kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第11节
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gathered together his few belongings； and leisurely descended the
mountain to continue his journey。
Right on he journeyed； until he came to Suwa in Shinano； （6） and
into the main street of Suwa he solemnly strode； with the head dangling at
his elbow。 Then woman fainted； and children screamed and ran away； and
there was a great crowding and clamoring until the torite （as the police in
those days were called） seized the priest； and took him to jail。 For they
supposed the head to be the head of a murdered man who； in the moment
of being killed； had caught the murderer's sleeve in his teeth。 As the
Kwairyo； he only smiled and said nothing when they questioned him。 So；
after having passed a night in prison； he was brought before the
magistrates of the district。 Then he was ordered to explain how he； a priest；
had been found with the head of a man fastened to his sleeve； and why he
had dared thus shamelessly to parade his crime in the sight of people。
Kwairyo laughed long and loudly at these questions； and then he said：
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〃Sirs； I did not fasten the head to my sleeve： it fastened itself there
much against my will。 And I have not committed any crime。 For this is not
the head of a man； it is the head of a goblin； and； if I caused the death of
the goblin； I did not do so by any shedding of blood； but simply by taking
the precautions necessary to assure my own safety。〃。。。 And he proceeded to
relate the whole of the adventure； bursting into another hearty laugh as
he told of his encounter with the five heads。
But the magistrates did not laugh。 They judged him to be a hardened
criminal； and his story an insult to their intelligence。 Therefore； without
further questioning； they decided to order his immediate execution； all
of them except one； a very old man。 This aged officer had made no remark
during the trial； but； after having heard the opinion of his colleagues； he
rose up； and said：
〃Let us first examine the head carefully； for this； I think； has not yet
been done。 If the priest has spoken truth； the head itself should bear
witness for him。。。 Bring the head here！〃
So the head； still holding in its teeth the koromo that had been
stripped from Kwairyo's shoulders； was put before the judges。 The old
man turned it round and round； carefully examined it； and discovered； on
the nape of its neck； several strange red characters。 He called the attention
of his colleagues to these； and also bad them observe that the edges of the
neck nowhere presented the appearance of having been cut by any weapon。
On the contrary； the line of leverance was smooth as the line at which a
falling leaf detaches itself from the stem。。。 Then said the elder：
〃I am quite sure that the priest told us nothing but the truth。 This is
the head of a Rokuro…Kubi。 In the book Nan…ho…i…butsu…shi it is written
that certain red characters can always be found upon the nape of the neck
of a real Rokuro…Kubi。 There are the characters： you can see for
yourselves that they have not been painted。 Moreover； it is well known
that such goblins have been dwelling in the mountains of the province of
Kai from very ancient time。。。 But you； Sir；〃 he exclaimed； turning to
Kwairyo； 〃what sort of sturdy priest may you be？ Certainly you have
given proof of a courage that few priests possess； and you have the air of a
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soldier rather than a priest。 Perhaps you once belonged to the samurai…
class？〃
〃You have guessed rightly； Sir；〃 Kwairyo responded。 〃Before
becoming a priest； I long followed the profession of arms； and in those
days I never feared man or devil。 My name then was Isogai Heidazaemon
Taketsura of Kyushu： there may be some among you who remember it。〃
At the mention of that name； a murmur of admiration filled the court…
room。； for there were many present who remembered it。 And Kwairyo
immediately found himself among friends instead of judges； friends
anxious to prove their admiration by fraternal kindness。 With honor they
escorted him to the residence of the daimyo； who welcomed him； and
feasted him； and made him a handsome present before allowing him to
depart。 When Kwairyo left Suwa； he was as happy as any priest is
permitted to be in this transitory world。 As for the head； he took it with
him； jocosely insisting that he intended it for a miyage。
And now it only remains to tell what became of the head。
A day or two after leaving Suwa； Kwairyo met with a robber； who
stopped him in a lonesome place； and bade him strip。 Kwairyo at once
removed his koromo； and offered it to the robber； who then first perceived
what was hanging to the sleeve。 Though brave； the highwayman was
startled： he dropped the garment； and sprang back。 Then he cried out：
〃You！ what kind of a priest are you？ Why； you are a worse man than I
am！ It is true that I have killed people； but I never walked about with
anybody's head fastened to my sleeve。。。 Well； Sir priest； I suppose we are
of the same calling； and I must say that I admire you！。。。 Now that head
would be of use to me： I could frighten people with it。 Will you sell it？
You can have my robe in exchange for your koromo； and I will give you
five ryo for the head。〃
Kwairyo answered：
〃I shall let you have the head and the robe if you insist； but I must tell
you that this is not the head of a man。 It is a goblin's head。 So； if you buy it；
and have any trouble in consequence； please to remember that you were
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not deceived by me。〃
〃What a nice priest you are！〃 exclaimed the robber。 〃You kill men；
and jest about it！。。。 But I am really in earnest。 Here is my robe； and here is
the money； and let me have the head。。。 What is the use of joking？〃
〃Take the thing；〃 said Kwairyo。 〃I was not joking。 The only joke if
there be any joke at all is that you are fool enough to pay good money
for a goblin's head。〃 And Kwairyo； loudly laughing； went upon his way。
Thus the robber got the head and the koromo； and for some time he
played goblin…priest upon the highways。 But； reaching the neighborhood
of Suwa； he there leaned the true story of the head； and he then became
afraid that the spirit of the Rokuro…Kubi might give him trouble。 So he
made up his mind to take back the head to the place from which it had
come； and to bury it with its body。 He found his way to the lonely cottage
in the mountains of Kai； but nobody was there； and he could not discover
the body。 Therefore he buried the head by itself； in the grove behind the
cottage； and he had a tombstone set up over the grave； and he caused a
Segaki…service to be performed on behalf of the spirit of the Rokuro…Kubi。
And that tombstone known as the Tombstone of the Rokuro…Kubi
may be seen （at least so the Japanese story…teller declares） even unto this
day。
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A DEAD SECRET
A long time ago； in the province of Tamba （1）； there lived a rich
merchant named Inamuraya Gensuke。 He had a daughter called O…Sono。
As she was very clever and pretty； he thought it would be a pity to let her
grow up with only such teaching as the country…teachers could give her： so
he sent her； in care of some trusty attendants； to Kyoto； that she might be
trained in the polite accomplishments taught to the ladies of the capital。
After she had thus been educated； she was married to a friend of her
father's family a merchant named Nagaraya； and she lived happily
with him for nearly four years。
