Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [284]
“Mother, stop!”
The virulence of his tone made her bristle. “You have your nerve, shouting at me!”
“Just tell me this: Is the woman I marry to be my wife or yours?” “What a silly thing to say!”
“Why can’t I choose by myself?”
“Now, now. You’re always saying headstrong things. How old do you think you are? You’re not a child anymore, or have you forgotten?”
“But … well, even if you are my mother, you’re asking too much of me. It’s not fair.”
Their disagreements were often like this, beginning with a violent clash of emotions, a locking of horns in implacable antagonism. Mutual understanding was undermined before it ever had a chance to grow.
“It’s not fair?” Osugi hissed. “Whose son do you think you are? Whose belly do you think you came from?”
“There’s no point talking about that. I want to marry Otsū! She’s the one I love!” Unable to endure his mother’s ashen scowl, he directed his words to the sky.
“Son, do you mean that?” Osugi drew her short sword and pointed the blade at her throat.
“Mother, what are you doing?”
“I’ve had enough. Don’t try to stop me! Just have the decency to give me the final blow.”
“Don’t do this to me! I’m your son! I can’t stand here and let you do that!” “All right. Will you give up Otsū—right now?”
“If that’s what you wanted me to do, why did you bring her here? Why tantalize me by parading her in front of me? I don’t understand you.”
“Well, it’d be simple enough for me to kill her, but you’re the one she’s wronged. As your mother, I thought I should leave her punishment for you to carry out. It seems to me you should be grateful for that.”
“You expect me to kill Otsū?”
“Don’t you want to? If you don’t, say so! But make up your mind!” “But … but, Mother …”
“So you still can’t get over her, eh? Well, if that’s the way you feel, you’re not my son, and I’m not your mother. If you can’t cut off that hussy’s head, at least cut mine off! The final blow, please.”
Children, Matahachi reflected, are wont to make trouble for their parents, but sometimes it is the other way around. Osugi wasn’t simply browbeating him; she’d thrust him into the most difficult situation in his life. The wild look on her face shook him to the core.
“Mother, stop! Don’t do it! All right, I’ll do what you want. I’ll forget about Otsū!”
“Is that all?”
“I’ll punish her. I promise to punish her with my own hands.”
“You’ll kill her?”
“Uh, yes, I’ll kill her.”
Osugi triumphantly burst into tears of joy. Putting away her sword, she clutched her son’s hand. “Good for you! Now you sound like the future head of the House of Hon’iden. Your ancestors will be proud of you.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Go and do it now! Otsū’s waiting down there, at Chirimazuka. Hurry!”
“Mm.”
“We’ll write a letter to send back to the Shippōji with her head. Then everyone in the village will know our shame has been halved. And when Musashi hears she’s dead, his pride will force him to come to us. How glorious! .. . Matahachi, hurry up!”
“You’ll wait here, won’t you?”
“No. I’ll follow you but stay out of sight. If Otsū sees me, she’ll start whining that I went back on my promise. That would be awkward.”
“She’s only a defenseless woman,” said Matahachi, getting up slowly. “It’s no problem to do away with her, so why don’t you wait here? I’ll bring her head back. There’s nothing to worry about. I won’t let her get away.”
“Well, you can’t be too careful. She may be only a woman, but when she sees the blade of your sword, she’ll put up a fight.”
“Stop worrying. There’s nothing to it.”
Bracing himself, he started down the hill, his mother behind him, an anxious look on her face. “Remember,” she said, “don’t let your guard down!” “Are you still following me? I thought you were going to stay out of sight.” “Chirimazuka is farther down the path.”
“I know, Mother! If you insist on going, go by yourself. I’ll wait here.” “Why are you hanging back?”
“She is a human being. It’s difficult to attack her when I have the feeling it’s like killing an innocent kitten.