Pathway to Japanese Literature

Characters: Jūbē.
Taichi.
Otsuya.
Traveler.
Police Officer.
Youths A and B.

The present day.

Autumn night.

Sagami Province, a section of cedar mountains near the ancient battlefield of Ishibashiyama.
Bearing a small hill behind it, in the lowland at its foot stood a thatched charcoal burner's hut.
The interior had an earthen floor, with a hearth hollowed out in the center and about three makeshift stools—stumps or stones—for seating.
The front had a crude plank door entrance.
In the lower area were an earthen stove, a bucket, dead branches for fuel, and such.
On the shelf above were placed trays, bowls, plates, small bowls, a canister containing tea, an earthenware teapot, teacups, and such.
There were also straw raincoats and hats hung up.
In the upper area was a narrow room for use as a bedroom, with a torn paper sliding door closed.
In the lower area was a rudimentary bamboo window.
The charcoal kiln was positioned outside the house, deep in the upper area, while to the left and right of the dwelling grew large cedar trees and thickets of pampas grass.

The moon was bright; an owl cried.

(On the shelf sat a small lamp; Jūbē, the charcoal burner—a man of forty-five or six—tended the fire before the hearth.)
Soon he poured water from the bucket into a large kettle and hung it on the adjustable hook above the hearth.
(From behind the paper sliding door came a child's voice.)

Taichi: "Dad... Dad..."

Jūbē (turning around): "What's the matter? What's the matter?"

"I'm scared."

"What's scary?"
(He stood up.) "Did you have a nightmare?"

(Jūbē laughed as he opened the sliding door in the upper area, and seven-year-old Taichi crawled out from his bedding.)

Jūbē: “Haha, what’s the matter? What’s the matter?”

Taichi (clinging to his father): “I’m scared.”

Jūbē: “What are you scared of, I tell you…”
“Dad’s here, so you’re safe.”
(laughing while scolded) “You coward!”
“Pull yourself together!”

“But I’m scared... somehow.”
“Dad.”

Jūbē: “What the hell are you goin’ on about, you idiot….”
(His voice grows rougher.) “A weakling like you think you can stay here with Dad?”
“Because I’ll send you packing back home tomorrow, you’d better believe it.”
“You hear me?”

(Taichi remains silent.)

Jūbē: “That’s why I told you to stay home, but you insisted you wouldn’t feel lonely if you were with Dad and forced your way to come here, didn’t you?”
“Dad’s lived all year round in this lone house up the mountain, but there ain’t been a single time he’s ever felt scared.”
(He shrugs mid-sentence.) “Ah, now that night’s come, it’s gotten a bit chilly.”
“Come on, you too—get over here by the fire, warm yourself up good, and go to sleep.”
“It ain’t scary—it’s the cold.”
“Warm yourself up good and sleep nice and cozy.”

(Taichi still came wordlessly before the hearth.
Jūbē added more dead branches to the fire.
(An owl cried.)

Taichi (listening fearfully): “Dad.”
“What’s that—that sound…”

Jūbē: “That’s an owl.”
“It’s hooting.”
“Nothing unusual about that.”
(Laughing.) “You’re acting strange tonight.”

(The two sat facing each other, warming themselves by the hearth fire.)
The faint sound of mountain wind rustled.
(A folk song floated from afar.)

〽 What fear is there when visiting one’s beloved?

(Taichi suddenly stood up and clung to his father once more.)

“I’m scared.”
“Dad.”

Jūbē: “Here we go again.”
“You spineless coward!”
“I’m really sending you home tomorrow.”

Taichi (turning terrified eyes toward the entrance): “It’s here! It’s here!”

〝To meet again tonight—alone along the shadowed road.〞

Jūbē: “Huh—sounds like someone’s coming while singing.”
“That voice ain’t familiar—can’t be one of the local youngsters.”
“Maybe some traveler’s lost their way.”

〝Though I gave little thought to the path ahead, here I’ve climbed to crest this peak—crossing mountains to meet you.〞

(Jūbē listened to the song.)
Taichi trembled and clung desperately to his father.
Eventually, Jūbē stood up and peered out from the lower window.)

Jūbē: "Ah."
"He's coming this way—coming!"

"I'm scared."

(Taichi, unable to bear it any longer, fled into the back room and desperately rattled the paper sliding door shut.)
Jūbē gazed out front.
A traveler of twenty-five or twenty-six years emerged from below—travel-worn yet his bearing wasn’t base; dressed in Western clothes with a mountaineering cap, gaiters on his legs, a rucksack on his back, and using a tree branch as a walking stick.

Traveler (calling out to Jūbē): “Excuse me, but might I trouble you to let me rest here awhile?”

Jūbē: “Yeah, yeah.”
“Come on in.”

Traveler: “Would it be permissible to enter?”

Jūbē: “It’s no trouble.”
(Opens the front door.) “There we go…”

Traveler (stepping inside): "I must apologize for this intrusion."

Jūbē: The hearth fire’s just caught properly.
“Come on, warm yourself up.”

Traveler: “Thank you.”
(Setting down his rucksack and sitting before the hearth.) “Even though it’s only mid-October, it’s quite cold in the mountains, isn’t it.”

Jūbē (Laughs.) “It’s not exactly deep in the mountains, but even so, when night falls, it seems to get much colder here than down in the village.
“You’ve come along the night road—what brings you out to a place like this at this hour?”

“I plan to cross Hakone and reach Kōshū.”

Jūbē: “Hmm, Kōshū...”

“You’ll be able to go there, I suppose?”

Jūbē: “I’ve never been myself, but you should be able to make it. So you’ll stay in Hakone tonight then.”

“Well... I haven’t quite decided yet whether to stay in Hakone or walk through the night. Do wild animals appear around these mountains?”

Jūbē: “They say wolves used to roam here—boars and bears too—but these days? Nothing worth mentioning. Just monkeys sometimes sneaking in to steal your food if you’re careless enough.”

Traveler (relieved): “I see.”
“Then the night path must be safe too.”
(Looking toward the window.) “Tonight’s a fine moon, isn’t it.”

Jūbē: “It’s the Thirteenth Night by the old calendar.” (Laughing as if remembering.) “Though there’s plenty of pampas grass right before my eyes, I forgot to make an offering tonight.”

Traveler: “The Thirteenth Night?”
(Thinks.) Last month’s Fifteenth Night... Was there a good moon around here too?

Jūbē: The moon was beautiful.

Traveler (as if immersed in reflection): "Tokyo also had a good moon."

Jūbē: “You’re from Tokyo, aren’t you.”

Traveler: “Yes, well—that’s right.”

Jūbē: “That was you singing earlier, wasn’t it.”

“Did you hear it?”
“No—well…”
(Scratching his head awkwardly.) “The truth is, I was so lonely I started humming some half-remembered ditty—ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

“I may be a country bumpkin who doesn’t know anything, but you seem to have quite a good voice.”

“You must be joking. Since there’s no one around in the mountains, I sang out loud without holding back… In the middle of Tokyo, I’d be too embarrassed to sing.”

Jūbē (also laughing): "That Tokyo fellow comes here and then heads to Kōshū..."
“Are you on your way back from somewhere?”

Traveler (hesitating slightly): “Yes.”
“I’m fond of traveling and keep darting from place to place.”

Jūbē: “That must be enjoyable.”

Traveler: “About a month ago—on the very night of the Fifteenth Moon—I left my home and have been wandering from place to place ever since.”

Jūbē: Which way have you been traveling?

I first headed out to the Tōhoku region and made my way to Nasu.
Then I went to Iizaka in Fukushima and on to Aizu...
After that, I ventured into Echigo and traveled around the northern regions...
I returned along the Tōkaidō by train and got off at Atami tonight.

Jūbē (surprised): Oh, you’ve walked quite a lot.

I came along the mountain paths from Atami to here, but what with it being nighttime and me not knowing the way—just as I said earlier—I ended up bellowing some random ditty while recklessly trudging through...
(With a bitter smile.) "What sort of place is this, anyway?"

“You know Yugawara Hot Springs, don’t you.”

Traveler: “Yugawara...”
“I know.”

Jūbē: “It’s a place called Toi no Sugiyama, not far from that hot spring resort. The large cedar where Minamoto no Yoritomo is said to have hidden remained until recently, but it has now withered away.”

Traveler: “Then this place isn’t far from the village, is it?”

Jūbē: “Even though it’s in the mountains, the village is close. My house is in the village just below here, and my wife and daughter are farmers.”

Traveler: “Do you live here alone?”

Jūbē: “This is a charcoal burner’s hut, so I’m the only one living here.”

Traveler (looking around): “Ah, so this is a charcoal burner’s hut.”

Jūbē (Points upward.) "The hearth is behind this hut."

Traveler: “I see.”
(Nodded.) “Even so, don’t you get lonely being alone?”

Jūbē: “Since I’m used to it, I don’t particularly feel lonely.
And since the village is close, my family comes to visit sometimes.
Tonight too, a child has come to stay over.”

“How old is your child?”

“He’s just turned seven, so still a proper child.”

“If you have a child, I have something nice here.”
(Took out a box of sushi from his rucksack.) “I bought this on the train, but I’ll open it here.”
(He opened the lid of the box.)

Jūbē: “Oh now that’s proper hospitality.”
“The boy’ll be overjoyed.”
(Calls toward the back.) “Oi! Taichi!”
“Get over here! Now!”
“Our guest’s brought us fine treats!”
“Out with you—quick!”

(From behind the sliding door came no response.)
Jūbē stood up, slid open the door, and peered inside.

Jūbē: "Hey, what are you doing?"
"The traveler's offering something tasty, I tell you."
(Laughing.) "Well, just come here thinking you've been tricked."

“Has he already gone to sleep?”

Jūbē: “No, he’s awake, but… Hey, Taichi. Why’re you huddling in the corner like that? Come on out here. Hey, you comin’ out or not?”

Taichi (in a tearful voice): “No! No! I’m scared!”

Jūbē: “At it again, are ya… You coward! Told ya to come here, but… Keep dawdlin’ and I’ll grab your scruff and drag ya out!”

(Jūbē grabbed Taichi’s arm and forcibly dragged him out.)
The moment Taichi saw the traveler, it was as if his terror had redoubled; he cowered and shrank into a tiny ball in the corner of the dirt-floored room.

“Aren’t you going to say hello to Mr. Traveler?”

Traveler (laughing): “Good evening...”

(Taichi did not answer, only stiffening further.)

Jūbē tsked. “Hopeless kid.”
“Well, since you went through the trouble bringing this treat, let’s brew some bancha.”
“Looks like the water’s already boiled.”

(Jūbē glared sidelong at Taichi while taking the adjustable kettle to the lower area, fetching a teapot from the shelf to prepare tea.)
(An owl cried.)

Traveler (also seeming slightly fearful): “Ah. What is that sound?”

Jūbē: “It’s an owl.”

“That’s an unpleasant call.”
“You’ve never heard that before?”

"I lived in the downtown area, so I haven't heard it before."
"No—I might have heard it somewhere before, but I didn't realize it was such an unpleasant sound."
(The owl's cry continued.) "Ah—it's crying again..."
"It somehow seems like it's calling out to someone."

Jūbē: "We're used to hearing it year-round, so it doesn't bother us, but for those who only hear it occasionally, it might be an unpleasant sound."

(Jūbē placed the teapot and teacups on a tray and returned to the hearth.)

Jūbē: "This being such a place, please excuse the crude teacup."

Traveler: "I'm causing you so much trouble."
(Taking a sip of tea.) "Go ahead and eat without hesitation."
(Holding out the box of sushi.) "Does your child not like this?"

Jūbē: "Not dislike? He loves it so much he'd dive right in."
(To Taichi.) "Look here."
"There's your favorite egg sushi too."
"There's nori rolls too."
"Come here and eat up already."
"Do you hate sushi?"

Taichi stretched his neck and peeked cautiously, but upon seeing the traveler, shrank back again abruptly.
Partly out of consideration for the guest and partly out of frustration at his son’s spinelessness, Jūbē bellowed as he berated him.

“Hey! What’re you dawdlin’ for?”
“Get over here, get over here.”

Taichi (in a low voice): “Yeah...”

“That ain’t no way to answer!”
“What kinda ill-mannered brat acts like this with company here?”
“Hurry up an’ get over here, you little...”
(He grabbed the dead branches by the hearth and hurled them at Taichi.)

Traveler intervened hurriedly. "Ah, that's dangerous! You mustn't let him get hurt."

Jūbē retorted, "What? This is how I always smack him when he won't listen." He brandished the dead branches again. "You little brat—still not coming?"

Taichi, unable to stay hidden any longer, crawled out timidly and clung to his father's back. Jūbē grabbed the sushi box and thrust it before the boy's eyes.

"How's this? Looks tasty, doesn't it? Bow to the guest and try eating whichever one you like."

(Taichi remained hidden behind his father and did not answer.)

Traveler (laughing): "Hurry up and eat."

(Upon hearing that voice, Taichi trembled violently again and clamped onto his father’s back like a lion.)

“What’s gotten into you tonight?” Jūbē said. “If you don’t eat, Dad’ll gobble up every last piece. Got it?”

(Taichi nodded mutely.)
Jūbē took a piece of sushi and ate it with apparent relish, then drank some tea.
The traveler took out a cigarette and started smoking.
(Owl’s cry.)

Jūbē: “It’d be rude if I’m the only one eating without restraint. You should go ahead and eat too.”

Traveler: “No, I prefer tobacco. How about you? Would you care for some…?”
(He took out a cigarette.)

Jūbē: “Well now, thank you for all this hospitality… I’ll take one then.”
(After accepting the tobacco and smoking, he glanced back at Taichi.) “This one’s my youngest—always coming here to play or stay over, used to being alone. But tonight of all nights he starts whining about loneliness and fear.”
“Since this is a lone house along the mountain path, travelers who lose their way sometimes stop by. Normally he’s ridiculously friendly with strangers—calling any man ‘uncle’ right away. Yet somehow with you tonight… No bowing, no speaking, just shrinking behind me…”
“Downright strange, I tell you.”

Traveler (laughs.) "It seems I'm thoroughly disliked…"
"No—it's not just this child. I'm made to be someone disliked by everyone."

Jūbē: "That's quite the joke."
"I'm not saying this as flattery just because you treated me to a meal, but there's no one who'd dislike someone like you."
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha."

Traveler (forcefully.) "No, I am disliked."
"I'm especially disliked by women—deceived and all…."
"I'm truly a pitiable man."

Jūbē (laughing): “Aren’t you saying the opposite of what you mean?”

Traveler: “There’s no front or back to it.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Even on this trip—everywhere I went, people avoided me, disliked me... Never once did I see a friendly face.”

Jūbē: “Why do you think that is?”

Traveler: “I must’ve been made that way.”

Jūbē: “Is that so?”

(The conversation lapsed, and the two men smoked their tobacco in silence.)

From below appeared Otsuya—a woman of twenty-four or twenty-five, dressed in the style of a geisha from Atami or thereabouts.
Otsuya was a spirited woman, slightly drunk.

Otsuya (calling from outside the window): “Uncle.”
“Black Uncle.”

Jūbē: “Who’s there?”
(Peering out.) “Oh! Otsuya?”
“What brings you here this late?”

Otsuya (hesitating slightly): “There’s a guest here….”

Jūbē: “Hmm, we have a guest, but…”
“Well, don’t stand on ceremony—come on in.”

Traveler: “Please don’t mind me….”

Otsuya: “Well then, excuse me.”

(Otsuya opened the front door, entered inside, came before the hearth, and bowed to the traveler.
The traveler also silently bowed.)

Otsuya (familiarly): “My, it’s quite chilly tonight.”

The traveler seemed to grow suddenly cold.

Jūbē stared hard at Otsuya. “What brings you here this late?”

Otsuya glanced over at the traveler. “Can I say it in front of the guest?”

“If you ain’t done wrong, no need to hold back before anybody,” Jūbē retorted. “You ain’t actually being chased by police now.”

(The traveler’s expression twitched faintly, though he kept listening calmly.)

“Might end up getting chased though...” Otsuya trailed off before laughing nervously. “Truth is... I had a spat with my master.”

Jūbē grimaced through his laughter. “Ran off again, have ya?”
“What a damn troublesome shrew.”
“Ain’t this your third time now?”
“Your master runs one o’ Atami’s finest houses—why’re ya always pickin’ fights?”

Otsuya countered, “Why d’you think…?”
“Guess we’re just oil ’n water.”
“October’s when business booms round here—wanna skip town five-six days ’n give ’im proper grief durin’ peak season.”
“Black Uncle—sorry ’bout springin’ this—but let me hole up here them days, won’tcha…?”

“If you want to hide, why don’t you just go to Odawara? You must have your own home there.”

Otsuya: “If I went home, they’d come straight after me—that much I know. But with autumn winds nipping at my sleeves, I’ve got no heart to traipse all the way to Tokyo or Yokohama for idle loafing. Here though—here nobody’ll bat an eye. Let me hole up five-six days, then lumber back home sudden-like when the time’s ripe, like I fell straight from heaven… C’mon, have a heart and put me up!”

Jūbē: “Outrageous way to vex your master. If you don’t earn when earning’s ripe, it’s not just him suffers—first off, you’re cutting your own throat! Can’t grasp that much sense?”

Otsuya: “Ugh, how crude! You think I can pick a fight with my master if I’m busy calculating profit and loss?” “Ha ha ha ha ha!” (Laughing while addressing the traveler.) “Hey, you.” “Don’t you agree?”

Traveler (laughing along): “That might be the case.”

Otsuya (to Jūbē): “There, see? He shows sympathy for me too, you know. Even you, Black Uncle, wouldn’t be so tactless as to talk about hauling a lone woman who’s rushed here like this off to the magistrate’s office in ropes, would you?”

Jūbē: “I may be a tactless man, but…” (With a bitter smile.) “You really are a lone woman…. Even if it’s a moonlit night, ain’t no way I can send you back on the road now. I’ll let you stay just for tonight, so come tomorrow, go wherever you please. I can’t keep you here long. Listen here.”

Otsuya: “Yes, yes.
‘When tomorrow comes, tomorrow’s wind will blow.’
‘I, a wandering ascetic who has journeyed until weary, would be most grateful if you would kindly lend me a night’s lodging.’
‘Well, well, now I can rest easy.’
‘Ahahahahaha!’”
(While saying this, she fixed her eyes on Taichi.) “Oh, Ta-chan, there you were.
You were being so quiet that I didn’t notice you at all.
There we go. Come over to Auntie’s side.”

(Summoned by Otsuya, Taichi moved closer to her side but continued eyeing the traveler’s expression with unease.)

“Ta-chan, what’s wrong with you?” Otsuya pressed. “You’re staring blankly tonight like a monkey that tumbled from a tree. Getting sleepy already?”

“I’d put him to bed earlier,” Jūbē grumbled, “but he crawled back here whimpering about being scared stiff, like something haunted him.”

“What’s there to fear?” Otsuya countered. “Weren’t you always boasting about your strength, Ta-chan? Swaggering about becoming a prizefighter someday? Look around—Dad’s here, I’m here, this gentleman’s here… Even if foxes came prowling or badgers came snuffling, what could possibly make you jump?”

When Otsuya said "this gentleman," Taichi trembled again and clung to her like a lion cub.
Otsuya also noticed and turned to look at the traveler.

“How strange, this child...”
(Laughing.) “Since he’s someone we don’t know, you’re being shy around strangers, aren’t you?”
“He’s a proper gentleman—there’s nothing scary about him at all.”

“I’ve been disliked by that child since earlier.”

Even as they served sushi like this, that fellow didn’t lift a finger or offer a bow.
“Hopeless idiot.”

Otsuya: "You really are a hopeless fool, aren't you?"
(Looking at the sushi.) "Well now, this is what I served."
"Instead of Ta-chan, might I have a piece instead?"

Traveler: "It may not be very tasty, but come now—please eat without hesitation."

Otsuya: "This ill-mannered Chiematsu at your service."
"Please forgive this ill-mannered Chiematsu…"

(Otsuya picked up a piece of sushi and ate it while laughing.)
Jūbē also ate.
(The Traveler watched while smoking a cigarette.)

“Uncle. I beg you—a cup of hot water…”

Jūbē: “I see, I see. Haha, I’d forgotten.”
(He went to the cupboard to fetch a tea bowl.)

Traveler (as if remembering): “Ah, I’d forgotten too. There’s a better drink than tea here.”
(Taking out a large jar of sake from his rucksack.) “How about this?”

“Oh, sake… How wonderful!” Otsuya exclaimed. “You’ve brought all sorts of provisions with you.”

“I bought this along the way in case I needed to camp outdoors,” the traveler replied. “Please have some.”

“I’ll pour for everyone—you must drink too,” Otsuya insisted before calling out, “Hey there, Black Uncle!”

Jūbē grumbled, “Stop calling me that every damn time.”

“But Uncle,” she countered playfully, “you are a charcoal burner, aren’t you?”

“True enough I’m a charcoal burner,” Jūbē admitted, “but no need to get all polite specifying ‘black’.” He snorted. “Sharp-tongued wench.”

“Is black so terrible?” Otsuya countered. “Ōtomo no Kurokushi who coveted the realm—even ‘black’ served him well!” She waved dismissively. “Anyway, look here—” Shoving the jar forward, she added: “Got another of these.”

Jūbē: “Oh, sake?”
(Breaking into a grin.) “Now we’re talking—a real feast.”

Otsuya: “Come on, come on—let’s get this party started! Committee members, please take your seats. Ha ha ha ha ha!”

(Otsuya went under the cupboard, removed the lid from the jar, and brought it over on a small tray.
Taichi paced restlessly and followed after her.)

Otsuya: “How annoying, this child...
“Like a kite with its string cut—why does he cling so annoyingly?”
(to the Traveler) “Well, from you...
“You probably won’t take a liking to such haphazard service, but...”

Traveler: “No, really...”
(He poured some into his own bowl and took a small sip.)

“Come on, Uncle.”

Jūbē nodded politely to the Traveler. “Well then, I’ll have some.”
He had Otsuya pour him a drink and drank. “Ah, fine sake.”
“You have some too.”

Traveler: “I will pour the drinks.”

Otsuya: “Oh, you…”
“Thank you very much.”
(Drinking from the Traveler’s pour.) “Hey, Black…”
“Oops, White Uncle.”
“Now that it’s come to this, I’ve gone and gotten ridiculously cheerful tonight!”
“I had a fight with my husband and have been pointlessly irritated ever since…”
“See? He’d say something about it, wouldn’t he?”
“Ah, this gloom, this gloom….”
“That gloom I was feeling—here, having a drink like this, my chest cleared up, and suddenly I felt cheerful…”
“Ah, what a wonderful feeling.”
“I’m so cheerful!”

(Otsuya poured another drink for Jūbē.)
Jūbē also drank, seeming in good spirits.
The traveler silently poured a drink for Otsuya.

“You’re still going to pour for me?”
“Yes, yes. Thank you kindly.”
(Drinks again.) “Hey, you.”
“I haven’t even properly introduced myself yet—I’m this uncle’s distant relative, born in Odawara of Sagami Province. Since I was a brat, I’ve had sticky fingers… not that it’s anything serious! Just a bit of schooling that stuck with me through fate. Started from little old Odawara—not quite spanning the whole Tōkaidō Highway mind you—drifted through Ōiso, Hakone, and Yugawara, and now I’ve crashed at Matsu no Ie in Atami.”
“My real name is Otsuya, my stage name is Kinpachi—nicknames Garappachi or Garakin…”
“If you suspect this is fraud, then by all means go fetch my family registry from the municipal office!”
“Ha ha ha ha ha!”

Traveler: (Enviously.) “You’re truly cheerful, aren’t you?”

Otsuya (her composure beginning to fray): “Oh yes, yes—I’m positively cheerful! They call it ‘cheerfulness’ these days as the fashionable term, you know. Even the moon has passing clouds—even cheerful folks sometimes get out of sorts and clash with their masters. In a world where trains and cars collide all the time, it’s no wonder a geisha might clash with hers too. Hey, you… Since I don’t know your name, I’ll just call you An-chan for now. Hey, An-chan—right? What do you say to that?” Ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

Jūbē said bitterly, “It’s too damn noisy.”
“Keep your chatter in check.”
“You’re not one to lose your head over a drink or two, but you’ve built up quite a foundation tonight.”

Otsuya retorted, “Uncle’s second sight is impressive.”
“Truth is, while waiting for the train at Atami Station, I ducked into a rest house—downed a beer and some jarred snack without stopping for breath—not that I made any fanfare about it—then came charging up this mountain path riding that buzz.”
“That much liquor should’ve worn off on the hike, but once I squeezed into this cramped hut and got myself roasted by the hearth fire, the drunkenness hit me all over again—now I’m feeling downright giddy!”
“Don’t know why, but tonight I’m so blasted cheerful I could burst.”
“Come on, An-chan.”
“Pour me another round.”

(The Traveler silently poured drinks, and Otsuya continued to drink.)

Jūbē: “Well, sir.”
“Please forgive the rudeness.”
“As she herself says, this one’s Gara-kin, Gara-ppa…”
“That’s why she’s constantly quarreling with her master wherever she goes.”
“In her line of work, she can’t exactly not drink at all—but for a woman to guzzle alcohol and get into brawls…”

“Stop that—spreading such disparaging rumors about me in front of others…”
“They call that kind of thing malicious gossip—these days the police crack down on it fiercely.”
“Come on—pour White Uncle another cup to shut him up…”
(She poured a drink for Jūbē.) “It’d be downright rude if just us kept yammering away drinking like this.”
(To the Traveler.) “Come on—you have some too.”
“What’s with all that gloomy brooding?”

“No—I don’t drink.”

“If you don’t drink, why’d you go buying such a huge jar?”

“I bought it instead of water.”

“If it’s instead of water, why not buy cider? Liar, liar… You’ll drink properly now. Come on—don’t embarrass Garakin. Let me serve you cheerfully.”

“No—I can manage one cup at most. Beyond that I can’t drink at all. I’m an uncouth man…”

“Liar…” (Glaring.) “They can’t tell if you’re some boorish oaf or pleasure-seeker—so tell me straight: do you even have a geisha license? You might dress like some modern Fuji pilgrim, but Matsuōmaru here sees right through you with these sharp eyes.” “Hey, An-chan—you’ve been pampered by geisha plenty before, haven’t you?”

Traveler (coldly): “There isn’t, you see.”
Otsuya: “Then a café…”

“No,” replied the Traveler, his tone still icy.

“No ties to geisha or café girls?” pressed Otsuya.

“None.”
He gestured toward Jūbē. “As I told him earlier—I’m a pitiful man, even by my own admission.”

“And your line of work…?”

“I was involved in some insignificant business in Tokyo, but I’ve already quit that—”
(Mocking himself.) “Well—consider me a layabout or vagrant.”

“A vagrant suits you just fine,” Otsuya sneered. “Well, keep up that innocent act all you like.” She laughed sharply. “You’re an uncouth man, a pitiful one, a good-for-nothing layabout—oh how I envy you!” Her voice turned probing. “So where exactly are you bound?” She gestured at his clothes. “Dressed like that—planning to scale mountains or something?”

(The Traveler stared silently at the fire.)

Jūbē said, “He’s heading out to Hakone now and crossing over the mountains toward Kōshū.”

“Oh...”
(With exaggerated flair.) “My, what an adventure!”
“Still, I have my doubts about crossing mountains all night like this.”
“If you were planning to stay at some cheap inn anyway, why not spend the night here instead?”

“Hmm.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“Don’t reckon nothin’ scary’ll come prowlin’, but night trails through these mountains ain’t safe. One misstep and you’re done for.”
“Hut’s cramped as you see—no proper beddin’, nothin’ to lend—but how ’bout dozin’ by the hearth fire ’til dawn breaks?”

“Well…”
(thinking.)

“You,” Otsuya pressed. “Just say ‘Okay’ properly. After we tuck those meddlesome uncles into bed first, you and I can sit facing each other and take our sweet time through the night. With this shack as our stage and owl hoots for musical accompaniment—well, it won’t make for any solemn drama. Think of it as a comic duo’s back-and-forth.”

(The Traveler remained silent, lost in thought.)

Otsuya sidled closer. “I’m getting livelier by the minute, but you’re just getting gloomier. How am I supposed to keep up with you?”
“Hey, you.”
“They say even brushing sleeves in passing is a bond from a past life—no need to dislike me so much.”
“Let’s have a nice friendly chat here tonight.”
Laughing, she added, “Do you know this song…?”
“If that time hadn’t happened, you wouldn’t be mine—”
She lightly patted his back. “Ha ha ha ha ha!”

Jūbē: “You’re quite the laugher. You’re the only one talking—it’s so noisy I can’t stand it. Even if this is a lone house in the mountains, you should show some restraint. I’m trying to have a quiet talk with our guest here, so take that chatterbox mouth of yours and go sleep in the back with Taichi already.”

Otsuya: “Oh? So you’re telling me to go to bed first? With this long night ahead—how could a lone person possibly sleep now?” (To the Traveler.) “You—what time…”

Traveler (glanced at his wristwatch.) "Just past nine twenty."

Otsuya: "Nine twenty..."
"It's still early for us."
"Though Taichi must be sleepy by now."
(Looking back.) "My, what a peculiar child."
"I kept feeling something tugging at me—turns out he's been clamped onto my obi like a lion cub. So this is what they mean by a true shadow."
(Pointing at the sushi.) "Aren't you going to eat this?"
"Come now, eat up."

(Otsuya took a nori roll and offered it to him.)
(Taichi shook his head while stealing glances at the traveler’s face.)

Otsuya: “Gross.”
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
(This time glancing at the traveler.) “He really is shy around strangers after all, isn’t he.”
“Well then, go to bed now.”

Jūbē: Take that brat over there and put him to bed.

Otsuya (to Taichi.) Come on, go say good night to the guest.

(As Otsuya took Taichi’s hand and tried to lead him before the traveler, Taichi trembled and clung to her.)

“I’m scared…”

Otsuya: “What’s there to be scared of?”
“You’re such a coward.”

Jūbē (feeling sorry for the guest’s sake): “Yeah, that’s enough now. Hurry up and take him away, take him away.”

Otsuya: “Come on, come on…”

(Otsuya led Taichi into the upper sliding door area.)
(The sound of mountain wind.)

Traveler (muttering to himself.) “The wind’s picking up.”

Jūbē: “Oh—wind’s getting in through the window…”
“No wonder I’ve been feeling this chill since earlier.”

(As Jūbē stood to close the lower window—a violent gust of mountain wind howled—
The lamp’s flame went out.)

Jūbē (closing the window.) Ah, damn it.
The lamp had been extinguished.

“Oh, the lamp’s gone out,” Otsuya called from behind the sliding door.

The earthen floor darkened as the firelight dimmed.
The mountain wind howled.

In that dimness, Otsuya opened the sliding door and began to step out, but suddenly shuddered and sat down on the threshold, remaining silent for a time.
When Jūbē relit the lamp, the earthen floor brightened.

Jūbē (returning to the hearth): "Around here, strong mountain winds sometimes blow up, but they die down quickly."
(Adding branches to the hearth): "But when the wind blows, it gets cold."
"Those unaccustomed should take care not to catch a cold."

The traveler shrugs.) It has become truly cold.

Jūbē (grasping the sake.) How about some to ward off the cold...

Traveler: No—I...
(Shakes his head.) "You all go ahead and drink."

Jūbē: I see.
“Leaving our guest neglected over there while we selfishly eat and drink here...”
“Haha, terribly sorry about that.”
(Pours himself a drink.)

(In the meantime, Otsuya pondered something and quietly headed toward the front entrance.)

“Uncle,” Otsuya whispered.

Jūbē: What?

Otsuya (opening the entrance door.) Just a moment...

(Having called Jūbē out, Otsuya exits the hut as if fleeing.)
Jūbē also exits and heads to the lower area.

The stage revolved halfway to outside the hut.
Otsuya’s face, illuminated by moonlight, was now ghastly pale—as if she were a different person.

Jūbē: “You went out of your way to call me outside. What’s this about?”

(As Otsuya pointed inside and whispered, Jūbē burst into laughter.)

Jūbē: “Haha, don’t spout nonsense.”

Otsuya (in a hushed but forceful voice): “But there’s something truly eerie about that man. I’d been wondering why Taichi was so unreasonably scared of him—but now I’ve suddenly become frightened too.”

Jūbē: “Why’s that?”

Otsuya (as if struck by abnormal terror.) “That lamp went out in the wind… The inside of the hut suddenly grew dim, you see?”

Jūbē: “Hmm.”

Otsuya: “At that moment when I tried to open the sliding door to come out, that man’s shadow by the hearth… It was so terrifying I shuddered.”

Jūbē: “The shadow...” (Tilting his head.) “Are you saying his shadow was faint?”

Otsuya: “The shadow isn’t faint—it’s terrifying. No wonder Taichi-chan’s so frightened. That man’s definitely not an ordinary person.”

Jūbē: “But he can’t possibly be a monster. I ain’t heard any tales ’round here ’bout foxes or raccoon dogs transformin’. Hahahaha!”

Otsuya: “Shh! Shh!” (Cutting him off.) “Just get him out already—it’s creepin’ me out!”

Jūbē: “Didn’t you say he could stay?”

Otsuya (flustered): “Cancel that, cancel that…
“I’m absolutely retracting it!
“I absolutely refuse to stay with someone like that.
“In my line of work, I’ve met all sorts of people—but never once have I encountered anyone as terrifying as him.
“He might not be a monster, but he’s no ordinary human being, I tell you.”

Jūbē (still skeptical.) “He doesn’t look like such a person to me…”
“You keep saying ‘terrifying, terrifying,’ but just how terrifying is he?”

Otsuya: Well, you see...
“I can’t quite put it into words, but…”
"I mean, it’s absolutely terrifying."
“Even someone as bold as me shuddered as if doused with cold water.”
“Even Taichi-chan keeps saying ‘It’s scary! Scary!’ and trembles under the futon.”

Jūbē: The child is one thing, but even you with that trembling voice…
(Thinks again.) Why someone so meek would be terrifying—I can’t make heads or tails of it.

“Uncle, you’re so thick-skinned you don’t feel a thing!”
“You’re downright exasperating!”

“Quit making such a racket.”
“Let’s just go inside and see what’s what.”

“Then you go in alone, Uncle,” said Otsuya. “I’ll stay right here...”

Jūbē retorted, “How can I just stand out here?” He grasped her hand. “Well, get inside!”

She shuddered violently. “Disgusting! Disgusting! How could anyone go near someone like that? I’ll stand here until dawn breaks, I tell you.”

Jūbē: “If you stay out here, you’ll catch cold.”

Otsuya (voice breaking): “But I told you I don’t care if I catch cold or die...”
(She shoves Jūbē.)

Jūbē (exasperated): “Acting like a damn lunatic.”
“Fine—do what you want.”

(Jūbē withdrew inside as he was, and the stage returned to its original state.)
Otsuya tiptoed to beneath the window and, from outside the closed door, strained her ears as though trying to eavesdrop on the conversation inside.

The sound of the mountain wind echoed.
The Traveler remained motionless before the hearth, lost in thought, but raised his face upon noticing Jūbē's return.
"The wind still seems to be blowing."

“It’s still blowing.”
(He took a seat before the hearth.)

“What became of the person called Ms. Otsuya?”

Jūbē: “Otsuya is...”
(hesitating slightly) “She seems to be wandering around there.”

Traveler: “Is she looking at the moon?”

Jūbē: “That might be the case.”
“That one’s flighty by nature.”

Traveler (stares at Jūbē’s face.) “Didn’t she go down to the village?”

Jūbē: “No, that’s not the case at all.”
“She’ll be back soon.”
(While saying this, he fixes his eyes on the traveler.)

“I see.”
(Thinks.) Both you and Ms. Otsuya told me to stay here, but will you really let me?

Jūbē (evasively.) “Yeah.”

The night deepened gradually; the wind grew colder.
Since crossing the mountains now would be too difficult, perhaps I should impose on them tonight.

Jūbē said evasively, “Is that so?”

Otsuya, having overheard this exchange, suddenly resolved herself. She circled around to the front entrance and cracked open the door slightly to peer inside.

The Traveler asked with excessive reserve, “Could I ask you to let me stay? Would that be troublesome?”

Jūbē replied, “It’s not exactly troublesome...”

Otsuya (resolutely opened the door and entered.) “Uncle.”
“I did tell you earlier we should put him up—but we can’t.”

“Is it not permitted?”

Otsuya (gathering her courage.) “Absolutely not.”
“When I think about it properly, the police are quite strict about these matters.”

Traveler (eyes glinting.) “The police…”

“Yes,” said Otsuya. “If you let a stranger stay in a house that’s not even an inn, the police make a huge fuss.” She turned to Jūbē with a meaningful glance. “Right, Uncle?”

Jūbē gave an evasive grunt.

“So we’ll have to refuse your request,” Otsuya concluded firmly.

(Otsuya’s attitude had changed completely, yet the traveler also seemed somewhat taken aback and fell silent, lost in thought.)
(From inside the paper sliding door, Taichi’s voice.)

“I’m scared!”
“I’m scared…”

Otsuya (with a shudder.) Oh no, Taichi-chan’s having nightmares again….
“What’s wrong with him, I wonder…”

Otsuya turned to Jūbē, urging him with her eyes to drive out the traveler quickly.
Jūbē was still hesitating with a look of pity.
As if realizing this, the traveler moved away from the hearth.

“No—I understand,” said the Traveler.
“If you say the police are strict, then there’s nothing to be done.”
“I’ll be on my way right away.”

Jūbē (looking increasingly apologetic): “Are you leaving?”

Otsuya (urging expulsion): “There are several inns in Hakone, so you’d best make your way there before the night grows too late.”

The Traveler (with a desolate laugh): “I’ll walk straight through without lodging anywhere.” (Shouldering his rucksack.) “No—I’ve troubled you enough.”

Jūbē: “We’re the ones who should be thanking you.”
“Well then, do take care on your way.”

Otsuya: “Farewell.”

Traveler: “You should all get some rest.”

(The traveler exited the hut and departed into the upper reaches.)
Jūbē saw him out and watched him leave.
(An owl’s cry.)

Otsuya (in a low voice): “Uncle... Has he already left?”

Jūbē: "Hmm."
(Returning to the hearth) "You drove him out recklessly, but I can't help pitying the man."

Otsuya: "Don't be absurd!"
"How could we endure having someone like that stay here indefinitely?"
(Pouring tea from the clay pot and drinking) "Ugh, creepy, creepy."
"This has literally shortened my lifespan."

Taichi (quietly sliding open the door): "Did...did the scary man go away?"

Otsuya: "Oh, you're up again? It's safe now, come over here."

(Taichi emerges into the dirt-floored entryway.)
Jūbē is silently thinking.

Otsuya: “It’s not like there’s poison mixed in here or anything.”
Otsuya: “Now that nobody else is around, you can eat without worrying.”

(When Otsuya offered him a nori-wrapped sushi roll, Taichi ate it without hesitation.)

Otsuya: “Taichi-chan.”
“Why were you so scared like that?”
“Why are you scared of that person?”

“I’m scared.”

Otsuya: “Why were you so scared?”

“I was scared.”

Jūbē (to Otsuya): “Then why were you so scared yourself?”

Otsuya: “Well… I don’t know how to put it.”
“I can’t really explain it clearly myself, but…”
“You know…”
“Taichi-chan.”
“You were scared, weren’t you?”

Taichi: “Mmm.”
“I was scared.”

Jūbē (with visible irritation): “It’s like both of you are dreaming—I can’t make heads or tails of what you’re saying.”
“We could’ve let him stay—but no, we had to drive him out with all that ‘scary, scary’ nonsense. Now he’s probably stranded on some mountain trail.”
“It’s gone beyond pity—I can’t shake this feeling that we’ve done something wrong.”

Otsuya: “I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but driving away someone that creepy right away is for the best.”

“Don’t say such heartless things.”

Jūbē, wearing an unsettled expression, added branches to the hearth.
Otsuya was making Taichi drink tea.
An owl’s cry.

From below, two village youth group members in high-collared Western-style clothing with wrapped gaiters emerged, holding an unlit lantern.

“Good evening…”

Otsuya: “Oh, someone else has come.”

Jūbē stood up and opened the door: “Oh—the Youth Group members! Well then, get yourselves inside.”

The two Youth Group members entered.

“Welcome. What brings you all here so late…?”

Youth A: “Actually, we were asked by the police station...”
Youth B: “We came this way to search.”
Jūbē: “Did someone run away from home or something?”
Youth A: “They say the murderer entered this mountain tonight.”
Jūbē (startled): “A murderer? That’s terrible!”
Otsuya: “Oh, wait a second...”
(Steps forward.) “I don’t know his name, but that person is a pale-complexioned man of about twenty-five or twenty-six in Western clothes—good-looking, isn’t he?”

Youth A: “Yes, yes. They say he’s exactly that sort of man.”

Jūbē: “Where did he commit the murder?”

Youth A: “That man was the son of a liquor store owner named Inagawa in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. On the seventeenth of last month—the night of the old calendar’s Fifteenth Night—he took a café waitress he knew to Mukōjima and shot her dead with a pistol.”

Jūbē: “A café waitress… He killed her… with a pistol…”

Otsuya: “How dreadful! Why would he kill the waitress? It must have been some romantic trouble, I suppose.”

Youth B: “Well, I suppose that’s likely. The man took about a thousand yen from his shop, killed the woman, changed his appearance right away and fled somewhere—so there’d been an arrest request from the Tokyo police.”

Youth A: “About a month after that happened, there were signs the criminal had been prowling around these parts. With the police on alert and someone claiming they saw a young man who looked just like him enter these mountains tonight, Officer Yoshimura from the police box rushed out immediately. That’s why we split up to search—but he didn’t come here, did he?”

Jūbē: Huh?
(Hesitates in response.)

Youth B: From what we've just heard, Tsū-chan must have seen a man like that.

“Yes, I saw him,” Otsuya said. “He said he’d go around along the mountainside to Hakone and just left here, so he probably hasn’t gone far yet.”

“Mr. Jūbē,” Youth A pressed, “is that true?”

Jūbē answered reluctantly, “Hmm... yes.”

Otsuya’s voice rose with urgency. “A brute who waves around pistols and kills women for no reason—you need to catch him quick! Don’t let him escape—go after him now! Hurry up!”

“Then let’s go,” said Youth A.

“Hmm. Let’s,” Youth B replied.

As they turned to leave, a pistol shot echoed from deep within the mountains. Everyone exchanged glances.

“That’s a pistol!” Youth A exclaimed.

“It must be him,” Youth B concluded.

(Youths A and B went outside and ran off deep into the upper reaches.)

Otsuya watched from the entrance.
A pistol shot followed.
Otsuya hurriedly closed the door.)

Otsuya: “Oh, he shot again...”
“I don’t know where he hid it… but I never imagined that man would have a pistol…”

“Hmm,” Jūbē grunted. “Didn’t notice either.” He cut himself short with a shake of his head. “No—more than that…” His thoughts churned—how could that meek man be a wanted murderer? He’d detected nothing amiss.

“That’s exactly why I said it was bone-chilling!” Otsuya blurted. She shuddered violently, as though icy fingers had traced her spine. “Uncle,” she whispered, clutching her kimono sleeves. “Our eyes saw nothing… but behind him—” Her voice dropped to a husk. “The murdered woman’s soul might’ve clung like a shadow.”

Jūbē (thinks again.) That can’t be possible.

Otsuya: If it’s not that, then it’s the Grim Reaper.
"That man—no matter how much he runs around, he’s someone who won’t escape his fate anyway, you know."
“Wherever he goes, the Grim Reaper is following him around, you know.”

Jūbē: Going on about a woman’s soul and the Grim Reaper…
“Around here nowadays, you don’t find anyone who talks about such things anymore…”

Otsuya: No, it is!
“It’s absolutely true!”
“That man must undoubtedly be possessed by something!”
(Grabs Taichi’s hand.) “Taichi.”
“Didn’t you see something?”
“Behind that man… didn’t you see… something hazy… like a shadow?”

Taichi: (Shook his head.) “I don’t know.”

Otsuya: “Even so, you were scared, weren’t you?”

Taichi: (Nods.) “Ah, I was scared. That man is definitely a monster!”

“That’s right, that’s right,” Otsuya said. “Uncle still acts calm as ever, but no matter how you look at it, that man isn’t normal. Taichi and I went through something truly terrifying.”

Jūbē, gradually drawn into their fear, muttered, “I did think it strange how Taichi kept cowering from him tonight of all nights...” His voice trailed off before concluding inwardly: Maybe some shadow really was clinging to him.

“Ugh, revolting! Just revolting!” Otsuya shuddered, scanning the room. “I still feel creeped out.”

(A brief silence.
An owl cried out.
Then came knocking at the entrance door.
Startled, Otsuya yanked Taichi's hand and pulled him close toward the rear.)

Jūbē (also now on guard): “Who’s there...?”
“Who is it...?”

Police Officer: “It’s me—Officer Yoshimura.”

“Ah, Officer Yoshimura...”
(He immediately opened the door.)

Police Officer: (Enters inside.) “We’re bringing an injured man here now—could you let us put him on the dirt floor at least?”

Jūbē: “An injured person?”

Police Officer: “Hm.
Even if you call him injured, he’s already dead.”

“Who died?”

“The murderer.”
“The guy who killed a café waitress in Tokyo—we tracked him down after he’d been on the run everywhere. When we tried to grab him… he fired his pistol straight at me—”

“Oh!” Otsuya exclaimed.

“Fortunately, the bullet missed,” continued the Police Officer, “but he’d clearly resolved himself. This time, he shot himself in the forehead and collapsed.”

Jūbē grimaced. “No chance of recovery?”

“None.” The officer shook his head. “It’s a vital spot. The youth group will bring him here shortly—I need you to take him in for a little while.”

With that, the officer departed.

Jūbē and Otsuya were seized by an indescribable terror and fell silent for a time.
(An owl's cry.)

Otsuya (in a whisper): “Uncle.”
“That man had been possessed by something after all.”

Jūbē: I wonder...
(With a sigh.) “Ah, no matter what—it’s an unlucky night.”

(The two of them exchange glances.
A faint mountain wind stirs.
An owl’s cry.
The hearth fire gradually grows dim.)

―Curtain―