47. Ná m̄ hām i chò chòe-āu ê sàng-pia̍t? | 那毋和伊做最後 ê 送別?

47. Ná m̄ hām i chò chòe-āu ê sàng-pia̍t?

Yoko tiu-tiu tìm-thâu kóng: "Ài kín, Ài khah kín leh." Kóng-liáu yi oa̍t-thâu sûi cháu, kín kah hō͘ lâng bē siang-sìn. 

Khòaⁿ tio̍h Yoko c hiām-chiām hūiⁿ khì ê sin-iáⁿ, Shimamura ê sim-thâu siám chhut chi̍t-ê chit-khoán tiûⁿ-ha̍p bô eng-kai ū ê gî-būn: Sī án-nóa hit-ê ko͘-niû chóng-sī hiah-nī-á téng-chin ah?

Yoko he boeh óa pi-ai ê iu-bí siaⁿ-im, ká-ná sī seh-soaⁿ tá-ūi ê hôe-siaⁿ, kàu taⁿ iáu tī Shimamura ê hīⁿ-khang se̍h.

"Boeh khì tah?" Komako khòaⁿ Shimamura boeh khì chū-tōng-chhia ūn-choán-chhiú hia, tō kā i khiú tún lâi, kóng:

"Mài! Góa bô boeh túiⁿ lah."

Chek-sî, Shimamura tùi Komako kám-kak chi̍t-chióng bah-thé-tek ê ià.

"Góa m̄-chai lín saⁿ-lâng tiong-kan ū sáⁿ-mih koan-hē, m̄-koh, hit-ê hāu-seⁿ kám m̄-sī tit-boeh sí ah? Siūⁿ boeh kìⁿ lí, i chiah kiò lâng lâi chhōe lí. Koai-koai túiⁿ khì lah, nā-bô, lí ē hiō-hóe it-seng. Hoān-sè lán kóng-ōe tiong-kan, i tō tūiⁿ-khùi ah. Boeh án-nóa? Mài kò͘-chip lah, kui-khì lóng kā pàng-chúi-lâu."

"M̄-sī án-ne. Lí gō͘-kái ah."

"Lí hông bē khì Tokyo ê sî, kám m̄-sī kan-ta i kā lí sàng-pia̍t? Tē-it pún ji̍t-kì, thōng khí-thâu kì ê, kám m̄-sī i? Kám ū sáⁿ lí-iû m̄ hām i chò chòe-āu ê sàng-pia̍t? Khì hō͘ hit-lâng kā lí kì tī i sèⁿ-miā ê chòe-āu chi̍t-ia̍h lah."

"Góa m̄. Góa bô-ài khòaⁿ lâng sí."

Thiaⁿ-tio̍h ká-ná léng-khok po̍k-chêng, koh ná chhin-chhiūⁿ jia̍t-chêng kòe-tō͘, Shimamura pìⁿ bē chheng-chhó.

"Sáⁿ ji̍t-kì, góa í-keng bô tih kì ah, Boeh kā sio tiāu." Komako ka-tī ná án-ne nauh, bô-tāi-bô-chì bīn âng khí-lâi. Yi koh kóng:

"Neh, lí sī láu-si̍t lâng. Nā sī láu-si̍t lâng, góa ē-sái kā ji̍t-kì lóng sàng lí. Lí bē chhiò góa lah hoⁿh? Góa jīn-ûi lí sī láu-si̍t lâng."

Shimamura put-kak chhim-chhim kám-tōng, bô m̄-tio̍h, kám-kak bô lâng ū i hiah láu-si̍t, tō bô koh bián-kióng Komako tio̍h túiⁿ. Komako mā tiām-tiām bô kóng-ōe.

--

47. 那毋和伊做最後 ê 送別?

Yoko tiu-tiu tìm 頭講: "愛緊, 愛較緊 leh." 講了她越頭隨走, 緊 kah 予人袂相信. 

看著 Yoko 漸漸 hūiⁿ 去 ê 身影, Shimamura ê 心頭閃出一个這款場合無應該有 ê 疑問: 是 án-nóa 彼个姑娘總是 hiah-nī-á 頂真 ah?

Yoko 彼欲倚悲哀 ê 優美聲音, ká-ná 是雪山 tá 位 ê 回聲, 到今猶 tī Shimamura ê 耳空踅.

"欲去 tah?" Komako 看 Shimamura 欲去自動車運轉手遐, tō kā 伊搝 tún 來, 講:

"莫! 我無欲 túiⁿ lah."

即時, Shimamura 對 Komako 感覺一種肉體的 ê 厭.

"我毋知恁三人中間有啥物關係, 毋過, 彼个後生敢毋是得欲死 ah? 想欲見你, 伊才叫人來揣你. 乖乖 túiⁿ 去 lah, 若無, 你會後悔一生. 凡勢咱講話中間, 伊 tō tūiⁿ 氣 ah. 欲 án-nóa? 莫固執 lah, 規氣攏 kā 放水流."

"毋是 án-ne. 你誤解 ah."

"你 hông 賣去 Tokyo ê 時, 敢毋是干焦伊 kā 你送別? 第一本日記, thōng 起頭記 ê, 敢毋是伊? 敢有啥理由毋和伊做最後 ê 送別? 去予彼人 kā 你記 tī 伊性命 ê 最後一頁 lah."

"我毋. 我無愛看人死."

聽著 ká-ná 冷酷薄情, koh ná 親像熱情過度, Shimamura pìⁿ 袂清楚.

"啥日記, 我已經無 tih 記 ah, 欲 kā 燒掉." Komako 家治 ná án-ne nauh, 無代無誌面紅起來. 她 koh 講:

"Neh, 你是老實人. 若是老實人, 我會使 kā 日記攏送你. 你袂笑我 lah hoⁿh? 我認為你是老實人."

Shimamura 不覺深深感動, 無毋著, 感覺無人有伊 hiah 老實, tō 無 koh 勉強 Komako 著 túiⁿ. Komako mā 恬恬無講話.

--

47.

Yoko nodded quickly, and turned away with almost unbelievable alacrity.

Why was the girl always so earnest, so sober, Shimamura wondered. But such musings did not seem entirely in keeping with the occasion.

That voice, so beautiful it was almost lonely, lingered in Shimamura's ears as if it were echoing back from somewhere in the snowy mountains.

"Where are you going?" Komako pulled at Shimamura. He had signaled the taxi and was walking toward it. "I won't. I'm not going home."

For an instant Shimamura felt something very near physical revulsion.

"I don't know what there is among the three of you, but the man may be dying even now. She came for you, didn't she, because he wants to see you. Go home like a good girl. You'll regret it all your life if you don't. What if he dies even while you're standing here? Don't be stubborn. Forgive and forget."

"Forgive and forget? You don't understand. You don't understand at all."

"And when they sent you to Tokyo, he was the only one who saw you off, didn't you say? Do you think it's right not to say good-by to the man you yourself said was on the very first page of the very first volume of your diary? This is the very last page of his."

"But I don't want to. I don't want to see a man die."

It could have been the coldest heartlessness or too warm a passion-Shimamura did not know which.

"I'll not be able to write in my diary any more. I'll burn it," she said softly, almost to herself. Her cheeks were flushed. "You're a good, simple person at heart, aren't you? If you really are, I won't mind sending my whole diary to you. You won't laugh at me? You're a good, honest person at heart, I'm sure."

Shimamura was moved by a wave of feeling he could not define himself. He thought he must indeed be the plainest, most honest person in the world. He no longer worried about sending Komako home. She said nothing more.

--

46.Tāi-chì bô-hó ah | 代誌無好 ah

46. Tāi-chì bô-hó ah

Hit-sî, ū lâng chhēng seh-khò͘ ùi ke-lō͘ oat tùi chhia-thâu tōa-lō͘ lâi, hiong-kông-kông iōng cháu ê, he sī Yoko.

"He... Koma-Chan, Yukio (行男) San... Koma-Chan." Yoko chhoán phīⁿ-phēⁿ, ká-ná gín-á hō͘ sáⁿ khióng-pò͘ ê mi̍h-kiāⁿ jek, bih khì lāu-bú āu-bīn án-ne, khiú Komako ê keng-kah-thâu, kóng: 

"Kín túiⁿ! Tāi-chì bô-hó ah, kín!"

Komako ká-ná tih jím keng-thâu ê thiàⁿ, ba̍k-chiu kheh loeh, bīn-sek hoán pe̍h. M̄-koh, siūⁿ bē-kàu yi iô-thâu kian-sim kóng:

"Góa tih sàng lâng-kheh; góa m̄-túiⁿ."

Shimamura tio̍h-kiaⁿ kóng:

"Bián koh sàng lah. Án-ne tō hó ah-lah."

"Bē-sái. Lí sī-m̄-sī ē koh lâi, góa iáu m̄-chai."

"Góa ē lâi, ē koh-lâi."

Yoko ká-ná hiah-ê sáⁿ to bô thiaⁿ tio̍h ê khoán, giú tiâu Komako, kóng:

"Tú-chiah khà tiān-ōe khì kheh-chàn, in kóng lí lâi chhia-thâu, góa sûi kóaⁿ lâi. Yokio San tih chhōe lí neh."

Komako tiām-tiām jím tio̍h, hut-leh kā hàiⁿ khui, kóng: 

"Mài chhap góa."

Hit-tiong-kan, Komako khiā bô chāi, tò-thè nn̄g-saⁿ-pō͘, ò͘ siaⁿ boeh thò͘, m̄-koh thò͘ bô mi̍h-kiāⁿ, ba̍k-kheng tâm-tâm, chhùi-phé giâ ke-bó phôe.

Yoko kiaⁿ kah gāng khì, lia̍h Komako kim-kim khòaⁿ. M̄-koh yi ê piáu-chêng téng-chin, m̄-chai sī siū-khì a̍h tio̍h-kiaⁿ a̍h pi-siang, bē-su kòa chi̍t-ê bīn-khak, khòaⁿ khí-lâi ū-kàu tan-sûn.

Bīn bô piàn, yi hut-leh oa̍t-thâu, lia̍h Shimamura ê chhiú, it-ti̍t tōa-siaⁿ kiû koh pek, kóng:

"Neh, pài-thok-leh. Chhiáⁿ lí hō͘ yi túiⁿ khì lah!"

"Hó, góa kiò yi túiⁿ khì," Shimamura ìn, koh ǹg Komako tōa-siaⁿ kóng:

"Kín túiⁿ lah, m̄-thang gōng."

"Bián lí kóng-ōe lah!" Komako ná ìn Shimamura, ná kā Yoko ùi i sin-piⁿ tháⁿ khui.

Shimamura tú boeh kí chhia-thâu chêng hit-chiah chū-tōng-chhia, khì hō͘ Yoko tōa-la̍t khiú kòe ê chéng-thâu-á, soah sió-khóa bâ-bâ.

"Góa hō͘ yi chē hit-chiah chhia túiⁿ khì, chóng-sī, taⁿ lí seng kiâⁿ hó bô? Tī chia án-ne bô hó, ū-lâng tih khòaⁿ neh."

--

46. 代誌無好 ah

彼時, 有人穿雪褲 ùi 街路斡對車頭大路來, 兇狂狂用走 ê, 彼是 Yoko.

"彼... Koma-Chan, Yukio (行男) San... Koma-Chan." Yoko 喘 phīⁿ-phēⁿ, ká-ná 囡仔予啥恐怖 ê 物件 jek, 覕去老母後面 án-ne, 搝 Komako ê 肩胛頭, 講: 

"緊 túiⁿ! 代誌無好 ah, 緊!"

Komako ká-ná tih 忍肩頭 ê 疼, 目睭瞌 loeh, 面色反白. 毋過, 想袂到她搖頭堅心講:

"我 tih 送人客; 我毋 túiⁿ."

Shimamura 著驚講:

"免 koh 送 lah. Án-ne tō 好 ah-lah."

"袂使. 你是毋是會 koh 來, 我猶毋知."

"我會來, 會 koh 來."

Yoko ká-ná hiah-ê 啥 to 無聽著 ê 款, 搝牢 Komako, 講:

"拄才敲電話去客棧, in 講你來車頭, 我隨趕來. Yokio San tih 揣你 neh."

Komako 恬恬忍著, 忽 leh kā 幌開, 講: 

"莫 chhap 我."

彼中間, Komako 徛無在, 倒退兩三步, ò͘ 聲欲吐, 毋過吐無物件, 目框澹澹, 喙 phé 夯雞母皮.

Yoko 驚 kah 愣去, 掠 Komako 金金看. 毋過她 ê 表情頂真, 毋知是受氣 a̍h 著驚 a̍h 悲 siang, 袂輸掛一个面殼, 看起來有夠單純.

面無變, 她忽 leh 越頭, 掠 Shimamura ê 手, 一直大聲求 koh 迫, 講:

"Neh, 拜託 leh. 請你予她 túiⁿ 去 lah!"

"好, 我叫她 túiⁿ 去," Shimamura 應, koh ǹg Komako 大聲講:

"緊 túiⁿ lah, 毋通戇."

"免你講話 lah!" Komako ná 應 Shimamura, ná kā Yoko ùi 伊身邊 tháⁿ 開.

Shimamura 拄欲指車頭前彼隻自動車, 去予 Yoko 大力搝過 ê 指頭仔, 煞小可麻麻.

"我予她坐彼隻車 túiⁿ 去, 總是, 今你先行好無? Tī 遮 án-ne 無好, 有人 tih 看 neh."

--

46.

A figure in "mountain trousers" came running up the wide road from the main highway into the station plaza. It was Yoko.

"Komako. Yukio- Komako," she panted, clinging to Komako like a child that has run frightened to its mother, "come home. Right away. Yukio's worse. Right away."

Komako closed her eyes, as if from the pain of the assault on her shoulder. Her face was white, but she shook her head with surprising firmness.

"I can't go home. I'm seeing off a guest."

Shimamura was startled. "You needn't see me off."

"It's not right to leave. How do 1 know you'll come again?"

"I'll come, I'll come."

Yaka seemed not to hear the exchange. "I just called the inn," she went on feverishly, "and they said you were at the station. So 1 came here. 1 ran all the way. Yukio is asking for you." She pulled at Komako, but Komako shook her off impatiently.

"Leave me alone."

It was Komako who reeled back, however. She retched violently, but nothing came from her mouth. The rims of her eyes were moist. There was goose flesh on her checks.

Yoko stood rigid, gazing at Komako. Her face, like a mask, wore an expression of such utter earnestness that it was impossible to tell whether she was angry or surprised or grieved. It seemed an extraordinarily pure and simple face to Shimamura.

She turned quickly and, without the slightest change of expression, clutched at Shimamura's hand. "I'm sorry, but would you let her go home?" A tense, high-pitched voice assailed him. "Let her go home."

"Of course I'll let her go home. Go on home," he called out to Komako. "Don't be a fool."

"And what say do you have in the matter?" Komako pushed Yoko roughly away from him.

Shimamura tried to signal the taxi waItmg in front of the station. Yoko clutched at his ann so tightly that his fingers were numbed. 

"I'll send her home in a taxi," he said. "Why don't you go on ahead? People will be watching us."

--

45. Lí ná m̄ lâu chhùi-chhiu? | 你那毋留喙鬚?

45. Lí ná m̄ lâu chhùi-chhiu?

Komako tī tōa-i gōa-bīn ûi pe̍h ûi-kin, it-ti̍t sàng Shimamura kàu chhia-thâu. 

Ūi-tio̍h siau-mô͘ sî-kan, Shimamura khì bé chi̍t-kóa chiùⁿ kâu-thâu-kó a̍h hiuⁿ-ko͘ koàn-thâu hit-lūi ê thó͘-sán. Iáu ū jī-cha̍p gōa hun-cheng, tō khì chhia-thâu chêng khah koân ê tiâⁿ sàn-pō͘, ná khòaⁿ sì-piⁿ, ná án-ne siūⁿ: che sī chi̍t-tè sì-bīn seh-soaⁿ, e̍h-e̍h-á ê thó͘-tē ah. Komako he kòe-thâu o͘ ê thâu-mo͘, tī jia-iáⁿ soaⁿ-kheⁿ ê chhe-liâng tiong-kan, khòaⁿ-tio̍h koh-khah sī kám-siang.

Hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ, khe ē-lâu ê soaⁿ-io hia, m̄-chai án-nóa, ū chi̍t-ê só͘-chāi ū chiò-tio̍h po̍h-po̍h-á ê ji̍t-thâu.

"Góa lâi liáu-āu, seh iûⁿ boeh liáu ah, kám m̄-sī?"

"M̄-koh, nā lo̍h nn̄g-kang seh, sûi tō chek la̍k-chhioh. Nā koh liân-sòa lo̍h, he tiān-hóe-thiāu ê teng mā ē tâi tī seh lih. Góa nā ná kiâⁿ-lō͘ ná siūⁿ lí ê tāi-chì, hoān-sè ām-kún ē khì tîⁿ tio̍h tiān-sòaⁿ soah siū-siang."

"Ē chek kah hiah kāu?"

"Thiaⁿ-kóng thâu-kàu ke-lō͘ ê tiong-ha̍k, ū ha̍k-seng tī lo̍h tōa seh ê chá-sî, thùiⁿ-pak-theh ùi jī-lâu thang-á-mûi thiàu lo̍h seh-tui, choân-sin lóng tiâm ji̍p-khì, khòaⁿ bô lâng. In tō ná siû-chúi án-ne tī seh lāi-bīn siû leh kiâⁿ. Lí khòaⁿ, hia ū chi̍t-chiah lu-seh-chhia."

"Siūⁿ boeh lâi khòaⁿ seh, chiaⁿ-goe̍h kheh-chàn ē kheh-boán hoⁿh? Hóe-chhia ē hō͘ pang-seh tâi tio̍h bô?"

"Lí sī chi̍t-ê phok-sóng ê lâng. Tan-tan án-ne tih kòe ji̍t-chí?" Komako ná khòaⁿ Shimamura ê bīn, koh kóng: "Lí ná m̄ lâu chhùi-chhiu?"

"Hmh, góa ū tih siūⁿ boeh lâu." Shimamura ná so chheⁿ koh ba̍t, chha̍k-chha̍k ê chhùi-chhiu sap-á, chhùi-kak ná giâ chi̍t-lēng sèng-keh ê jiâu-hûn, hián-chhut bīn-phôe ê jiû-núi. Komako káⁿ sī khì saⁿh-tio̍h che mā bô tiāⁿ-tio̍h, i án-ne siūⁿ, tō kóng:

"Á nā lí neh, pe̍h-hún chhit-tiāu, lí ê bīn khòaⁿ tio̍h mā ná-chhiūⁿ chhùi-chhiu-to tú khau kòe kāng-khoán."

"Thó-ià ê o͘-a tih kiò. Tī tá-ūi kiò ah? Kôaⁿ neh." Komako khòaⁿ thiⁿ-téng, nn̄g-ki chhiú-kut gia̍p tī heng-chêng. 

"Khì hāu-chhia-sit hang-hóe hó lah."

--

45. 你那毋留喙鬚?

Komako tī 大衣外面圍白圍巾, 一直送 Shimamura 到車頭. 

為著消磨時間, Shimamura 去買一寡醬猴頭果 a̍h 香菇罐頭彼類 ê 土產. 猶有二十外分鐘, tō 去車頭前較懸 ê 埕散步, ná 看四邊, ná án-ne 想: 這是一塊四面雪山, 狹狹仔 ê 土地 ah. Komako he 過頭烏 ê 頭毛, tī jia 影山坑 ê 淒涼中間, 看著閣較是感 siang.

Hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ, 溪下流 ê 山腰遐, 毋知 án-nóa, 有一个所在有照著薄薄仔 ê 日頭.

"我來了後, 雪溶欲了 ah, 敢毋是?"

"毋過, 若落兩工雪, 隨 tō 積六尺. 若 koh 連紲落, 彼電火柱 ê 燈 mā 會埋 tī 雪 lih. 我若 ná 行路 ná 想你 ê 代誌, 凡勢頷頸會去纏著電線煞受 siang."

"會積 kah hiah 厚?"

"聽講頭到街路 ê 中學, 有學生 tī 落大雪 ê 早時, thùiⁿ 腹裼 ùi 二樓窗仔 mûi 跳落雪堆, 全身攏沉入去, 看無人. In tō ná 泅水 án-ne tī 雪內面泅 leh 行. 你看, 遐有一隻攄雪車."

"想欲來看雪, 正月客棧會客滿 hoⁿh? 火車會予崩雪埋著無?"

"你是一个博爽 ê 人. 單單 án-ne tih 過日子?" Komako ná 看 Shimamura ê 面, koh 講: "你那毋留喙鬚?"

"Hmh, 我有 tih siūⁿ 欲留." Shimamura ná 挲青 koh 密, 鑿鑿 ê 喙鬚屑仔, 喙角 ná 夯一稜性格 ê 皺痕, 顯出面皮 ê 柔 núi. Komako káⁿ 是去 saⁿh 著這 mā 無定著, 伊 án-ne 想, tō 講:

"Á 若你 neh, 白粉拭掉, 你 ê 面看著 mā ná 像喙鬚刀拄剾過仝款."

"討厭 ê 烏鴉 tih 叫. Tī tá 位叫 ah? 寒 neh." Komako 看天頂, 兩支手骨挾 tī 胸前. 

"去候車 sit 烘火好 lah."

--

45.

Komako, in an overcoat and a white scarf, saw him to the station.

Even when he had finished buying presents to take back to Tokyo, he had some twenty minutes to kill. Walking with Komako in the slightly raised station plaza, he thought what a narrow little valley it was, crowded in among the snowy mountains. Komako's too-black hair was a little touching, a little sad, in the loneliness of the shadowed mountain pocket.

The sun shone dimly on a spot in the mountains far down the river.

"It's melted a good deal since I came."

"Two days of snow, though, and we'll have six feet. Then it snows again, and before long the lights on those poles are out of sight. I'll walk along thinking of you, and I'll find myself strung up on a wire."

"The snow is that deep?"

"They say that in the next town up the line the schoolchildren jump naked from the second floor of the dormitory. They sink out of sight in the snow, and they move around under it as though they were swimming. Look, a snowplow."

"I'd like to see it that deep. But I suppose the inn will be crowded. And there might be danger of slides along the way."

"With you it's not a question of money, is it? Have you always had so much to spend?" She turned to look up at his face. "Why don't you grow a mustache?"

"I've thought o f it." Shimamura, freshly shaven, stroked the blue-black traces of his beard. A deep line from the corner of his mouth set off the softiness of his cheek. Was that, he wondered, what Komako found attractive? "You always look a little as though you'd just shaved too when you take off that powder."

"Listen! The crows. That frightening way they sometimes have. Where are they, I wonder? And isn't it cold ! " Komako hugged herself as she looked up at the sky.

"Shall we go in by the stove?"

--

44. Siàu-toaⁿ choân-pō͘ chiàu sî-kan sùiⁿ | 數單全部照時間 sùiⁿ

44. Siàu-toaⁿ choân-pō͘ chiàu sî-kan sùiⁿ

"Oh, sī án-ne oh. Bô iàu-kín lah." Shimamura chhiò chhut-lâi: 

"Iā bô boeh kā lí án-nóa."

"Thó-ià!"

"Si̍t-chāi gōng, án-ne koh pha-pha cháu."

"Góa boeh lâi túiⁿ."

"Bián túiⁿ mā ē-sái."

"Sim-cho lah. Lí boeh túiⁿ Tokyo, góa sim-cho lah."

Komako chēng-chēng kā bīn phak tī phōe-lô͘ téng.

Kóng tio̍h sim-cho, sī kiaⁿ hām lí-kheh kám-chêng poa̍h siuⁿ chhim, a̍h sī tī chit-ê sî-chūn bē-kham-lih khòng-chè ka-tī ê sim-chêng? Chit-ê cha-bó͘ ê sim í-keng lâi-kàu chit-lō khám-chām ah hioh? Shimamura tiām-tiām su-khó chi̍t-khùn.

"Lí túiⁿ hó lah."

"Góa pún-lâi tō chún-pī bîn-á-chài boeh túiⁿ ah."

"Ai-ah, ná ē boeh túiⁿ neh?" taⁿ-bīn khí-lâi, ká-ná tú khùn chhéⁿ.

"M̄-koán tòa gōa kú, góa kám ē-tàng ūi lí chò sáⁿ?"

Yi khòaⁿ Shimamura chi̍t-khùn, hiông-hiông iōng ke̍k-tōng ê siaⁿ-tiāu kóng:

"Bē-sái án-ne kóng lah. Lí bē-sái án-ne kóng lah."

Komako kip-kip khiā khí-lâi, hut-leh khì lám Shimamura ê ām-kún, sim-chêng loān chhau-chhau, chhut-chhùi kóng: "Lí ná ē-sái kóng chit-khoán ōe? Khí lâi, khí lâi, góa kiò lí khí lâi lah." Ná kóng, yi soah ka-tī ná tó lo̍h-lâi, hiong-kông kah bē-kì-lih lâng tih kan-khó͘.

Kòe chi̍t-khùn, yi peh-khui un-jiû, tâm-sip ê ba̍k-chiu, kóng:

"Chin ê, lí bîn-á-chài tio̍h túiⁿ khì." Án-ne pêng-chēng kóng liáu, yi khioh khí lak-lo̍h ê thâu-mo͘ si.

Shimamura koat-tēng keh-kang ē-po͘ saⁿ-tiám khí-sin. Tú tih ōaⁿ-saⁿ ê sî, kheh-chàn niá-pan khin siaⁿ kiò Komako kàu cháu-lông. Shimamura thiaⁿ tio̍h Komako kóng, "Hó lah, lí kā sùiⁿ cha̍p-it tiám-cheng." Tāi-khài sī niá-pan siūⁿ-kóng sùiⁿ cha̍p-la̍k-chhit tiám-cheng siuⁿ tn̂g.

Lo̍h-bóe khòaⁿ siàu-toaⁿ, choân-pō͘ chiàu sî-kan sùiⁿ: chá-khí gō͘-tiám chêng lī-khui ê sùiⁿ kàu gō͘-tiám; keh-kang cha̍p-jī-tiám chêng lī-khui ê, sùiⁿ kàu cha̍p-jī-tiám.

--

44. 數單全部照時間 sùiⁿ

"Oh, 是 án-ne oh. 無要緊 lah." Shimamura 笑出來: 

"也無欲 kā 你 án-nóa."

"討厭!"

"實在戇, án-ne koh 拋拋走."

"我欲來 túiⁿ."

"免 túiⁿ mā 會使."

"心慒 lah. 你欲 túiⁿ Tokyo, 我心慒 lah."

Komako 靜靜 kā 面仆 tī 被爐頂.

講著心慒, 是驚和旅客感情跋 siuⁿ 深, 抑是 tī 這个時陣袂堪 lih 控制家治 ê 心情? 這个查某 ê 心已經來到 chit-lō 坎站 ah hioh? Shimamura 恬恬思考一睏.

"你 túiⁿ 好 lah."

"我本來 tō 準備明仔載欲 túiⁿ ah."

"Ai-ah, 那會欲 túiⁿ neh?" taⁿ 面起來, ká-ná 拄睏醒.

"毋管蹛偌久, 我敢會當為你做啥?"

她看 Shimamura 一睏, 雄雄用激動 ê 聲調講:

"袂使 án-ne 講 lah. 你袂使 án-ne 講 lah."

Komako 急急徛起來, 忽 leh 去攬 Shimamura ê 頷頸, 心情亂操操, 出喙講: "你那會使講這款話? 起來, 起來, 我叫你起來 lah." Ná 講, 她煞家治 ná 倒落來, 兇狂 kah 袂記 lih 人 tih 艱苦.

過一睏, 她擘開溫柔, 澹濕 ê 目睭, 講:

"真 ê, 你明仔載著 túiⁿ 去." Án-ne 平靜講了, 她抾起 lak 落 ê 頭毛絲.

Shimamura 決定隔工下晡三點起身. 拄 tih 換衫 ê 時, 客棧領班輕聲叫 Komako 到走廊. Shimamura 聽著 Komako 講, "好 lah, 你 kā sùiⁿ 十一點鐘." 大概是領班想講 sùiⁿ 十六七點鐘 siuⁿ 長.

落尾看數單, 全部照時間 sùiⁿ: 早起五點前離開 ê sùiⁿ 到五點; 隔工十二點前離開 ê, sùiⁿ 到十二點.

--

44.

"Is that all?" Shimamura laughed. "I'll leave you quite to yourself." 

"No."

"And why did you have to go out and run all over town?"

"I'm going home."

"There's no need to go home."

"But it's not easy for me. Go on back to Tokyo.

It's no easy for me." Her face was low over the kotatsu.

Was it sorrow at finding herself about to sink into too deep a relationship with a traveler? Or at having to keep herself under control at so dear a moment? She has come that far, then, Shimamura said to himself. He too was silent for a time.

"Please go back to Tokyo."

"As a matter of fact, I was thinking of going back tomorrow."

"No! Why are you going back?" She looked up, startled, as though aroused from sleep.

"What can I do for you, no matter how long I stay?"

She gazed at him for a moment, then burst out violently: "You don't have to say that. What reason have you to say that?" She stood up irritably, and threw herself at his neck. "It's wrong of you to say such things. Get up. Get up, I tell you." The words poured out deliriously, and she fell down beside him, quite forgetting in her derangement the physical difficulty she had spoken of earlier.

Some time later, she opened warm, moist eyes.

She picked up the hair ornament that had fallen to the floor.

"You really must go back tomorrow," she said quietly.

As Shimamura was changing clothes to leave on the three-o'clock train the next afternoon, the manager of the inn beckoned Komako into the hall. "Let's see. Suppose we make it about eleven hours," he could hear Komako's answer. They were evidently discussing the bill for her services as a geisha, and the manager perhaps thought it would be unreasonable to charge for the whole sixteen or seventeen hours.

The bill as a matter of fact was computed by the hour-"Left at five," or "Left at twelve"--without the usual charge for overnight services.

--

43. Lán lăi chhia-thâu khòaⁿ-khòaⁿ leh | 咱 lăi 車頭看看 leh

43. Lán lăi chhia-thâu khòaⁿ-khòaⁿ leh

Hit-àm bô lo̍h seh, lo̍h chi̍t-chūn sng-á-kak liáu, koh lo̍h hō͘.

Boeh túiⁿ chêng-àm, goe̍h-sek chin chheng, khong-khì léng ki-ki, Shimamura koh chi̍t-pái kiò Komako lâi. Sui-jiân tit-boeh cha̍p-it tiám ah, Komako iáu kóng boeh chhut-khì sàn-pō͘, kóng mā m̄-thiaⁿ, kiâng-kiâng ùi phōe-lô͘ kā i giú khí-lâi, thoa i tâng-chê chhut-mûi.

Tō-lō͘ í-keng kiat-peng. Kui-chng-thâu tī hân-léng lih khùn kah tiām chiuh-chiuh. Komako kā saⁿ-á-ki giú khí-lâi seh tī io-tòa. Goe̍h ná-chhiūⁿ chi̍t-ki lāi-to khòe tī chheⁿ lin-lin ê peng-kak téng-bīn. 

"Kiâⁿ lăi chhia-thâu."

"Khí-siáu. Óng-hôe chhiau-kòe chi̍t-lí-lō͘."

"Lí boeh túiⁿ Tokyo ah. Lán lăi chhia-thâu khòaⁿ-khòaⁿ leh."

Shimamura ùi keng-thâu kàu tōa-thúi lóng kôaⁿ kah bâ-pì ah.

Tún-lâi kàu pâng-keng, Komako sim-thâu tāng hoâiⁿ-hoâiⁿ, siang-chhiú tn̂g-tn̂g kín chhun-ji̍p hóe-lô͘, hām pêng-sî bô kāng, mā m̄-ài sé un-chôaⁿ ah.

Phōe-lô͘ ê phōe tī goân-ūi bô tín-tāng, iā-tō-sī koh kā lēng-gōa hit-niá phōe tà tī téng-bīn, chhu-phōe pho͘ kàu phōe-lô͘ khut-á piⁿ. Kan-ta pho͘ chi̍t-lâng khùn ê ūi. Komako chē tī phōe-lô͘ piⁿ hang-hóe, thâu lê-lê, bô siaⁿ bô soeh.

"Án-nóa hioh?"

"Góa boeh lâi túiⁿ."

"Sam-pat!"

"Hó lah. Lí khì khùn. Góa chiū án-ne."

"Sī án-nóa boeh túiⁿ?"

"M̄ túiⁿ ah. Tī chia tán kàu thiⁿ-kuiⁿ."

"Chiâⁿ hāi. Mài khiau-khi lah."

"M̄-sī khiau-khi. Góa tih kan-khó͘ lah."

"Nā án-ne..."

"Aih, sī góa lâng bô sóng-khoài lah."

--

43. 咱 lăi 車頭看看 leh

彼暗無落雪, 落一陣霜仔角了, koh 落雨.

欲 túiⁿ 前暗, 月色真清, 空氣冷 ki-ki, Shimamura koh 一擺叫 Komako 來. 雖然得欲十一點 ah, Komako 猶講欲出去散步, 講 mā 毋聽, kiâng-kiâng ùi 被爐 kā 伊 giú 起來, 拖伊同齊出 mûi.

道路已經結冰. 規庄頭 tī 寒冷 lih 睏 kah 恬 chiuh-chiuh. Komako kā 衫仔裾搝起來 seh tī 腰帶. 月 ná 像一支利刀 khòe tī 青 lin-lin ê 冰角頂面. 

"行 lăi 車頭."

"起痟. 往回超過一里路."

"你欲 túiⁿ Tokyo ah. 咱 lăi 車頭看看 leh."

Shimamura ùi 肩頭到大腿攏寒 kah 麻痺 ah.

Tún 來到房間, Komako 心頭重橫橫, 雙手長長緊伸入火爐, hām 平時無仝, mā 毋愛洗溫泉 ah.

被爐 ê 被 tī 原位無振動, 也 tō 是 koh kā 另外彼領被罩 tī 頂面, 舒被鋪到被爐窟仔邊. Komako 坐 tī 被爐邊烘火, 頭 lê-lê, 無聲無說.

"Án-nóa hioh?"

"我欲來 túiⁿ."

"三八!"

"好 lah. 你去睏. 我就 án-ne."

"是 án-nóa 欲 túiⁿ?"

"毋 túiⁿ ah. Tī 遮等到天 kuiⁿ."

"誠害. 莫蹺蹊 lah."

"毋是蹺蹊. 我 tih 艱苦 lah."

"若 án-ne..."

"Aih, 是我人無爽快 lah."

--

43.

It did not snow that evemng. A hailstorm turned to rain.

Shimamura called Komako again the night before he was to leave. It was a clear, moonlit night. At eleven o'clock the air was bitterly cold, but Komako insisted on going for a walk. She pulled him roughly from the kotatsu.

The road was frozen. The village lay quiet under the cold sky. Komako hitched up the skirt of her kimono and tucked it into her obi. The moon shone like a blade frozen in blue ice.

"We'll go to the station," said Komako.

"You're insane. It's more than a mile each way." 

"You'll be going back to Tokyo soon. We'll go look at the station."

Shimamura was numb from his shoulders to his thighs.

Back in his room, Komako sank disconsolately to the floor. Her head was bowed and her arms were deep in the kotatsu. Strangely, she refused to go with him to the bath.

Bedding had been laid out with the foot of the mattress inside the kotatsu. Komako was sitting forlornly beside it when Shimamura came back from the bath. She said nothing.

"What's the matter?" "I'm going home." 

"Don't be foolish."

"Go on to bed. Just let me sit here for a little while."

"Why do you want to go home?"

"I'm not going home. I'll sit here till morning." 

"Don't be difficult."

"I'm not being difficult. I'm not being difficult." 

"Then . . . ?"

"I . . . don't feel well."

--

42. Í-keng tih chhu-seh ah | 已經 tih 趨雪 ah

42. Í-keng tih chhu-seh ah

Chhut e̍k-tiûⁿ liáu, koh ná kā yi se thâu-chang, ná kóng:

"Chit-ê gín-á nā khòaⁿ tio̍h gē-tòaⁿ tō kiò Komako Chan, bóe-im khiú koân-koân. Khòaⁿ tio̍h siàng a̍h-sī tô͘, lāi-té ū se Ji̍t-pún thâu-chang kòe ê, tō lóng kiò-sī ‘Komako Chan’. Góa chìn kah-ì gín-á, chìn liáu-kái in. Góa kóng: ‘Kimi Chan, lâi Komako Chan ê chhù sńg, hó bô?’"

Kóng liáu, Komako khiā khí-lâi, kiâⁿ kàu cháu-lông, tī chi̍t-tè tîn-í lán-lán chē lo̍h-lâi:

"Tokyo lâng kóaⁿ piāng-piāng. Lí khòaⁿ, í-keng tih chhu-seh ah."

Chit-ê pâng-keng tī khah koân ê só͘-chāi, ē-tàng khòaⁿ tio̍h lâm-pêng soaⁿ-kha ê chhu-seh tiûⁿ.

Shimamura mā ùi phōe-lô͘ oa̍t-thâu khòaⁿ kòe, soaⁿ-phiâⁿ seh hoe-hoe, ū gō͘-la̍k-ê lâng chhēng o͘ chhu-seh ho̍k, tī soaⁿ-kha hûiⁿ lih chhu-seh. Hia ê phiâⁿ-á hûiⁿ ê lêng iáu-bōe khàm seh, siâ-tō͘ mā bô kàu, si̍t-chāi bô hó-sńg.

"Ká-ná sī ha̍k-seng neh. Káⁿ sī lé-pài-ji̍t hoⁿh? Án-ne kám ū sáⁿ hó-sńg?"

"M̄-koh, in chhu ê chu-sè bē-bái neh." Komako ka-tī án-ne nauh:

"Thiaⁿ-kóng, gē-tòaⁿ mā tī chhu-seh tiûⁿ hām lâng-kheh phah-chio-ho͘, lâng-kheh ē tio̍h-kiaⁿ, kóng: ‘Oh, sī lí ah!’ In-ūi chhu-seh phôe-hu pha̍k o͘, lóng jīn bē-chhut ah. Àm-sî, iū-koh ū hòa-chong."

"Mā chhēng chhu-seh ho̍k, hoⁿh?"

"Chhēng seh-khò͘ lah. Ai-ah, thó-ià, thó-ià! Tī iàn-hōe tú-chiah sio-tú, in tō kóng, bîn-á-chài tī chhu-seh tiûⁿ koh sio-kìⁿ. Kin-nî góa m̄-thang khì chhu-seh. Chài-hōe lah. Lâi, Kimi, lán kiâⁿ. E-àm ē lo̍h-seh. Lo̍h-seh chêng hit-mê lóng chiok kôaⁿ ê."

Komako khí-sin lī-khui, Shimamura chē tī yi chē kòe ê tîn-í, khòaⁿ Komako khan Kimi ê sè chhiú, kiâⁿ chhu-seh tiûⁿ ē-té ê kiā-lō͘ túiⁿ khì.

Thiⁿ khí hûn, jia-iáⁿ ê soaⁿ hām chiò-ji̍t ê soaⁿ sio têng-tha̍h. Jia-iáⁿ a̍h-sī chiò-ji̍t sî-sî tih piàn, hiàn-chhut chheⁿ-léng ê kéng-tì. Bô gōa kú, chhu-seh tiûⁿ mā àm lo̍h-lâi. Ba̍k-chiu khòaⁿ thang-á-mûi ē-bīn, ta kiok-hoe lî-pa téng, ū ná kian-tàng ê sng-á-chhiu. Chhù-téng iûⁿ-seh ê chúi ùi sîn-chúi-kóng tih lo̍h ê siaⁿ bô chi̍t-sî thêng.

--

42. 已經 tih 趨雪 ah

出浴場了, koh ná kā 她梳頭鬃, ná 講:

"這个囡仔若看著藝旦 tō 叫 Komako Chan, 尾音搝懸懸. 看著相抑是圖, 內底有梳日本頭鬃髻 ê, tō 攏叫是 ‘Komako Chan’. 我晉佮意囡仔, 晉了解 in. 我講: ‘Kimi Chan, 來 Komako Chan ê 厝耍, 好無?’"

講了, Komako 徛起來, 行到走廊, tī 一塊籐椅懶懶坐落來:

"Tokyo 人趕 piāng-piāng. 你看, 已經 tih 趨雪 ah."

這个房間 tī 較懸 ê 所在, 會當看著南爿山跤 ê 趨雪場.

Shimamura mā ùi 被爐越頭看過, 山坪雪花花, 有五六个人穿烏趨雪服, tī 山跤 hûiⁿ lih 趨雪. Hia ê 坪仔 hûiⁿ ê 稜猶未崁雪, 斜度 mā 無夠, 實在無好耍.

"Ká-ná 是學生 neh. Káⁿ 是禮拜日 hoⁿh? Án-ne 敢有啥好耍?"

"毋過, in 趨 ê 姿勢袂䆀 neh." Komako 家治 án-ne nauh:

"聽講, 藝旦 mā tī 趨雪場和人客拍招呼, 人客會著驚, 講: ‘Oh, 是你 ah!’ 因為趨雪皮膚曝烏, 攏認袂出 ah. 暗時, 又閣有化妝."

"Mā 穿趨雪服, hoⁿh?"

"穿雪褲 lah. Ai-ah, 討厭, 討厭! Tī 宴會拄才相拄, in tō 講, 明仔載 tī 趨雪場 koh 相見. 今年我毋通去趨雪. 再會 lah. 來, Kimi, 咱行. 下暗會落雪. 落雪前彼暝攏足寒 ê."

Komako 起身離開, Shimamura 坐 tī 她坐過 ê 籐椅, 看 Komako 牽 Kimi ê 細手, 行趨雪場下底 ê 崎路 túiⁿ 去.

天起雲, jia 影 ê 山和照日 ê 山相重疊. Jia 影抑是照日時時 tih 變, 現出生冷 ê 景致. 無偌久, 趨雪場 mā 暗落來. 目睭看窗仔 mûi 下面, 焦菊花籬笆頂, 有 ná 堅凍 ê 霜仔鬚. 厝頂溶雪 ê 水 ùi 承水管滴落 ê 聲無一時停.

--

42.

Back from the bath, Komako was combing her hair. "Whenever the child sees a geisha, she calls out 'Komako' in that funny accent, and when she sees a picture of someone with her hair done in the old way, that's 'Komako' too. Children can tell when you like them. Come, Kimi. Let's go play at Komako's." She stood up to leave, then sat down lazily on the veranda. "Eager people from Tokyo already out skiing."

The room looked from high ground directly south over the ski runs at the base of the mountain.

Shimamura glanced up from the kotatsu. There were patches of snow on the mountain, and five or six figures in black ski clothes were moving about in the terraced fields. It seemed a trifle silly. The slope was a gentle one, and the walls between the fields were not yet covered with snow. "They look like students. Is today Sunday? Do you suppose that's fun?"

"They're good, though," Komako said, as if to herself. "Guests are always surprised when a gei­ sha says hello to them on the ski grounds. They don't recognize her for the snow-burn. At night the powder hides it."

"You wear ski clothes?"

She wore "mountain trousers," she said. "But what a nuisance the ski season is. It's all coming again. You see them in the evening at the inn, and they say they'll see you again the next day skiing. Maybe I should give up skiing this year. Good-by. Come along, Kimi. We'll have snow this evening. It's always cold the night before it snows."

Shimamura went out to the veranda. Komako was leading Kimi down the steep road below the ski grounds.

The sky was clouding over. Mountains still in the sunlight stood out against shadowed mountains. The play of light and shade changed from moment to moment, sketching a chilly landscape. Presently the ski grounds too were in shadow. Below the window Shimamura could see little needles of frost like ising-glass among the withered chrysanthemums, though water was still dripping from the snow on the roof.

--

41. Sè-hàn sî, tō sī án-ne liān | 細漢時, tō 是 án-ne 練

41. Sè-hàn sî, tō sī án-ne liān

Lêng koh ti̍t ê phīⁿ sió-khóa ko͘-toaⁿ khoán, m̄-koh chhùi-phé âng-gê, ū goân-khì, ká-ná khin-siaⁿ tih kóng: góa tī chia lah. Nn̄g-tè súi koh âng-jūn ê chhùi-tûn, sió-khóa ha̍p óa ê sî, téng-bīn ná-chhiūⁿ siám-sih âng-kuiⁿ. Ná sió eng-thô ê chhùi, nā ūi tio̍h chhiùⁿ-koa peh khui, chin kín tō koh ha̍p óa, ná-chhiūⁿ yi ê hûn-su hiah-nī bê-lâng. Tī lio̍h-á oan ê ba̍k-bâi ē-bīn, nn̄g-lúi ba̍k-chiu, ba̍k-bóe bô khiàu mā bô sûi, bē-su sī thiâu-kang ōe ti̍t ê, taⁿ kim koh bêng, ū kúi-hun ê gín-á khoán. Yi bô boah pe̍h-hún, keng-kòe to͘-chhī ê gē-tòaⁿ seng-oa̍h, taⁿ koh ke chi̍t-iân soaⁿ ê sek-chhái, yi ê phôe-hu ná-chhiūⁿ tú peh-khui ê soaⁿ-soàn a̍h iûⁿ-chhang thâu, pe̍h lih koh thàu-chhut tām-tām ê hún-âng, liân ām-kún mā án-ne. Chóng-sī, chheng-chheng-khì-khì.

Toan-toan chiàⁿ-chiàⁿ chē ê chu-sè, khòaⁿ tio̍h ná siàu-lú, hām pêng-sî bô kāng.

Chòe-āu yi kóng, lâi tôaⁿ iáu tih liān-si̍p ê khek, tō ná khòaⁿ phó͘ ná tôaⁿ "Sin Khek Urashima" (新曲浦島), tôaⁿ liáu, Komako kā hiân-poah gia̍p tī hiân tiong-ng, kui-ê hûn-su pàng khin-sang.

Chek-sî yi hián-chhut iau-kiau, bê-lâng ê chu-thài.

Shimamura m̄-chai boeh kóng sáⁿ hó. Komako koh-khah bô iàu-ì i ē án-nóa phe-phêng, kan-ta hián-chhut thian-chin ê hoaⁿ-hí.

"Chit-só͘-chāi gē-tòaⁿ tôaⁿ samisen, lí kám lóng ē-tàng thiaⁿ siaⁿ tō hun-pia̍t sī sáng tih tôaⁿ?" 

"Tong-jiân hun-pia̍t ē chhut, lóng-chóng to bô jī-cha̍p lâng. Nā tôaⁿ Dodoitsu (都都逸) siāng hó hun-pia̍t, in-ūi he siāng ē-tàng piáu-hiān ta̍k-lâng ê hong-keh."

Chū án-ne, yi sió-khóa sóa kūi tio̍h ê chiàⁿ-kha, the̍h samisen khǹg tī kha-tó͘, io se̍h tò-pêng, hûn-su àⁿ chiàⁿ-pêng, ná khòaⁿ samisen ná kóng:

"Sè-hàn ê sî, tō sī án-ne liān."

"O͘...thâu...chang...ê..." ná chhiùⁿ gín-á siaⁿ, ná tin-tin tiang-tiang tih tôaⁿ.

"Lí tú khai-sí tō sī o̍h chhiùⁿ 'O͘-thâu-chang' (黑髮) hioh?"

"Ńg-n̄g." Komako ná sè-hàn sî án-ne iô-thâu. 

Chū-chiông án-ne liáu-āu, kiàn-pái lâu lo̍h-lâi kòe-mê, Komako mā bē koh kian-chhî boeh tī thiⁿ-kuiⁿ chìn-chêng kóaⁿ túiⁿ khì.

"Komako Chan." Cháu-lông hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ hit-thâu ū bóe-im khiú koân ê kiò siaⁿ. Komako kā kheh-chàn ê chă-gín-á phō lâi phōe-lô͘ chia, hām yi chò-hóe sńg kah bē-kì-lih lâng, it-ti̍t kàu boeh-tàu, chiah koh chhōa chit-ê saⁿ-hòe gín-á khì sé un-chôaⁿ.

--

41. 細漢時, tō 是 án-ne 練

稜 koh 直 ê 鼻小可孤單款, 毋過喙 phé 紅牙, 有元氣, ká-ná 輕聲 tih 講: 我 tī 遮 lah. 兩塊媠 koh 紅潤 ê 喙唇, 小可合倚 ê 時, 頂面 ná 像閃爍紅 kuiⁿ. Ná 小櫻桃 ê 喙, 若為著唱歌擘開, 真緊 tō koh 合倚, ná 像她 ê 魂軀 hiah-nī 迷人. Tī 略仔彎 ê 目眉下面, 兩蕊目睭, 目尾無翹 mā 無垂, 袂輸是 thiâu-kang 畫直 ê, 今金 koh 明, 有幾分 ê 囡仔款. 她無抹白粉, 經過都市 ê 藝旦生活, 今 koh 加一沿山 ê 色彩, 她 ê 皮膚 ná 像拄擘開 ê 山蒜 a̍h 洋蔥頭, 白 lih koh 透出淡淡 ê 粉紅, 連頷頸 mā án-ne. 總是, 清清氣氣.

端端正正坐 ê 姿勢, 看著 ná 少女, hām 平時無仝.

最後她講, 來彈猶 tih 練習 ê 曲, tō ná 看譜 ná 彈 "Sin Khek Urashima" (新曲浦島), 彈了, Komako kā 弦撥 gia̍p tī 弦中央, 規个魂軀放輕鬆.

即時她顯出妖嬌, 迷人 ê 姿態.

Shimamura 毋知欲講啥好. Komako 閣較無要意伊會 án-nóa 批評, 干焦顯出天真 ê 歡喜.

"這所在藝旦彈 samisen, 你敢攏會當聽聲 tō 分別是 sáng tih 彈?" 

"當然分別會出, 攏總 to 無二十人. 若彈 Dodoitsu (都都逸) 上好分別, 因為 he 上會當表現逐人 ê 風格."

自 án-ne, 她小可徙跪著 ê 正跤, 提 samisen 囥 tī 跤肚, 腰踅倒爿, 魂軀 àⁿ 正爿, ná 看 samisen ná 講:

"細漢 ê 時, tō 是 án-ne 練."

"O͘...thâu...chang...ê..." ná 唱囡仔聲, ná tin-tin tiang-tiang tih 彈.

"你拄開始 tō 是學唱 'O͘-thâu-chang' (黑髮) hioh?"

"Ńg-n̄g." Komako ná 細漢時 án-ne 搖頭. 

Chū-chiông án-ne 了後, 見擺留落來過暝, Komako mā 袂 koh 堅持欲 tī 天 kuiⁿ 進前趕 túiⁿ 去.

"Komako Chan." 走廊 hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ 彼頭有尾音搝懸 ê 叫聲. Komako kā 客棧 ê chă 囡仔抱來被爐遮, 和她做伙耍 kah 袂記 lih 人, 一直到欲晝, 才 koh chhōa 這个三歲囡仔去洗溫泉.

--

41.

The high, thin nose was usually a little lonely, a little sad, but today, with the healthy, vital flush on her cheeks, it was rather whispering: I am here too. The smooth lips seemed to reflect back a dancing light even when they were drawn into a tight bud; and when for a moment they were stretched wide, as the singing demanded, they were quick to contract again into that engaging little bud. Their charm was exactly like the charm of her body itself. Her eyes, moist and shining, made her look like a very young girl. She wore no powder, and the polish of the city geisha had over it a layer of mountain color. Her skin, suggesting the newness of a freshly peeled onion or perhaps a lily bulb, was flushed faintly, even to the throat. More than anything, it was clean.

Seated rigidly upright, she seemed more demure and maidenly than usual.

This time using a score, she sang a song she had not yet finished memorizing. At the end she silently pushed the plectrum under the strings and let herself fall into an easier posture.

Her manner quickly took on a touch of the seductive and alluring.

Shimamura could think of nothing to say. Komako did not seem to care particularly what he thought of her playing, however. She was quite unaffectedly pleased with herself.

"Can you always tell which geisha it is from the tone of the samisen?"

"That's easy. There aren't twenty of us all together. It depends a little on the style, though. The individual comes out more in some styles than in others."

She took up the samisen again and shifted her weight so that her feet were a little to one side and the instrument rested on the calf of one leg.

"This is the way you hold it when you're small." She leaned toward the samisen as though it were too large for her. "Da-a-ark hair. . . ." Her voice was deliberately childish and she picked out the notes uncertainly.

" 'Dark Hair' was the first one you learned?"

"Uh-uh." She shook her head girlishly, as no doubt she did in the days when she was still too small to hold the samisen properly.

Komako no longer tried to leave before day-break when she stayed the night.

"Komako," the two-year-old daughter of the innkeeper would call from far down the hall, her voice rising in the mountain-country lilt. The two of them would play happily in the kotatsu until nearly noon, when they would go for a bath.

--