The Snow Woman Page #2

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Are these your children?

They scattered logs!

- It hurts! Forgive me, please!

- Such impudence!

- Mistress!

- Take that! And that!

Get out of here!

Mistress!

Who are you?

I'm Yosaku. I once asked you

for permission to fell a tree.

I'm master Shigetomo's apprentice.

- Master of Buddhist statues?

- Yes.

Mistress! Mistress!

My horse!

Mistress!

I will punish you later.

Just wait!

Go!

I'm... dying.

- Mistress!

- Hold on!

Miss Yuki, your arrival here

was no accident.

I beg you, take care of Yosaku!

Yes.

Yosaku will surely become master.

But someone should help him.

Miss Yuki, please,

marry Yosaku!

Yes... But...

I beg you!

It's an imposition,

but if you wish...

Thanks!

- Mistress!

- Mistress!

- What? The old woman died?

- Yes. You need not punish her now.

It's enough! But what about

the woman?

The woman?

I ask you,

what became of this girl?

She married Yosaku, performing

the dying request of the old woman.

Do you like me?

Yes, I do.

Since the first time I saw you.

And I do also...

Really?

Yuki...

Why is your body so cold?

Where did you disappear to?

Your face is turning blue!

- I don't feel very well.

- What happened? Is everything okay?

Yes... It is better already.

- Let us return home.

- Yes. Let us return home.

Are you all right?

Let me give you a hand.

Oh, it is the Bailiff!

What an unexpected visit!

What happened?

Some pressing matter?

As you know, I was invited into

the capital by the high court Official.

I have arrived this morning.

Fortunately, I met there

this man.

Who is he?

His name is Gykei, he's a master of

Buddhist statues in the capital.

He belongs to the school of Unkei.

He's a very famous master.

Let me introduce myself, Gykei.

By the way, he was the one

I wish to talk to you about.

I heard your temple needed

the main sacred statue.

Please, entrust its production

to master sculptor Gykei.

I'm very grateful

for your proposal,

but I've already entrusted it

to Yosaku, Shigetomo's apprentice.

I understand! If Shigetomo made

the statue, it would be another story,

but this is too great an honor

for an unknown youth.

Besides that, I've heard that

five years have already passed

since you entrusted him

with this work.

Five years have passed already,

but he has done nothing!

May I speak?

I have heard that it requires 4-5 years

to dry the material for the statue.

Yosaku is probably waiting

until the material is ready.

I understand!

But I say you entrusted

an unknown master

with producing the main sacred

statue for the state temple.

What will you do,

if he does not finish it?

He has not started to work yet,

so let Gykei also do it.

We will look at their works

and select the best.

Do you have any objections?

Well, it sounds very convincing.

I will agree.

I am so happy!

Because I've got a good wife.

I feel the same about you.

Also, you're a marvelous mother.

I hope...

my son also thinks so...

You're a good mother. Moreover, you are

still as beautiful as you were before.

Gykei, he is your competitor.

Yosaku, Gykei is a very famous master.

We've decided just now that he'll also produce

a main sacred statue for the temple.

But this work was entrusted

to you, wasn't it?

Show us what you are

capable of.

- This woman...

- What?

I've hunted for women in the capital

for five years,

but among them, there was none

to compare with her.

She is even more beautiful

than she was before.

The Bailiff supports Gykei.

But I won't lose to him!

I have changed in these five years.

Now, now, near the small

brook behind the house,

A snake lived before,

and a tortoise lives now.

A common tortoise,

but it steals people.

Yesterday it took four people,

and today five more.

A family of nine people in all.

And these stolen people

disappeared...

Tar doesn't sing!

Don't you know this song?

Then don't bother us!

His mom!

She will punish us. Let's run!

Tar.

Everything is okay, your mom is here.

Are you injured?

Mom, teach me to sing

this song!

You are too young,

it is difficult for you!

- No. Teach me!

- Will you be able to memorize it?

Now, now...

near the small brook

behind the house

a snake lived before,

and a tortoise lives now.

A common tortoise.

But it steals people.

Yesterday it took four people,

and today five.

A family of nine people.

And these stolen people

disappeared.

Now, now.

Mom!

You must win certainly,

otherwise I'll lose my honour.

You're the famous Gykei.

You produce such splendid statues,

Yosaku won't be be able to compete with

you, even if he stands on his head.

Villagers usually know

nothing of high society.

Yes, that is so. They're like

the frogs that live in the well.

Yosaku competes with you,

but there are boundaries,

and he doesn't know

his place.

It seems to me he's poor, and also has

a low position for this kind of work.

But he's very self-confident.

By the way, his wife

doesn't match him either.

Don't worry, everything

will be alright.

It's unfair!

Gykei has apprentices,

but you have to do everything yourself.

Yosaku! Is Yosaku home?

Official!

What are you doing?

We're arresting him for cutting down a tree

on the land of the Bailiff. Do not resist!

This is unbelievable! He gave me

permission to cut down the tree!

Shut up! The Bailiff says

he knew nothing about it.

What are you waiting for?

Take him away!

Wait!

My husband obtained an order

from the state temple!

He must carry out this work!

You can't take him away!

We'll take him away, regardless.

Take him!

Wait!

The Bailiff is a merciful person.

If you want to save your husband,

you should serve the Bailiff.

What?

The Bailiff likes you.

You will obtain glory and wealth.

Villain!

What? You don't accept?

Fine!

Then, pay me the penalty for illegally

felling the tree: three gold coins.

What did you say?

I will sell you this tree

for three gold coins.

But if not, we'll take away Yuki and

she won't return while she lives.

- I will pay!

- Yuki!

You will pay?

Well, we'll give you

five days, alright? Five days!

Yes, that is fine.

If you don't pay in five days,

the Bailiff will be waiting

for you impatiently.

Five days, five days...

You! How could you make

this promise?

This is illegal! How can such

unscrupulous people live in this world!

Yes, it's illegal, but the Bailiff

has a higher position than we have.

But isn't there someone

above the Bailiff?

The Bailiff has a patron.

He occupies an important position

in Mino.

I see... Patron...

You can't personally present

an application!

You can just pass it

through the Bailiff.

But I can't. That is why I am here

in person. Please, allow me!

Impossible!

The master is away now.

Then, allow me to give it to his wife.

I think we'll understand each other.

Impossible. Madam is busy

because her child suddenly became ill!

Child?

Can you cure him?

Can you?

If something happens to him

before the Master returns...

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