kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第3节
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is required that you shall speak to no one of your visits here； during the
time of our lord's august sojourn at Akamagaseki。 As he is traveling
incognito； ＇6＇ he commands that no mention of these things be made。。。
You are now free to go back to your temple。〃
After Hoichi had duly expressed his thanks； a woman's hand
conducted him to the entrance of the house； where the same retainer； who
had before guided him； was waiting to take him home。 The retainer led
him to the verandah at the rear of the temple； and there bade him farewell。
It was almost dawn when Hoichi returned； but his absence from the
temple had not been observed； as the priest； coming back at a very late
hour； had supposed him asleep。 During the day Hoichi was able to take
some rest； and he said nothing about his strange adventure。 In the middle
of the following night the samurai again came for him； and led him to the
august assembly； where he gave another recitation with the same success
that had attended his previous performance。 But during this second visit
his absence from the temple was accidentally discovered； and after his
return in the morning he was summoned to the presence of the priest； who
said to him； in a tone of kindly reproach：
〃We have been very anxious about you； friend Hoichi。 To go out；
blind and alone； at so late an hour； is dangerous。 Why did you go without
telling us？ I could have ordered a servant to accompany you。 And where
have you been？〃
Hoichi answered； evasively；
〃Pardon me kind friend！ I had to attend to some private business； and
I could not arrange the matter at any other hour。〃
The priest was surprised； rather than pained； by Hoichi's reticence： he
felt it to be unnatural； and suspected something wrong。 He feared that the
blind lad had been bewitched or deluded by some evil spirits。 He did not
ask any more questions； but he privately instructed the men…servants of the
temple to keep watch upon Hoichi's movements； and to follow him in case
that he should again leave the temple after dark。
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On the very next night； Hoichi was seen to leave the temple； and the
servants immediately lighted their lanterns； and followed after him。 But it
was a rainy night； and very dark； and before the temple…folks could get to
the roadway； Hoichi had disappeared。 Evidently he had walked very fast；
a strange thing； considering his blindness； for the road was in a bad
condition。 The men hurried through the streets； making inquiries at every
house which Hoichi was accustomed to visit； but nobody could give them
any news of him。 At last； as they were returning to the temple by way of
the shore； they were startled by the sound of a biwa； furiously played； in
the cemetery of the Amidaji。 Except for some ghostly fires such as
usually flitted there on dark nights all was blackness in that direction。
But the men at once hastened to the cemetery； and there； by the help of
their lanterns； they discovered Hoichi； sitting alone in the rain before the
memorial tomb of Antoku Tenno； making his biwa resound； and loudly
chanting the chant of the battle of Dan…no…ura。 And behind him； and about
him； and everywhere above the tombs； the fires of the dead were burning；
like candles。 Never before had so great a host of Oni…bi appeared in the
sight of mortal man。。。
〃Hoichi San！ Hoichi San！〃 the servants cried； 〃you are
bewitched！。。。 Hoichi San！〃
But the blind man did not seem to hear。 Strenuously he made his biwa
to rattle and ring and clang； more and more wildly he chanted the chant
of the battle of Dan…no…ura。 They caught hold of him； they shouted into
his ear；
〃Hoichi San！ Hoichi San！ come home with us at once！〃
Reprovingly he spoke to them：
〃To interrupt me in such a manner； before this august assembly； will
not be tolerated。〃
Whereat； in spite of the weirdness of the thing； the servants could not
help laughing。 Sure that he had been bewitched； they now seized him； and
pulled him up on his feet； and by main force hurried him back to the
temple； where he was immediately relieved of his wet clothes； by order
of the priest。 Then the priest insisted upon a full explanation of his friend's
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astonishing behavior。
Hoichi long hesitated to speak。 But at last； finding that his conduct
had really alarmed and angered the good priest； he decided to abandon his
reserve； and he related everything that had happened from the time of first
visit of the samurai。
The priest said：
〃Hoichi； my poor friend； you are now in great danger！ How
unfortunate that you did not tell me all this before！ Your wonderful skill in
music has indeed brought you into strange trouble。 By this time you must
be aware that you have not been visiting any house whatever； but have
been passing your nights in the cemetery； among the tombs of the Heike； …
… and it was before the memorial…tomb of Antoku Tenno that our people to…
night found you； sitting in the rain。 All that you have been imagining was
illusion except the calling of the dead。 By once obeying them； you have
put yourself in their power。 If you obey them again； after what has already
occurred； they will tear you in pieces。 But they would have destroyed you；
sooner or later； in any event。。。 Now I shall not be able to remain with you
to…night： I am called away to perform another service。 But； before I go； it
will be necessary to protect your body by writing holy texts upon it。〃
Before sundown the priest and his acolyte stripped Hoichi： then； with
their writing…brushes； they traced upon his breast and back； head and face
and neck； limbs and hands and feet； even upon the soles of his feet； and
upon all parts of his body； the text of the holy sutra called Hannya…Shin…
Kyo。 ＇7＇ When this had been done； the priest instructed Hoichi； saying：
〃To…night； as soon as I go away； you must seat yourself on the
verandah； and wait。 You will be called。 But； whatever may happen； do not
answer； and do not move。 Say nothing and sit still as if meditating。 If
you stir； or make any noise； you will be torn asunder。 Do not get
frightened； and do not think of calling for help because no help could
save you。 If you do exactly as I tell you； the danger will pass； and you will
have nothing more to fear。〃
After dark the priest and the acolyte went away； and Hoichi seated
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himself on the verandah； according to the instructions given him。 He laid
his biwa on the planking beside him； and； assuming the attitude of
meditation； remained quite still； taking care not to cough； or to breathe
audibly。 For hours he stayed thus。
Then； from the roadway； he heard the steps coming。 They passed the
gate； crossed the garden； approached the verandah； stopped directly in
front of him。
〃Hoichi！〃 the deep voice called。 But the blind man held his breath；
and sat motionless。
〃Hoichi！〃 grimly called the voice a second time。 Then a third time
savagely：
〃Hoichi！〃
Hoichi remained as still as a stone； and the voice grumbled：
〃No answer！ that won't do！。。。 Must see where the fellow is。〃。。。
There was a noise of heavy feet mounting upon the verandah。 The
feet approached deliberately； halted beside him。 Then； for long minutes；…
… during which Hoichi felt his whole body shake to the beating of his
heart； there was dead silence。
At last the gruff voice muttered close to him：
〃Here is the biwa； but of the biwa…player I see only two ears！。。。 So
that explains why he did not answer： he had no mouth to answer with
there is nothing left of him but his ears。。。 Now to my lord those ears I will
take in proof that the august commands have been obeyed； so far as was
possible〃。。。
At that instant Hoichi felt his ears gripped by fingers of iron； and torn
off！ Great as the pain was； he gave no cry。 The heavy footfalls rec
