 Section 8 of Namiko-Pairoka Tokutomi. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Abaii in December 2019. Book 2 Chapter 1. Home Life. The widow Kavashima, who was warming herself at the fireplace and looking over her shoulder at the clock, which had just struck 8, muttered, 8. They ought to be back by this time. She then reached slowly for a tobacco box with her fat hand, and, after puffing furiously, stopped and listened. Though near the suburbs, the street was noisy, with Kuruma going to and fro, as is always the case for the first few evenings after New Year's Day. The widow could hear, from a neighbouring house, the voices of the young people at their games, while occasional peels of laughter poured forth into the night. She grumbled impatiently. What is there funny about it? Tut! Then, thinking of Takeo, she exclaimed, It is always like this when they go to Akazaka, everyone forgets his business, Take, Nami, and everybody, young people nowadays can't be depended on. Just smuttering and trying to move a little, she touched a rheumatic spot. Ouch! She ejaculated, and, making a rye face, she wrapped the tobacco tray furiously in a fit of temper, and called out to the maid, sharply, Matsu! Matsu! Matsu! Just at this moment, too Kuruma pulled up at the gate, and a servant announced the arrival of the master. The maid came bustling in, clad in holiday attire, and asked politely the widow's pleasure, but was only scolded for her tardiness in answering the call. Upon this she withdrew in confusion. Immediately, a ringing voice was heard. Good evening, mother! Following just behind Takeo, who was still taking off his gloves and handing her coat and that of her husband to the maid, Nami entered quietly and said meekly, Good evening, mother! I'm sorry to be so late. Oh! So you have come back! You stayed quite long. Yes, answered Takeo. We went first to Kato's, and then they wanted to go with us to Akazaka. So, O Uncle, Aunt, Chizuko-san, Nami and I, just five in all, went together. They were very glad to see us at Akazaka, and, as there were other guests there, we enjoyed ourselves so much that we stayed longer than we expected. Feeling that his cheeks were red as a lobster, and drinking a cup of tea served by the maid, he said to himself, I'm a little tipsy, I'm afraid. Well, said the widow, is everybody well at Akazaka, Nami? Yes, they are all well. They wanted to be remembered to you, and told me to tell you they are sorry they have not had a chance to call. They also wished me to thank you very much for the fine present. Talking of the present Nami-san, where is—ah! here it is! Takeo took a tray from Nami's hands, and placed it before his mother. A pair of pheasants, some quail and snipes, were piled on the tray. Oh! Gainbirds! And so many! Mother, the general had such good sport the last time that he only returned on the evening of the thirty-first. They were just going to send them to us today. Tomorrow they expect a boar. A boar? Well, is it possible? Your father is only three years younger than I am, isn't he, Nami? He was a spirited man from his youth, and still seems to be so. I tell you, mother, he's so robust that he has passed three nights on the hills, without the least ill result to his health. He takes pride in thinking that he can still keep up with the young people. I should think he would. Anybody crippled as I am by rheumatism is not much use. There is no greater foe to man than sickness. But it is about nine o'clock. You had better change your clothes and go to rest. Oh! By the way, Take, Yasuhiko was here today. Takeo, who was about to rise, looked rather uneasy at this, and Nami also pricked up her ears. Chigiwa? I think he wanted to see you. Takeo replied after a pause. Did he? I also want to see him. Mother, did he come for money? Why? No, by no means. Why do you think so? I happened to hear something about him. Well, I will see him before long. And then Yamaki was here, too. Oh, that foolish Yamaki. He invited you to dinner on the tenth. Oh, such a bore. You had better accept his invitation. He still remembers your father's favours. But you had really better accept the invitation. Well, I'll go to bed. Good night. Good night, said Takeo, and Nami repeated after him. Good night, mother. The young couple went to their room. Nami helped her husband remove his coat and put on a quilted silk dress, over which Takeo quickly tied a white crepe sash. He sat in an armchair. Nami, after brushing the coat and hanging it in the adjoining room, ordered the maid to make tea and came to her husband's side. You must be tired, dear. Takeo, who was puffing blue smoke and looking over the cards, letters and New Year's congratulations received during the day, raised his head. You must be tired, Nami-san. Oh, beautiful. Splendid. What? I say, what a beautiful-looking bride you are. You make me blush. And she blushed and turned her eyes away from the glare of the lamp light, showing her pale cheek now bright with a rosy glow and her round maguet glossy as a mirror. She had on a black silk kimono with a pattern of waves and waterfowls around the skirt, with a broad belt of creamy satin and a jeweled pin shaped like a forget-me-not at her breast, a gift Takeo had brought her from America. As she stood in the light with a bashful smile, Takeo thought his wife very beautiful. I really feel as if you were a newly-made bride in that dress. If you say such things, I shall go away. Takeo laughed. I shan't say any more. But why will you go away? And then Nami laughed. I shall go to change my clothes. Takeo went out on a cruise early in the summer and would have been back in the fall, but for the fact that certain parts of the ship's machinery had to be repaired at San Francisco, where they were detained for a considerable time. It was, therefore, late in the year before he returned home. So it was not until today, the third day of the first month, that he was able to make his first ceremonial and private calls with Nami on the Kato and Kataoka families. Takeo's mother was an old-fashioned lady and was rather averse to anything foreign, but she could not be too strict to suit the taste of the young master. His spacious sitting-room was furnished in a mingled native and foreign style. A green carpet was spread on the soft floor mats, on which stood a table and chairs. In the alcove wall was hung a landscape painting, and in front of and above it a portrait of his father, Michitake. A covered bookcase and shelves stood in one corner of the room, while in the middle of the alcove was placed a sword of Kalimitsu make, much loved by his father. A naval cap and a marine glass were laid on some shelves, and a dagger hung on an alcove pillar. Among the pictures upon the wall was one representing the man of war he had sailed on, and another of a group of cadets, taken probably while he was at Yedajima. There were also some pictures on the table. One represented a group of three, Takeo's parents and himself when he was about five years old, leaning on his father's knee. Another, Lieutenant General Kataroka, his father-in-law, in uniform. Young and careless as the master was, everything in the room was in good order, and not a particle of dust was to be found. Moreover, in an old bronze vase on the table, a few sprays of early plum blossoms were artistically arranged. All this betrayed a heart warm and delicate, and hence skillful and artistic, which were constantly at work in the room. Their owner could be seen smiling from a heart-shaped silver frame by the vase, and seemed to be bathing in the sweet fragrance of the plum blossoms. The lamp shed its bright light into every corner of the room, and the comfortable charcoal fire in a large firebox rose in a purple flame against the green of the carpet. Varied as are the things most pleasant to us, chief among them is the safe return from a long journey, when we change our travelling suit to a comfortable kimono and sit by a fireside, listening to the mournful sound of the night wind outside, relieved by the accustomed ticking of the clock. The pleasure increases when we have with us our mother in good health, and a wife, young and lovely. Takeo, who was now smoking and comfortably reclining in an easy chair, was indeed enjoying just this sort of pleasure. The only thing that troubled him was the thought of Chijiva, whom his mother had mentioned a little while ago, and whose name he had just come across among the visiting cards. Something disreputable about him had been disclosed to Takeo that very day. Sometime last month a postcard came for Chijiva in care of the military headquarters while he was away. One of his fellow officers picked it up by mistake, glanced over it, and found it was a note from a famous usurer, the amount of his debts being written in great ink. More than that, it was certain that military secrets found their outlet at times through some unexpected channel and benefited some speculating merchants. And still more, someone even noticed Chijiva in the stock market, an improper place for officers to frequent. Taking all these things into consideration, Chijiva was decidedly under suspicion. All this was told Takeo by his father-in-law, who was an intimate friend of the chief of the headquarters staff. Takeo should be careful of Chijiva and advise him to turn over a new leaf. Damnable fellow! Speaking to himself, Takeo again looked at Chijiva's card, but he could not trouble himself long with such disagreeable thoughts. He made up his mind to see him personally and act accordingly. His mind again turned to his present happy situation when Nami came in with some black tea she had made after changing her dress. Black tea? Thank you! He left the chair to sit by the fire. How about mother? She has just gone to bed. Giving him a cup of hot tea and looking at his red face, Nami said, Have you a headache, my dear? You have taken more sake than was good for you. Mother urged you too much. Oh, no! We had such a good time, didn't we? I was so much interested in father's conversation that I scarcely knew how much I was drinking. And he laughed. You have indeed a good father, haven't you, Nami-san? Nami smiled and glancing at him said, And more than that, a good... What? What did you say? With an astonished look, Takeo rolled his eyes purposely. I don't know, said she, flushing and looking down as she played with her ring. Bless my heart! When did you learn to say such nice things? The breast-pin was not worth it. Rubbing her rosy cheeks with her hands, which had been warmed at the fire, and heaving a little sigh, Nami reflected. Indeed, for a long time mother must have been very lonely. When I think that you must go on duty again so soon, it makes me feel that time passes all too fast. But if I stay always at home you are sure to say on every third day, My dear, you had better go out for a walk, hadn't you? How dare you say that? Morty? Taking a sip and knocking off the ashes from his cigar into the firebox, he looked contentedly around the room. After having been rocked in a hammock for more than half a year, I find this kind of room too spacious for me. Everything is as luxurious as paradise. I seem to be enjoying a second honeymoon. Doesn't it seem so to you, Nami-san? Indeed, they had parted soon after their marriage, and now met after the lapse of half a year to live over the happiest time in their memory. Words were now lost between them, and they only smiled and looked at each other in dreamy ecstasy. The delicate fragrance of the plum blossoms fills the room as the happy couple sat together before the fire. Nami raised her head as if awakened by a new thought. Shall you go then to Yamakis? To Yamakis? Mother wants me to, so I suppose I must go. I wish to go too. Yes, certainly. Let's go together. No, I-I shan't go. Why not? Because I am a little afraid? Afraid? What do you fear? I am hated, you know. Hated? By whom, Nami-san? There is someone who hates me. Shall I tell you? It is Otoyo-san. Oh, nonsense! But she's a silly girl, isn't she? I wonder if anyone will ever ask for her hand. Mother says that Chijima is on familiar terms with Yamaki. He would do well to marry her. Chijima? Chijima? Chijima! Damnable fellow! I knew he was a smart man, but I did not think of his ever being under suspicion. I am almost ashamed of the officers of the present day, though I am one of them. They do not retain even a shadow of the old samurai spirit, and they are all trying to get rich. Of course I don't mean that officers should be poor. No, it is all right for them to be thrifty and to provide for their families in time of need. But what I mean is this, that one whose sole duty is to guard one's country should not indulge in money-making, especially by such disgraceful means as to loan money at a high rate of interest, to appropriate part of a poor soldier's provisions, or to arrange with supply merchants for unlawful commissions. And then what annoys me most is the gambling. I know some of my fellow officers are indulging in it, and I feel very sensitive about it. Everyone nowadays seems to do nothing but flatter his superiors and rob his inferiors of their money. The ensign, as yet inexperienced in worldly ways, attacked furiously the vices of some of the officers as if he were speaking face to face with them, Nami taking in with delicious delight every word that fell from his lips. She fell proud of her brave husband and wanted to see him raised to the position of minister of the navy, or at least to that of head of the ordnance bureau so that he might make a sweeping reform in the navy. I think what you say is very true. I don't know much about it, but when father was a minister of state, many brought presents to him and made all sorts of requests. Father, of course, hated their ways and told them that things which were to be done would be done without their special request, and things which could not be done would not be done, however much they tried to influence him. But still they sent him many presents under some pretext or other. And father would say, laughingly, that it was no wonder everybody desired to be an official. Exactly. The navy and the army are just alike in that respect. Ah, money is everything. Looking at the clock, which was just striking, he said, why, it's ten o'clock. Indeed, time flies so fast, said Nami. End of section eight. Section nine of Nami-ko by Roka Tokutomi. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Avae in December 2019. Book two, chapter two. Yamaki entertains. Hyozo Yamazaki's estate at Shiba was not very large, but it bordered a part of Sakuragawa Street and some portion of Nishinokubo Hill. The garden contained a pond irregular in shape with plenty of natural rocks to give it a wild air. Paths led here and there up the hill while bridges were built across the narrow portions of the pond. Maples, pines, cherry trees and bamboo bushes artificially dotted the landscape while in strong contrast a massive stone lamp post and a quaint Inari shrines stood among them. Far back from the street, a summer house was concealed and reserved for the sudden discovery of the surprised visitor. It was astonishing that such a garden should be found within the gates of a comparatively unustentatious estate, but this was Yamaki's castle in the air, not in the unrealized sense, but in the substantial sense of something built by thousands of dollars unlawfully amassed. It was already past four in the afternoon. The evening calling of crows was heard far and near when a man in native full dress was seen leaving the noise of the house and climbing the garden hill, faintly illuminated by the setting sun. It was Takio. Being unable to withstand his mother's wish, he came to Yamaki's feast, but he found no pleasure in meeting and in drinking tasteless sake with guests whom he did not know. Several kinds of entertainment were provided, the last being the questionable dancing of professional girls followed by a general orgy of the whole company. Being disgusted with such vulgarity, he had wanted to leave the place long before and would have done so, but for the repeated request of Yamaki to stay to the last and the non-appearance of Chijiva whom he felt that he must see. So he slipped away for a moment and strolled by himself in order that his flushed face might be fanned by the cool evening breeze. A few days after Takio's father-in-law had told him about Chijiva's conduct, a stranger with an alligator-leather satchel called unexpectedly and, showing Takio a note of which he knew nothing, asked for a payment of 3,000 yen. The note was signed by Yasuhiko Chijiva in his own handwriting and the endorser appeared to be none other than Takio Kawashima under whose name appeared his legal seal. The stranger said that though the note had long since expired, the borower had not even tried to take it up and, more than that, had suddenly moved away to some other place. He was obliged to call upon the security being unable to see Chijiva even at his office. The note seemed to be legally correct and the letters shown concerning it were undoubtedly written by Chijiva. Astonished at this unexpected affair, Takio proceeded at once to look into the matter but found that his mother and the steward Tazaki knew nothing of it nor had they ever allowed Chijiva the use of Takio's legal seal. Considering, however, the matter in connection with the recent rumor about Chijiva, Takio was not slow to guess at the probable facts in the case. He was trying to see him on the very day when Chijiva wrote to Takio desiring to meet him at Yamaki's on the following day. As soon as they met, Takio intended to ask Chijiva about the matter, tell him briefly and to the point what he thought of him and be gone. But Chijiva was very late in arriving. With his anger smoldering, Takio went up the hill path by the bushes of slender bamboo and, finding the open summer house in the shade of the ivies, he had rested a while in it before he heard the light sound of wooden clocks on an adjoining path and Toyo suddenly confronted him. With her hair dressed in a high shimada and clothed in triple robes of lilac crepe, she stood there unconscious of any incongruity between the gaudy attire and her mean bearing. Making her crescent-shaped eyes still narrower, she exclaimed, So you are here! Dauntless as he was in the face of a shrieking shell from a 30-centimeter gun, he shrank from the attack of this unexpected enemy and, trying to retire, turned about instantly on his heel. Being alarmed, she pursued him, exclaiming, Takeo-san! What is it? Father wants me to show you around the garden. You to show me? I don't want anyone to show me around the garden. But leave me alone. It pleases me better. A cold refusal such as this might well seem to discourage the boldest seducer, but she would not let him go. I don't see why you want to run away from me. Takeo was brought to a standstill. More than ten years ago, when Takeo's father was in charge of a certain prefecture and Toyo's father was an official under him, Takeo used often to meet Toyo. Being then a mere boy, he delighted in teasing the little girl, and, although at times he caused her to cry, he was still fond of his play-fellow. Now, after the lapse of so many years, during which things had changed, children had grown to men, and Takeo had taken to himself a young wife, Toyo cherished as ever her hopeless love for the mischievous boy, although he had become the young man who bore the title of Baron Kawashima. Rough as he was, the naval officer knew something of her mind and was on his guard against her, even on his rare visits to Yamaki. Today, however, he was taken by surprise and easily fell prey to her stratagem. Run away? I have no need to run away. I go where I choose. You speak too bluntly. Feeling ridiculous, foolish, troubled, and offended in turn, Takeo wanted to go and try to turn away, but to no purpose. In the secluded corner of the garden, he was almost at the mercy of his persistent pursuer. At last a thought flashed through his mind. Has Chijima come yet? O Toyo-san, please go and see for me. Chijima-san will not be here before evening. Does he come here often? Yes, he was here yesterday and talked with father till late. Did he? Well, but he may be here now. Just go and see, please. No, I won't. But why? You are sure to run away. Though you don't like me and think Namiko-san beautiful, it is very rude of you to send me away like that. As Takeo wished to avoid any argument with Toyo, he had no other resource but to walk away from her. At that moment a voice was heard calling for Toyo. A maid appeared and stopped her. Aveiling himself of the opportunity, Takeo turned around the bamboo bushes and walked hurriedly some distance. Breathing freely at last and muttering a complaint, he went back to the house, within whose walls he need not fear a second attack. The sun had gone down, the guests had dispersed and the noise of the day was now transferred to the kitchen. Having taken off the cumbersome parts of his dress, Yamaki, the master of the house, came almost staggering into a small room in the back of the house with a tobacco tray in his hand. He sat down as if crushed, his red steaming forehead glistening in the bright light of a lamp. I have kept you waiting, gentlemen. I am so glad that we had a lively party. He laughed. Well, Baron, you do not drink as if you were a sailor. Your father could quaff bottle after bottle. Though old, I am Hyozo Yamaki. It is an easy matter to swallow half a gallon or so. Chijima cast his jet-black eyes on Yamaki. You are in high spirits, Yamaki-san. Making lots of money, I suppose. No doubt about it. Why, speaking of that, he dropped his sentences between puffs and at last succeeded in lighting his pipe after many fruitless attempts, after puffing once, that, you know what I mean, is now in the market. I secretly had their standing reported to me. They seem to be in a bad fix and I think we can make a trade at a comparatively low figure. The business is very promising and now that foreigners are allowed to reside in the interior, it will be more so. What do you say to investing 20 or 30,000 yen in the name of Tazaki-kun, Baron? I'm sure it will make you richer. The tongue of the drunkard ran on wheels. Chijima, looking a scanset Takeo, who was sitting silent and stiff, continued. That of our Monostrate, isn't it? Didn't they once have a very good business? Yes, but they spoiled it by poor management. If rightly handled, it will turn out to be a regular goldmine. What a good chance. Sorry, it is not within the power of a moneyless fellow such as I. But Takeo-kun, you will do well to try it. Takeo had not spoken a word till now. A dark shadow of displeasure had settled between his brows and was now knitting them closer, casting a fierce look on both of them he began. I thank you for your kindness, but I don't see any use of money-making for a man in my profession, who knows not when he will be a prey to the fishes or a target for an exploding shell. I beg your pardon, but I would rather contribute 30,000 yen, if I could spare them, to the Siemens Educational Fund, than to invest them in the business you are talking about. Gigiwa quickly surveyed Takeo's face upon his downright refusal and winked at Yamaki. Yamaki-san, he said, I may be selfish, but I want you to put off this matter till after my affair is settled. Baron Kawashima has been kind enough to comply with my request, and so I want you to do as I desired. You have your seal with you? He took out something like a promissory note and placed it before Yamaki. No wonder that Gigiwa was under a cloud. Taking advantage of his position during the last year, he not only had been Yamaki's advisor and spy and shared in his profit, but had boldly made use of government funds and tried his luck on the stock exchange, which attempt had ended in a loss of over 5,000 yen. Forcing Yamaki and chilling out all he himself had, Gigiwa managed to get together about 2,000 yen, but still there was a deficit of 3,000 to be made up. His only relative, Kawashima, was rich, and the widow was very fond of him. Gigiwa knew the nature of his tight-fisted aunt too well to ask frankly alone, and yet, needing the funds for the time being, he committed a crime by forging Takeo's seal and borrowed the sum at a high rate of interest. The note soon expired and he was annoyed to find the moneylender was so urgent as to send an open notice even to his government office. There being no help, Yamaki tried to induce Takeo, who had just come home to loan him 3,000 yen to cover the other 3,000. Thus he was trying to redeem Takeo's name with Takeo's money. He had called on Takeo the other day but had not been able to see him. Then an official trip took him away from town for a few days and kept him totally ignorant of the fact that the Yuzura had already been to Kawashima's. Yamaki nodded, ringing a bell for a red ink pad and, running his eyes over the note, he took out his seal and stamped it under his name as Security. Chijiva took it up and placed it before Takeo as he said, Now the note is ready. When can I get the money? I have it with me. With you? You are joking. Yes, I have. 3,000 yen. All right, isn't it? He took from his pocket something wrapped in paper and tossed it to Chijiva. Chijiva, who had picked it up wanderingly and opened it, turned suddenly red in the face and the next moment turned black with rage and ground his teeth furiously. What he saw before his eyes was the note which he believed was still in the hands of the Yuzura, the note which Takeo, on his part, after due inquiry into the matter, had paid silently for the shameless debtor. Why this? You pretend not to recognize it. Confess your guilt like a man. Thoroughly circumvented by Takeo, at whom he had been laughing till this very moment as a mere boy, Chijiva bit his lip with a vengeance, his whole soul being a flame with rage. Yamaki sat, as if petrified, holding his long pipe by the wrong end and looking mechanically at the faces of his companions. Chijiva, said Takeo, I won't say any more about this. We are cousins and I will never sue for the forgery of my seal. I paid the man three thousand yen and so his stunning notices will not reach your office again. He is upon that point. Stared out of countenance, Chijiva tried hard to appear calm. He would gladly have pounced upon Takeo, but for his quickness to see, even in his fury, that it was too late to justify himself. So he changed his attitude at once. Well, my dear cousin, I feel ashamed of myself to be thus spoken to, but I was forced to forced to forced to borrow money by violating the civil and moral law. Just a moment, please. It was like this. I was hard-pressed for money and had nowhere to go for it. Had you been at home, I should of course have spoken to you about it, but how could I ask aunt for such a thing? Then it was so urgent that counting on something I had expected last month, I... I know it was very, very wrong, but I intended to confess frankly when all was settled nonsense. How could one who intended to confess frankly there to borrow another three thousand yen without a word? Yamaki alarmed at the fierceness of Takeo who seemed tempted to attack Chijiva said, hold on, Baron, don't get excited. I know nothing about the matter, but I think you will do well to be lenient, Baron, as he is your cousin. Two or three thousand yen is not a very large sum. Chijiva-kun is wrong, there is no doubt about that, but if this be made public Chijiva-kun can no longer hold his position. And so I pray, Baron, I told you that for that reason I had paid the debt and was not going to sue for it. Yamaki, you had better be silent, this does not concern you at all. Turning to Chijiva, he said, no, that I won't do, but I'll break off friendship with you from this very moment. The thing, no, that I won't do, but I'll break off friendship with you from this very moment. The thing having gone to this length Chijiva saw that he need no longer be afraid and began, in a bold and sarcastic way, break off friendship. I'm not particularly sorry for that, but Takeo's eyes shot fire. You don't care for that if only you have money, you coward. What? Yamaki, who had become somewhat sobered at the situation, could not refrain from putting in a word. Baron Chijiva-san, well, be still a moment. You can't settle it in that way. Say, now, wait. Turning this way and that way, I say, wait. They were forced to calm down. After a while, Takeo broke the silence, fixing his eyes on Chijiva. Chijiva, I won't say anything more about this. We were brought up from childhood like brothers, and I really thought you my superior in talent as well as in age. I thought that we might be a mutual help and I meant to do my best for you as long as I could. Until lately, my trust in you has defied all ill report about you. But really, I was deceived by you. To deceive me is a personal affair, but more than that, you know. No, I will not say it. I do not care to hear how you spent the three thousand yen, but let me say one word. You may not know how quick people's eyes and ears are, but I tell you that you're now under suspicion. I advise you to take care not to smudge the honour of a soldier. You care for nothing more precious than gold, so it is useless to talk, but study what it is. I shall refuse to see you in the future. I formally make you a present of the three thousand yen. Thus, speaking gravely, Takeo took up the note before him and tore it to pieces. Rising suddenly, he stepped out into the adjoining room and ran against and knocked down Yamaki's daughter, Toyo, who appeared to have been listening. He went out boldly towards the porch. The dumb-founded Yamaki looked at Chijiba, whose eyes had just been raised to meet his. How boyish he is still! But Chijiba-san, three thousand yen for breaking off friendship, it isn't so bad, is it? Chijiba looked down at the scattered pieces of the note and remained motionless, biting his lips. CHAPTER III CONFIDENCES Early in February, Nami caught a cold. She soon recovered, but one evening she had to sit up till late in order to finish a garment for her in law, and she was taken sick again. And on this, the fifteenth of the month, she was still confined to her bed. People love to remark that each winter exceeds in cold any that went before, but in this particular year they were certainly right, for the raw north wind that daily raged often brought snow or rain and pierced one to the marrow even on fine days. The strong fell sick, the ill died, and many were the death notices in the papers. The cold helped to prolong the indisposition of Nami, who was not in any way strong, and, though she showed no special symptom, she spent day after day languidly with a heavy head and little appetite. The clock had just struck two. After its vibrations had died away, everything seemed to be silent for a while, and a slow tick-tock of the clock added to the stillness of the moment. It was a remarkably fine day for the season, and, though the light azure of the early spring sky was shut out by four paper screens, the mild light of the sun rested brightly on them, and a few filtered invisible rays even seemed to dance about the nimble fingers of Nami, who was lying down and knitting a black sock, and on her glossy locks as they flowed wildly over a snow-white pillow. On a screen to the left the slender shadows of a sumac were seen drooping over a bronze basin. On the right was clearly outlined an old broad-stemmed plum tree whose bare boughs kept interweaving in and out, the budding shadow with flowers few and far between bespeaking a spring still in its infancy. Above the low wainscot of one screen the little head of a kitten basking in the sunshine was shadowed forth. Suddenly she jumped at a moth over her head which had been allured perhaps by the warm sun, and missing it fell flat on the floor. But she did not seem to care a whit, and presumably was taking her time in licking her paws as the shadow of her head was seen floating. Nami watched the whole movement as pictured on the paper and smiled but, being dazed, she shut her eyes and remained in a dreamy dullness. Then, changing from one side to the other, she stroke the half-knit sock and began to move her needles in and out. The noise of heavy footsteps was heard on the veranda and the dwarf shadow of a portly moved along the screens. Presently it stopped and disclosed itself to be the widow Kawashima who entered and set by the bed. How do you feel today? Much better, thank you mother. I could get up, but Nami put her work aside and adjusting her clothes a little tried to sit up. The widow stopped her. Oh no, that won't do. I am no stranger, you know. Don't trouble yourself over my coming. Why, look there, you are knitting again. That won't do either. A patient has nothing to do but to look after herself, you see. Now, Nami, you must forget everything on Takeo's account. Take care and get well soon, my dear. Excuse me, I have been confined to my bed so long. You are not talking to your mother, are you? I don't like that. You are altogether too distant. The widow did not say everything that was in her mind. She used to complain that daughters-in-law in these days were not polite enough to a person of her position and thought it was at least one redeeming point in Nami's favour that she was remarkably free from such a defect. But today she was thinking of something else and, as if she was suddenly reminded of it, she asked oh, you got a letter from Takeo, did you not? What did he say? Nami took out a letter from under her pillow and showed her a part of it, saying he is coming back next Saturday, he says. Is he? The widow ran her eyes over the paper and gave it back. Ah, what nonsense he talks about taking you away for your health. If you move about in this cold weather you will be sick even if you are strong. The cold will be easily cured if you stay in bed patiently. Takeo is young, you know, and so he is always over anxious and talks about doctors and going somewhere for the health. When I was young I hardly ever went to bed for a little sickness, and even when my child was born I did not stay in bed for a few days. Write to Takeo and tell him not to be anxious about you, as I am here. The widow laughed but her eyes shorted his pleasure. As she went out Nami set up, saying excuse me for not rising. Then Nami drew a troubled breath. She hardly believed that a mother could be jealous of her son's wife, and after the return of her husband she perceived that a strange feeling had developed between her and her mother-in-law. When Takeo returned from his cruise he found Nami in very poor health. He sympathised with her deeply for her anxiety for him during his absence and his love for her was more apparent than ever. Although Nami was very happy to be the object of his thoughtful care she was troubled to find that her mother-in-law was jealous about it. How hard it was she thought to love and be loved by her husband and yet to serve and please such a mother-in-law as the widow was. Madam, Miss Kato is here to see you. At the voice of the maid Nami opened her eyes. On looking at the guest her face brightened joyfully. Well, oh Jesus son, it is so good of you to come to see me. Do you feel better today? Putting aside her silk pouch and her headgear of lilac crepe a girl of about 17 in Chimada approached Nami's bed. Her slender figure was closed in a black overcoat and her sparkling black eyes shone brightly under her well-formed eyebrows. She was Chizu Kato eldest daughter of the baroness Kato, Nami's aunt. Nami and Chizu were cousins. They had been great friends from the time they were in the kindergarten and poor Koma, the younger sister of Nami often complained that she was left without any playmate. And so after the marriage of Nami while other schoolmates were estranged gradually Chizu on the contrary was delighted at the nearness of their houses and came to see her quite often. During Takeo's long absence the greatest consolation of the sad and lonely Nami accepting the letters of Takeo burning with love were the friendly visits of her dear Chizu. Nami said smilingly I feel much better today but my head is still heavy and my cuff very troublesome. Oh that is bad but how cold it is. Glancing at the maid who courteously offered her a cushion she took a seat near Nami. Then warming her hands with their jewel drinks over the fire she repeatedly covered her rosy cheeks with them. Aunt and Uncle are both well. All well thank you they are very anxious about you as it is so cold. We were saying last night that when you get a little better change it will certainly do you good. Were you? Takeo wrote me from your Kusura saying that I needed a change. Oh did he? Then you had better go as soon as possible. But I shall get well very soon anyway. You will have to be very careful of your cold. The maid came in and brought tea for Chizu. Kane where is mother? A guest? Well who? A man from the country. O Chizu-san you have plenty of time today I suppose. Kane bring in some nice things for O Chizu-san. Why? I come often you know you can't afford to entertain me always. Wait a moment. Taking out a little box your mother is fond of rice dumpling isn't she? I have brought her some but she has a caller take it in after it. Thank you she will be so pleased. Chizu then took out some red oranges. Look here aren't these nice? These are my present to you but I fear they aren't very sweet. Oh how nice! Do peel one for me please. Nami tasted with a relish the one that Chizu gave her and tried to brush back the loose hair playing about her forehead. You feel uncomfortable don't you? Isn't it better to dress it loosely? Now let me help you. No no need of sitting up that is all right. Chizu brought in the necessary things from a toilet stand in the adjoining room and began to comb Nami's hair gently. I haven't told you about my meeting we had yesterday. You received a notice didn't you? We had a very nice time. Everybody wanted to be remembered to you. With a light laugh she continued it is only a year since we left our school but already one third of us are married. It was such fun to see Okubo-san, Honda-san and Kitakoji-san. They all dressed their hair in Marumage and they looked particularly grave. Do I hurt you? And dear me they all talked about themselves and then we had a debate on the advisability of parents and married sons living apart. Kitakoji-san took the negative saying that her inexperience as a housekeeper had constantly been supplemented by the help of her gentle mother-in-law while Okubo-san championed the affirmative side her mother-in-law you know being very strict. Oh it was so funny and then I tried to perplex them when they told me that I had no business in such discussion as I was still an outsider. Isn't this a little too tight? No not at all you must have enjoyed it very much everyone spoke from her own experience I imagine things are different in each house so you cannot include all in a general position I suppose. Oh Tizu-san you remember what aunt said once that young people alone are apt to become indolent and selfish. I think she was right in saying so we should not neglect the older people don't you agree with me? Nami was a thoughtful girl who had a taste of her own in managing household affairs she listened to her father's teachings with intelligence and watched the ways of her step-mother with critical eyes and she looked forward to the time when one day she should be mistress of her own house and put her ideas into practice but here with the Kawashima family she found what she had scarcely dreamed of the whole administrative power lay in the hands of an empress dowager and she herself stood in the position of a nominal princess imperial to conform to the new situation for a while and wait for a better day this was what she did but when she found herself standing between her husband and his mother and unable to help him as she desired she silently wept over her hard fortune and often doubted if her step-mother's favorite theory on separate living which Nami once thought not congenial to her country's custom was not after all the better one Nami however was too spirited to give up rushly her long cherished ideas Tying Nami's coiffure with white ribbon Chizu unable to read the inner thoughts of her cousin who had spent ten years under a step-mother and almost one year by the side of a mother-in-law looked into her face and said with a low voice that she still get out of temper often sometimes but she treats me kindly since I have been sick but she does not like me to think so much of Takeo that is the trouble and then Takeo on his part always tells me that here mother is the queen and I must try to please her more than him yes but let's stop talking about such things I feel more comfortable, thank you my head is much better now and feeling of her head dress Nami closed her eyes virily putting away the comb and wiping her hands with a piece of soft paper Chizu stood a while before the toilet stand where she finally noticed the little box as she opened it and took out something she said I am never tired of looking at this pin, it is so beautiful Takeo san has good taste hasn't he coming back to her seat Shunji, you know always urges me to study French or German he thinks that the wife of a diplomat ought to know one of them but it's too hard for me Shunji was the name of Chizu's future husband now an official in the foreign department How I shall love to see you Marumage, though the Shimada becomes you so well loved Nami Oh mercy her beautiful eyebrows were drawn together but a smile which blossomed out of her dainty lips betrayed her You know Onami san Hagiwara san who graduated the year before us Yes she who was married to Matsudaira Yes she was divorced yesterday I hear Deforced What was the trouble She was much liked by her husband's parents but Matsudaira appeared to take a dislike to her Has she not a child Yes one but Matsudaira turned from her to a bad woman and was so shameless in his infidelity that Hagiwara san's father got very angry and said that he would not have married to such a man and he at last called her back What a pity Why did he dislike her wasn't it very cruel in him Indeed it makes me very angry to think of it I wish it had been the other way how wretched one must be not to be loved by one's husband although liked by his parents Nami side It makes me feel sad and lonely to think how those who attended the same school and studied in the same classroom as scattered far and wide each following her own destiny O Chizu san we too must be friends forever and stand by each other That is my prayer Their hands were clasped unconsciously After a while Nami smiled and said I dream of lots of things as I lie here idle Don't laugh at me if I tell you one of my dreams Suppose many years hence we should have war with some foreign power and Japan wins Then Shunji san as minister of state for foreign affairs will go abroad to negotiate a peace treaty and Takeo as commander in chief of our fleet will station scores of vessels at the enemy's ports and uncle of Akazaka will be commander in chief of the army and my father in the upper house will have a bill passed appropriating hundreds of millions of yen for the army and navy expenditures and then O Chizu san and I will join the ranks of the Red Cross But you can't do that if you are not strong laughed Chizu No sooner had Nami laughed then she cuffed and put her hand on her right breast We have talked too much Are you in pain there When I cuff it hurts me here As she spoke Nami turned her eyes to the fading light End of section 10 Section 11 of Nami Ko by Roka Tokutomi This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Abai in December 2019 Book 2 Chapter 4 Sushi Days Only 5 days following his return home in disgrace with Takeo and harboring a grudge in his breast Chijiba was transferred suddenly from his office at the headquarters to a regiment in the first division There is a time at least once in life when everything we do goes wrong We are constantly hurried from bad to worse as if heaven would never stop chastising us During the past year Chijiba had been in this straight and as yet he was unable to see his way out Nami had been snatched away by Takeo His speculations had failed the borrowing of money brought him disgrace Takeo whom he had slighted as a mere boy had humiliated of course with the Kabashima family his only relatives had come to an end and more than this without a word of warning he was stripped of his position at headquarters which as a shortcut to his speedy promotion he would have defended at all hazards and was consigned to a petty office in a division which he had despised hitherto as a mere drudgery Chijiba however was conscious of his guilt and did not dare to protest the staining nothing in his misfortune he served in his new office unblushingly hitherto he had been a self-possessed man who never lost his presence of mind but this last incident dealt him such a blow that whenever his thoughts turned to his disgrace he could not prevent his blood from boiling up like a seething pit The present condition of Chijiba's life was like that of a man who putting his feet on the ladder of promotion which leads inevitably to the crown of success had been knocked off suddenly when he had already ascended one or two rounds but who had knocked him off From a slight hint in Takeo's words and from the fact that the chief of the headquarters staff was an intimate friend of Lieutenant General Kataoka Chijiba suspected that the matter had at least some share in the matter again he knew Takeo to be a man quite indifferent to money so his extraordinary anger about 3000 yen though it included the seal forgery argued something deeper than a matter of mere money might not Nami have slandered him to Takeo about his old love-making the deeper he reflected the more his suspicion became fact and this in time added fuel to his wrath his resentment toward his lost love his regret in the loss of a promising position and all sorts of feelings of despair jealousy and hatred eddyed around the general Nami and Takeo and rose up like tongues of flame he had been proud of his cool-headedness and had laughed at the folly of forgetting calculation in the heat of excitement but now after these repeated overthrows he lost his temper so far that if he could not find vent for the swelling volume of his venomous feelings he felt as if he could no longer contain himself revenge there is no joy in this world comparable to that of sipping the blood of those whom we have detested and of smacking the lips over its deliciousness revenge but how how could he lay a mind to blow up the two odious houses of Kataoka and Kawashima and springing it from a safe distance glory in the delightful scene in which the flesh of the hated men and women would be rent and their bones crushed as they all were sent half alive to hell this was the problem that had crossed and recrossed Shijiva's mind day and night since last January it was the middle of March when the plum blossoms were falling like flakes of snow one day Shijiva went to the Shimbashi station to meet a friend who had been transferred to Tokyo from the third division as he was going out of the waiting room he chanced to meet a tall lady with a young girl just outside of the ladies room she said to him Madam Kataoka and Koma stood in front of him for a moment Shijiva changed color but he instantly recovered himself reading from their faces that they knew nothing of his conduct he bore malice it was true for the general and Nami but he saw it once that there was no use in being an enemy to Madam Kataoka so he made a courteous bow and smilingly said you are quite a stranger now you should have called on you but I have been kept very busy these days where are you going now to sushi and you I'm just to meet a friend here are you going for a vacation oh haven't you heard the news we have a patient a patient who is it Shijiva wondered answered the Viscountess the bell rang at this moment and the passengers went along like a tide to the gates Koma urged her mother to hurry saying mother it is time Shijiva took a bag from the hand of the Viscountess and walked by her side is she very ill yes it is lung trouble lung trouble consumption well she had a severe hemorrhage and so went to sushi the other day for the season I'm going to see her now taking the bag from Chijiva at the gate she thanked him adding goodbye I will be back soon come and see me sometime as he watched a beautiful cashmere shawl and the red ribboned coiffure vanish into a first class compartment Chijiva turned about with a revengeful smile on his lips seeing that Nami's symptoms became more and more market the doctor did all he could without exciting alarm but for all that her condition grew steadily worse and by the beginning of March it became apparent that she was a victim of consumption even her mother-in-law who taking pride in her own health had derided the weakness of young people which turned a deaf ear to any such plan of treating sickness by a change of climate was alarmed at Nami's hemorrhages she also was afraid of the consequences she had heard of the infectious nature of this dreadful disease and had followed the advice of the doctor in sending Nami with a suitable nurse to Kataoka's villa at sushi Nami had shrunk from the first attacks of the disease feeling as if she were a lonely traveller in a vast stretch of wilderness intruded in a cold black sheet of threatening clouds but now that the awful silence was already broken and Nami stood in the midst of deafening thunder and ghastly lightning black wind and smoking rain she determined to pass on quickly through the thick folds of storm at any cost and yet how horrible to think of the first attack it was the second day of March Nami was feeling unusually well and was trying to amuse herself by arranging flowers something she had not indulged in for a long time asking her husband who happened to be at home to help her get the material she was sitting on the veranda and selecting bows from a beautiful budding red plum tree all at once she felt a pain in her breast her head swam and uttering an involuntary cry was immediately overcome by a haemorrhage it had come at last that moment which she had foreseen with a sense of horror and she now felt that she had caught a glimpse of her grave in the vague distance ah death when Nami had been a hapless child life had little joy for her and death little sorrow but now that she had tasted the sweets of life which was everything to her to think of its termination was simply terrible and as she meditated upon her doom she felt that she must fight against it by all means bracing her spirits too easily depressed she assiduously took care of herself to the surprise of the attending doctor Takeo who at that time was at the naval station of Yokosura within a short distance of sushi came to see her often snatching for this purpose every spare hour letters came from her father and the visits of her aunt and Chizu were as frequent as possible and then her old nurse Ikku who had been separated from her since the last summer when she was sent away from the Kawashima household watched over her with a tenderness that pleased Nami to such an extent that she even felt a delight in the sadness of being ill since it afforded the opportunity for their happy meeting and besides there was an old faithful servant who attended to every comfort about the house Nami who had left the city when it was cold and placed herself in the mild bosom of the sunny shore breathed in the warm light of her and a still warmer atmosphere of human sympathy she felt relieved and after two weeks the hemorrhage stopped and the cuff lessened the doctor who visited her twice a week from Tokyo was pleased to find no progress in the disease even if she was not improving and he assured her that there was a hope of recovery if she would not worry that she would be healed it was the first Saturday in April and although still early for cherry flowers in the capital here at Zushi the wild cherry trees on the hills had already begun to bloom and patches of white were seen on the green slopes but today nature seemed to be in a gloomy mood and from early morning the rain drizzled and the hills and sea were blotted out in one misty grey one day appeared to draw itself out endlessly toward evening however the rain steadily increased and the wind began to rise the wind tricked and howled through the doors and screens and the rolling roar of the angry sea sounded like the gallop of millions of wild horses the whole village of fishermen bolted their doors and not a light was seen to betray their existence at the villa of Kataoka however a scene totally different was presented there Takeo was welcomed he had been expected early in the day but being unavoidably detained he had hastened to come through the deep dark of the stormy night he had already changed his dress and had eaten supper and was now leaning on a table reading a letter opposite to him sat Nami sewing a pretty bag and often stopping her needle to glance and smile at her husband or to listen to the noise outside as she mused silently a tuft of cherry flowers and leaves was pinned in her hair on the table between the two was placed a lamp which burned cheerfully and reflected a pink light from its shade in the vase nearby a cherry spray was thrust snowy flowers silently drooping perhaps they were dreaming of the spring they had left that morning on the hill the noise of the wind and rain was heard rushing and splashing around the house Takeo folded the letter father seems to be very anxious about you said he I have to go to Tokyo tomorrow so I will try to go to Akazaka too you're going tomorrow in this weather but mother will be waiting for you I wish to go with you Nami son don't forget what you are here for remember for a while that you are in exile if this be exile I wish that I might spend my whole life here my dear you may smoke do I look as if I wanted to smoke well I had better not while I am in here but on the day before I come and the day after I will smoke twice as much as usual Nami laughed and said well as you are so good I will give you some nice cakes Iku will bring them thank you did Ochizu-san bring them what is that a pretty thing isn't it I am just killing time by making this for mother oh no this won't hurt me I am taking my time you know I feel so well this evening won't you let me sit up a little longer I don't look sick now do I you ought to feel well for Dr. Kawashima is here he laughingly replied but you really look better these days I am sure about you old Iku who came in at that moment with cakes and tea remarked what a terrible storm this is we could hardly sleep tonight if my master were not with us Miss Chizu has gone back and the nurse also has left for Tokyo how lonely we should feel without them even though old Mohe is here how a sailor at sea must feel in this kind of weather but I should think that the one who is thinking of him at home is more to be pitied oh said Takeo drinking a cup of tea and eating two or three pieces of cake in rapid succession oh this is mild weather but if you were to be in a big storm for two or three days in the south China sea you would know what a terrible one really is a large vessel of over 1,000 tons will pitch 30 to 40 degrees the decks being washed by the mountainous waves and the hull creaking like a wooden house you wouldn't feel very well I'll wager you the wind grew more violent and a blast dashed the rain against the house sounding like a shower of pebbles Nami shut her eyes and Iku shrugged her shoulders they stopped talking and for a while only the voice of the storm was heard raging furiously let us stop talking about dismal things you can do no better in this kind of weather than to make the lamp burn bright and talk cheerfully this place seems to be warmer than Yokozura wild cherry trees are already in bloom like these putting the flowers in the vase Nami said old mohe brought this from the hill this morning isn't it beautiful this weather I'm afraid will do much harm to the trees on the hill but how brave this looks oh yes I read this afternoon in the poems of Rengetsu this pretty one how I love thee oh flower fair air blooming in thy first delight and in the morning sun so bright air falling bravely pure as air what? air falling bravely I tell you our people admire flowers and everything else too much as they fall that is very gallant but it is not good to be too gallant in war or in anything those who die quickly are losing ground I want to encourage the headstrong obstinate and enduring side of our people's character and so my song will be like this listen it will sound queer as it is my first trial you know don't laugh and say it is obstinate to stick so long loathing to part with life but how it cheers my heart to see the flowers bloom sedate and bloom and bloom till spring is late how is this don't I beat Rengetsu? I my master is a regular poet remarked Iku don't you think so madam? Takeo was merry with old Iku's sanction I could at once establish my fame the noise of the increasing storm reinforced by that of the waves filled a gap made in their talk and they felt as if they were out in a boat on the angry sea old Iku went out to get some water in a kettle Nami took out the thermometer she had just been using and reading it by the light told her husband proudly that her temperature was even lower than usual she then looked for a while at the flowers on the table and suddenly dimpling said it's just a year now I remember the day well I was just starting in a carriage and my folks came out to see me off but I could not find words to say farewell then as I crossed Tameke bridge the evening overtook us and the full moon rose cherry flowers were in full bloom on the hill beyond and when I drove past the petals came falling off like flakes of snow and danced into my carriage window one settled on a lock of my hair and I did not know it until my aunt picked it off when I was about to get out Takeo resting his cheek on his hand said oh a year or so passes very quickly it will not be long before we shall celebrate our silver wedding it amuses me to think how composed you looked at our wedding I always wondered how you could appear so cool I know you did but I will tell you confidently that I was really scared and could hardly hold the ceremonial cup Iku came in with the kettle smiling you are having a good time I never felt so light-hearted at seeing you Mary this reminds me of our stay at Ikao last year Ikao? how I enjoyed it said Nami how about the fern gathering? asked Takeo I remember a lady who took her own time but you hurried me so much she expostulated it will soon be the season for ferns you must get well my dear and we will have another fern gathering oh yes I must get well by that time the next day was miraculously fine after the storm of the night Takeo was to go to Tokyo in the afternoon and wishing to take a walk that warm windless morning he went out with Nami from the back of the villa to the beach passing over a sandy hill covered with pine trees what fine weather we never thought last night that we should have such a fine day said Nami no indeed replied Takeo see how near the opposite shore seems to be it looks as if it were within coal stepping on the sandy beach already dry and leaving behind them some children hunting for shells and fishermen getting a sain ready to two walked along the crescent beach toward a lonely spot as if suddenly reminded of something Nami asked do you know my dear what Chijiba-san is doing Chijiba that shameless fellow I haven't seen him since but why do you ask about him Nami hesitating why you will laugh at me but I dreamt about him last night you dreamt about him yes he was talking with mother you worry yourself about such things he said with a laugh but what was he talking about I could not tell but mother know that many times Ochizu-san told me the other day that she had seen him and Yamaki walking together so I think that made me dream of him my dear Chijiba-san won't come to our house will he he won't I'm sure mother is also angry with him you know Asai escaped Nami's lips I'm always thinking how mother is vexed with me on account of my illness Takeo felt the spasm go through him he did not tell his sick wife that since she had been away his mother had become more and more ill disposed towards her that she had advised him to keep away as much as possible from sushi for fear of infection that she had grumbled about the trouble occasioned by Nami's illness and had even spoken ill of the Kataoka family if Takeo tried to appease her she would call him a fool saying that he was disobeying his parent for his wife's sake and this happened more than once or twice oh you are over anxious why should you worry use all your strength to get well and be ready for next spring we will then go with mother to Yoshino to enjoy the wild cherry flowers well we have come quite a ways do you feel tired shall we turn back the couple now stood where the sandy coast rose into a rocky hill let's go to Fudo I am not at all tired I feel as if I could walk as far as America are you sure you're alright perhaps you had better put on this shawl the rocks are slippery so hold my arm fast Takeo helped Nami to follow a narrow path over the rocks and stopping many times on the way they went to where some threads of water were falling from above by the side of the waterfall was a shrine of Fudo a few pine trees lengthening out their stems from the slope looked down over the sea slantingly Takeo brushed the dust from a rock and spread the shawl to let Nami sit upon it he took his seat by her and clasping his knees exclaimed how calm this is the sea was indeed very calm the midday sky was cloudless the water flowed to the very core of heaven and a vast expanse of the azure sea gleamed here and there like a silken white sheet and as far as I could reach not a single ripple disturbed its perfect smoothness the land and sea now rested dreamily in a peaceful spring day my dearest said she what is it? he asked what? my disease what are you talking about? why should it not be cured? depend on me you will be cured I will cure you Nami leaning on her husband's shoulder but I often think that I may never get well my mother died of this disease and Nami son, why do you talk like that today? you are certain to get well you heard the doctor say so didn't you? well your mother might be by that disease but you are under twenty and the disease is still in its early stage so you may be sure you will be cured you know of Okahara one of our relatives he lost his right lung and the doctors gave up all hopes of him he lived fifteen years after that you will be cured if your will is strong enough if not it will be due to my lack of love for you but I do love you and so you will get well but why are you in this mood? Takeo took Nami's right hand and pressed it passionately to his lips on her finger dare sparkle the diamond ring to her by Takeo the two remained silent for a while a wide sail appeared coming from the direction of Yenoshima and glided along on the smooth sea and the merry songs of the far away fishermen were wafted to them through the still air Nami with a smile in her swimming eyes said I shall be cured yes surely but why must we die? how I should like to live a thousand and twenty years but if we must die let us die together when you are gone you may be sure I shall not live really? what a joy to die together but you have a mother and duty to attend I cannot do as you wish I shall have to go first and wait will you think of me often when I am gone? you will, dearest, won't you? shedding tears and patting Nami on the head Takeo said let's talk no more of such sad things get well, Nami-san and we shall live to celebrate our golden wedding clasping Takeo's hands tightly in hers and dropping her head upon his knees, she wept I am your wife, even in death Nothing shall ever part us neither foes, disease, nor death I am your own till the very end of time End of Section 11 Section 12 of Nami-ko by Roka Tokutomi This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Awaii in December 2019 Book 2 Chapter 5 Revenge The smile that rose to Jijiwa's lips when he heard a chimbashi station of Nami's illness signalized his first feeling of triumph in finding an unexpected clue to the solution of the heart problem which had hidden to remained unsolvable The hated families of Kawashima and Kataoka were concentrated in the person of Nami Her disease was therefore a rare opportunity for revenge Its infectious and fatal nature and the habitual absence of Takeo also favored his scheming and it seemed that a World War II dropped between the widow and her daughter-in-law was all that was necessary If his mind exploded at once he would but jump aside and view from a safe place the whole tragedy in which they would be arriving in one bloody struggle Jijiwa's mind dwelt upon his revenge and cheered his depressed soul He knew well his aunt's nature He knew that she was not so much offended with him as Takeo was He knew that she always looked down upon Takeo as a mere boy and trusted more to his own advice as a man of the world He knew also that as her relations were few and the young couple were not at one with her she was feeling lonesome in spite of her extreme audacity and that she wanted someone to side with her He therefore had no difficulty in seeing that his scheme was sure of success before he took a single step to advance it First of all, Jijiwa sent Yamaki occasionally to the house of Kawashima to spy out its condition and also to set afloat false news about his own penitent conduct One night toward the end of April hearing that Nami was still far from well after two months' treatment and that his aunt was more and more ill-disposed toward her he took advantage of Takeo's absence and also of a business trip of Stuart Tazaki's and found his way to the house of Kawashima which for a long time had been unvisited by him He happened to find his aunt alone deeply engrossed in thought with a letter from Takeo in her hand No, there has been little result though her treatment costs a great deal of money said the widow It's more than two months yet she is far from recovery I don't know really what to do I should be greatly relieved if I had someone to advise me but, you know, Take is still a boy I deeply sympathize with you, dear aunt I really ought not to be seen here but this is a grave matter for the house of Kawashima and I cannot keep silent when I think of what kindness you Takeo-san and my deceased uncle have shown me and so I have been bold enough to call on you Well, dear aunt there is no disease so dangerous as consumption You know there are many cases in which a husband has courted from his wife and the whole family has been swept away I am very anxious about Takeo-san and if you are not careful this will become a grave matter You are right, I'm also afraid of that and I have told Takeo not to go to sushi but he won't hear me Look here! pointing to the letter in her hand Nothing but his wife, what the doctor said or the nurse did and so on Chijiba rejoined with a smile But aunt, that can't be helped The love between husband and wife can never be too great Takeo-san's care for his sick wife deserves nothing but praise Well, but is it right for him to disobey his parents on account of his wife's sickness? Chijiba sighed How things have changed It was only yesterday that we thought Takeo-san was well mated and you were pleased But now has come the turning point in the history of the House of Kawashima for good or for bad and you have had some sort of sympathy from Onami-san's parents Oh, a mere formal call from that proud lady with an unimportant present From Kato we had visits to her three times but Chijiba again heaved a sigh In a time like this her parents should be quick to see our trouble But how can they remain so indifferent forcing such a sick girl upon us? Well, this is a world of self-interest that is all undoubtedly But what concerns us most is Takeo-san's health If we are fearing most should happen it would be the end of the House of Kawashima and he may contract the disease at any time but since they are married you cannot keep them separate Exactly The duty of parents is not to let children always have their own way Sometimes it is for their own good that you whip them And yet young people may look very desperate at first but after some time they change their minds quite readily That is very true You cannot risk the safety of the House of Kawashima for a little love or pity Certainly not And then if by chance she be with child that is the end of Exactly, that is the point Seeing that his aunt was impressed by his argument Chijiva felt his heart leap at his success and at once changed his subject He not only awaited a speedy circulation of the poison he had deposited in her mind but he also found seed already sown which, covered as it were with temporary reserve would in time germinate, bloom and bear fruit and that time he knew was not far distant In her real self, Takeo's mother was not so bad as to despise Nami on any account On the contrary, she appreciated Nami's effort to bring herself into accord with her mother-in-law in spite of the vast difference in culture and temper rejoiced over their occasional coincidence in some points of taste and even sought in her inmost heart, though she had never shown it that she herself had been by no means the equal of Nami in her youth But when she saw Nami, after a month's lingering sickness the victim of an incurable disease before her very eyes and again when she saw that in spite of the expenditure of no small amount of money there was no hope of speedy recovery She felt in her heart a strange feeling of disappointment or disgust She knew not which and as her feelings gathered volume with every turn of thought her reserve melted away before the growth of that stronger feeling of hatred Chijiba on his part entered cleverly into every by-path of his aunt's mind and, trying on his occasional visits to bring her to his way of thinking awaited the time when an actual conflict should take effect By the time Chijiba's frequent calls on his aunt in Takeo's absence began to be talked about, he had already carried his main plan through and had celebrated with Yamaki his success as the author of a coming drama End of section 12 Section 13 of Nami-ko by Roka Tokutomi This Librivox recording is in the public domain recording by Avae in December 2019 Book 2, Chapter 6 Mother and Son Early in May the warship on which Takeo was serving was to go south to a naval station at Sasehō and then snort to join a naval manoeuvre of the United Squadrons near Hakodate and, as he had to be away for over a month he went home one evening to take leave of his mother The widow had lately been out of sorts with Takeo as if she had had a flea put into her ear but this evening she was unusually pleasant and looked personally after his comfort Indifferent as he was to small things Takeo felt discomposed at her unusual tenderness But any boy, however old he gets, is happy to be loved by his mother and Takeo was now particularly so after her recent ill temper Having eaten a good dinner he allowed his thoughts to wonder as he was taking a bath and listening to the pattering sound of the raindrops from the reminiscence of what he had seen that day at Sushi on his way home to the happy time when Nami would recover from her illness and await his return Refreshed by bathing and clad in a loose garment he now entered his mother's room, rubbing his forehead with the palm of his right hand while he held a lighted cigar between his fingers The widow was just having her shoulders massaged by the maid and was smoking her long pipe She looked up as she said Have you finished so soon? You remind me of your father as he used to come out of his bath Won't you sit down on that cushion? Matsu, all right, go and bring tea now The widow rose and took down a cake plate from the cupboard You treat me like a guest mother puffing his cigar Takeo smiled You came back just at the right time, Take I had something to talk over and wanted to see you You stopped on your way at Sushi? Although Takeo knew that his mother disliked his constant visits to Sushi he was unable to deceive her Yes, just for a short time she seems to be getting well She was very sorry to cause you trouble on her account Was she? She watched Takeo's face closely Just then the tea things were brought in and as the widow took them she said You're not needed for the present Matsu Shut the screen tight The widow poured out tea for Takeo and for herself and after sipping a cupful she took up her long pipe and as she filled it opened her lips I am in very poor health My last year's rheumatism almost resulted fatally I went to visit the grave yesterday and I still feel my bones ache I feel as if I had one foot already in the grave Take care of yourself, my dear Take and never get sick Shaking the ashes from his cigar into the firebox Takeo looked at his mother who, though extremely fleshy, had not a few wrinkles on her forehead I am away nearly all the time and there is no one besides you to take charge of the house I wish Nami were well and able to help you She's always saying that too Well, she may be thinking that but I am afraid of consumption But she's getting much better now The weather is growing warmer and besides she's young and may outgrow the disease Nevertheless, I doubt very much her speedy recovery Take I heard from the doctor that her mother also died of consumption Yes, she told me that too but consumption is hereditary, isn't it? They say so but Nami got it from a bad cold Everything depends upon one's caution, you know People talk about infection or heredity but in the point of fact there are other causes You know how strong Nami's father is and then Nami's sister, yes, or Koma-san she has not shown the slightest signs of consumption We are not so weak as doctors love to think and then he laughed Yes, but it is not to be laughed away like that Emptying her pipe by striking it against her hand, she continued I think this is the most dreadful of all diseases You know, Take, the Governor Togo's family the mother of that boy whom you used to quarrel with died of consumption about two years since and Togo-san himself died of the same disease only six months ago You know that, don't you? And then his son, he was an official engineer somewhere I heard also died of it lately They all got it from one person I can tell you many more cases like this So Take, we have to look out very sharply if not it will have serious results The widow putting aside her pipe leaned forward looking side-wise into the face of Takeo who was listening silently, continued I have something I want to talk over with you She hesitated a little and fixed her eyes on Takeo Nami, you know What? Takeo raised his face What do you think of having Nami called back? called back What do you mean by calling her back? The widow without taking her eyes off Takeo's face said to her parents' house Parents' house You want her to be taken care of there? Well, they may take care of her but at any rate you should have her called back But Zushi is the best place for her They have children at Kataukas and besides it would be far better for her to stay here if you want her to return to Tokyo Drinking her tea, which was called by this time the widow spoke with a tremor in her voice Take, you are not drunk I suppose but why do you pretend to misunderstand me? With a sharp look at Takeo's face What I meant is this to send Nami back to her parents' house Send back Divorce, you mean? Softly you talk to Loud Take Looking at her trembling son, she said Divorce? Well, you may call it so Divorce Divorce But why? Why, you ask? As I told you before, it is because of the dangerous nature of her disease Because of consumption you want me to divorce Nami? Yes, exactly Though I am sorry for it Divorce The cigar slipped from Takeo's hand and smoked furiously in the fire The lamp burned with a hiss and the night train spattered against a window door Burying the smoking cigar in the ashes the widow began to speak persuasively I don't blame you for being so surprised at hearing this It's too sudden to you but I have thought it over for many days and you must listen to me with that in mind Now, there is nothing in Nami that displeases me particularly so far as I see and you like her too Therefore I very much hate to say such a thing but say what you will the dangerous nature of the disease but she is recovering Takeo interposed, hastily and looked up to her defiantly Listen to what I say She may not be so bad now but I have heard the doctor say that the disease will soon grow worse although temporarily it may look alright A change in the weather will easily bring this about No one has ever been absolutely cured of consumption that is what the doctor says Though Nami is by no means seriously ill now she will be sure to grow worse later and you will certainly catch the disease You may have a child and he will inherit it Suppose not only Nami but you the master of the house and your child the heir to your estates all die of consumption The house of Kawashima will utterly falter the ground In that way this house whose fortune was founded by your father's industry and was particularly favoured by the Mikado will be ruined in your own day It is true that Nami is much to be pitied that you feel very sorry for her and that I myself as a mother feel very reluctant to propose such a thing but think what her disease is Much as she is to be pitied Nami cannot change places with you master of the house or with the house of Kawashima itself You will be wise enough to see the point and to make up your mind for good In the mind of Takeo who listened all the while in silence the face of the sick wife whom he had visited in the morning appeared clear as day Mother, I cannot do such a thing Why? Her voice was raised a little higher If you do so now Nami will die Very well then she must die Ok, I am more anxious for your life for the house of Kawashima If you think of me mother please feel with me You may think it's strange but really I can't do it on any account She is still young and not yet competent to help you but she loves you as well as me How dare I to divorce such an innocent wife merely on account of her illness No reason why consumption cannot be cured Yes, she is now on the way to recovery But if she must die Oh mother, let her die as my wife If the disease is dangerous I may not visit her I will use all my caution and do just as you like But to divorce her is what I cannot do for all the world Poof! You speak only of Nami You have not thought of your own life and the house of Kawashima You speak of my life only but what use is there in living by cruel and unjust means To act inhumanely and unjustly never does good to any house and it is not to the honour and glory of the Kawashima house I cannot divorce her No, never Prepared as she was for some sort of opposition the widow was rather surprised that Takeo's uncompromising attitude and her easily excitable temper was thereby mercilessly aroused The veins stood out on her forehead the temples quivered and the hand which held the pipe was shaking but she struggled hard to repress her fury and bravely tried to smile Oh, don't get so excited Think it over calmly You are still young and don't know much about the world but you know the saying save a large animal though you kill the smaller one Nami is the smaller animal and you, the house of Kawashima are a larger animal I pity Nami and feel very sorry for her parents but isn't it wrong to fall ill? Whatever they may think of us it is far better not to bring the house of Kawashima to an end You speak of injustice or inhumanity but you can find many cases like this everywhere It is right to divorce a wife when she is not contributing to the prestige of the house It is right to do so when she fails to give birth to an heir and it is right to do so when she contracts a dangerous disease This is the rule, don't you know? There is no need of bringing in the question of justice or humanity In a case like this her parents ought to come to take her back But as they won't what wrong is there in saying what we want them to do? You say right, right but we have no right to do wrong because others do wrong To divorce on account of illness that is a thing of the past But if that be the rule now it is worthwhile to break it Indeed, we must break it You are thinking of our family only but how will Nami's family feel to have the daughter whom they have just given away sent back merely because of her illness And then how could Nami go back without being humiliated? Imagine a case in which I am suffering from lung trouble and they come to take Nami back because consumption is a dangerous disease Would you like that? Yet it is the same thing No, that is different Women are not equal with men Yes, they are They are equal at least in feeling But coming down to a more practical point Nami has recently recovered from the attacks and has shown some sign of improvement If you now do such a thing it will cause a relapse She will die, surely die I couldn't do such a thing even to a stranger Do you want me to kill Nami? Takeo wept The widow stood up suddenly and taking down an ihai from the household shrine set it in front of Takeo Footnote Ihai, a wooden tablet with a Buddhist name inscribed thereon to represent the spirit of the dead End footnote Look here, Takeo You make light of my words but repeat what you have been saying before your father Repeat it The spirits of your ancestors are looking at you Say it once more You disobedient son Looking intently at Takeo she struck her pipe repeatedly against the rim of the firebox Mild as he was to his mother Takeo now turned red in the face How am I disobedient? How? Why do you ask that? Is it not disobedient for the sake of your wife to ignore what your mother says? Is it not disobedient to think nothing of the body I brought up and to ruin this ancestral house against my will? You are a disobedient son, Takeo a violator of filial duties But humanity Out with that word Do you value your wife more than your parents? Fool! You talk only of wife, wife but do you never think of your parents? You don't always talking of Nami We will disown you Takeo bit his lip, his eyes hot with tears Mother, you are too cruel Why cruel? I have never had such ideas toward you but you don't know my mind Why then, do you not obey me and divorce Nami? But that, no, no buts Come Takeo, you value either your wife or your mother What? You value Nami? What? Huh! Fool! She struck the firebox angrily with her pipe which broke into pieces the bowl flying off and hitting the screen At this someone was heard on the other side of the screen checking a half-uttered exclamation and presently a trembling voice said Excuse me Who is it? What is it? A telegram Only two minutes intervened between Takeo's opening the screen and glancing over the paper and the maids slipping away frightened by the fierce gaze of the widow But in this brief time their passion had cooled a little and mother and son sat in dead silence The rain came down in torrents The widow opened her mouth at last her eyes still flashed anger but her words were somehow softened Takeo, I don't mean to do you any wrong if I say this You are my only child and my sole pleasure is to have you rise in the world and to see the face of a sturdy grandson Takeo, who had been engrossed deeply in thought raised his head heavily and showing the telegram said They sent me word that I must go at once I must therefore start tomorrow at the latest I shall be back after a month or so You must never mention this matter till I return The next day Takeo received her assurance once more and, visiting the family doctor and asking his careful attention to Nami went down to Zushi by an afternoon train As he alighted, the sun set and the crescent moon was hanging in the lavender sky He crossed the bridge over a streamlet and stood on a road which wound through a dusky pine grove When he emerged from the grove and saw the tall pole of a well-bucket, outlined dark against the evening sky the unexpected sound of a harp was wafted to him Ah, it is she that is playing, thought he and feeling as if his heart would break he stood for a while at the gate to wipe away his tears Nami was unusually well and was expressing on the harp the longing in her heart for her husband Nami saw at once that something was on Takeo's mind and he evaded her questions only by saying that he had set up late the night before He and Nami sat down to the dinner especially prepared for his coming but they could eat but little Nami wore a cheerless smile in order not to betray her sad heart and was occupied in sewing buttons on her husband's coats and in brushing his garments carefully when the time for the last train drew near When he could stay no longer Takeo rose to go Nami, clinging to his arm, said You must go now, dearest I'll be back soon Take good care of yourself and get better Their hands were clasped tightly At the porch old Iku attended to his shoes and the servant Mohe was waiting to see him to the station a satchel in the left hand and a lighted lantern in the other Well, Iku, I entrust Nami to your care Nami-san, I am going Come back soon, dear Takeo nodded He walked about a dozen steps by the light of the lantern and then looked back Nami was standing by the gate with her white shawl on and waving her handkerchief Come back soon Yes, I will You will get chilled outside You'd better go in, Nami-san But a white dim figure stood there when he looked back for the second and the third time Then he came to a turn in the road and the figure was lost to view Only for the third time the cry Come back soon followed him in tearful supplication Down near the horizon the thin, fast-sinking moon was seen through the pine trees End of section 13