kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第12章
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at that priest！ I will tear him！ I will devour him！。。。 AND THERE HE
IS behind that tree！ hiding behind that tree！ See him ！ the fat
coward！〃。。。
In the same moment the head of the aruji； followed by the other four
heads； sprang at Kwairyo。 But the strong priest had already armed himself
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by plucking up a young tree； and with that tree he struck the heads as they
came； knocking them from him with tremendous blows。 Four of them
fled away。 But the head of the aruji； though battered again and again；
desperately continued to bound at the priest； and at last caught him by the
left sleeve of his robe。 Kwairyo； however； as quickly gripped the head by
its topknot； and repeatedly struck it。 It did not release its hold； but it
uttered a long moan； and thereafter ceased to struggle。 It was dead。 But its
teeth still held the sleeve； and； for all his great strength； Kwairyo could not
force open the jaws。
With the head still hanging to his sleeve he went back to the house；
and there caught sight of the other four Rokuro…Kubi squatting together；
with their bruised and bleeding heads reunited to their bodies。 But when
they perceived him at the back…door all screamed； 〃The priest！ the priest！〃
and fled； through the other doorway； out into the woods。
Eastward the sky was brightening； day was about to dawn； and
Kwairyo knew that the power of the goblins was limited to the hours of
darkness。 He looked at the head clinging to his sleeve； its face all fouled
with blood and foam and clay； and he laughed aloud as he thought to
himself： 〃What a miyage！ ＇4＇ the head of a goblin！〃 After which he
gathered together his few belongings； and leisurely descended the
mountain to 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
