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！
any news of him。 At last； as they were returning to the temple by way of
the shore； they were startled by the sound of a biwa； furiously played； in
the cemetery of the Amidaji。 Except for some ghostly fires such as
usually flitted there on dark nights all was blackness in that direction。
But the men at once hastened to the cemetery； and there； by the help of
their lanterns； they discovered Hoichi； sitting alone in the rain before the
memorial tomb of Antoku Tenno； making his biwa resound； and loudly
chanting the chant of the battle of Dan…no…ura。 And behind him； and about
him； and everywhere above the tombs； the fires of the dead were burning；
like candles。 Never before had so great a host of Oni…bi appeared in the
sight of mortal man。。。
〃Hoichi San！ Hoichi San！〃 the servants cried； 〃you are
bewitched！。。。 Hoichi San！〃
But the blind man did not seem to hear。 Strenuously he made his biwa
to rattle and ring and clang； more and more wildly he chanted the chant
of the battle of Dan…no…ura。 They caught hold of him； they shouted into
his ear；
〃Hoichi San！ Hoichi San！ come home with us at once！〃
Reprovingly he spoke to them：
〃To interrupt me in such a manner； before this august assembly； will
not be tolerated。〃
Whereat； in spite of the weirdness of the thing； the servants could not
help laughing。 Sure that he had been bewitched； they now seized him； and
pulled him up on his feet； and by main force hurried him back to the
temple； where he was immediately relieved of his wet clothes； by order
of the priest。 Then the priest insisted upon a full explanation of his friend's
11
… Page 12…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
astonishing behavior。
Hoichi long hesitated to speak。 But at last； finding that his conduct
had really alarmed and angered the good priest； he decided to abandon his
reserve； and he related everything that had happened from the time of first
visit of the samurai。
The priest said：
〃Hoichi； my poor friend； you are now in great danger！ How
unfortunate that you did not tell me all this before！ Your wonderful skill in
music has indeed brought you into strange trouble。 By this time you must
be aware that you have not been visiting any house whatever； but have
been passing your nights in the cemetery； among the tombs of the Heike； …
… and it was before the memorial…tomb of Antoku Tenno that our people to…
night found you； sitting in the rain。 All that you have been imagining was
illusion except the calling of the dead。 By once obeying them； you have
put yourself in their power。 If you obey them again； after what has already
occurred； they will tear you in pieces。 But they would have destroyed you；
sooner or later； in any event。。。 Now I shall not be able to remain with you
to…night： I am called away to perform another service。 But； before I go； it
will be necessary to protect your body by writing holy texts upon it。〃
Before sundown the priest and his acolyte stripped Hoichi： then； with
their writing…brushes； they traced upon his breast and back； head and face
and neck； limbs and hands and feet； even upon the soles of his feet； and
upon all parts of his body； the text of the holy sutra called Hannya…Shin…
Kyo。 ＇7＇ When this had been done； the priest instructed Hoichi； saying：
〃To…night； as soon as I go away； you must seat yourself on the
verandah； and wait。 You will be called。 But； whatever may happen； do not
answer； and do not move。 Say nothing and sit still as if meditating。 If
you stir； or make any noise； you will be torn asunder。 Do not get
frightened； and do not think of calling for help because no help could
save you。 If you do exactly as I tell you； the danger will pass； and you will
have nothing more to fear。〃
After dark the priest and the acolyte went away； and Hoichi seated
12
… Page 13…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
himself on the verandah； according to the instructions given him。 He laid
his biwa on the planking beside him； and； assuming the attitude of
meditation； remained quite still； taking care not to cough； or to breathe
audibly。 For hours he stayed thus。
Then； from the roadway； he heard the steps coming。 They passed the
gate； crossed the garden； approached the verandah； stopped directly in
front of him。
〃Hoichi！〃 the deep voice called。 But the blind man held his breath；
and sat motionless。
〃Hoichi！〃 grimly called the voice a second time。 Then a third time
savagely：
〃Hoichi！〃
Hoichi remained as still as a stone； and the voice grumbled：
〃No answer！ that won't do！。。。 Must see where the fellow is。〃。。。
There was a noise of heavy feet mounting upon the verandah。 The
feet approached deliberately； halted beside him。 Then； for long minutes；…
… during which Hoichi felt his whole body shake to the beating of his
heart； there was dead silence。
At last the gruff voice muttered close to him：
〃Here is the biwa； but of the biwa…player I see only two ears！。。。 So
that explains why he did not answer： he had no mouth to answer with
there is nothing left of him but his ears。。。 Now to my lord those ears I will
take in proof that the august commands have been obeyed； so far as was
possible〃。。。
At that instant Hoichi felt his ears gripped by fingers of iron； and torn
off！ Great as the pain was； he gave no cry。 The heavy footfalls receded
along the verandah； descended into the garden； passed out to the
roadway； ceased。 From either side of his head； the blind man felt a thick
warm trickling； but he dared not lift his hands。。。
Before sunrise the priest came back。 He hastened at once to the
verandah in the rear； stepped and slipped upon something clammy； and
uttered a cry of horror； for he say； by the light of his lantern； that the
clamminess was blood。 But he perceived Hoichi sitting there； in the
13
… Page 14…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
attitude of meditation with the blood still oozing from his wounds。
〃My poor Hoichi！〃 cried the startled priest； 〃what is this？。。。 You
have been hurt？
At the sound of his friend's voice； the blin