68. Yoko khû loeh bōng chêng | Yoko 跍 loeh 墓前

68. Yoko khû loeh bōng chêng

Kiâⁿ chhut chēng kah ná ē tih léng-chúi ê sam-á nâ, iân thih-ki-lō͘ kiâⁿ kòe chhu-seh tiûⁿ ē-bīn, thâu-chêng tō sī bōng-á po͘. Tī chhân-hōaⁿ khah koân hit kho͘-lē-á, ū chhāi cha̍p-gōa ê kū bōng-pâi hām Tē-chōng Phô͘-sat. Bōng-pâi kuiⁿ liu-liu, sàn khia̍t-khia̍t, bô lâng khǹg hoe.

M̄-koh, Tē-chông Phô͘-sat āu-bīn kē-kē ê chhiū-iáⁿ lih, chhut-hiān Yoko ê téng pòaⁿ-sin. Yi ê piáu-chêng téng-chin, ná-chhiūⁿ tì bīn-khak, iōng ná hóe ê gán-sîn sàu kòe-lâi. Shimamura tìm chi̍t-ē thâu hām yi chio-ho͘, iáu sī khiā tī goân-ūi. 

"Yoko, gâu-chá. Góa boeh lâi khì chò thâu-chang..." Komako kóng kàu chi̍t-pòaⁿ, hut-jiân ká chi̍t-chūn o͘ hong kiâng boeh kā chhoe tó. Shimamura hām yi lóng kā hûn-su lun khí-lâi.

Chi̍t-lia̍t hòe-bu̍t-á chhia kīn-kīn ùi piⁿ-á khīn-khōng khīn-khōng keng-kòe.

"A-chí! A-chí!" Ùi khīn-khōng khīn-khōng siaⁿ ê tang-tiong, thoân-lâi kiò siaⁿ. O͘ hòe-bu̍t-á ê chhia mûi khiā chi̍t-ê siàu-liân-ke tih ia̍t bō-á.

"Saichiro (佐一郎)! Saichiro!" hoah tò-túiⁿ.

Lo̍h-seh hit-kang tī sìn-hō-só͘ kiò chām-tiúⁿ ê siaⁿ tō sī án-ne. Ná-chhiūⁿ ǹg hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ ê chûn-téng ê lâng tih hoah siaⁿ, siaⁿ-tiāu súi kah sim ē suiⁿ.

Hòe-bu̍t-á kòe liáu, tō ná ba̍k-am pak tiāu, ē-tàng chheng-chhó khòaⁿ tio̍h thih-lō͘ hit-pêng ê kiô-be̍h (蕎麥) hoe, móa-móa kòa tī âng ê tîn-kut, chheng-chheng chēng-chēng. 

Ì-gōa tú tio̍h Yoko, nn̄g-lâng lóng bô chù-ì tio̍h hóe-chhia tih lâi, chū án-ne, tio̍h-kiaⁿ mā hō͘ hòe-bu̍t-á chhia chhoe khì ah.

Kàu-bóe-á, Yoko ê kiò siaⁿ ká-ná pí hóe-chhia siaⁿ lâu khah kú. Che ká-ná sī sûn-kiat ài-chêng ê hôe-siaⁿ tò-tún lâi.

Yoko ná khòaⁿ hóe-chhia, ná kóng:

"Goán sió-tī chē ê chhia, góa siūⁿ góa tio̍h khì chhia-thâu chi̍t-chōa."

"M̄-koh, hóe-chhia bē tī chhia-thâu tán lí lah." Komako chhiò-chhiò kóng.

"Sī ah."

"Góa m̄-sī boeh lâi pài Yukio ê bōng."

Yoko tìm-thâu, sió tiû-tî chi̍t-ē, tō ha̍p-chhiú khû loeh bōng chêng.

Komako thêng-thêng khiā tī goân ūi.

--

68. Yoko 跍 loeh 墓前

行出靜 kah ná 會 tih 冷水 ê 杉仔林, 沿鐵支路行過趨雪場下面, 頭前 tō 是墓仔埔. Tī 田岸較懸彼箍 lē-á, 有祀十外个舊墓牌和地藏菩薩. 墓牌 kuiⁿ 溜溜, sàn khia̍t-khia̍t, 無人囥花.

毋過, 地藏菩薩後面低低 ê 樹影 lih, 出現 Yoko ê 頂半身. 她 ê 表情頂真, ná 像戴面殼, 用 ná 火 ê 眼神掃過來. Shimamura tìm 一下頭和她招呼, 猶是徛 tī 原位. 

"Yoko, gâu 早. 我欲來去做頭鬃..." Komako 講到一半, 忽然絞一陣烏風 kiâng 欲 kā 吹倒. Shimamura 和她攏 kā 魂軀 lun 起來.

一列貨物仔車近近 ùi 邊仔 khīn-khōng khīn-khōng 經過.

"阿姊! 阿姊!" Ùi khīn-khōng khīn-khōng 聲 ê 當中, 傳來叫聲. 烏貨物仔 ê 車 mûi 徛一个少年家 tih 擛帽仔.

"Saichiro (佐一郎)! Saichiro!" 喝倒 túiⁿ.

落雪彼工 tī 信號所叫站長 ê 聲 tō 是 án-ne. Ná 像 ǹg hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ ê 船頂 ê 人 tih 喝聲, 聲調媠 kah 心會 suiⁿ.

貨物仔過了, tō ná 目掩剝掉, 會當清楚看著鐵路彼爿 ê kiô-be̍h (蕎麥) 花, 滿滿掛 tī 紅 ê 藤骨, 清清靜靜. 

意外拄著 Yoko, 兩人攏無注意著火車 tih 來, 自 án-ne, 著驚 mā 予貨物仔車吹去 ah.

到尾仔, Yoko ê 叫聲 ká-ná 比火車聲留較久. 這 ká-ná 是純潔愛情 ê 回聲倒 tún 來.

Yoko ná 看火車, ná 講:

"阮小弟坐 ê 車, 我想我著去車頭一逝."

"毋過, 火車袂 tī 車頭等你 lah." Komako 笑笑講.

"是 ah."

"我毋是欲來拜 Yukio ê 墓."

Yoko tìm 頭, 小躊 tî 一下, tō 合手跍 loeh 墓前.

Komako 騰騰徛 tī 原位.

--

68.

They came out of the cedar grove, where the quiet seemed to fall in chilly drops. Following the railway along the foot of the ski grounds, they were soon at the cemetery. Some ten weathered old tombstones and a forlorn statue of Jizo, guardian of children, stood on a tiny island of high ground among the paddies. There were no flowers.

Quite without warning, Yoko's head and shoulders rose from the bushes behind the Jizo. Her face wore the usual solemn, masklike expression. She darted a burning glance at the two of them, and nodded a quick greeting to Shimamura. She said nothing.

"Aren't you early, though, Yoko? I thought of going to the hairdresser's. . . ." As Komako spoke, a black squall came upon them and threatened to sweep them from their feet.

A freight train roared past.

"Yoko, Yoko. . . ." A boy was waving his hat in the door of a black freight car.

"Saichiro, Saichiro," Yoko called back.

It was the voice that had called to the station master at the snowy signal stop, a voice so beautiful it was almost lonely, calling out as if to someone who could not hear, on a ship far away.

The train passed, and the buckwheat across the tracks emerged fresh and clean as the blind was lifted. The field of white flowers on red stems was quietness itself.

The two of them had been so startled at seeing Yoko that they had not noticed the approach of the freight train; but the first shock was dispelled by the train.

They seemed still to hear Yoko's voice, and not the dying rumble of the freight train. It seemed to come back like an echo of distilled love.

"My brother," said Yoko, looking after the train. "I wonder if I should go to the station."

"But the train won't wait for you at the sta- tion," Komako laughed.

"I suppose not."

"I didn't come to see Yukio's grave."

Yoko nodded. She seemed to hesitate a moment, then knelt down before the grave.

Komako watched stiffly.

--

67. Sai-hū mā tâi tī hia | 師傅 mā 埋 tī 遐

67. Sai-hū mā tâi tī hia

Hit-ê cha-po͘ pēⁿ kah chin siong-tiōng hit-àm, yi tī Shimamura hia kòe-mê:

"Góa chò góa kah-ì ê tāi-chì, boeh sí ê lâng kám ē-sái chó͘-tòng?" Yi kā hûn-su pàng hō͘ i, mā bat án-ne kóng kòe.

Iáu koh ū, Komako tng-tih sàng Shimamura kàu chhia-thâu ê sî, Yoko kóaⁿ lâi chhōe yi, kóng pēⁿ-lâng í-keng chin giâm-tiōng ah, Komako kan-ta kiâng-kiâng m̄ túiⁿ.  Āu-lâi ká-ná mā bô kìⁿ tio̍h chòe-āu chi̍t-bīn. Chū án-ne, Shimamura ê sim-lāi oa̍t-lú ē-kì-lih hit-ê kiò-chò Yukio ê cha-po͘-lâng.

Komako chóng-sī siám-phiah kóng Yukio ê tāi-chì. Tō-kóng yi m̄-sī i ê bī-hun-chhe, m̄-koh ūi tio̍h i ê liâu-iáng-hùi, yi lâi chia chò gē-tòaⁿ, he khak-si̍t mā sī chi̍t-chân "téng-chin ê tāi-chì".

Shimamura sui-jiân hō͘ la̍t-chí kòng tio̍h, pēng bô siū-khì. Komako gāng chi̍t-ē, sûi tō ká-ná núi khì, hûn-su pàng hō͘ i hû tio̍h:

"Eh, lí sī láu-si̍t-lâng neh. Lí ū sáⁿ-mih siang-sim ê tāi-chì?"

"Chhiū-á téng ê gín-á ē khòaⁿ tio̍h lán."

"Tokyo-lâng chiâⁿ ho̍k-cha̍p. Sì chiu-ûi chhá-chhá nāu-nāu, sim-sîn sòaⁿ phún-phún."

"Ta̍k-hāng lóng sòaⁿ phún-phún."

"Taⁿ, liân miā mā sòaⁿ khì ah. Lán khì khòaⁿ bōng, hó bô?"

"Chin-ê?"

"Lí khòaⁿ! Lí kin-pún bô siūⁿ boeh khòaⁿ bōng."

"Sī lí ê sim-lāi tih gāi-gio̍h lah."

"Góa chi̍t-pái to bô khì kòe, chiah ē gāi-gio̍h. Chin-ê, chi̍t-pái mā bô. Taⁿ, sai-hū mā tâi tī hia, só͘-í kám-kak tùi-put-khí sai-hū. Kàu taⁿ koh-khah phái-sè khì, bē-su ké tak-tak."

"Lí pí góa koh-khah ho̍k-cha̍p neh."

"Án-nóa kóng? Kì-jiân hām oa̍h-lâng kóng bē chheng-chhó, siāng-bô tùi sí-lâng ē-sái kóng bêng-pe̍k."

--

67. 師傅 mā 埋 tī 遐

彼个查埔病 kah 真 siong 重彼暗, 她 tī Shimamura 遐過暝:

"我做我佮意 ê 代誌, 欲死 ê 人敢會使阻擋?" 她 kā 魂軀放予伊, mā bat án-ne 講過.

猶閣有, Komako 當 tih 送 Shimamura 到車頭 ê 時, Yoko 趕來揣她, 講病人已經真嚴重 ah, Komako 干焦 kiâng-kiâng 毋 túiⁿ.  後來 ká-ná mā 無見著最後一面. 自 án-ne, Shimamura ê 心內越 lú 會記 lih 彼个叫做 Yukio ê 查埔人.

Komako 總是閃避講 Yukio ê 代誌. Tō 講她毋是伊 ê 未婚妻, 毋過為著伊 ê 療 iáng 費, 她來遮做藝旦, 彼確實 mā 是一層 "頂真 ê 代誌".

Shimamura 雖然予栗子摃著, 並無受氣. Komako 愣一下, 隨 tō ká-ná núi 去, 魂軀放予伊扶著:

"Eh, 你是老實人 neh. 你有啥物 siang 心 ê 代誌?"

"樹仔頂 ê 囡仔會看著咱."

"Tokyo 人誠複雜. 四周圍吵吵鬧鬧, 心神散 phún-phún."

"逐項攏散 phún-phún."

"今, 連命 mā 散去 ah. 咱去看墓, 好無?"

"真 ê?"

"你看! 你根本無想欲看墓."

"是你 ê 心內 tih 礙虐 lah."

"我一擺 to 無去過, 才會礙虐. 真 ê, 一擺 mā 無. 今, 師傅 mā 埋 tī 遐, 所以感覺對不起師傅. 到今閣較歹勢去, 袂輸假 tak-tak."

"你比我閣較複雜 neh."

"Án-nóa 講? 既然和活人講袂清楚, 上無 tùi 死人會使講明白."

--

67.

(Shimamura had not forgotten. Indeed, the memory gave the man Yukio a certain weight in his thoughts.)

Komako seemed to dislike talking about Yukio. She was not his fiancee, perhaps, but she had become a geisha to help pay doctors' bills. There was no doubt that she had been "completely in earnest."

Shimamura showed no anger even under the barrage of chestnuts. Komako looked curiously at him, and her resistance seemed to collapse. She took his arm. "You're a simple, honest person at heart, aren't you? Something must be making you sad."

"They're watching us from the trees."

"What of it? Tokyo people are complicated. They live in such noise and confusion that their feelings are broken to little bits."

"Everything is broken to little bits."

"Even life, before long. . . . Shall we go to the cemetery?"

"Well. . . ."

"See? You don't really want to go at all."

"But you made such an issue of it."

"Because I've never once gone to the cemetery.

I really haven't gone once. I feel guilty sometimes, now that the teacher's buried there too. But I can't very well start going now. I'd only be pretending."

"You're more complicated than I am."

"Why? I'm never able to be completely open with living people, and I want at least to be honest with him now that he's dead."

--

66. Hia ū lín bī-hun-hu ê bōng | 遐有恁未婚夫 ê 墓

66. Hia ū lín bī-hun-hu ê bōng

Sui-bóng án-ne kóng, yi iáu sī bô khiā khí-lâi sûi boeh cháu ê ì-sù.

Āu-lâi, yi koat-tēng m̄ khì sé-thâu, tō chhōa Shimamura kàu āu hûiⁿ kiâⁿ-kiâⁿ leh. Tú-chiah yi tāi-khài tō sī ùi chia liu ji̍p-lâi ê, cháu-lông ē ū yi he tâm-tâm ê chhâ-kia̍h hām boe̍h-á.

Yi peh khí-lâi ê sî liâu kòe ê soaⁿ-pe̍h-tek, khòaⁿ-khoán sī chin-pháiⁿ kiâⁿ kòe. Nn̄g-lâng chí-hó iân hûiⁿ piⁿ, ǹg ū chúi-lâu siaⁿ ê hong-hiàng, lâi kàu ū koân khàm ê khe-hōaⁿ. La̍t-chí chhiū téng ū thiaⁿ-e gín-á siaⁿ. Ū kúi-lia̍p-á la̍t-chí-kiû lak tī in kha-ta̍h ê chháu-châng lih. Komako iōng chhâ-kia̍h kā khak ta̍h phòa, peh chhut la̍t-chí lâi, lóng sī sè-lia̍p la̍t-chí.

Tùi hōaⁿ kiā soaⁿ-phiâⁿ ê pòaⁿ soaⁿ-io hia, khui móa hm̂-á ê hoe-sūi, hiáⁿ-ba̍k ê gîn-sek iô-iô tāng. He sek-chúi sui-jiân hiaⁿ-ba̍k, mā chhin-chhiūⁿ sī thàu-bêng ná bîn-bāng ê mi̍h-kiāⁿ, poe tī chhiu ê thiⁿ-téng.

"Kòe hit-pêng khòaⁿ chi̍t-ē hoⁿh? Ē-tàng khòaⁿ tio̍h lín bī-hun-hu ê bōng neh."

Komako hut leh neh-kha-bóe, chiàⁿ-bīn khòaⁿ Shimamura, kā chi̍t-me la̍t-chí phiaⁿ ǹg i ê bīn, kóng:

"Lí kā góa tòng-chò gōng-á chhòng-tī."

Shimamura bē-hù siám, la̍t-chí khok-khok kòng tio̍h i ê hia̍h-thâu, chiâⁿ thiàⁿ.

"Ū sáⁿ iân-kò͘, lí boeh khì khòaⁿ bōng-á?"

"Ná tio̍h hiah téng-chin?"

"Tùi góa lâi kóng, he sī téng-chin ê tāi-chì. M̄-sī chhiūⁿ lí chit-chióng phok-sóng seng-oa̍h ê lâng."

"Sáng sī phok-sóng seng-oa̍h ê lâng ah?" i bô-lám bô-ne nauh chi̍t-ē.

"Lí ná boeh kóng he sī bī-hun-hu? He m̄-sī bī-hun-hu, téng-kái m̄-sī kā lí kóng kòe ah? Bē-kì-lih ah hioh?"

Shimamura pēng bô bē-kì-lih.

"Góa kóng khah pe̍h leh. Sai-hū hoān-sè bat siūⁿ-kóng, hāu-seⁿ ē-sái hām góa chò-tīn, m̄-koh mā kan-ta sim-koaⁿ án-ne siūⁿ, chhùi to lóng m̄-bat kóng kòe. Sai-hū ê chit-chióng sim-su, hāu-seⁿ hām góa lóng sió-khóa ū kám-kak tio̍h. M̄-koh, goán nn̄g-lâng pēng bô sáⁿ-mih te̍k-pia̍t ê tāi-chì. It-tit lóng sī sûi-lâng kòe ka-tī ê seng-oa̍h. Góa hông bē khì Tokyo ê sî, kan-ta i lâi sàng góa." 

I ē-kì-lih Komako bat án-ne kóng kòe.

--

66. 遐有恁未婚夫 ê 墓

雖罔 án-ne 講, 她猶是無徛起來隨欲走 ê 意思.

後來, 她決定毋去洗頭, tō chhōa Shimamura 到後 hûiⁿ 行行 leh. 拄才她大概 tō 是 ùi 遮溜入來 ê, 走廊下有她 he 澹澹 ê 柴屐和襪仔.

她 peh 起來 ê 時 liâu 過 ê 山白竹, 看款是真歹行過. 兩人只好沿 hûiⁿ 邊, ǹg 有水流聲 ê 方向, 來到有懸坎 ê 溪岸. 栗子樹頂有聽 e 囡仔聲. 有幾粒仔栗子毬 lak tī in 跤踏 ê 草叢 lih. Komako 用柴屐 kā 殼踏破, 擘出栗子來, 攏是細粒栗子.

對岸崎山坪 ê 半山腰遐, 開滿茅仔 ê 花穗, 顯目 ê 銀色搖搖動. He 色水雖然顯目, mā 親像是透明 ná 眠夢 ê 物件, 飛 tī 秋 ê 天頂.

"過彼爿看一下 hoⁿh? 會當看著恁未婚夫 ê 墓 neh."

Komako 忽 leh 躡跤尾, 正面看 Shimamura, kā chi̍t-me 栗子抨 ǹg 伊 ê 面, 講:

"你 kā 我當做戇仔創治."

Shimamura 袂赴閃, 栗子 khok-khok 摃著伊 ê 額頭, 誠疼.

"有啥緣故, 你欲去看墓仔?"

"那著 hiah 頂真?"

"對我來講, 彼是頂真 ê 代誌. 毋是像你這種博爽生活 ê 人."

"Sáng 是博爽生活 ê 人 ah?" 伊無攬無拈 nauh 一下.

"你 ná 欲講彼是未婚夫? 彼毋是未婚夫, 頂改毋是 kā 你講過 ah? 袂記 lih ah hioh?"

Shimamura 並無袂記 lih.

"我講較白 leh. 師傅凡勢 bat 想講, 後生會使和我做陣, 毋過 mā 干焦心肝 án-ne 想, 喙 to 攏 m̄-bat 講過. 師傅 ê 這種心思, 後生和我攏小可有感覺著. 毋過, 阮兩人並無啥物特別 ê 代誌. 一直攏是隨人過家治 ê 生活. 我 hông 賣去 Tokyo ê 時, 干焦伊來送我." 

伊會記 lih Komako bat án-ne 講過.

--

66.

She showed no sign of leaving, however.

She decided not to wash her hair after all. She took Shimamura down to the back garden. Her damp sandals and stockings were hidden under the veranda where she had come in.

The dwarf bamboo she said she had fought her way through seemed impassible. Starting down along the garden path toward the sound of the water, they came out on the high river bank. There were children's voices in the chestnut trees. A number of burrs lay in the grass at their feet. Komako stamped them open and took out the fruit. The kernels were small.

Kaya plumes waved on the steep slope of the mountain opposite, a dazzling silver in the morning sun. Dazzling, and yet rather like the fleeting translucence that moved across the autumn sky.

"Shall we cross over? We can see your fiances grave."

Komako brought herself to her full height and glared at him. A handful of chestnuts came at his face.

"You're making fun of me."

Shimamura had no time to dodge. The chestnuts lashed at his forehead.

"What possible reason could you have for going to the cemetery?"

"But there's no need to lose your temper."

"I was completely in earnest. I'm not like people who can do exactly as they want and think of no one else."

"And who can do that?" Shimamura muttered weakly.

"Why do you have to call him my fiance? Didn't I tell you very carefully he wasn't? But you've forgotten, of course."

Shimamura had not forgotten. Indeed, the memory gave the man Yukio a certain weight in his thoughts.

--

65. Kin-á-ji̍t pài-la̍k, chìn bô-êng | 今仔日拜六, 晉無閒

65. Kin-á-ji̍t pài-la̍k, chìn bô-êng

"Lí sī chá-chá tō khí-chhn̂g ê lâng neh."

"Cha-àm khùn bē khì."

"Ū lo̍h-hō͘, lí chai bô?"

"Sī oh? Bo̍k-koài hit-pêng ê soaⁿ-pe̍h-tek (山白竹) lóng tâm-tâm, goân-lâi ū lo̍h-hō͘. Góa boeh lâi túiⁿ ah. Lí koh khùn chi̍t-ē, hó-hó heⁿh-khùn neh."

"Khí-lâi loh!" Shimamura tēⁿ tio̍h yi ê chhiú bô pàng, chò chi̍t-khùi ùi bîn-chhn̂g thiàu khí-lâi. Sûi kiâⁿ kàu thang-á-mûi piⁿ, khòaⁿ Komako kóng ê, yi peh khí-lâi ê só͘-chāi. Kē-chhiū-á ōng-ōng ǹg gōa tián-khui, it-ti̍t kàu pòaⁿ soaⁿ-io, koh kòe tō sī sam-á nâ. Thang-á-mûi ē-bīn ê chhài-hûiⁿ-á ū chhài-thâu, han-chî, chhang-á, soaⁿ-ō͘-á téng-téng. Sui-bóng sī it-poaⁿ ê chheⁿ-chhài, tī chá-khí ê ji̍t-thâu ē, múi-chióng hio̍h-á ê sek-chúi lóng bô kāng, hō͘ lâng chi̍t-chióng chho͘ kìⁿ-bīn ê kám-kak.

Tī óng un-chôaⁿ e̍k-tî ê cháu-lông hia, niá-pan tih iā chhī-liāu chhī chúi-tî tiong ê âng lí-hî.

"Khòaⁿ sī thiⁿ-khì léng, hî mā bē giàn chia̍h." Niá-pan kā Shimamura kóng, kú-kú khòaⁿ he phû tī chúi-bīn, iōng niû-á-jîn pha̍k-ta géng chò hu ê hî chhī-liāu.

Komako chéng-chéng chê-chê chē tio̍h, tùi ùi e̍k-keng tún lâi ê Shimamura kóng:

"Tī chiah-nī an-chēng ê só͘-chāi, sek-ha̍p chò chiam-sòaⁿ ê khang-khòe."

Pâng-keng tú-chiah piàⁿ-sàu chheng-khì, sió-khóa kū ê tatami chiò tio̍h chhim-chhim chhiō ji̍p-lâi ê chhiu-thiⁿ ji̍t-thâu.

"Lí ē-hiáu châi-hông, hioh?"

"Kóng chit-lō sit-lé ê ōe. Chí-mōe tiong-kan, góa chia̍h-khó͘ siāng chē. Taⁿ siūⁿ khí-lâi, góa tng-tih tōa hit kúi-nî, chhù lih siāng kan-khó͘." Ká-ná chū-giân chū-gí, liáu-āu yi iū hut-jiân tōa-siaⁿ kóng:

"Lú-tiong bīn-sek kiaⁿ-gî, mūi góa kóng, 'Koma-Chan tang-sî lâi ê?' Góa chóng bē-tàng sam-hoan liáng-chhù bih tī piah-tû m̄ chhut-lâi. Chin hāi neh. Góa boeh lâi túiⁿ ah. Chìn bô-êng neh. Cha-àm bô khùn, koh siūⁿ boeh sé thâu-mo͘. Chá-khí nā bô khah chá sé, tán i ta liáu khì chò thâu-chang, tō bē hù tiong-tàu ê iàn-hōe ah. Tī chia mā ū iàn-hōe, m̄-koh in kàu cha-àm chiah kă thong-ti. Í-keng chiap-siū pa̍t-ūi ê ī-iak, chia góa tō bô lâi lah. Kin-á-ji̍t sī pài-la̍k, chóng-sī chìn bô-êng. Bô sî-kan thang lâi thit-thô ah."

--

65. 今仔日拜六, 晉無閒

"你是早早 tō 起床 ê 人 neh."

"昨暗睏袂去."

"有落雨, 你知無?"

"是 oh? 莫怪彼爿 ê soaⁿ-pe̍h-tek (山白竹) 攏澹澹, 原來有落雨. 我欲來 túiⁿ ah. 你 koh 睏一下, 好好 heⁿh 睏 neh."

"起來 loh!" Shimamura 捏著她 ê 手無放, 做一氣 ùi 眠床跳起來. 隨行到窗仔 mûi 邊, 看 Komako 講 ê, 她 peh 起來 ê 所在. 低樹仔旺旺 ǹg 外展開, 一直到半山腰, koh 過 tō 是杉仔林. 窗仔 mûi 下面 ê 菜 hûiⁿ 仔有菜頭, 番薯, 蔥仔, 山芋仔等等. 雖罔是一般 ê 青菜, tī 早起 ê 日頭下, 每種葉仔 ê 色水攏無仝, 予人一種初見面 ê 感覺.

Tī 往溫泉浴池 ê 走廊遐, 領班 tih 掖飼料飼水池中 ê 紅鯉魚.

"看是天氣冷, 魚 mā 袂癮食." 領班 kā Shimamura 講, 久久看 he 浮 tī 水面, 用娘仔仁曝焦研做 hu ê 魚飼料.

Komako 整整齊齊坐著, 對 ùi 浴間 tún 來 ê Shimamura 講:

"Tī chiah-nī 安靜 ê 所在, 適合做針線 ê 工課."

房間拄才拚掃清氣, 小可舊 ê tatami 照著深深炤入來 ê 秋天日頭.

"你會曉裁縫, hioh?"

"講 chit-lō 失禮 ê 話. 姊妹中間, 我食苦上濟. 今想起來, 我當 tih 大彼幾年, 厝 lih 上艱苦." Ká-ná 自言自語, 了後她又忽然大聲講:

"女中面色驚疑, mūi 我講, 'Koma-Chan 當時來 ê?' 我總袂當 sam 番 liáng 次覕 tī 壁櫥毋出來. 真害 neh. 我欲來 túiⁿ ah. 晉無閒 neh. 昨暗無睏, koh 想欲洗頭毛. 早起若無較早洗, 等伊焦了去做頭鬃, tō 袂赴中晝 ê 宴會 ah. Tī 遮 mā 有宴會, 毋過 in 到昨暗才 kă 通知. 已經接受別位 ê 預 iak, 遮我 tō 無來 lah. 今仔日是拜六, 總是晉無閒. 無時間通來 thit-thô ah."

--

65.

"You seem to be an early riser."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Did you hear the rain?"

"It rained? That's why the underbrush was wet, then. I'm going home. Go on back to sleep."

But Shimamura jumped vigorously out of bed, the woman's hand still in his. He went over to the window and looked down at the hill she said she had come up. Below the shrubbery, halfway down toward the cedar grove, dwarf bamboo was grow­ ing in a wild tangle. Directly below the window were rows of taro and sweet potatoes, onions and radishes. It was a most ordinary garden patch, and yet the varied colors of the leaves in the morning sun made him feel that he was seeing them for the first time.

The porter was throwing feed to the carp from the corridor that led to the bath.

"It's colder, and they aren't eating well," he said as Shimamura passed. Shimamura stood for a moment looking at the feed on the water, dried and crumbled silkworms.

Komako was waiting for him, clean and prim as before, when he came back from the bath.

"It would be good to work on my sewing in a quiet place like this," she said.

The room had evidently been cleaned, and the sun poured in on the deepest corners of the slightly worn matting.

"You sew, do you?"

"What an insulting question. I had to work harder than anyone else in the family. I see now, looking back, that the years when I was growing up were the worst ones of all." She spoke almost to herself, but her voice was tense as she continued: "The maid saw me. She gave me a strange look and asked when I had come. It was very embarrassing-but I couldn't go on hiding in the closet forever. I'm going home. I'm very busy. I couldn't sleep, and I thought I'd wash my hair. I have to wait for it to dry, and then go to the hair-dresser's, and if I don't wash it early in the morning I'm never ready for an afternoon party. There's a party here too, but they only told me about it last night. I won't come. I've made other promises. And I won't be able to see you tonight--it's Saturday and I'll be very busy."

--

64. Lú-tiong lâi, góa bih tī piah-tû | 女中來, 我覕 tī 壁櫥

64. Lú-tiong lâi, góa bih tī piah-tû

"Chi̍t-ê lâng, hó khùn bô?"

"Hmh."

"Lí iáu-sī bô lâu chhùi-chhiu neh."

"Sī ah, sī ah. Téng-kái lī-khui sî, lí ū án-ne kóng, kiò góa lâu chhùi-chhiu."

"Bē-kì-lih mā bô iàu-kín. Lí chóng-sī thì kah chheⁿ chhìn-chhìn, kuiⁿ liu-liu."

"Iah lí bīn ê pe̍h-hún nā sé-tiāu, mā ká-ná bīn tú-tú thì kòe."

"Bīn ū khah phòng-phôe hoⁿh? Bīn pe̍h, bô chhùi-chhiu bô hó-khòaⁿ. Îⁿ kùn-kùn."

"Án-ne, kám m̄-sī chin jiû-hô?"

"M̄-koh bô khó-khò."

"Kiaⁿ tio̍h! Lí kim-kim khòaⁿ góa khùn hioh?"

"Tio̍h!" Komako chhiò-chhiò tìm-thâu, hut-leh koh ná hóe sio tio̍h, tōa siaⁿ chhiò chhut-lâi, put-ti-put kak liân tēⁿ i chéng-thâu-á ê chhiú mā koh-khah chhut-la̍t:

"Góa bih tī piah-tû lāi. Lú-tiong chi̍t-tiám-á to bô chù-ì tio̍h."

"Tang-sî? Tang-sî bih ji̍p-khì ê?"

"Tú-chiah lah. Sī lú-tiong lâi thiⁿ hóe-thòaⁿ ê sî lah."

Siūⁿ tio̍h che, yi iū-koh chhiò bē-thêng. Hut leh, bīn âng kàu hīⁿ-kin, ná-chhiūⁿ boeh am-khàm kòe, yi ná iōng phōe-kak ia̍t hong:

"Khí-chhn̂g loh. Chhiáⁿ lí khí-chhn̂g."

"Kôaⁿ neh!" Shimamura mo͘h tiâu mî-phōe:

"Kheh-chàn ê lâng lóng khí-lâi bōe?"

"M̄-chai neh. Góa sī ùi āu-piah ji̍p-lâi ê."

"Ùi āu-piah?"

"Ùi sam-nâ hit-pêng peh khí-lâi ê."

"Hit-pêng ū lō͘?"

"Bô lō͘, m̄-koh khah kīn."

Shimamura tio̍h chi̍t-kiaⁿ, khòaⁿ Komako.

"Góa lâi, lóng bô lâng chai. Chàu-kha ū thiaⁿ-e siaⁿ, m̄-koh chiàⁿ-mûi iáu koaiⁿ tio̍h."

--

64. 女中來, 我覕 tī 壁櫥

"一个人, 好睏無?"

"Hmh."

"你猶是無留喙鬚 neh."

"是 ah, 是 ah. 頂改離開時, 你有 án-ne 講, 叫我留喙鬚."

"袂記 lih mā 無要緊. 你總是剃 kah 青凊凊, kuiⁿ 溜溜."

"Iah 你面 ê 白粉若洗掉, mā ká-ná 面拄拄剃過."

"面有較膨皮 hoⁿh? 面白, 無喙鬚無好看. 圓棍棍."

"Án-ne, 敢毋是真柔和?"

"毋過無可靠."

"驚著! 你金金看我睏 hioh?"

"著!" Komako 笑笑 tìm 頭, 忽 leh koh ná 火燒著, 大聲笑出來, 不知不覺連捏伊指頭仔 ê 手 mā 閣較出力: 

"我覕 tī 壁櫥內. 女中一點仔 to 無注意著."

"當時? 當時覕入去 ê?"

"拄才 lah. 是女中來添火炭 ê 時 lah."

想著這, 她又閣笑袂停. 忽 leh, 面紅到耳根, ná 像欲掩崁過, 她 ná 用被角擛風:

"起床 loh. 請你起床."

"寒 neh!" Shimamura mo͘h 牢棉被: 

"客棧 ê 人攏起來未?"

"毋知 neh. 我是 ùi 後壁入來 ê."

"Ùi 後壁?"

"Ùi 杉林彼爿 peh 起來 ê."

"彼爿有路?"

"無路, m̄-koh 較近."

Shimamura 著一驚, 看 Komako.

"我來, 攏無人知. 灶跤有聽 e 聲, 毋過正 mûi 猶關著."

--

64.

"Did you sleep well by yourself?"

"Very well."

"You didn't grow a mustache after all."

"You did tell me to grow a mustache, didn't you?"

"It's all right. I knew you wouldn't. You always shave yourself nice and blue."

"And you always look as if you'd just shaved when you wash away that powder."

"Isn't your face a little fatter, though? You were very funny asleep, all round and plump with your white skin and no mustache."

"Sweet and gentle?"

"But unreliable."

"You were staring at me, then? I'm not sure I like having people stare at me when I'm asleep." Komako smiled and nodded. Then, like a glow that breaks into a flame, the smile became a laugh.

There was strength in the fingers that took his.

"I hid in the closet. The maid didn't suspect a thing."

"When? How long were you hidden?"

"Just now, of course. When the maid came to bring charcoal." She laughed happily at the prank, and suddenly she was red to the ears. As if to hide her confusion, she began fanning herself with the edge of his quilt. "Get up. Get up, please."

"It's cold." Shimamura pulled the quilt away from her. "Are the inn people up yet?"

"I have no idea. I came in from the back."

"The back?"

"I fought my way up from the cedar grove."

"Is there a path in back?"

"No. But it's shorrer."

Shimamura looked at her in surprise.

"No one knows I'm here. I heard someone in the kitchen, but the front door must still be locked."

--

63.Kî-thāi bián kā kiò yi ka-tī ē lâi | 期待免 kā 叫她家治會來

63. Kî-thāi bián kā kiò yi ka-tī ē lâ

Êng-êng bô sū ê i, chia̍h-khó͘ chò he bô-lō͘-iōng ê peh-soaⁿ, kin-pún tō sī "bô-chhái kang" ê kiàn-pún. M̄-koh, tùi i lâi kóng, che ū chi̍t-chióng hui-hiān-si̍t ê bê-lâng le̍k-liāng.

Sui-bóng lī-khui Komako put-sî su-liām yi, it-tàn lâi kàu yi sin-piⁿ, tō oân-choân hòng-sim ah. Hoān-sè sī in-ūi tùi yi ê bah-thé kòe-hūn chhin-kīn ê iân-kò͘, chóng-sī kám-kak tùi chiap-chhiok lú-sèng bah-thé ê siūⁿ-hoat hām tùi soaⁿ ê su-bō͘ lóng ká-ná chhin-chhiūⁿ bîn-bāng kāng-khoán. Hoān-sè mā sī in-ūi cha-àm Komako ū lâi kòe-mê ê iân-kò͘. Chēng-chēng ka-tī chi̍t-lâng chē leh, kan-ta sim-lāi kî-thāi m̄-bián kā kiò, yi ka-tī ē lâi. Thiaⁿ tio̍h chhut-gōa kau-iû cha-bó͘ ha̍k-seng hit-lō siàu-liân-lâng ê chhá-nāu siaⁿ, soah siūⁿ ài-khùn, chū án-ne Shimamura chá-chá tō khì khùn.

Kòe chi̍t-khùn, ká-ná ū thiaⁿ tio̍h lo̍h-hō͘ siaⁿ.

Keh-kang chá-khí cheng-sîn, tō khòaⁿ tio̍h Komako chiàⁿ-chiàⁿ chē tī toh-á chêng tha̍k-chheh. Yi chhēng phó͘-thong ê tiû-á té-kimono.

"Lí cheng-sîn ah?" Yi khin-siaⁿ kóng, kā khòaⁿ chi̍t-ē.

"Lí ná ē lâi ah?"

"Lí cheng-sîn ah, hioh?"

Hoâi-gî yi sī-m̄-sī tī i m̄-chai ê sî lâi chia kòe-mê, Shimamura ná sì-kho͘ liàn-túiⁿ khòaⁿ ka-tī ê bîn-chhn̂g, ná ùi chím-thâu piⁿ kā pió-á the̍h khí-lâi khòaⁿ, chiah la̍k-tiám-pòaⁿ niâ.

"Lí chiâⁿ chá neh."

"M̄-koh, lú-tiong í-keng lâi ke kòe hóe-thòaⁿ ah."

Hóe-lô͘ téng, tê-kó͘ bū chúi-cheng-khì, chi̍t-pak chá-khí ê kéng-tì.

"Khí-chhn̂g loh!" Yi sóa kòe-lâi chē tī i ê chím-thâu piⁿ, giám-jiân chi̍t-ê ka-têng chú-hū ê khoán-sek.

Shimamura chhun chi̍t-ê ûn, lia̍h yi khǹg tī kha-thâu-u ê chhiú, ná so he bóe-cháiⁿ in-ūi tôaⁿ samisen kiat ê lan, ná kóng:  

"Iáu chìn ài-khùn. Thiⁿ chiah tú kuiⁿ, kám m̄-sī?"

--

63. 期待免 kā 叫她家治會來

閒閒無事 ê 伊, 食苦做 he 無路用 ê peh 山, 根本 tō 是 "無彩工" ê 見本. 毋過, 對伊來講, 這有一種非現實 ê 迷人力 liāng.

雖罔離開 Komako 不時思念她, 一旦來到她身邊, tō 完全放心 ah. 凡勢是因為對她 ê 肉體過份親近 ê 緣故, 總是感覺對接觸女性肉體 ê 想法和對山 ê 思慕攏 ká-ná 親像眠夢仝款. 凡勢 mā 是因為昨暗 Komako 有來過暝 ê 緣故. 靜靜家治一人坐 leh, 干焦心內期待毋免 kā 叫, 她家治會來. 聽著出外郊遊查某學生 hit-lō 少年人 ê 吵鬧聲, 煞想愛睏, 自 án-ne Shimamura 早早 tō 去睏.

過一睏, ká-ná 有聽著落雨聲.

隔工早起精神, tō 看著 Komako 正正坐 tī 桌仔前讀冊. 她穿普通 ê 綢仔短 kimono.

"你精神 ah?" 她輕聲講, kā 看一下.

"你那會來 ah?"

"你精神 ah, hioh?"

懷疑她是毋是 tī 伊毋知 ê 時來遮過暝, Shimamura ná 四箍輾 túiⁿ 看家治 ê 眠床, ná ùi 枕頭邊 kā 錶仔提起來看, 才六點半 niâ.

"你誠早 neh."

"毋過, 女中已經來加過火炭 ah."

火爐頂, 茶鈷霧水蒸氣, 一幅早起 ê 景致.

"起床 loh!" 她徙過來坐 tī 伊 ê 枕頭邊, 儼然一个家庭主婦 ê 款式.

Shimamura 伸一个勻, 掠她囥 tī 跤頭趺 ê 手, ná 挲 he 尾指因為彈 samisen kiat ê lan, ná 講:  

"猶晉愛睏. 天 chiah 拄 kuiⁿ, 敢毋是?"

--

63.

Though he was an idler who might as well spend his time in the mountains as anywhere, he looked upon mountain climbing as almost a model of wasted effort. For that very reason it pulled at him with the attraction of the unreal.

When he was far away, he thought incessantly of Komako; but now that he was near her, this sighing for the human skin took on a dreamy quality like the spell of the mountains. Perhaps he felt a certain security, perhaps he was at the moment too intimate, too familiar with her body. She had stayed with him the night before. Sitting alone in the quiet, he could only wait for her. He was sure she would come without his calling. As he listened to the noisy chatter of a group of schoolgirls out on the hiking trip, however, he began to feel a little sleepy. He went to bed early.

Rain fell during the night, one of those quick showers that come in the autumn.

When he awoke the next morning, Komako was sitting primly beside the table, a book open before her. She wore an everyday kimono and cloak.

"Are you awake?" Her voice was soft as she turned to him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Are you awake?"

Shimamura glanced around the room, wondering if she had come in the night without his knowing it. He picked up the watch beside his pillow. It was only six-thirty

"You're early."

"But the maid has already brought charcoal." A morninglike steam was rising from the tea-kettle.

"It's time to get up." She sat beside his pillow, the picture of the proper housewife. Shimamura stretched and yawned. He took the hand on her knee and caressed the small fingers, callused from playing the samisen.

"But it's barely sunrise."

--

62. Sim-koaⁿ iū khì hō͘ soaⁿ khip khì | 心肝又去予山吸去

62.  Sim-koaⁿ iū khì hō͘ soaⁿ khip khì

Iáu ū chit-tiâu koa: "Sam-á chhiū téng àm-hong chhoe, tōa chiah o͘-a hut leh poe." Ùi chit-ê thang-á khòaⁿ loeh, kin-á-ji̍t mā ū kui-tīn ê chhân-eⁿ tī khong-tiong lâu-tāng. Thiⁿ boeh àm ah, in tī khong-tiong iû-éng ê sok-tō͘ ká-ná lú lâi lú kín.

Chhut-hoat chìn-chêng, Shimamura tī chhia-thâu hoàn-bē-pō͘ hoat-hiān sin chhut-pán siāu-kài chit só͘-chāi peh-soaⁿ ê chheh, tō kā bé chi̍t-pún chah lâi. Chhìn-chhái tih tha̍k ê sî, tú tio̍h ū chi̍t-tōaⁿ án-ne siá: Ùi chit-ê pâng-keng khòaⁿ ē tio̍h ê pian-kài hiah-ê soaⁿ tiong-kan, kî-tiong ū chi̍t-ê soaⁿ-téng hū-kīn, ū chi̍t-tiâu iân chúi-tî, chin súi ê sió-lō͘, hit-tah-á ê làm-tē ū chē-chē koân-soaⁿ si̍t-bu̍t, sì-kè tih khui-hoe. Joa̍h-thiⁿ ê sî, âng chhân-eⁿ iāⁿ-iāⁿ poe, káⁿ hioh tī lâng ê bō-á téng, chhiú téng, ū-sî liân ba̍k-kiàⁿ-kheng mā káⁿ hioh. Hit-chióng chū-iû chū-chāi ê khoán, hām siū-chīn ge̍k-thāi ê to͘-chhī chhân-eⁿ, bē-su thiⁿ hām tē ê chha-pia̍t.

M̄-koh, gán-chêng ê chit-tīn chhân-eⁿ, ká-ná ū sáⁿ tih kā kóaⁿ, iū ná-chhiūⁿ sī boeh tī thiⁿ-o͘ chìn-chêng phah-piàⁿ poe, bián-tit hō͘ sam-nâ ê o͘-iáⁿ kā thun-chia̍h khì.

Hūiⁿ soaⁿ chiò tī chhiâ-sai ê ji̍t-thâu ē, khòaⁿ ē chhut âng-hio̍h ùi soaⁿ-téng chiām-chiām piàn âng.

"Lâng chin chhùi-jio̍k, kám m̄-sī? Ùi thâu-khak kàu kut-thâu lóng ē siak kah chhùi-kô͘-kô͘. Iah nā hîm neh, ùi khah koânê chio̍h-phiâⁿ siak lo̍h-lâi, chi̍t-sut-á to bē siang tio̍h." Shimamura siūⁿ tio̍h chá-khí Komako kóng ê ōe. Ná khí hit chō soaⁿ, ná kóng, hia ê chhái-chio̍h-tiûⁿ ū lâng hoat-seng chai-lān. 

Lâng nā chhiūⁿ hîm án-ne ū chi̍t-iân tēng koh kāu ê mo͘-phôe, lâng ê koan-lêng it-tēng tō oân-choân bô kāng-khoán ah. Lâng kah-ì bong po̍h koh ku̍t-liu ê phôe-hu. I ná án-ne tih siūⁿ, ná khòaⁿ hông-hun ji̍t-thâu ē ê soaⁿ. Chi̍t-chūn kám-siang, Shimamura soah tih su-bō͘ lâng ê phôe-hu.

"Ia̍h-á, chhân-eⁿ, hām tō͘-kâu..." M̄-chai tá chi̍t-ê gē-tòaⁿ, tī thê-chá chia̍h-àm ê sî, kē-lō͘ kē-lō͘ tôaⁿ samisen, koh chhiùⁿ chit-tiâu koa.

Peh-soaⁿ chí-lâm kan-ta kán-tan kì-chài peh-soaⁿ ê lō͘-sòaⁿ, ji̍t-thêng, tòa ê só͘-chāi, hùi-iōng téng-téng hāng-bo̍k, kî-thaⁿ ê tō hō͘ i ka-tī khì chū-iû khang-siūⁿ. Shimamura chho͘-chhù tú tio̍h Komako, sī ùi soaⁿ téng lo̍h-lâi chit-ê un-chôaⁿ chhun ê sî, hit-sî soaⁿ-téng ê seh iáu bōe iûⁿ liáu, chháu-bo̍k tng-tih thiu íⁿ. Taⁿ, iū-koh kàu chhiu-thiⁿ peh-soaⁿ ê kùi-cheh, tī chia khòaⁿ ka-tī bat ta̍h-kha-kàu, lâu kha-jiah ê soaⁿ, kui-ê sim-koaⁿ iū khì hō͘ soaⁿ khip khì.

--

62. 心肝又去予山吸去

猶有這條歌: "杉仔樹頂暗風吹, 大隻烏鴉忽 leh 飛." Ùi 這个窗仔看 loeh, 今仔日 mā 有規陣 ê 田嬰 tī 空中流動. 天欲暗 ah, in tī 空中游泳 ê 速度 ká-ná lú 來 lú 緊.

出發進前, Shimamura tī 車頭販賣部發現新出版紹介這所在 peh 山 ê 冊, tō kā 買一本扎來. 凊彩 tih 讀 ê 時, 拄著有一段 án-ne 寫: Ùi 這个房間看會著 ê 邊界 hiah-ê 山中間, 其中有一个山頂附近, 有一條沿水池, 真媠 ê 小路, 彼搭仔 ê 湳地有濟濟懸山植物, 四界 tih 開花. 熱天 ê 時, 紅田嬰颺颺飛, 敢歇 tī 人 ê 帽仔頂, 手頂, 有時連目鏡框 mā 敢歇. 彼種自由自在 ê 款, 和受盡虐待 ê 都市田嬰, 袂輸天和地 ê 差別.

毋過, 眼前 ê 這陣田嬰, ká-ná 有啥 tih kā 趕, 又 ná 像是欲 tī 天烏進前拍拚飛, 免得予杉林 ê 烏影 kā 吞食去.

Hūiⁿ 山照 tī 斜西 ê 日頭下, 看會出紅葉 ùi 山頂漸漸變紅.

"人真脆弱, 敢毋是? Ùi 頭殼到骨頭攏會摔 kah 碎糊糊. Iah 若熊 neh, ùi 較懸 ê 石坪摔落來, 一屑仔 to 袂 siang 著." Shimamura 想著早起 Komako 講 ê 話. Ná kí 彼座山, ná 講, 遐 ê 採石場有人發生災難. 

人若像熊 án-ne 有一沿 tēng koh 厚 ê 毛皮, 人 ê 官能一定 tō 完全無共款 ah. 人佮意摸薄 koh 滑溜 ê 皮膚. 伊 ná án-ne tih 想, ná 看黃昏日頭下 ê 山. 一陣感 siang, Shimamura 煞 tih 思慕人 ê 皮膚.

"蝶仔, 田嬰, 和杜猴..." 毋知 tá 一个藝旦, tī 提早食暗 ê 時, 低路低路彈 samisen, koh 唱這條歌.

Peh 山指南干焦簡單記載 peh 山 ê 路線, 日程, 蹛 ê 所在, 費用等等項目, 其他 ê tō 予伊家治去自由空想. Shimamura 初次拄著 Komako, 是 ùi 山頂落來這个溫泉村 ê 時, 彼時山頂 ê 雪猶未溶了, 草木當 tih 抽穎. 今, 又閣到秋天 peh 山 ê 季節, tī 遮看家治 bat 踏跤到, 留跤跡 ê 山, 規个心肝又去予山吸去.

--

62

How large the crow is, starting up from the cedar in the evening breeze -- so says the poet. Again there were swarms of dragonflies by the cedar grove Shimamura could see from his window. As the evening approached, they seemed to swim about faster, more restlessly.

Shimamura had bought a new guide to these mountains while he was waiting for his train in Tokyo. Thumbing through it, he learned that near the top of one of the Border Range peaks a path threaded its way through beautiful lakes and marshes, and in this watery belt Alpine plants grew in the wildest profusion. In the summer red dragonflies flew calmly about, lighting on a hat or a hand, or the rim of a pair of spectacles, as different from the persecuted city dragonfly as a cloud from a mud puddle.

But the dragonflies here before him seemed to be driven by something. It was as though they wanted desperately to avoid being pulled in with the cedar grove as it darkened before the sunset.

The western sun fell on distant mountains, and in the evening light he could see how the red leaves were working their way down from the summits.

"People are delicate, aren't they?" Komako had said that morning. "Broken into a pulp, they say, skull and bones and all. And a bear could fall from a higher ledge and not be hurt in the least." There had been another accident up among the rocks, and she had pointed out the mountain on which it had happened.

If man had a rough, hairy hide like a bear, his world would be different indeed, Shimamura thought. It was through a thin, smooth skin that man loved. Looking out at the evening mountains, Shimamura felt a sentimental longing for the human skin.

"The butterfly, the dragonfly, the cricket." A geisha had been singing the song to a clumsy samisen accompaniment as he sat down to an early dinner.

The guidebook gave only the most essential information on routes, schedules, lodgings, costs, and left the rest to the imagination. Shimamura had come down from these mountains, as the new green was making its way through the last of the snow, to meet Komako for the first time; and now, in the autumn climbing season, he found himself tracks in. 

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