kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
somewhere southwest of it to the left of that big root。。。 Yes！ here it
is！。。。 How very strange！ Now I am sure that I can find the mountain of
Hanryoko； and the grave of the princess。〃。。。
In the wreck of the nest he searched and searched； and at last
discovered a tiny mound； on the top of which was fixed a water…worn
pebble； in shape resembling a Buddhist monument。 Underneath it he found
embedded in clay the dead body of a female ant。
69
… Page 70…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
RIKI…BAKA
His name was Riki； signifying Strength； but the people called him
Riki…the…Simple； or Riki…the…Fool； 〃Riki…Baka；〃 because he had been
born into perpetual childhood。 For the same reason they were kind to him；…
… even when he set a house on fire by putting a lighted match to a
mosquito…curtain； and clapped his hands for joy to see the blaze。 At sixteen
years he was a tall； strong lad； but in mind he remained always at the
happy age of two； and therefore continued to play with very small children。
The bigger children of the neighborhood； from four to seven years old； did
not care to play with him； because he could not learn their songs and
games。 His favorite toy was a broomstick； which he used as a hobby…horse；
and for hours at a time he would ride on that broomstick； up and down the
slope in front of my house； with amazing peals of laughter。 But at last he
became troublesome by reason of his noise； and I had to tell him that he
must find another playground。 He bowed submissively； and then went off；…
… sorrowfully trailing his broomstick behind him。 Gentle at all times； and
perfectly harmless if allowed no chance to play with fire； he seldom gave
anybody cause for complaint。 His relation to the life of our street was
scarcely more than that of a dog or a chicken； and when he finally
disappeared； I did not miss him。 Months and months passed by before
anything happened to remind me of Riki。
〃What has become of Riki？〃 I then asked the old woodcutter who
supplies our neighborhood with fuel。 I remembered that Riki had often
helped him to carry his bundles。
〃Riki…Baka？〃 answered the old man。 〃Ah； Riki is dead poor
fellow！。。。 Yes； he died nearly a year ago； very suddenly； the doctors said
that he had some disease of the brain。 And there is a strange story now
about that poor Riki
〃When Riki died； his mother wrote his name； 'Riki…Baka；' in the palm
of his left hand； putting 'Riki' in the Chinese character； and 'Baka' in kana
（1）。 And she repeated many prayers for him； prayers that he might be
reborn into some more happy condition。
70
… Page 71…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
〃Now； about three months ago； in the honorable residence of
Nanigashi…Sama （2）； in Kojimachi （3）； a boy was born with characters on
the palm of his left hand； and the characters were quite plain to read；
'RIKI…BAKA'！
〃So the people of that house knew that the birth must have happened
in answer to somebody's prayer； and they caused inquiry to be made
everywhere。 At least a vegetable…seller brought word to them that there
used to be a simple lad； called Riki…Baka； living in the Ushigome quarter；
and that he had died during the last autumn； and they sent two men…
servants to look for the mother of Riki。
〃Those servants found the mother of Riki； and told her what had
happened； and she was glad exceedingly for that Nanigashi house is a
very rich and famous house。 But the servants said that the family of
Nanigashi…Sama were very angry about the word 'Baka' on the child's
hand。 'And where is your Riki buried？' the servants asked。 'He is buried in
the cemetery of Zendoji；' she told them。 'Please to give us some of the clay
of his grave；' they requested。
〃So she went with them to the temple Zendoji； and showed them
Riki's grave； and they took some of the grave…clay away with them；
wrapped up in a furoshiki ＇1＇。。。。 They gave Riki's mother some money；
ten yen。〃。。。 （4）
〃But what did they want with that clay？〃 I inquired。
〃Well；〃 the old man answered； 〃you know that it would not do to let
the child grow up with that name on his hand。 And there is no other means
of removing characters that come in that way upon the body of a child：
you must rub the skin with clay taken from the grave of the body of the
former birth。〃。。。
71
… Page 72…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
HI…MAWARI
On the wooded hill behind the house Robert and I are looking for
fairy…rings。 Robert is eight years old； comely； and very wise； I am a little
more than seven； and I reverence Robert。 It is a glowing glorious August
day； and the warm air is filled with sharp sweet scents of resin。
We do not find any fairy…rings； but we find a great many pine…cones
in the high grass。。。 I tell Robert the old Welsh story of the man who went
to sleep； unawares； inside a fairy…ring； and so disappeared for seven years；
and would never eat or speak after his friends had delivered him from the
enchantment。
〃They eat nothing but the points of needles； you know；〃 says Robert。
〃Who？〃 I ask。
〃〃Goblins；〃 Robert answers。
This revelation leaves me dumb with astonishment and awe。。。 But
Robert suddenly cries out：
〃There is a Harper！ he is coming to the house！〃
And down the hill we run to hear the harper。。。 But what a harper！ Not
like the hoary minstrels of the picture…books。 A swarthy； sturdy； unkempt
vagabond； with black bold eyes under scowling black brows。 More like a
bricklayer than a bard； and his garments are corduroy！
〃Wonder if he is going to sing in Welsh？〃 murmurs Robert。
I feel too much disappointed to make any remarks。 The harper poses
his harp a huge instrument upon our doorstep； sets all the strong
ringing with a sweep of his grimy fingers； clears his throat with a sort of
angry growl； and begins；
Believe me； if all those endearing young charms； Which I gaze on so
fondly to…day。。。
The accent； the attitude； the voice； all fill me with repulsion
unutterable； shock me with a new sensation of formidable vulgarity。 I
want to cry out loud； 〃You have no right to sing that song！〃 For I have
heard it sung by the lips of the dearest and fairest being in my little world；…
72
… Page 73…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
… and that this rude； coarse man should are to sing it vexes me like a
mockery； angers me like an insolence。 But only for a moment！。。。 With
the utterance of the syllables 〃to…day；〃 that deep； grim voice suddenly
breaks into a quivering tenderness indescribable； then；
