kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第12节
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father's family a merchant named Nagaraya； and she lived happily
with him for nearly four years。 They had one child； a But O…Sono fell ill
and died； in the fourth year after her marriage。
On the night after the funeral of O…Sono； her little son said that his
mamma had come back； and was in the room upstairs。 She had smiled at
him； but would not talk to him： so he became afraid； and ran away。 Then
some of the family went upstairs to the room which had been O…Sono's；
and they were startled to see； by the light of a small lamp which had been
kindled before a shrine in that room； the figure of the dead mother。 She
appeared as if standing in front of a tansu； or chest of drawers； that still
contained her ornaments and her wearing…apparel。 Her head and shoulders
could be very distinctly seen； but from the waist downwards the figure
thinned into invisibility； it was like an imperfect reflection of her； and
transparent as a shadow on water。
Then the folk were afraid； and left the room。 Below they consulted
together； and the mother of O…Sono's husband said： 〃A woman is fond of
her small things； and O…Sono was much attached to her belongings。
Perhaps she has come back to look at them。 Many dead persons will do
that； unless the things be given to the parish…temple。 If we present O…
Sono's robes and girdles to the temple； her spirit will probably find rest。〃
I was agreed that this should be done as soon as possible。 So on the
following morning the drawers were emptied； and all of O…Sono's
ornaments and dresses were taken to the temple。 But she came back the
next night； and looked at the tansu as before。 And she came back also on
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the night following； and the night after that； and every night； and the
house became a house of fear。
The mother of O…Sono's husband then went to the parish…temple； and
told the chief priest all that had happened； and asked for ghostly counsel。
The temple was a Zen temple； and the head…priest was a learned old man；
known as Daigen Osho。 He said： 〃There must be something about which
she is anxious； in or near that tansu。〃 〃But we emptied all the drawers；〃
replied the woman； 〃there is nothing in the tansu。〃 〃Well；〃 said
Daigen Osho； 〃to…night I shall go to your house； and keep watch in that
room； and see what can be done。 You must give orders that no person shall
enter the room while I am watching； unless I call。〃
After sundown； Daigen Osho went to the house； and found the room
made ready for him。 He remained there alone； reading the sutras； and
nothing appeared until after the Hour of the Rat。 ＇1＇ Then the figure of O…
Sono suddenly outlined itself in front of the tansu。 Her face had a wistful
look； and she kept her eyes fixed upon the tansu。
The priest uttered the holy formula prescribed in such cases； and then；
addressing the figure by the kaimyo ＇2＇ of O…Sono； said： 〃I have come
here in order to help you。 Perhaps in that tansu there is something about
which you have reason to feel anxious。 Shall I try to find it for you？〃 The
shadow appeared to give assent by a slight motion of the head； and the
priest； rising； opened the top drawer。 It was empty。 Successively he opened
the second； the third； and the fourth drawer； he searched carefully
behind them and beneath them； he carefully examined the interior of the
chest。 He found nothing。 But the figure remained gazing as wistfully as
before。 〃What can she want？〃 thought the priest。 Suddenly it occurred to
him that there might be something hidden under the paper with which the
drawers were lined。 He removed the lining of the first drawer： nothing！
He removed the lining of the second and third drawers： still nothing。 But
under the lining of the lowermost drawer he found a letter。 〃Is this the
thing about which you have been troubled？〃 he asked。 The shadow of the
woman turned toward him； her faint gaze fixed upon the letter。 〃Shall I
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burn it for you？〃 he asked。 She bowed before him。 〃It shall be burned in
the temple this very morning；〃 he promised； 〃and no one shall read it；
except myself。〃 The figure smiled and vanished。
Dawn was breaking as the priest descended the stairs； to find the
family waiting anxiously below。 〃Do not be anxious；〃 he said to them：
〃She will not appear again。〃 And she never did。
The letter was burned。 It was a love…letter written to O…Sono in the
time of her studies at Kyoto。 But the priest alone knew what was in it； and
the secret died with him。
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YUKI…ONNA
In a village of Musashi Province （1）； there lived two woodcutters：
Mosaku and Minokichi。 At the time of which I am speaking； Mosaku was
an old man； and Minokichi； his apprentice； was a lad of eighteen years。
Every day they went together to a forest situated about five miles from
their village。 On the way to that forest there is a wide river to cross； and
there is a ferry…boat。 Several times a bridge was built where the ferry is；
but the bridge was each time carried away by a flood。 No common bridge
can resist the current there when the river rises。
Mosaku and Minokichi were on their way home； one very cold
evening； when a great snowstorm overtook them。 They reached the ferry；
and they found that the boatman had gone away； leaving his boat on the
other side of the river。 It was no day for swimming； and the woodcutters
took shelter in the ferryman's hut； thinking themselves lucky to find any
shelter at all。 There was no brazier in the hut； nor any place in which to
make a fire： it was only a two…mat ＇1＇ hut； with a single door； but no
window。 Mosaku and Minokichi fastened the door； and lay down to rest；
with their straw rain…coats over them。 At first they did not feel very cold；
and they thought that the storm would soon be over。
The old man almost immediately fell asleep； but the boy； Minokichi；
lay awake a long time； listening to the awful wind； and the continual
slashing of the snow against the door。 The river was roaring； and the hut
swayed and creaked like a junk at sea。 It was a terrible storm； and the air
was every moment becoming colder； and Minokichi shivered under his
rain…coat。 But at last； in spite of the cold； he too fell asleep。
He was awakened by a showering of snow in his face。 The door of
the hut had been forced open； and； by the snow…light （yuki…akari）； he saw
a woman in the room； a woman all in white。 She was bending above
Mosaku； and blowing her breath upon him； and her breath was like a
bright white smoke。 Almost in the same moment she turned to Minokichi；
and stooped over him。 He tried to cry out； but found that he could not utter
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any sound。 The white woman bent down over him； lower and lower； until
her face almost touched him； and he saw that she was very beautiful；
though her eyes made him afraid。 For a little time she continued to look at
him； then she smiled； and she whispered： 〃I intended to treat you like
the other man。 But I cannot help feeling some pity for you； because you
are so young。。。 You are a pretty boy； Minokichi； and I will not hurt you
now。 But； if you ever tell anybody even your own mother about what
you have seen this night； I shall know it； and then I will kill you。。。
Remember what I say！〃
With these words； she turned from him； and passed through the
doorway。 Then he found himself able to move； and he sprang up； and
looked out。 But the woman was nowhere to be seen； and the snow was
driving furiously into the hut。 Minokichi closed the door； and secured it by
fixing several billets of wood against it。 He wondered if the wind had
blown it open； he thought that he might have been only dreaming； and
might have
