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“Larra,” he gasped, “You know
that I am dying. I feel I can
tell you this because you have always shown an intelligence and maturity
far beyond your years.”
It was the news that she had
feared. She swallowed
hard. “Yes Father,”
She replied quietly.
“I a few days, perhaps less, I shall
be gone, and you will have to care for
yourself. I could turn you over
to your relatives in
He paused, struggling for
breath.
“Put me down under the cherry tree,”
he said in fluent Japanese.
The litter bearers
obeyed.
“Sit by me
Larra.”
One of the litter bearers produced a small
stool. Larra sat down folding
her hands in her lap. She leaned
toward her father.
“This time of year is so beautiful,”
he gasped. “I just had to
see it once more.”
For a few minutes father and daughter sat
quietly beneath the brilliant cherry
blossoms. Next to the trees was
a canal, its languid waters reflecting the beautiful trees in all their
springtime glory.
Her father slowly turned to Larra once
again. He reached out and once
again took her hand. He gave
it a small squeeze and spoke again.
“Larra, I want you to grow up to be a
woman of the new century. The
twentieth century will see great change.
I believe that women will have the opportunity to forsake their
traditional roles and become more than mere handmaidens for their
husbands. Your mother was a strong
woman. Had she lived she would
have been more than just my wife. I
want you to be strong and able to take your place in a world that is dominated
by men. Do you understand me
my dear?”
“Yes Father, I
do.” She swallowed again,
fighting back tears.
Her father
continued: “I do not wish
your English relatives to manage your
life. I know that they will not
accept you. You do not remember
your mother. She died when you
were very young. But she was
half-Asian. That was not agreeable
to my family. You are one
quarter Japanese and your prudish relatives will attempt to hide you away
while at the same time depriving you of your
inheritance.
Accordingly, I have made special arrangements for you, but these
arrangements require that you grant me my last
request.”
Here he paused again, struggling after such
a long speech. A tear rolled
down Larra’s cheek. Finding
her voice she spoke.
“I will do what you wish,
Father.”
“I know that you will my daughter, but
I would like you to hear what it is before you
promise.”
“Yes Father,” she
whispered.
“I have arranged for you to be taken
into the household of Lord Takeda.
Tomorrow his servants will come for
you. You will be trained in the
way of the warrior. Your training
will be especially hard, because the Japanese warrior code does not apply
to women. Only because of my
special relationship with Lord Takeda has he consented to train you as one
of his sons.”
Seeing her eyes widen in fear, Laura’s
father placed his arm gently on hers.
“Do not be afraid, Larra, he will not mistreat
you. He will be a demanding but
fair teacher. My days in
Larra’s father stopped to gasp for air
and then continued. “You
will be allowed to continue your English education as
well.”
He smiled.
“Your languages, your music,
your equestrian pursuits.” You
will have your horses and your lessons that you love so
well.”
“Now,” he wheezed, “Kiss
me. I am very tired and I must
return to our home. And you must
prepare for tomorrow.”
Slowly, they made their way back to the
house. The next day Lord
Takeda’s retainers came for her and her
tutors. It was the last time
she saw her father.