t look bothered by it and only smiled and slashed again only to be met with the blade again. Claws and blade blocking each other at every turn. They seemed to be evenly matched for now. Saigō started to feel his arms burn from the strain to attack and block Kirmira’s attacks. If Kirmira was fatigued, he didn’t show it continuing its barrage of slashing. “Getting tired yet samurai?” Kirmira smiled, “Would you like to rest?” Not expecting an answer Kirmira jumped backwards and was swallowed by the mist that had appeared around them.

Putting his blade forward Saigō moved in circles watching the area around him. Feeling a shadow behind him he looked behind and saw the temple from last night before him, not aflame but alive. People buzzing around it doing their daily tasks, everything looked so peaceful. The peace was broken by a single voice, his voice. “Attack!” The sky filled with arrows; people fell as they were hit. Screams filled the air, the ground shook as Saigō and other samurai on horseback rode down the hill towards the village, cutting down everyone in their way. Soon the village was swarmed with samurai, houses were set ablaze. People forced out of their homes and into the temple, the door locked behind them. Torches were thrown at the bottom of the temple and soon it was ablaze, screams were heard from inside. The smell of blood and burning flesh filled Saigō’s nose. “Look how the mighty have fallen.” Kirmira whispered in his ear. Saigō turned around furiously “Demon!” He swung his sword around trying to hit Kirmira who jumped back, giggling at Saigō’s anger. “Your arrogance was your downfall Saigō, your failure.” The temple and village disappeared and was replaced by his father’s studies. “You have failed me Saigō! You brought not only dishonour on yourself but also on your family!” His father pacing through the room. “You lit a temple on fire for crying out loud, don’t you know what will happen if the Ikkō-ikki 6clan hears about this?” All Saigō could do was sit still and accept his father’s anger. “My advisors tell me there is only one way to redeem yourself, go to the kingdom of Sri Lanka and redeem yourself in the eyes of Buddha.” The vision and his father disappeared. He was again alone with Kirmira. Saigō fell on his knees and cried, forgetting about everything around him. He had failed his sacred duty and brought dishonour to his family. Kirmira stood behind him and laughed. Saigō filled with anger turned around determined to kill Kirmira, a flash of steel and claws and then silence.

6 A powerful Buddhist sect