Chapter 38
Yasunaga left the dungeon. Kumado opened the cell door to untie Tama. 「熊戸」"Kumado" she greeted calmly. 「伯母上」"Auntie," he responded. As Kumado worked on the knots something wriggled in her kimono sleeve, which startled her. Bikke the kitten awoke presently and came out, stretching and yawning. Tama was rather surprised to see the cat, and yelled 「足噛み猫！」"Ankle biter!" Paying no attention to Tama, Bikke sauntered close to Kumado. The rope fell around Tama's lap. Bikke sniffed at Kumado's feet and wasted no time climbing up him. Kumado let out an "ow" in annoyance but allowed it on his shoulder. Tama stared at the whole sequence in disbelief. Kumado was never one to like small animals. Bikke seemed to sense it, and kept its distance from him whenever he was around. The only visitor she had seem Bikke climb was Ginko.
Kumado kept his usual unimpressed and bored expression. 「飛火殿にお遭いになられましたか」"you've met Tobihi-bikuni, I assume?" he spoke. Tama nodded. She told herself strange things happen, and perhaps age and fatigue were catching up to her. 「淡幽殿は無事に屋敷におられますか」"is Miss Tanyuu safe at home?" he inquired next. At that Tama had to tell him an account of the happenings up to his departure. He listened in silence, but at the end dared to opine letting Tanyuu and Ginko travel alone was an error on her part for the obvious reason. She defended herself telling him the story Ginko had told her. He rolled his eyes in exasperation. 「ギンコ？タマ喰い蟲に金タマ喰われた？そんなばからしい話を信じたとは何と愚かな。あいつの事だ、今頃もうぬけぬけと既成事実でも作っているにちがいない」"Ginko? Got his balls eaten by a gonad-eating mushi? You believed such ridiculous story? He must have created a preexisting condition by now" he blurted. Tama's face reddened in anger. She dealt him a sound slapping, but he dodged. Then he wagged a finger in her face. At that point Tama could no longer deny Kumado was not the Kumado she knew.