THE APPEARANCE OF O'IWA SAN
Shouldering his pack Densuké made off down the broad space lined by the
white walls of the _yashiki_. In this quarter of the _bushi_ the highway
was not crowded with citizens and their lanterns. Densuké had high hopes
of an early disposition of the incubus. He approached the ditch which
protected the wall of the _yashiki_ of Prince Kuroda. When about to put
down the bundle a hail reached him from the _samurai_ on guard at the
Kuroda gate. "Heigh there, rascal! Wait!" But Densuké did not wait. In
terror he gave the load a shift on his shoulder and started off almost
at a run. On doing so there was a movement within. The cold sweat stood
out on the unhappy man's forehead. A moment, and would the teeth of
Jusuké be fastened in his shoulder? "Ah! Jusuké San! Good neighbour!
This Densuké is but the wretched agent. 'Tis Daihachiro[u] Sama who
killed Jusuké. Deign to pursue and haunt Takahashi Sama. Jusuké San!
Jusuké San!" Fright gave him strength and boldness. The Tora no Mon
(Tiger gate) of the castle should be the place of disposal. Here the
ditch was deep and dark. But to its very edge swarmed the people with
their lanterns on this night of festival in early summer. The moor of
Kubomachi was his next goal. At this period it really was open ground.
With a sigh of relief Densuké let the bundle slip from his now weary
shoulders. Alive he would have laughed at the idea of carrying the
portly Jusuké. Yet here the usurer bestrode him, far heavier weight than
on other unfortunate clients. "Let's have a look at him; address him
face to face." His hand was on the knot, when a woman's voice spoke in
his ear. Densuké did not wait to ascertain the nature of her
solicitation. He sped away into the darkness, toward the distant city.
Without goal, he found himself at Shiodomé.[9] Crossing the Shimbashi he
entered on the crowded and lighted Owaricho[u]. It was only the hour of
the pig (9 P.M.), and the house lanterns as yet burned brightly. He
hesitated, with the idea of turning toward Shiba, of trying his luck in
this still rustic district; or on the seashore, not far off.
A man close by greeted him. "Iya! Densuké San at last is found. The
honoured wife suffers great anxiety. Thinking that the festival might be
the attraction this Goémon set out to find you. Deign to hasten at once
to Goro[u]beicho[u]." Densuké shifted his burden away from the man. Did
it not already somewhat taint the air? His nostrils were wide open in
alarmed inquiry. He made excuses. With his heavy pack he would follow
after slowly. He was overwhelmed by his neighbour's kindness. Goémon
offered to share the work. Densuké did more than refuse. Unable to shake
off his companion in stolid desperation he took his way to his home in
the tenement (_nagaya_). "Tadaima" (just now--present), he called from
the doorway. Entering the shabby room he put down the _furoshiki_ in a
distant corner. Going to the Butsudan, or house altar, at once he lit
the lamps. O'Mino eyed him with astonishment. "What's that?" she asked,
pointing to the bundle--"Washing of Daihachiro[u] Sama"--"But Mino is
ill. So situated she cannot do washing. How negligent!"--"It makes no
matter," replied Densuké recklessly. O'Mino did not like the tone of his
voice. She eyed him sharply. Then more pressing matters urged. "Weary as
you are it is to be regretted; but money must be in hand, for the
midwife and other expenses. A few hours, and this Mino will be unable to
leave her bed--for three turns (weeks). There is cooking and washing to
be done. Please go to Kyu[u]bei San and ask the loan of a _ryo[u]_.
Perhaps he will give half."--"He will give nothing," was the surly reply
of Densuké. "Of loans he has grown tired of late. As the uncle is the
only stay in dire necessity care must be taken not to offend. Moreover,
the loan is unnecessary. Here are three _ryo[u]_." He brought out the
shining oblong pieces. O'Mino's eyes were bright with terror. "Ah! Has
Densuké turned thief? How was this money secured? What has happened? Why
so late in returning?" But Densuké was made confident and ready of
tongue by the physical helplessness of O'Mino. "Don't be alarmed.
Densuké is neither thief nor murderer. He is no Shirai Gompachi. Perhaps
there is a corpse within, not washing. Would the Ojo[u]san see a head,
arms, legs, freshly severed?" He laughed harshly as she turned her head
from him to the bundle, then back again. "This money was given to
Densuké by Takahashi Sama; in return for faithful service in an
important matter. Don't be frightened. It has been honestly earned."
Said O'Mino, almost to herself--"But Daihachiro[u] Sama is not one to
give such a sum as three _ryo[u]_. He is always in debt. The wife of
Jusuké San complains of his delays with her husband. However...."
Confidence restored, she bade Densuké put the money in the drawer of the
toilet stand. Then he was to prepare some food; for themselves, and for
the neighbours ready to assist at the expected birth.
Densuké did so, his eyes shifting from O'Mino to the stove, from the
stove to the deadly bundle. Finally he removed the _furoshiki_ to their
outer room, mumbling some excuse as to the foulness of a buck-basket. He
returned to his cooking. Barely tasting some food O'Mino soon was sound
asleep. Densuké observed her. "Ugly, rich, a very _O'Baké_ in appearance
is the Ojo[u]san; and yet she takes as husband a spiritless creature,
such as is this Densuké. Is it good or bad fortune? How grateful would
be her advice." He went to bed himself in the outer room; to spend a
hideous night of nightmare in company with the dead Jusuké, who now did
taint the air with that indefinable pollution of even the freshest
corpse. Wild visions floated through the brain of Densuké. The
neighbours would assemble. The food was ready. Ah! Here comes the wife
of Jusuké San. She demands her husband. A moment, and Densuké was
stealing from the house entrance into the darkness. The river? Ah! That
was it. The canal of Hacho[u]bori was close at hand to Jusuké's own
home. It would float him to his very door. Densuké soon saw himself at
the river bank. No one was at hand. Splash! In went the foul burden.
There it was again. But now it was Jusuké in person. "Jusuké San! Jusuké
San! Pardon! 'Twas not this Densuké who killed you. Seek vengeance of
Daihachiro[u] Sama. He is the murderer." In his terror he lost all fear
of being heard. He shouted at the top of his lungs. But Jusuké laid a
heavy hand on him. With one long drawn out groan Densuké--awoke.
O'Mino was leaning close over him, her face spectre-like with pain.
Seeing that he was awake she took away her hand. "What is the matter
with you? All night you have been shouting and mumbling in sleep. Just
now it was 'Jusuké San! Jusuké San! Daihachiro[u] Sama!' It is indeed a
matter of Jusuké San. The time of Mino is at hand; the pains begin. Go
at once to the house of Jusuké, and ask his wife O'Yoshi to condescend
her aid." Densuké sprang up. An idea flashed into his mind. He would go
to Hacho[u]bori and make full confession. Which was the most important?
O'Yoshi as confessor or as midwife? With his brain thus puzzled over an
answer he started off. His last injunction to O'Mino was--"by no means
meddle with the bundle of Daihachiro[u] Sama." There could have been no
more direct invitation to her to do so. For a short time O'Mino did
nothing but eye the strange bundle. Then she was on her knees before it,
examining it. "Rain coats as wrapping! And tied with rope: a queer kind
of washing. What a strange odour! Pickled _daikon_ (_nukamisozuké_)?"
She shook it. Something inside went _gotsu-gotsu_. This was too much for
her curiosity. Her old suspicion came back, that Densuké had turned
robber. She poked a little hole in the straw wrapping. Some kind of
cloth covering was within; a _kimono_ without doubt. Through its tissue
something shone white. The kitchen knife was close at hand on the
brazier (_hibachi_). She reached out, and in a moment the rope was
severed. "Oya! Oya!" Out rolled a head. An arm, two helpless flexible
legs were extended before her. With a scream of horror O'Mino fell flat
on her back. Lying stretched out she uttered one sharp cry after
another. The neighbouring wives came hurrying in, a stream of humanity.
"What is wrong? A young wife screams not without cause. Oya! Oya! O'Mino
San has given birth to a baby and a head. Iya! Head, limbs, body--a
monstrous parturition!" With the woman groaning in the pain of her
delivery, the wives in confusion, children flying to summon the men
folk, the whole district was in an uproar. In the midst of the confusion
arrived Densuké and the wife of Jusuké. As yet he had not found courage
to confess. He was still "deciding." A neighbour greeted him--"Densuké
San! Strange things have happened to O'Mino San. She has given birth to
a head and a baby at the same time. Hasten, Densuké San! Hasten!"
Densuké did hasten; but it was to disappear down the nearest byway in
headlong flight. Amazed and confounded the wife of Jusuké proceeded
alone to the house; as the first thing to set eyes on the head of her
husband, eyes still open and glaring in death. With a cry she
precipitated herself upon it; took it in her arms. The midwife, summoned
in haste, parted infant from mother. Thus did O'Iwa San come forth into
the world.
The affair was grave. The _kenshi_ (coroner) was soon on the scene.
O'Mino with feeble voice told what she knew. "Deign to examine into the
affair beyond the surface. My husband Densuké is not the man to commit
this crime. Ask the neighbours, who know him. Last night he brought
three _ryo[u]_, given him by Takahashi Daihachiro[u] Sama, the Sakuji
Machibugyo[u] of Geishu[u] Ko[u]. He said that it was for important
service rendered. There is no doubt that Takahashi San is the murderer.
Deign to examine well; show benevolence.... Ah! This Mino shall have
vengeance. For seven lives Daihachiro[u] shall be pursued...." Her eyes
became injected with blood. Her breast heaved painfully in the attempt
to get air. The women around her gave cries of alarm. O'Mino sank back
in a pool of blood. She had died in the midst of her curse. Said one
present--"This To[u]kichi would not be the honoured Sakuji Sama; nay,
not for the full seven existences in human form." The others felt as he
did. Even the _kenshi_ drew up his shoulders a little at the frightful
mask of the dead woman's face. He could learn but little. Kyu[u]bei,
soon at hand, petitioned for the dead body of O'Mino and the custody of
the infant. The neighbours corroborated the story of O'Mino; but Densuké
had disappeared. Daihachiro[u] never had confidence in his agent. His
preparations for flight had been made before Densuké's discovery, and
almost together with Densuké he had passed out the gate of Geishu[u]
Sama, with the seventy _ryo[u]_ provided by Jusuké. Report being made to
the Machibugyo[u] a "grass dividing" search was made, without result. No
trace of either man was found. As for the child born under these
auspicious conditions, Kyu[u]bei went at once to Tamiya Matazaémon and
made report. With bowed head the old man awaited the decision. Said
Matazaémon--"The name giving is to take place on the seventh night.
Kyu[u]bei will not fail to be present." He did not speak further. Thus
the offence of the parents was pardoned in O'Iwa the infant; the
grandchild of a man and woman passing the period of middle age.[10]