kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第10节
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persons so poor； and dwelling in such a solitude； should be aware of the
polite forms of greeting。 〃These are good people；〃 he thought to himself；
〃and they must have been taught by some one well acquainted with the
rules of propriety。〃 Then turning to his host； the aruji； or house…master；
as the others called him； Kwairyo said：
〃From the kindness of your speech； and from the very polite welcome
given me by your household； I imagine that you have not always been a
woodcutter。 Perhaps you formerly belonged to one of the upper classes？〃
Smiling； the woodcutter answered：
〃Sir； you are not mistaken。 Though now living as you find me； I was
once a person of some distinction。 My story is the story of a ruined life
ruined by my own fault。 I used to be in the service of a daimyo； and my
rank in that service was not inconsiderable。 But I loved women and wine
too well； and under the influence of passion I acted wickedly。 My
selfishness brought about the ruin of our house； and caused the death of
many persons。 Retribution followed me； and I long remained a fugitive in
the land。 Now I often pray that I may be able to make some atonement for
the evil which I did； and to reestablish the ancestral home。 But I fear that I
shall never find any way of so doing。 Nevertheless； I try to overcome the
karma of my errors by sincere repentance； and by helping as afar as I can；
those who are unfortunate。〃
Kwairyo was pleased by this announcement of good resolve； and he
said to the aruji：
〃My friend； I have had occasion to observe that man； prone to folly in
their youth； may in after years become very earnest in right living。 In the
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holy sutras it is written that those strongest in wrong…doing can become；
by power of good resolve； the strongest in right…doing。 I do not doubt that
you have a good heart； and I hope that better fortune will come to you。 To…
night I shall recite the sutras for your sake； and pray that you may obtain
the force to overcome the karma of any past errors。〃
With these assurances； Kwairyo bade the aruji good…night； and his
host showed him to a very small side…room； where a bed had been made
ready。 Then all went to sleep except the priest； who began to read the
sutras by the light of a paper lantern。 Until a late hour he continued to read
and pray： then he opened a little window in his little sleeping…room； to
take a last look at the landscape before lying down。 The night was
beautiful： there was no cloud in the sky： there was no wind； and the strong
moonlight threw down sharp black shadows of foliage； and glittered on the
dews of the garden。 Shrillings of crickets and bell…insects （3） made a
musical tumult； and the sound of the neighboring cascade deepened with
the night。 Kwairyo felt thirsty as he listened to the noise of the water； and；
remembering the bamboo aqueduct at the rear of the house； he thought
that he could go there and get a drink without disturbing the sleeping
household。 Very gently he pushed apart the sliding…screens that separated
his room from the main apartment； and he saw； by the light of the lantern；
five recumbent bodies without heads！
For one instant he stood bewildered； imagining a crime。 But in
another moment he perceived that there was no blood； and that the
headless necks did not look as if they had been cut。 Then he thought to
himself： 〃Either this is an illusion made by goblins； or I have been lured
into the dwelling of a Rokuro…Kubi。。。 （4） In the book Soshinki （5） it is
written that if one find the body of a Rokuro…Kubi without its head； and
remove the body to another place； the head will never be able to join itself
again to the neck。 And the book further says that when the head comes
back and finds that its body has been moved； it will strike itself upon the
floor three times； bounding like a ball； and will pant as in great fear；
and presently die。 Now； if these be Rokuro…Kubi； they mean me no good；
so I shall be justified in following the instructions of the book。〃。。。
He seized the body of the aruji by the feet； pulled it to the window；
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and pushed it out。 Then he went to the back…door； which he found barred；
and he surmised that the heads had made their exit through the smoke…hole
in the roof； which had been left open。 Gently unbarring the door； he made
his way to the garden； and proceeded with all possible caution to the grove
beyond it。 He heard voices talking in the grove； and he went in the
direction of the voices； stealing from shadow to shadow； until he reached
a good hiding…place。 Then； from behind a trunk； he caught sight of the
heads； all five of them； flitting about； and chatting as they flitted。 They
were eating worms and insects which they found on the ground or among
the trees。 Presently the head of the aruji stopped eating and said：
〃Ah； that traveling priest who came to…night！ how fat all his body is！
When we shall have eaten him； our bellies will be well filled。。。 I was
foolish to talk to him as I did； it only set him to reciting the sutras on
behalf of my soul！ To go near him while he is reciting would be difficult；
and we cannot touch him so long as he is praying。 But as it is now nearly
morning； perhaps he has gone to sleep。。。 Some one of you go to the house
and see what the fellow is doing。〃
Another head the head of a young woman immediately rose up
and flitted to the house； lightly as a bat。 After a few minutes it came back；
and cried out huskily； in a tone of great alarm：
〃That traveling priest is not in the house； he is gone！ But that is not
the worst of the matter。 He has taken the body of our aruji； and I do not
know where he has put it。〃
At this announcement the head of the aruji distinctly visible in the
moonlight assumed a frightful aspect： its eyes opened monstrously； its
hair stood up bristling； and its teeth gnashed。 Then a cry burst from its lips；
and weeping tears of rage it exclaimed：
〃Since my body has been moved； to rejoin it is not possible！ Then I
must die！。。。 And all through the work of that priest！ Before I die I will get
at that priest！ I will tear him！ I will devour him！。。。 AND THERE HE
IS behind that tree！ hiding behind that tree！ See him ！ the fat
coward！〃。。。
In the same moment the head of the aruji； followed by the other four
heads； sprang at Kwairyo。 But the strong priest had already armed himself
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by plucking up a young tree； and with that tree he struck the heads as they
came； knocking them from him with tremendous blows。 Four of them
fled away。 But the head of the aruji； though battered again and again；
desperately continued to bound at the priest； and at last caught him by the
left sleeve of his robe。 Kwairyo； however； as quickly gripped the head by
its topknot； and repeatedly struck it。 It did not release its hold； but it
uttered a long moan； and thereafter ceased to struggle。 It was dead。 But its
teeth still held the sleeve； and； for all his great strength； Kwairyo could not
force open the jaws。
With the head still hanging to his sleeve he went back to the house；
and there caught sight of the other four Rokuro…Kubi squatting together；
with their bruised and bleeding heads reunited to their bodies。 But when
they perceived him at the back…door all screamed； 〃The priest！ the priest！〃
and fled； through the other doorway； out into the woods。
Eastward the sky was brightening； day was about to dawn； and
Kwairyo knew that the power of the goblins was limited to the hours of
darkness。 He looked at the head clinging to his sleeve； its face all fouled
with blood and foam and clay； and he laughed aloud as he thought to
himself： 〃What a miyage！ ＇4＇ the head of a goblin！〃 After which he
gathered together his few belongings； and leisurely descended the
mountain to con
