kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第17节
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been summoned to Our presence。 We have decided that you shall become
the adopted husband of Our only daughter； and the wedding ceremony
shall now be performed。〃
As the king finished speaking； a sound of joyful music was heard；
and a long train of beautiful court ladies advanced from behind a curtain to
conduct Akinosuke to the room in which he bride awaited him。
The room was immense； but it could scarcely contain the multitude
of guests assembled to witness the wedding ceremony。 All bowed down
before Akinosuke as he took his place； facing the King's daughter； on the
kneeling…cushion prepared for him。 As a maiden of heaven the bride
appeared to be； and her robes were beautiful as a summer sky。 And the
marriage was performed amid great rejoicing。
Afterwards the pair were conducted to a suite of apartments that had
been prepared for them in another portion of the palace； and there they
received the congratulations of many noble persons； and wedding gifts
beyond counting。
Some days later Akinosuke was again summoned to the throne…room。
On this occasion he was received even more graciously than before； and
the King said to him：
In the southwestern part of Our dominion there is an island called
Raishu。 We have now appointed you Governor of that island。 You will find
the people loyal and docile； but their laws have not yet been brought into
proper accord with the laws of Tokoyo； and their customs have not been
properly regulated。 We entrust you with the duty of improving their social
condition as far as may be possible； and We desire that you shall rule them
with kindness and wisdom。 All preparations necessary for your journey to
Raishu have already been made。〃
So Akinosuke and his bride departed from the palace of Tokoyo；
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accompanied to the shore by a great escort of nobles and officials； and
they embarked upon a ship of state provided by the king。 And with
favoring winds they safety sailed to Raishu； and found the good people of
that island assembled upon the beach to welcome them。
Akinosuke entered at once upon his new duties； and they did not prove
to be hard。 During the first three years of his governorship he was
occupied chiefly with the framing and the enactment of laws； but he had
wise counselors to help him； and he never found the work unpleasant。
When it was all finished； he had no active duties to perform； beyond
attending the rites and ceremonies ordained by ancient custom。 The
country was so healthy and so fertile that sickness and want were
unknown； and the people were so good that no laws were ever broken。
And Akinosuke dwelt and ruled in Raishu for twenty years more； making
in all twenty…three years of sojourn； during which no shadow of sorrow
traversed his life。
But in the twenty…fourth year of his governorship； a great misfortune
came upon him； for his wife； who had borne him seven children； five
boys and two girls； fell sick and died。 She was buried； with high pomp；
on the summit of a beautiful hill in the district of Hanryoko； and a
monument； exceedingly splendid； was placed upon her grave。 But
Akinosuke felt such grief at her death that he no longer cared to live。
Now when the legal period of mourning was over； there came to
Raishu； from the Tokoyo palace； a shisha； or royal messenger。 The shisha
delivered to Akinosuke a message of condolence； and then said to him：
〃These are the words which our august master； the King of Tokoyo；
commands that I repeat to you： 'We will now send you back to your own
people and country。 As for the seven children； they are the grandsons and
granddaughters of the King； and shall be fitly cared for。 Do not； therefore；
allow you mind to be troubled concerning them。'〃
On receiving this mandate； Akinosuke submissively prepared for his
departure。 When all his affairs had been settled； and the ceremony of
bidding farewell to his counselors and trusted officials had been concluded；
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he was escorted with much honor to the port。 There he embarked upon the
ship sent for him； and the ship sailed out into the blue sea； under the blue
sky； and the shape of the island of Raishu itself turned blue； and then
turned grey； and then vanished forever。。。 And Akinosuke suddenly awoke …
… under the cedar…tree in his own garden！
For a moment he was stupefied and dazed。 But he perceived his two
friends still seated near him； drinking and chatting merrily。 He stared at
them in a bewildered way； and cried aloud；
〃How strange！〃
〃Akinosuke must have been dreaming；〃 one of them exclaimed； with
a laugh。 〃What did you see； Akinosuke； that was strange？〃
Then Akinosuke told his dream； that dream of three…and…twenty
years' sojourn in the realm of Tokoyo； in the island of Raishu； and they
were astonished； because he had really slept for no more than a few
minutes。
One goshi said：
〃Indeed； you saw strange things。 We also saw something strange
while you were napping。 A little yellow butterfly was fluttering over your
face for a moment or two； and we watched it。 Then it alighted on the
ground beside you； close to the tree； and almost as soon as it alighted there；
a big； big ant came out of a hole and seized it and pulling it down into the
hole。 Just before you woke up； we saw that very butterfly come out of the
hole again； and flutter over your face as before。 And then it suddenly
disappeared： we do not know where it went。〃
〃Perhaps it was Akinosuke's soul；〃 the other goshi said； 〃certainly I
thought I saw it fly into his mouth。。。 But； even if that butterfly was
Akinosuke's soul； the fact would not explain his dream。〃
〃The ants might explain it；〃 returned the first speaker。 〃Ants are queer
beings possibly goblins。。。 Anyhow； there is a big ant's nest under that
cedar…tree。〃。。。
〃Let us look！〃 cried Akinosuke； greatly moved by this suggestion。
And he went for a spade。
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The ground about and beneath the cedar…tree proved to have been
excavated； in a most surprising way； by a prodigious colony of ants。 The
ants had furthermore built inside their excavations； and their tiny
constructions of straw； clay； and stems bore an odd resemblance to
miniature towns。 In the middle of a structure considerably larger than the
rest there was a marvelous swarming of small ants around the body of one
very big ant； which had yellowish wings and a long black head。
〃Why； there is the King of my dream！〃 cried Akinosuke； 〃and there is
the palace of Tokoyo！。。。 How extraordinary！。。。 Raishu ought to lie
somewhere southwest of it to the left of that big root。。。 Yes！ here it
is！。。。 How very strange！ Now I am sure that I can find the mountain of
Hanryoko； and the grave of the princess。〃。。。
In the wreck of the nest he searched and searched； and at last
discovered a tiny mound； on the top of which was fixed a water…worn
pebble； in shape resembling a Buddhist monument。 Underneath it he found
embedded in clay the dead body of a female ant。
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RIKI…BAKA
His name was Riki； signifying Strength； but the people called him
Riki…the…Simple； or Riki…the…Fool； 〃Riki…Baka；〃 because he had been
born into perpetual childhood。 For the same reason they were kind to him；…
… even when he set a house
