Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [368]
” ‘A venerable priest from the temple of Shiga—leaning on a six-foot staff and so old that his white eyebrows grew together in a frosty peak on his forehead—was contemplating the beauty of Kannon in the waters of the lake when he chanced to catch sight of an imperial concubine from Kyōgoku. She was on her way back from Shiga, where there was a great field of flowers, and when he saw her, he was overcome with passion. The virtue that he had so arduously accumulated over the years deserted him. He was engulfed in the burning house of desire and …’
“Now, how did that go? I seem to have forgotten some of it. Ah!
” ‘ • • • and he returned to his hut made of sticks and prayed before the image of the Buddha, but a vision of the woman persisted. Though he called on the Buddha’s name, his own voice sounded like the breath of delusion. In the clouds above the mountains at twilight, he seemed to see the combs in her hair. This made him sad. When he raised his eyes to the lonely moon, her face smiled back at him. He was perplexed and ashamed.
“‘Fearing that such thoughts would prevent him from going to paradise when he died, he resolved to meet the damsel and reveal his feelings to her. In this way, he hoped to die a peaceful death.
“‘So he went to the Imperial Palace and, planting his staff firmly in the ground, stood waiting in the kickball court for an entire day and night—’ ” “Pardon me, sir! You, on the cow!”
The man seemed to be a day laborer of the sort found in the wholesale district. Coming around in front of the cow, he patted her nose and looked over her head at the rider.
“You must have come from the Mudōji,” he said.
“I did, as a matter of fact. How did you know?”
“I lent this cow to a merchant. I guess he must have left her there. I rent her out, so I’ll have to ask you to pay me for the use of her.”
“I’ll be happy to pay. But tell me, how far would you let me take her?”
“So long as you pay, you can take her anywhere. All you have to do is turn her over to a wholesaler in the town nearest where you’re going. Then somebody else’ll rent her. Sooner or later she’ll get back here.”
“How much would it cost me if I took her to Edo?”
“I’ll have to check that at the stable. It’s right on your way anyhow. If you decide to rent her, you just have to leave your name at the office.”
The wholesale district was near the ford at Uchidegahama. Since many travelers passed through there, Musashi thought it was just the place to freshen up and buy some things he needed.
After the arrangements for the cow had been made, he had a leisurely breakfast and set out for Seta, savoring the prospect of seeing Otsū again. He no longer had any misgivings about her. Until their meeting on the mountain, she had always elicited a certain fear in him, but this time it was different: her purity, intelligence and devotion on that moonlit night had made his confidence in her deeper than love.
Not only did he trust her; he knew she trusted him. He had vowed that once they were together again, he would refuse her nothing—provided, of course, it did not jeopardize his way of life as a swordsman. What had worried him before was the dread that if he allowed himself to love her, his sword would be blunted. Like the old priest in the story, he might lose the Way. That she was well disciplined was now evident; she would never become a hindrance or a fetter holding him back. His only problem now was to make sure that he himself did not drown in the deep pool of love.
“When we get to Edo,” he thought, “I’ll see she gets the type of training and education a woman needs. While she studies, I’ll take Jōtarō with me, and together we’ll find a still higher plane of discipline. Then one day, when the time comes …” Light reflected from the lake bathed his face in a gently flickering glow.
The two sections of Kara Bridge, one ninety-six column spans and the other twenty-three column spans, were linked by a small island. On the island was an ancient willow tree, a landmark for travelers.