Tsumetai iji no warui kumo ga, jibeta ni suresure ni taremashita no de, nohara wa yuki no akari da ka, hi no akari da ka wakaranai you ni narimashita.

Karasu no giyuu kantai wa, sono kumo ni oshitsukerarete, shikata naku chotto no aida, totan no ita o hirogeta you na yuki no tanbo no ue ni yoko ni narande kahaku to iu koto o yarimashita.

Dono fune mo sukoshi mo ugokimasen.

Makkuroku nameraka na karasu no taii, wakai kantaichou mo shan to tatta mama ugokimasen.

Karasu no daikantoku wa naosara ugoki mo yuragi mo itashimasen. Karasu no daikantoku wa, mou zuibun no toshiyori desu. Me ga haiiro ni natte shimatte imasu shi, naku to marude warui ningyou no you ni giigii iimasu.

Sore desu kara, karasu no toshi o miwakeru hou o shiranai hitori no kodomo ga, itsu ka kou itta no deshita.

"Oi, kono machi ni wa nodo no kowareta karasu ga nihiki iru n da yo. Oi."

Kore wa tashika ni machigai de, ippiki shika orimasen deshita shi, sore mo kesshite nodo ga kowareta no de wa naku, anmari nagai aida, sora de gourei shita tame ni, sukkari koe ga sabita no desu. Sore desu kara karasu no giyuu kantai wa, sono koe o arayuru oto no naka de ittou da to omotte imashita.

Yuki no ue ni, kahaku to iu koto o yatte iru karasu no kantai wa, ishikoro no you desu. Gomatsubu no you desu. Mata bouenkyou de yoku miru to, ookina no ya chiisana no ga atte bareisho no you desu.

Shikashi dandan yuugata ni narimashita.

Kumo ga yatto sukoshi ue no hou ni noborimashita no de, tonikaku karasu no tobu kurai no sukima ga dekimashita.

Soko de daikantoku ga iki o kirashite gourei o kakemasu.

"Enshuu hajimei oi', shuppatsu."

Kantaichou karasu no taii ga, massaki ni patto yuki o tatakitsukete tobiagarimashita. Karasu no taii no buka ga juuhachiseki, junjun ni tobiagatte taii ni tsuduite kichin to kankaku o totte susumimashita.

Sore kara sentou kantai ga sanjuuseki, tsugitsugi ni shuppatsu shi, sono tsugi ni daikantoku no daikanchou ga ogosoka ni maiagarimashita.

Sono toki wa mou massaki no karasu no taii wa, yonhen hodo sora de uzu o maite shimatte kumo no hanappashi made itte, soko kara kondo wa massugu ni mukou no mori ni susumu tokoro deshita.

Nijuukyuusekino jun'youkan, nijuugo-seki no houkan ga, dandan dandan tobi agarimashita. Oshimai no niseki wa, issho ni shuppatsu shimashita. Kokora ga dou mo karasu no guntai no fukiritsu na tokoro desu.

Karasu no taii wa, mori no sugu chikaku made itte, hidari ni magarimashita.

Sono toki karasu no daikantoku ga, "Taihou ute'." to gourei shimashita.

Kantai wa issei ni, gaagaa gaagaa, taihou o uchimashita.

Taihou o utsu toki, kataashi o bun to ushiro e ageru fune wa, kono mae no nidanatora no sen'eki no fushouhei de, oto ga mada ashi no shinkei ni hibiku no desu.

Sate, sora o ookiku yonhen mawatta toki, daikantoku ga,

"Bunretsu, kaisan." to iinagara, retsu o hanarete sugi no ki no daikantoku kansha ni orimashita. Minna retsu o hogo shite jibun no eisha ni kaerimashita.

Karasu no taii wa, keredo mo, sugu ni jibun no eisha ni kaeranai de, hitori, nishi no hou no saikachi no ki ni ikimashita.

Kumo wa usuguroku, tada nishi no yama no ue dake nigotta mizuiro no ten no fuchi ga nozoite sokobikari shite imasu. Soko de karasu nakama de mashirii to yobu gin no hitotsuboshi ga hirameki hajimemashita.

Karasu no taisa wa, yano you ni saikachi no eda ni orimashita. Sono eda ni, sakki kara jitto tomatte, mono o anjite iru karasu ga arimasu.

sore wa ichiban koe no ii houkan de, karasu no taii no iinazuke deshita.

"Gaagaa, osoku natte shikkei. Kyou no enshuu de tsukare nai kai."

"Kaao, zuibun omachi shita wa. Ikkou tsukarenakute yo."

"Sou ka. Sore wa kekkou da. Shikashi ore wa kondo shibaraku omae to wakare nakereba narumai yo."

"Ara, dou shite, maa taihen da wa."

"Sentou kantai chou no hanashi de wa, ore wa ashita yamagarasu o oi ni yuku no da sou da."

"Maa, yamagarasu wa tsuyoi no deshou."

"Un, medama ga deshabatte, kuchibashi ga hosokute, chotto mikake wa erasou da yo. Shikashi wake nai yo."

"Hontou."

"Daijoubu sa. Shikashi mochiron sensou no koto da kara, dou iu hariai de donna koto ga aru ka mo wakaranai. Sono toki wa omae wa ne, ore to no yakusoku wa sukkari kieta n da kara, hoka e itte kure."

"Ara, dou shimashou. Maa, taihen da wa. Anmari hidoi wa, anmari hidoi wa. Sore de wa atashi, anmari hidoi wa, kaao, kaao, kaao, kaao."

"Nakuna, mittomo nai. Sora, dare ka kita."

Karasu no taii no buka, karasu no heisouchou ga isoide yatte kite, kubi o chotto yoko ni kashigete rei o shite iimashita.

"Gaa, kanchou dono, tenko no jikan de gozaimasu. Ichidou seiretsu shite orimasu."

"Yoroshii. Honkan wa sokkoku kitai suru. Omae wa saki ni kaette yoroshii."

"Shouchi itashimashita." Heisouchou wa tonde yukimasu.

"Saa, naku na. Ashita, moichido retsu no naka de aeru darou.

Joubu de iru n da zo. Oi, omae mo mou tenko darou, sugu kaeranakute wa ikan. Te o dase."

Nihiki wa shikkari te o nigirimashita. Taii wa sore kara eda o kette, isoide jibun no tai ni kaerimashita. Musume no karasu wa, mou eda ni koori tsuita you ni, jitto shite ugokimasen.

Yoru ni narimashita.

Sore kara yonaka ni narimashita.

Kumo ga sukkari kiete, atarashiku yakareta hagane no sora ni, tsumetai tsumetai hikari ga minagiri, chiisana hoshi ga ikutsu ka rengou shite bakuhatsu o yari, suisha no shinbou ga kiikii iimasu.

Toutou usui hagane no sora ni, pichiri to hibi ga haitte, mapputatsu ni hiraki, sono sakeme kara, ayashii nagai ude ga takusan burasagatte, karasu o tsukande sora no tenjou no mukougawa e motte ikou to shimasu. Karasu no giyuu kantai wa mou sougakari desu. Minna isoide kuroi momohiki o haite isshou kenmei chuu o kakemegurimasu. Aniki no karasu mo otouto o kabau hima ga naku, koibito doushi mo tabitabi hidoku buttsukari aimasu.

Iya, chigaimashita.

Sou ja arimasen.

Tsuki ga deta no desu. Aoi hishigeta hatsuka no tsuki ga, higashi no yama kara naite nobotte kita no desu. Soko de karasu no guntai wa mou sukkari anshin shite shimaimashita.

Tachimachi mori wa shizuka ni natte, tada obiete ashi o fumihazushita wakai suihei ga, bikkuri shite me o samashite, gaa to ippatsu, nebokegoe no taihou o utsu dake deshita.

Tokoro ga karasu no taii wa, me ga saete nemuremasen deshita.

"Ore wa ashita senshi suru no da." Taii wa tsubuyaki nagara, iinazuke no iru mori no hou ni atama o magemashita.

Sono konbu no you na kuroi nameraka na kozue no naka de wa, ano wakai koe no ii houkan ga, tsugi kara tsugi to iroiro na yume o mite iru no deshita.

Karasu no taii to tada futari, batabata hane o narashi, tabitabi kao o miawase nagara, aoguroi yoru no sora o, dokomade mo dokomade mo nobotte ikimashita. Mou majieru sama to yobu karasu no hokuto shichisei ga, ookiku chikaku natte, sono hitotsu no hoshi no naka ni haete iru aojiroi ringo no ki sae, ariari to mieru koto, dou shita wake ka futari tomo, kyuu ni hane ga ishi no you ni kowabatte, massakasama ni ochikakarimashita. Majieru sama to sakebi nagara odoroite me o samashimasu to, hontou ni karada ga eda kara ochikakatte imasu. Isoide hane o hiroge shisei o naoshi, taii no iru hou o mimashita ga, mata itsu ka utouto shimasu to, kondo wa yamagarasu ga hanamegane nado o kakete futari no mae ni yatte kite, taii ni akushu shiyou to shimasu. Taii ga, ikan ikan, to itte te o furimasu to, yamagarasu wa pikapika suru pisutoru o dashite ikinari zudon to taii o ikoroshi, taii wa nameraka na kuroi mune o hatte taore kakarimasu. Majieru sama to sakebi nagara mata odoroite me o samasu to iu anbai deshita.

Karasu no taii wa kochira de, sono shisei o naosu hane no oto kara, sono majieru o inoru koe made sukkari kiite orimashita.

Jibun mo mata tameiki o tsuite, sono utsukushii nanatsu no majieru no hoshi o aogi nagara, aa, ashita no tatakai de watakushi ga katsu koto ga ii no ka, yamagarasu ga katsu no ga ii no ka sore wa watakushi ni wakarimasen, tada anata no okangae no toori desu,

watakushi wa watakushi ni kimatta you ni chikara ippai tatakaimasu, minna minna anata no okangae no toori desu to shizuka ni inotte orimashita. Soshite higashi no sora ni wa hayaku mo sukoshi no gin no hikari ga waita no desu.

Futo tooi tsumetai kita no hou de, nani ka kagi de mo fureatta you na kasuka na ki ga shimashita. Karasu no taii wa naito gurasu(yakan sougankyou) o tebayaku totte, kitto socchi o mimashita. Hoshiakari no kochira no bon'yari shiroi touge no ue ni, ippon no kuri no ki ga miemashita.

sono kozue ni tomatte sora o miagete iru mono wa, tashika ni teki no yamagarasu desu. Taii no mune wa isamashiku odorimashita.

"Gaa, hijou shoushuu, gaa, hijou shoushuu."

Taii no buka wa tachimachi eda o ketatete tobiagari tai no mawari o kakemegurimasu.

"Tokkan." Karasu no taii wa sentou ni natte masshigura ni kita e susumimashita.

Mou higashi no sora wa atarashiku toida hagane no you na shirobikari desu.

Yamagarasu wa awatete eda o ketatemashita. Soshite ookiku hane o hirogete kita no hou e nigedasou to shimashita ga, mou sono toki wa kuchikukan tachi wa mawari o sukkari kakonde imashita.

"Gaa, gaa, gaa, gaa, gaa." taihou no oto wa mimi mo tsunbo ni nari sou desu. Yamagarasu wa shikata naku ashi o guragura shinagara ue no hou e tobiagarimashita. Taii wa tachimachi sore ni oitsuite, sono makkuro na atama ni surudoku hitotsuki kurawasemashita. Yamagarasu wa yoroyorotto natte jimen ni ochikakarimashita. Soko o heisouchou ga yoko kara mou hitotsuki yarimashita. Yamagarasu wa haiiro no mabuta o toji, akegata no touge no yuki no ue ni tsumetaku yokotawarimashita.

"Gaa, heisouchou. Sono shigai o eisha made motte kaeru you ni. Gaa. Hikiage'."

"Kashikomarimashita." Tsuyoi heisouchou wa sono shigai o sage, karasu no taii wa jibun no mori no hou ni tobihajime juuhasseki wa shitagaimashita.

Mori ni kaette karasu no kuchikukan wa, mina houhou shiroi iki o hakimashita.

"Kega wa nai ka. Dare ka kega shita mono wa nai ka." Karasu no taii wa minna o itawatte arukimashita.

Yoru ga sukkari akemashita.

Momo no shiru no you na hi no hikari wa, mazu yama no yuki ni ippai ni sosogi, sore kara dandan shita ni nagarete, tsuini wa sokora ichimen, yuki no naka ni shirayuri no hana o sakasemashita.

Giragira no taiyou ga, kanashii kurai hikatte, higashi no yuki no oka no ue ni kakarimashita.

"Kanpeishiki, youi', atsumarei." daikantoku ga sakebimashita.

"Kanpeishiki, youi', atsumarei." Kaku kantaichou ga sakebimashita.

Minna sukkari yuki no tanbo ni narabimashita.

Karasu no taii wa retsu kara hanarete, pikapika suru yuki no ue o, ashi o sukusuku nobashite massugu ni hashitte daikantoku no mae ni ikimashita.

"Houkoku, kyou akegata, sepira no touge no ue ni tekikan no teihaku o mitomemashita no de, hon kantai wa tadachi ni shutsudou, gekichin itashimashita. Waga gun shisha nashi. Houkoku owari'."

Kuchiku kantai wa mou anmari ureshikute, atsui namida o boroboro yuki no ue ni koboshimashita.

Karasu no daikantoku mo, haiiro no me kara namida o nagashite iimashita.

"Giigii, gokurou datta. Gokurou datta. Yoku yatta. Mou omae wa shousa ni natte mo ii darou. Omae no buka no jokun wa omae ni makaseru."

Karasu no atarashii shousa wa, onaka ga suite yama kara dete kite, ip９seki ni kakomarete korosareta, ano yamagarasu o omoidashite, atarashii namida o koboshimashita.

"Arigatou gozaimasu. Tsuite wa teki no shigai o houmuritai to omoimasu ga, oyurushi kudasaima shou ka."

"Yoroshii. Atsuku houmutte yare."

Karasu no atarashii shousa wa rei o shite daikantoku no mae o sagari, retsu ni modotte, ima majieru no hoshi no iru atari no aozora o aogimashita. (aa, majieru sama, douka nikumu koto no dekinai teki o korosanai de ii you ni hayaku kono sekai ga narimasu you ni, sono tame naraba, watakushi no karada nado wa, nanben hikisakarete mo kamaimasen.) Majieru no hoshi ga, choudo kite iru atari no aozora kara, aoi hikari ga uraura to wakimashita.

Utsukushiku makkuro na houkan no karasu wa, sono aidajuu, minna to issho ni, fudou no shisei o totte narabinagara, shijuu kirakira kirakira namida o koboshimashita. Houkanchou wa sore o minai furi shite imashita. Ashita kara, mata iinazuke to issho ni, enshuu ga dekiru no desu. Anmari ureshii no de, tabitabi kuchibashi o ookiku akete, makka ni nikkou ni sukasemashita ga, sore mo houkanchou wa yoko o muite minogashite imashita.

(2007.4.22)