(4-2)A Samurai Story:To Tempt Heaven

STORY

Evening darkness came down earliest to the water surface.
There was some red sunset glow overhead, but Yasu was in the twilight. Black armors and masks absorbed them more deeply into the darkness.
“We are lucky. Heaven helps us Kunoe.”
Sitting in the first boat and staring carefully ahead Yasu looked back satisfactorily over the other boats. They followed
making no sound. Soldiers,
however, must have been excited in their fighting spirit. With in thirty minutes they were supposed to arrive at Kuriyagawa Citadel.
The horsemen who took the mountain pass over Koma ought to be in the vicinity of Takizawa to wait for him. As soon as the boat group climbed the cliff to attack the citadel the horsemen were to surround it. Their scout would confirm that the boats approached Kuriyagawa from a hilltop. The position of the boats told him when to be joined.
“What do I have to worry, if
any?”
Yasu inquired of his staff. He experienced the Kazuno battle, but only watched it beside Masa. Yasu, eighteen, led the troop for the first time. Six hundred was a big number. He input everything in his head, but the more careful the better. Masa disliked his men to die wastefully. Suppose half of his men died; he would be surely scolded even after getting a
victory.
“The citadel used to be famous for its impregnability. Sadatou
built it for the last battle with Genji. If we hold it cheap we
may take time.” His staff warned him to be tense.
“Here again I, one of the Genji blood, am going to attack it. It’s Providence, but… our enemy, Shiba, also came down from
Yoshiie. Which side our ancestors support… they may be at
a loss.” Yasu laughed.
“I heard from Priest Satten that Yoshiie attempted to come down the river and attack the citadel.
Big Brother knew nothing of the old trial but attempted the same.
Heredity maybe.”
“Is that so?” The staff gave a big nod.

Takahashi Katsuhiko (b.1947 in Iwate)
Sharaku Murder Case, 1983, 29th Edogawa Ranpo Prize
Somondani, 7th Yoshikawa Eiji Literature Rookie Prize
Hokusai Murder Case, 1987, 40th Japan Mystery Writers’ Club Prize
Kaen, 2000, 34th Yoshikawa Eiji Literature Prize
53rd NHK Hoso Bunka Prize in 2001
Homura Tatsu and Hojo Tokimune, were produced into the NHK Through-the-Year Drama.

A Synopsis of To Tempt Heaven by Takahashi Katsuhiko
Written by the translator, Nishimura Yoshitaro, Professor Emeritus of Fukushima University