97. Góa kiaⁿ hām lí hun-khui | 我驚和你分開

97. Góa kiaⁿ hām lí hun-khui

Komako iōng hûn-su tōa-la̍t lòng Shimamura, hāi i phiân chi̍t-pō͘. Lō͘-piⁿ ê po̍h seh tiong-kan sī kui-pâi ê chhang-á.

"Bô-chêng ah!"

Koh-lâi Komako kín-chhùi kóng chi̍t-kōaⁿ ê ōe:

"Oeh, lí ah, lí kóng góa sī chi̍t-ê hó cha-bó͘ neh. Tit-boeh lī-khui ê lâng, kā góa kóng hit-lō ōe, lí sī sáⁿ ì-sù ah?"

Shimamura siūⁿ khí Komako iōng thâu-mo͘-chiam chha̍k tatami ê tāi-chì.

"Góa khàu. Túiⁿ-chhù liáu góa iū-koh khàu. Góa kiaⁿ hām lí hun-khui. M̄-koh, lí iáu-sī chá cháu chá hó. Lí kóng kah góa khàu chit-ê tāi-chì, góa bē pàng bē-kì."

Shimamura siūⁿ khí hit-kù ín-khí Komako gō͘-hōe, soah chhim-chhim ìn tī yi sim-lāi ê ōe, soah kám-kak chin m̄-kam, sim-lāi kún-ká. Hit-sî, in thiaⁿ tio̍h hóe-tiûⁿ hit-pêng thoân lâi ê lâng siaⁿ. Sin ê hóe-iām iū hiàng téng-koân phùn chhut hóe-chheⁿ.

"Ai-ah, koh to̍h khí-lâi ah, to̍h kah hiah-nī tōa."

Nn̄g-lâng ká-ná tit-kiù, sim-chêng khin-sang koh cháu hiàng chêng.

Komako chin gâu cháu: chhâ-kia̍h tiám tio̍h peng seh sûi koh gia̍h khí-lâi, ná-chhiūⁿ tih poe; chhiú-kut bô chêng-āu hàiⁿ, sī gia̍p tī siang-pêng. Yi kui-sin ê la̍t kek tī heng-chêng, chāi Shimamura khòaⁿ, sin-châi te̍k-pia̍t sè-lia̍p-chí. Sió-khóa hoat-hok ê Shimamura, ná khòaⁿ Komako ê sin-iáⁿ, ná tòe leh cháu, chin kín tō bô khùi-la̍t ah. M̄-koh, kòe chi̍t-ē-á Komako mā tōa-khùi chhoán bē lī, tō phiân hiàng Shimamura khì.

"Ba̍k-chiu gàn kah lâu ba̍k-sái ah."

Bīn sio-sio, kan-ta ba̍k-chiu léng ki-ki. Shimamura ê ba̍k-chiu mā tâm-tâm. Ba̍k-chiu nih chi̍t-ē, thian-hô móa-móa sī. I kā ba̍k-sái jím tio̍h, m̄ hō͘ lak:

"Ta̍k-àm ê thian-hô l人ng án-ne hioh?"

"Thian-hô? Chiâⁿ súi neh. M̄-sī ta̍k-àm lóng án-ne lah. Thiⁿ ū-kàu chheng."

Thian-hô sī ùi in ê āu-bīn ǹg chêng lâu khì. Komako ê bīn khòaⁿ khí-lâi ká-ná chiò tī thian-hô tiong. 

--

97. 我驚和你分開

Komako 用魂軀大力挵 Shimamura, 害伊蹁一步. 路邊 ê 薄雪中間是規排 ê 蔥仔.

"無情 ah!"

閣來 Komako 緊喙講一捾 ê 話:

"Oeh, 你 ah, 你講我是一个好查某 neh. 得欲離開 ê 人, kā 我講 hit-lō 話, 你是啥意思 ah?"

Shimamura 想起 Komako 用頭毛簪鑿 tatami ê 代誌.

"我哭. Túiⁿ 厝了我又閣哭. 我驚和你分開. 毋過, 你猶是早走早好. 你講 kah 我哭這个代誌, 我袂放袂記."

Shimamura 想起彼句引起 Komako 誤會, 煞深深印 tī 她心內 ê 話, 煞感覺真毋甘, 心內滾絞. 彼時, in 聽著火場彼爿傳來 ê 人聲. 新 ê 火焰又向頂懸噴出火星.

"Ai-ah, koh to̍h 起來 ah, to̍h kah hiah-nī 大."

兩人 ká-ná 得救, 心情輕鬆 koh 走向前.

Komako 真 gâu 走: 柴屐點著冰雪隨 koh 攑起來, ná 像 tih 飛; 手骨無前後幌, 是挾 tī 雙爿. 她規身 ê 力激 tī 胸前, 在 Shimamura 看, 身材特別細粒子. 小可發福 ê Shimamura, ná 看 Komako ê 身影, ná 綴 leh 走, 真緊 tō 無氣力 ah. 毋過, 過一下仔 Komako mā 大氣喘袂離, tō 蹁向 Shimamura 去.

"目睭 gàn kah 流目屎 ah."

面燒燒, 干焦目睭冷 ki-ki. Shimamura ê 目睭 mā 澹澹. 目睭 nih 一下, 天河滿滿是. 伊 kā 目屎忍著, 毋予 lak:

"逐暗 ê 天河攏 án-ne hioh?"

"天河? 誠媠 neh. 毋是逐暗攏 án-ne lah. 天有夠清."

天河是 ùi in ê 後面 ǹg 前流去. Komako ê 面看起來 ká-ná 照 tī 天河中. 

--

97.

She threw herself against him. He reeled back a step or two. A row of onions was growing in the thin snow beside the road.

"I hated it." That sudden torrent of words came at him again. coyou said I was a good woman, didn't you? You're going away. Why did you have to say that to me?"

He could see her stabbing at the mat with that silver hair-ornament.

"I cried about it. I cried again after I got home. I'm afraid to leave you. But please go away. I won't forget that you made me cry."

A feeling of nagging, hopeless impotence came over Shimamura at the thought that a simple misunderstanding had worked its way so deep into the woman's being. But just then they heard shouts from the direction of the fire, and a new burst of flame sent up its column of sparks.

"Look. See how it's flaming up again."

They ran on, released.

Komako ran well. Her sandals skimmed the frozen snow, and her arms, close to her sides, seemed hardly to move. She was as one whose whole strength is concentrated in the breas"-a strangely small figure, Shimamura thought. Too plump for running himself, he was exhausted the more quickly from watching her. But Komako too was soon out of breath. She fell against him.

"My eyes are watering," she said. "That's how cold it is."

Shimamura's eyes too were moist. His cheeks were flushed, and only his eyes were cold. He blinked, and the Milky Way came to fill them. He tried to keep the tears from spilling over.

"Is the Milky Way like this every night?"

"The Milky Way? Beautiful, isn't it? But it's not like this every night. It's not usually so clear."

The Milky Way flowed over them in the direction they were running, and seemed to bathe Komako's head in its light.

--

96. Ah, thian-hô! | Ah, 天河!

96. Ah, thian-hô!

Ah, thian-hô! Shimamura mā taⁿ-thâu thàn chi̍t-siaⁿ, ká-ná ka-tī ê hûn-su mā kiâng boeh phû hiàng thian-hô khì. Thian-hô ê kuiⁿ hiah-nī kīn, ká-ná boeh kā i giú khí lih. Hit tong-sî sì-kè lí-hêng ê Bashō (芭蕉), tī tōa hái-éng tiong só͘ khòaⁿ tio̍h ê thian-hô, kám mā chhiūⁿ taⁿ hiah-nī tōa hioh? Bâng-bâng thian-hô kòa tī gán-chêng, ká-ná sī boeh iōng i he lō͘-thé ê hûn-su lám lán àm-iā ê thó͘-tē. Che sī khó-phà ê iau-kiau ah. Shimamura kám-kak i he sió-sió ê sin-iáⁿ, tian-tò boeh ùi thô͘-kha chiò ǹg thian-hô khì. Thian-hô téng móa-móa ê thiⁿ-chheⁿ m̄-nā chi̍t-lia̍p chi̍t-lia̍p khòaⁿ ē tio̍h, ū-ê só͘-chāi ê kuiⁿ-hûn ê gîn-soa mā chi̍t-lia̍p chi̍t-lia̍p chheng-chheng chhó-chhó, kā Shimamura ê sī-sòaⁿ khiú ji̍p thian-hô bô-té ê chhim-kheⁿ.

"Oeh! Oeh!" Shimamura kiò Komako.

"Oeh! Lí kín kòe lâi." Komako ná kiò i, ná ǹg thian-hô sûi lo̍h ê àm soaⁿ hong-hiàng cháu khì.

Kûn-ki ká-ná láng tio̍h, chhiú chi̍t-ē tín-tāng, he âng kûn tō tn̂g chi̍t-ē, té chi̍t-ē. In-ūi ū bêng-chheⁿ chiò tī seh téng, chiah khòaⁿ ē chhut he sī âng-sek ê. 

Shimamura piàⁿ-miā jek kòe-khì.

Komako pàng bān kha-pō͘, pàng tiāu kûn-ki, khì khan Shimamura ê chhiú:

"Lí mā boeh khì?"

"Hmh."

"Ài tàu lāu-jia̍t." Komako koh kā làu tī seh téng ê kûn-ki lia̍h khí-lâi:

"Lâng ē chhiò góa neh. Lí túiⁿ khì lah."

"Hmh, góa kàu thâu-chêng hia."

"Kám bē chiâⁿ hāi? Liân kàu hóe-chai mā chhōa lí, chng ê lâng ē kiàn-koài."

Shimamura tìm thâu, tòng tiām, Komako soah iáu khin-khin khiú i ê chhiú-úiⁿ bān-pō͘ kiâⁿ chìn-chêng.

"Chhōe chi̍t-ê ūi tán góa. Góa liâm-mi tún lâi. Tá-ūi tán hó?"

"Tá-ūi lóng hó."

"Nā án-ne, koh kiâⁿ chi̍t-ē." Komako lia̍h Shimamura ê bīn khòaⁿ chi̍t-ē, hut-jiân koh iô-thâu, kóng:

"Mài. Góa m̄."

--

96. Ah, 天河!

Ah, 天河! Shimamura mā taⁿ 頭嘆一聲, ká-ná 家治 ê 魂軀 mā kiâng 欲浮向天河去. 天河 ê kuiⁿ hiah-nī 近, ká-ná 欲 kā 伊搝起 lih. 彼當時四界旅行 ê Bashō (芭蕉), tī 大海湧中所看著 ê 天河, 敢 mā 像今 hiah-nī 大 hioh? 茫茫天河掛 tī 眼前, ká-ná 是欲用伊 he 露體 ê 魂軀攬咱暗夜 ê 土地. 這是可怕 ê 妖嬌 ah. Shimamura 感覺伊 he 小小 ê 身影, 顛倒欲 ùi 塗跤照 ǹg 天河去. 天河頂滿滿 ê 天星毋但一粒一粒看會著, 有 ê 所在 ê kuiⁿ 雲 ê 銀沙 mā 一粒一粒清清楚楚, kā Shimamura ê 視線搝入天河無底 ê 深坑.

"Oeh! Oeh!" Shimamura 叫 Komako.

"Oeh! 你緊過來." Komako ná 叫伊, ná ǹg 天河垂落 ê 暗山方向走去.

裙裾 ká-ná láng 著, 手一下振動, 彼紅裙 tō 長一下, 短一下. 因為有明星照 tī 雪頂, 才看會出彼是紅色 ê. 

Shimamura 拚命 jek 過去.

Komako 放慢跤步, 放掉裙裾, 去牽 Shimamura ê 手:

"你 mā 欲去?"

"Hmh."

"愛鬥鬧熱." Komako koh kā làu tī 雪頂 ê 裙裾掠起來:

"人會笑我 neh. 你 túiⁿ 去 lah."

"Hmh, 我到頭前遐."

"敢袂誠害? 連到火災 mā chhōa 你, 庄 ê 人會見怪."

Shimamura tìm 頭, 擋恬, Komako 煞猶輕輕搝伊 ê 手 úiⁿ 慢步行進前.

"揣一个位等我. 我 liâm-mi tún 來. Tá 位等好?"

"Tá 位攏好."

"若 án-ne, koh 行一下." Komako 掠 Shimamura ê 面看一下, 忽然 koh 搖頭, 講:

"莫. 我毋."

--

96.

The Milky Way. Shimamura too looked up, and he felt himself floating into the Milky Way. Its radiance was so near that it seemed to take him up into it. Was this the bright vastness the poet Basho saw when he wrote of the Milky Way arched over a stormy sea? The Milky Way came down just over there, to wrap the night earth in its naked embrace. There was a terrible voluptuousness about it. Shimamura fancied that his own small shadow was being cast up against it from the earth. Each individual star stood apart from the rest, and even the particles of silver dust in the luminous clouds could be picked out, so clear was the night. The limitless depth of the Milky Way pulled his gaze up into it.

"Wait, wait," Shimamura called.

"Come on." Komako ran toward the dark mountain on which the Milky Way was falling.

She seemed to have her long skirts in her hands, and as her arms waved the skirts rose and fell a linle. He could feel the red over the starlit snow.

He ran after her as fast as he could.

She slowed down and took his hand, and the long skirts fell to the ground. "You're going too?"

"Yes."

"Always looking for excitement." She clutched at her skirts, now trailing over the snow. "But people will laugh. Please go back."

"Just a little farther."

"But it's wrong. People won't like it if I take you to a fire."

He nodded and stopped. Her hand still rested lightly on his sleeve, however, as she walked on.

"Wait for me somewhere. I'll be right back. Where will you wait?"

"Wherever you say."

"Let's see. A little farther." She peered into his face, and abruptly shook her head. "No. I don't want you to."

--

95. Lâng-lâng khiā tī cháu-lông khòaⁿ hóe-sio-chhù | 人人徛 tī 走廊看火燒厝

95. Lâng-lâng khiā tī cháu-lông khòaⁿ hóe-sio-chhù

Nn̄g-lâng hiong kông-kông peh-chiūⁿ chio̍h-khám-á, in-ūi thiaⁿ tio̍h téng-koân lâng-siaⁿ chhap-cha̍p. Gia̍h-thâu chi̍t-ē khòaⁿ, kheh-chàn jī-lâu hām saⁿ-lâu, tōa-pō͘-hūn thoah-mûi lóng khui-khui, lâng-lâng khiā tī kuiⁿ iāⁿ-iāⁿ ê cháu-lông tih khòaⁿ hóe-sio-chhù. Hoe-hûiⁿ piⁿ phû-hiān chhut chi̍t-pâi kiok-hoe ta ki ê hêng-iáⁿ, he m̄-chai sī hō͘ kheh-chàn ê teng-hóe a̍h-sī hō͘ thiⁿ-téng ê chheⁿ chiò tio̍h ê, hut-jiân, he mā ná chhin-chhiūⁿ sī hō͘ hóe kuiⁿ só͘ chiò tio̍h ê. Kiok-hoe āu-piah mā ū lâng iáⁿ. Ùi in nn̄g-lâng téng-bīn, ū saⁿ-sì-ê kheh-chàn ê niá-pan téng-téng jîn-oân hiong-hiong kông-kông chông lo̍h-lâi. Komako tōa-siaⁿ kā mūi:

"He, kám sī niû-á-pâng?"

"Sī niû-á-pâng!"

"Ū-lâng siū-siang bô? Kám ū-lâng siū-siang?"

"Iáu tih chi̍t-ê chi̍t-ê kiù leh. Tiān-iáⁿ film chi̍t-ē to̍h-hóe, chin kín tō sio kah kui-sì-kè . Che sī iōng tiān-ōe mūi tio̍h ê. Lín khòaⁿ hit-pêng!" Niá-pan chi̍t-ki chhiú iāⁿ chi̍t-ē, sûi tō kiâⁿ khui:

"Thiaⁿ-kóng, kā gín-á chi̍t-ê chi̍t-ê ùi jī-lâu hiat lo̍h-lâi neh."

"Ai-ah, án-ne boeh án-nóa?" Komako ká-ná boeh jek niá-pan, kiâⁿ lo̍h chio̍h-khám-á. Ùi āu-piah lâi ê lâng chgiau-kòe in. Komako tòe leh khí cháu. Shimamura mā tòe leh.

Lâi kàu chio̍h-khám ē-bīn, hóe tiûⁿ hō͘ chhù cha̍h tio̍h, kan-ta khòaⁿ ē tio̍h hóe-chi̍h. Hóe-kéng ê cheng-siaⁿ hiáng koh kip, hō͘ lâng sim kiaⁿ-kiaⁿ, sì-kè chông.

"Seh kiat-peng ah, ài sió-sim, Ku̍t!" Komako oa̍t-thâu ǹg Shimamura, sūn-sè koh khiā tiāⁿ, kóng:

"M̄-koh, sī lah. Lí bô tāi-chì, m̄-bián khì. Góa sī tam-sim chng lih ê lâng."

Yi án-ne kóng bô m̄-tio̍h, Shimamura kám-kak sit-bōng. Chit-sî chiah hoat-hiān, kha-té ta̍h ê sī thih-ki-lō͘, in í-keng lâi-kàu pêng-kau-tō chêng ah.

"Thian-hô. Súi neh!"

Komako nauh chi̍t-ē, gia̍h thâu khòaⁿ thiⁿ-téng, iū-koh cháu khí-lâi.

--

95. 人人徛 tī 走廊看火燒厝

兩人兇狂狂 peh 上石坎仔, 因為聽著頂懸人聲插雜. 攑頭一下看, 客棧二樓和三樓, 大部份挩 mûi 攏開開, 人人徛 tī kuiⁿ 焱焱 ê 走廊 tih 看火燒厝. 花 hûiⁿ 邊浮現出一排菊花焦枝 ê 形影, 彼毋知是予客棧 ê 燈火抑是予天頂 ê 星照著 ê, 忽然, 彼 mā ná 親像是予火 kuiⁿ 所照著 ê. 菊花後壁 mā 有人影. Ùi in 兩人頂面, 有三四个客棧 ê 領班等等人員兇兇狂狂傱落來. Komako 大聲 kā mūi:

"彼, 敢是娘仔房?"

"是娘仔房!"

"有人受 siang 無? 敢有人受 siang?"

"猶 tih 一个一个救 leh. 電影 film 一下 to̍h 火, 真緊 tō 燒 kah 規四界 . 這是用電話 mūi 著 ê. 恁看彼爿!" 領班一支手颺一下, 隨 tō 行開:

"聽講, kā 囡仔一个一个 ùi 二樓㧒落來 neh."

"Ai-ah, án-ne 欲 án-nóa?" Komako ká-ná 欲 jek 領班, 行落石坎仔. Ùi 後壁來 ê 人超過 in. Komako 綴 leh 起走. Shimamura mā 綴 leh.

來到石坎下面, 火場予厝閘著, 干焦看會著火舌. 火警 ê 鐘聲響 koh 急, 予人心驚驚, 四界傱.

"雪結冰 ah, 愛小心, 滑!" Komako 越頭 ǹg Shimamura, 順勢 koh 徛定, 講:

"毋過, 是 lah. 你無代誌, 毋免去. 我是擔心庄 lih ê 人."

她 án-ne 講無毋著, Shimamura 感覺失望. 這時才發現, 跤底踏 ê 是鐵支路, in 已經來到平交道前 ah.

"天河. 媠 neh!"

Komako nauh 一下, 攑頭看天頂, 又閣走起來.

--

95.

They hurried up toward the inn. There was shouting above them. Guests stood on the second- and third-floor verandas, flooded with light from the open doors. At the edge of the garden, withering chrysanthemums were silhouetted against the light from the inn--or the starlight. For an instant he almost thought it was the light from the fire.

Several figures stood beyond the chrysanthemums. The porter and two or three others came bounding down the steps.

"Is it the cocoon-warehouse?" Komako called after them.

"That's right."

"Is anyone hurt? Has anyone been hurt?" 

"They're getting everyone out. The film caught fire, and in no time the whole place was on fire. Heard it over the telephone. Look!" The porter raised one arm as he ran off. "Throwing children over one after another from the balcony, they say."

"What shall we do?" Komako started off down the stairs after the porter. Several others overtook her, and she too broke into a run. Shimamura followed.

At the foot of the stairs, their uneasiness increased. Only the very tip of the flames showed over the roofs, and the fire-alarm was nearer and more urgent.

"Careful. It's frozen, and you might slip." She stopped as she turned to look back at him. "But it's all right. You don't need to go any farther. I ought to go on myself to see if anyone has been hurt."

There was indeed no reason for him to go on. His excitement fell away. He looked down at his feet and saw that they had come to the crossing.

"The Milky Way. Beautiful, isn't it," Komako murmured. She looked up at the sky as she ran off ahead of him.

--

94. Sio tio̍h niû-á pâng lah | 燒著娘仔房 lah

94. Sio tio̍h niû-á pâng lah

"Góa m̄-chai neh."

"Lí khòaⁿ, lí khòaⁿ!" Komako iáu-sī hoaⁿ-hí kah chhiò bi-bi. Koh kā keng-thâu khò óa lâi, kóng:

"Sī án-nóa m̄ chhōa góa khì? Pìⁿ kah léng ki-ki tún lâi. Thó-ià neh."

Hut-jiân pò-hóe-kéng ê cheng-siaⁿ hiáng khí-lâi.

Nn̄g-lâng oa̍t-thâu khòaⁿ.

"Hóe sio chhù, hóe sio chhù!"

"Ū hóe sio chhù."

Hóe-iām tī ē-bīn ê chng tiong-sim hia chhèng koân.

Komako hoah nn̄g-saⁿ-siaⁿ sáⁿ, kā Shimamura ê chhiú tēⁿ ân-ân.

Tī kún koân ê o͘-ian tiong-kan, ū khòaⁿ-e hóe-chi̍h. He hóe ká-ná tòe gîm-chîⁿ hiàng nn̄g-pêng tih thòaⁿ-khui.

"He sī tá-ūi? Kám m̄-sī chin kīn lí goân-lâi tòa ê sai-hū ê chhù?"

"M̄-sī."

"Nā án-ne, sī tah?"

"Koh-khah kòe. Óa chhia-thâu hit tah."

Hóe-iām thàng kòe chhù-téng chhèng koân.

"Ai-ah, sī niû-á pâng. Niû-á pâng. Ai-ah, ai-ah, sio tio̍h niû-á pâng lah." Komako it-ti̍t kóng, koh kā bīn khò tī Shimamura ê keng-kah-thâu, kóng:

"Sī niû-á pâng, niû-á pâng lah."

Hóe-sè lú sio lú ōng. Tī móa-thiⁿ chheⁿ ē-kha, ùi koân-tē khòaⁿ lo̍h-khì, he hóe tō ná chhiūⁿ thit-thô-mi̍h chēng-chēng tih sio. M̄-koh, hit-chióng khióng-pò͘ iáu sī thoân kàu chia, in ná chhiūⁿ thiaⁿ ē tio̍h hóe sio ê siaⁿ. Shimamura kā Komako siâm tio̍h:

"M̄-bián kiaⁿ!"

"Mh, mh, mh!" Komako ná iô-thâu, ná khàu chhut-lâi. Shimamura chhiú phóng yi ê bīn, kám-kak he bīn pí pêng-sî khah sè. Tēng khok-khok ê pìn-piⁿ pho̍k-pho̍k thiàu.

Khòaⁿ tio̍h hóe, yi tōa khàu. Ūi sáⁿ-mih khàu, Shimamura pēng bô hòⁿ-kî, kan-ta sī kā yi lám tio̍h.

Komako hut-jiân bô koh khàu, kā bīn sóa khui, kóng:

"Ai-ah, tio̍h lah. Niû-á-pâng ū tiān-iáⁿ, sī e-àm. Lâng tiāⁿ-tio̍h chiâⁿ chē, lí chai bô..."

"Án-ne tō hāi ah!"

"Ū-lâng ē tio̍h-siang, ē sio-sí lah."

--

94. 燒著娘仔房 lah

"我毋知 neh."

"你看, 你看!" Komako 猶是歡喜 kah 笑 bi-bi. Koh kā 肩頭靠倚來, 講:

"是 án-nóa 毋 chhōa 我去? Pìⁿ kah 冷 ki-ki tún 來. 討厭 neh."

忽然報火警 ê 鐘聲響起來.

兩人越頭看.

"火燒厝, 火燒厝!"

"有火燒厝."

火焰 tī 下面 ê 庄中心遐衝懸.

Komako 喝兩三聲啥, kā Shimamura ê 手捏絚絚.

Tī 滾懸 ê 烏煙中間, 有看 e 火舌. 彼火 ká-ná 綴砛簷向兩爿 tih 湠開.

"彼是 tá 位? 敢毋是真近你原來蹛 ê 師傅 ê 厝?"

"毋是."

"若 án-ne, 是 tah?"

"閣較過. 倚車頭彼搭."

火焰迵過厝頂衝懸.

"Ai-ah, 是娘仔房. 娘仔房. Ai-ah, ai-ah, 燒著娘仔房 lah." Komako 一直講, koh kā 面靠 tī Shimamura ê 肩胛頭, 講:

"是娘仔房, 娘仔房 lah."

火勢 lú 燒 lú 旺. Tī 滿天星下跤, ùi 懸地看落去, he 火 tō ná 像 thit-thô-mi̍h 靜靜 tih 燒. 毋過, 彼種恐怖猶是傳到遮, in ná 像聽會著火燒 ê 聲. Shimamura kā Komako siâm 著:

"毋免驚!"

"Mh, mh, mh!" Komako ná 搖頭, ná 哭出來. Shimamura 手捧她 ê 面, 感覺 he 面比平時較細. tēng 硞硞 ê 鬢邊 pho̍k-pho̍k 跳.

看著火, 她大哭. 為啥物哭, Shimamura 並無好奇, 干焦是 kā 她攬著.

Komako 忽然無 koh 哭, kā 面徙開, 講:

"Ai-ah, 著 lah. 娘仔房有電影, 是下暗. 人定著誠濟, 你知無..."

"Án-ne tō 害 ah!"

"有人會著 siang, 會燒死 lah."

--

94.

"I didn't."

"See?" Laughing happily to herself, she came very near him. "Why didn't you take me along? You leave me behind and you come back cold--I don't like it at all."

Suddenly a fire-alarm was ringing, with the spe- cial fury that told of an emergency.

They looked back.

"Fire, fire!"

"A fire!"

A column of sparks was rising in the village below.

Komako cried out two or three times, and clutched at Shimamura's hand.

A tongue of flames shot up intermittently in the spiral of smoke, dipping down to lick at the roofs about it.

"Where is it? Fairly near the music teacher's?" 

"No."

"Where, then?"

"Farther up toward the station."

The tongue of flame sprang high over the roofs.

"It's the cocoon-warehouse. The warehouse. Look, look! The cocoon-warehouse is on fire." She pressed her face to his shoulder. "The warehouse, the warehouse!"

The fire blazed higher. From the mountain, however, it was as quiet under the starry sky as a little make-believe fire. Still the terror of it came across to them. They could almost hear the roar of the flames. Shimamura put his arm around Komako's shoulders.

"What is there to be afraid of?"

"No, no, no! " Komako shook her head and burst into tears. Her face seemed smaller than usual in Shimamura's hand. The hard forehead was trembling.

She had burst out weeping at the sight of the fire, and Shimamura held her to him without thinking to wonder what had so upset her.

She stopped weeping as quickly as she had begun, and pulled away from him.

"There's a movie in the warehouse. Tonight. The place will be full of people. . . . People will be hurt. People will burn to death."

--

93. M̄-chai góa ū chhut-lâi sàng lí hoⁿh? | 毋知我有出來送你 hoⁿh?

93. M̄-chai góa ū chhut-lâi sàng lí hoⁿh?

Komako kā hia̍h-thâu tah tī thang-á po-lê, chiam-siaⁿ hoah:

"Khì tá-ūi? Eh, lí khì tá-ūi ah?"

"Án-ne hûi-hiám lah. M̄-thang o͘-pe̍h lâi." Shimamura sui-jiân tōa-siaⁿ kā ìn, he sī tiⁿ-bi̍t ê chò-sńg.

Komako phah khui chhia-mûi, thán-hoâiⁿ tó ji̍p-khì. M̄-koh, chit-sî chhia í-keng thêng lo̍h-lâi, lâi kàu soaⁿ-kha ah.

"Eh, lí khì tá-ūi lah?"

"Hmh, aah..."

"Tá-ūi?"

"He mā m̄-sī tó-ūi lah."

Komako kā saⁿ-á ki liú-la̍k chi̍t-ē, cha̍p-chiok gē-tòaⁿ ê phài-thâu, Shimamura hut-jiân kám-kak chiâⁿ sin-kî.

Ūn-choán-chhiú chē leh tiām-tiām bô tāng. Shimamura kám-kak, án-ne chē tī í-keng kiâⁿ kàu lō͘-bóe ê chhia-lāi, ū-kàu kî-koài, tō kóng:

"Lo̍h-chhia lah."

Komako kā chhiú ta̍ tī i kha-thâu-u téng-bīn ê chhiú, kóng:

"Ai-ah, chiah léng. Chin ê lah. Sī án-nóa lí bô chhōa góa khì?"

"Sī án-ne oh?"

"Lí kóng sáⁿ? Koài lâng!"

Komako thiòng-thiòng tih chhiò, peh chiūⁿ ū kiā chio̍h-thiap-á ê sió lō͘.

"Góa ū khòaⁿ-e lí chhut-khì. Tāi-khài sī nn̄g-tiám a̍h saⁿ-tiám hit-chūn."

"Hmh."

"Thiaⁿ tio̍h chhia siaⁿ, góa cháu chhut-lâi. Lí bô oa̍t-thâu khòaⁿ hoⁿh?"

"Eeh?"

"Oa̍t-thâu khòaⁿ. Lí ná ē bô oa̍t-thâu khòaⁿ?"

Shimamura sió-khóa tio̍h-kiaⁿ.

"Lí ah, lí m̄-chai, góa ū chhut-lâi sàng lí hoⁿh?"

--

93. 毋知我有出來送你 hoⁿh?

Komako kā 額頭貼 tī 窗仔玻璃, 尖聲喝:

"去 tá 位? Eh, 你去 tá 位 ah?"

"Án-ne 危險 lah. 毋通烏白來." Shimamura 雖然大聲 kā 應, 彼是甜蜜 ê 做耍.

Komako 拍開車 mûi, 坦橫倒入去. 毋過, 這時車已經停落來, 來到山跤 ah.

"Eh, 你去 tá 位 lah?"

"Hmh, aah..."

"Tá 位?"

"彼 mā 毋是 tá 位 lah."

Komako kā 衫仔裾扭搦一下, 十足藝旦 ê 派頭, Shimamura 忽然感覺誠新奇.

運轉手坐 leh 恬恬無動. Shimamura 感覺, án-ne 坐 tī 已經行到路尾 ê 車內, 有夠奇怪, tō 講:

"落車 lah."

Komako kā 手搭 tī 伊跤頭趺頂面 ê 手, 講:

"Ai-ah, chiah 冷. 真 ê lah. 是 án-nóa 你無 chhōa 我去?"

"是 án-ne oh?"

"你講啥? 怪人!"

Komako 暢暢 tih 笑, peh 上有崎石疊仔 ê 小路.

"我有看 e 你出去. 大概是兩點 a̍h 三點彼陣."

"Hmh."

"聽著車聲, 我走出來. 你無越頭看 hoⁿh?"

"Eeh?"

"越頭看. 你那會無越頭看?"

Shimamura 小可著驚.

"你 ah, 你毋知, 我有出來送你 hoⁿh?"

--

93.

She pressed her forehead to the window.

"Where have you been? Tell me where you've been," she called in a high voice.

"Don't be a fool. You'll get hurt," he shouted back, but they both knew it was only a gentle game.

She opened the door and fell inside the taxi. It had already stopped, however. They were at the foot of the path up the mountain.

"Where have you been?"

"Well. . . ."

"Where ? "

"Nowhere in particular."

He noticed with surprise that she had the geisha's way of arranging her skirts.

The driver waited silently. It was a bit odd,  Shimamura had to admit, for them to be sitting in a taxi that had gone as far as it could.

"Let's get out." 

Komako put her hand on his. 

"Cold. See how cold. Why didn't you take me with you?"

"You think 1 should have?"

"What a strange person." She laughed happily as she hurried up the stone steps. "I saw you leave. About two . . . a little before three?"

"That's right."

"I ran out when 1 heard the car. 1 ran out in front. And you didn't look around."

 "Look around?"

"You didn't. Why didn't you look around?"

Shimamura was a little surprised at this insistence.

"You didn't know 1 was seeing you off, did you?" 

--

92. Nî-ko͘-am lâi chit jiâu-se, mā bē-bái | 尼姑庵來織皺紗 , mā 袂䆀

92. Nî-ko͘-am lâi chit jiâu-se, mā bē-bái

Shimamura tó tī bîn-chhn̂g thiaⁿ khòaⁿ-âng-hio̍h ê lâng-kheh chhiùⁿ Nō-kio̍k liām-iâu ê hit-kang, chia tō í-keng chho͘-chhù lo̍h-seh ah. Kin-nî ê hái hām soaⁿ sī-m̄-sī mā í-keng tân kòe ah? Shimamura ko͘ chi̍t-lâng lí-hêng lâi un-chôaⁿ-tiûⁿ liân-sòa hām Komako sio-hōe ê tiong-kan, ká-ná i ê hīⁿ-khang mā piàn khah lāi ah, kan-ta sim-koaⁿ siūⁿ tio̍h hái a̍h soaⁿ tân, hīⁿ-khang lāi-té ká-ná tō ū hit-lō hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ tih tân ê siaⁿ. 

"Nî-ko͘ mā tio̍h koaiⁿ-mûi kòe tang neh. Ū gōa-chē lâng ah?"

"Hèⁿ, put-chí-á chē lioh."

"Kan-ta nî-ko͘ chek chò-hóe, kúi-ā kò goe̍h tī seh lih boeh chhòng sáⁿ? Kó͘-chá chit-kho͘-lē-á ū tih chit jiâu-se, tī nî-ko͘-am lâi chit, mā bē-bái neh."

Shimamura chiah-ê hòⁿ-kî ê ōe, ulóng mī-tiàm cha-bó͘ thiaⁿ tio̍h kan-ta sī chhiò-chhiò.  

Shimamura tī chhia-thâu tán túiⁿ khì ê hóe-chhia, tán kah boeh nn̄g-tiám-cheng. Núi-núi ê ji̍t lo̍h-khì í-āu, khong-khì hoán léng, thiⁿ-téng ê chheⁿ léng-léng chhut-hiān. I ê kha léng peng-peng.

M̄-chai ūi sáⁿ-mih boeh chhut-khì ê Shimamura, tún-lâi kàu un-chôaⁿ-tiûⁿ. Chhia keng-kòe se̍k-sāi ê pêng-kau-tō, it-ti̍t sái kàu sîn-siā ê sam-á nâ piⁿ, gán-chêng chhut-hiān chi̍t-keng tiám-teng ê chhù, Shimamura hòng-sim ah. Hit-keng sī Kikumura (菊村) sió liāu-lí-tiàm, mûi-kháu khiā saⁿ-sì-ê gē-tòaⁿ tih khai-káng.

I tú tih siūⁿ, Komako mā ē tī hia bô, sûi to khòaⁿ tio̍h Komako.

Chhia ê sok-tō͘ bān lo̍h-lâi, tāi-khài sī ūn-choán-chhiú chai-iáⁿ Shimamura hām Komako ê tāi-chì, chū án-ne sái khah bān.

Shimamura hut leh oa̍t-thâu khòaⁿ hām Komako tian-tò-péng hit hiàng. I chē ê chhia-lián jiah chheng-chhó lâu tī seh téng, khò thiⁿ-chheⁿ ê kuiⁿ, ē-tàng khòaⁿ kàu chin hūiⁿ.

Chhia lâi kàu Komako thâu-chêng. Komako ba̍k-chiu kheh chi̍t-ē, hut leh thiàu chiūⁿ chhia. Chhia bô thêng, chiàu goân-lâi ê sok-tō͘ bān-bān peh kiā-lō͘. Komako oan-io ta̍h chiūⁿ chhia-mûi gōa ê ta̍h-pang, chhiú lia̍h chhia-mûi ê pèⁿ.

Komako thiàu khí-lâi ê khoán-sè, ká-ná sī hō͘ chhia khip khí-lâi, Shimamura kám-kak ū chi̍t-chūn un-loán ê mi̍h-kiāⁿ chhèng kòe-lâi, i tùi Komako chit-ê tōng-chok, pēng bē kám-kak bô chū-jiân a̍h sī hûi-hiám. Komako gia̍h khí chi̍t-ki chhiú-kut, ká-ná sī boeh siâm chhia-thang. Yi ê chhiú-úiⁿ liu lo̍h-khì, hiàn-chhut lāi-té-saⁿ ê sek, thàu kòe kāu-kāu ê thang-á po-lê, hiān-hiān khòaⁿ tī kôaⁿ kah giān-giān ê Shimamura ba̍k-chiu lāi. 

--

92. 尼姑庵來織皺紗 , mā 袂䆀

Shimamura tó tī 眠床聽看紅葉 ê 人客唱 Nō 劇念謠 ê 彼工, 遮 tō 已經初次落雪 ah. 今年 ê 海和山是毋是 mā 已經霆過 ah? Shimamura 孤一人旅行來溫泉場連紲和 Komako 相會 ê 中間, ká-ná 伊 ê 耳空 mā 變較利 ah, 干焦心肝想著海 a̍h 山霆, 耳空內底 ká-ná tō 有 hit-lō hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ tih 霆 ê 聲. 

"尼姑 mā 著關 mûi 過冬 neh. 有偌濟人 ah?"

"Hèⁿ, 不止仔濟 lioh."

"干焦尼姑積做伙, 幾 ā 個月 tī 雪 lih 欲創啥? 古早這 kho͘-lē-á 有 tih 織皺紗, tī 尼姑庵來織, mā 袂䆀 neh."

Shimamura chiah-ê 好奇 ê 話, ulóng 麵店查某聽著干焦是笑笑.  

Shimamura tī 車頭等 túiⁿ 去 ê 火車, 等 kah 欲兩點鐘. Núi-núi ê 日落去以後, 空氣反冷, 天頂 ê 星冷冷出現. 伊 ê 跤冷冰冰.

毋知為啥物欲出去 ê Shimamura, tún 來到溫泉場. 車經過熟似 ê 平交道, 一直駛到神社 ê 杉仔林邊, 眼前出現一間點燈 ê 厝, Shimamura 放心 ah. 彼間是 Kikumura (菊村) 小料理店, mûi 口徛三四个藝旦 tih 開講.

伊拄 tih 想, Komako mā 會 tī 遐無, 隨 tō 看著 Komako.

車 ê 速度慢落來, 大概是運轉手知影 Shimamura 和 Komako ê 代誌, 自 án-ne 駛較慢.

Shimamura 忽 leh 越頭看和 Komako 顛倒 péng 彼向. 伊坐 ê 車輪跡清楚留 tī 雪頂, 靠天星 ê kuiⁿ, 會當看到真 hūiⁿ.

車來到 Komako 頭前. Komako 目睭瞌一下, 忽 leh 跳上車. 車無停, 照原來 ê 速度慢慢 peh 崎路. Komako 彎腰踏上車 mûi 外 ê 踏枋, 手掠車 mûi ê 柄.

Komako 跳起來 ê 款勢, ká-ná 是予車吸起來, Shimamura 感覺有一陣溫暖 ê 物件衝過來, 伊對 Komako 這个動作, 並袂感覺無自然抑是危險. Komako 攑起一支手骨, ká-ná 是欲 siâm 車窗. 她 ê 手 úiⁿ 溜落去, 現出內底衫 ê 色, 透過厚厚 ê 窗仔玻璃, 現現看 tī 寒 kah giān-giān ê Shimamura 目睭內. 

--

92.

The first snow had fallen the morning he lay in bed listening to the No recital. Had the roaring already been heard, then, in the sea and the mountains? Perhaps his senses were sharper, off on a trip with only the company of the woman Komako: even now he seemed to catch an echo of a distant roaring.

"They'll be snowbound too, will they? How many are there?"

"A great many."

"What do they do with themselves, do you suppose, shut up together through the snows? Maybe we could set them to making Chijimi."

The woman smiled vaguely at the inquisitive stranger.

Shimamura went back to the station and waited two hours for a train. The wintry sun set, and the air was so clear that it seemed to burnish the stars. Shimamura's feet were cold.

He arrived back at the hot spring not knowing what he had gone out looking for. The taxi crossed the tracks into the village as usual. A brightly lighted house stood before them as they skirted the cedar grove. Shimamura felt warm and safe again. It was the restaurant Kikumura, and three or four geisha were talking in the doorway.

Komako will be among them--but almost before he had time to frame the thought he saw only Komako.

The driver put on the brakes. Apparently he had heard rumors about the two.

Shimamura turned away from her to look out the rear window. In the light of the stars, the tracks were clear against the snow, surprisingly far into the distance.

Komako closed her eyes and jumped at the taxi. It moved slowly up the hill without stopping. She stood on the running-board, hunched over the door handle.

She had leaped at the car as if to devour it, but for Shimamura something warm had suddenly come near. The impulsive act struck him as neither rash nor unnatural. Komako raised one arm, half-embracing the closed window. Her kimono sleeve fell back from her wrist, and the warm red of the under-kimono, spilling through the thick glass, sank its way into the half-frozen Shimamura.

--

91. Nî-ko͘ saⁿ-ê nn̄g-ê kiâⁿ kòe kiô | 尼姑三个兩个行過橋

91. Nî-ko͘ saⁿ-ê nn̄g-ê kiâⁿ kòe kiô

Hiah-ê sin-khó͘ ê bô-miâ lú-kang, lóng í-keng bô tī-lih ah, kan-ta chhun bí-lē ê jiâu-se. Joa̍h-thiⁿ chhēng-tio̍h chin liâng-sóng, sī Shimamura chit-chióng lâng phok-sóng ê chng-thāⁿ. Che pēng m̄-sī hi-kî ê tāi-chì, m̄-koh Shimamura hut-jiân kám-kak kî-koài. Sī-kóng, chi̍t-sim hù-chhut ài só͘ chò ê tāi-chì, chóng ū chi̍t-sî ē tī bó͘ chi̍t-ê só͘-chāi phah-chhéⁿ bó͘-lâng hioh? Shimamura ùi gān-bo̍k ē-bīn kiâⁿ chhut-lâi ke-lō͘.

Sió-tìn ê ke-lō͘ ná-chhiūⁿ kó͘-chá ia̍h-chām ê tōa-lō͘ kāng-khoán ti̍t long-long. Che tāi-khài sī ùi un-chôaⁿ chng hia liân kòe-lâi ê kū ke-lō͘. Chhù-kòa téng-bīn tèng ê chhâ-liâu-á hām teh ê chio̍h-thâu, mā hām un-chôaⁿ chng ê kāng-khoán.

Gîm-chîⁿ thiāu ê iáⁿ í-keng khah po̍h. Put-ti put-kak í-keng óa-kīn hông-hun.

In-ūi bô sáⁿ hó thang khòaⁿ, Shimamura koh chē hóe-chhia, lâi-kàu lēng-gōa chi̍t-ê sió-tìn. Chia hām tú-chiah hit-ê sió-tìn kāng-khoán. Shimamura kan-ta tī chia kiâⁿ-kiâⁿ leh, koh chia̍h chi̍t-óaⁿ ulóng-mī, hō͘ hûn-su sio-ho chi̍t-ē.

Ulóng-mī tiàm-á tī khe-hōaⁿ piⁿ, he khe tāi-khài mā sī ùi un-chôaⁿ chng lâu lo̍h-lâi ê. Ū khoaⁿ-e nî-ko͘ saⁿ-ê a̍h nn̄g-ê án-ne sio-tòe kiâⁿ kòe kiô. Ta̍k-ê lóng ta̍h chháu-ê, ū-ê kha-chiah-āu phāiⁿ le̍h-á, khòaⁿ sī tú hòa-iân tún lâi ê khoán, hō͘ lâng chi̍t-chióng chiáu-á kín boeh túiⁿ siū ê kám-kak.

"Nî-ko͘ tī chia chhut-ji̍p chin chē neh?" Shimamura mūi ulóng tiàm ê cha-bó͘-lâng.

"Sī ah. Soaⁿ lih ū chi̍t-ê nî-ko͘-am. Koh-lâi nā lo̍h tōa seh, ùi soaⁿ lih kiâⁿ chhut-lâi tō oh ah."

Kiô ê hit-pêng, tī hông-hun phú-kuiⁿ lih, í-keng sī chi̍t-phiàn pe̍h bâng-bâng.

Tī chit-ê kok-tō͘, múi kàu chhiū-hio̍h lak, léng-hong chhoe ê sî-chūn, kôaⁿ giu-giu ê o͘-im thiⁿ tō liân-sòa lâi. Tit-boeh lo̍h-seh ah. Hūiⁿ-kīn ê koân-soaⁿ lóng pe̍h bâng-bâng. He kiò chò "soaⁿ-téng tà-bū" (巡岳, sûn soaⁿ-téng). Iū-koh, óa-hái ê ūi ē thiaⁿ tio̍h hái tih háu, chhim-soaⁿ ê ūi ē thiaⁿ tio̍h soaⁿ tih tân, ká-ná hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ ê lûi-siaⁿ. Che kiò chò "hái háu soaⁿ tân" (胴鳴, hûn-su tân). Khòaⁿ tio̍h "soaⁿ-téng tà-bū", thiaⁿ tio̍h "hái háu soaⁿ tân", tō chai-iáⁿ tit-boeh lo̍h-seh ah. Shimamura siūⁿ-khí kó͘-chá chheh ū án-ne kì-chài.

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91. 尼姑三个兩个行過橋

Hiah-ê 辛苦 ê 無名女工, 攏已經無 tī-lih ah, 干焦賰美麗 ê 皺紗. 熱天穿著真涼爽, 是 Shimamura 這種人博爽 ê 妝 thāⁿ. 這並毋是稀奇 ê 代誌, 毋過 Shimamura 忽然感覺奇怪. 是講, 一心付出愛所做 ê 代誌, 總有一時會 tī 某一个所在拍醒某人 hioh? Shimamura ùi 雁木下面行出來街路.

小鎮 ê 街路 ná 像古早驛站 ê 大路仝款直 long-long. 這大概是 ùi 溫泉庄遐連過來 ê 舊街路. 厝蓋頂面釘 ê 柴 liâu-á 和硩 ê 石頭, mā 和溫泉庄 ê 仝款.

砛簷柱 ê 影已經較薄. 不知不覺已經倚近黃昏.

因為無啥好通看, Shimamura koh 坐火車, 來到另外一个小鎮. 遮和拄才彼个小鎮仝款. Shimamura 干焦 tī 遮行行 leh, koh 食一碗 ulóng 麵, 予魂軀燒熇一下.

Ulóng 麵店仔 tī 溪岸邊, 彼溪大概 mā 是 ùi 溫泉庄流落來 ê. 有看 e 尼姑三个 a̍h 兩个 án-ne 相綴行過橋. 逐个攏踏草鞋, 有 ê 尻脊後揹笠仔, 看是拄化緣 tún 來 ê 款, 予人一種鳥仔緊欲 túiⁿ 岫 ê 感覺.

"尼姑 tī 遮出入真濟 neh?" Shimamura mūi ulóng 店 ê 查某人.

"是 ah. 山 lih 有一个尼姑庵. 閣來若落大雪, ùi 山 lih 行出來 tō 僫 ah."

橋 ê 彼爿, tī 黃昏殕 kuiⁿ lih, 已經是一遍白茫茫.

Tī 這个國度, 每到樹葉 lak, 冷風吹 ê 時陣, 寒 giu-giu ê 烏陰天 tō 連紲來. 得欲落雪 ah. Hūiⁿ 近 ê 懸山攏白茫茫. 彼叫做 "山頂罩霧" (巡岳, 巡山頂). 又閣, 倚海 ê 位會聽著海 tih 吼, 深山 ê 位會聽著山 tih 霆, ká-ná hūiⁿ-hūiⁿ ê 雷聲. 這叫做 "海吼山霆" (胴鳴, 魂軀霆). 看著 "山頂罩霧", 聽著 "海吼山霆", tō 知影得欲落雪 ah. Shimamura 想起古早冊有 án-ne 記載.

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91.

The nameless workers, so diligent while they lived, had presently died, and only the Chijimi remained, the plaything of men like Shimamura, cool and fresh against the skin in the summer. This rather unremarkable thought struck him as most remarkable. The labor into which a heart has poured its whole love-where will it have its say, to excite and inspire, and when?

Like the old post road that was its ancestor, the main street ran without a curve through the straggling village, and no doubt on through Komako's hot spring. The roofs, with rows of stones to weigh down their shingles, were very much like the ones he already knew.

The pillars supporting the deep eaves cast dim shadows across the ground. With his hardly having noticed, afternoon had drawn on toward evenmg.

There was nothing more to see. He took a train to another village, very much like the first. Again he walked about for a time. Feeling a little chilly, he stopped for a bowl of noodles.

The noodle shop stood beside a river, probably the river that flowed past the hot spring. Shaven-headed Buddhist nuns were crossing a bridge in twos and threes to the far side. All wore rough straw sandals, and some had dome-shaped straw hats tied to their backs. Evidently on their way from a service, they looked like crows hurrying home to their nests.

"Quite a procession of them," Shimamura said to the woman who kept the shop.

"There's a nunnery up in the hills. I suppose they're getting everything done now. It will be next to impossible for them to go out once the heavy snows begin."

The mountain beyond the bridge, growing dark in the twilight, was already covered with snow.

In this snow country, cold, cloudy days succeed one another as the leaves fall and the winds grow chilly. Snow is in the air. The high mountains near and far become white in what the people of the country call "the round of the peaks." Along the coast the sea roars, and inland the mountains roar--"the roaring at the center," like a distant clap'of thunder. The round of the peaks and the roaring at the center announce that the snows are not far away. This too Shimamura had read in his old book.

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