Urashima Book 4 Firestorm

By Steven Salazar

Jimmy Miller puts the Kiku Teahouse under surveillance. He quickly establishes that his main suspect in the Red Rose case, the reclusive Osamu Nagai, is making
multiple trips from the teahouse to two destinations: the Fukuyama Bathhouse, headquarters of Jun Obuchi's Sumidakai, and the offices of a nearby realtor called Fuji Real Estate. Acting on a tip off, Miller and his CID team successfully prevent a potentially disastrous train derailment. When he sees Obuchi fleeing from the scene, Miller's suspicions that Obuchi might actually be working for Nagai intensify.
This is the fourth novel in a series of five. The companion website is at www.urashima-novels.com.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steven Salazar
• Release date: Dec 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310771514

Steven Salazar

Steven Salazar was born in England but has spent much of his life working overseas in places as diverse as Africa, Central America and Asia. As a teacher/lecturer in the fields of pedagogy and linguistics he has worked in a variety of tertiary-level institutions around the globe, including thirty years in Japan. The knowledge he acquired of that country's history, language and culture provided the source material for URASHIMA.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

KAZUYOSHI UEDA STRODE along the sidewalk towards Yurakucho Bridge, his chest churning with excitement. That morning, The Professor had summoned him and told him of another shipment of crabs that were due to arrive the following week. He was to ready himself for the job and, when he got word, pick up the truck at the old vegetable market just on the stroke of midnight. For the first time since he'd lost all his money, Ueda was feeling good; confident even. The fact was, he'd had a vision, and it was the White Powder that had given it to him.

There'd been enough in the sachet Big-ears Wu had given him for half a dozen fixes, and it was during the last one that he'd imagined he'd seen the brother called Hooknose Iguchi.¹ Ueda had just been down to the docks to collect another load of crabs for The Professor and was returning to the old market when he heard a strange tapping sound coming from the rear of the truck. He pulled over and climbed up into the back, only to be horrified at what he saw there: a withered arm sticking out of a mountain of crab shells! He took a shovel from the cab and started to dig and after an hour or two, he unearthed the dead body of a man with the strangest nose he'd ever seen.

My name's Hooknose Iguchi! the dead man said. And I've come to warn you about the crabs! They'll kill you just as they killed me an' if you don't believe me, ask One-eyed Saito. Ask One-eyed about the crabs!

The vision had bothered Ueda and little by little, he'd arrived at a theory: it wasn't crabs he was shifting for The Professor- it was something else. There were just too many things that didn't make sense. Those code words, for example, and the fisherman who carried a gun in his belt. The more Ueda ruminated about it all, the more certain he became that whatever had happened to Hooknose could- would- surely happen to him.

And it wasn't just the crabs, either. Ueda was still smarting from the fantan hoax. He was determined to find out who had been behind it, which was why he was now heading over to the Bridge, to meet the man he was sure had all the answers.

§

He reached Ogawa's cart just as the evening rush started; there were a dozen customers there already and all the seats were taken. When the noodle man saw him he gave him a cheery nod.

"Ah Ueda-san! How are you today? He waved an apologetic hand at the busy tables. As you see there's no room."

Then make room! Ueda grunted. Get out that old beer barrel you got and a couple o' those boxes. Set 'em up over there-, he pointed at a recessed area under the Bridge, well away from this riff raff-!

Ogawa scurried around, attending to his bidding. And will Your Lordship be needin' food?

Just beer. And two glasses. Then Ueda snatched at Ogawa's grimy lapel and dragged him closer. Just so as ya know. A friend o' mine's comin' to have a little chat wi' me, an' if I catch you waggin' them elephant ears o' yours, I'll lop 'em off! Unnerstand?

The bottle of Kirin- when it came- was ice-cold. There was a bowl of soya beans, too- as a gift. Ueda chuckled as he watched a clearly terrified Ogawa scamper away. Then he settled back on his box to enjoy a cigarette.

It was a good spot to survey the street and it wasn't just the one street, either, for four roads intersected at the Bridge, bringing traffic and people from all over the city. Ueda's eyes moved across the street to the place where the whores gathered. There were one or two there now though Eri wasn't among them. She must be out on a job, he decided; with some gaijin GI or one of those Longnose suits from that dunghill they called GHQ. And then the image of Old Gray Hair slipped into his head. He hadn't thought about him for quite a while. Was the fornicator still out there or had he already gone back to America? Ueda increasingly despaired of ever finding him.

"Oi, Monkey!"

He refocused to see One-eyed Saito swaggering towards him, his usual pork-pie hat plopped on top of his head. He was a mean-looking sonofawhore, with his black eye patch and surly top lip. But Ueda was proud to know the man; he was nobody's fool, called a spade a spade and was loyal to a fault.

I heard you was lookin' for me, One-eyed said lowering himself onto the spare box.

You heard right. Ueda wasted no time in getting down to business. Tell me, One-eyed; what do you know about Big-ears Wu and that little performance they put on for me at The Jade Pagoda?

Big-ears? One-eyed stared shiftily at the beer glass Ueda was filling.

C'mon, old friend! I know I was set up. All of 'em I played with were grifters, con men. Who put 'em up to it, that's what I wanna know-.

It was Father, One-eyed muttered it reluctantly. He heard you wanted outta the gang.

But how did he find out?

The Eel told Saburo and Saburo told him.

The Eel was the likeable young pickpocket who'd joined them a couple of months earlier. Ueda had always got on well with him.

To think I trusted the fornicator!

The kid didn't mean nuthin by it! One-eyed said. You was shootin' your mouth off that night we played mahjong. Saburo got wind of it. He wants to get you in Father's bad books so he put the screws on The Eel, knowin' the boy don't have the skill to wriggle out of a tight spot-.

He told the fat man everythin'?

The pedicabs, the bonus. Even the girl you fancy. Seems Saburo knows her.

He knows her, all right. And all o' this 'cos I wanted to leave the gang?

Father won't allow it. If you went, then others might go.

So he ordered it, Ueda glared, the Chinaman set it up and Saburo suckered me along!

The fat man even got a bonus. For doin' a good job!

The fuckers! Ueda felt so angry he was sure he'd explode. I'll kill 'em all! he hissed. And Saburo'll be first!

But the idea didn't appeal to One-eyed at all. Kill 'em? You sure that's wise, Monkey? You start slicin' 'em up and Father hears it was me what told you-. He didn't need to finish the sentence.

Don't worry! Ueda said. I aint gonna do nuthin yet. And I won't rat you out, neither. You know that.

His dull eyes stared out beyond his beer glass, out into the shadows of the Bridge.

Tell me, One-eyed, what do you really know about this Hooknose? Hooknose Iguchi?

One-eyed's voice dropped to a whisper. There aint just crabs in them boxes your professor buys. There's White Powder, too!

I knew it! How d'ya find out?

It was Hooknose hisself what told me. We went drinkin' one night; he had one too many an' let it slip. Then Father found out he'd bin dippin' into it an' strangled 'im. They chucked his body down a well, far as I know-.

Ueda raked at the scar on his face, something he often did when he had some thinking to do.

So Obuchi and The Professor, they're in the powder business?

They split the profits with Big-ears. It's his people what sells it on the streets.

It all made sense now. The fisherman's gun, the code words, even Big-ears' little gift to him. What Ueda had to do now was turn this priceless information to his advantage.

Why don't you stay a while? he said to his friend. Finish this beer-.

You goin' some place?

I need to take a walk. Think things thru.

And off he went, leaving the Bridge far behind him. First, he turned down Harumi Dori and headed deep into the heart of the Ginza. Then, when he reached the burnt-out shell of the Kabuki-za,² he turned left so as to veer away from Tsukiji where the Koreans held sway.

As he walked, Ueda mulled over his problem. Saburo had it in for him, there was no doubt about it. Making hay while he was over at the teahouse; poisoning his- Ueda's- reputation. But the fat man was a sideshow in all of this. It was Obuchi who was pulling the strings. He wanted to stop him leaving the gang so bad he was happy to steal every single yen he had!

Well, two could play at that game! Another shipment of crabs was due. What if he drove the truck off the wharf and just kept going? Found a nice quiet place and ripped open every single box until he found the powder hidden inside? Ueda's eyes started to sparkle.

And after that, what? He could move on to a big city- somewhere like Osaka- and sell the powder on. With the money he'd make, he'd be worth a fortune and then, when the dust had quite settled, he'd come back- him and his flick knife; pay the Sumidakai a little visit.

He'd kill Saburo first; a poke in the guts and the fat man would deflate faster than a ball of gas. After that, he'd move on to Obuchi and slice that festering lump off the bastard's neck. Then he'd haul his miserable carcass over to his carp pond, stick his head in it and watch him bleed to death.

Ueda chuckled as he imagined Obuchi floating face down in the water with all the fish gnawing on his face. He imagined the pond slowly turning blood red and it was the red that made him think of Eri. Why, if he had a truck and the wherewithal to start a business, he'd be right back on track with her, wouldn't he? He could offer her money, clothes, all the ice cream she could eat-.

But would the whore want to go with him? His elation began to fade as darker thoughts wriggled into his head. Would she leave Tokyo and her friend with the baby? And what about the old noodle seller? She seemed fond of him; had almost adopted the old rogue. Ueda bit his lip; this could be trickier than he thought. Would she come? There was only one way to find. He'd have to go over the following day and ask her.

CHARACTERS

MAP

GLOSSARIES

WEB

FOOTNOTES

¹Hooknose: the Sumidakai brother who was in charge of running Nagai's truck back and forth to the docks before disappearing

²Tokyo's famous kabuki theater that was destroyed by an incendiary bomb

CHAPTER 2

HIDEKAZU OGAWA WATCHED the two policemen dismount from their bicycles and winced. 'Satsu  meant trouble. He shrunk further behind his yatai and pretended to wash some dishes.

Hey you! one of them barked. Your name Ogawa?

It is- if it please Your Worship. 'Cept I aint done nuthin wrong!

Who said you had? The policeman pulled out a notebook and peered at it. You know a whore called Eri? Eri Shibata? Her friends in Yaesu said she hung around here.

I- I know her. Ogawa emerged timorously from behind his cart. Is she in trouble?

Not yet, she aint. If she's still alive. Again the policeman looked at his notebook. She's got a friend called Yoko Nakata, right?

The noodle man nodded. I aint seen her lately, tho.

An' you won't, neither. They found her in Kanda, the night before last. In the gutter.

You mean she's dead? Ogawa sunk down onto one of his stools. But what happened?

She was stabbed all over like a mad man done it. That makes three whores in the last ten days and all of 'em belong to this same group in Yaesu. The policeman took off his cap and scratched at his shaven head. Someone got it in for them girls, and that's no mistake. A punter, maybe. Got the pox from 'em or they rolled 'im. He put his cap back on. The streets are full of crazies these days. Who knows why they do it, eh?

And the baby? The dead girl had one-.

"We don't know about no baby. Just tell the girl Eri to keep an eye out for this mad man. And if she hears anythin', she's to get