Ichi

 Aru haru no higure desu.

 Tou no miyako Rakuyou no nishi no mon no shita ni, bonyari sora o aoide iru, hitori no wakamono ga arimashita.

 Wakamono wa na o Toshishun to itte, moto wa kanemochi no musuko deshita ga, ima wa zaisan o tsukaihatashite, sono hi no kurashi nimo komaru kurai, aware na mibun ni natte iru no desu.

 Nanishiro sono koro Rakuyou to ieba, tenka ni narabu mono no nai, hanjou o kiwameta miyako desu kara, ourai niwa mada shikkirinaku, hito ya kuruma ga tootte imashita. Mon ippai ni atatteiru, abura no youna yuuhi no hikari no naka ni, roujin no kabutta sha no boushi ya, Toruko no onna no kin no mimiwa ya, shirouma ni kazatta iroito no tazuna ga, taezu nagareteiku yousu wa, marude e no youna utsukushisa desu.

 Shikashi Toshishun wa aikawarazu, mon no kabe ni mi o motasete, bonyari sora bakari nagameteimashita. Sora niwa, mou hosoi tsuki ga, uraura to nabiita kasumi no naka ni, marude tsume no ato ka to omou hodo, kasuka ni shiroku ukandeiru no desu.

 "Hi wa kureru shi, hara wa heru shi, sono ue mou dokohe itte mo, tometekureru tokoro wa nasasouda shi -- konna omoi o shite ikiteiru kurai nara, isso kawa e demo mi o nagete, shindeshimatta hou ga mashi kamo shirenai"

 Toshishun wa hitori sakki kara, konna toritome mo nai koto o omoimegurashite ita no desu.

 Suruto dokokara yatte kita ka, totsuzen kare no mae e ashi o tometa, katame sugame no roujin ga arimasu. Sore ga yuuhi no hikari o abite, ookina kage o mon e otosu to, jitto Toshishun no kao o minagara,

 "Omae wa nani o kangaeteiru no da"to, ouhei ni koe o kakemashita.

 "Watashi desu ka. Watashi wa konya neru tokoro mo nai node, doushita mono ka to kangaeteiru no desu"

 Roujin no tazunekata ga kyuu deshita kara, Toshishun wa sasugani me o fusete, omowazu shoujiki na kotae o shimashita.

 "Souka. Sorewa kawaisou da na"

 Roujin wa shibaraku nanigoto ka kangaeteiru you deshita ga, yagate, ourai ni sashiteiru yuuhi no hikari o yubisashi nagara,

 "Dewa ore ga iikoto o hitotsu oshiete yarou. Ima kono yuuhi no naka ni tatte, omae no kage ga chi ni utsuttara, sono atama ni ataru tokoro o yonaka ni hotte miru ga ii. Kitto kuruma ni ippai no ougon ga umatteiru hazuda kara"

 "Hontou desu ka"

 Toshishun wa odoroite, fuseteita me o agemashita. Tokoro ga sarani fushigi na koto niwa, ano roujin wa dokohe itta ka, mou atari niwa sorerashii, kage mo katachi mo miatarimasen. Sono kawari sora no tsuki no iro wa mae yori mo nao shiroku natte, yasumi nai ourai no hitodoori no ue niwa, mou ki no hayai koumori ga 2,3-hiki hirahira matteimashita.

Ni

 Toshishun wa ichinichi no uchi ni, Rakuyou no miyako demo tada hitori to iu ooganemochi ni narimashita. Ano roujin no kotoba doori, yuuhi ni kage o utsushite mite, sono atama ni ataru tokoro o, yonaka ni sotto hotte mitara, ookina kuruma nimo amaru kurai, ougon ga hitoyama dete kita no desu.

 Ooganemochi ni natta Toshishun wa, suguni rippa na uchi o katte, gensou koutei nimo makenai kurai, zeitaku na kurashi o shihajimemashita. Ranryou no sake o kawaseru yara, keishuu no ryuugan niku o toriyoseru yara, hi ni yotabi iro no kawaru botan o niwa ni uesaseru yara, shirokujaku o nanba mo hanashigai ni suru yara, tama o atsumemeru yara, nishiki o nuwaseru yara, kouboku no kuruma o tsukuraseru yara, zouge no isu o atsuraeru yara, sono zeitaku o ichiichi kaite ite wa, itsuni nattemo kono hanashi ga oshimaini naranai kurai desu.

 Suru to kouiu uwasa o kiite, ima made wa michi de ikiatte mo, aisatsu sae shinakatta tomodachi nado ga, asayuu asobi ni yatte kimashita. Soremo hitori goto ni kazu ga mashite, hantoshi bakari tatsu uchi niwa, Rakuyou no miyako ni na o shirareta saishi ya bijin ga ooi naka de, Toshishun no ie e konai mono wa, hitori mo nai kuraini natte shimatta no desu. Toshishun wa kono okyaku tachi o aite ni, mainichi sakamori o hirakimashita. Sono sakamori no mata sakan na koto wa, nakanaka kuchi niwa tsukusaremasen. Goku kaitsumanda dake o ohana shitemo, Toshishun ga kin no sakazuki ni seiyouu kara kita budoushu o kunde, tenjiku umare no mahoutsukai ga katana o nonde miseru gei ni mitorete iru to, sono mawari niwa 20-nin no onnatachi ga, 10-nin wa hisui no hasu no hana o, 10-nin wa menou no botan no hana o, izuremo kami ni kazari nagara, fue ya koto o fushi omoshiroku soushite iru to iu keshiki nano desu.

 Shikashi ikura ooganemochi demo, okane niwa saigena ga arimasu kara, sasugani zeitakuie no Toshishun mo, 1-nen2-nen to tatsu uchi niwa, dandan binbou ni nari dashimashita. Sou suruto ningen wa hakujo na mono de, kinou made wa mainichi kita tomodachi mo, kyou wa mon no mae o tootte sae, aisatsu hitotsu shite ikimasen. Mashite toutou 3-nenme no haru, mata Toshishun ga izen no toori, ichimonnashi ni natte miru to, hiroi Rakuyou no miyako no naka nimo, kare ni yado o kasou to iu ie wa, ikken mo nakunatte shimaimashita. Iya, yado o kasusu dokoro ka, ima dewa wan ni ippai no mizu mo, meginde kureru mono wa nai no desu.

 Sokode kare wa aruhi no yuugata, mou ichido ano Rakuyou no nishi no mon no shita e itte, bonyari sora o nagame nagara, tohou ni kurete tatte imashita. Suruto yahari mukashi no you ni, sugame no roujin ga, doko kara ka sugata o arawashite,

 "Omae wa nani o kangaeteiru no da"to, koe o kakeru dewa arimasen ka.

 Toshishun wa roujin no kao o miru to, hajishi souni shita o muita mama, shibaraku wa henji mo shimasen deshita. Ga, roujin wa sono hi mo shinsetsu sou ni, onaji kotoba o kurikaeshimasu kara, kochira mo mae to onaji youni,

 "Watashi wa konya neru tokoro mo nai no de, doushita mono ka to kangaeteiru no desu" to, osoru osoru henji o shimashita.

 "Souka. Sore wa kawai sou dana. Dewa ore ga ii koto o 1-tsu oshieteyarou. Ima kono yuuhi no naka e tatte, omae no kage ga chi ni utsuttara, sono mune ni ataru tokoro o, yonaka ni hotte miru ga yoi. Kitto kuruma ni ippai no ougon ga umatteiru hazu dakara"

 Roujin wa kou itta to omou to, kondo mo mata hito gomi no naka e, kakikesu youni kakurete shimaimashita.

 Toshishun wa sono yokujitsu kara, tachimachi tenka dai1- no ooganemochi ni kaerimashita. To douji ni aikawarazu, shihoudai na zeitaku o shihajimemashita. niwa ni saiteiru botan no hana, sono naka ni nemutteiru shirokujaku, sore kara katana o nonde miseru, tenjiku kara kuta mahoutsukai -- subete ga mukashi no toori nano desu.

 Desu kara kuruma ni ippai ni atta, ano obitadashii ougon mo, mata 3-nen bakari tatsu uchi niwa, sukkari nakunatte shimaimashita.

San

 "Omae wa nani o kangaeteiru no da"

 Sugame no roujin wa, 3 do Toshishun no mae e kute, onaji koto o toikakemashita. Mochiron kare wa sono toki mo, Rakuyou no nishi no mon no shita ni, hosoboso to kasumi o yabutteiru mikazuki no hikari o nagamenagara, bonyari tatazunde ita no desu.

 "Watashi desu ka. Watashi wa konya neru tokoro mo nai node, doushiyouka to omotte iru no desu"

 "Souka. Sore wa kawaisou da na. Dewa ore ga yoi koto o oshieteyarou. Ima kono yuuhi no naka e tatte, omae no kage ga chi ni utsuttara, sono hara ni ataru tokoro o, yonaka ni hotte miru ga yoi. Kitto kuruma ni ippai no --"

 Roujin ga kokomade ii kakeru to, Toshishun wa kyuu ni te o agete, sono kotoba o saegirimashita.

 "Iya, okane wa mou iranai no desu"

 "Kin wa mou iranai? hahaa, dewa zeitaku o suru niwa toutou akite shimatta to mieru na"

 Roujin wa ibukashi souna metsuki o shinagara, jitto Toshishun no kao o mitsumemashita.

 "Nani, zeitaku ni akita no jaarimasen. Ningen to iu mono ni aiso ga tsukita no desu"

 Toshishun wa fuhei souna kao o shinagara, tsukkendon ni kou iimashita.

 "sore wa omoshiro na. Doushite mata ningen ni aisou ga tsukita no da? "

 "Ningen wa mina hakujo desu. Watashi ga ooganemochi ni natta toki niwa, seji mo tsuishou mo shimasu keredo, ittan binbou ni natte goran nasai. Yasashii kao sae mo shite mise wa shimasen. Sonna koto o kangaeru to, tatoi mouichido ooganemochi ni natta tokoro ga, naninimo naranai youna ki ga suru no desu"

 Roujin wa Toshishun no kotoba o kiku to, kyuu ni niyaniya waraidashimashita.

 "Sou ka. Iya, omae wa wakai mono ni niawazu, kanshin ni mono no wakaru otoko da. Dewa korekara wa binbou o shite mo, yasuraka ni kurashite iku tsumori ka"

 Toshishun wa choito tameraimashita. Ga, suguni omoikitta me o ageru to, uttaeru youni roujin no kao o minagara,

 "Sore mo ima no watashi niwa dekimasen. Desukara watashi wa anata no deshi ni natte, senjutsu no shugyou o shitai to omou no desu. Iie, kakushite wa ikemasen. Anata wa doutoku no takai sennin deshou. Sennin de nakereba, hitoyo no uchi ni watashi o tenka dai1- no ooganemochi ni suru koto wa dekinai hazu desu. Douka watashi no sensei ni natte, fushigi na senjutsu o oshiete shitasai"

 Roujin wa mayu o hisometa mama, shibaraku wa damatte, nanigoto ka kangaeteiru you deshita ga, yagate mata nikkori warai nagara,

 "Ikanimo ore wa gabisan ni sundeiru, tekkanshi to iu sennin da. Hajime omae no kao o mita toki, dokoka monowakari ga yosasou datta kara, nido made ooganemochi ni shite yatta no da ga, sorehodo sennin ni naritakereba, ore no deshi ni toritatete yarou" to, kokoroyoku negai o iretekuremashita.

 Toshishun wa yorokonda no, yorokobanai no dewa arimasen. Roujin no kotoba ga mada owaranai uchi ni, kare wa daichi ni hitai o tsukete, nando mo tekkanshi ni ojigi o shimashita.

 "Iya, sou orei nado wa itte moraumai. Ikura ore no deshi ni shita tokoro ga, rippa na sennin ni nareruka narenaika wa, omae shidai de kimaru koto dakara na. --Ga, tomokaku mo mazu ore to isshoni, Gabizan no oku e kute miru ga ii. Oo, saiwai, koko ni takezue ga 1-pon ochiteiru. Dewa souosu kore e notte, hitottobi ni sora o wataru to shiyou"

 Tekkanshi wa soko ni atta aodake o ippon hiroiageru to, kuchi no uchi ni jumon o tonaenagara, Toshishun to isshoni sono take e, uma ni demo noru youni matagarimashita. Suruto fushigi dewa arimasen ka. Takezue wa tachimachi ryuu no youni, ikioi yoku oozora e maiagatte, hare watatta haru no yuuzora o Gabizan no hougaku e tonde ikimashita.

 Toshishun wa kimo o tsubushinagara, osoru osoru shita o mikudashimashita. Ga, shita niwa tada aoi yamayama ga yuuakari no soko ni mieru bakari de, ano Rakuyou no miyako no nishi no mon wa, (tou ni kasumi ni magireta no deshou)doko o sagashite mo miatarimasen. Sono uchi ni tekkanshi wa, shiroi bin no ke o kaze ni fukasete, takaraka ni uta o utaidashimashita.

 Ashita ni hokukai ni asobi, kure niwa sougo .

 Shuuri no seida , tankiso nari.

 Mitabi gakuyou ni ire domo, hito shirazu.

 Rougin shite, hikasu douteiko .

Yon

 Futari o noseta aodake wa, ma mo naku Gabizan e mai sagarimashita.

 Soko wa fukai tani ni nozonda, haba no hiroi ichimaiiwa no ue deshita ga, yokuyoku takai tokoro da to miete, nakazora ni tareta hokuto no hoshi ga, chawan hodo no ookisa ni hikaritteimashita. Moto yori jinseki no taeta yama desu kara, atari wa shin to shizumari kaette, yatto mimi ni hairu mono wa, ushiro no zeppeki ni haeteiru, magari kunetta hitokabu no matsu ga, koukou to yokaze ni naru oto dake desu.

 Futari ga kono iwa no ue ni kuru to, tekkanshi wa Toshishun o zeppeki no shita ni suwarasete,

 "Ore wa kore kara tenjou e itte, seioubo ni ome ni kakatte kuru kara, omae wa sono ma koko ni suwatte, ore no kaeru no o matte iru ga ii. Tabun ore ga inakunaru to, iroiro na mashou ga arawarete, omae o taburakasou to surudarou ga, tatoi donna koto ga okorou tomo, kishite koe o desu nodewa nai zo. Moshi hitokoto demo kuchi o kiitara, omae wa toute sennin niwa narenai mono da to kakugo o shiro. Iika. Tenchi ga saketemo, damatteiru no da zo" to iimashita.

 "Daijoubu desu. Kishite koe nazo wa dashimasen. Inochi ga nakunattemo, damatteimasu"

 "Souka. Sore o kiite, ore mo anshin shita. Dewa ore wa itte kuru kara"

 Roujin wa Toshishun ni wakare o tsugeru to, mata ano taketsue ni matagatte, yome nimo kezutta youna yamayama no sora e, 1-moji ni keeteshimaimashita.

 Toshishun wa tatta hitori, iwa no ue ni suwatta mama, shizuka ni hoshi o nagameteimashita. Suruto karekore hantoki bakari tatte, shinzan no yaki ga hadasamuku usui kimono ni tooridashita koro, totsuzen soranaka ni koe ga atte,

 "Soko ni iru no wa nanimono da"to, shikaritsukeru dewa arimasen ka.

 Shikashi Toshishun wa sennin no oshie toori, nani tomo henji o shizu ni imashita.

 Tokoro ga mata shibaraku suru to, yahari onaji koe ga hibiite,

 "Henji o shinai to tachidokoro ni, inochi wa nai mono to kakugo shiro"to, ikameshiku odoshitsukeru no desu.

 Toshishun wa muron damatte imashita.

 To, doko kara nobotte kuta ka, ranran to me o hikariraseta tora ga ippiki, kotsuzen to iwa no ue ni noboriatte, Toshishun no sugata o nirami nagara, 1-koe takaku takerimashita. Nominarazu sore to douji ni, atama no ue no matsu no eda ga, hageshiku zawazawa yureta to omou to, ushiro no zeppeki no itadaki kara wa, shitodaru hodo no hakuda ga ippiki, honou no youna shita o haite, mirumiru chikaku e shitarite kuru no desu.

 Toshishun wa shikashi heizen to, mayuge mo ugokasazu ni suwatteimashita.

 Tora to hebi to wa, 1-tsu ejiki o neratte, tagaini suki demo ukagau no ka, shibaraku wa niramiai no tei deshita ga, yagate dochira ga saki tomo naku, 1-toki ni Toshishun ni tobikakarimashita. Ga tora no kiba ni kamareru ka, hebi no shita ni nomareru ka, Toshishun no inochi wa matataku uchi ni, nakunatteshimau to omotta toki, tora to hebi to wa kiri no gotoku, yokaze to tomoni keeusete, ato niwa tada, zeppeki no matsu ga, sakki no toori koukou to eda o narashiteiru bakari na no desu. Toshishun wa hotto hitoiki shinagara, kondo wa donna koto ga okoruka to, kokoromachi ni matteimashita.

 Suruto ichijin no kaze ga fukiokotte, sumi no youna kurokumo ga ichimen ni atari o tozasu ya ina ya, usumurasaki no inazuma ga yani wa ni yami o 2-tsu ni saite, susamajiku rai ganaridashimashita. Iya, kaminari bakari dewa arimasen. Soreto isshoni taki no youna ame mo, ikinari doudou to furideshita no desu. Toshishun wa kono tenpen no naka ni, osorege mo naku suwatteimashita. Kaze no oto, ame no shibuki, sorekara taemanai inazuma no hikari, -- shibarakuwa sasuga no Gabizan mo, kutsugaeru ka to omoukurai deshita ga, sono uchi ni mimi o motsunzaku hodo, ookina raimei ga todoroita to omou to, sora ni uzumaita kurokumo no naka kara, makka na ippon no hibashira ga, Toshishun no atama e ochikakarimashita.

 Toshishun wa omowazu mimi o osaete, ichimaiiwa no ue e hirefushimashita. Ga, suguni me o hiraite miru to, sora wa izen no toori harewatatte, muu ni sobieta yamayama no ue nimo, chawan hodo no hokuto no hoshi ga, yahari kirakira kagayaiteimasu. Shite mireba ima no ooarashi mo, ano tora ya shirohebi to onaji you ni, tekkanshi no rusu o tsukekonda, mashou no itazura ni chigai arimasen. Toshishun wa youyaku anshin shite, hitai no hiya'ase o nugui nagara, mata iwa no ue ni suwarinaoshimashita.

 Ga, sono tameiki ga mada keenai uchi ni, kondo wa kare no suwatteiru mae e, kin no yoroi o kikudashita, mi no take sanjou mo arou to iu, ogosoka na shinshou ga arawaremashita. Shinshou wa te ni mitsumata no hoko o motteimashita ga, ikinari sono geki no kissaki o Toshishun no munamoto e muke nagara, me o ikarasete shikaritsukeru no o kikeba,

 "Kora, sonohou wa ittai nanimono da. Kono Gabizan to iu yama wa, tenchi kaibyaku no mukashi kara, ore ga sumai o shiteiru tokoro da zo. Soremo habakarazu tatta hitori, koko e ashi o fumiireru to wa, yomoya tada no ningen de ha arumai. Saa inochi ga oshikattara, ikkoku mo hayaku hentoushiro" to iu no desu.

 Shikashi Toshishun wa roujin no kotoba toori, mokunen to kuchi o tsugundeimashita.

 "Henji o shinai ka. -- Shinai na. Yoshi. Shinakereba, shinaide katte ni shiro. Sono kawari ore no kenzokutachi ga, sono hou o zutazuta ni kitteshimau zo"

 Shinshou wa geki o takaku agete, muu no yama no sora o manekimashita. Sono totan ni yami ga satto sakeru to, odoroita koto niwa musuu no shinpei ga, kumo no gotoku sora ni michimichite, sore ga mina yari ya katana o kiramekasenagara, ima nimo koko e 1-nadare ni semeyoseyou to shiteiru no desu.

 Kono keshiki o mita Toshishun wa, omowazu atto sakebi souni shimashita ga, suguni mata tekkanshi no kotoba o omoideshite, isshoukenmei ni damatteimashita. Shinshou wa kare ga osorenai no o miru to, okotta no okoranai no dewa arimasen.

 "Kono goujoumono me. Doushitemo henji o shinakereba, yakusoku toori inochi wa totteyaru zo"

 Shinshou wa kou wameku ga hayai ka, mitsumata no geki o hiramekasete, hitotsuki ni Toshishun o tsukikoroshimashita. Soushite Gabizan mo doyomu hodo, karakara to takaku warai nagara, dokotomonaku keete shimaimashita. Muron kono toki wa mou musuu no shinpei mo, fukiwataru yokaze no oto to isshoni, yume no you ni keeuseta ato datta no desu.

 Hokuto no hoshi wa mata samusou ni, ichimaiiwa no ue o terashi hajimemashita. Zeppeki no matsu mo mae ni kawarazu, koukou to eda o naraseteimasu. Ga, Toshishun wa touni iki ga taete, aomuke ni soko e taoreteimashita.

Go

 Toshishun no karada wa iwa no ue e, aomuke ni taoreteimashita ga, Toshishun no tamashii wa, shizu ni karada kara nukedeshite, jigoku no soko e shitarite ikimashita.

 Kono yo to jigoku to no ma niwa, yami anketsudou to iu michi ga atte, soko wa nenjuu kurai sora ni, koori no youna tsumetai kaze ga pyuupyuu fukisusande iru no desu. Toshishun wa sono kaze ni fukare nagara, shibaraku wa tada kono wa no youni, sora o tadayotte ikimashita ga, yagate shinraden to iu gaku no kakatta rippa na goten no mae e demashita.

 Goten no mae ni ita oozei no oni wa, Toshishun no sugata o miru ya ina ya, suguni sono mawari o torimaite, kizahashi no mae e hiki sueemashita. Kizahashi no ue niwa hitori no oosama ga, makkuro na kimono ni kin no kanmuri o kabutte, ikameshiku atari o nirndeimasu. Kore wa kanete uwasa ni kiita, Enma-daioo ni chigai arimasen. Toshishun wa dounaru koto ka to omoinagara, osoruosoru soko e hizamazuite imashita.

 "Kora, sono hou wa nani no tame ni, Gabizan no ue e suwatteita? "

 Enma-daioo no koe wa rai no you ni, kizahashi no ue kara hibikimashita. Toshishun wa souosu sono to ni kotaeyou to shimashita ga, futo mata omoideshita no wa, "kishite kuchi o kikuna" to iu tekkanshi no imashime no kotoba desu. Sokode tada kashira o tareta mama, oshi no you ni damatteimashita. Suruto Enma-daioo wa, motteita tetsu no shaku o agete, kaojuu no hige o sakadate nagara,

 "Sono hou wa koko o dokoda to omou? sumiyaka ni hentou o sureba yoshi, samonakereba toki o utsusazu, jigoku no kashaku ni awasete kureru zo" to, itakedaka ni nonoshirimashita.

 Ga, Toshishun wa aikawarazu kuchibiru chitotsu ugokashimasen. Sore o mita Enma-daioo wa, sugu ni oni domo no hou o muite, araarashiku nanika iitsukeru to, oni domo wa ichido ni kashikomatte, tachimachi Toshishun o hikitate nagara, Shinraden no sora e maiarimashita.

 Jigoku niwa dare demo shitteiru toori, tsurugi no yama ya chi no ike no soto nimo, shounetsu-jigoku to iu honoo no tani ya gokukan-jigoku to iu koori no umi ga, makkura na sora no shita ni narandeimasu. Oni domo wa souiu jigoku no naka e, kawarukawaru Toshishun o houri komimashita. Desukara Toshishun wa muzan nimo, tsurugi ni mune o tsuranukareru yara, honoo ni kao o yakareru yara, shita o nukareru yara, kawa o hagareru yara, tetsu no kine ni tsukareru yara, abura no nabe ni nirareru yara, dokuhebi ni noumiso o suwareru yara, kumataka ni me o kuwareru yara, --sono kurushimi o kazuetatete ite wa, toute saigena ga naikurai , arayuru semeku ni awasareta no desu. Soredemo Toshishun wa gaman tsuyoku, jitto wa o kuishibatta mama, hitokoto mo kuchi o kikimasen deshita.

 Kore niwa sasuga no oni domo mo, akirekaette shimatta no deshou. Mou ichido yoru no youna sora o tonde, Shinraden no mae e kaette kuru to, sakki no toori Toshishun o kizahashi no shita ni hikisuee nagara, goten no ue no Enma-daioo ni,

"Kono zainin wa doushitemo, mono o iu keshiki ga gozaimasen" to, kuchi o soroete gonjoushimashita.

Enma-daioo wa mayu o hisomete, shibaraku shian ni kureteimashita ga, yagate nanika omoitsuita to miete,

 "Kono otoko no chichihaha wa, chikushoudou ni ochiteiru hazu dakara, sousou koko e hikitatete kui" to, ippiki no oni ni iitsukemashita.

 Oni wa tachimachi kaze ni notte, jigoku no sora e maiarimashita. To omou to, mata hoshi ga nagareru youni, nihiki no kemono o karitate nagara, satto Shinraden no mae e shitarite kumashita. Sono kemono o mita Toshishun wa, odoroita no odorokanai no dewa arimasen. Nazeka to ieba sore wa nihiki tomo, katachi wa misuborashii yaseuma deshita ga, kao wa yume nimo wasurenai, shinda fubo no toori deshita kara.

 "Kora, sono hou wa nani no tameni, Gabizan no ue ni suwatteita ka, massugu ni hakujoushinakereba, kondo wa sono hou no fubo ni itai omoi o saseteyaru zo"

Toshishun wa kou odosarete mo, yahari hentou o shizu ni imashita.

 "Kono fukoumono me ga. Sono hou wa fubo ga kurushin demo, sono hou sae tsugou ga yokere ba, ii to omotteiru no dana"

 Enma-daioo wa Shinraden mo kuzureru hodo, susamajii koe de wamekimashita.

 "Ute. Oni domo. Sono nihiki no chikushou o, niku mo hone mo uchikudaite shimae"

oni domo wa issei ni "ha'" to kotaenagara, tetsu no muchi o totte tachiaru to, shihou happou kara nihiki no uma o, miren mishaku naku uchinomeshimashita. Muchi wa ryuuryuu to kaze o kitte, tokoro kirawazu ame no youni, uma no hiniku o uchiyaburu no desu. Uma wa, --chikushou ni natta fubo wa, kurushi sou ni mi o modaete, me niwa chi no namida o ukabeta mama, mitemo irarenai hodo inanakitatemashita.

"Douda. Mada sono hou wa hakujoushinai ka"

 Enma-daioo wa oni domo ni, shibaraku muchi no te o yamesasete, mou ichido Toshishun no kota o unagashimashita. Mou sono toki niwa nihiki no uma mo, niku wa sake hone wa kudakete, iki mo taetae ni kizahashi no mae e, taorefushiteita no desu.

 Toshishun wa hisshi ni natte, tekkanshi no kotoba o omoideshi nagara, kataku me o tsubutteimashita. Suruto sono toki kare no mimi niwa, hotondo koe to wa ienaikurai , kasukana koe ga tsutawatte kimashita.

 "Shinpai o oshidenai. Watashitachi wa dounattemo, omae sae shiawase ni nareru no nara, sore yori kekkou na koto wa nai no dakara ne. Daiou ga nan to osshatte mo, iitakunai koto wa damatte oide"

 Sore wa tashika ni natsukashii, hahaoya no koe ni chigai arimasen. Toshishun wa omowazu, me o akimashita. Soushite uma no ippiki ga, chikaranaku chia ni taoreta mama, kanashisou ni kare no kao e, jitto me o yatteiru no o mimashita. Hahaoya wa konna kurushimi no naka nimo, musuko no kokoro o omoiyatte, oni domo no muchi ni utareta koto o, uramu keshiki sae mo misenai no desu. Ooganemochi ni nareba oseji o ii, binbounin ni nareba kuchi mo kikanai seken no hitotachi ni kuraberu to, nan to iu arigatai kokorozashi deshou. Nan to iu kenage na kesshin deshou. Toshishun wa roujin no imashime mo wasurete, marobu youni sono soba e hashiriyoru to, ryoute ni hanshi no uma no kubi o daite, harahara to namida o oshi nagara, "Okkasan" to hitokoe o sakebimashita. …………

Roku

 Sono koe ni ki ga tsuite miru to, Toshishun wa yahari yuuhi o abite, Rakuyou no nishi no mon no shita ni, bonyari tatazunde iru no deshita. Kasunda sora, shiroi mikazuki, taemanai hito ya kuruma no nami, -- subete ga mada Gabizan e, ikanai mae to onaji koto desu.

 "Douda na. Ore no deshi ni natta tokoro ga, totemo sennin niwa nare wa sumai"

 Katame sugame no roujin wa bishou o fukumi nagara iimashita.

 "Naremasen. Naremasen ga, shikashi watashi wa narenakatta koto mo, kaette ureshii ki ga suru no desu"

 Toshishun wa mada me ni namida o ukabeta mama, omowazu roujin no te o nigiri mashita.

 "Ikura sennin ni nareta tokoro ga, watashi wa ano jigoku no Shinraden no mae ni, muchi o uketeiru fubo o mite wa, damatteiru wake niwa ikimasen"

 "Moshi omae ga damatte itara--" to tekkanshi wa kyuu ni ogosoka na kao ni natte, jitto Toshishun o mitsumemashita.

 "Moshi omae ga damatte itara, ore wa sokuza ni omae no inochi o tatteshimaou to omotte ita no da. -- Omae wa mou sennin ni naritai to iu nozomi mo motteimai. Ooganemochi ni naru koto wa, moto yori aisou ga tsukita hazu da. Dewa omae wa korekara ato, nani ni nattara ii to omou na"

 "Nani ni nattemo, ningen rashii, shoujiki na kurashi o suru tsumori desu"

 Toshishun no koe niwa ima made ni nai harebare shita choushi ga komotte imashita.

 "Sono kotoba o wasureruna yo. Dewa ore wa kyou kagiri, nido to omae niwa awanai kara"

 Tekkanshi wa kou iu uchi ni, mou arukidashite imashita ga, kyuu ni mata ashi o tomete, Toshishun no hou o furikaeru to,

 "Oo, saiwai , ima omoidashita ga, ore wa Taizan no minami no fumoto ni ikken no ie o motte iru. Sono ie o hatakegoto omae ni yaru kara, sousou itte sumau ga yoi. Imagoro wa choudo ie no mawari ni, momo no hana ga ichimen ni saiteiru darou" to, samo yukai sou ni tsukekuwaemashita.

(2005.10.15)