Pathway to Japanese Literature

Younger Sister

Traveler Boastful Thief Boy

Scene: A solitary house near the forest. To the sisters The small study room assigned to them

Time: A windy night in early spring (The elder sister and younger sister, facing their desks toward each other, study by the light of a single desk lamp. (On the desk there is a pot of primroses.)

(Sound of wind) Younger Sister: "This wind is dreadful, isn't it?" (Sound of a train) Younger Sister: "Could that be the nine o'clock upbound?" Elder Sister: "No, it's the eight-ten downbound." Younger Sister: "Oh, I wish Dad and everyone would come back already."

(The desk lamp went out.) Younger Sister: “Oh، a blackout.” Elder Sister: “I wonder if the light bulb hasn’t burned out.” (Tried turning the switch) Younger Sister: “It’s a blackout.” “Ugh، how annoying.” “Elder Sister will light it right away، so stay still.” (Pause)

"Younger Sister: It won't light. The wind must have snapped the power lines." "Elder Sister: I wonder."

Younger Sister: “Oh—something’s glowing bluish-white over there.”

“Where?” “Look—over by the window!” “It’s the marsh—that’s what it is.” “It’s reflecting the moonlight, you know.” “How lovely.” “Splendid!” “A poem might take shape.” “Tch.” “This is why I can’t stand literary girls!” “Sis, let’s light Father’s lamp.” “I wonder if there’s still oil left.” “It must still be there.”

(Elder Sister stood up and groped her way along the wall.) (Exit.)

Younger Sister (Humming "Spring Has Come") (Elder Sister returns with the lamp.) Younger Sister: "There we go!" "Did you find it quickly?" Elder Sister: "Since no one helped me onto the chair, I ended up climbing onto the table." "I nearly kicked away Father's precious photo of Yukibō." "Keep this secret."

(Lights the lamp during this exchange.) Younger Sister: "This old lamp—even if you always think it's useless, it sure comes in handy at times like this." "Old things really do have a certain charm." "It was French-made, wasn't it?" Elder Sister: "Yes, that's right." "When Father went to Marseille on his first voyage, he found it at a secondhand shop in the backstreets there, they say." "He said it was apparently from the era of Louis XIV."

(Pause) Elder Sister: "Hadn't we once lit this lamp in just such a way?"

"Younger Sister: Yeah, that's right. Do you remember how the frogs were croaking back then?" "Elder Sister: It was late spring then. A butterfly came in through the window and flew circles around the lamp." "Younger Sister: Right. It kept fluttering about so much I couldn't read my book—I got properly annoyed. So I whacked it down with a desk pad, and you got all huffy about it." "Sis, why'd you have to do something so awful? You're the one who shouldn't act like that! You'll pluck whole roses just because one petal falls—'They're ruined now'—or snap off the radio when they're playing Chopin—'I need to study this instant!'"

“Sis is a romanticist.” “I’m a realist.” “I will definitely start saving money.”

“What utter nonsense are you saying? Oh, I remember now. The last time we lit this lamp, Yukibō was still alive and kept begging me to let him strike matches.” “Yeah, that’s right. Yukibō was in second grade then. He’d just learned how to strike them—holding each match so timidly by the very tip when lighting it.” “He got nervous at first and threw one away, didn’t he? It fell on the desk cover and left a slight burn mark—I wonder if it’s still there.” (Searching) “Could this be it?”

“That’s definitely it.” “It’s already been two years since Yukibō died.” “How time flies...” “Sis—and then, remember? We all did that together, didn’t we?”

Younger Sister: “What?” “That thing...”

Elder Sister: "Look, shadow pictures." "We projected shadow pictures on the wall, didn't we?" Younger Sister: "Yeah, that's right." "I wonder if I should try doing it once more." "I wonder if we can't do it anymore." (Clasping her hands together) "Could you fold that paper into a triangular hat and put it on me, please?" (Younger Sister does so) "Ah, this will do."

A traveler walking alone through some desolate wilderness.

“Traveler, traveler,” “Hurry along the path,” “When you walk by the shore—the sound of waves,” “When you cross field’s edge—cicada chorus…” Younger Sister: “I made that thief really well back then, didn’t I?” Elder Sister: “Yes.” “But he looked utterly incapable of doing anything wicked.” “Those hands were absurdly large.”

Younger Sister: That's not true at all. “It had a menacing quality.” “I wonder if I can’t make it anymore.” (Trying it out) "There, I did it!" “It came out perfectly, didn’t it?”

“This thief looks more likely to get spooked by a chicken than do any robbing,” said Elder Sister. “Yukibō tried something similar too, didn’t he?” “Yeah,” Younger Sister replied. “His fingers were too tiny to make proper shadows no matter how he tried, so we cut out pictures from our storybook and projected those instead. Those turned out best of all.”

“Right, right,” said the Elder Sister. “The picture from *The Foundling*, you know. Remi from *The Foundling* travels with his dog and monkey, carrying a harp on his shoulder as he searches for his mother—how skillfully we explained that story, didn’t we?” (Doorbell rings)

“Oh, someone’s here.”

“I wonder who it could be at this hour.” (Exits carrying the lamp and immediately reappears accompanied by the Traveler) (Younger Sister stares intently at the Traveler)

Younger Sister: "Who is it, Sis?" Elder Sister: "I don’t know." Traveler: "I am a traveler." "I was lost on the road." "When I had just come to the other side of that marsh over there, I saw a small light here, so I made my way over." "I’ve always been fond of lamps like this." "When I look at the lamp, it feels deeply nostalgic." "Please let me rest for a while."

(Elder Sister brought a chair from beside the wall and had him sit down)

"Younger Sister: Your hat looks strange, doesn't it? A triangular hat, isn't it? I feel like I've seen this somewhere before." Traveler: "Ah, now that you mention it, I too seem to have seen you all somewhere before." He looked around the room. "It's not somewhere else—it's this very room. Ah, I had been to this room once before. That was on an evening five—no, six years ago..." "Younger Sister: You say such odd things."

“And so, where is your home?”

“I have no home,” said the Traveler. “I am always traveling.” “So you’re all alone then,” said the Younger Sister. “Ah, yes,” replied the Traveler. “But I have friends everywhere. Children who’ve lost their mothers, those who are ill, those who love to dream—they’re my friends. When such lonely children project shadow pictures alone on walls and fences, I go to comfort them.” The Elder Sister leaned forward. “Then do you go to every country?”

Traveler: “That’s correct.” “I have been to Russia, Hungary, Denmark, Germany, France, and Arabia.” “And I will go again.” “In every country there are pitiable children and children who love daydreams.” “And in every country there are walls and fences.” “I truly have a great many friends.” Elder Sister: “But you wear such a sorrowful expression.”

Traveler: "I have seen too many things." "I know too many things." "When one comes to know too many things, people tend to grow sorrowful." Elder Sister: "You must be tired."

“I am tired.” “Please take your time and rest here. Mother will be returning soon, so then I will serve you some tea.” “Ah, but I cannot linger here. I must go.”

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" "I don't know why," said the Traveler. "My heart tells me I must go." "Are you searching for something?" asked the Elder Sister.

“Oh yes, that’s correct.” “What are you searching for? Did you lose a canary or something?”

“No.” “That’s not it.” “Somehow, I don’t quite understand it myself.” “Searching for something you don’t even understand yourself—how strange.” “Ah, yes, that’s correct.” “But that is our destiny.”

"Younger Sister: 'We?' Traveler: 'It refers to me and you all. It refers to all people.' Younger Sister: 'Oh, even us?' Traveler: 'I believe that is so.' Younger Sister: 'That's wrong. We have a home and are right here.'"

“Is that so?” “That’s right.”

Traveler: “Is that so?” Younger Sister: “You’re such an unpleasant person.” “Please don’t look at me with those eyes.” Traveler: “Then I must apologize.” “I must be going now.”

(The Traveler stood up.) “Please take care, Elder Sister.” “Please come again next time.”

Traveler: “Oh, I will come again.” “The next time you light the lamp.” (Elder Sister saw the Traveler off.)

(A thief wearing large gloves swiftly entered through the window.)

"Younger Sister: 'Oh! You startled me.' 'Who are you?' Thief: 'I'm a thief.' 'How dreadful! To actually call yourself a thief like that.' 'Even for a thief, you're remarkably inept.' Thief: 'That's not true.' Elder Sister: 'Oh, don't claim it's untrue!' 'You think you can thieve in such ridiculous attire?' 'Wearing those oversized military gloves.' 'First off, your face looks far too innocent for a thief.' 'If you mean to play robber, you'd need a proper fearsome beard or nobody would take fright.'"

“Hmm, did it come off?”

“There’s nothing here,” said the Elder Sister. “Darn it, I dropped it again!” the Thief exclaimed. “Oh no!” “And I paid three sen for that thing!”

"Younger Sister: Is that a fake beard?" "Thief: That's right—it's truly magnificent." "It’s supposed to look like this." (drawing an eight-shaped mustache beneath his nose) "They call this a bandit beard!" "Ah, there it is!" (Goes to the window and picks it up) "How about that? Impressive, eh?" "Younger Sister: That’s just your little routine." "Thief: Hand over a hundred yen." "I don’t have it." "I’m not scared one bit."

“Then hand over ninety yen.” “I don’t have it.” “Then hand over fifty yen.” “I don’t have it.” “Then hand over ten yen.” “I don’t have it.”

Thief: Then hand over 1 yen. Younger Sister: I don't have it. Thief: Then hand over ten sen. Younger Sister: I don't have it.

“Then hand over one sen.”

“I don’t have it.” “Then hand over zero.”

“Here you go.” (forming a circle with her fingers and presenting it)

“It’s meager,” said the Thief, pretending to receive it and tuck it into his pocket, “but I’ll endure this for tonight.” “What a peculiar thief,” murmured the Elder Sister.

“You bumbling thief.”

“That’s not true,” retorted the thief. “I have a hundred underlings, you know.” “Oh? You have a hundred underlings?” “What sort of people?” “Ishikawa Goemon.” “And then?” “Nezumi Kozō Jirōkichi.” “And then?”

“Arsène Lupin. Robin Hood.” “And then?” “G-men, Al Capone, King Kong, Sergeant Norakuro, Edo's Child Ken-chan, Susume Fuku-chan—and plenty more where that came from.” “That’s impressive.” “You must be shocked. I’ve even got a pistol. Want me to show you?” “Yeah.” “Here.” (He took out a toy Tetsupau and showed it) “This is a toy, isn’t it? Have you ever actually shot anyone with this?”

“Not yet. Because I plan to use it when I raid the London Bank.” “You're such a braggart.”

“O Melancholic Boaster of Journeys.”

“Well then—adios!” said the Thief. “I’ll come again.” (He exited swiftly through the window.)

"Younger Sister: We've had all sorts of visitors tonight, haven't we? That person... I feel like I've seen them before somewhere." "Elder Sister: I suppose so. Oh, be quiet."

Younger Sister: “What?” Elder Sister: “Someone coughed beyond the door.” Younger Sister: “Who was it?”

Elder Sister: “It sounded like a child.” (She went to open the door. A boy entered, carrying a harp.) Younger Sister: “Oh, how cute he is!” “And who’s this visitor?”

The Boy coughed—a dry, shallow sound. "Please come here," said the Elder Sister. "Have you caught cold?" "Yes," replied the Boy.

“It’s cold—please come closer to the fire.”

(The boy approaches.) Younger Sister: "Don't just stand there—have a seat."

(The boy sits down.)

“Take that thing off your shoulder,” said the Elder Sister. (helping him remove it) “What is this?”

“It’s a harp.” (removes gloves and places them on the desk)

“That’s unusual, isn’t it?” “This is my first time seeing one.” The boy looked around restlessly. “That child isn’t here.”

“Sis, who’s ‘that child’?”

The Boy: “That child.” “I don’t know his name.” Younger Sister: “I wonder if he’s talking about Yukibō.” Elder Sister: “That might be the case.” (to the Boy) “Are you talking about our brother?” The Boy: “Yes.” Elder Sister: “Yukibō-chan has died.”

“Did he die?”

"Yes."

"It was already two years ago." The Boy: "Where did he go?"

Elder Sister: “He died.” Boy: “So where did he go?” Younger Sister: “He doesn’t understand what dying means.”

“I suppose so,” said the Elder Sister. To the boy she explained: “Dying means disappearing completely from everywhere. If you put paper in fire, it burns away, doesn’t it? And then there’s nothing left at all. It’s exactly like that. But what comes after—even we don’t really know.” “So he’s nowhere anymore?” asked the Boy. “Yes,” she replied. “Like hide-and-seek?” he pressed, voice trembling slightly. “When someone hides so well they never come out, no matter how long you wait?”

“Yes—no matter how much time passes.”

The Boy: "This is so boring." "I came here to play." "I came thinking I'd play the harp and tell you stories about Kapi the dog and monkeys and all sorts of things." "And I've got loads of stories about traveling through the French countryside too." Elder Sister: "Please tell us." Boy: "But without that child here, it's no fun at all."

“I hate it when you make that sad face,” said the Younger Sister. “You’ll make us sad too.” The Boy fidgeted with his gloves. “I came to fly kites and pick horsetails on the embankment with him. But this is boring.”

The sisters…………

“I came here thinking I’d play on the swing, though.”

"Younger Sister: The swing Yukibō always played on—it still remains in the backyard, just as it was." "Boy: When skylarks rise from the pine woods... I thought we could sing their song together..." "Elder Sister: It truly is spring now." "Though tonight feels cold as winter." "The boy gave a light cough." "I should be going now." (He stood up)

“Elder Sister—don’t go out into this wind tonight; please stay here.” “But I have to go to France—I can’t stay long.” “Why don’t you have Father let you board his ship? Our father’s captain of the Berte-maru.”

“But I have to go now.”

“Why?” “The electric lights will come on any minute now.” “If they come on, it’ll get brighter—isn’t that better?” (The electric lights came on.) “Ah! They’re on.” “How dazzling...” The Boy stood, shouldering his harp. “Well, I should go.” “Must you really leave?”

“Oh... goodbye.” “Please do come again.”

The Boy: "No, I won't come again." Younger Sister: "Why? Even the Traveler and Thief said they'd come again." The Boy: "But I won't come again."

"Younger Sister: Why do you say such a sad thing?" "The Boy: But that child isn't here anymore."

Elder Sister: Yukibō-chan...?

The Boy: "Yes." (The sisters watched the boy sadly for a while.)

“I’ll give you this flower, so please take it with you.”

(Cutting a primrose and putting it into his chest pocket) Boy: "Thank you." The boy coughed repeatedly.

“Take care of yourself.”

(Elder Sister opened the door for him.) The Boy left. Elder Sister looked out the door for a while. Eventually closed it and came back in. (Sat down) "He's gone." (Pause)

"Younger Sister: The wind has died down, hasn't it?" "Yes." "My ears feel strange." "I still feel like I can hear that child's cough."

Younger Sister: I can hear it too. A small cough. Cough-cough. (Pause) Oh! That child forgot gloves.

“Oh really,” said Elder Sister. “If we go after him now, we might still make it.”

(She stood up) Younger Sister: "Oh, this looks familiar." "They're Yukibō's gloves, aren't they?" Elder Sister: "That's right." "They're Yukibō-chan's." "Here they're embroidered with 'Yuki-ta' in thread." "This is what I did for him." Younger Sister: "Yukibō's gloves..."

(Pause)

Elder Sister: (Sits down) I see.

Younger Sister: “I do too.” Elder Sister: “They were shadow pictures all along.”

Younger Sister: “That’s right.” “The first Traveler was the shadow picture Elder Sister made.” “The next thief was the one I made.” “And the child we just saw was Yukibō’s ‘Foundling’.” “We were seeing illusions all along.”

“That’s right.” (A car horn honked.)

“Oh, Father and the others have returned.”

(They stand up.) Curtain