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country was so healthy and so fertile that sickness and want were
unknown； and the people were so good that no laws were ever broken。
And Akinosuke dwelt and ruled in Raishu for twenty years more； making
in all twenty…three years of sojourn； during which no shadow of sorrow
traversed his life。
But in the twenty…fourth year of his governorship； a great misfortune
came upon him； for his wife； who had borne him seven children； five
boys and two girls； fell sick and died。 She was buried； with high pomp；
on the summit of a beautiful hill in the district of Hanryoko； and a
monument； exceedingly splendid； was placed upon her grave。 But
Akinosuke felt such grief at her death that he no longer cared to live。
Now when the legal period of mourning was over； there came to
Raishu； from the Tokoyo palace； a shisha； or royal messenger。 The shisha
delivered to Akinosuke a message of condolence； and then said to him：
〃These are the words which our august master； the King of Tokoyo；
commands that I repeat to you： 'We will now send you back to your own
people and country。 As for the seven children； they are the grandsons and
granddaughters of the King； and shall be fitly cared for。 Do not； therefore；
allow you mind to be troubled concerning them。'〃
On receiving this mandate； Akinosuke submissively prepared for his
departure。 When all his affairs had been settled； and the ceremony of
bidding farewell to his counselors and trusted officials had been concluded；
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
he was escorted with much honor to the port。 There he embarked upon the
ship sent for him； and the ship sailed out into the blue sea； under the blue
sky； and the shape of the island of Raishu itself turned blue； and then
turned grey； and then vanished forever。。。 And Akinosuke suddenly awoke …
… under the cedar…tree in his own garden！
For a moment he was stupefied and dazed。 But he perceived his two
friends still seated near him； drinking and chatting merrily。 He stared at
them in a bewildered way； and cried aloud；
〃How strange！〃
〃Akinosuke must have been dreaming；〃 one of them exclaimed； with
a laugh。 〃What did you see； Akinosuke； that was strange？〃
Then Akinosuke told his dream； that dream of three…and…twenty
years' sojourn in the realm of Tokoyo； in the island of Raishu； and they
were astonished； because he had really slept for no more than a few
minutes。
One goshi said：
〃Indeed； you saw strange things。 We also saw something strange
while you were napping。 A little yellow butterfly was fluttering over your
face for a moment or two； and we watched it。 Then it alighted on the
ground beside you； close to the tree； and almost as soon as it alighted there；
a big； big ant came out of a hole and seized it and pulling it down into the
hole。 Just before you woke up； we saw that very butterfly come out of the
hole again； and flutter over your face as before。 And then it suddenly
disappeared： we do not know where it went。〃
〃Perhaps it was Akinosuke's soul；〃 the other goshi said； 〃certainly I
thought I saw it fly into his mouth。。。 But； even if that butterfly was
Akinosuke's soul； the fact would not explain his dream。〃
〃The ants might explain it；〃 returned the first speaker。 〃Ants are queer
beings possibly goblins。。。 Anyhow； there is a big ant's nest under that
cedar…tree。〃。。。
〃Let us look！〃 cried Akinosuke； greatly moved by this suggestion。
And he went for a spade。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
The ground about and beneath the cedar…tree proved to have been
excavated； in a most surprising way； by a prodigious colony of ants。 The
ants had furthermore built inside their excavations； and their tiny
constructions of straw； clay； and stems bore an odd resemblance to
miniature towns。 In the middle of a structure considerably larger than the
rest there was a marvelous swarming of small ants around the body of one
very big ant； which had yellowish wings and a long black head。
〃Why； there is the King of my dream！〃 cried Akinosuke； 〃and there is
the palace of Tokoyo！。。。 How extraordinary！。。。 Raishu ought to lie
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。
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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