Rusa no minami no, yanagi de kakomareta chiisana izumi de, watakushi wa, itta mugiko o mizu ni toite, hiru no shokuji o shite orimashita.

Sono toki, hitori no junrei no ojiisan ga, yappari shokuji no tame ni, soko e yatte kimashita. Watakushitachi wa damatte karuku rei o shimashita.

Keredo mo, hannichi marukkiri hito ni mo deawanai sonna tabi deshita kara, watakushi wa shokuji ga sunde mo, sugu ni izumi to sono toshitotta junrei to kara, wakarete shimaitaku wa arimasen deshita.

Watakushi wa shibaraku sono roujin no, takai nodobotoke no gikugiku ugoku no o, miru to mo nashi ni mite imashita. Nanika hanashikaketai to omoimashita ga, doumo anmari mukou ga shizuka nano de, watakushi wa sukoshi kyuukutsu ni mo omoimashita.

Keredo mo, futo watakushi wa izumi no ushiro ni, chiisana hokora no aru no o mitsukemashita. Sore wa taihen chiisakute, chiri gakusha ya tankenka naraba chotto hyouhon ni motte ikesou na mono de wa arimashita ga mada mattaku atarashiku kiiro to aka no penki sae nurarete ika ni mo iyou ni omoware, sono mae ni wa, somatsu nagara ippon no hata mo tatte imashita.

Watakushi wa roujin ga, mou shokuji mo owarisou na no o mite tazunemashita.

"Shitsurei desu ga ano odou wa donata o omatsuri shita no desu ka."

Sono roujin mo, tashika ni nani ka, watakushi ni hanashikaketakute ita no desu. Damatte ni､sando unazuki nagara, sono tabemono o nomikudashite, hikuku iimashita.

"‥‥‥ douji no desu."

"Doujitte dou iu kata desu ka."

"Kari no douji to ossharu no wa." Roujin wa shokki o shimai, kagande izumi no mizu o sukui, kirei ni kuchi o sosoide kara mata iimashita.

"Kari no douji to ossharu no wa, marude konogoro atta mukashibanashi no you na no desu. Kono chihou ni konogoro oriraremashita tendoujida to iu no desu. Kono odou wa konogoro rusa no mukougawa ni mo, achikochi tatte orimasu."

"Ten no kodomo ga, orita no desu ka. Tsumi ga atte ten kara nagasareta no desu ka."

"Saa, yoku wakarimasen ga, yoku kono hen de sou moushimasu. Tabun sou de gozaimashou."

"Ikaga deshou, kikasete kudasaimasen ka. Oisogi de sae nakattara."

"Iie, isogi wa itashimasen. Watakushi no kiita dake ohanashi itashimashou.

Sasha ni, suriyakei to iu hito ga gozaimashita. Meimon de wa gozaimashita sou desu ga, ochiburete okusama to futari, gojibun wa mukashi kara no shakyou o nasari, okusama wa hata o otte, shizuka ni kurashite iraremashita.

Aru akegata, suriya sama ga teppou o motta gojibun no itoko no kata to goissho ni, nohara o aruite iraremashita. Jimen wa goku uruwashii aoi ishi de, sora ga bootto shiroku mie, yuki mo madika de gozaimashita.

Suriya sama ga oitoko sama ni ossharu ni wa, omae mo sayou na nagusami no sesshou o, mou iikagen yametara douda to, koude gozaimashita.

Tokoro ga itoko no kata ga, marude sugenaku, yamerarenai to, gohenji desu.

(Omae wa zuibun mugoi yatsu da, omae no itametari koroshitari suru mono ga, ittai donna mono da ka wakatte iru ka, donna monode mo inochi wa kanashii mono nano dazo.) to, suriya sama wa kasanete osatoshi ni narimashita.

(Sou ka mo shirenai yo. Keredo mo sou de nai ka mo shirenai. Sou da to sureba ore wa issou omoshiroi no da, maa sonna kudaranai hanashi wa yamero, sonna koto wa mukashi no bouzu domo no iu kotta, miro, mukou o kari ga ikudarou, ore wa shitomete miseru) to itoko no kata wa teppou o kamaete, hashitte mienaku narimashita.

Suriya sama wa, sono ookina kuroi kari no retsu o, jitto nagamete tataremashita.

Sono toki niwaka ni mukou kara, kuroi togatta tama ga nobotte, massaki no kari no mune o imashita.

Kari wa ni､sanben yuragimashita. Mirumiru kara da ni hi ga moedashi, yo ni mo kanashiku sakebi nagara, ochite maitta no de gozaimasu.

Tama ga mata nobotte tsugi no kari no mune o tsuranukimashita. Sore de mo dono kari mo, nige wa itashimasendeshita.

Kaette nakisakebi nagara mo, ochite kuru kari ni shitagaimashita.

Daisan no tama ga nobori,

Daiyon no tama ga mata noborimashita.

Roppatsu no tama ga roppiki no kari o kizutsukemashite, ichiban shimai no chiisana ippiki dake ga, kizutsukazu ni nokotte ita no de gozaimasu. Moesakebu roppiki wa, modae nagara sora o shizumi, shimai no ippiki wa naite shitagai, sore de mo kari no tadashii retsu wa, kesshite midare wa itashimasen.

Sono toki suriya sama no odoroki ni wa, itsuka kari ga mina sora o tobu hito no katachi ni kawatte orimashita.

Akai honou ni tsutsumarete, nageki sakende teashi o modae, ochite mairu gonin, sorekara shimai ni tada hitori, mattai mono(bujina mono) wa kawairashii ten no kodomo de gozaimashita.

Soshite suriya sama wa, tashika ni sono kodomo ni mioboe ga gozaimashita. Saisho no mono wa, mohaya jimen ni tasshimasuru. Sore wa shiroi hige no roujin de, taorete moe nagara, honedatta ryoute o awase, suriya sama o ogamu you ni shite, setsunaku sakebimasu no ni wa,

(Suriya sama, suriya sama, onegai de gozaimasu. Douka watakushi no mago o otsure kudasaimase.)

Mochiron suriya sama wa, haseyotte mousaremashita.

(Ii to mo, ii to mo, tashika ni ore ga hikitotte yarou. Shikashi ittai omaera wa, dou shita no da.)

Sono toki tsugitsugi ni kari ga jimen ni ochite kite moemashita. Otona mo areba utsukushii youraku(indo no kizoku ya butsuzou no, houseki o tsuraneta kubikazari) o kaketa onago mo gozaimashita. Sono onago wa makkana honou ni moe nagara, te o ano oshimai no ko ni nobashi, kodomo wa naite sono mawari o hasemegutta to moushimasuru. Kari no roujin ga kasanete moushimasu ni wa,

(Watakushi domo wa ten no kenzokuichizokude gozaimasu. Tsumi ga atte tadaima made kari no katachi o ukete orimashita. Tadaima mukui o hatashimashita. Watakushido mo wa ten ni kaerimasu. Tada watakushi no hitori no mago wa mada kaeremasen. Kore wa anata to wa en no aru mono de gozaimasu. Douzo anata no ko ni shite osodate o negaimasu. Onegaide gozaimasu.) to kou de gozaimasu.

Suriya sama ga mousaremashita.

(Ii tomo. Sukkari wakatta. Hikiuketa. Anshin shite kure.)

Suru to roujin wa te o kosutte jimen ni atama o tareta to omou to, mou moetsukite, kage mo katachi mo gozaimasen deshita. Suriya sama mo itoko sama mo teppou o motta mama bon'yari to tatte iraremashita sou de ittai futari issho ni yume o mita no ka tomo omowaremashita sou desu ga atode itoko sama no mousaremasu ni wa sono teppou wa mada atsuku tama wa hette ori sono minna no hizamazuita tokoro no kusa wa tashika ni taorete otta sou de gozaimasu.

Soshite mochiron soko ni wa sono douji ga tatte iraremashita no desu. Suriya sama wa ware ni kaette douji ni mukatte iwaremashita.

(Omae wa kyou kara ore no kodomo da. Mou nakanai de ii. Omae no mae no okaasan ya niisantachi wa, rippana kuni ni nobotte ikareta. Saa oide.)

Suriya sama wa gojibun no uchi e modoraremashita. Tochuu no nohara wa aoi ishi de shin to shite kodomo wa naki nagara tsuite mairimashita.

Suriya sama wa okusama to gosoudan de, nan to namae o tsukeyou ka, san, yokka okangae de gozaimashita ga, sono uchi, hanashi wa mou sasha zentai ni hirogari, minna wa kodomo o kari no douji to yobimashita no de, suriya sama mo shikata naku sou yonde oide de gozaimashita."

Roujin wa cho' to iki o kirimashita. Watakushi wa ashimoto no chiisana koke o minagara, kono ayashii sora kara ochite akai honou ni tsutsumare, kanashiku moete yuku hitotachi no sugata o, hakkiri to omoi ukabemashita. Roujin wa shibaraku watakushi o mite imashita ga, mata katari tsudukemashita.

"Sasha no haru no owari ni wa, nohara ichimen yanagi no hana ga hikatte tobimasu. Tooku no koori no yama kara wa, shiroi nan to mo iezu hitomi o itaku suru you na hikari ga, nikkou no naka o hatte mairimasu. Sore kara kaju ga chirachira yusure, hibari wa sora de sukitootta nami o tatemasuru. Douji wa hayaku mo muttsu ni nararemashita. Haru no aru yuugata no koto, suriya sama wa kari kara kita okosama o tsurete, machi o tootte mairaremashita. Budouiro no omoi kumo no shita o, kageboushi no koumori ga hirahira to tonde sugimashita.

Kodomora ga nagai bou ni himo o tsukete, sore o oimashita.

(Kari no douji da. Kari no douji da.)

Kodomora wa bou o sute te o tsunagiatte ookina wa ni nari suriya sama oyako o kakomimashita.

Suriya sama wa waratte oide de gozaimashita.

Kodomora wa koe o soroete itsumo no you ni hayashimasuru.

(Kari no ko, kari no ko karidouji,

Sora kara suriya ni orite kita.)

to kou de gozaimasu. Keredo mo hitori no kodomo ga joudan ni moushimasuru ni wa,

(Kari no sutego, kari no sutego,

Haru ni natte mo mada oruka.)

Minna wa dotto waraimashite sore kara dou iu wake ka chiisana ishi ga hitotsu tonde kite douji no hou o uchimashita. Suriya sama wa douji o kabatte minna ni mousaremasu no ni wa,

(Omaetachi wa nani o surun da, kono kodomo wa nani ka warui koto o shitaka, joudan ni mo ishi o nageru nante ikenai zo.)

Kodomora ga sakende barabara hashitte kite douji ni wabitari nagusametari itashimashita. Aru ko wa maekake no kakushi(poketto) kara hoshita ichijiku o dashite, yarou to itashimashita.

Douji wa hajime kara oshimai made nikoniko waratte oraremashita. Suriya sama mo owarai ni nari minna o yurushite douji o tsurete soko o hanarenasaimashita.

Soshite asagi no menou no, shizukana yuumo ya no nakade iwaremashita.

(Yoku omae wa sakki nakanakattana.)

Sono toki douji wa otousama ni sugari nagara,

(Otousan watashi no mae no ojiisan wa ne, karada ni tama o nanatsu motte ita yo.) to kou mousareta to tsutaemasu."

Junrei no roujin wa watakushi no kao o mimashita.

Watakushi mo jitto roujin no urun da me o miagete orimashita. Roujin wa mata katari tsudukemashita.

"Mata aru ban no koto douji wa netsukenai de itsumade mo toko no ue de mogakinasaimashita.

(Okkasan nemurarenai you.) to ossharimasuru, suriya no okusama wa tatte itte shizuka ni atama o nadete oyarinasaimashita. Doujisama no nou wa mou sukkari tsukarete, shiroi ami no you ni natte, buruburu yure, sono naka ni akai ookina mikaduki ga ukandari, sonohen ippai ni zenmai no me no you na mono ga mietari, mata shikaku na hen ni yawaraka na shiroi mono ga, dandan hirogatte osoroshii ookina hako ni nattari suru no de gozaimashita. Kaasama wa sono hitai ga amari atsui to itte shinpai nasaimashita. Suriya sama wa utsushikake no kyoumon ni, tenohira o awasete tachiagarare, sore kara doujisama o tatasete, benigawa no obi o musunde yari omote e tsurete ode ni narimashita. Eki no dono ie mo mou to o shimete shimatte, ichimen no hoshi no shita ni munemune ga kuroku narabimashita. Sono toki douji wa futo mizu no nagareru oto o kikaremashita. Soshite shibaraku kangaete kara,

(Otousan, mizu wa yoru de mo nagareru no desu ka.) to otazune desu. Suriya sama wa sabaku no mukou kara nobotte kita ookina aoi hoshi o nagame nagara okotae nasaremasu.

(Mizu wa yoru de mo nagareru yo. Mizu wa yoru de mo hiru de mo, taira na tokoro de sae nakattara, itsumade mo itsumade mo nagareru no da.)

Douji no nou wa kyuu ni sukkari shizumatte, soshite kondo wa hayaku kaasama no tokoro ni okaeri nari tou narimasuru.

(Otousan. Mou kaerou yo.) to mousare nagara suriya sama no tamoto o hipparinasaimasu. Ofutari wa ie ni hairi, kaasama ga mukaenasarete to no kan o hamete oraremasu uchi ni, douji wa itsuka gojibun no toko ni nobotte, kigae mo sezu ni gussuri nemutte shimawaremashita.

Mata tsugi no you na koto mo moushimasu.

Aru hi suriya sama wa douji to shokutaku ni osuwari nasaimashita. Shokuhin no naka ni, mitsu de nita futatsu no funa ga gozaimashita. Suriya no okusama wa, hitotsu o suriya sama no mae ni okare, hitotsu o douji ni oatae nasaremashita.

(Tabetaku nai yo okkasan.) Douji ga mousaremashita.

(Oishii no da yo. Dore, hashi o okashi.)

Suriya no okusama wa douji no hashi o totte, sakana o chiisaku kudaki nagara,

(Saa oagari, oishii yo) to susumeraremasu. Douji wa kaasama no sakana o kudaku ai da, jitto sono yokogao o mite iraremashita ga, niwaka ni mune ga henna guai ni sematte kite kinodoku na you na kanashii you na nan to mo tamaranaku narimashita. Kurutto tatte teppoudama no you ni soto e hashitte deraremashita. Soshite masshiro na kumo no ippai ni michita sora ni mukatte, ookina koe de nakidashimashita. Maa dou shita no deshou, To suriya no okusama ga odorokaremasu. Dou shita no darou itte miro, To suriya sama mo kidukawaremasu. Sokode suriya no okusama wa toguchi ni otachi ni narimashitara douji wa mou nakiyande waratte iraremashita to sonna koto mo moushi tsutaemasu.

Mata aru toki, suriya sama wa douji o tsurete, umaichi no naka o tooraremashitara, ippiki no kouma ga chichi o nonde otta to moushimasu. Kuroi aranuno o kita umashounin ga kite, kouma o hikihanashi mou ippiki no kouma ni musubitsuke, soshite damatte sore o hiite yukou to itashimasuru. Hahaoya no uma wa bikkuri shite takaku nakimashita. Naredo mo kouma wa gungun tsurete yukaremasuru. Mukou no kado o magarou to shite, kouma wa isoide atoashi o ippou agete, hara no hae o tatakimashita.

Douji wa hahauma no chairo na hitomi o, chira' to yokome de miraremashita ga, niwaka ni suriya sama ni sugaritsuite nakidasaremashita. Keredo mo suriya sama wa oshikari nasaimasen deshita. Gojibun no sode de douji no atama o tsutsumu you ni shite, umaichi o toorisugite kara kawagishi no aoi kusa no ue ni douji o suwarasete anzu no mi o dashite oyari ni nari nagara, shizuka ni otazunenasaimashita.

(Omae wa sakki doushite naita no.)

(Datte otousan. Minna ga kouma o muri ni tsurete yukun da mono.)

(Uma wa shikatanai. Mou ookiku natta kara kore kara hitori de hatarakunda.)

(Ano uma wa mada chichi o nonde ita yo.)

(Sore wa soba ni oite wa itsumade mo amaeru kara shikatanai.)

(Datte otousan. Minna ga ano okaasan no uma ni mo kodomo no uma ni mo ato de nimotsu o ippai tsukete hidoi yama o tsurete yukunda. Sorekara tabemo no ga nakunaru to koroshite tabete shimaun darou.)

Suriya sama wa nanigenai fuu de, sonna otona no you na koto o iu monja nai to wa osshaimashita ga, hontou wa sukoshi sono ten no kodomo ga osoroshiku mo oomoi deshita to, maa sou moushi tsutaemasu.

Suriya sama wa douji o juuni no toki, sukoshi hanareta shuto no aru gedou(bukkyou igai no oshie) no juku ni oirenasaimashita.

Douji no okaasama wa, isshou kenmei hata o otte, jukuryou ya kodukai yara o koshiraete ookurinasaimashita.

Fuyu ga chikakute, tenzan wa mou masshiro ni nari, kuwa no ha ga kiiro ni karete kasakasa ochimashita koro, aru hi no koto, douji ga niwaka ni kaette oide desu. Kaasama ga mado kara mezatoku mitsukete dete yukaremashita.

Suriya sama wa shiranai furi de shakyou o tsudukete oide desu.

(Maa omae wa imagoro dou shita no desu.)

(Watakushi, mou okaasan to issho ni hatarakou to omoimasu. Benkyou shite iru hima wa nain desu.)

Kaasama wa, suriya sama no hou ni kiganeshi nagara mousaremashita.

(Omae wa mata sonna otona no you na koto o itte, shikatanai de wa arimasen ka. Hayaku kaette benkyou shite, rippa ni natte, minna no tame ni naranai to narimasen.)

(Datte okkasan. Okkasan no te wa sonna ni gasagasa shite iru no deshou. Sore dano ni watakushi no te wa konna nan deshou.)

(Sonna koto o omae ga iwanakute mo ii no desu. Dare de mo toshi o toreba te wa aremasu. Sonna koto yori, hayaku kaette benkyou o nasai. Omae no rippa ni naru koto bakari watakushi ni wa tanoshimi nanda kara. Otousan ga okiki ni naru to shikararemasu yo. Ne. Saa, oide.)

To kou mousaremasu.

Douji wa shonbori ni wa kara michi ni deraremashita. Sorede mo, mata tachidomatte shimawaremashita no de, kaasama mo dete yukarete motto mukou made otsure ni narimashita. Soko wa numachi de gozaimashita. Kaasama wa modorou to shite mata (saa, oide hayaku) to osshatta no deshita ga douji wa yappari todomatta mama, ie no hou o bon'yari mite oraremasu no de, kaasama mo shikata naku mata furikaette, ashi o ippon nuite chiisana fue o tsukuri, sore o omotase ni narimashita.

Douji wa ya' to arukidasaremashita. Soshite, haruka ni tsumetai shima o tsukuru kumo no kochira ni, ashi ga soyoide, yagate douji no sugata ga, chiisaku chiisaku natte shimawaremashita. Niwaka ni sora o haoto ga shite, kari no ichi-retsu ga toorimashita toki, suriya sama wa mado kara sore o mite, omowazu dokitto nasaremashita.

Sou shite fuyu ni hairimashita no de gozaimasu. Sono kibishii fuyu ga sugimasu to, mazu yanagi no me ga otonashiku hikari, sabaku ni wa satoumizu no you na kagerou ga haikai itashimasuru. Anzu ya sumomo no shiroi hana ga saki, tsuide wa kodachi mo kusachi mo massao ni nari, mohaya gyokuzui no kumo no mine ga, shihou no sora o meguru koro to narimashita.

Choudo sono koro sasha no machihazure no suna no naka kara, furui sashadaiji no ato ga horidasareta to no koto de gozaimashita. Hitotsu no kabe ga mada sono mama de mitsukerare, soko ni wa sannin no tendouji ga kakare, koto ni sono hitori wa marude ikita you da to minna ga hyouban shimashita sou desu. Aru yoku hareta hi, suriya sama wa miyako ni derare, douji no shishou o tazunete iroiro rei o nobe, mata mimaki no aranuno o okuri, sorekara hannichi, douji o tsurete arukitai to mousaremashita.

Ofutari wa zattou no toori o sugite yukaremashita.

Suriya sama ga aruki nagara, nanige naku iwaremasu ni wa,

(Dou da, kyou no sora no aoi koto wa, omaegata no toshi wa, choudo ima ano sora e tobiagarou to shite hane o batabata iwasete iru you na mono da.) Douji ga taihen ni shizunde kotaeraremashita.

(Otousan. Watakushi wa otousan to hanarete doko e mo yukitaku arimasen.)

Suriya sama wa owarai ni narimashita.

(Mochiron da. Kono hito no ookina tabi de wa, jibun dake hitori tooi hikari no sora e tobisaru koto wa ikenai no da.)

(Iie, otousan. Watakushi wa doko e mo yukitaku arimasen. Soshite dare mo doko e mo yukanai de ii no deshou ka.) to kou iu fushigina otazune de gozaimasu.

(Dare mo doko e mo yukanai de ii katte dou iu koto da.)

(Dare mo ne, hitori de hanarete doko e mo yukanai de ii no deshou ka.)

(Un. Sore wa yukanai de ii darou.) to suriya sama wa nan no ki mo naku bon'yari to kou okotaedeshita.

Soshite ofutari wa machi no hiroba o toorinukete, dandan kougai ni koraremashita. Suna ga zuutto hirogatte orimashita. Sono suna ga hitotokoro fukaku horarete, takusan no hito ga sono naka ni tatte gozaimashita. Ofutari mo orite yukareta no desu. Soko ni furui hitotsu no kabe ga arimashita. Iro wa asete wa imashita ga, sannin no ten no doujitachi ga kaite gozaimashita. Suriya sama wa omowazu dokitto narimashita. Nanika ookina omoi mono ga, tooku no sora kara battari kabusatta you ni omowaremashita no desu. Sore de mo nanigenaku mousaremasu ni wa, (Naruhodo rippana mon da. Amari yoku dekite nan da ka kowai you da. Kono tendou wa doko ka omae ni nite iru yo.)

Suriya sama wa douji o furikaerimashita. Soshitara douji wa nandaka waratta mama, taorekakatte iraremashita. Suriya sama wa odoroite isoide dakitomeraremashita. Douji wa otousan no ude no nakade yume no you ni tsubuyakaremashita.

(Ojiisan ga omukai o yokoshita no desu.)

Suriya sama wa isoide sakebaremashita.

(Omae dou shita no da. Doko e mo itte wa ikenai yo.)

Douji ga kasuka ni iwaremashita.

(Otousan. Oyurushi kudasai. Watakushi wa anata no ko desu. Kono kabe wa mae ni otousan ga kaita no desu. Sono toki watakushi wa ou no ‥‥‥ datta no desu ga kono e ga dekite kara ousama wa korosare watakushi domo wa issho ni shukke shita no deshita ga tekiou ga kite tera o yaku toki futsuka hodo zokufuku o kite kakurete iru uchi watakushi wa koibito ga atte kono mama shukke ni kaeru no o yameyou ka to omotta no desu.)

Hitobito ga atsumatte kuchiguchi ni sakebimashita.

(Kari no douji da. Kari no douji da.)

Douji wa moichi do, sukoshi kuchibiru o ugokashite, nani ka tsubuyaita you de gozaimashita ga, suriya sama wa mou sore o okikitori nasaranakatta to moushimasu.

Watakushi no shitte orimasu no wa tada kore dake de gozaimasu."

Roujin wa mou yukanakereba naranai you deshita. Watakushi wa hontou ni nagorioshiku omoi, massugu ni tatte gasshou shite moushimashita.

"Toutoi omonogatari o arigatou gozaimashita. Makoto ni otagai, chotto sabaku no heri no izumi de, ome ni kakatte, tada hitotoki o, issho ni sugoshita dake de wa gozaimasu ga, kore mo karisome no koto de wa nai to zonjimasu. Hon no toori kakari no futari no tabibito to wa miemasu ga, jitsu wa otagai ga donna mono ka mo yoku wakaranai no de gozaimasu. Izure wa morotomo ni, sugata no shimesareta hikari no michi o susumi, kano mujou bodai ni itaru koto de gozaimasu. Sorede wa owakare itashimasu. Sayounara."

Roujin wa, damatte rei o kaeshimashita. Nani ka iitai you deshita ga damatte niwaka ni mukou o muki, imamade watakushi no kita hou no arechi ni tobotobo aruki dashimashita. Watakushi mo mata, choudo sono hantai no hou no, sabishii ishihara o gasshou shita mama susumimashita.

(Rz.B.K. 2007-6-9)