Kwaidan Page #4

except for the calling

of the dead.

Then, it was the spirit of the

dead that came here?

Yes. It was in fact that the

spirit of the dead came.

You have put yourself in

their power.

If you obey them again,

they'll tear you in pieces.

But in any event they'd have

destroyed you sooner or later.

Will the spirit come again

tonight?

Tonight,

as soon as we go away

you must seat yourself

outside and wait.

Then the spirit will call you.

But, whatever may happen,

do not answer.

I understand.

And do not move.

I understand.

Say nothing and sit still

as if meditating.

Yes.

Understood?

Should you move a muscle

or utter a cry,

you will be torn to pieces.

To get rid of the spirits,

you must stay calm

and never call for help.

Even if you call out,

no-one will be able to help you.

You mustn't speak.

Alright?

Yes

If you follow this advice,

there may be hope for you.

I won't move. I won't cry.

Understand?

Whatever may happen?

I won't.

Donkai, you've written

the holy text upon his body?

On his entire body,

from head to toe.

Good.

Help me, Buddha!

Hoichi!

Hoichi!

Hoichi!

No answer? That won't do!

I must see where the fellow is.

Here is the biwa.

But of the biwa player I see...

only two ears!

That explains why

he didn't answer.

He had no mouth to answer with.

There is nothing left of him

but his ears.

This is very strange.

I will take those ears

to my lord

to prove his commands

have been obeyed

as much as it's possible.

It's blood!

Priest!

It leads to the rear gate.

Hoichi!

Hoichi!

Are you there?

Hoichi!

My goodness!

Hurry, clean it!

Yes.

What happened to Hoichi?

His ears were torn off.

What?

His ears?

But why the ears?

Both of them torn off?

- Donkai!

- Yes.

Does the ghost like ears?

He should eat the ears of a

dried cuttlefish instead.

It's our fault.

I thought I wrote everywhere

on his body.

We forgot to write the holy text

on his ears.

I'm sorry.

It's too late.

Ears don't grow again.

It was wrong of me not to make

sure you had done it.

It's my grievous fault.

I never imagined it would

take his ears away.

Well, it can't be helped now.

We can only try to heal

his wounds.

Yes.

But cheer up.

The danger is now over. His ears

were a trade off for his life.

Then, we won't see

those visitors again?

They'll come no more.

They'll come no more.

We wish to hear the famous

Hoichi-the-Earless play the biwa.

My lord heard of the

strange story.

He will pay Hoichi generously.

By his order, I've come

to take him with me.

- He's here again.

- What?

With attendants!

A noblewoman came also

with her attendants.

I can't tell if they're real.

Maybe the ghost is among them.

Hoichi. You'd better refuse them.

You have so many offers.

No.

I'll play the biwa

as long as I live.

I'll play to console

those sorrowful spirits

and make them rest in peace.

Many noble persons came to the

temple with large gifts of money

so that Hoichi-the-Earless

became a wealthy man.

The Year 1 900.

Now. in old Japanese books.

there have been

curiously preserved

certain fragments of fiction.

Why were they left unfinished?

Perhaps the writer was lazy.

Perhaps he had a quarrel

with the publisher.

Perhaps he was suddenly called

away from his little table

and never came back.

Perhaps death stopped

his writing brush

in the middle of a sentence.

But no mortal could ever tell

why...

I select a typical example.

It was today 220 years ago -

New Year Day of the

fourth Tenwa.

IN A CUP OF TEA:

It was when Lord Nakagawa Sado

paid a New Year's visit.

It was when Lord Nakagawa Sado

paid a New Year's visit.

He stopped with his entourage

at a temple in Hongo.

You're on duty tonight.

I'll relieve you in the morning.

Yes.

I'm Shikibu Heinai.

I met you today for the first time.

You don't seem to recognise me.

I don't recognise you.

Will you tell me how you gained

entrance to this house?

Ah, you don't recognise me!

No, I don't.

This house is strictly guarded

at all times.

No one can enter unannounced.

I don't understand why you

don't recognise me.

This morning you dared

to wound me!

Intruder!

Come out, everybody!

There's an intruder in the house!

Kannai. No stranger was seen

entering or leaving the house.

But I saw him.

No one in his house has ever heard

of "Shikibu Heinai".

Anyway I thrust him.

To death?

Strangely, no.

We can't even find

a stain of blood.

Kannai!

Well, it sounds strange, but he

went through the wall soundlessly.

Through the wall?

Do you mean he vanished

into the wall?

Yes.

Soundlessly?

Yes.

That explains why

we couldn't find him.

After all, he vanished

into the wall.

You're tired,

so you had a nightmare.

No. I'm sure I saw him.

Men! Men!

Men! Where did the intruder go?

Don't you know?

He runs fast!

Will you go to bed, Brother?

It's late.

Umm. How are Mother and Father?

They're asleep now.

Will you tell the servant

to bring wine?

Are you still worried

about last night?

No. I'm off duty tonight.

I want to sleep well.

Sir...

What is it?

We have guests, sir.

What?

Who?

Where?

At the front.

At this hour of night?

What do they want?

Well, a little conversation

with you, sir.

Didn't they give their names?

No. There are three of them.

I'm Kannai.

I'm Matsuoka Bungo.

I'm Dobashi Kyuzo.

I'm Okamura Heiroku.

We're retainers of

Shikibu Heinai.

Shikibu... Heinai!

Yes.

When our master visited you

last night

you struck him with a sword.

He was hurt badly

and went to a hot spring

to tend to his wound.

I sympathise.

But on the 16th day of the

next month he will return.

And he will then repay you

for the injury done to him...

"And... "

Here the old narrative

breaks off.

Well, I didn't see him go out.

He has been writing all day.

I made him hurry.

I'm the publisher.

Oh. I never thought he went out.

Well...

I just dropped in to say

New Year's greetings to him.

- Why don't you come in and wait?

- I will.

I can imagine several

possible endings.

But none of them would

satisfy your imagination.

I prefer to let you attempt

to decide for yourself

the probable consequence

of swallowing a soul.

The man who swallowed a soul...

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