The Buried Forest Page #2

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to my son and everyone.

But Tomie-san...

you need help sometimes,

what with your legs...

Never mind that.

It's something to do

with myself.

Tomie-san.

We're making up a kind of story.

Each of us takes turns.

It's my turn next.

Will you listen?

The camel came from a place

where dunes lead to the sea.

Once, a whale washed up and couldn't

get back in the water.

The villagers tried dragging it

with boats.

They dug trenches to make

a path to the ocean.

They tried hard, but couldn't

rescue the whale.

The whale became weaker

and weaker.

By evening, the villagers had

given up.

But one little girl didn't leave.

She stayed and bathed the whale's

eyes with sea water.

Then it was morning.

Some fine specimens here.

They're called gurnards.

With those snouts they

look like dogs!

They're a spring fish.

They live quite deep, but sometimes

get dragged up.

It's the day of the altar gods.

So it is.

Used to be a toss up between the

altar gods and the market...

as to which would disappear.

After all...

they are both still here.

There were more kids when

I was younger.

We divided what we made, but it

never came to much.

My dad would pass us a few times

to boost our income!

When did we start calling it

"traffic tax"?

I wonder, too.

It's like a border crossing.

The kids have their own country.

They could form a republic!

Not a bad idea. I would be for it.

Oh!

Good job!

Here, It's not much,

but this is for you.

Thanks, mister.

You can make an offering with this.

Hey! Give some to the gods first!

I'm sorry.

- Okay, keep it up.

Here comes a car!

Hey!

What's all this?

It's altar gods day.

The day when the children clean

the statues to ward off...

It's an old tradition, and grown ups

who pass here...

have to pay a traffic tax to

us as a reward.

It's a thank you for the

kids' hard work.

You're kidding.

It's the rule.

Sounds like fun,

how much?

There's no rule about that.

Here.

Thanks very much!

- Thanks very much!

Good. See you.

I've lost all faith in the

older generation.

Instead of knocking those

balls around...

they should be slipping some cash

to their grandchildren.

True.

Here they are.

Okay, that's it!

Thanks for your help.

Think nothing of it.

It has to be turned at least

once a year.

Machi, you can't be up in

a mountain this late.

Are you sure you saw someone?

Hey Akio! Can you fit everybody in?

Were there flames near the big rock?

I think so, but it's hard

to tell at night.

The forest is a lot thicker

at night than it seems.

Is this the right way?

Hey!

Hey!

This way!

Did that come from beneath the cliff?

Who was it?

Might have been Gen.

Nope, here I am!

That's creepy!

Jeez!

You gave me such a fright!

That's my line, I think!

What the hell...

Here they are!

They're okay.

So much for forming a republic...

When the sun goes down,

things can happen.

I get tempted too, you know.

That's because you've got no customers.

Do you know this song?

As the sun goes down I start to cry.

I wonder why...

I wonder why I start to cry.

Do you know it?

Yes, I remember.

I do remember.

When I saw you it was love

at first sight.

But now I am in a most

terrible plight!

As the sun goes down l

start to cry.

I wonder why I start to cry.

Please, please! Won't you love me?

Please, please! Won't you love me?

It must be an old song,

I don't know it.

Would you care for some sauce?

Thank you, it's wonderful.

Thank you.

It's been ages since we had dinner.

In fact, it's the first time.

No, it isn't.

After Kuro died...

Oh, that's right.

You brought tears to my eyes then.

Why?

We dug a hole near the dry river-bed

that the dog liked.

And you paid your last respects.

You know what you said?

"Thank you, Kuro."

Just like that.

I thought:

"Yes, thank you."

We should part with thanks.

And that's when I started crying.

I'm going to do it again.

Dogs can't talk.

He might not have known how

he helped us, me included.

Shall we get a new dog?

I don't want to.

I see.

But you shouldn't shut yourself off.

I think the same myself.

We should be free.

Which hot spring is Dad at tonight?

I didn't ask, it's just an excuse

to drink beer!

They don't care where they go.

Scoundrel!

Tahbo,

do you want to move house?

To Granddad's?

No.

To Mom's?

Nope.

Anywhere is okay.

Sorry, kiddo.

You know my folks are separated.

I never mentioned it...

but Mom runs a business.

What kind?

A bar.

I don't like coming back here.

Is it nearby, her bar?

I don't want to talk about it.

Even when things stare me in the face,

I still don't understand,

I should have guessed, but only

realiZe in retrospect,

I was thoughtless, and now

you're gone,

Changing shapes and colors,

clouds are floating by,,,

bathed in rays of sunlight,

The one who kept me safe,,,

was you,

It's got f*** all to do with me!

Don't you raise your voice to me!

Tomoyuki!

I'm sorry.

Should have chosen a different town.

You don't need to worry.

I know a really cool place near here.

Do you want to go?

Yeah.

Excellent!

What about cars?

They've stopped construction

so it's okay.

No people either.

Very good!

Let me try!

Isn't it a bit big?

It said 3 meters, so it's right.

They still existed up until

Do the feet look okay?

Huh?

Thank you.

Good, eh?

I've knocked a bit off the price.

This the stuff?

Yes, please.

Calling it "Home Delivery Service"

is glorifying it a bit.

Akio started calling it that

in the first place!

How is it going?

I mean Akio's water distillation idea.

It's ready.

Thank you very much.

I'm not sure.

I don't really understand it.

Let's say you drink a cup of water.

How long does it take to flow

around the body?

Hmm... Iet's think.

An hour?

No!

Thirty minutes.

One minute.

Never!

Just one minute.

Amazing stuff, water.

Hello.

Right away.

It moved!

Separate the ones that move.

I'll collect them over here later.

- Okay.

Here we go!

It's turning.

Mind that roller, it's cracking.

Do you think you'll be finished today?

Yes, leave it to me.

Oh...

Watch your step.

How far are they moving it, Takako?

Ten meters, I heard.

It was slightly in the way

of the new road.

Yours is the room in the

corner, right?

It's odd.

Seeing our house move like that.

I once heard the story of Mayoiga.

MA-YOl-GA?

What's it mean?

Well, I'm no scholar...

Maybe "lost" and "house".

It's a story from olden times.

There was a big house

in the mountains.

They called it MA-YOl-GA.

If people stumbled across it...

they could take away one red bowl.

After that...

that person would have

the luck with food.

Well, that was the story.

We used to call it bogwood.

People used to find lumps

of wood while plowing.

It's amazing.

If this is...

What did you call it?

A buried forest.

If that's what it is...

There could be lots of trees.

A whole forest could be hiding

down there.

An expert is coming down from Tokyo.

That probably means so.

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