He had already passed it and was spurring his horse onward along the winding track, when Gotaro, who was riding at the rear of the group, noticed the blurred outline of the little thatched building and reined in his mount. ‘O Kami-san, forgive me: he called out loudly. ‘There is an inn here. We could stop and seek information.’ He waited respectfully while Tanaka wheeled his horse and led the rest of the samurai troop up to the inn gates. When Tanaka dismounted, the chief guard followed him to the doorway where the teishi, or landlord, had already appeared. Having caught sight of Tanaka’s richly embroidered jimbaori and the horned helmets of his escort, emblazoned with the Kago clan insignia, the landlord had already prostrated himself abjectly on the threshold with hands folded before him. He touched his forehead to the ground five times as the group approached, and remained in this position until he was addressed. ‘Rise,’ commanded Tanaka brusquely. ‘We wish only to ask you a question or two.’ The teishi half rose, still bowing obsequiously, and began backing into the shabby inn, indicating with mumbled self-effacements that his lordly visitor was very welcome to enter his unworthy establishment.
