Doddodo dodoudo dodoudo dodou,

Aoi kurumi mo fukitobase

Suppai karin mo fukitobase

Doddodo dodoudo dodoudo dodou

Tanigawa no kishi ni chiisana gakkou ga arimashita.

Kyoushitsu wa tatta hitotsu deshita ga seito wa ichinen kara rokunen made minna arimashita. Undoujou mo tenisu kooto no kurai deshita ga sugu ushiro wa kuri no ki no aru kirei na kusa no yama deshita shi, undoujou no sumi ni wa gobogobo tsumetai mizu o fuku iwa ana mo atta no desu.

Sawayaka na kugatsu tsuitachi no asa deshita. Aozora de kaze ga douto nari, nikkou wa undoujou ippai deshita. Kuroi yukibakama o haita futari no ichinensei no ko ga dote o mawatte undoujou ni haitte kite, mada hoka ni dare mo kite inai no o mite,

"Hou, ora ittou da zo. Ittou da zo." to kawaru gawaru sakebi nagara ooyorokobi de mon o haitte kita no deshita ga, chotto kyoushitsu no naka o mimasu to, futari tomo marude bikkuri shite boudachi ni nari, sore kara kao o miawasete buruburu furuemashita. Ga hitori wa toutou nakidashite shimaimashita. To iu wake wa, sono shinto shita asa no kyoushitsu no naka ni doko kara kita no ka, marude kao mo shiranai okashina akai kami no kodomo ga hitori, ichiban mae no tsukue ni chanto suwatte ita no desu. Soshite sono tsukue to ittara mattaku kono naita ko no jibun no tsukue datta no desu. Mohitori no ko mo mou hanbun naki kakete imashita ga, sore de mo muriyari me o rin to hatte socchi no hou o niramete imashitara, choudo sono toki kawakami kara,

"Chou wa akaguri chou wa akaguri (hayashi kotoba de imi wa nai)"to takaku sakebu koe ga shite sore kara marude ookina karasu no you ni Kasuke ga, kaban o kakaete waratte undoujou e kakete kimashita.

To omottara sugu sono ato kara Satarou da no Kousuke da no doyadoya yatte kimashita.

"Nashite naidera, unakamota no ga (doushite naite iru no ka, omae ga nani ka kamatta no ka)." Kasuke ga nakanai kodomo no kata o tsukamaete iimashita. Suru to sono ko mo waa to naite shimaimashita. Okashii to omotte minna ga atari o miru to kyoushitsu no naka ni ano akage no okashina ko ga sumashite shanto suwatte iru no ga me ni tsukimashita. Minna wa shin to natte shimaimashita. Dandan minna onna no ko tachi mo atsumatte kimashita ga, dare mo nan to mo iemasen deshita.

Akage no kodomo wa ikkou kowagaru fuu mo naku yappari chanto suwatte jitto kokuban o mite imasu.

Suru to rokunensei no Ichirou ga kimashita. Ichirou wa marude otona no you ni yukkuri oomata ni yatte kite minna o mite "Nashita." to kikimashita.

minna wa hajimete gayagaya koe o tatete sono kyoushitsu no naka no henna ko o sashimashita. Ichirou wa shibaraku socchi o mite imashita ga yagate kaban o shikkari kakaete sassa to mado no shita e ikimashita. Minna mo sukkari genki ni natte tsuite ikimashita.

"Dareda, jikan ni naranai ni kyoushitsu e haitterunowa." Ichirou wa mado e hainobotte kyoushitsu no naka e kao o tsukidashite iimashita.

"Otenki no ii toki kyoushitsu sa haitteru du to sensei ni unto shikaraeru zo (haitte iru to sensei ni unto shikarareru zo)." Mado no shita no Kousuke ga iimashita.

"Shikaraede mo ora shiranai yo." Kasuke ga iimashita.

"Hayagu dehatte ko, dehatte ko." Ichirou ga iimashita. Keredo mo sono kodomo wa kyorokyoro heya no nakaya minna no hou o mirubakaride yappari chanto hiza ni te o oite koshikake ni suwatte imashita.

Zentai sono katachikara ga jitsu ni okashiinodeshita. Hentekona nezumiiro no dabudabu no uwagi o kite shiroi hanzubon o haite sore ni akai kawa no hangutsu o haite itanodesu. Sore ni kaoto ittara marude jukushita ringonoyou, koto ni me wa manmarude makkuronanodeshita. Ikkou ni kotoba ga tsuujinaiyounanode Ichirou mo mattaku komatte shimaimashita.

"Aitsu wa gaikokujindana." "Gakkousa hairunodana." Minna wa gayagaya gayagaya iimashita. Tokoro ga gonensei no Kasuke ga ikinari,

"Aa, sannenseisa hairunoda."to sakebimashitanode "Aa, souda."to chiisai kodomora wa omoimashita ga Ichirou wa damatte kubi o magemashita.

Henna kodomo wa yahari kyorokyoro kocchi o mirudake, kichinto koshikakete imasu.

Sono toki kaze ga douto fuite kite kyoushitsu no garasudo wa minna gatagata nari, gakkou no ushiro no yama no kayaya kuri no ki wa minna hen ni aojiroku natte yure, kyoushitsu no naka no kodomo wa nandaka niyatto waratte sukoshi ugoitayoudeshita. Suruto Kasuke ga sugu sakebimashita.

"Aa, wakatta. Aitsu wa kaze no Matasaburoudazo."

Soudatto minna mo omotta toki, niwaka ni ushiro no houde gorouga,

"Waa, itaijaa."to sakebimashita. Minna socchi e furimukimasuto gorou ga Kousuke ni ashi no yubi o fumarete marude okotte Kousuke o naguritsukete ita no desu. Suruto Kousuke mo okotte,

"Waa, ware warukutede hito hadaidanaa (jibun ga warui kuse ni, ore no koto o nagutta na)." to itte mata gorou o nagurou to shimashita. Gorou wa marude kaojuu namida darake ni shite Kousuke ni kumitsukouto shimashita.

soko de Ichirou ga aida e haitte Kasuke ga Kousuke o osaete shimaimashita.

"Waai, kenka suru nattara, senseia chanto shokuinshitsu ni kiterazo." to Ichirou ga iinagara mata kyoushitsu no hou o mimashitara, Ichirou wa niwaka ni marude pokan to shite shimaimashita. Tatta imamade kyoushitsu ni ita ano henna ko ga kage mo katachi mo nai no desu. Minna mo marude sekkaku tomodachini

natta kouma ga tooku e yarareta you, sekkaku totta yamagara ni nigerareta you ni omoimashita.

Kaze ga mata douto fuite kite madogarasu o gatagata iwase ushiro no yama no kaya o dandan

kami no hou e aojiroku namidatete ikimashita.

"Waa unada (omaetachi) kenka shita n da gara Matasaburou inagu natta na." Kasuke ga okotte iimashita. Minna mo hontou ni sou omoimashita. Gorou wa jitsu ni moushiwake nai to omotte ashi no itai no mo wasurete shonbori kata o subomete tatta no desu.

"Yappari aitsu wa kaze no Matasaburou datta na."

"Nihyaku tooka de kita no da na."

"Kutsu haideda ta zo."

"Fuku mo kideda ta zo."

"Kami akakute ogashi yadu datta na."

"Aryaarya, Matasaburou ore no tsukue no ue sa ishikage nosedetta zo." Ninensei no ko ga iimashita. Miru to sono kono tsukue no ue ni wa kitanai ishikake ga notte ita no desu.

"Souda. Arya. Asogo no garasu mo bukkashita zo."

"Sodanai de a. Aidu a yasumi mae ni Kasuke ishi buttsukeda no dana."

"Waai. Soda nai de a (sou ja nai yo)."

To itte ita toki kore wa mata nanto iu wake deshou. Sensei ga genkan kara dete kita no desu. Sensei wa pikapika hikaru yobiko o migite ni motte mou atsumare no shitaku o shite iru no deshita ga, sono sugu ushiro kara, sakki no akai kami no ko ga, marude gongensama no oppamochi no you ni sumashi konde shiroi shappo (boushi) o kabutte sensei ni tsuite supasupa to aruite kita no desu.

Minna wa shiin to natte shimaimashita. Yatto Ichirou ga "Sensei ohayou gozaimasu."to iimashita no de minna mo tsuite "Sensei ohayou gozaimasu"to itta dake deshita.

"Minasan. Ohayou. Donata mo genki desu ne. de wa narande." Sensei wa yobiko o biruru to fukimashita. Sore wa sugu tani no mukou no yama e hibiite mata pirururu to hikuku modotte kimashita.

Sukkari yasumi no mae no toori da to minna ga omoi nagara rokunensei wa hitori, gonensei wa shichinin, yonensei wa rokunin, sannensei wa juuninin, kumigoto ni ichiretsu ni tate ni narabimashita.

Ninensei wa hachinin, ichinensei wa yonin mae e narae o shite naranda no desu. Suruto sono aida ano okashina ko wa nanika okashii no ka omoshiroi no ka, okuba de yokoccho to shita o kamu you ni shite jirojiro minna o minagara sensei no ushiro ni tatte ita no desu. Suruto sensei wa, takada san kocchi e ohairinasai to iinagara yonensei no retsu no tokoro e tsurete itte, take o Kasuketo kurabete kara Kasuke to sono ushiro no kiyo no aida e tatasemashita.

Minna wa furikaette jitto sore o mite imashita. Sensei wa mata genkan no mae ni modotte, mae e narae to gourei o kakemashita.

Minna wa mou ippen mae e narae o shite sukkari retsu o tsukurimashita ga jitsu wa ano henna ko ga dou iu fuu ni shite iru no ka mitakute kawarugawaru socchi o furimuitari yokome de nirandari shita no deshita. Suruto sono ko wa chan to mae e narae de mo nan de mo shitterurashiku heiki de ryouude o mae e dashite yubisaki o Kasuke no senaka e yatto todoku kurai ni shite ita mono desu kara Kasuke wa nandaka senaka ga kayui ka kusuguttai ka to iu fuu ni mojimoji shite imashita.

"Naore" sensei ga mata gourei o kakemashita.

"Ichinen kara jun ni mae e oi."

Sokode ichinensei wa arukidashi mamonaku ninen mo sannen mo arukidashite minna no mae o gurutto tootte migite no getabako no aru iriguchi ni haitte ikimashita. Yonensei ga arukidasu to sakki no ko mo Kasuke no ato e tsuite ooibari de aruite ikimashita. Mae e itta ko mo tokidoki furikaette mi, ato no mono mo jitto mite itanodesu.

Mamonaku minna wa hakimono o getabako ni irete kyoushitsu e haitte, choudo soto e naranda tokino you ni kumigoto ni ichiretsu ni tsukue ni suwarimashita. Sakki no ko mo sumashikonde Kasuke no ushiro ni suwarimashita. Tokoro ga mou oosawagi desu.

"Waa, ora no tsukue kawatteru zo."

"Waa, ora no tsukue sa ishikake haitteruzo."

"Kikko, kikko, una (omae) tsuushinbo motte kita ga. Ora, wasurede kita jaa."

"Waai, sano, kipen (enpitsu) kase, kipen kasettara."

"Waaga nai (dame da yo). Hito no zakkichou tottette."

Sono toki sensei ga haitte kimashita no de minna mo sawagi nagara tonikaku tachiagari Ichirou ga ichiban ushirode "Rei" to iimashita.

Minna wa ojigi o suru aida wa chotto shinto narimashita ga sorekara mata gayagaya gayagaya iimashita.

"Shizuka ni, minasan. Shizuka ni suru no desu." sensei ga iimashita.

"Shi', etsuji, yagamashittara. Kasukee, kikkou. Waai."to Ichirou ga ichiban ushiro kara amari sawagu mono o hitorizutsu shikarimashita.

Minna wa shinto narimashita. Sensei ga iimashita.

"Minasan nagai natsu no oyasumi wa omoshirokatta desu ne. Minasan wa asa kara mizuoyogi mo dekitashi hayashi no nakade takani mo makenaikurai takaku sakendari mata niisan no kusakari ni tsuite ue no nohara e ittari shitadeshou. Keredo mo mou kinoude yasumi wa owarimashita. Korekara wa dainigakkide akidesu. Mukashikara aki wa ichiban karada kokoro mo hikishimatte benkyou no dekiru tokidato itte arunodesu. Desukara, minasan mo kyoukara mata issho ni shikkari benkyoushimashou.

Sorekara kono oyasumi no aida ni minasan no otomodachi ga hitori fuemashita. Sore wa soko ni iru takada san desu. Sono kata no otousan wa kondo kaisha no goyoude ue no nohara no iriguchi e oide ni natte irareru no desu. Takada san wa ima made wa hokkaidou no gakkou ni orareta no desu ga, kyou kara minasan no otomodachi ni naru no desu kara, minasan wa gakkoude benkyou no toki mo, mata kurihiroi ya sakanatori ni yuku toki mo takada san o sasouyou ni shinakereba narimasen. Wakarimashita ka.

Wakatta hito wa te o agete gorannasai."

Sugu minna wa te o agemashita. Sono takada to yobareta ko mo ikioi yoku te o agemashita no de, chotto sensei wa waraimashita ga sugu,

"Wakarimashita ne, de wa yoshi."to iimashita no de minna wa hi no kieta you ni ippen ni te o oroshimashita.

Tokoro ga Kasuke ga sugu "Sensei."to itte mata te o agemashita.

"Hai" Sensei wa Kasuke o yubisashimashita.

"Tagada san na wa nante iu be na."

"Takada Saburou san desu."

"Waa, umai, sorya, yappari Matasaburou da na." Kasuke wa marude te o tataite tsukue no naka de odoru you ni shimashita no de, ookina hou no kodomora wa dotto waraimashita ga sannensei kara shita no kodomora wa nani ka kowai to iu fuu ni shiin to shite Saburou no hou o mite ita no desu. Sensei wa mata iimashita.

"Kyou wa minasan wa tsuushinbo to shukudai o motte kuru no deshitane. Motte kita hito wa tsukue no ue e dashite kudasai. Watashi ga ima atsume ni yukimasu kara."

Minna wa batabata kaban o aketari furoshiki o toitari shite tsuushinbo to shukudaichou o tsukue no ue ni dashimashita.

Soshite sensei ga ichinensei no hou kara jun ni sore o atsume hajimemashita. Sono toki minna wa gyotto shimashita. To iu wake wa minna no ushiro no tokoro ni itsu ka hitori no otona ga tatte ita no desu. Sono hito wa shiroi dabudabu no asafuku o kite kuroi tekateka shita hankachi o nekutai no kawari ni kubi ni maite te ni wa shiroi ougi o motte karuku jibun no kao o aogi nagara, sukoshi waratte minna o mioroshite ita no desu. Saa minna wa dandan shiin to natte marude kataku natte shimaimashita. Tokoro ga sensei wa betsu ni sono hito o ki ni kakeru fuu mo naku junjun ni tsuushinbo o atsumete Saburou no seki made ikimasu to Saburou wa tsuushinbo mo shukudaichou mo nai kawari ni ryoute o nigirikobushi ni shite futatsu tsukue no ue ni nosete ita no desu. Sensei wa damatte soko o toorisugi, minna no o atsumete shimau to sore o ryoute de soroe nagara mata kyoudan ni modorimashita.

"De wa shukudaichou wa kono tsugi no doyoubi ni naoshite watashimasu kara, kyou motte konakatta hito wa, ashita kitto wasurenai de motte kite kudasai. Sore wa etsuji san to kouji san to ryousaku santo desu ne. de wa kyou wa koko made desu. Ashita kara chanto itsu mo no toori no shitaku o shite oidenasai. Sore kara gonensei to rokunensei no hito wa, sensei to issho ni kyoushitsu no osouji o shimashou. de wa koko made."

Ichirou ga kiotsuke to ii, minna wa ippen ni tachimashita. Ushiro no otona mo ougi o shita ni sagete tachimashita. "Rei." Sensei mo minna mo rei o shimashita. Ushiro no otona mo karuku atama o sagemashita. Sore kara zuutto shita no kumi no kodomora wa ichimokusan ni kyoushitsu o tobidashimashita ga yonensei no kodomora wa mada mojimoji shite imashita.

Suruto Saburou wa sakki no dabudabu no shiroi fuku no hito no tokoro e ikimashita. Sensei mo kyoudan o orite sono hito no tokoro e ikimashita.

"Iya doumo gokurousama de gozaimasu." sono otona wa teinei ni sensei ni rei o shimashita.

"Jiki minna to otomodachi ni narimasu kara" sensei mo rei o kaeshi nagara iimashita.

"Nanibun douka yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. Sore de wa." Sono hito wa mata teinei ni rei o shite me de Saburou ni aizu suru to jibun wa genkan no hou e mawatte soto e dete matte imasu to Saburou wa minna no mite iru naka o me o rin to hatte damatte shoukouguchi kara dete itte oitsuki futari wa undoujou o tootte kawashimo no hou e aruite ikimashita.

Undoujou o deru toki sono ko wa kocchi o furimuite jitto gakkou ya minna no hou o niramu you ni suruto mata sutasuta shirofuku no otona ni tsuite aruite ikimashita.

"Sensei, ano hito wa takada san no otousan desu ka." Ichirou ga houki o mochi nagara sensei ni kikimashita.

"Sou desu."

"Nan no you de kitabe."

"Ue no nohara no iriguchi ni moribuden to iu kouseki ga dekiru no de, sore o dandan horu you ni suru tame da sou desu."

"Dogora adari da bena(dono atari darou ka)."

"Watashi mo mada yoku wakarimasen ga, itsu mo minasan ga uma o tsurete yuku michi kara sukoshi kawashimo e yotta hou na you desu."

"Moribuden nan ni suru bena."

"Sore wa tetsu to mazetari, kusuri o tsukuttari suru no da sou desu."

"Sodara Matasaburou mo horu bega(sonnara Matasaburou mo horu no kana)." Kasuke ga iimashita.

"Matasaburou da nai, takada Saburou da ja(Matasaburou ja nai. Takada Saburou da yo)." Satarou ga iimashita.

"Matasaburou da Matasaburou da." Kasuke ga kao o makka ni shite ganbarimashita.

"Kasuke, una mo nokotteraba souji shite sukero(omae mo nokotte iru no nara souji o tetsudatte kure)." Ichirou ga iimashita.

"Waai. Yandaja(iyadai). Kyou gonensei do rokunensei da na."

Kasuke wa ooisogide kyoushitsu o hanedashite nigete shimaimashita.

Kaze ga mata fuite kite madogarasu wa mata gatagata nari, zoukin o ireta baketsu ni mo chiisana kuroi nami o tatemashita.

Tsugi no hi Ichirou wa ano okashina kodomo ga kyoukara hontou ni gakkou e kite hon o yondari suru ka dou ka hayaku mitai you na ki ga shite itsumo yori hayaku Kasuke o sasoimashita. Tokoro ga Kasuke no hou wa Ichirou yori motto sou kangaete ita to miete tou ni gohan mo tabe furoshiki ni tsutsunda hon mo motte,

ie no mae e dete Ichirou o matte itanodeshita. Futari wa tochuu mo iroiro sono kono koto o hanashinagara gakkou e kimashita. Suruto undoujou ni wa chiisana kodomora ga mou shichi､hachinin atsumatte ite boukakushi o shite imashita ga sono ko wa mada kite imasendeshita. Mata kinouno you ni kyoushitsu no naka ni irunokato omotte naka o nozoite mimashita ga kyoushitsu no naka wa shiinto shite dare mo izu kokuban no ue ni wa kinou no souji no toki zoukinde fuita ato ga kawaite bon'yari shiroi shima ni natte imashita.

"Kinou no yatsu mada kitenaina." Ichirou ga iimashita.

"Un." Kasuke mo itte sokora o mimawashimashita.

Ichirou wa sokode tetsubou no shita e itte jamiagarito iu yarikatade muriyari ni tetsubou no ue ni nobori ryouude o dandan yosete migi no udegi ni ikuto soko e koshikakete kinou Matasaburou no itta hou o jitto mioroshite matte imashita. Tanigawa wa socchi no hou e kirakira hikatte nagarete iki sono shita no yama no ue no houde wa kaze mo fuite irurashiku tokidoki kaya ga shiroku namidatte imashita. Kasuke mo yappari sono hashira no shita jitto socchi o mite matte imashita. Tokoro ga futari wa sonna ni nagaku matsu koto mo arimasendeshita. Sore wa totsuzen Matasaburou ga sono shimote no michikara haiiro no kaban o migite ni kakaete hashiruyouni shite dete kitanodesu.

"Kitazo."to Ichirou ga omowazu shita ni iru Kasuke e sakebouto shite imasuto hayaku mo Matasaburou wa dote o gurutto mawatte dondon seimon o haitte kuruto,

"Ohayou."to hakkiri iimashita. Minna wa issho ni socchi o furimukimashita ga hitori mo henji o shita mono ga arimasendeshita. Sore wa minna sensei ni wa itsude mo "Ohayou gozaimasu."to iu you ni naratte itanodeshita ga otagai ni "Ohayou."nante itta koto ga nakattano ni Matasaburou ni sou iwarete mo Ichirouya Kasuke wa anmari niwakade, mata ikioi ga iinode toutou okurete shimatte Ichirou mo Kasuke mo kuchi no nakade ohayouto iu kawari ni monyamonyatto itte shimattanodeshita. Tokoro ga Matasaburou no houwa

betsudan sore o ku ni suru fuu mo naku ni､ sanpo mata mae e susumuto jitto tatte sono makkurona mede gurutto undoujoujuu o mimawashimashita. Soshite shibaraku dareka asobu aite ga naika sagashite iruyoudeshita. Keredo mo minna kirokiro Matasaburou no hou wa mite ite mo mojimoji shite yahari isogashisou ni boukakushi o shitari Matasaburou no hou e yuku mono ga arimasendeshita. Matasaburou wa chotto guai ga warui you ni soko ni tsuttatte imashita ga mata undoujou o mou ichido mimawashimashita. Sorekara zentai kono undoujou wa nangen arukato iu you ni seimonkara genkanmade oomata ni aruite hosuu o kazoenagara arukihajimemashita. Ichirou wa isoide tetsubou o haneorite Kasuketo narande iki o korashite sore o mite imashita.

Sonouchi Matasaburou wa mukou no genkan no maemade itte shimauto kocchi e muite shibaraku anzan o suru you ni sukoshi kubi o magete tatte imashita.

Minna wa yahari kirokiro socchi o mite imasu. Matasaburou wa sukoshi komatta you ni ryoute o ushiro e kumuto mukougawa no dote no hou e shokuinshitsuno

mae o tootte arukidashimashita.

Sono toki kaze ga zaatto fuite kite dote no kusa wa zawazawa nami ni nari undoujou no mannakade saatto chiri ga agari sore ga genkan no maemade ikuto kirikirito mawatte chiisana tsumujigaze ni natte kiirona chiri wa bin o sakasama ni shitayouna katachi ni natte yaneyori takaku noborimashita. Suruto Kasuke ga totsuzen takaku iimashita.

"Souda. Yappari aidu Matasaburoudazo. Aitsu nanika suruto kitto kaze fuite kuruzo."

"Un." Ichirou wa doudaka wakaranaito omoinagara mo damatte socchi o mite imashita. Matasaburou wa sonna koto ni kamawazu dote no hou e yahari sutasutato aruite ikimasu.

Sono toki sensei ga itsumono you ni yobiko o motte genkan o dete kitanodesu.

"Ohayou gozaimasu." Chiisana kodomora wa haseatsumarimashita.

"Ohayou." Sensei wa chiratto undoujoujuu o mimawashitekara "De wa narande."to iinagara pururutto fue o fukimashita.

Minna wa atsumatte kite kinou no toori kichinto narabimashita. Matasaburou mo kinou iwareta tokoro e chanto tatte imasu. Sensei wa ohisama ga masshoumennanode sukoshi mabushisou ni shinagara gourei o dandan kakete toutou minna wa shoukouguchikara kyoushitsu e hairimashita. Soshite rei ga sumuto senseiwa, "De wa minasan kyoukara benkyou o hajimemashou. Minasan wa chanto odougu o motte kimashitane. de wa ichinenseito ninensei no hito wa oshuuji no otehonto suzurito kami o dashite, sannenseito yonensei no hito wa sanjutsuchouto zakkichouto enpitsu o dashite gonenseito rokunensei no hito wa kokugo no hon o dashite kudasai."

Saa suruto acchide mo kocchide mo oosawagi ga hajimarimashita. Nakani mo Matasaburou no sugu yoko no yonensei no tsukue no Satarou ga ikinari te o nobashite sannensei no kayo no enpitsu o hirarito totte shimattanodesu. Kayo wa Satarou no imoutodeshita. Suruto kayowa,

"Uwaa aina kipen totte wa kannaina(enpitsu o totte wa damedayo)."to iinagara torikaesouto shimasuto Satarouga,

"Waa koitsu orenodanaa."to iinagara enpitsu o futokoro no naka e irete ato wa shinajin ga ojigisuru tokino you ni ryoute o sode e irete tsukue e pittari mune o kuttsukemashita. Suruto kayo wa tatte kite,

"Aina, aina no kipen wa ototoi koyade nakushite shimattakenaa(nakushite shimattanja naika). Yokosettarai."to iinagara isshou kenmei torikaesouto shimashita ga doushite mo mou Satarou wa tsukue ni kuttsuita ookina kani no kasekimitai ni natte shimatte irunode toutou kayo wa tatta mama kuchi o ookiku magete nakidashisou ni narimashita. Suruto Matasaburou wa kokugo no hon o chanto tsukue ni nosete komatta you ni shite kore o mite imashita ga kayo ga toutou boroboro namida o koboshitano o miruto damatte migite ni motte ita hanbunbakari ni natta enpitsu o Satarou no me no mae no tsukue ni okimashita. Suruto Satarou wa niwaka ni genki ni natte mukkuri okiagarimashita. Soshite "Kureru? "to Matasaburou ni kikimashita. Matasaburou wa chotto magotsuitayoudeshita ga kakugoshita you ni "Un."to iimashita. Suruto Satarou wa ikinari waraidashite futokoro no enpitsu o kayo no chiisana akai te ni motasemashita.

Sensei wa mukoude ichinensei no kono suzuri ni mizu o tsuide yattari shite imashitashi Kasuke wa Matasaburou no maedesukara shirimasendeshita ga Ichirou wa kore o ichiban ushirode chanto mite imashita.

Soshite marude nanto ittara iika wakaranai henna kimochi ga shite ha o kirikiri iwasemashita.

"De wa sannensei no hito wa oyasumi no mae ni naratta hikizan o mou ippen naratte mimashou. Kore o kanjoushite gorannasai." Sensei wa kokuban ni nijuugo hiku juuni to kakimashita. Sannensei no kodomora wa minna isshou kenmei ni sore o zakkichou ni utsushimashita. Kayo mo atama o zakkichou e kuttsukeru you ni shite kaite imasu.

"Yonensei no hito wa kore o oite." juunana kakeru yon to kakimashita. Yonensei wa Satarou o hajime kizou mo Kousuke mo minna sore o utsushimashita.

"Gonensei no hito wa tokuhon no - peeji no - ka o hiraite koe o tatenaide yomerudake yonde gorannasai. Wakaranai ji wa zakkichou e hirotte okunodesu."

Gonensei mo minna iwareta toori shihajimemashita.

"Ichirou san wa tokuhon no - peeji o shirabete yahari shiranai ji o kakinuite kudasai."

Sore ga sumuto sensei wa mata kyoudan o orite ichinenseito ninensei no shuuji o hitori hitori mite arukimashita. Matasaburou wa ryoutede hon o chanto tsukue no ue e motte iwareta tokoro o iki mo tsukazu jitto yonde imashita. Keredo mo zakkichou e wa ji o hitotsu mo kakinuite imasendeshita. Sore wa hontou ni shiranai ji ga hitotsu mo nainoka tatta ichipon no enpitsu o Satarou ni yatte shimatta tameka docchi tomo wakarimasen deshita.

Sonouchi sensei wa kyoudan e modotte sannenseito yonensei no sanjutsu no keisan o shite misete mata atarashii mondai o dasuto kondo wa gonensei no seito no zakkichou e kaita shiranai ji o kokuban e kaite sore ni kanato wake o tsukemashita. Soshite,

"De wa Kasuke san koko o yonde."to iimashita. Kasuke wa ni､sando hikkakari nagara sensei ni oshierarete yomimashita.

Matasaburou mo damatte kiite imashita. Sensei mo hon o totte jitto kiite imashita ga juugyou bakari yomu to "Soko made." to itte kondo wa sensei ga yomimashita.

Sou shite hitomawari sumu to sensei wa dandan minna no dougu o shimawasemashita. Sore kara,

"De wa koko made."to itte kyoudan ni tachimasu to Ichirou ga ushiro de,

"Ki o tsukei."to iimashita. Soshite rei ga sumu to minna jun ni soto e dete kondo wa soto e narabazu ni minna wakare wakare ni natte asobimashita.

Nijikanme wa ichinensei kara rokunensei made minna shouka deshita. Soshite sensei ga mandorin o motte dete kite minna wa ima made ni utatta no o sensei no mandorin ni tsuite itsutsu mo utaimashita.

Matasaburou mo minna shitte ite minna dondon utaimashita. Soshite kono jikan wa taihen hayaku tatte shimaimashita.

Sanjikanme ni naru to kondo wa sannensei to yonensei ga kokugo de gonensei to rokunensei ga suugaku deshita. Sensei wa mata kokuban e mondai o kaite gonensei to rokunensei ni keisan sasemashita. Shibaraku tatte Ichirou ga kotae o kaite shimau to Matasaburou no hou o chotto mimashita. Suru to Matasaburou wa doko kara dashita ka chiisa na keshizumi de zakkichou no ue e garigari to ookiku unzan shite ita no desu.

Tsugi no asa sora wa yoku harete tanigawa wa sarasara narimashita. Ichirou wa tochuu de Kasuke to Satarou to etsuji o sasotte issho ni Saburou no uchi no hou e ikimashita. Gakkou no sukoshi shimo de tanigawa o watatte, sore kara kishi de yanagi no eda o minna de ippon zutsu otte aoi kawa o kurukuru haide muchi o koshiraete te de hyuuhyuu furi nagara ue no nohara e no michi o dandan nobotte ikimashita. Minna wa hayaku mo nobori nagara iki o haahaa shimashita.

"Matasaburou honto ni asogo no wakimizu made kite madideru be ga(matte iru darou ka)."

"Madideru n da. Matasaburou uso koganai mo na(uso wa iwanai mono)."

"Aa atsuu, kaze fukeba ii na."

"Dogo gara da ga kaze fuideru zo."

"Matasaburou fugase darabe mo(fukasete

iru darou sa)."

"Nan da ga ohisan boya' to shite kita na."

Sora ni sukoshi bakari no shiroi kumo ga demashita.

soshite mou daibu nobotte imashita. Tani no minna no ie ga zuutto shita ni mie, Ichirou no uchi no kigoya no yane ga shiroku hikatte imasu.

Michi ga hayashi no naka ni hairi, shibaraku michi wa jimejime shite, atari wa mienaku narimashita. Soshite mamonaku minna wa yakusoku no wakimizu no chikaku ni kimashita. Suru to soko kara,

"Oui. Minna kita ka i."to Saburou no takaku sakebu koe ga shimashita.

Minna wa marude sekaseka to hashitte noborimashita. Mukou no magarikado no tokoro ni Matasaburou ga chiisana kuchibiru o kitto musunda mama sannin no kakeagatte kuru no o mite imashita. Sannin wa yatto Saburou no mae made kimashita. Keredo mo anmari iki ga haahaa shite sugu ni wa nani mo iemasen deshita. Kasuke nado wa anmari modokashii mon desu kara, sora e muite,

"Hohhou."to sakende hayaku iki o haite shimaou to shimashita. Suru to Saburou wa ookina koe de waraimashita.

"Zuibun matta zo. Sore ni kyou wa ame ga furu ka mo shirenai sou da yo."

"Sodara hayagu yugu be su sa(sonnara hayaku ikou yo). Ora mantsu(mazu, tomokaku) mizu nonde gu."

Sannin wa ase o fuite shagande masshiro na iwa kara kobokobo fukidasu tsumetai mizu o nanben mo sukutte nomimashita.

"Boku no uchi wa koko kara sugu nan da. Choudo ano tani no ue atari nan da. Minna de kaeri ni yorou ne e."

"Un. Mantsu nohara sa yugu be susa."

Minna ga mata aruki hajimeta toki wakimizu wa nani ka o shiraseru you ni guu' to nari, sokora no ki mo nan da ka zaatto natta you deshita.

Yonin wa hayashi no suso no yabu no aida o ittari iwakake no chiisaku kuzureru tokoro o nanben mo toottari shite mou ue no hara no iriguchi ni chikaku narimashita.

Minna wa soko made kuru to kita hou kara mata nishi no hou o nagamemashita. Hikattari kagettari ikutoori ni mo kasanatta takusan no oka no mukou ni kawa ni sotta hontou no nohara ga bon'yari aoku hirogatte iru no deshita.

"Arya, aidukawa da zo."

"Kasu ga myoujinsan no obi no you da na."

Matasaburou ga iimashita.

"Nan no you da do." Ichirou ga kikimashita.

"Kasuga myoujin san no obi no you da."

"Unakami san no obi mida goto aru ga."

"Boku hokkai dou de mita yo."

Minna wa nan no koto da ka wakarazu damatte shimaimashita.

Hontou ni soko wa mou ue no nohara no iriguchi de, kirei ni karareta kusa no naka ni ippon no ookina kuri no ki ga tatte sono miki wa nemoto no tokoro ga makkuro ni kogete ookina hora no you ni nari, sono eda ni wa furui nawa ya, kireta waraji nado ga tsurushite arimashita.

"Mou sukoshi yugudu do minna shite kusa katteru zo. Sore gara uma no iru dogo mo aru zo." Ichirou wa iinagara saki ni tatte katta kusa no naka no ipponmichi o gungun arukimashita.

Saburou wa sono tsugi ni tatte,

"Koko ni wa kuma inai kara ushi o hanashite oite mo ii na a." to itte arukimashita.

Shibaraku iku to michibata no ookina nara no ki no shita ni, nawa de anda fukuro ga nagedashite atte, takusan no kusataba ga acchi ni mo kocchi ni mo korogatte imashita.

Senaka ni o shotta ni-hiki no uma ga, Ichirou o mite, hana o purupuru narashimashita.

"Aina. Iru ga. Aina. Kita zo." Ichirou wa ase o nugui nagara sakebimashita.

"Ooi. Aai. Soko ni iro. Ima yugu zo."

Zuutto mukou no kubomi de, Ichirou no niisan no koe ga shimashita.

Hi ga patto akaruku nari, niisan ga socchi no kusa no naka kara waratte dete kimashita.

"Yugu kita na. Minna mo tsurede kita no ga. Yugu kita. Modori ni umako tsuredete kero na(yoku kita na. Kaeri ni wa uma o tsurete itte kure). Kyou a hiruma gara kitto kumoru. Ora mou sukoshi kusa atsumete shimu gara na, una da asoba ba ano dote no naka sa haitte ro. Mada bokujou no uma ni０-piki bakari iru gara na."

Niisan wa mukou e ikou to shite, furimuite mata iimashita.

"Dote gara soto sa deharuna yo. Mayotte shimaudu do abunai gara na. Hiruma ni nattara mata kuru gara."

"Un. Dote no naka ni iru gara."

Soshite Ichirou no niisan wa, itte shimaimashita. Sora ni wa usui kumo ga sukkari kakari, taiyou wa shiroi kagami no you ni natte, kumo to hantai ni hasemashita. Kaze ga dete kite mada katte nai kusa wa ichimen ni nami o tatemasu. Ichirou wa saki ni tatte chiisana michi o massugu ni iku to mamonaku dote ni narimashita. Sono dote no hitotoko chigireta tokoro ni ni-hon no maruta no bou o yoko ni watashite arimashita. Kousuke ga sore o kugurou to shimasu to, Kasuke ga,

"Ora kotta na mono hazuse da dado(orewa konna mono nan ka hazuseru zo)." to iinagara katappou no haji o nuite shita ni oroshimashita no de minna wa sore o hanekoete naka e hairimashita. Mukou no sukoshi kodakai tokoro ni tekateka hikaru chairo no uma ga nana-hiki bakari atsumatte shippo o yuruyaka ni bashabasha futte iru no desu.

"Kono uma minna sen'en ijou suru du mona. Rainen gara minna keiba sa mo deharu no dajjai." Ichirou wa soba ni ikinagara iimashita.

Uma wa minna ima made sabishikutte shiyou nakatta to iu you ni Ichirou dachi no hou e yotte kimashita.

Soshite hanadura o zuutto nobashite nani ka hoshi sou ni suru no desu.

"Hahaa, shio o kerodu no da na(shio o kure to iu n da na)." Minna wa iinagara te o dashite uma ni namesasetari shimashita ga Saburou dake wa uma ni narete inai rashiku kimi waru sou ni te o poketto e irete shimaimashita.

"Waa mata Saburou uma okkanagaru jai." to etsuji ga iimashita.

Suru to Saburou wa,

"Kowaku nan ka nai yai." to iinagara sugu poketto no te o uma no hanadura e nobashimashita ga uma ga kubi o nobashite shita o berori to dasu to saatto kaoiro o kaete subayaku mata te o poketto e irete shimashimashita.

"Waai, Matasaburou uma okkanagaru jai." etsuji ga mata iimashita. Suru to Saburou wa sukkari kao o akaku shite shibaraku mojimoji shite imashita ga,

"Son nara, minna de keiba yaru ka." to iimashita.

Keibatte dou suru no ka to minna omoimashita.

Suru to Saburou wa,

"Boku keiba nanben mo mita zo. Keredo mo kono uma minna kura ga nai kara norenai ya. Minna de ippiki zutsu uma o otte hajime ni mukou no, sora, ano ookina ki no tokoro ni tsuita mono o ittou ni shiyou."

"Soidu omoshiro na." Kasuke ga iimashita.

"Shikaraeru zo. Bokufu ni mikkerae de gara."

"Daijoubu da yo. Keiba ni deru uma nan ka renshuu o shite inai to ikenai n dai." Saburou ga iimashita.

"Yoshi ora kono uma da zo."

"Ora kono uma da."

"Sonnara boku wa kono uma de mo ii ya."

Minna wa yanagi no eda ya kaya no ho de shiuto iinagara uma o karuku uchimashita. Tokoro ga uma wa chittomo biku to mo shimasen deshita. Yahari shita e kubi o tarete kusa o kaidari kubi o nobashite sokora no keshiki o motto yoku miru to iu you ni shite iru no desu.

Ichirou ga soko de ryoute o pishan to uchiawasete, daa to iimashita. Suru to niwaka ni naan-hiki tomo marude tategami o soroete kakedashita no desu.

"Umaai." Kasuke wa haneagatte hashirimashita.

keredo mo sore wa doumo keiba ni wa naranai no deshita. Daiichi uma wa dokomade mo kao o narabete hashiru no deshita shi sore ni sonna ni kyousou suru kurai hayaku hashiru no de mo nakatta no desu. Sore de mo minna wa omoshirogatte daada to iinagara isshou kenmei sono atoo oimashita.

Uma wa sukoshi iku to tachidomari sou ni narimashita. Minna mo sukoshi haahaa shimashita ga koraete mata uma o oimashita. Suruto itsuka uma wa gurutto sakki no kodakai tokoro o mawatte sakki yo-nin de haitte kita dote no kireta tokoro e kita no desu.

"A, uma deharu, uma deharu. Osaero, osaero."

Ichirou wa massao ni natte sakebimashita. Jissai uma wa dote no soto e deta no rashii no deshita. Dondon hashitte mou sakki no maruta no bou o koe sou ni narimashita. Ichirou wa marude awatete "Doudou doudou." to iinagara isshou kenmei hashitte itte yatto soko e tsuite marude korobu you ni shinagara te o hirogeta toki wa mou ni-hiki wa mou soto e dete ita no deshita.

"Hayagu kite osaero. Hayagu kite." Ichirou wa iki mo kireru you ni sakebi nagara marutanbou o moto no you ni shimashita. San-nin wa hashitte itte isoide maruta o kugutte soto e demasu to ni-hiki no uma wa mou hashiru de mo naku dote no soto ni tatte kusa o kuchi de hippatte nuku you ni shite imasu.

"Sorosorodo osaero yo. Sorosorodo." to iinagara Ichirou wa ippiki no kutsuwa ni tsuita fuda no tokoro o shikkari osaemashita. Kasuke to Saburou ga mou ippiki o osae you to soba e yorimasu to uma wa marude odoroita you ni dote e sotte ichimokusan ni minami no hou e hashitte shimaimashita.

"Ai na uma a nigeru, uma a nigeru. Ai na. Uma nigeru." to ushiro de Ichirou ga isshou kenmei sakende imasu. Saburou to Kasuke wa isshou kenmei uma o oimashita.

Tokoro ga uma wa mou kondo koso hontou ni nigeru tsumori rashikatta no desu. Marude take gurai aru kusa o wakete takami ni nattari hikuku nattari doko made mo hashirimashita.

Kasuke wa mou ashi ga shibirete shimatte doko o dou hashitte iru no ka wakaranaku narimashita.

Sore kara mawari ga massao ni natte, guruguru mawari, toutou fukai kusa no naka ni taorete shimaimashita. Uma no akai tategami to ato o otte iku Saburou no shiroi shappo ga owari ni chiratto miemashita.

Kasuke wa, aomuke ni natte sora o mimashita. Sora ga masshiro ni hikatte, guruguru mawari, sono kochira o usui nezumi iro no kumo ga, hayaku hayaku hashitte imasu. Soshite kankan natte imasu.

Kasuke wa yatto okiagatte, sekaseka iki shinagara uma no itta hou ni arukidashimashita. Kusa no naka ni wa, ima, uma to Saburou ga tootta ato rashiku, kasuka na michi no you na mono ga arimashita.

Kasuke wa waraimashita. Soshite, (fun. Naani, uma dokoka de, kowaku natte nokkori tatteru sa) to omoimashita.

Soko de Kasuke wa, isshou kenmei sore o tsukete ikimashita. Tokoro ga sono michi no you na mono wa, mada hyapo mo ikanai uchi ni, otokoeshi ya, suteki ni se no takai azami no naka de, futatsu ni mo mittsu ni mo wakarete shimatte, dore ga dore yara ikkou wakaranaku natte shimaimashita. Kasuke wa ooi to sakebimashita.

Ou to dokoka de Saburou ga sakende iru you desu.

Omoikitte, sono mannaka no o susumimashita. Keredo mo sore mo, tokidoki kiretari, uma no aru ka nai you na kyuu na tokoro o yokozama ni sugitari suru no deshita.

Sora wa taihen kuraku omoku nari, mawari ga boutto kasunde kimashita. Tsumetai kaze ga, kusa o watari hajime, mou kumo ya kiri ga, kiregire ni natte me no mae o gungun toorisugite ikimashita.

(aa, koitsu wa waruku natte kita. Minna warui koto wa kore kara takatte yatte kuru no da.) to Kasuke wa omoimashita. Mattaku sono toori, niwaka ni uma no tootta ato wa, kusa no naka de nakunatte shimaimashita.

(aa, waruku natta, waruku natta.) Kasuke wa mune o dokidoki sasemashita.

Kusa ga karada o magete, pachipachi ittari, sarasara nattari shimashita. Kiri ga koto ni shigeku natte, kimono wa sukkari shimette shimaimashita.

Kasuke wa nodo ippai sakebimashita.

"Ichirou, Ichirou kocchi sa kou."

Tokoro ga nan no henji mo kikoemasen. Kokuban kara furu hakuboku no kona no you na, kurai tsumetai kiri no tsubu ga, sokora ichimen odori mawari, atari ga niwaka ni shiin to shite, inki ni inki ni narimashita. Kusa kara wa, mou shizuku no oto ga potari potari to kikoete kimasu.

Kasuke wa mou hayaku, Ichirou tachi no tokoro e modorou to shite isoide hikkaeshimashita. Keredo mo dou mo, sore wa mae ni kita tokoro to wa chigatte ita you deshita. Daiichi, azami ga anmari takusan arimashitashi, sore ni kusa no soko ni sakki nakatta iwakake ga, tabitabi korogatte imashita. Soshite toutou kiita koto mo nai ookina tani ga, ikinari me no mae ni arawaremashita. Susuki ga, zawazawa zawatto nari, mukou no hou wa sokoshirezu no tani no you ni, kiri no naka ni kiete iru de wa arimasen ka.

Kaze ga kuru to, susuki no ho wa hosoi takusan no te o ippai nobashite, sewashiku futte,

"A, nishi san, a, higashi san. A nishi san. A minami san. A, nishi san." nante itte iru you deshita.

Kasuke wa anmari mittomo nakatta no de, me o tsubutte yoko o mukimashita. Soshite isoide hikkaeshimashita. Chiisana kuroi michi ga, ikinari kusa no naka ni dete kimashita. Sore wa takusan no uma no hidume no ato de dekiagatte ita no desu. Kasuke wa, muchuu de mijikai waraigoe o agete, sono michi o gungun arukimashita.

Keredo mo, tayori no nai koto wa, michi no haba ga gosun(issun wa yaku san-senchimeetoru) gurai ni nattari, mata san-jaku(isshaku wa yaku sanju-senchimeetoru) gurai ni kawattari, omake ni nan da ka gurutto mawatte iru you ni omowaremashita. Soshite, toutou, ookina teppen no yaketa kuri no ki no mae made kita toki, bon'yari ikutsu ni mo wakarete shimaimashita.

Soko wa tabun wa, nouma no atsumari basho de atta deshou, kiri no naka ni marui hiroba no you ni mieta no desu.

Kasuke wa gakkari shite, kuroi michi o mata modori hajimemashita. Shiranai kusabo ga shizuka ni yuragi, sukoshi tsuyoi kaze ga kuru toki wa, doko ka de nani ka ga aizu o shite de mo iru you ni, ichimen no kusa ga, sore kitatto mina karada o fusete sakemashita.

Sora ga hikatte kiin kiin to natte imasu. Sore kara sugu me no mae no kiri no naka ni, ie no katachi no ookina kuroi mono ga arawaremashita. Kasuke wa shibaraku jibun no me o utagatte tachidomatte imashita ga, yahari dou shite mo ie rashikatta no de, kowagowa motto chikayotte mimasu to, sore wa tsumetai ookina kuroi iwa deshita.

Sora ga kurukurukurutto shiroku yuragi, kusa ga baratto ichido ni shizuku o haraimashita.

(machigatte hara o mukou gawa e orireba, Matasaburou mo ore mo mou shinu bakari da.) to Kasuke wa, hanbun omou you ni hanbun tsubuyaku you ni shimashita. Sore kara sakebimashita.

"Ichirou, Ichirou, iru ga. Ichirou."

Mata akaruku narimashita. Kusa ga mina issei ni yorokobi no iki o shimasu.

"Isado no machi no, denki koufu no warasu a, yamaotoko ni teashii shibaraeteta fuu da." to itsu ka dare ka no hanashita kotoba ga, hakkiri mimi ni kikoete kimasu.

Soshite, kuroi michi ga, niwaka ni kiete shimaimashita. Atari ga hon no shibaraku shiin to narimashita. Sore kara hijou ni tsuyoi kaze ga fuite kimashita.

Sora ga hata no you ni patapata hikatte hirugaeri, hibana ga pachipachipachitto moemashita. Kasuke wa toutou kusa no naka ni taorete nemutte shimaimashita.

*

Sonna koto wa minna doko ka no tooi dekigoto no you deshita.

Mou Matasaburou ga sugu me no mae ni ashi o nagedashite damatte sora o miagete iru no desu. Itsu ka ikutsu mo no nezumi iro no uwagi no ue ni garasu no manto o kite iru no desu. Sore kara hikaru garasu no kutsu o haite iru no desu.

Matasaburou no kata ni wa kuri no ki no kage ga aoku ochite imasu. Matasaburou no kage wa mata aoku kusa ni ochite imasu. Soshite kaze ga dondon dondon fuite iru no desu. Matasaburou wa warai mo shinakereba mono mo iimasen. Tada chiisana kuchibiru o tsuyosou ni kitto musunda mama damatte sora o mite imasu. Ikinari Matasaburou wa hiratto sora e tobiagarimashita. Garasu no manto ga giragira hikarimashita.

*

Futo Kasuke wa me o hirakimashita. Hai iro no kiri ga hayaku hayaku tonde imasu.

Soshite uma ga sugu me no mae ni nossori to tatte ita no desu. Sono me wa Kasuke o osorete yoko no hou o muite imashita.

Kasuke wa haneagatte uma no nafuda o osaemashita. Sono ushiro kara Saburou ga marude iro no nakunatta kuchibiru o kitto musunde kocchi e dete kimashita. Kasuke wa buruburu furuemashita.

"Oui." Kiri no naka kara Ichirou no niisan no koe ga shimashita. Kaminari mo gorogoro natte imasu.

"Ooi. Kasuke. Iru ga. Kasuke." Ichirou no koe mo shimashita. Kasuke wa yorokonde tobiagarimashita.

"Ooi. Iru, iru. Ichirou. Ooi."

Ichirou no niisan to Ichirou ga, totsuzen, me no mae ni tachimashita. Kasuke wa niwaka ni nakidashimashita.

"Sagashita zo. Abunagatta zo. Sukkari nureda na. Dou." Ichirou no niisan wa nareta tetsuki de uma no kubi o daite motte kita kutsuwa o subayaku uma no kuchi ni hamemashita.

"Saa, abesa(ikou)."

"Matasaburou bikkuri shita bea." Ichirou ga Saburou ni iimashita. Saburou ga damatte yappari kitto kuchi o musunde unazukimashita.

Minna wa Ichirou no niisan ni tsuite yurui keisha o, futatsu hodo noboriori shimashita. Sore kara, kuroi ookina michi ni tsuite, shibaraku arukimashita.

Inabikari ga nido bakari, kasuka ni shiroku hiramekimashita. Kusa o yaku nioi ga shite, kiri no naka o kemuri ga hotto nagarete imasu.

Ichirou no niisan ga sakebimashita.

"Ojiisan. Ida, ida. Minna ida."

Ojiisan wa kiri no naka ni tatte ite,

"Aa shinpai shita, shinpai shita. Aa egatta. Oo Kasuke. Samugabea, saa haire." to iimashita. Kasuke wa Ichirou to onaji you ni yahari kono ojiisan no mago na you deshita.

Hanbun ni yaketa ookina kuri no ki no nemoto ni, kusa de tsukutta chiisana kakoi ga atte, chorochoro akai hi ga moete imashita.

Ichirou no niisan wa uma o nara no ki ni tsunagimashita.

Uma mo hihin to naite imasu.

"Oomuzoya na(kawaisou ni). Na. Nanbo naida ga na. Sono waro (kodomo) wa kanayamahori no waro da na. Saasaa minna, dango tabero. Tabero. Na. Ima kocchi o yagu gara na. Zentai doko made itte datta."

"Sasanagane no origuchi da." to Ichirou no niisan ga kotaemashita.

"Abunai gatta. Abunai gatta. Mukou sa oridara uma mo hito mo sorekkiri datta zo. Saa Kasuke. Dango tabero. Kono waro mo tabero. Saasaa, koidu mo tabero."

"Ojiisan. Uma oide kuru ga." to Ichirou no niisan ga iimashita.

"Un'un. Bokufu kurudo mada yagamashi gara na. Shitadomo(shikashi) mosukoshi made. Mata sugu hareru. Aa shinpai shita. Ora mo torakoyama no shita made itte mide kita. Haa, mantsu egatta. Amemo hareru."

"Kesa honto ni tenki egatta no ni na."

"Un, mata yugu naru sa. A, ame motte kita na."

Ichirou no niisan ga dete ikimashita. Tenjou ga gasagasa gasagasa iimasu. Ojiisan ga, warai nagara sore o miagemashita.

Niisan ga mata haitte kimashita.

"Ojiisan. Akarugu natta. Ame a hare da."

"Un'un. Dou ga. Saa minna yokku hi ni adare, ora mata kusa karu gara na."

Kiri ga futto kiremashita. Hi no hikari ga satto nagarete hairimashita. Sono taiyou wa, sukoshi nishi no hou ni yotte kakari, ikuhen ka no rou no you na kiri ga, nigeokurete shikata nashi ni hikarimashita.

Kusa kara wa shizuku ga kirakira ochi, subete no ha mo kuki mo hana mo, kotoshi no owari no hi no hikari o sutte imasu.

Haruka na nishi no aoi nohara wa, ima nakiyanda you ni mabushiku warai, mukou no kuri no ki wa, aoi gokou o hanachimashita. Minna wa mou tsukarete Ichirou o saki ni nohara o orimashita. Wakimizu no tokoro de Saburou wa yappari damatte kitto kuchi o musunda mama minna ni wakarete jibun dake otousan no koya no hou e kaette ikimashita.

Kaeri nagara Kasuke wa iimashita.

"Aidu yappari kaze no kami da zo. Kaze no kami no kokko da zo. Asogo sa futari shite sukutteru n da zo."

"Soda nai yo." Ichirou ga takaku iimashita.

Tsugi no hi wa asa no uchi wa ame deshita ga, nijikanme kara dandan akaruku natte sanjikanme no owari no jupun yasumi wa toutou sukkari yami, achikochi ni kezutta you na aozora mo dekite, sono shita o masshiro na urokogumo ga dondon higashi e hashiri, yama no kaya kara mo kuri no ki kara mo nokori no kumo ga yuge no you ni tachimashita.

"Sagattara(jugyou ga owattara) budouduru tori ni yuganai ga." Kousuke ga Kasuke ni sotto iimashita.

"Yugu yugu. Matasaburou mo yuganai ga." Kasuke ga sasoimashita. Kousuke wa,

"Waai, asogo Matasaburou sa oshieru ya nai ja." to iimashita ga Saburou wa shiranai de,

"Yuku yo. Boku wa hokkaidou de mo totta zo. Boku no okaasan wa taru e futatsu tsuketa yo." to iimashita.

"Budou tori ni ora mo tsuredeganai ga." ninensei no shoukichi mo iimashita.

"Waganai ja. Unado sa oshieru ya nai ja. Ora kyonen na atarashii dogo me tsukeda ja."

Minna wa gakkou no sumu no ga machidooshikatta no deshita. Gojikanme ga owaru to, Ichirou to Kasuke ga Satarou to Kousuke to eiji to Matasaburou to rokunin de gakkou kara kami no hou e nobotte yukimashita. Sukoshi iku to ikken no warayane no ie ga atte, sono mae ni chiisana tabako batake ga arimashita. Tabako no ki wa mou shita no hou no ha o tsunde aru no de, sono aoi kuki ga hayashi no you ni kirei ni narande ika ni mo omoshiro sou deshita.

Suru to Matasaburou wa ikinari,

"Nan dai, kono ha wa." to iinagara ha o ichimai mushitte Ichirou ni misemashita. Suru to Ichirou wa bikkuri shite,

"Waa, Matasaburou, tabago no ha o torudu do senbaikyoku ni un to shikarareru zo. Waa, Matasaburou nashite totta."

To sukoshi kaoiro o waruku shite iimashita. Minna mo kuchiguchi ni iimashita.

"Waai. Senbaikyoku de a, kono ha ichimai zutsu kazoede choumen sa tsukederu da. Ora shiranai zo."

"Ora mo shiranai zo."

"Ora mo shiranai zo." Minna kuchi o soroete hayashimashita.

Suru to Saburou wa kao o makka ni shite, shibaraku sore o furimawashite nani ka iou to kangaete imashita ga,

"Ora shiranai de totta n da." to okotta you ni iimashita.

Minna wa kowasou ni, dare ka mite inai ka to iu you ni mukou no ie o mimashita. Tabako batake kara moumou to agaru yuge no mukou de, sono ie wa shiin to shite dare mo ita you de wa arimasen deshita.

"Ano ie ichinensei no kosuke no ie da jai." Kasuke ga sukoshi nadameru you ni iimashita. Tokoro ga Kousuke wa hajime kara jibun no mitsuketa budou yabu e, Saburou da no minna anmari kite omoshiroku nakatta mon desu kara, ijiwaruku moichido Saburou ni iimashita.

"Waa, Matasaburou nanbo shiranai tatte waganai n da ja. Waai, Matasaburou modo no toori ni shite mayunda dea (tsugunawanakute wa ikenai yo)."

Matasaburou wa komatta you ni shite mata shibaraku damatte imashita ga,

"Sonnara, oira koko e oiteku kara ii ya." to iinagara sakki no ki no nemoto e sotto sono ha o okimashita. Suru to Ichirou wa,

"Hayaku abe." to itte saki ni tatte aruki dashimashita no de minna mo tsuite ikimashita ga, Kousuke dake wa mada nokotte,

"Hou, ora shiranai zo. Arya, Matasaburou no oita ha, asugo ni aru jai." nante itte iru no deshita ga minna ga dondon arukidashita no de Kousuke mo yatto tsuite kimashita.

Minna wa kaya no aida no chiisana michi o yama no hou e sukoshi noborimasu to, sono minamigawa ni muita kubomi ni kuri no ki ga achikochi tatte, shita ni wa budou ga mokumoku shita ooki na yabu ni natte imashita.

"Kogo ore mittsukeda no da gara minna anmari toru ya nai zo." Kousuke ga iimashita.

Suru to Saburou wa,

"Oira kuri no hou o toru n dai." to itte ishi o hirotte hitotsu no eda e nagemashita. Aoi iga ga hitotsu ochimashita.

Matasaburou wa sore o boukire de muite, mada shiroi kuri o futatsu torimashita. Minna wa budou no hou e isshou kenmei deshita.

Sono uchi Kousuke ga mohitotsu no yabu e ikou to ippon no kuri no ki no shita o toorimasu to, ikinari ue kara shizuku ga ippen ni zatto ochite kimashita no de, Kousuke wa kata kara senaka kara mizu e haitta you ni narimashita. Kousuke wa odoroite kuchi o aite ue o mimashitara, itsu ka ki no ue ni Matasaburou ga nobotte ite, nan da ka sukoshi warai nagara jibun mo sodeguchi de kao o fuite ita no desu.

"Waai, Matasaburou nani suru." Kousuke wa urameshi sou ni ki o miagemashita.

"Kaze ga fuita n dai." Saburou wa ue de kutsukutsu warai nagara iimashita.

Kousuke wa ki no shita o hanarete mata betsu no yabu de budou o torihajimemashita. Mou Kousuke wa jibun de mo motenai kurai achikochi e tamete ite, kuchi mo murasaki iro ni natte marude ookiku miemashita.

"Saa, kono kurai motte modoranai ga." Ichirou ga iimashita.

"Ora, motto tottegu ja." Kousuke ga iimashita.

Sono toki Kousuke wa mata atama kara tsumetai shizuku o zaatto kaburimashita. Kousuke wa mata bikkuri shita you ni ki o miagemashita ga kondo wa Saburou wa ki no ue ni wa imasen deshita.

Keredo mo ki no mukou gawa ni Saburou no nezumi iro no hiji mo miete imashitashi, kutsukutsu warau koe mo shimashita kara, Kousuke wa mou sukkari okotte shimaimashita.

"Waai Matasaburou, mada hito sa mizu kageda na."

"Kaze ga fuita n dai."

Minna wa dotto waraimashita.

"Waai Matasaburou, una sogo de ki yusutta ke anaa."

Minna wa dotto mata waraimashita.

Suru to Kousuke wa urameshi sou ni shibaraku damatte Saburou no kao o minagara,

"Uai Matasaburou, una nado a sekai ni nakute mo inaai."

Suru to Matasaburou wa zuru sou ni waraimashita.

"Yaa Kousuke kun shikkei shita ne e."

Kousuke wa nani ka motto betsu no koto o iou to omoimashita ga anmari okotte shimatte kangaedasu koto ga dekimasen deshita no de mata onaji you ni sakebimashita.

"Uai, uai da ga, Matasaburou, una midaina kaze nado sekaijuu ni nakute mo ii naa, uwaai."

"Shikkei shita yo. Datte anmari kimi mo boku e ijiwaru o suru mon da kara." Matasaburou wa sukoshi me o pachipachi sasete kinodoku sou ni iimashita. Keredo mo Kousuke no ikari wa nakanaka tokemasen deshita. Soshite sando onaji koto o kurikaeshita no desu.

"Uwai, Matasaburou kaze nado a sekaijuu ni nakute mo ina, uwai."

Suru to Matasaburou wa sukoshi omoshiroku natta you de mata kutsukutsu waraidashite tazunemashita.

"Kaze ga sekaijuu ni nakutte mo iitte dou iu n dai. Ii to kajou o tatete itte goran, sora." Matasaburou wa sensei mitai na kaotsuki o shite yubi o ippon dashimashita. Kousuke wa shiken no you da shi tsumaranai koto ni natta to omotte taihen kuyashikatta no desu ga shikata naku shibaraku kangaete kara iimashita.

"Una nado itazura bari sa na, kasa bukka shitari(itazura bakari suru ja nai ka, kasa o kowashi tari shite)."

"Sore kara sore kara." Matasaburou wa omoshirosou ni hitoashi susunde iimashita.

"Sore gara ki ottari, okkea(taosu)shitari sa na."

"Sore kara, sore kara doudai."

"Ie mo bukka sa na."

"Sore kara sore kara, ato wa doudai."

"Akashi mo kesa na"

"Sore kara, ato wa? Sore kara ato wa?

doudai."

"Shappu (shappo boushi no koto) mo tobasa na."

"Sore kara? Sore kara ato wa? Ato wa doudai."

"Kasa mo tobasa na."

"Sore kara sore kara."

"Sore gara uu denshinbashira mo taosa na."

"Sore kara? Sore kara? Sore kara? "

"Sore gara yane mo tobasa na."

"Aa hahaha yane wa ie no uchi dai. Doudai mada aru ka i. Sore kara, sore kara? "

"Sore da gara, uu, sore da gara ranpu mo kesa na."

"Ahahahahaha, ranpu wa akashi no uchi da i. Keredo sore dake kai. E, oi. Sore kara?

sore kara sore kara."

Kousuke wa tsumatte shimaimashita. Taitei mou itte shimatta no desu kara ikura kangaete mo mou demasen no deshita. Matasaburou wa iyoiyo omoshirosou ni yubi o ippon tate nagara,

"Sore kara? Sore kara? Ee? Sore kara." to iu no deshita.

Kousuke wa kao o akaku shite shibaraku kangaete kara yatto kotaemashita.

"Kazaguruma mo bukkasa na."

Suru to Matasaburou wa kondo koso wa marude tobiagatte waratte shimaimashita. Minna mo waraimashita. Waratte waratte waraimashita.

Matasaburou wa yatto warau no o yamete iimashita.

"Sora goran toutou kazaguruma nado o icchattarou. Kazaguruma nara kaze o waruku omoccha inai n da yo, mochiron tokidoki kowasu koto mo aru keredo mo, mawashite yaru toki no hou ga zutto ooi n da. Kazaguruma nara chitto mo kaze o waruku omotte inai n da. Sore ni daiichi, omae no sakki kara no kazoeyou wa anmari okashii ya. Uu, uu, de bakari itan darou.

oshimai ni toutou kazaguruma nan ka kazoechatta, aa, okashii." Matasaburou wa mata, namida no deru hodo waraimashita. Kousuke mo sakki kara anmari komatta tame ni okotte ita no mo dandan wasurete kimashita, soshite tsui Matasaburou to issho ni waraidashite shimatta no desu, suruto Matasaburou mo sukkari kigen o naoshite,

"Kousuke kun, itazura o shite sumanakatta yo." to iimashita.

"Saa sore de a yugube na." to Ichirou wa iinagara Matasaburou ni budou o itsufusa bakari kuremashita. Matasaburou wa shiroi kuri o minna ni futatsu zutsu wakemashita. Soshite minna wa shita no michi made issho ni orite ato wa meimei no uchi e kaetta no desu.

Tsugi no asa wa kiri ga jimejime futte gakkou no ushiro no yama mo bon'yari shika miemasen deshita. Tokoro ga kyou mo nijikan me koro kara dandan harete mamonaku sora wa massao ni nari hi wa kankan tette ohiru ni natte sannensei kara shita ga sagatte shimau to marude natsu no you ni atsuku natte shimaimashita.

Hirusugi wa sensei mo tabitabi kyoudan de ase o fuki yonensei no shuuji mo gonensei rokunensei no zuga mo marude mushiatsukute kaki nagara utouto suru no deshita.

Jugyou ga sumu to minna wa sugu kawashimo no hou e sorotte dekakemashita. Kasuke ga,

"Matasaburou mizuabi ni yuganai ga. Chiisai yadu do ima koro minna itteru zo." to iimashita no de Matasaburou mo tsuite ikimashita.

Soko wa kono mae ue no nohara e itta tokoro yori mo mosukoshi shimo de migi no hou kara mo hitotsu no tanigawa ga haitte kite sukoshi hiroi kawara ni nari sono sugu shimo wa ookina saikachi no ki no haeta gake ni natte iru no deshita.

"Ooi."to saki ni kite iru kodomora ga hadaka de ryoute o agete sakebimashita. Ichirou ya minna wa, kawara no nemu no ki no aida o marude tokyousou no you ni hashitte ikinari kimono o nugu to sugu dobun dobun to mizu ni tobikonde ryouashi o kawarugawaru magete daan daan to mizu o tataku you ni shinagara naname ni narande mukougishi e oyogi hajimemashita.

Mae ni ita kodomora mo ato kara oitsuite oyogi hajimemashita.

Matasaburou mo kimono o nuide minna no ato kara oyogi hajimemashita ga, tochuu de koe o agete waraimashita.

Suru to mukougishi ni tsuita Ichirou ga kami o azarashi no you ni shite kuchibiru o murasaki ni shite wakuwaku furue nagara,

"Waa Matasaburou, nashite waratta." to iimashita. Matasaburou wa yahari furue nagara mizu kara agatte,

"Kono kawa tsumetai na a." to iimashita.

"Matasaburou nashite waratta? " Ichirou wa mata kikimashita.

"Omaetachi no oyogikata wa okashii ya. Naze ashi o dabudabu narasu n dai." to iinagara mata waraimashita.

"Uwaai" to Ichirou wa iimashita ga, nan da ka kimari ga waruku natta you ni,

"Ishitori sanai ga." to iinagara shiroi marui ishi o hiroimashita.

"Suru suru." Kodomora ga minna sakebimashita.

Ore sore de a ano ki no ue gara otosu gara na. To Ichirou wa iinagara, gake no nakagoro kara dete iru saikachi no ki e surusuru nobotte ikimashita. Soshite,

"Saa otosu zo, ichi ni san．"to iinagara, sono shiroi ishi o dobuun to fuchi e otoshimashita. Minna waregachi ni kishi kara massakasama ni mizu ni tobikonde aojiroi rakko no you na katachi o shite soko e mogutte sono ishi o torou to shimashita. Keredo mo minna soko made yukanai ni iki ga tsumatte ukabidashite kite, kawarugawaru fuu to sora e kiri o fukimashita.

Matasaburou wa jitto minna no suru no o mite imashita ga, minna ga ukande kite kara jibun mo dobun to haitte ikimashita. Keredo mo yappari soko made todokazu ni uite kita no de minna wa dotto waraimashita. Sono toki mukou no kawara no nemu no ki no tokoro o otona ga yonin, hadanugi ni nattari ami o mottari shite kocchi e kuru no deshita.

Suru to Ichirou wa ki no ue de marude koe o hikuku shite minna ni sakebimashita.

"Oo, happa da zo. Shiranai furi shitero. Ishitori yamede hayagu minna shimo sa sagare."

Soko de minna wa, narubeku socchi o minai furi o shinagara, issho ni shimo no hou e oyogimashita. Ichirou wa, ki no ue de te o hitai ni atete, mou ichido yoku mikiwamete kara, dobun to sakasama ni fuchi e tobikomimashita. Sore kara mizu o kugutte, ippen ni minna e oitsuita no desu.

Minna wa, fuchi no shimo no, se ni natta tokoro ni tachimashita.

"Shiranai furi shite asondero. Minna." Ichirou ga iimashita. Minna wa, toishi o hirottari, sekirei o ottari shite, happa no koto na zo, sukoshi mo ki ga tsukanai furi o shite imashita.

Suru to mukou no fuchi no kishi de wa, shimo no koufu o shite ita shousuke ga, shibaraku achikochi mimawashite kara, ikinari agura o kaite, jari no ue e suwatte shimaimashita. Sore kara yukkuri, koshi kara tabakoire o totte, kiseru o kuwaete, pakupaku kemuri o fukidashimashita. Kitai da to omotte imashitara, mata harakake kara, nani ka dashimashita.

"Happa da zo, happa da zo."to minna sakebimashita. Ichirou wa, te o futte sore o tomemashita. Shousuke wa, kiseru no hi o, shizuka ni sore e utsushimashita. Ushiro ni ita hitori wa, sugu mizu ni haitte, ami o kamaemashita. Shousuke wa, marude ochitsuite, tatte hitoashi mizu ni hairu to, sugu sono motta mono o, saikachi no ki no shita no tokoro e nagekomimashita. Suru to mamonaku, boo to iu you na hidoi oto ga shite, mizu wa mukutto moriagari, sore kara shibaraku, sokora atari ga kiin to narimashita. Mukou no otonatachi wa, minna mizu e hairimashita.

"Saa, nagarete kuru zo. Minna tore." to Ichirou ga iimashita. Mamonaku, Kousuke wa koyubi gurai no chairo na kajika ga, yokomuki ni natte nagarete kita no o tsukamimashitashi sono ushiro de wa Kasuke ga, marude uri o susuru toki no you na koe o dashimashita. Sore wa rokusun gurai aru funa o totte, kao o makka ni shite yorokonde ita no desu. Sore kara minna totte waawaa yorokobimashita.

"Damattero, damattero." Ichirou ga iimashita.

Sono toki, mukou no shiroi kawara o, hadanugi ni nattari, shatsu dake kitari shita otona ga, go､rokunin kakete kimashita. Sono ushiro kara wa, choudo katsudou shashin no you ni, hitori no amishatsu o kita hito ga, hadakauma ni notte, masshigura ni hashitte kimashita. Minna happa no oto o kiite, mini kita no desu.

Shousuke wa, shibaraku ude o kunde minna no toru no o mite imashita ga,

"Sappari inai na." to iimashita. Suru to Matasaburou ga itsu no ma ni ka shousuke no soba e itte imashita.

Soshite chuugurai no funa o nihiki "Sakana kaesu yo." to itte kawara e nageru you ni okimashita. Suru to shousuke ga,

"Nan da kono warasu a, kitanai yadu da na." to iinagara jirojiro Matasaburou o mimashita.

Matasaburou wa damatte kocchi e kaette kimashita. Shousuke wa hen na kao o shite mite imasu. Minna wa dotto waraimashita.

Shousuke wa damatte, mata kami e arukidashimashita. Hoka no otonatachi mo tsuite iki amishatsu no hito wa, uma ni notte, mata kakete ikimashita. Kousuke ga oyoide itte Saburou no oite kita sakana o motte kimashita. Minna wa soko de mata waraimashita.

"Happa kakedara, zako makase." Kasuke ga, kawara no sunappa no ue de, pyonpyon hane nagara, takaku sakebimashita.

Minna wa, totta sakana o, ishi de kakonde chiisana ikesu o koshiraete, ikikaette mo, mou nigete ikanai you ni shite, mata kami no saikachi no ki e nobori hajimemashita. Hontou ni atsuku natte, nemunoki mo marude natsu no you ni guttari miemashitashi, sora mo marude, sokonashi no fuchi no you ni narimashita.

Sono koro dareka ga,

"A, ikesu, bukkowasu toko da zo." to sakebimashita. Miru to, hitori no hen ni hana no togatta, youfuku o kite waraji o haita hito ga, te ni wa sutekki mitai na mono o motte, minna no sakana o, guchagucha kakimawashite iru no deshita.

"A, aidu senbaikyoku da zo. Senbaikyoku da zo." Satarou ga iimashita.

"Matasaburou, una no totta tabako no ha mekkedan da zo. Una, tsuredegusa kita zo." Kasuke ga iimashita.

"Nan dai. Kowaku nai ya." Matasaburou wa kitto kuchi o kande iimashita.

"Minna Matasaburou no goto kakondero kakondero." to Ichirou ga iimashita.

Soko de minna wa Matasaburou o saikachi no ki no ichiban naka no eda ni oite mawari no eda ni sukkari koshikakemashita.

Sono otoko wa kocchi e bichabicha kishi o aruite kimashita.

"Kitakita kitakita kita'." to minna wa iki o koroshimashita. Tokoro ga sono otoko wa, betsu ni Matasaburou o tsukamaeru fuu de mo naku minna no mae o toorikoshite sore kara fuchi no sugu kami no asase o watarou to shimashita. Sore mo sugu ni kawa o wataru de mo naku, ika ni mo waraji ya kyahan no kitanaku natta no o, sonomama arau to iu fuu ni, mou nanben mo ittari kitari suru mon desu kara, minna wa dandan kowaku naku narimashita ga sono kawari kimochi ga waruku natte kimashita. Soko de, toutou, Ichirou ga iimashita.

"O, ore saki ni sakebu kara, minna ato kara, ichi ni san de sakebu koda. Iika.

Anmari kawa o nigosuna yo,

Itsu de mo sensei iu de nai ka. Ichi, nii, san．"

"Anmari kawa o nigosuna yo,

Itsu de mo sensei iu de nai ka."

Sono hito wa, bikkuri shite kocchi o mimashita keredo mo, nani o itta no ka, yoku wakaranai to iu yousu deshita. Soko de minna wa mata iimashita.

"Anmari kawa o nigosuna yo,

Itsu de mo sensei, iu de nai ka."

Hana no togatta hito wa, supasupa to, tabako o suu toki no you na kuchitsuki de iimashita.

"Kono mizu nomu no ka, kokora de wa."

"Anmari kawa o nigosuna yo,

Itsu de mo sensei iu de nai ka."

Hana no togatta hito wa, sukoshi komatta you ni shite, mata iimashita.

"Kawa o aruite warui no ka."

"Anmari kawa o nigosuna yo,

Itsu de mo sensei iu de nai ka."

Sono hito wa, awateta no o gomakasu you ni, waza to yukkuri, kawa o watatte, sore kara, arupusu no tanken mitai na shisei o tori nagara, aoi nendo to akajari no gake o naname ni nobotte, gake no ue no tabako batake e haitte shimaimashita.

Suru to Matasaburou wa,

"Nan dai boku o tsure ni kitanja nai ya." to iinagara massaki ni dobun to fuchi e tobikomimashita.

Minna mo nan da ka sono otoko mo Matasaburou mo kinodoku na you na, okashina garan to shita kimochi ni nari nagara, hitori zutsu ki kara haneorite, kawara ni oyogitsuite, sakana o tenugui ni tsutsundari, te ni mottari shite, uchi ni kaerimashita.

Tsugi no asa jugyou no mae minna ga undoujou de tetsubou ni burasagattari boukakushi o shitari shite imasu to, sukoshi okurete Satarou ga nani ka o ireta zaru o sotto kakaete yatte kimashita.

"Nan da. Nan da. Nan da." to sugu minna hashitte itte nozoki komimashita. Suru to Satarou wa sode de sore o kakusu you ni shite isoide gakkou no ura no iwaana no tokoro e ikimashita. Minna wa iyoiyo ato o otte ikimashita. Ichirou ga sore o nozoku to omowazu kaoiro o kaemashita. Sore wa sakana no dokumomi ni tsukau sanshou no kona de, sore o tsukau to happa to onaji you ni junsa ni osaerareru no deshita. Tokoro ga Satarou wa sore o iwaana no yoko no kaya no naka e kakushite, shiranai kao o shite undoujou e kaerimashita.

Soko de minna wa hisohiso jikan ni naru made hisohiso sono hanashi bakari shite imashita.

Sono hi mo juuji goro kara yappari kinou no you ni atsuku narimashita. Minna wa mou jugyou no sumu no bakari matte imashita. Niji ni natte gojikanme ga owaru to, mou minna ichimokusan ni tobidashimashita. Satarou mo mata, zaru o sotto sode de kakushite Kousuke da no minna ni kakomarete kawara e ikimashita. Matasaburou wa Kasuke to ikimashita. Minna wa machi no matsuri no toki no gasu no you na nioi no mutto suru, nemu no kawara o isoide nukete, itsumo no saikachibuchi ni tsukimashita.

sukkari natsu no you na rippa na kumo no mine ga, higashi de mukumuku moriagari, saikachi no ki wa aoku hikatte miemashita.

Minna isoide kimono o nuide, fuchi no kishi ni tatsu to, Satarou ga Ichirou no kao o minagara iimashita.

"Chanto ichiretsu ni narabe. Ii ka. Sakana uite kitara, oyoide itte tore. Totta kurai yaru zo. Ii ka."

Chiisana kodomora wa, yorokonde kao o akaku shite, oshiattari shinagara, zorotto fuchi o kakomimashita. Pekichi da no san､yonin wa, mou oyoide, saikachi no ki no shita made itte matte imashita.

Satarou, ooibari de, kami no se ni itte zaru o jabujabu mizu de araimashita. Minna shiin to shite, mizu o mitsumete tatte imashita.

Matasaburou wa mizu o minai de, mukou no kumo no mine no ue o tooru kuroi tori o mite imashita. Ichirou mo kawara ni suwatte ishi o kochikochi tataite imashita. Tokoro ga sore kara yohodo tattemo, sakana wa uite kimasen deshita.

Satarou wa taihen majime na kao de, kichin to tatte mizu o mite imashita. Kinou happa o kaketa toki nara, mou juu piki mo totte ita n da to, minna wa omoimashita. Mata zuibun shibaraku minna shiin to shite machimashita. Keredo mo yappari, sakana wa ippiki mo uite kimasen deshita.

"Sappari sakana, ukabanai na." Kousuke ga sakebimashita. Satarou wa biku' to shimashita keredo mo, mada isshin ni mizu o mite imashita.

"Sakana sappari ukabanai na." Pekichi ga, mata mukou no ki no shita de iimashita. Suruto mou minna wa, gayagaya iidashite, minna mizu ni tobikonde shimaimashita.

Satarou wa, shibaraku kimari waru sou ni, shagande mizu o mite imashita kere do, toutou tatte,

"Onikko shinai ka." to itta.

"Suru, suru." Minna wa sakende, janken o suru tame ni, mizu no naka kara te o dashimashita.

oyoide ita mono wa, isoide sei no tatsu tokoro made itte te o dashimashita. Ichirou mo kawara kara kite te o dashimashita. Soshite Ichirou wa, hajime ni, kinou ano hen na hana no togatta hito no nobotte itta gake no shita no, aoi nurunuru shita nendo no tokoro o nekko ni kimemashita. Soko ni toritsuite ireba, oni wa osaeru koto ga dekinai to iu no deshita. Sore kara, hasami nashi no hitori makekachi de, janken o shimashita. Tokoro ga, etsuji wa hitori hasami o dashita no de, minna ni unto hayasareta hoka ni oni ni natta. Etsujiwa, kuchibiru o murasaki iro ni shite, kawara o hashitte, kisaku o osaeta no de, oni wa futari ni narimashita. Sore kara minna wa, sunappa no ue ya fuchi o, acchi e ittari, kocchi e kitari, osaetari osaeraretari, nanben mo onikko o shimashita.

Shimai ni toutou, Matasaburou hitori ga oni ni narimashita. Matasaburou wa mamonaku kIchirou o tsukamaemashita. Minna wa, saikachi no ki no shita ni ite sore o mite imashita. Suru to Matasaburou ga, "KIchirou kun, kimi wa kami kara otte kuru n da yo, ii ka." to iinagara, jibun wa damatte tatte mite imashita. KIchirou wa, kuchi o aite te o hirogete, kami kara nendo no ue o otte kimashita. Minna wa fuchi e tobikomu shitaku o shimashita. Ichirou wa yanagi no ki ni noborimashita. Sono toki kIchirou ga, ano kami no nendo ga, ashi ni tsuite ita tame ni minna no mae de subette koronde shimaimashita. Minna wa, waa waa saken de, kIchirou o hanekoe tari, mizu ni haittari shite, kami no aoi nendo no ne ni agatte shimaimashita.

"Matasaburou, ko." Kasuke wa tatte, kuchi o ookiku aite, te o hirogete, Matasaburou o baka ni shimashita. Suru to Matasaburou wa, sakki kara yoppodo okotte ita to miete,

"Youshi, mite iro yo." to iinagara, honki ni natte, zabun to mizu ni tobikonde, isshou kenmei, socchi no hou e oyoide ikimashita.

Matasaburou no kaminoke ga akakute bashabasha shite iru no ni anmari nagaku mizu ni tsukatte kuchibiru mo sukoshi murasaki iro nano de, kodomora wa sukkari kowagatte shimaimashita. Dai ichi, sono nendo no tokoro wa semakute, minna ga hairenakatta no ni taihen tsurutsuru suberu saka ni natte imashita kara, shita no hou no shi､ gonin nado wa, ue no hito ni tsukamaru you ni shite, yatto kawa e suberi ochiru no o fuseide ita no deshita. Ichirou dake ga, ichiban ue ochitsuite, saa, minna, toka nantoka soudan rashii koto o hajimemashita. Minna mo soko de, atama o atsumete kiite imasu. Mata Saburou wa, bochabocha, mou chikaku made ikimashita. Minna wa, hisohiso hanashite imasu. Suru to Matasaburou wa, ikinari ryoute de, minna e mizu o kakedashimashita. Minna ga batabata fuseide imashitara, dandan nendo ga subette kite, nan da ka sukoushi shita e zureta you ni narimashita. Matasaburou wa yorokonde, iyoiyo mizu o hanetobashimashita. Suru to minna wa, bochan bochan to ichido ni mizu ni subette ochimashita. Matasaburou wa, sore o katappashi kara tsukamaemashita. Ichirou mo tsukamarimashita. Kasuke ga hitori, ue o mawatte oyoide nigemashitara, Matasaburou wa sugu ni oitsuite, osaeta hoka ni, ude o tsukande, shi､ gohen guruguru hippari mawashimashita. Kasuke wa, mizu o nonda to miete, kiri o fuite, gohogoho musete,

"Oira mou yameta. Konna onikko mou shinai." to iimashita. Chiisana kodomora wa minna jari ni agatte shimaimashita. Mata Saburou wa, hitori saikachi no ki no shita ni tachimashita.

Tokoro ga, sono toki wa mou, sora ga ippai no kuroi kumo de, yanagi mo hen ni shiroppoku nari, yama no kusa wa shinshin to kuraku nari sokora wa nan to mo iwarenai, osoroshii keshiki ni kawatte imashita.

Sono uchi ni, ikinari ue no nohara no atari de, gorogorogoro to kaminari ga naridashimashita. To omou to, marude yamatsunami no you na oto ga shite, ippen ni yuudachi ga yatte kimashita. Kaze made hyuuhyuu fukidashimashita. Fuchi no mizu ni wa, ookina buchibuchi ga takusan dekite, mizu da ka ishi da ka wakaranaku natte shimaimashita. Minna wa kawaraka ra kimono o kakaete, nemunoki no shita e nigekomimashita. Suruto Matasaburou mo nan da ka hajimete kowaku natta to miete saikachi no ki no shita kara dobon to mizu e haitte minna no hou e oyogi dashimashita. Suru to dare to mo naku,

"Ame wa zakko zakko Amesaburou

Kaze wa dokko dokko Matasaburou"

To sakenda mono ga arimashita. Minna mo sugu koe o soroete sakebimashita.

"Ame wa zakko zakko Amesaburou

Kaze wa dokkodokko Matasaburou"

Suruto Matasaburou wa marude awatete, nani ka ni ashi o hipparareru you ni fuchi kara tobiagatte ichimokusan ni minna no tokoro ni hashitte kite gatagata furue nagara,

"Ima sakenda no wa omaera dachi kai." to kikimashita.

"Sode nai, sode nai." Minna wa issho ni sakebimashita. Pekichi ga mata hitori dete kite,

"Sode nai." to iimashita. Matasaburou wa, kimiwaru sou ni kawa no hou o mimashita ga iro no aseta kuchibiru o itsumono you ni kitto kande,

"Nandai." to iimashita ga, karada wa yahari gakugaku furutte imashita.

Soshite minna wa ame no harema o matte meimei no uchi e kaetta no desu.

"Doddodo dodoudo dodoudo dodou

Aoi kurumi mo fukitobase

Suppai karin mo fukitobase

Doddodo dodoudo dodoudo dodou

Doddodo dodoudo dodoudo dodou"

Senkoro(sakigoro) Matasaburou kara kiita bakari no ano uta o Ichirou wa yume no naka de mata kiita no desu.

Bikkuri shite haneokite miru to soto de wa hontou ni hidoku kaze ga fuite hayashi wa marude hoeru you, akegata chikaku no aoguroi, usuakari ga shouji ya tana no ue no chouchin bako ya iejuu ippai deshita. Ichirou wa subayaku obi o shite soshite geta o haite doma o ori umaya no mae o tootte kuguri o akemashitara kaze ga tsumetai ame no tsubu to issho ni doutto haitte kimashita.

Umaya no ushiro no hou de nani ka to ga batatto taore uma wa bururutto hana o narashimashita. Ichirou wa kaze ga mune no soko made shimikonda you ni omotte haa to tsuyoku iki o hakimashita. Soshite soto e kakedashimashita. Soto wa mou yohodo akaruku tsuchi wa nurete orimashita. Ie no mae no kuri no ki no retsu wa hen ni aoku shiroku miete sore ga marude kaze to hageshiku momarete imashita. Aoi ha mo ikumai mo fukitobasare, chigirareta aoi kuri no iga wa kuroi jimen ni takusan ochite imashita. Sora de wa kumo ga kewashii haiiro ni hikari dondon dondon kita no hou e fukitobasarete imashita. Tooku no hou no hayashi wa marude umi ga arete iru you ni goton goton to natta kiri zatto kikoe tari suru no deshita. Ichirou wa kao ippai ni tsumetai ame no tsubu o nagetsukerare kaze ni kimono o motte ikare sou ni narinagara damatte sono oto o kikisumashi jitto sora o miagemashita.

Suruto mune ga sarasara to nami o tateru you ni omoimashita. Keredo mo mata jitto sono natte hoete unatte kakete iku kaze o mite imasu to kondo wa mune ga dokadoka natte kuru no deshita. Kinou made oka ya nohara no sora no soko ni sumikitte shin to shite ita kaze ga, kesa yoakegata niwaka ni issei ni kou ugokidashite dondon dondon tasukarora kaishou no kita no haji o megakete iku koto o kangaemasu to mou Ichirou wa kao ga hoteri iki mo haa, haa, natte jibun made ga issho ni sora o kakete iku you na kimochi ni natte mune o ippai hatte iki o futto fukimashita.

"Aa, hide kaze da. Kyou wa tabako mo awa mo sukkari yaraeru." to Ichirou no ojiisan ga kuguri no tokoro ni tatte jitto sora o mite imasu. Ichirou wa isoide ido kara baketsu ni mizu o ippai kunde daidokoro o gungun fukimashita. Sore kara kanadarai o dashite kao o buruburu arau to todana kara tsumetai gohan to miso o dashite marude muchuu de zakuzaku tabemashita.

"Ichirou, ima otsuke dekiru kara sukoshi matte dara yo. Nashite kesa sotta ni hayaku gakkou e yuganai ya nai ga be."

Okaasan wa uma ni yaru ??? o niru kamado ni ki o ire nagara kikimashita.

"Un. Matasaburou wa tondetta ga mo shirenai mo ya."

"Matasaburou' te nanda te ya. Tori ko date ga (tori nano kai)."

"Un Matasaburou' te iu yadu yo." Ichirou wa isoide gohan o shimau to, wan o kochikochi aratte, sore kara daidokoro no kugi ni kakete aru aburagappa o kite, geta wa motte hadashi de Kasuke o sasoi ni ikimashita. Kasuke wa mada okita bakari de,

"Ima gohan tabete yugu ga ra." to iimashita no de Ichirou wa shibaraku umaya no mae de matte imashita.

Mamonaku Kasuke wa chiisai mino o kite dete kimashita.

Hageshii kaze to ame ni gushonure ni nari nagara futari wa yatto gakkou e kimashita. Shoukou guchi kara haitte ikimasu to kyoushitsu wa mada shiin to shite imashita ga tokorodokoro no kaze no sukima kara ame ga ita ni haitte ita wa marude zabuzabu shite imashita. Ichirou wa shibaraku kyoushitsu o mimawashite kara, "Kasuke, futari shite mizu hagu be na." to itte shurobouki o motte kite mizu o mado no shita no ana e hakiyosete imashita.

Suru to mou dare ka kita no ka to iu you ni oku kara sensei ga dete kimashita ga fushigi na koto wa sensei ga atari mae no hitoe o kite akai uchiwa o motte iru no desu.

"Taihen hayai desu ne. Anatagata futari de kyoushitsu no souji o shite iru no desu ka." sensei ga kikimashita.

"Sensei ohayou gozaimasu." Ichirou ga iimashita.

"Sensei ohayou gozaimasu." Kasuke mo iimashita ga, sugu,

"Sensei, Matasaburou kyou kuru no su ka." to kikimashita.

Sensei wa chotto kangaete,

"Matasaburou' te takada san desu ka. Ee, takada san wa kinou otousan to issho ni mou hoka e yukimashita. Nichiyou nano de minasan ni goaisatsu suru hima ga nakatta no desu."

"Sensei tonde itta no su ka." Kasuke ga kikimashita.

"Iie, otousan ga kaisha kara denpou de yobareta no desu. Otousan wa moichido chotto kocchi e modorareru sou desu ga takada san wa yappari mukou no gakkou ni hairu no da sou desu. Mukou ni wa okaasan mo orareru no desu kara."

"Nashite kaisha de yobatta be su." Ichirou ga kikimashita.

"Koko no moribuden no koumyaku wa toubun te o tsukenai koto ni natta tame na sou desu."

"Sou da nai na. Yappari aidu wa kaze no Matasaburou datta na."

Kasuke ga takaku sakebimashita. Shukuchokushitsu no hou de nani ka gotogoto naru oto ga shimashita. Sensei wa akai uchiwa o motte isoide socchi e ikimashita.

Futari wa shibaraku damatta mama aite ga hontou ni dou omotte iru ka saguru you ni kao o miawaseta mama tachimashita.

Kaze wa mada yamazu, madogarasu wa amatsubu no tame ni kumori nagara mada gatagata narimashita.

(2007.4.21)