kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第13节
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blown it open； he thought that he might have been only dreaming； and
might have mistaken the gleam of the snow…light in the doorway for the
figure of a white woman： but he could not be sure。 He called to Mosaku；
and was frightened because the old man did not answer。 He put out his
hand in the dark； and touched Mosaku's face； and found that it was ice！
Mosaku was stark and dead。。。
By dawn the storm was over； and when the ferryman returned to his
station； a little after sunrise； he found Minokichi lying senseless beside the
frozen body of Mosaku。 Minokichi was promptly cared for； and soon came
to himself； but he remained a long time ill from the effects of the cold of
that terrible night。 He had been greatly frightened also by the old man's
death； but he said nothing about the vision of the woman in white。 As soon
as he got well again； he returned to his calling； going alone every
morning to the forest； and coming back at nightfall with his bundles of
wood； which his mother helped him to sell。
One evening； in the winter of the following year； as he was on his way
home； he overtook a girl who happened to be traveling by the same road。
She was a tall； slim girl； very good…looking； and she answered Minokichi's
greeting in a voice as pleasant to the ear as the voice of a song…bird。 Then
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he walked beside her； and they began to talk。 The girl said that her name
was O…Yuki ＇2＇； that she had lately lost both of her parents； and that she
was going to Yedo （2）； where she happened to have some poor relations；
who might help her to find a situation as a servant。 Minokichi soon felt
charmed by this strange girl； and the more that he looked at her； the
handsomer she appeared to be。 He asked her whether she was yet
betrothed； and she answered； laughingly； that she was free。 Then； in her
turn； she asked Minokichi whether he was married； or pledge to marry；
and he told her that； although he had only a widowed mother to support；
the question of an 〃honorable daughter…in…law〃 had not yet been
considered； as he was very young。。。 After these confidences； they walked
on for a long while without speaking； but； as the proverb declares； Ki ga
areba； me mo kuchi hodo ni mono wo iu： 〃When the wish is there； the
eyes can say as much as the mouth。〃 By the time they reached the village；
they had become very much pleased with each other； and then Minokichi
asked O…Yuki to rest awhile at his house。 After some shy hesitation； she
went there with him； and his mother made her welcome； and prepared a
warm meal for her。 O…Yuki behaved so nicely that Minokichi's mother
took a sudden fancy to her； and persuaded her to delay her journey to Yedo。
And the natural end of the matter was that Yuki never went to Yedo at all。
She remained in the house； as an 〃honorable daughter…in…law。〃
O…Yuki proved a very good daughter…in…law。 When Minokichi's mother
came to die； some five years later； her last words were words of
affection and praise for the wife of her son。 And O…Yuki bore Minokichi
ten children； boys and girls； handsome children all of them； and very fair
of skin。
The country…folk thought O…Yuki a wonderful person； by nature
different from themselves。 Most of the peasant…women age early； but O…
Yuki； even after having become the mother of ten children； looked as
young and fresh as on the day when she had first come to the village。
One night； after the children had gone to sleep； O…Yuki was sewing by
the light of a paper lamp； and Minokichi； watching her； said：
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〃To see you sewing there； with the light on your face； makes me think
of a strange thing that happened when I was a lad of eighteen。 I then saw
somebody as beautiful and white as you are now indeed； she was very
like you。〃。。。
Without lifting her eyes from her work； O…Yuki responded：
〃Tell me about her。。。 Where did you see her？
Then Minokichi told her about the terrible night in the ferryman's
hut； and about the White Woman that had stooped above him； smiling
and whispering； and about the silent death of old Mosaku。 And he said：
〃Asleep or awake； that was the only time that I saw a being as
beautiful as you。 Of course； she was not a human being； and I was afraid
of her； very much afraid； but she was so white！。。。 Indeed； I have never
been sure whether it was a dream that I saw； or the Woman of theSnow。〃。。。
O…Yuki flung down her sewing； and arose； and bowed above
Minokichi where he sat； and shrieked into his face：
〃It was I I I！ Yuki it was！ And I told you then that I would kill
you if you ever said one work about it！。。。 But for those children asleep
there； I would kill you this moment！ And now you had better take very；
very good care of them； for if ever they have reason to complain of you； I
will treat you as you deserve！〃。。。
Even as she screamed； her voice became thin； like a crying of wind；
then she melted into a bright white mist that spired to the roof…beams； and
shuddered away through the smoke…hold。。。 Never again was she seen。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
THE STORY OF AOYAGI
In the era of Bummei ＇1469…1486＇ there was a young samurai called
Tomotada in the service of Hatakeyama Yoshimune； the Lord of Noto （1）。
Tomotada was a native of Echizen （2）； but at an early age he had been
taken； as page； into the palace of the daimyo of Noto； and had been
educated； under the supervision of that prince； for the profession of arms。
As he grew up； he proved himself both a good scholar and a good soldier；
and continued to enjoy the favor of his prince。 Being gifted with an
amiable character； a winning address； and a very handsome person； he was
admired and much liked by his samurai…comrades。
When Tomotada was about twenty years old； he was sent upon a
private mission to Hosokawa Masamoto； the great daimyo of Kyoto； a
kinsman of Hatakeyama Yoshimune。 Having been ordered to journey
through Echizen； the youth requested and obtained permission to pay a
visit； on the way； to his widowed mother。
It was the coldest period of the year when he started； and； though
mounted upon a powerful horse； he found himself obliged to proceed
slowly。 The road which he followed passed through a mountain…district
where the settlements were few and far between； and on the second day of
his journey； after a weary ride of hours； he was dismayed to find that he
could not reached his intended halting…place until late in the night。 He had
reason to be anxious； for a heavy snowstorm came on； with an intensely
cold wind； and the horse showed signs of exhaustion。 But in that trying
moment； Tomotada unexpectedly perceived the thatched room of a cottage
on the summit of a near hill； where willow…trees were growing。 With
difficulty he urged his tired animal to the dwelling； and he loudly knocked
upon the storm…doors； which had been closed against the wind。 An old
woman opened them； and cried out compassionately at the sight of the
handsome stranger： 〃Ah； how pitiful！ a young gentleman traveling alone
in such weather！。。。 Deign； young master； to enter。〃
Tomotada dismounted； and after leading his horse to a shed in the rear；
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entered the cottage； where he saw an old man and a girl warming
themselves by a fire of bamboo splints。 They respectfully invited him to
approach the fire； and the old folks then proceeded to warm some rice…
wine； and to prepare food for the traveler； whom they ventured to question
in regard to his journey。 Meanwhile the young girl disappe
