Sunday, December 15, 2013

Kishibojin Preface

It is said that a demon accompanied by a child appears on that mountain.




Mountains spread as far as the eye can see.

Near the summit of one of the mountains, there stands (Demon) and a girl.

Around them the wind blows through the trees, making them rustle.

(Demon) is one-eyed. Her disheveled hair streams in the wind and from her missing left eye come rolling down tears of blood.

Her stark naked body is covered by something blackish, perhaps blood.



From the top of the mountain, the pair peers down at something below.



The girl is wearing what looks like a kimono rag.

(Demon) says something to the girl, but the girl does not react at all.

(Demon) silently calls the girl's attention by gently drawing her closer by the shoulders.

In response, the girl looks up at (Demon), and after giving her an innocent smile, she follows obediently after (Demon) without uttering a word.



The pair disappears into the mountains.

The wind grows stronger and its sough sounds like someone sobbing.



——Fadeout.

(From Zekkai no Kishibojin, Preface: "Kikoku")


Note: I have not read Zekkai no Kishibojin, but I think that (Demon) is in parentheses because her identity is not yet to be revealed, and she's not actually an ogre. In the original, double brackets are used: 《鬼》. As far as I know, they don't have a fixed meaning in Japanese.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XXVII "Walk Over My Dead Body"

(Waga Shikabane wo Koeteyuke begins at 16:05)

"Hey grandma, am I really a useless, unwelcome child?"
"Hmm? That's not true at all. Why would you even ask such a thing?"
"It's that Kansuke. He was saying that I'm a birdbrained, ugly, useless nobody."
"Useless of all things! Dear Tōkichi, you're good at singing, aren't you?"
"Nobody listens to my singing. Everyone just wants to look at the funny picture book that Kansuke bought at the capital or the pretty pinwheel that O-hana has. No one pays me any attention."
"It's just a matter of taste. Those who want to look at a picture book can do so, and those who want to play with a pinwheel can ask their parents to buy them one. Neither one is superior to the other. Everyone can play with the one they prefer. There must be someone who likes your songs and wants to hear them."
"No way! Nobody likes me!"
"Hey! Tōkichi! Mother! I just got back! Phew, I sure am tired. Oh! Tōkichi, let me hear a song of yours again. When your daddy hears you sing, it gives him strength to give his all again tomorrow!"
"O-Okay! I will! But which one? Which do you prefer?"
"All of them! I like it no matter what you sing!"
"Yeah! Hyahahahaha!"
"Hahahaha!"



陰陽座百物語 第廿漆話「我が屍を超えてゆけ」


「なあ、ばあちゃん、オラ役立たずのいらん子なん?」
「んー?そんな事ある訳無かろうが。何でそんな事聞くだ?」
「勘助の奴だ、オラの事、おつむの出来も悪いし、顔も不細工じゃし、何の取り柄も無い役立たずやというだ」
「取り得がないっちゅうて。藤吉や、お前歌歌うの上手でねえか」
「オラの歌は皆聴いてくれん。勘助が都で買ってきた絵双紙や、御花がもっとる風車の方が綺麗じゃし、面白いっちゅうて、誰もオラの事相手にしてくれん」
「そら人の好き好きじゃ。絵双紙が見たいもんは絵双紙を見りゃええし、風車で遊びたいもんは風車を買うてもらえばええ。どれが偉いも偉くないも無いんじゃ。自分が好きな様にすりゃええんじゃ。
お前の歌を好きじゃゆうて、聴いてくれる人もおるじゃろう」
「そんな奴おらん!皆オラが好きじゃないんじゃ」
「おー!藤吉!おっかあ!今けえったぞ!嗚呼、疲れた疲れた。おっ!藤吉、今日もお前の歌、聴かせてくれや。とうちゃんなー、お前の歌聴くと、明日も頑張らにゃっていう力が湧いてくるんじゃ!」
「うっ うん!歌う!どれがいい?どの歌がいい?」
「全部じゃ、全部!お前の歌は全部ええ」
「うん!ひゃっははははは!」
「ははははは!」

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XXVI "Shrine Maiden of the Mizuchi"

(Mizuchi no Miko begins at 07:26)

When the world is shrouded in jet-black darkness, there are two beings whose mission is to sacrifice their lives to save it. One is the dragon who soars to the sky when the time is right. The other is the shrine maiden who has looked after the dragon since it was a nestling. Her task is to offer a prayer that releases the dragon to the sky. They both waited quietly for that moment while aware of the fact that after they had accomplished their mission, they would meet their end.

And now, having heard the prayer of the shrine maiden and having climbed to the sky, the dragon was looking down on the various sufferings of the world below.

As the girl gazed at the dragon that had soared out of sight, the image of the dragon when it was still small enough to be carried in her arms crossed her mind and tears started to roll down her cheeks before she knew it.

The terrestrial world ruled by humans, filled with insolent desires and petty falsehoods, was now full of more suffering than there had ever been and everyone was longing for the dragon of redemption to appear. The girl had offered the dragon a prayer in order to fulfill her mission as the shrine maiden, but now that the moment was at hand, at the same time as her love for the dragon suddenly awakened, she also started to feel intense hatred for the humans who had shifted the task of redeeming their crimes on the dragon. Her anger grew uncontrollable and in spite of herself the girl shouted inside her mind: "There is no need to listen to the hopes of the selfish humans. Give me back my dragon!"
However, at the same time she heard the voice of the dragon's consciousness echoing inside her mind.

"Girl. There is no need to worry. We shall never lose the memories of the peaceful days we spent together, not even if our bodies perish. I will now release the light that will save the world. With that light, the two of us will ascend to heaven. And the humans too——"
"Huh?"

Unable to grasp the meaning of the dragon's final words, the girl gazed at the sky even more intensely. Shortly afterwards, light so dazzling that one could not look straight at it came falling down from the heavens, surrounding the earth. The dragon, the girl, humans, and all other living things were enveloped by the light, and they all vanished from the face of the earth.

Thus the earth was saved from the threat of mankind.


陰陽座百物語 第廿陸話「蛟龍の巫女」


この世が漆黒の闇に閉ざされる時、それを救う為に命を抛つ使命を負った二つの者が在った。一つは時が来たら空に舞い上がり、この世を救う役目を持った龍。一つはその龍を幼体の頃から見守り、育て、時が来たらその龍を空へと放つ祈りを捧げる役目を持った巫女。どちらも役目を果たした後にその命が果てる事を自ら理解した上で静かにその時を待っていた。

そうして、今正に巫女である少女の祈りを受け、空高く舞い上がった龍は様々な苦難に喘ぐ地上の世界を見下ろしていた。

見えない程高く昇った龍の姿をじっと見詰める少女は、まだ両手に抱き抱える事が出来るぐらいに幼かった龍の面影を脳裏に浮かべていたが、気が付かぬうちに涙が頬を伝っていた。

傲慢な欲望と矮小な欺瞞に満ちた人間の支配する地上の世界はかつて無い程の苦難に満ち、誰もが世界を救う龍の登場を渇望した。少女は巫女としての使命を果たすべく、龍に祈りを捧げたが、すわと言う段になり、急速に龍への親愛が呼び覚まされると同時に、逆に自らの罪を贖う役目を龍に押し付けようと言う人々への激しい怒りを感じ始めていた。その憤りは最早抑え難いものになり、我知らず少女は胸の中で「勝手な人間共の願いなど聞く事は無い。私の龍を返して!」と叫んでいた。しかし同時に龍の心の声が少女の中に聞こえてきた。

「少女よ。憂う事は無い。我々が過ごした穏やかな日々の記憶は、例え二人の肉体が滅びても、決して失われる事は無い。私は今から、この世を救う光を放つ。我々二人は、その光と共に天に召されよう。そして、人間達も」
「えっ?」

龍の最後の言葉の意味が飲み込めない儘、少女は一層力を込めて空を見詰めた。その直後、正視出来ない程の目映い光が空から降り注ぎ地上を包んだ。龍も、少女も、人間も、その他生きとし生ける全ての物を包んだ光は、その全ての存在をこの世から消去した。

こうして世界は人間と言う脅威から救われたのである。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XXV "Like a Dragon Obtaining a Cloud"

(Ryū no Kumo wo Eru Gotoshi begins at 01:10)

Piercing the pitch black rain clouds that had suddenly covered the sky, a single thunderbolt struck the center of the basin of a waterfall. Immediately, the pierced water surface swelled as if lifted from below, and a huge dragon suddenly appeared in an enormous splash.

After glancing at the girl dressed as a shrine maiden, who stood near the waterfall, the dragon soared straight towards the sky. As the girl watched it go, she had a complex expression on her face that was quite neither compassion nor resignation, nor did it resemble a prayer or a curse.

"Dear dragon. Hear me, dragon that has since ancient times been gathering the strength to save the world inside this waterfall. Now is the time for you to save my brethren from their numerous hardships!"

Directing her words rather at herself instead of the dragon, the girl whispered, but at the same time shouted so, and with the same expression still on her face, she gazed at the sky where the dragon had soared.

As if answering the girl, the dragon that had flown so high that one could no longer discern it gave out a cry in a wonderful timbre.


陰陽座百物語 第廿伍話「龍の雲を得る如し」


突如として空を覆った真っ黒な雨雲を切り裂いて一筋の稲妻が滝壺の中心を撃った。その直後、穿たれた水面が逆に下から持ち上げられる様に膨らみ、中から一匹の巨大な龍が途轍も無い水飛沫と共に躍り出た。

滝の辺に佇んでいた巫女姿の少女をちらりと窺ってから龍は真っ直ぐに空へ向かって舞い上がって行った。それを見送る少女の顔には、哀れみとも諦めとも、祈りとも呪いともつかない、複雑な表情が浮かんでいた。

「龍よ。古よりこの滝で、この世を救う為に力を育んで来た龍よ。今こそ、我が同胞達を幾多の苦難から救っておくれ!」

少女は龍に向かってと言うよりは、寧ろ自らに言い聞かせる様に、呟く様にそれでいて叫ぶ様にそう言うと、龍の舞い上がった空を先程と同じ表情を浮かべた儘見詰めていた。

もう姿が見えない程高くまで舞い上がった龍はそれに答える様に不思議な音色で一声鳴いた。

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XXIV "Wedge of Ice"

(Kōri no Kusabi begins at 16:27)

In a raging blizzard a man laid still[1], sure that he was a going to die. While on the way back to the village from the charcoal burning hut located in the mountains, he had seen the first snowfall of that year. In no time at all the snow had piled up and covered the whole area with white. The extraordinary amount of snow made the man realize that it had to be the doing of a snow woman. Around the region there were frightening legends of a snow woman that would lead astray passing men and then freeze them to death. The man had heard those legends when he was a child.

The roaring wind blew up the snow, and when the man was unable to keep his eyes open any longer, it became all quiet around him. Strangely, the snow had suddenly stopped falling, and he could no longer feel the piercing cold. The man nervously opened his eyes. He saw a woman with long black hair who was dressed in a snow-white kimono looking down at him.

"Are you the snow woman?"

Thinking that his life was over, with complete resignation, the man blurted out: "Why do you kill men? Do you hold some grudge against them? You are just going to kill me now, right? In that case, wouldn't you at least let me know before I die?"

The snow woman gazed sadly at the man and soon started talking sotto voce.
"In that case I shall tell you. Indeed I am the snow woman. As you can see, not even blood flows in my cold body, and I have spent hundreds of years hiding here. However, once there was a time when I fell in love with one of the men who come to this charcoal burning hut. Although I did fall in love, neither could we become man and wife nor even embrace each other, as my breath freezes everything and my body chills everyone who touches it. We could only gaze at each other from a distance, but nevertheless we understood each other."

"However, one day he said to me: 'I can no longer live without you. If we cannot be wedded, my heart's only desire is to be killed by you.' He then tightly embraced my body. That was his end. My loved one froze all the way to his heart and never opened his eyes again."

As the snow woman paused, the snowstorm started raging again. An even worse coldness attacked the man.

"You have been buried in the snow for quite some time. At this rate you will be done for. However, there is a way to save yourself."
The snow woman's words were drowned out by the howling blizzard and the man soon lost consciousness.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself inside his charcoal burning hut. He was lying in a properly laid futon and a mouth-watering pot of miso soup hung over the hearth. Under the pot the charcoal burned in crimson, warming the whole hut. The man sprung to his feet and rubbed his eyes in disbelief when he noticed a large puddle nestled close to the futon.

Could this be what had become of that snow woman? The man's family were the only ones who had been burning charcoal in that region, and they had been doing it for generations.

Had the snow woman saved a descendant of the man he loved and thus set herself free from her karma? The man had no way of knowing.

[1] Literally the word means: "without a wink of sleep".


陰陽座百物語 第廿肆話「氷の楔」


吹き荒ぶ吹雪の中、男はまんじりとも動けず、最早死を覚悟した。山間に在る炭焼き小屋から村へ帰る途中、男は今年初めての雪が舞うのを見た。すると雪は見る見るうちに降り積もり、辺り一面を真っ白に覆い隠したのだ。尋常ならざる雪の様子に男は、これは雪女の仕業だ、と悟った。この辺りには古くから雪女が道行く男を迷わせ、凍らせて殺してしまうという恐ろしい言い伝えがあり、自分も子供のときからよく聞かされていたのだった。

轟々と鳴る風が雪をより一層強く巻き上げ、いよいよ目も開けていられない状態になった時、ふと辺りから音が消えた。不思議な事に雪はぱったりと止み、身を切る様な寒さすら感じなくなっている。男は恐る恐るその目を開けた。するとそこには真っ白な着物を着た長い黒髪の女がこちらを見下ろして立っていた。

「お前が雪女か?」

最早我が命これまでと思うとすっかり覚悟が出来て、言葉は口を衝いて出た。
「お前は何故人を殺めるのだ?人間の男に何か怨みでもあるのか?どうせわしは、ここでお前に殺されるのだろう?ならば、冥土の土産に聞かせてはくれぬか?」

男はそう言うと雪女は悲しげに男を見詰め、やがて静かに話し始めた。
「それならば聞かせてやろう。いかにも妾は雪女。この通り、血も通わぬ冷たい体で、もう何百年もここに身を潜めておった。しかし、この近くの炭焼き小屋かに通うてくる男と、一度だけ恋仲になったのじゃ。とゆうても、夫婦になる事も、抱き合う事も叶わぬ。妾の息は全てを凍り付かせ、この体は触れる者を凍えさせる。遠くから見詰めるだけではあったが、それでも心は通うておったのじゃ。」

「しかし、或る時男はゆうた。わしはもう御前無しでは生きては行けぬ、夫婦になれぬのなら、御前に殺されるのが本望じゃ。そして男は、妾の体をしっかりと抱き締めた。しかしそれが最期。愛しい人は、心の臓まで凍り付き、その儘目を開ける事は無かった」

雪女が言葉を切ると再び辺りは吹雪。先程より一層強い寒さが男を襲った。

「お前はもう随分長い事雪に埋まっておる。この儘では命が助かるまい。しかし、一つ手立てが有る」
雪女の言葉は唸りを上げる吹雪に掻き消され 男の意識はやがた遠退ていった。

男が目を覚ますとそこは自分の炭焼き小屋の中であった。しかもきちんと敷かれた布団に寝かされており、囲炉裏には美味そうな味噌汁が掛けてあった。鍋の下では炭が真っ赤に燃え、小屋をしっかりと暖めていた。男は跳ね起き、先程の光景は夢だったのかと目を擦ると、布団の側に寄り添う様に出来た大きな水溜りがあるのを見付けた。

果たしてこれは雪女の変わり果てた姿なのであろうか?この辺りで代々炭焼きをやっているのは 男の家計只一つである。

雪女は愛した男の子孫を助け、また自らもその業を断ち切ったのか、今や男にそれを知る術も無かった。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XXIII "Kappa Dance"

(Kappa Odori begins at 08:50)

In a river located deep in the mountains there lived two kappa brothers who were very close.

"Listen Kawakichi, you turn eight this year. You are old enough for a kappa to start scaring the humans and you're also old enough to be able to pull out a shirikodama[1] or two. When I was your age, I played sumo with the children of the nearby village and threw them around one after another. But you on the other hand... You're really weak at sumo and can't even come up with a single artful trick. I'm worried about your future."

"But brother, the human children gave me a manjū[2] when I was hungry, and made a ring out of beautiful flowers that they placed on my sara[3]. They're all good kids. Why do I have to scare them?"

"They're all like that when they're children. But things get different when they grow up. They all become sly and selfish. You understand, Kawakichi? Surely there must be at least one thing you're good at? You'll have to use that to play a trick on the adult humans."

"You're right, I don't like adult humans. They yell at me when I play with the children. Oh, I know! I'm good at dancing. When I dance, even tanuki and foxes forget to transform and dance with me. I'll make the stuck-up adults dance a silly dance with me."

"Well said! That I'd like to see. And it just so happens that tonight's our chance. I hear that the humans are going to hold a festival. Let's go there right away so you can make them dance that silly dance!"

The kappa brothers swam down the river and headed for the human village.

"Brother! It sure is lively here! Since everyone's cheerful thanks to the sake, it should be a piece of cake to make them dance. Oh, I'll go talk to that girl over there."
"OK little brother. That sounds good. Let's see, I guess I'll just grab some sake and watch the show."

"Oh how rare! It's a little kappa. What a cute little thing you are with your beak still yellow and all! Come over here little boy and have a treat."

"Really? Yummy! Oh no! That's right, I was going to make them dance. Hey! Look at my dance and join in!"

"Ahahaha! Really, what an adorable kappa. If you like dancing that much, just wait a bit. Something fun is about to happen."

While the younger kappa was at his wits' end as for why the girl did not start dancing at all, a large drum boomed and lively festival music started playing.

"Today is the day of the Bon Festival dance in our village. Come on! You too join the circle and dance with us."

With the signal of the drum, people started getting up one by one and dancing merrily around the drum. Seeing that, the younger kappa could not contain himself and had to join the circle.

"What a fun festival! I'm having a really good time! It doesn't matter whether you're a human or a kappa, having fun is the best!

Meanwhile, the older kappa, who was feeling tipsy with the sake he had stolen, watched the humans dancing in a circle and said:
"Now that's my little brother. He's managed to get all of the humans to dance with him.
I guess I should give him a tasty cucumber as a reward when we get back."

[1] "Mythical ball inside the anus that is sought after by kappa"
[2] A bun with a bean-jam filling.
[3] The indentation on the top of the head of a kappa.


陰陽座百物語 第廿参話「河童をどり」


或る山奥を流れる川に仲の良い河童の兄弟が住んでいました。

「のう川吉、お前も今年で八つになる。八つと言いや、わしら河童はぽちぽち人間共を脅かしたり、尻子玉の一つも抜いたり出来る様にならにゃいかん。斯く言うわしも、お前の年の自分には、この先の村の子供皆と相撲を取って、片っ端から投げ飛ばしたもんじゃ。それがお前ときたら… 相撲はてんで弱い上に気の利いた悪戯の一つもよう仕掛けんとする。このままでお前の行く末が心配じゃ」

「でも兄者、人間の子供は、オラが腹を空かせてたら饅頭をくれたし、綺麗な花で輪っかを拵えて皿の上に乗せてくれたりもした。皆ええ奴じゃ。なんで脅かさんとならん?」

「誰でも子供ん時はそうじゃ。それが大人になってみ。皆ずる賢うて自分勝手になりよる。ええか、川吉?お前にも何か一つ位は特技もあろう?それで人間の大人に悪戯を仕掛けてみ」

「確かに、人間の大人は苦手じゃ。オラが子供と遊ぶのを叱ったりする。あっ、兄者!オラ、踊りが得意じゃ。オラが踊れば、狸も狐も化かすのを忘れて踊り回りよる。オラ、澄ました人間の大人にも、馬鹿な踊りを躍らせて見せよう」

「よう言うた!そりゃ見物じゃい。そんなら今夜が狙い目じゃ。何やら人間が集まって祭りをしよるらしい。早速行って、馬鹿な踊りを躍らせてみ!」

河童の兄弟は川を下り、人間達の村へと出掛けて行きました。

「兄者!えろう賑やかじゃのー!皆酒を飲んで陽気になっとるし、こりゃ躍らせるのは他愛も無いかもしれん。おっ、オラ一つ、あそこの女子に声をかけてみるか」
「おお、弟よ、頼もしいのー。どれ、兄は酒でもくすねて見物といこう」

「あら珍しい、河童の子やないの。いやー、まだくちばしも黄色うてかわいいわ!坊や、こっちへ来てご馳走でもお食べ」

「ほんとか!美味そうだな!はっ!いかんいかん、今日は人間を躍らせるのじゃ。やい!オラの踊りを見て、一緒に踊りやがれ!」

「あははは!本にかわいい河童だこと。あんた、そんなに踊りが好きなら、ちょっと待っといで。これから面白い事が始まるよ」

一向に踊り出さない女子に弟が困り果てていると、大きな太鼓の音が一つどんっと鳴り、賑やかな御囃子が聞こえて来ました。

「今日は村のお盆踊りなのよ。さあさっ!あんたも輪に入って踊ってお行き」

太鼓を合図に人々は次々立ち上がり、太鼓をぐるりと取り囲んで陽気に踊り始めました。それを見て楽しくなった弟河童は居ても立っても居られず自分も輪に飛び込みました。

「なんと楽しい祭りじゃ!こりゃとにかく愉快じゃ。人間も河童も関係なく、愉快に過ごすのが一番ええわい!」

その頃、くすねた酒でよい気分酔っ払った兄河童は人々が輪になって踊るのを見ながらこう呟きました:
「流石わしの弟じゃ。人間を皆躍らせよった。川に帰ったらご褒美に美味いキュウリでも食わしてやるかのー」

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XXII "The Moon and the Flower"

(Gekka begins at 02:10)

A long long time ago there lived a pack-horse driver. He was famous for his excellent singing voice and many people bought a ride on his horse just to hear him sing as he led the horse.

One evening, someone knocked on the door of the shack where he lived. Wondering who could want a ride so late, he opened the door and saw a most beautiful girl standing there drenched by the rain.

"Is something the matter?"
"I was on my way to the village when I got lost. Before I knew it it grew dark, and it even started raining. I am too exhausted to walk any more. Could it be possible for me to stay the night here?"

The girl's tired face made the pack-horse driver feel pity and he said:
"That must be awful. But as you can see, I live here alone. I cannot even offer you much of a supper.
"In that case I shall cook you supper as a token of my gratitude. If you will just let me stay, I don't mind if I have to sleep in the stable. Please, I ask you."

Unable to turn down the sincerely troubled girl, he accepted her offer, which made the girl look absolutely delighted and she then briskly began to get the supper ready. The supper she made was incredibly delicious, and that night was the most fun the lonely pack-horse driver had experienced in a long time.

When the morning came, while the pack-horse driver was readying his horse to take the girl to her village, he felt indescribable sadness at their parting. The girl then said:
"I was touched by your gentle heart. I do not have any relatives. If you only accept, I would like to live here as your wife." The surprised pack-horse driver gladly accepted her hand, and the two lived frugally but happily.

One morning, when the pack-horse driver was out gathering fodder for his horse as usual, he noticed a beautiful evening primrose blooming in the grass. He plucked the lovely flower to show it to his wife, but when he returned to his shack, his wife was nowhere to be found. Hastily he looked for her, finding her lying on the earth floor. The pack-horse driver quickly ran to her.

"What's the matter!? Do you not feel well?"
"When I heard your singing voice, I prayed that I could become your wife. Then came that evening when I shamelessly changed my shape and dared to visit you. But now I can no longer remain at your side. For I am the spirit of that flower you plucked."

After she had finished her sentence, she faded away and all that was left was the single evening primrose in the pack-horse driver's hand. Since then, the pack-horse driver has stopped singing. Only on moonlit nights he softly hums a song while thinking of his dead wife.
 

陰陽座百物語 第廿弐話「月花」


昔昔、或る所に一人の若い馬子が住んでおりました。この馬子は馬を引きながらとても好い声で歌を歌うと評判で、その歌声を聴きたいが為だけにわざわざ馬に乗る客も多い程でした。

或る晩の事です。馬子の住む小屋の戸をトントンと叩く者がおりました。はて、こんな夜更けに客か?と思い、戸を開けてみるとそこにはそれはそれは美しい娘が雨に濡れて立っているではありませんか。

「こんな晩くにどうかしましたか?」
「里へ行く途中、道に迷ってしまいました。気が付けば日も暮れて、雨まで降り出す始末で、もう歩く事が出来ません。どうか今夜一晩、泊めては頂けないでしょうか?」

娘の疲れた顔に同情しつつ馬子は言いました。
「それは御困りでしょう。しかし、私は見ての通りの独り者です。男一人では大した夕餉を御出しする事も出来ません」
「それなら私が御礼に夕餉の支度を致しましょう。泊めて頂けるなら、馬小屋でも構いません。どうか御願い致します」

心底困り果てた様子にこれ以上断る事も出来ず、頼みを聞き入れると、娘は大層喜んで、てきぱきと支度を始めました。娘の作った夕餉は大層な美味で、長らく独りで暮らしてきた馬子にとってはその夜は思い掛けず久しぶりの楽しいひと時となったのでした。

やがて朝になり、娘を里まで送り届けようと馬を引いて来た馬子は、この別れに言い知れぬ寂しさを感じておりました。すると娘は「貴方様の優しい心に、私は心打たれました。
私には身寄りも御座いません。もしよろしけれ、このまま夫婦になってはくれませんか?」と言うではありませんか。馬子は驚きながらもそれならば是非にと向かい入れ、めでたく夫婦となった二人は慎ましく幸せに暮らしていました。

或る朝、馬子がいつもの様に秣を刈りに出掛けると、草の陰に美しい月見草が咲いているのを見付けました。嫁に見せてやろうとその可憐な花を摘んで小屋に帰ると、どこにも嫁の姿が見当たりません。慌てて探すと、土間で倒れてるのを見付け、馬子は慌てて駆け寄りました。

「一体どうしたのだ!どこか具合でも悪いのか?」
「私は、以前から貴方様の歌声を聴き、この方の嫁になりたいと願っておりました。そしてあの晩、身も弁えず姿を変え、思い切って訪ねて参ったのです。しかしもう、御傍にはいられません。私は、貴方様が手折った、花の精で御座います」

そう言い終えると嫁の姿は消え失せ、代わりに馬子の手には一輪の月見草が残されていました。それからと言うもの、馬子が歌を歌う事は無くなりました。唯、月夜の晩にだけ亡き妻を想う歌をひっそりと口ずさむのです。

Monday, March 11, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XXI "One Hundred Monsters Wander in the Night"

(Hyaku no oni ga yoru wo yuku begins at 14:17)

The creak of an ox carriage broke the silence of the night. As it trundled along the road, suddenly what looked like white mist appeared in front it. The mist gradually started to take the form of humans who then came in a stream towards the carriage.

Among them were bizarre shapes that one could hardly call human, proving that they were not living human beings. Still, only one man inside the ox carriage noticed their presence while none of his companions seemed to notice anything strange.

The man in the ox carriage quietly called the carriage to be stopped and started to chant a sutra. Perhaps protected by his sutra, the grotesque group was lumbering past the carriage without turning their attention to it. At the tail end of the procession there was a richly dressed man who looked strikingly fearsome. He appeared to be groaning.

While chanting his sutra, the man could hear his voice saying: "Tokihira... Tokihira! You will pay Tokihira! Even in death you cannot escape!"
His voice was full of malevolence. The owner of that voice was none other than the vengeful spirit of Sugawara no Michizane whose grudge for Fujiwara no Tokihira had not waned at all, although he had died of illness at a young age last year. As a matter of fact, even this year many of the Fujiwara clan had died unnatural deaths under mysterious circumstances.

"What a fearsome thing the grudge of men is."
While chanting his sutra, the man in the ox carriage could not help but think aloud. Hearing that, the vengeful spirit of Michizane scowled fiercely at the ox carriage. However, the expression on his face appeared to say that he did not have time to waste on someone like this, and as he withdrew his gaze, he finally went past the ox carriage.

"Tonight, someone of the Fujiwara clan will once again die."
This time the man started to chant a sutra for whoever that miserable victim would be.



陰陽座百物語 第廿壱話「百の鬼が夜を行く」


ぎしぎしと夜を行く牛車の行く手に俄に白い靄の様な物が立ち込めた。その靄は次第に人の形を取り、こちらに向かってぞろぞろと歩いてきた。

中には人とは思えぬ奇怪な形をした物もあり、それらが生きた人間では無い事を証明していた。しかしその存在に気付いていたのは牛車の中の男一人で、お供の者は誰一人その異変には気付かない様子であった。

牛車の中の男は静かに車を止めるように言い、経文を唱え始めた。その経文に守られてか、異形の集団は牛車に気を留める事無くぞろぞろと過ぎ去って行く。その最後尾には見るからに立派な身形をした一際壮絶な形相の男の形のものが陣取り、何やら呻いていた。

経文を唱えながら男が聞いたその声は「時平… 時平!許さんぞ時平!死んでもまだ許さんぞ!」と言う。大層恨みのこもったものであった。間違い無くその声の主は怨霊と化した菅原道真であり、昨年、若くして病死した藤原時平への恨みは以前衰えず、実際、今年に入ってからも幾人もの藤原一族が謎の変死を遂げていた。

「人の恨みとは恐ろしい物よ」
牛車の男は経文を唱えながら、ついそんな声を漏らした。するとそれを聞き咎めた道真の怨霊は一瞬牛車の方を睨み付けた。しかし、こんな者を相手にしている暇は無いと言った表情で直ぐに視線を移すと、遂に牛車を通り過ぎて行ってしまった。

「また今夜も、藤原一族が一人、命を落とす」
牛車の男は今度はその哀れな誰かの為に経文を唱え始めた。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XX "Oni"

(Oni begins at 07:25)

From a dense forest on the mountainside, a shadow kept staring at the village near the foot of the mountain. Barely hiding his body with what looked like old rags, his body was covered with wounds that beggar all description.

Gazing at the village with his only eye, with tottering steps the shadow started to follow the path leading to the village at the foot of the mountain, while using a branch as a walking stick to support his only leg.

The people of that village followed a ritual of offering a sacrifice to the mountains in order to avoid disasters. This pitiful shadow had been this years sacrifice, and whereas it would normally have been impossible to come down from the mountain alive, after a desperate struggle he had barely managed to return here.

The man had turned into a demon of hatred who swore revenge on the villagers who did nothing but think of their own security while causing him to go through an ordeal like this. As he slowly walked towards the foot of the mountain, the dark flames of hatred were almost tangible from each of the steps he took while relying on his stick.

The villagers had thought that they had averted a disaster with the sacrifice, but now they were about to learn the true meaning of calamity.



陰陽座百物語 第廿話「鬼」


鬱蒼と木々が生い茂る山の中腹からその麓にある村をじっと見詰める一つの影があった。 ぼろ布の様な物を辛うじて纏っているその体は筆舌に尽くし難い傷を負っていた。

 一つしか無い目で村を凝視するその影は、一本しか残っていない足の代わりに木の枝を杖にし、よろよろと麓の村へと続く道を辿り始めた。

この村には古くから災厄を避ける為の祀りと称して生け贄を山に捧げると言う儀式があった。この無残な姿の影は今年の生け贄となった男であったが、通常は生きて山を下りる事は出来ない筈が、死に物狂いにもがきあがいた末に命からがらここまで戻って来たのであった。

男は自分をこんな目に遭わせながら自分達の安泰のみを望む村人達に深い憎悪と復讐の念を抱く鬼と化していた。杖を頼ってゆっくりと麓へと歩む足取り一つとっても、そのどす黒い炎が感じられるほどであった。

生け贄を捧げる事で災厄を逃れた筈のこの村に真の災厄が訪れようとした。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XIX "Akuro-ō"

(Akuro-ō begins at 01:48)

"Boss! Our pursuers are [unclear]!"

Receiving the report of his out of breath servant, Akuro-ō, the arch-villain known as the Demon of Hiraizumi sat with a sharp look in his eyes and his long sword in hand.

"I see. Again the same bastard? Today I'm going to settle the score for good."

Having jumped to his feet, Akuro-ō was stopped by the woman next to him.

"Dear, this is the right time[1]. If we quietly yield to the emperor now, they might just spare the life of this child."

The woman stroked her plump belly as she said so.

"Besides, rebelling against the emperor and playing bandits like this, doesn't that make us just as bad as them?"
"I don't care. I'm just letting those guys who massacred our comrades taste their own medicine. I'll become a demon that torments them until their deaths."

The woman was at a loss for words and drooped her head. Walking onward without looking back Akuro-ō said: "You just stay right here. Take care of the kid."

Those were the last words of Akuro-ō the woman heard. Their clan was one-sidedly destroyed by the Imperial Court and the villain who had vengefully wreaked havoc in the region was slain like a demon.

[1] This is the dictionary meaning of the word, but people often mistake it to mean "the time to quit".


陰陽座百物語 第拾玖話「悪路王」


「お頭!追ってる奴らが[unclear]きやした!」

手下の者が息急き切ってそう告げた時、平泉の鬼と呼ばれる大悪党、悪路王は既に抜き身の大刀を手に血走った目を光らせていた。

「おお。またあの野郎か?今日と言う今日は白黒つけてやるぜ」

すっくと立ち上がった悪路王に傍らの女が声をかけた。

「あんた、もう潮時だよ!おとなしく御上に従えばもしかしたらこの子だけでも助けてくれるかも」

女はそう言って、自らの膨らんだ腹をさすった。

「大体、御上に反抗して、こんな山賊の真似事してたって、それじゃあいつらと同じじゃないか?」
「同じで結構。わしらの仲間を皆殺しにしやがった奴らを、同じ目に遭わせてやるんだよ。わしは死ぬまで奴らを苦しめる鬼になってやる」

女はかける言葉を失ってうなだれた。そのまま悪路王は振り返りもせず歩きながら言った。
「おめえは下手に出るなよ。ガキを頼むぜ」

それが女がこの世で聞く悪路王の最後の言葉となった。朝廷から一方的に一族を滅ぼされ、復讐の為に近隣を荒らし回っていた悪党は、鬼として退治されたのであった。

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XVIII "Onmyōji"

(Onmyōji begins at 15:50)

It was late in the evening and the moon was out. A mother together with her sick daughter paid a visit to a soothsayer whose name was known throughout the capital. While the way they were dressed gave away the fact that they came from a respectable family, the pallid face of the daughter who was breathing heavily showed that something was horribly wrong.

According to the mother, her daughter had married about three months ago and had been living healthily together with her husband when a bird had strayed into their garden, and as she had tried to feed it, it had pecked her hand causing her to collapse right there.

The soothsayer who had been quietly listening to the mother's story opened his eyes and said: "That is most likely a shikigami someone has sent. Your daughter has been cursed. I do have the power to reverse that curse, but I am not sure whether it is a good idea for me to do so."

Having heard that, the mother clung on to the soothsayer in tears, begging him to turn that curse on the one who had cast it on her daughter. Unable to look at the desperate mother who was rubbing her forehead against the floor at the feet of the silent soothsayer, softly taking her by the hand, the man renowned as the most powerful sorcerer in the capital opened his mouth.

"Listen. A curse can become good or evil depending on what is in the heart of the one who uses it. It is exactly like light and shadow. Shadows will always be born when there is light. When light makes one shadow disappear, it will only create a new shadow. You must never forget that."

Having told the mother so, with the girl in her arms, he started chanting a spell of protection. His chanting lasted all the way until the growing light of the dawn. When it was all bright and you could hear the singing of the birds, the girl's cheeks rapidly recovered their color, and as if her condition last night had only been a dream, with a steady step she and her mother left the soothsayer's mansion after thanking him profusely.

Having returned home, the girl wanted to show her recovery to her husband right away and called his name. However, there was no reply at all. That's strange she thought, and as she stepped out into the garden, what she saw there made her scream out of horror.

In the garden that was bathing in the morning light, there were two corpses lying in a dark-red pool of blood. One was that black bird that had pecked her finger. The other one was her husband whose eyes had been gouged out by that bird's beak and whose heart had apparently been impaled.

For some time after that, there were various rumors about the tragedy that had happened in that good family, but the truth remains uncertain. The only thing certain is that no one has seen that girl since then. Could it really be that the soothsayer was the only one who had foreseen it all?


陰陽座百物語 第拾捌話「陰陽師」


それは或る月夜の晩の事であった。都でも名高い占い師の許を、病を患った若い娘とその母親が訪ねてきた。一目見て良家の者と分かる出で立ちながら、病に喘ぐ娘の青白い顔は徒ならぬ様子を呈していた。

母親の話すところによると、娘は三月程前に祝言を挙げ、婿入りした夫共々健やかに暮らしていた矢先、庭先に迷い込んだ鳥に餌をやろうとして手を突かれ、そのまま倒れてしまったと言うのである。

静かに母親の話を聞いていた占い師はそっと目を開け、こう言った。
「それは恐らく何者かが放った式神であろう。その娘は呪われている。私ならその呪詛を返す事も出来るが、それをして良いものかどうか、思案しておるのじゃ」

それを聞いた母親は泣きながら占い師に取り縋り、どうか娘を呪った相手にその呪いを返してくれと頼み込んだ。何も答えぬままの占い師の足元に額を擦り付け、尚も懇願する母親を見兼ねてか、そっとその手を取り、都一と謳われた妖力を誇るその男は言った。

「良いか?呪いと言うのは、それを使う者の心一つで善にも悪にもなる。正に光と陰の様なものじゃ。陰は光ある所に必ず生まれる。例え一つの陰を光が消し去っても、それは新たな陰を生むに過ぎん。それを忘れるで無いぞ」

占い師はそう告げると娘を抱き抱え、護身の呪文を唱え始めた。その呪文はやがて白々と夜が明け始めるまで止む事は無かった。辺りがすっかり明るくなり、小鳥の声が聞こえ出した頃、娘の顔は見る見る赤みを取り戻し、昨夜の様子が嘘だったかの様にしっかりとした足取りで母親と共に何度も礼を告げながら占い師の屋敷を後にした。

そうして家へと戻った娘は元気になった姿を一刻も早く見せようと夫の名を呼んだ。が、一向に返事が無い。不審に思って庭へと出た娘は、そこで見た物の余りの恐ろしさに思わず悲鳴を上げた。

朝の日差しに包まれた庭先にはいつか自分の指を突いたあの黒い鳥と、その鳥の嘴で目玉を抉られ、心臓を突き刺されたと思われる夫、二つの躯が赤黒い血溜まりの中で横たわっていたのだった。

その後暫くは名家で起こった惨劇についての様々な噂が流れたが、事の真相は定かでは無い。ただその後あの娘の姿を見た者は誰一人として無いと言う。果たしてあの占い師だけは全てを見通していたのであろうか?

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XVII "Nurikabe"

(Nurikabe begins at 08:00)

On the top of a precipitous cliff, a man seemingly on the verge of tears was peering down into the forest that spread before his eyes.

"Sigh... What have I done? How could I drop it? I'm done for."

The man was responsible for delivering to the elder of the neighboring village an important item which symbolized the peace between the two villages. He had carelessly dropped that crucial item down the cliff.

"I can't go the neighboring village like this. On the other hand, I just can't go back like nothing has happened."

As if surrounded by an invisible wall, for a while the man stood there with his head between his hands, unable to move. However, as he had accepted the mission on the condition that it may cost him his life, he decided to ignore his own safety and climb down the cliff to search for the item, and so he nervously started down the cliff.

It seemed that climbing down would be easier than he had thought, but the moment he relaxed his guard, to his bad luck, or perhaps one should say as expected, he fell and rolled down the slope like a pebble. Only his sad death cry echoed through the mountains.

A short while passed. It had looked like the man was done for, but miraculously, thanks to a branch that had stopped his fall, he had managed to escape death. Furthermore, he had even managed to collect the peace offering and was crawling up the cliff all in tatters. "Now I can complete my mission," he thought, but his relief lasted only a passing moment as a shadow fell over the crouching man.

"That's a nice little thing you got there. Hand it over."

Misfortunes always come in pairs. The fate of the man and the peace offering he had risked his life to collect were hanging by a thread as three highwaymen suddenly appeared in front of him. The man was so surprised that he could not even utter a word, but as he was already prepared to die, he started desperately swinging about a stick that had been lying next to him.

For a moment the highwaymen seemed to be taken by surprise, but in no time at all they grinned and exchanged glances, and then began to sidle closer to the man. But at that moment! The stick he was swinging about sent flying a small stone that flew in a perfect angle into the grove at the opposite side of the cliff. Right away a swarm of bees flew out accompanied with a vicious buzz.

As if by order, the bees attacked the highwaymen, who ran away in panic with the bees circling around their heads. Dumbfounded by what had happened, but still glad that he had managed to protect the peace offering, the man spurred his bruised body onward and hurried to the neighboring village right away.

However... What happened when the man reverentially unsealed the peace offering in front of the village elder was nothing short of rubbing salt into a wound. The item he had suffered hell to deliver had been damaged inside its container when it fell down the cliff. By now at his wits end, the man frantically shouted: "It is all my fault! Boil me or burn me if that will settle it!"

The village elder calmly replied: "Looking at the shape you are in, anyone could tell that you risked your life to deliver this item. We only wanted to test the trustworthiness of the people in your village. Therefore, please report back to your village that we gladly accept this peace offering."

In no time at all, the man seemed to be on the verge of tears again.


陰陽座百物語 第拾漆話「塗り壁」


切り立った崖の上から今にも泣き出しそうな顔をした男が眼下に広がる森を見下ろしていた。

「あー…大変な事をしちまった。あれを落としちまったらもう御破算だ」

男が隣り合う村同士の和平を取り結ぶ為の重要な品を相手の村の長へ届ける役を担っていた。その肝心の品をうっかりと崖の下に取り落としてしまったのである。

「このまま隣村には行けねぇ… かといってのこのこ帰る訳にもいかねぇ」

丸で目に見えぬ壁に囲まれたかの様に男はその場でじっと頭を抱え、暫く動く事も出来なかった。しかし、元より命懸けで受けた役目、死んだ気になって崖下に降り、和平の品を探す事を決意した男は、恐る恐る斜面を降り始めた。

当然と言おうか、不運にもと言おうか、意外に楽に降りられそうだと油断した次の瞬間、男は崖の斜面を石ころの様に転がり落ちていた。悲しげな断末魔だけが山々に響いた。

暫し時間が経った。男の生存は絶望的に見えたが、何と奇跡的に木の枝に引っ掛かって一命を取り留めた男は目的の和平の品まで回収し、ぼろぼろになって崖から這い上がってきた。「これで役目が果たせる」と安堵したのも束の間、しゃがみ込んだ男の上にふらりと影が落ちた。

「なかなか良さそうな物持ってるじゃねえか。そいつを寄越しな」

弱り目に祟り目とはこの事か。命懸けで回収した和平の品と男の運命は突如現れた三人の追い剥ぎの前に風前の灯であった。余りの事に声も出ない男であったが、一度は捨てる覚悟をした命、こうなったら破れかぶれとばかりに、側に転がっていた棒切れを闇雲に振り回した。

追い剥ぎは一瞬意外そうな顔をしたが直ぐにせせら笑う様に顔を見合わせながら、ゆっくりと男に躙り寄ってきた。すると何と!男が振り回した棒切れに弾き飛ばされた小さな石ころが絶妙な角度で崖とは反対側の林に突っ込んだかと思うと、凶悪な唸り声を上げて蜂の大群が躍り出た。

蜂は丸で命令を受けたかのように追い剥ぎ三人に襲い掛かり、追い剥ぎは頭上を蜂に囲まれた儘 這這の体で逃げ出してしまった。呆気に取られたのは男の方だったが、兎に角大切な和平の品を死守出来た喜びでぼろぼろの体に鞭打ち、直ぐさま隣村へと急いだ。

だがしかし… 隣村の長の前で恭しく和平の品を開封した男の状況こそ正に泣きっ面に蜂と言うべきか。死ぬ思いで届けたその品は崖からの転落の際、入れ物の中で既に破損していたのだった。もう為す術の無い男は「全て自分の責任だ!それで済む事なら煮るなり焼くなりしてくれ」と半狂乱になって叫んだが、隣村の長は静かに言った。

「貴方の姿を見れば、命懸けでこの品を届けようとした事ぐらい分かります。我々は貴方方の村の誠意が見たかった。よって、此度の和平の儀、しかと承ったと御伝えくだされ」

男の顔は見る見るうちにくしゃくしゃになった。

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XVI "Crow Tengu"

(Karasutengu begins at 02:08)

Yokichi, who would turn seven that year, was leading the one-year-younger O-tama by her hand as they walked through the trackless dusky forest. They had lost their way in the mountains while out gathering mushrooms. They thought they were returning the way they came, but no matter how much they went on, there was no sign that they were approaching the foot of the mountain. They walked onward for some time, and when they were starting to grow faint with hunger and fatigue, behind some trees spread out a view that seemed somehow familiar.

"Hey! Isn't this the other side of the village?" shouted the surprised Yokichi. They stood on the top of a gentle cliff[1] located exactly on the opposite side of the place where they had first entered the mountains. It seemed that they had traveled round their small village, crossing two or three of the mountains that surrounded it.
"But we can't climb down a cliff like this."
Having whispered so in her frail voice, O-tama crouched down on the spot. Hearing that, Yokichi suddenly grew hopeless and like her, sunk down to the ground.

When O-tama eventually started sobbing quietly, once again following her lead, Yokichi too was on the point of tears. Their crying voices resonated and suddenly they were loud enough to drown out the chirping of the insects in the forest. So loud they cried that it took some time for them to realize that the voices of their parents searching for them were echoing in the forest.

Shortly after that the two were rescued safe and sound. Being scolded by his father for making everyone worry by wandering about so late, the excuse Yokichi came up with was: "Old man Crow Tengu took us away, and when we came to, that's where we found ourselves."
It goes without saying that he had his ear boxed before he could even finish his sentence.

[1] "gentle cliff" sounds like an oxymoron, but I'm pretty sure that that is what Kuroneko says.


陰陽座百物語 第拾陸話「烏天狗」


今年七つになる与吉は幼馴染で一つ下の御玉の手を引き、とっぷりと日が暮れた導も無い森の中をとぼとぼと歩いていた。茸を採りに山に入って迷ってしまったのである。来た道を戻っているつもりで歩き続いているのだが、行けども行けども一向に麓に辿り着く気配すら無かった。その儘いくらか歩き続け、空腹と疲労で意識が朦朧とし始めた頃、ふと抜けた木々の向こうに見慣れた様で見慣れない風景が広がった。

「あっ!これ、村の裏側やねぇか?」
与吉は思わず声を張り上げた。そこは最初に山に入った所と正反対に位置する緩やかな崖の上でどうやら二人は小さな村を囲む山を二つ三つ越えて回って来てしまったらしい。
「でも、こんなとこ降りれんもん」
御玉はしぼむ様にそう呟くと、その場にしゃがみ込んだ。与吉もそう言われると俄然心細くなり、釣られてへたり込んでしまった。

やがて御玉が小さく啜り泣きを始めると、またまた釣られて与吉もべそをかいた。二人の泣き声は互いに共鳴し合い、たちまち森の虫達の歌声を掻き消す程になった。それはやがて自分達を呼ぶ両親達の声が響いてきても、しばらくそれに気が付かずにいた程であった。

その後直ぐ二人は無事保護された。
「こんな時間までほっつき歩いて心配かけやがって」と叱る父親に与吉がした言い訳は「烏天狗のおっちゃんに連れていかれて、気が付いたらあそこに居た」と言うものであったが、言い終わらない内に強かに拳骨を食らった事は言うまでもない。

Monday, March 4, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XV "Hurrah Heavy Drinkers"

(Uwabami banzai begins at 16:00)

Sheesh! How sloppy of you to get all drunk and fall asleep in a place like this. Oh well. Today was your big day after all. Who could have guessed? The little brat that you were grew up to be a fine man. Well, since you've taken after me I guess that's no surprise. But you know, we sure had to put up with a lot of your silly tricks when you were a kid.

Like when you pulled out all the radishes from your grandpa's field and tried to sell them at the market. Do you remember that? We found out about it right away and caught you. You were tied to the cherry tree in the backyard and sure got an earful. But right after that I think we made you some warm rice porridge. Even now I sometimes recall the face of your grandfather as he drinks cold sake with great relish and watches you gladly slurping your porridge with tears in your eyes. He laughed and said that the three of us should have a drink together when the sonny grows up. In the end, he passed away before we could keep that promise.

The winter night you were born sure was cold and it had been snowing all day long. But you know what? Your grandfather walked through all that snow because he couldn't wait to see his grandson. He smiled joyfully when he saw the ruddy face of the bawling baby. The sake we drank together that day was absolutely delicious.

Hey! How long are you going to sleep? This time it's your turn to become a father, right? You mustn't make your pregnant wife worry about you. Oh well, I guess you can't hear me. Anyway, when your child grows up, this time let's make sure we have that drink together!

Hurrah heavy drinkers for generations to come!
Ah, dammit! What a happy day!


陰陽座百物語 第拾伍話「蟒蛇万歳」


あーあ!全くだらしねえなあ、こんな所で酔っ払って寝ちまいやがって。ま、仕方ねえな。今夜はめでてえ祝いの席だったんだからよ。しかし何だ、悪ガキだったおめえが、なかなか立派になったもんだな。ま、オヤジの俺に似たんだからあたりめえか。でもよ、ガキの頃のおめえの悪さにゃほとほと手を焼いたぜ。

いつだったか、じいさんの畑の大根を全部勝手に引っこ抜いて、町に売りに行った時の事、覚えてるか?直ぐにばれてとっつかまって、裏の桜の木に縛り付けられてよ。こってり叱られたよな。でもその後直ぐ、あったけえ雑炊作って食べさしてくれたっけな。嬉しそうに雑炊啜りながら泣いてるおめえを肴に、美味そうに冷や酒飲んでたじいさんの顔、今でもたまに思い出すよ。坊主が大人になったら儂とお前と三人で一緒に飲もうやって笑ってた。結局、約束果たせねえまま逝っちまったけどな。

おめえが生まれた冬の夜は、一日中降り続いた雪が積もって、そりゃ寒かった。でもよ、早く孫の顔が見たいつって、じいさん、雪ん中歩いてやってきたんだ。
真っ赤になって泣いてる赤ん坊のおめえ見て、嬉しそうに笑ってたっけ。あの日じいさんと飲んだ酒は、特別美味かったな…

おいこら!いつまで寝てんだ?今度はおめえがオヤジになるんだろう?身重の嫁さんに心配かけんじゃねえぞ。って、へ、聞いちゃいねえ。まあいいさ、生まれてくる子が大人になったら、そん時は今度こそ三人で一緒に飲もうや!

親子代々、蟒蛇万歳だ!
あーちくしょう!めでてえ!めでてえなー!

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XIV "Tanuki-belly Drumbeat"

(Tanuki-bayashi begins at 09:14)

Yesterday, my dad got really angry at me because I just can't transform properly no matter how many times I try. Even Konkichi the Fox[1] who's the same age as me can already turn into a Jizo and scare people out of their rice balls. Damn it! And we tanuki are the ones that are supposed to be the superior ones at transforming compared to some foxes. My dad can even transform into a feudal lord. Well, the best I can do is change into a rice-cake offering.

When a tanuki transforms, they slap their belly and shout "popon!" But my "popon" seems be out of tune or something. That's why I have to keep practicing with my dad yelling at me to try it again. My mom says that there is no need to get impatient since I'm still a child, but I want to become as good as my dad as soon as possible. I want to transform into a princess and bring lots of pretty kimonos to my mom. And I guess I want my dad to praise me. Today will be the day when I transform into a Jizo!

Oh! Just what the doctor ordered, an old woman is coming right this way. I'll scare her for sure.

Slap my belly and popon!
Aah! Why is my tail still visible!
Once more. Popon! Popon!
H- huh? I think I actually did it!
No tail in sight, and my body's stone too!
All right! I'll just wait still here...
Oh! This is so exciting!
Ah! The old woman is praying to me!
She even left me an offering of rice-cakes and sake!
I did it! I did it dad! Daddy!

"Dear Jizo, I've grown so old that my eyesight is leaving me and as of late I cannot see things clearly. Even now, it looks to me as if you had whiskers on your face. I humbly ask for my eyesight to get better again."

[1] Konkichi means fox. English equivalent would be Reynard the Fox.

陰陽座百物語 第拾肆話「狸囃子」


昨日、父ちゃんに怒られた。オイラがいつまで経っても上手く化けられないからだ。狐のこん吉は、オイラと同い年なのにもうお地蔵様に化けて、旅人を脅かして御握りをくすねてるらしい。ちくしょう、何だよ!本当は狐なんかよりオイラ達狸の方がすごいんだぞ。オイラの父ちゃんは、殿様にだって化けられるんだ。そりゃ、オイラはまだ御供えの餅にしか化けらんねえけど。

狸が化ける時は、お腹を叩いてポポーン!と一鳴きするんだ。けど、どうもオイラのポポーンは、拍子が合ってねえらしい。だから何度も父ちゃんに、もう一回!って怒られながら練習する。母ちゃんは、お前は子供なんだから焦らなくていいのよって言うけど、オイラは早く父ちゃんみたいになりたい。お姫様に化けて、母ちゃんのために綺麗な着物持って来てやりたいんだ。それからやっぱり、父ちゃんに褒められたいし。だから今日こそお地蔵様に化けてみせる。

あ!お誂え向きに向こうからばあさんが歩いてきやがるじゃねえか。絶対脅かしてみせるぞ。

お腹を叩いて ポポーン!
あー!何で尻尾が隠れないんだよ!
もう一回。ポポーン!ポポーン!
あ・あれ?なんか上手くいった気がするぞ。
尻尾も出てねえし、体もちゃんと硬くなってる!
よーし!このままここでじっとして・・・
あー!ドキドキするなー!
は!ばあさんがオイラを拝んでる。
お供えのお酒とお餅も置いたぞ!やった!やったよ父ちゃん!父ちゃーん!

「御地蔵様、私もようよう年がいってしもうて、近頃目が悪ろうなって碌に物が見分けられませんのじゃ。 今も、御地蔵様の顔に、髭が生えてる様に見えておりましてなあ。 どうか、この目が良くなります様に」

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XIII "Maikubi"

(Maikubi begins at 01:37)

In a small shop by the sea, three men were drinking sake. All three were on their way back from the festival and were complete strangers who just happened to share a table. But with the festivities still fresh in their minds, they seemed to be drinking quite merrily. However, in no time at all, whatever the cause may have been, the mood at their table changed from merry to murderous.

"Hey you! What did you just say?"
"I already told you. You know the saying that goes like "more brawn, less brain"? When one just looks at you it proves that the thing ain't necessarily so. That's what I said."
"Cut the crap! I know you said that looking at me made you know exactly what they mean!"
"No I didn't! You can't even remember what was said a moment ago, it would seem the more brawn..."
"There! Now you said it! You're gonna get what's coming to you!"
"Shut up. Your squabble makes the sake taste bad."
"Wha? You too, I don't like your attitude! Acting all highfalutin'— a loafer who can't even find work has no place talking back to me!"
"Just say that one more time."
"Sure! I'll say it as many times as I like! Listen up. A layabout who can't even find work... no wait, an idler... what was it? Eh? What did I say just now?
"Hahahaha! Just like they say: more brawn, less brain! If you even have one that is! Hahahaha!"
"Humph. What a useless hulk."
"You two... You want me to wrap you both in a bamboo mat and throw you in a river? Do you!?"
"Hey, don't go grouping us together just like that. I'm not really a friend of this bum or anything."
"Bum? You should not have said that."
"No, wait! It's because this hulk here... Uh, I mean..."
"You're all the same to me! Don't you two even think about leaving here alive!"
"You took the words right out of my mouth."
"Augh! Wa-wa-wa- wait a minute! Don't draw your swords!"
"Hyaaah!"

All three drew their swords at the same time. As if by a miracle, they all managed to sever each other's heads simultaneously. The severed heads then went rolling into the sea. However, even when their heads were all that remained of them, the three did not stop quarreling. Entwining their hair, biting each other, the three-way quarrel went on indefinitely. And that is why they call this place Tomoegafuchi [Three-way Deep].
Although some people think that the story sounds a little too fanciful to be true.


陰陽座百物語 第拾参話「舞頸」


海の辺にある小さな店である三人の男達が酒を飲んでいた。皆、祭りを見物した帰りで、たまたま相席となっただけの間柄であったが、祭りの余韻も手伝い、そこそこ楽しげに飲んでいる様であった。しかし、ふと気が付くと、何があったか、その席にはとても楽しげとは言い難い、ぴりぴりとした雰囲気が漂っていた。

「おいこら!てめえ!さっき何て言いやがった?」
「いやだから、よく世間では大男総身に知恵が回りけりとか言いやすけど、だんなを見てるとあながちそう言えたもんでもねーなって、そう言ったんでやすよ。」
「嘘を言え!だんなを見てるとよく分かるって言いやがったろ!」
「言ってやせんって!ついさっきの話も覚えてないなんて、こりゃやっぱり総身に知恵が・・・」
「あー!言った!今言った!もう許さねえ」
「黙れ。酒が不味くなる」
「あーん?てめえもなあ、さっきから気に入らねえんだよ!気障ったらしく構えやがって、仕官先も見付からずにぶらぶらしてるような奴につべこべ言われたかねえなー!」
「もう一度言ってみろ」
「おお!何度でも言ってやら!あのな、仕官先が見付からなくて、ふらふら・・・いやー、だらだら・・・だったか?え?俺さっき何つった?」
「ひゃははは!やっぱり知恵が総身に回ってねえや!しかも、一番大事なおつむに回ってねえときた!ひゃははは!」
「ふん。独活の大木が」
「てめえら・・・まとめて簀巻にしてやっか?あーん!?」
「ちょっと勝手にまとめねえでくださいよ。あっしは別にこの甲斐性無し野郎の味方って訳じゃありゃせんからね」
「甲斐性無し?言ってはならんことを言ったな」
「いやちょっと待った!そりゃこっちの独活の大木が・・・いや、うーん・・・」
「どっちでもいい!てめえら生きてここを出られると思うな」
「そらはこちらの台詞だ」
「あ゛ー!ちょちょちょ、ちょっと待って!ちょっと抜くの待って!」
「おりゃーーー!」

刀を抜いたのは三人同時だった。奇跡的に三人は互いにそれぞれの頸を同時に切り落とし、頸は転がって海に落ちた。しかし、頸だけになっても尚、三人は争うのを止めなかった。髪を絡ませ、噛み付き合い、三つ巴の争いを果てしなく続けた。それでこの淵を 巴ヶ淵 と呼ぶ様になったと言うのは、しょうしょう出来過ぎた話だと人は言う。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XII "Your Shadow"

(Omokage begins at 16:28)

How long has it been since you passed away? I've grown all old, but you're still the same strapping young man smiling in the photograph. When you first met me, you just kept admiring the design of my kimono instead of me. Do you remember that? "Those are very pretty wisteria flowers," you said without once raising your blushing face. Out of disappointment, I haven't worn that kimono at all since then. But when the war was over, that was the only thing I never sold, even when I needed the money.

When I received news of your passing, I cried until my tears ran dry. I actually intended to follow you right away. I wanted to burn myself in the flames of the war and be with you once again. Even though the air raid sirens were ringing and the sky turned deep red, I walked in the opposite direction of the people running for their lives. That was when you came to me, didn't you? "You just keep getting yourself in trouble. Come on, this way," you said and lead me by the hand, like back when we used to walk by the riverbank. I felt so happy.

That was when I decided that I would keep on living even if I was alone. No, forgive me. I forget that I haven't been alone at all. Through hard times, through painful times, and through happy times too, I have always felt your presence. You must have come to check up on me since I always get myself in trouble. Still, together with your shadow, I've managed to live long enough to become a wrinkly old granny. My dear, I'm sure we are going to meet soon. When I meet you I'll be as proud as a peacock. I've worked hard enough, haven't I? I know! I think I'll wear that kimono with the wisteria flowers on it. That way you'll recognize me right away, right? But this time, say something nice about me instead of just admiring my kimono, okay?


陰陽座百物語 第拾弐話「面影」


貴方が逝ってしまって、もうどれ位になりますかしら?私はすっかり年老いてしまったのに、写真の貴方は清清しい青年の姿で、今でも微笑んでいますね。貴方は私に始めて会った時、私の事より着物の柄ばかりを褒めたのよ。覚えているかしら?とても美しい藤の花ですねって、始終うつむいて真っ赤になって。何だか悔しくて、あれきり一度も着なかったけれど、戦争が終わって物入りの時も、何故だかあれだけは売らなかったの。

貴方が逝ってしまったと知らせを受けた時は、涙が枯れ果てるまで泣きました。急いで私も後を追おうと思ったわ。私も戦いの炎に焼かれて、貴方の許に行こうと思った。警報が鳴り響いて、空が真っ赤になっても 、げる人達と反対の方へ歩いていったの。でも貴方、あの時、私の所へ来てくださったでしょう?「まったくお前は危なっかしいな。ほら、こっちだよ」って、いつも二人で河原を散歩していた時の様に手を引いてくださったの。嬉しかったわ。

あの時私、一人でもちゃんと生きてみようって決めたんですのよ。いいえ、一人じゃなかったわね。辛い時、苦しい時、幸せな時、いつも貴方の気配を感じたわ。きっと私があんまり危なっかしいから、様子を見に来てくださっていたのね。でも、貴方の面影と共に、こんな皺くちゃのおばあさんになるまで、生きてこられたのよ。ねえ貴方、きっともうそろそろお会い出来ますわね。私、大威張りで貴方に会うわ。頑張ったでしょうって。そうだ!あの藤の花の着物、あれを着ていこうかしら?そうすれば貴方、人目で私だと気付いてくださるでしょう?でも、お願いですから今度は着物じゃなくて私の事、褒めてくださいね。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story XI "Ninja Scroll of Bewitching Flower"

(Yōka ninpōchō begins at 08:56)

I am the servant of a kunoichi and up until now I have put an end to the lives of numerous men. Sometimes they were samurai from an enemy nation, sometimes ninjas from an opposing style. There were some formidable opponents among them, but there has not been a man that my master and I could not defeat. The method my master specializes in involves her getting on intimate terms with her target and rendering them defenseless with her sexual charms. She then invites them to bed and when the time is right, she releases me from her body, killing them with a single blow. After the act is done, I return to where I came from, meaning I go back inside my master's body. Since I hide myself so speedily, even if there is a commotion after the man is found dead, nobody notices that it was the work of my master and I.

Sometimes it can take a while before the target opens himself up. At times like that, my master properly accompanies them in bed so as not to seem suspicious. When she does so, her moans of ecstasy are sublimely lustrous, like a bewitching flower. Even I find it hard to believe that they are just an act. From time to time I even think that maybe my master does this work because she likes it, but whenever I see the tears my master sheds when she is dressing herself after finishing an opponent, I let go of such silly notions. I do not know why my master sheds tears, but when she does, I feel sad together with her. If but only once, I would like to gently hold my master round the shoulders, but unfortunately I am a snake, therefore my hands are tied, so to speak.


陰陽座百物語 第拾壱話「妖花忍法帖」


私はとあるくノ一に仕える身で、今までに何人もの男をあの世に送って参りました。ある時は敵国の侍、またある時は敵対流派の忍者等、中には手強い相手もおりましたが、私と御主人様の手にかかって倒せない男等おりませんでした。御主人様が得意とするのは相手の男の懐に飛び込み、色仕掛けで骨抜きにした後、床に誘い込んで、いざと言う瞬間にその体に潜ませた私を放ち、一撃の下に葬り去ると言う手段です。事が済めば私は元居た場所、つまり御主人様の体の中ですが、そこへ速やかに身を隠します故、男が死んだ事が分かって騒ぎになっても誰もそれが御主人様と私の仕業だとは気が付きません。

時には相手が隙を見せるまでそれなりに時間の掛かる事も御座います。そんな時、御主人様は怪しまれぬ様、しっかりと床の御相手を御勤めになるので御座いますが、そんな時に見せる法悦の喘ぎは丸で妖しい花の様に壮絶な艶やかさで、私が見てもとても芝居だとは思えないもので御座います。それで時々、御主人様は好んでこの仕事を果たしているのだと思う事すらあるのですが、相手を葬り、身繕いをしている御主人様がふと零す泪を見る度に私はその浅はかな考えを改めるので御座います。私には、なぜ御主人様が泪を流すのか分かりません。でも、御主人様が泪を流すと私も一緒に悲しくなるのです。一度でいいから、そんな御主人様の肩をそっと抱いてみたいと思うのですが、残念ながら私は蛇で御座いますので、手も足も出ないので御座います。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story X "The Misshapen Moon"

(Yugamu tsuki begins at 01:30)

At the bottom of a cold, murky lake located deep in the heart of the forest there lived a hideous creature. A long time ago, there was a time when that creature had still been a human. Her nails whose beauty people compared to that of cherry tellin[1] turned dark and twisted like the roots of a tree, her teeth that were charming like mother-of-pearl became sharp like the fangs of a beast, and her skin that was as smooth as a white peach became completely covered with hard scales. The thing she changed into was something utterly gruesome. To hide her hideous body, the creature resided at the cold bottom of a lake, where it had lived for a length of time that defies belief. All the while being tormented by the weight of her sin and punishment.

It happened on a night when the silvery light of the moon shined brightly all the way to the bottom of the lake. So bright was the light that it made the creature look up at the surface, and there, slowly dancing on the water, she saw the silhouette of someone peering down. How many years had it been since a human last visited the lake? Having once been a human herself, out of nostalgia and without giving it much thought, the creature strained her eyes to take a close look at the person's face. Oh, what a curious coincidence it was! The young man who had stopped to draw water from the lake was the spitting image of the man she had loved long ago when she was still a beautiful human girl.

Could it be possible? Startled, the creature leaned forward, and at that very moment it just so happened that the refulgent moonbeams grew ever so brighter, and the bottom of the lake was illuminated with dazzling light. That was when the traveler noticed the monster illuminated by the moonlight and with his face distorted in fear he gave out a cry of horror. Having been seen, in the twinkling of an eye, the creature leaped to the surface and struck its sharp fangs at the base of the traveler's throat. Like the blood of the man she loved had once soaked her hands, the creature's throat was now dyed bright red with the blood that flowed from the traveler's neck. Once the man eventually stopped breathing, she quietly dived back to the bottom, carrying the traveler between her teeth.

[1] 桜貝 - A glossy pink type of clam.


陰陽座百物語 第拾話「歪む月」


深い深い森の奥、暗く冷たい湖の底に醜い物の怪が住んでおりました。遥か昔、まだその物の怪が人間であった頃には、丸で桜貝の様だと称えられた美しい爪は木の根の様に黒く捩じれ、螺鈿のような愛らしい歯も獣の如く鋭く尖り、白桃の様に美しかった肌には硬い鱗がびっしりと生え、それはそれは恐ろしい姿へと変わり果てていました。物の怪は醜い身体を隠す様に、気の遠くなる様な長い年月を冷たい水の底で唯、永らえていました。己の犯した罪とその罰の重さに苦しみながら。

ある夜の事です。その夜は月が眩しく、物の怪の居る水底まで白い光が射し込んでいました。その光の眩しさに水面を見上げると、ゆらゆらと揺れる人影が一つ、こちらを覗き込んでいるではありませんか。この湖に人が訪れるのは幾年振りでしょうか?かつては人であった物の怪は懐かしさから思わずその人影の顔を良く見ようと、目を凝らしました。嗚呼、何と言う事でしょう!旅の途中、水を汲みに来たその青年は、遠い昔、物の怪がまだ美しい人間の娘だった頃に愛した人に瓜二つだったのです。

もしや!と物の怪が驚き、思わず身を乗り出した刹那、月の光は無情にも燦然と輝きを増し、水底を煌煌と照らしました。すると旅人は月光に照らされた物の怪の姿に気付き、恐怖に歪んだ形相で大声を上げました。姿を見られた物の怪は瞬く間に水面まで躍り上がり、旅人の首元に鋭い牙を突き立てました。かつて愛しい人の血が自分の手を紅く濡らした様に、物の怪の喉元は旅人の首から流れ出る血で真っ赤に染まり、やがて息をしなくなった旅人を銜えたまま、唯静かに水底へと帰って行きました。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story IX "Yoshitsune: Otherworldly Rencontre"

(Raise Kaikō begins at 17:00)

(Note: The second and third parts are mostly the same as the preface for Raise Kaikō that is included in the Garyō Tensei album booklet)

    Minamoto No Yoshitsune had joined the army of his older brother Minamoto No Yoritomo, whose objective was to overthrow the Tairas. Making good use of his prodigious tactician skills, Yoshitsune was overpowering the Tairas unopposed. Contrary to his military achievements however, due to the machinations of various generals and Yoritomo who slighted the behavior and youth of his brother, he ends up being killed as a traitor.
    Yoshitsune's wife Shizuka Gozen is also captured by Yoritomo, and although she manages to escape death, the child of Yoshitsune she was pregnant with is cruelly murdered by Yoritomo.

    Separated from Yoshitsune and her beloved child brutally murdered by Yoritomo, Shizuka Gozen blames herself for all that has happened. Down in the depths of despair, she gives up hope of ever seeing Yoshitsune alive. Now cherishing the hope for a rencontre with him in the next world, quietly and alone, she bids farewell to this life.

    Sweeping over the sadness of the people at the mercy of the currents of history, the tide of a new era will surge forward, recede, then surge forward again.
    As long as there are humans in the world, the coming and going of that tide will never cease.


陰陽座百物語 第玖話「義経~来世邂逅」


 打倒平氏を掲げる源頼朝の軍勢に加わった頼朝の弟源義経。天才的な戦術を駆使し、破竹の勢いで平氏を圧倒する義経だったが、その戦果とは裏腹にその言動と若さを疎んじる頼朝と諸将の謀略により、逆賊として命を奪われてしまう。
 義経の妻である静御前も頼朝に捕らえられ、一命こそ取り留めるも、その身に宿していた義経の子を頼朝によって惨殺されてしまう。

 義経と生き別れ、その愛子を頼朝に惨殺された静御前は、それを自らの罪と咎めた。絶望の淵で悲しみに暮れる静御前は生きて再び義経と巡り合う望みを絶ち、一人静かに来世で邂逅する望みを胸に抱きながら現世に別れを告げるのであった。

 時代の流れに翻弄された人々の悲しみを踏み越えて、新しい時代の流れは押し寄せ、そしてやがて引いて、また押し寄せる。
 此の世に人間のある限り、その満ち引きが絶えることはない

Friday, March 1, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story VIII "Ninja Scroll of Slumber"

(Madoromi ninpōchō begins at 09:07)

The woman was a kunoichi. Carrying out her mission, she had succeeded in killing the target in his sleep, but had been seriously wounded while escaping and was now hiding in a nearby mountain forest in a half-conscious state. The wound was deep and she was bleeding do death. Once she realized that she did not have long to live, seemingly accepting her fate, she gazed into the sky and slowly closed her eyes with a peaceful expression on her face that resembled a smile. She could no longer feel the coldness of the ground nor the breath of the wind that made the grass tickle her cheeks. It felt as if her body had melted and was merging into them. Just like the ground does not feel the ground and like the wind does not feel the wind.

Without realizing it, she was thinking back on her life as a kunoichi. Using her feminine assets, literally selling her body she had completed her missions. She had never given it a second thought, but now that she was about to die, what she felt was relief of finally being free. It was strange how she felt no pain or anguish. From the bottom of her heart, she felt how lucky she was to earn such a peaceful death, as in the world of the shinobi no one mourns for you when you die.

Finally, as all of her strength drained from her, inside her muddled mind she silently whispered: "So this is how I die," and to take a last look at the world, she tried to open her eyes. Her eyelids felt heavy and her vision was so blurred that she could not even tell whether she had opened her eyes or not. What she saw there, she could not believe. Someone who could not possibly have been there was standing before her. A man she had grown up with in the same ninja village as herself. The man she was in love with. In a split second she understood that what she was seeing was an illusion, but still she tried frantically to see his face. Did she really see it, or was it only in her mind? She could not tell, but it looked as if the man had smiled just a little.


陰陽座百物語 第捌話「微睡忍法帖」


その女はくノ一だった。ある任務に就き、目指す標的の寝首を掻く事には成功したのだが、脱出する際に深手を負い、朦朧とする意識の儘、近くの山林に身を隠していた。傷は深く、流れ出る血は止めども無かった。自らの命がもう長くは持たない事を悟った女は観念した様に天を仰ぎ、微笑みすら浮かべた様な穏やかな表情の儘、ゆっくりと瞳を閉じた。身体を預ける土の冷たさも、頬をくすぐる風や草木の息吹きすらも、女にはもう感じる事は出来なかった。その感覚は丸で身体が溶けて自然とそれらに混ざっていく様だった。土が土を感じず、風が風を感じない様に。

くノ一として生きた己の人生を女は無意識に思い返していた。女としての武器を使い、文字通り身を鬻いで任務を遂行する。その事に疑問を思った事は無かったが、死を前にした今、そこに有るのは やっと解放されるという思いばかりだった。不思議なくらい痛みや苦しみは無かった。女は命を落としても弔う者すらない様な忍びの世界でこんな安らかな死を得られる自分は幸せだと心から思った。

いよいよ全身の力が抜け、混濁する意識の中で「嗚呼、これが最期か」と呟いて、この世の最後の見納めにと女は目を開けようとした。瞼が重く、目を開けたのかどうか自分でも判断が付かないぐらい、その視界が霞んでいたが、女はそこに信じられないものを見た。それは此処に居るはずの無い同じ忍びの里で育ち、想いを寄せ合っていた男が自分を見守る様にそこに佇んでいる姿だった。幻だ!と女は一瞬で理解したが、それでもその顔を必死に見つめようとした。それが視界なのか、意識なのかも区別出来ない儘、男は本の少し微笑んでいた。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story VII "Hill of the Phoenix Tree"

(Aogiri no oka begins at 01:05)

After the life form had closed his eyes for the last time, he floated, or perhaps lied down, in an indefinite place, surrounded by dazzling light whose colors cannot be expressed in words. The last thing he remembered was regretting the fact that he had let his loved one die, unable to protect them. Now, as it seems that he too had died, maybe this was his atonement in a way he thought. No, it couldn't work that way; he kept pondering the matter but could not make up his mind.

Although surprised at the fact that he could still think about things like this even now that he was dead, he came to the conclusion that because he still kept thinking of such insignificant things at a time like this, he had probably been a human while he was still alive. Focusing his mind, he could sense that apparently there were many other life forms beside himself that had gathered in that indefinite space. The next thing he knew, he could no longer feel the boundary line between himself and the other life forms. Having lost their boundary lines, the lives eventually formed a single stream that slowly flowed down, or perhaps up, towards some indefinite place.

Along the way, the life form thought he heard a voice. The maternal yet resolute voice that gently enveloped them called out to each of the lives: "Come, transmigrate." The owner of the voice appeared to be a bird that was wrapped in light, but in the same time it also felt like something out of this world. Still, the life form thought that while they were on the way to the next world, an expression like "out of this world" seemed a little out of place.

One morning, in a river somewhere, a sweetfish was splashing in the water. It swam happily by a beautiful flower that bloomed on the riverbank, and sprang many times. The flower bloomed silently, as if smiling at the sweetfish.


陰陽座百物語 第漆話「梧桐の丘」


最後の瞬きを終えたその命はこの世の色では言い表せない様な目映い光に包まれ、何処とも言えない場所に浮かんで、或いは横たわっていた。その命の最後の記憶は愛する者を守る事が出来ず死なせてしまった事への後悔だった。今、どうやら自分も死んでしまった様だから、それで少しは罪滅ぼしになるだろうか。いや、そういうものではないか、などと逡巡している。

死んでからもこんな風にものを考える事が出来る事が以外だったが、寧ろ死んでからもくだらない事を考える辺りは生前自分はどうやら人間だったらしいと、その命は思った。ふと意識してみると、どうやらその何処とも言えない空間には自分以外にも沢山の命が集って来ている様だ。
気が付けば、既に自分とそれ以外の命との境界線が感じられなくなっていた。境界線を失った命はやがて一つの流れに成り、ゆっくりと何処へともなく流れ落ち、或いは上っていった。

その途中、命は一つの声を聞いた気がした。母を思わせる様な、優しく包み込む様な、それでいて毅然としたその声は命達それぞれに「さあ、廻りなさい」と告げた。その声の主は光を身に纏った鳥の様にも見え、また、この世のものでは無い姿の様な気もした。あの世に行こうとしながら、この世のものでは無いと言う表現もおかしいとその命は懲りずに思っていた。

ある朝、ある川の中で一匹の鮎が跳ねた。その鮎は川岸に咲く美しい花の側でいとおしそうに泳ぎ回り、そして何度も跳ねた。花がその鮎の方に微笑む様に静かに咲いていた。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story VI "Yoshitsune: Nightmare Ablaze"



(Muma Enjō begins at 14:50) 

(Note: The same text is used as the preface for Muma Enjō that is included in the Garyō Tensei album booklet)

    Intently yearning for his brother's love, Yoshitsune defeats the Tairas just like his brother Yoritomo had hoped. Due to the machinations of Yoritomo and his close advisers, instead of a war hero, Yoshitsune ends up being branded as a rebel.
    While his miraculous services in war earn him the popularity and trust of the people in the capital, at the same time, he is thoroughly disdained by most of the generals in Kamakura because of his childish behavior. For Yoritomo he was becoming an insurmountable nightmare. Yoritomo's resolution to get rid of Yoshitsune only grows stronger as his younger brother appears in his dreams night after night.
    Unwilling to believe that his brother is plotting against him, Yoshitsune reluctantly leaves the capital only after there is an attempt on his life. Although he succeeds in escaping with the help of Fujiwara of Ōshū, Yoshitsune becomes separated with Shizuka Gozen in the mountains of Yoshino. Shizuka, having a premonition that this would be their final farewell, weeps and shrieks in her heart.
    Afterwards, Shizuka is captured by Yoritomo, and although her life is spared thanks to the beauty of her dance, Yoritomo, worried of retribution by Yoshitsune's offspring, cruelly murders the child she is pregnant with.
    Meanwhile, having barely escaped to Ōshū where he is given shelter by Fujiwara No Hidehira, Yoshitsune is eventually attacked at night by Hidehira's son Yasuhira, who betrays Yoshitsune after his father passes away.
    Then finally, in his Takadachi mansion at Koromogawa that has been set ablaze, Yoshitsune, a broken man, decides to take his own life.


陰陽座百物語 第陸話「義経~夢魔炎上」


 兄頼朝の愛が欲しい一心で兄の思惑通り平家討伐を果たした義経は、頼朝とその側近の謀略により「戦功者」ではなく「謀反者」の汚名を着せられる。
 その神懸った戦功により都の人々の人気と信頼を一心に浴び、反面、その子供じみた挙動により鎌倉の諸将から絶大なる拒絶を受ける義経は、もはや頼朝にとっては如何ともしがたい「夢魔」そのものであり、毎夜枕元に現れる弟の夢魔に、「義経討つべし」という意志を一層固める頼朝であった。
 兄の謀略を信じたくない義経も、命を狙われるまでに至って懊悩しながらもようやく都を落ち、奥州の藤原氏を頼って逃げるも、吉野の山中で連れ立っていた静御前と生き別れになる。静はそのとき、本能的にこれが今生の別れとなってしまうことを予感し、心中で嘆き、喚く。
 静はその後頼朝に捕らえれるが、舞の素晴らしさに命だけは助けられるも、身体に宿した義経の子は、仇討ちを憂う頼朝によって無惨にも殺されてしまう。
 一方、辛くも奥州にて身を潜めていた義経も、それを匿う藤原秀衡の死後、その子泰衡が頼朝を恐れて寝返り、夜討ちをかけられる。
 遂に義経は、炎上する衣川の高館で失意の中自害を決意するのであった。

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story V "Rokurokubi"

(Rokurokubi begins at 8:00)
Well sure, I may have gone a little overboard with the drinking and gambling. But my wife is the one to blame. How come, you ask? Well, she's just too damn sexy. When I walk around town with her, everyone turns their heads with envious looks on their faces. Sure, I fell for her looks. Yes I did, guilty as charged. But you know, when she seriously uses her sex appeal on other men, I'm not just going keep quiet.

Like a while ago, when the fishmonger came by, she goes: "Isn't it hot?" and invites him inside and treats him to some cold noodles. I was going to eat those for lunch. And then, that fishmonger shamelessly helps himself to some sake, and is getting along really good with my wife. Goes without saying that that was my sake. That's when I told him to his face that if he was done trading he should just get out. And guess what? Without even a glance in my direction, he just tells my wife to take care and that he'd come by again. Does that sound like something a fishmonger would say!?

And my wife too, she didn't look altogether displeased! Gimme a break! What? [unclear] What do I care! Like, isn't that the proper duty of a husband? I let her have it. I told her that I'd be better off without such a bitch. Then she went and handed me a notice of divorce! The nerve on that woman! What? You're telling me it's ass backwards for a wife to give the husband a notice of divorce? Shut up! I can't help it! That's just what she did.

But you know, I'm a man after all; I wouldn't accept such a thing. That's why, uh, I threw it into the privy without even reading it. Serves her right. Huh? You're saying that my hand slipped and I dropped it when I was trying to read it in secret? D- Don't be silly! Like I'd do something that pathetic... I used that thing as toilet paper then threw it away. For real.

Anyways, I told her that it was her fault and she's the one who should apologize, otherwise she could just take a hike! And guess what, she really did! Even if that bitch comes back I won't even let her cross the threshold! I'm a man of my word. Right, buddy boy?
Ah... Mommy...


陰陽座百物語 第伍話「飛頭蛮」


たしかによぉ、俺は酒と博打が過ぎたかもしれねーよ。でも悪いの、かかあの方なんだよ。何が悪いって?あいつは色気が過ぎるってんだよ。そりゃな、あいつを連れて町を行けば皆が羨ましそうに振り返る。その器量に俺は惚れたよ、惚れた、惚れました。けどよ、その色気を本気で他の男に向けられちゃ男として黙っちゃいられねーよ。

この前なんかよ、家に来た魚屋を「お暑いでしょう?」なんつってよ、座敷に上げて冷麦食わしてやってんだよ。ありゃ俺の昼飯だったんだ。その後、その魚屋、しゃあしゃあと酒まで飲んでよ、いい塩梅になってかかあと話し込んでやがる。勿論俺の酒だよ。んで俺は言ってやったよ、「商いが済んだんなら帰えってくんな」ってな。そしたらよ、奴さん俺には一瞥もくれず、かかあに向かって、「元気でな、また来るぜ」ときたもんだ。それが魚屋の台詞かよ!

かかあもかかあで満更でもねえ面しやがってよー!俺悔しいよ!何?[unclear]、そんなもん知ったことかよ!こりゃおめえ、亭主として当然の事だろうが。だから俺は言ってやったんだよ、「おめえみてーなあばずれはこっちから願い下げ」だってな。そしたらよ、三行半書いてよこしやがったんだ、かかあの奴はよ!何?亭主が嫁に三行半書かれるってな、あべこべだって?うるせーよ!しかたねーだろ!書かれちまったもんはよ。

でもな、俺は男だ。そんなもん受け取れねーよ。だからあれだ、読まずに厠にどぼんだよ。ざま見ろってんだ。何?厠でこっそり読もうとして手滑らして落としたんだろって?ば・馬鹿言っちゃいけねーよ!誰がおめえ、そんなみっともねえ… あんなもん便所紙にして捨ててやったんだよ。いや本当だって。

そんでよ、「おめえが悪いんだからおめえが謝れ!さもなきゃとっとと出て行きやがれ」とこうかましてやったらよ、本当に出て行っちめえやがった。あんちくしょう、帰って来たって敷居跨がせてやんねーからな!俺はやる時はやる男だぜ。なーおい?
嗚呼、母ちゃん…

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story IV "Ninja Scroll of Wilderness"

(Kegai ninpōchō begins at 1:20) 

"Well then, I'm off. I won't be back until that man's head is mine."
As soon as the young man had said so, he started walking away. Following closely behind him was the heartrending voice of a girl.
"I beg you! Please don't go! What meaning is there to revenge? We could just return to our old life and live here quietly like before!"
The tearful appeal of the girl did not have the power to change the young man's will, and he said: "Indeed, we have been branded as insubordinate barbarians and have lived here secretly. I do not consider that to be pitiful. However, the pride of our clan is not something so cheap that we are just going to submit meekly when it has been trampled underfoot!"
Having said so, he left without slowing his pace. Only the figure of a girl breaking down in tears was left behind.

"Forgive me. Those who were mocked and then murdered were close friends of mine since childhood. Unless I avenge their deaths, there is no way I can face them in the afterlife!"
While glaring at his destination, the enemy's fastness located between the mountains, the young man proudly walked onward. The hard rock surface crunched under his step and the gusty wind blew away his footprints, as if foreboding the young man's fate.

Before long the girl hears rumors of the young man's demise. No one in the clan doubted his inevitable, vain death. Ironically, his righteous indignation that resulted in his death in battle ended up causing trouble for the whole clan. As a warning to others, the Imperial army was ordered to extirpate all members of the clan, including women and children, for having revolted against the Imperial Court, not once but twice.
Absolutely nothing has been heard of the clan since then.
Only the wind that blows through the valley carries their laments.


陰陽座百物語 第肆話「化外忍法帖」


「では、行って来る。奴の首を取るまで帰らぬ」
若者はそう言うや否や歩き始めた。その背中に娘の悲痛な声が追い縋る。
「後生です。行かないでください!仇討ちなど何の意味がありましょう?このまま、元の暮らしに戻って ひっそりと生きて行けばよいではありませぬか!」
涙混じりの娘の訴えにも若者の意志を覆す力は無いと見え、若者は「確かに我らはまつろわぬ化外の土蜘蛛の烙印を押され、人目を隠れて暮らして来た。それを惨めだとも思わぬ。だが、一族の誇りを踏み躙られても尚、黙って泣き寝入りする程我らの誇りは安いものでは無い!」と言い放った儘 歩みを緩める事も無くその場を立ち去った。後には泣き崩れる娘の姿が残された。

「許せ。嬲られて殺された者共はわしの幼い頃からの親友共だったのだ。この敵討たねば、わしは死んで奴等に向ける顔が無い!」
目指す敵の砦を山間に睨みながら若者は昂然と歩き続けた。ざくざくと踏み締める岩肌は硬く、吹き付ける風は足跡すら掻き消してゆく、丸で若者の行く末を暗示するが如く。

やがて娘は風の便りで若者の憤死を知る。一族の誰もが疑う事の無かった、当然の犬死にであった。そして皮肉にもその義憤に駆られた討ち死には一族全体に累を及ぼす結果となった。朝廷に対し一度ならず、二度までも反逆した罪として勅命を受けた官軍に一族は女子供に至るまで悉く討ち果たされ、見せしめとされた。その一族のその後の消息はぷつりと絶えて聞かない。
唯、渓谷に吹く風がその慟哭を運んで来るのみであった。

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story III "Yoshitsune"

(Yoshitsune begins at 16:14)

Having suffered a crushing defeat due to Yoshitsune's surprise attack at Ichinotani, the Tairas retreated to Yashima, an island on the Sanuki sea, in hopes of reorganizing their troops. Unwilling to let them get away, soldiers of the Minamoto clan would have rushed after them, but due to problems such as procuring ships, precious time was fruitlessly running short. That night, accompanied by rain, the wind changed direction from south to north, which drove Yoshitsune into madness. For Yoshitsune himself however, it might have been confidence rather than madness. Still, he sets sail into the raging sea with a hopelessly scanty number of ships and little more than hundred soldiers with him, and heads for the Tairas' position at Yashima.

"Do not fear the storm! Anchors aweigh! Those who hesitate shall be put to the sword right here!"

Helped by a furious tailwind, as if by a miracle, Yoshitsune's troops arrive at enemy territory in an extraordinarily short time. The Tairas are caught off guard and put to rout, just like at Ichinotani. The downfall of the Tairas was drawing ever nigher. Yoshitsune, whose great services in war should have been praised, however serendipitous they might have been, instead ends up, due to the intrigues and falsehoods of various generals and due to his own naivety and imprudence, being slighted by his elder brother Yoritomo. Even in the middle of all this, he only wishes for one thing.

"My brother! If you so wish, I shall give you that all! In return, I want to have your love."


陰陽座百物語 第参話「義経」


一谷で義経の奇襲により大敗を喫した平氏は讃岐の海に浮かぶ屋島に逃れ、軍の再建を計っていた。逃さじとばかりに殺到した源氏は船の入手などに手間取り、いたずらに時が貪られていた。その夜、雨を伴って南から北へと転じた風は義経を狂気へと駆り立てた。義経自身にしてみれば狂気などでは無く寧ろ確信であったかも知れない。しかし、手勢僅か百騎余り、荒ぶる海の中では木の葉にも等しい程の船を出し、平氏の拠点 屋島を目指した。

「嵐を恐れるな!船を出せ!尻込みする者はこの場で斬り捨てる!」

猛然たる追い風を受け、奇跡的にその軍勢は神懸り的な速度で敵地へと臨んだ。結果、虚を衝かれた平氏は一谷同様、這這の体で退却を余儀無くされる。平氏の没落は目前に迫っていた。奇跡的とは言え、その多大なる戦功を賞されてよい筈が、諸将の謀略と欺瞞、そして本人の純粋さと軽率さによって兄頼朝から裏腹に疎まれるばかりの義経はその渦中になっても尚、たった一つの事を望み焦がれていた。

「兄よ!望むならば、その全てを私が呉れてやろう!その代わりに私は貴方の愛が欲しい」

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story II "Kurotsuka"

(Kurotsuka begins at 8:20)

I cannot fathom why a travelling monk such as yourself would like to hear the life story of an old crone like myself, but since you insist so much, I shall tell you. Long ago, I served in a castle as a wet nurse for a certain princess. The princess was the sweetest girl you ever laid eyes upon, and I looked after her as if she were my very own child. As a matter of fact, I once had a daughter I had to let go as soon as she was born. I wholeheartedly devoted my love to the princess; I felt that serving her was my atonement for what had happened to my own child, and my love for her only grew with time.

At any hand, the young princess suffered from an illness. No matter how many great doctors we consulted, the verdict was always that she didn't have much longer to live. I intended to do anything I could to save the life of the princess. Therefore I visited a popular soothsayer to ask if there was a way the princess could be saved. The result of the divination was this: if she ate the liver of an unborn baby she would live. Yes, I am aware of what a horrendous thing that is.

However, I did not care if I myself should land in hell, if only the princess would be saved. I left the castle alone and headed for Ōshū. I set up a crude shack by the river Abukumagawa and waited for travelers lost on their journey. And finally one day, a pregnant woman arrived. She said that she had to find a certain person before her child was born, but that was none of my concern. There was not a chance that I would let this opportunity slip, so I waited until she fell asleep, cut open her stomach and took the liver of the child.

Still euphoric now that the princess would be saved, I looked through her things in order to get rid of them, but for some reason, each of them seemed familiar to me. There were amulets and nightwear I had given my child when I had to let go of her, and a boxwood hairpin I had hidden on her, hoping she would one day wear it. Why was this woman cherishing these things so dearly? Yes, indeed. This woman was my very own child. She was travelling, even though she was pregnant, in hopes of finding her mother — me — before her child was born, so that she could show me the face of my grandchild. I cried and screamed for days on end, until my tears ran dry.

I no longer know how much time has passed since then. I just carry this dreadful burden, not even allowed to follow my daughter, I am still living here as you can see. I am sure that even a priest like you is unaware of what the punishment is for a parent who kills her own child. Yes, I suppose you have heard the poem that people recite around this region?
"Is it true what they say, that Kurotsuka in Michinoku, on the plains of Adachigahara, is the abode of a demon?"
That demon is me.

陰陽座百物語 第弐話「黒塚」


貴方様の様な旅の御坊様が何故この婆の身の上話などを聞きたいと申されるか、私には分かりませぬが、そこまでおっしゃるのでしたらお話致しましょう。遠い昔、私は然る姫君の乳母として御城に仕えておりました。赤子の頃からそれはそれは玉の様に美しい姫君で、私は丸で自分の娘の様にその御成長を願っておりました。その実、私には生まれて直ぐ手放せねばならなかった娘がおりましたのです。姫様に一心に愛情を注ぎ、お仕えする事が我が子への罪滅ぼしの様に感じられ、自然と情は深まって参りました。

しかし姫様は幼い身体で重い病に患われてしまわれたのです。どの様な名医に見せてもこの儘ではもう長くは生きられまいと言われるばかり。私は何としてでも姫様の御命を助け申し上げたいと思いました。そこで、評判の占い師を訪ね、姫様が助かる方法を占ってもらったのです。占いの答えは一つ、まだ生まれる前の胎の中にいる子供の生き胆を飲めば助かる。ええ、勿論それがどれ程恐ろしい事か分かっておりましたとも。

しかし私なら姫様の命が助かれば、例えこの身が地獄に落ちようとなら構わなかったで御座います。私は一人城を出て、奥州へ向かい、阿武隈川の辺に粗末な小屋を構え、道に迷った旅人が訪ねて来るのを待ちました。そして到頭ある時、子を身籠った女子がやって来たんです。女子は稚が生まれる前にどうしても探し出して会いたい人が居ると言うておりましたが、私には係わり合いの無い事。この好機を逃してなるものかと女子が寝入るのを見計らい、その腹を裂き、子供の生き胆を取り出しました。

これで姫様は助かると天にも昇る気持ちの儘、一刻も早く女子の持ち物を始末せねばと調べたところ、出て来た物がどうしてか私の見覚えのある物ばかり。我が子を手放す折に持たせた筈の御守りや寝巻き、何時か身に着けて欲しいと忍ばせた柘植の簪。それを何故この女子が後生大事に抱いていたのか。ええ、そうですとも。この女子こそ私の実の娘だったので御座います。
娘は稚が生まれる前に母の私を探し出し孫の顔を見せたいと願おうて、身重な身体で旅をしていたので御座います。私は泣き叫びました、幾日も幾日も、涙が枯れ果てるまで。

あれからどれだけの年月が経ったか、もう私にも分かりませぬ。唯、この恐ろしい業罪背負って、娘の後を追う事も許されず、私はまだここにこうして永らえて居るのです。御坊様も子を殺した親がどの様な罰を受けるか、知らぬ筈はありますまい。そう、この辺りに長く伝わる歌をお聴きになった事がお有りでしょう。
「陸奥の安達ヶ原の黒塚に鬼籠もれりと聞くはまことか」
その鬼が私で御座います。

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story I "Footfall"

This was a section on Onmyōza's radio show HOT ROCKIN' back in 2004-2006 where Matatabi and Kuroneko read stories related to the lyrics or to the things that inspired the lyrics in the first place.
Hyakumonogatari means a round of ghost stories.  (Wikipedia)

I've made the transcripts myself, so they may contain errors.

Onmyōza Hyakumonogatari Story I "Footfall"

(Ashioto begins at 1:45)

The man walked cautiously, yet at a quick pace, along the sheer mountain cliff. His job was to get the goods he carried on his back delivered by the time the cock first crowed in the morning. His greatest concern should have indeed been whether he could deliver the goods on time, but for a while now, there was something else that occupied his mind.

Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump...

Something kept making such a strange noise behind him. It sounded like something rolling; at any rate, it was a queer sound. He had turned around many times, but was unable to determine what the sound was. The reason for that was because, although the sound came from right behind him, he could not discern anything at all there. Albeit the night was dark, the fact that he could not see what was making that sound right behind him made the man grow more and more afraid. He quickened his pace, and getting the goods delivered on time was not the reason he did so.

Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump...

Then finally, the strange noise was coming from somewhere right next to his ears. The man could not take it anymore, which did not mean that he was going to turn around and witness what was making the sound; he was too afraid to do that. Instead, he ran like mad, trying to shake it off, whatever it was. He rushed as fast as he could along a cliff barely wide enough for one adult. However, the sound adjusted its speed to match that of his, and the man could hear it coming from exactly the same distance as before.

"Give me a break." The moment he prayed so in his mind, having lost his composure, he now lost his footing too, and wretchedly plunged from the precipitous slope into the abyss that spread before his eyes. It was a fall one possibly could not survive. After his plunge, only a few small rocks that had chipped off from the edge of the road came tumbling down after him.
What had made that mysterious sound remains in the dark...

陰陽座百物語 第壱話「跫音」


切り立ったその山の切岸を男は怖々と、しかし足早に歩いていた。背に背負った品物を何としても明日の朝、一番鶏が鳴くまでに送り届けるのが男の役目であった。その品物が定刻に届けられるか、確かにそれが男の最大の関心事である筈だったが、先刻よりそれ以上に男が気になっている物があった。

ぞろり ぞろり ぞろり…

男の背後からその奇妙な音はずっと聞こえていた。何かが転がるような、兎に角奇妙な物音であった。男は何度も振り返ったのだが、それが何の音なのか突き止める事は出来なかった。何故ならその音の源はそれが男の直ぐ後ろから聞こえるのにもかかわらず、全くその姿が見えなかったからである。暗い夜道とはいえ、背中にぴたりと張り付いたその音の主が見えぬ筈は無く、それが男の恐怖心を一層駆り立てる。品物を届ける為に急ぐのとは全く別の意味で男の歩調は高まるばかりであった。

ぞろり ぞろり ぞろりと…

そして遂にその奇妙な音は男の耳元で鳴った。男は矢も楯もたまらず、かと言って今更振り返って音の正体を目の当たりにするのも恐ろしく、夢中で走り、それを振り切ろうとした。大人一人が漸う通れるか狭い切岸を男は全力で駆けた。しかし、その音は男の走る速度に合わせ、全く変わらぬ間合いで聞こえ続けた。

「もう勘弁してくれ」、そう祈るように念じた刹那、取り乱した男は足を踏み外し、哀れにも切り立ったその斜面から一寸先の奈落へとその身を躍らせてしまった。到底助からぬ高さであった。男の転落した後にはその際に崩れた道の端からぱらぱらと小石が落ちるのみであった。
奇妙な音の正体は最後まで闇の中に伏した儘であったと言う…