1

 Kore wa, watashi ga chiisai toki ni, mura no Mohei to iu ojiisan kara kiita ohanashi desu.

 Mukashi wa, watashitachi no mura no chikaku no, Nakayama to iu tokoro ni, chiisana oshiro ga atte, Nakayama sama to iu otonosama ga, orareta soudesu.

 Sono Nakayama kara, sukoshi hanareta yama no naka ni, Gon-gitsune to iu kitsune ga imashita.

 Gon wa, hitori bocchi no kogitsune de, shida no ippai shigetta mori no naka ni, ana o hotte sunde imashita. Soshite, yoru demo, hiru demo, atari no mura e detekite, itazura bakari shimashita. Hatake e haitte imo o hori chirashitari, natanegara no hoshite aru noni hi o tsuketari, hyakushou ya no urate ni tsurushi te aru tongarashi o mushiritotte ittari, ironna koto o shimashita.

 Aru aki no koto deshita. Nisannichi ame ga furitsuzuita sono aida, Gon wa, soto e mo derare naku te, ana no naka ni shagan de imashita.

 Ame ga agaru to, Gon wa, hotto shite ana kara haidemashita. Sora wa karatto harete ite, mozu no koe ga kinkin hibiite imashita.

 Gon wa, mura no ogawa no tsutsumi made detekimashita. Atari no, susuki no ho niwa, mada ame no shizuku ga hikatte imashita. Kawa wa itsumo wa mizu ga sukunai no desu ga, mikka mono ame de, mizu ga dotto mashite imashita. Tada no toki wa mizu ni tsukaru koto no nai, kawaberi no susuki ya, hagi no kabu ga, kiiroku nigotta mizu ni yokotaoshi ni natte, momarete imasu. Gon wa kawashimo no hou e to, nukarumi michi o aruite ikimashita.

 Futo miru to, kawa no naka ni hito ga ite, nanika yatte imasu. Gon wa, mitsukara nai youni, soutto kusa no fukai tokoro e ayumiyotte, soko kara jitto nozoite mimashita.

"Hyoujuu dana. "to, Gon wa omoimashita. Hyoujuu wa boroboro no kuroi kimono o makushi agete, koshi no tokoro made mizu ni hitari nagara, sakana o toru, harikiri to iu ami o yusubutte imashita. Hachimaki o shita kao no yokoccho ni, marui hagi no ha ga ichimai, ookina hokuro mitai ni hebari tsuite imashita.

 Shibaraku suru to Hyoujuu wa, harikiri ami no ichiban ushiro no, fukuro no youni natta tokoro o mizu no naka kara mochiagemashita. Sono naka niwa, shiba no ne ya, kusa no ha ya, kusatta kigire nado ga, gocha gocha haitte imashita ga, demo, tokoro dokoro, shiroi mono ga chirachira hikatte imasu. Sore wa, futoi unagi no hara ya, ookina funa no hara deshita. Hyoujuu wa biku no naka e, sono unagi ya funa o, gomi to isshoni buchikomimashita. Soshite, mata, fukuro no kuchi o shibatte, mizu no naka e iremashita.

 Hyoujuu wa sore kara, biku o motte kawa kara agari, biku o dote ni oitoite, nani o sagashi ni ka, kawa kami no hou e kakete ikimashita.

 Hyoujuu ga inaku naru to, Gon wa, pyoi to kusa no naka kara tobidashite, biku no soba e kaketsukemashita. Choito, itazura ga shitaku natta no desu. Gon wa, biku no naka no sakana o tsukami dashite wa, harikiri ami no kakatte iru tokoro yori shimote no, kawa no naka o megakete, ponpon nagekomimashita. Dono sakana mo TOBON to oto o tatenagara, nigotta mizu no naka e mogurikomimashita.

 Ichiban shimai ni, futoi unagi o tsukami ni kakarimashita ga, nanishiro, nurunuru to suberi nukeru node, te dewa tsukamemasen. Gon wa jirettaku natte, atama o biku no naka ni tsukkonde, unagi no atama o kuchi ni kuwaemashita. Unagi wa, KYU to itte Gon no kubi e makitsukimashita. Sono totan, Hyoujuu ga, mukou kara, "Uwaa, nusutto gitsune me."

 To, donari tatemashita. Gon wa, bikkuri shite tobiagarimashita. Unagi wa, Gon no kubi ni makitsuita mama hanaremasen. Gon wa sonomama, yokottobi ni tobidashite, isshoukenmei ni, nigete ikimashita. Hora-ana no chikaku no, han no ki no shita de, furikaette mimashita ga, Hyoujuu wa okkakete wa kimasen deshita. Gon wa hotto shite, unagi no atama o kamikudaki, yatto hazushite, ana no soto no, kusa no ha no ue ni nosete okimashita.

2

 Tooka hodo tatte, Gon ga, Yasuke to iu ohyakushou no ie no ura o toorikakarimasu to, soko no, ichijiku no ki no kage de, Yasuke no kanai ga, ohaguro o tsuketeimashita. Kajiya no Shinbei no ie no ura o tooru to, Shinbei no kanai ga kami o suite imashita. Gon wa, "Fufun, mura ni nanika arunda na. " to, omoimashita. "Nan darou, akimatsuri kana. Matsuri nara, taiko ya fue no oto ga shisouna mono da. Sore ni dai-ichi, omiya ni nobori ga tatsu hazuda ga. "

 Konna koto o kangaenagara yatteki masu to, itsunomanika, omote ni akai ido no aru, Hyoujuu no ie no mae e kimashita. Sono chiisana, kowarekaketa ie no naka niwa, oozei no hito ga atsumatte imashita.

 Yoso yuki no kimono o kite, koshi ni tenugui o sagetari shita onnatachi ga, omote no kamado de hi o taiteimasu. Ookina nabe no naka dewa, nanika guzuguzu niete imashita.

"Aa soushiki da."

 To, Gon wa omoimashita.

"Hyoujuu no ie no dare ga shindandarou."

 Ohiru ga sugiru to, Gon wa, mura no bochi e itte, rokujizou san no kage ni kakurete imashita. Ii otenki de, tooku mukou niwa, oshiro no yanegawara ga hikatte imasu. Bochi niwa, higanbana ga, akai nuno no you ni sakitsuzuite imashita. To, mura no hou kara, KAAN, KAAN, to, kane ga natte kimashita. Soushiki no deru aizu desu. Yagate, shiroi kimono o kita souretsu no mono tachi ga yattekuru no ga, chirachira mie hajimemashita. Hanashi goe mo chikaku narimashita. Souretsu wa bochi e haitte kimashita. Hitobito ga tootta ato wa, higanbana ga fumiorarete imashita.

 Gon wa nobiagatte mimashita. Hyoujuu ga, shiroi kamishimo o tsukete, ihai o sasagete imasu. Itsumo wa, akai satsumaimo mitai na genki no ii kao ga, kyou wa nandaka shiorete imashita.

"Hahan, shinda nowa Hyoujuu no okkaa da." Gon wa sou omoi nagara, atama o hikkomemashita.

 Sono ban, Gon wa, horaana no naka de kangaemashita.

"Hyoujuu no okkaa wa, toko ni tsuite ite, unagi ga tabetai to ittani chigai nai. Sorede Hyoujuu ga, harikiri ami o mochideshita n da. Tokoro ga, ore ga itazura o shite, unagi o totte kite shimatta. Dakara Hyoujuu wa, okkaa ni unagi o tabesaseru koto ga dekinakatta. Sonomama okkaa wa, shinjatta ni chigai nai. Aa, unagi ga tabetai, unagi ga tabetai to omoi nagara, shinda n darou. Choto anna itazura o shinakereba yokatta."

3

 Hyoujuu ga, akai ido no tokoro de mugi o toide imashita.

 Hyoujuu wa imamade, okkaa to futarikiri de, mazushii kurashi o shite ita mono de, okkaa ga shinde shimatte wa, mou hitoribocchi deshita.

"Ore to onaji, hitoribocchi no Hyoujuu ka."

 Kochira no mono'oki no ushiro kara miteita Gon wa, sou omoimashita.

 Gon wa mono'oki no soba o hanarete, mukou e ikikakemasu to, dokoka de, iwashi o uru koe ga shimasu.

"Iwashi, yasuuri daai. Ikino ii, iwashi daai."

 Gon wa, sono, isei no ii koe no suru hou e hashitte ikimashita. To, Yasuke no okamisan ga, uratoguchi kara,

"Iwashi o okure."

 To, iimashita. Iwashi uri wa, iwashi no kago o tsunda kuruma o michibata ni oite, pikapika hikaru iwashi o, ryoute de tsukan de, Yasuke no ie no naka e motte hairimashita. Gon wa, sono suki ni, kago no naka kara go- roku piki no iwashi o tsukami dashite, motokitahou e kakedashimashita. Soshite Hyoujuu no ie no uraguchi kara ie no naka e iwashi o nagekon de, ana e mukatte kakemodorimashita. Tochuu no saka no ue de furikaette mimasu to, Hyoujuu ga mada, ido no tokoro de mugi o toideiru no ga chiisaku miemashita.

 Gon wa, unagi no tsugunai ni, mazu hitotsu, iikoto o shita to omoimashita.

 Tsugi no hi niwa, gon wa yama de, kuri o dossari hirotte, sore o kakaete, Hyoujuu no ie e ikimashita.

 Uraguchi kara nozoite mimasu to, Hyoujuu wa, hirumeshi o tabe kakete, chawan o motta mama, bonyari to kangae konde imashita. Henna koto niwa, Hyoujuu no hoppeta ni, kasurikizu ga tsuite imasu. Doushitandarou to, Gon ga omotte imasu to, Hyoujuu ga hitorigoto o iimashita.

"Ittai, dare ga, iwashi nanka, ore no uchi e hourikonde ittandarou. Okage de ore wa, nusutto to omowarete, iwashiya no yatsu ni, hidoime ni awasareta. "

 To, butsubutsu itte imasu.

 Gon wa, kore wa shimatta to omoimashita. Kawaisou ni Hyoujuu wa iwashiya ni bunnagurarete, anna kizu made tsukerareta noka.

 Gon wa sou omoinagara, sotto mono'oki no hou e mawatte, sono iriguchi ni, kuri o oite kaerimashita.

 Tsugi no hi mo, sono tsugi no hi mo, Gon wa, kuri o hirotte wa, Hyoujuu no ie e motte itte yarimashita.

 Sono tsugi no hi niwa, kuri bakari denaku, matsutake mo ni, san bon, motte ikimashita.

4

 Tsuki no ii ban deshita. Gon wa, burabura asobi ni dekakemashita. Nakayama sama no oshiro no shita o tootte, sukoshi iku to, hosoi michi no mukou kara, dareka kuru you desu. Hanashi goe ga kikoe masu. CHINCHIRORIN, CHINCHIRORIN to, matsumushi ga naite imasu.

 Gon wa, michi no katagawa ni kakurete, jitto shite imashita. Hanashi goe ga dandan chikaku narimashita.

 Sore wa, Hyoujuu to Kasuke to iu ohyakushou deshita.

"Sousou, naa, Kasuke."

 To, Hyoujuu ga iimashita.

"Aan?"

"Orea, konogoro, totemo fushigi na koto ga aru n da. "

"Naniga?"

"Okkaa ga shinde kara wa, daredaka shiran ga, ore ni, kuri ya matsutake nanka o, mainichi mainichi, kurerunda yo."

"Fuun, dare ga?"

"Sore ga wakaran noda yo. Ore no shiran uchi ni, oite ikunda."

 Gon wa, futari no ato o tsukete ikimashita.

"Honto kai?"

"Honto da tomo, uso to omou nara, ashita mi ni koi yo. Sono kuri o misete yaru yo. "

"Hee, henna koto mo aru monda naa."

 Sore nari, futari wa damatte aruite ikimashita.

 Kasuke ga hyoi to, ushiro o mimashita. Gon wa bikuttoshite, chiisaku natte tachidomarimashita. Kasuke wa, gon niwa ki ga tsukanai de, sonomama sassa to arukimashita. Kichibee to iu ohyakushou no ie made kuru to, futari wa soko e haitte ikimashita. PON PON PON PON to mokugyo no oto ga shite imasu. Madono shouji ni akari ga sashite ite, ookina bouzuatama ga utsutte, ugoite imashita. Gon wa,

"Onenbutsu ga aru n da na."

 To omoi nagara, ido no soba ni shagande imashita. Shibaraku suru to, mata sannin hodo, hito ga tsuredatte, Kichibee no ie ni haitte ikimashita.

 Okyou o yomu koe ga kikoemashita.

5

 Gon wa, onenbutsu ga sumu made, ido no soba ni shagande imashita. Hyoujuu to Kasuke wa, mata issho ni kaette ikimasu. Gon wa futari no hanashi o kikou to omotte, tsuite ikimashita. Hyoujuu no kageboushi o fumi fumi ikimashita.

 Oshiro no mae made kita toki, Kasuke ga iidashimashita.

"Sakki no hanashi wa, kitto, soryaa, kamisama no shiwaza da."

"E'! "

 To, Hyoujuu wa bikkuri shite, Kasuke no kao o mimashita.

"Ore wa, arekara zutto kangaete ita ga, doumo, sorya, ningen ja nai, kamisama da. Kamisama ga, omae ga tatta hitori ni natta no o, aware ni omowasshatte, ironna mono o megunde kudasaru n da yo. "

"Souka naa. "

"Souda tomo. Dakara, mainichi, kamisama ni orei o iu ga ii yo."

"Un. "

Gon wa, "Hee, koitsu wa tsumaranai na." to, omoimashita.

"Ore ga, kuri ya matsutake o motte itte yaru no ni, sono ore niwa orei o iwanai de, kamisama ni orei o iu n ja, ore wa, hikiawanai naa."

6

 Sono akuru hi mo, Gon wa, kuri o motte, Hyoujuu no ie e dekakemashita. Hyoujuu wa mono'oki de nawa o natte imashita. Sore de, Gon wa, ie no uraguchi kara, kossori naka e hairimashita.

 Sono toki Hyoujuu wa, futo kao o agemashita. To, kitsune ga ie no naka e haitta dewa arimasen ka. Konaida, unagi o nusumi yagatta ano Gon-gitsune me ga, mata itazura o shi ni kita na.

"Youshi."

 Hyoujuu wa tachi agatte, naya ni kakete aru hinawajuu o totte, kayaku o tsumemashita. Soshite, ashioto o shinobasete chikayotte, ima toguchi o deyou to suru Gon o, DON to, uchimashita.

 Gon wa, patari to taoremashita. Hyoujuu wa kakeyotte kimashita. Ie no naka o miru to, doma ni kuri ga katamete oite aru no ga, me ni tsukimashita.

"Oya."

 To, Hyoujuu wa, bikkurishite, Gon ni me o otoshimashita.

"Gon, omae datta no ka, itsumo, kuri o kureta no wa."

 Gon wa, guttari me o tsubutta mama, unazukimashita.

 Hyoujuu wa hinawajuu o, batari to, toriotoshimashita. Aoi kemuri ga, mada, tsutsuguchi kara hosoku dete imashita.

(2005.10.15)