Fish of the Seto Inland Sea. Ruri Pilgrim

Tetsu’s nephew, who had run away from his family trade of stonemasonry, had come home and was often at Rinji’s house.

      â€˜People are saying that Tetsu is passing a lot of money to her family. She may eventually adopt her nephew as their heir,’ Shobei’s wife said to him one night. ‘That nephew of hers does not have a good reputation. I think you must have a word with Rinji san.’

      When she told Shobei this, his wife felt a sense of retaliation. She had been brought up in an old family which still prided itself on its bygone samurai status. It was beyond her comprehension that her own family should mix socially with people like stonemasons and vendors. Her own son Rinji should not have been treated like a good-for-nothing. She felt rebellious now and again against Shobei’s dogmatic ruling of the family, and she had opposed Rinji’s marriage as strongly as she dared.

      Now Shobei turned to Rinji.

      â€˜I hear that Tetsu is passing a lot of money to her family. Is that true?’ he asked without further preliminaries.

      â€˜Oh, well, you know, otohsan, how it is. She might have helped them out once or twice, a little here and there.’

      â€˜You do not have a plan for adopting your wife’s nephew as your successor, do you?’

      â€˜Oh, I don’t think so. Nothing definite yet, anyway.’

      â€˜Good,’ Shobei said. ‘You will adopt your niece Haruko. One day she can take a husband and succeed your family.’

      As Rinji did not answer right away, Shobei said, ‘That is the best plan for you.’

      â€˜Yes, otohsan.’

      â€˜When Haruko is a little older, I will explain to her and we will make it public. At the moment, it will suffice to decide among ourselves.’

      Haruko and Shuichi. Between the two, the families would continue safely, Shobei thought.

      Towards the end of the year, Shobei called on Tei-ichi.

      â€˜I came to apologise to both of you,’ Shobei began to say to Tei-ichi. Kei appeared with cups of tea, bowed, and started to leave the room. Shobei stopped her.

      â€˜I asked you to give us your daughter and promised that we would make her happy. Now, I have made her a young widow.’

      â€˜Don’t be absurd!’ Tei-ichi was genuinely moved. ‘Even if it was not long enough, Ayako had a lovely life with your family and now has wonderful children. She does not regret, neither do we.’

      â€˜Thank you.’

      After a pause, Shobei said, ‘I came to ask you a favour. I have been thinking about Ayako and the children a lot recently. Since Shintaro died, her days are very lonely. The children, too, need a more lively atmosphere. I wonder if you would agree to have Ayako and the children come to live with you. It is not that I am giving them back to you. If you accept, I would like to provide for them.’

      Soon after that, Ayako and the four children went back to live in the Shirais’ house in Kitani village. Ayako insisted on leaving most of her belongings at the Miwas until later. The children were told that they would be staying at their Shirai grandparents for a holiday. They wrapped some of their clothes in small bundles, each using a furoshiki, a square cloth.

      â€˜What about our school things?’ Haruko asked.

      â€˜You take them with you. We will be there for a while as Yasu ojisama is coming home from Tokyo.’

      â€˜We can play with Hiden sama!’ They were delighted. Hideto was the youngest of Kei’s sons and only two years older than Takeko. They called him Hide niisama, older brother, instead of ojisama, uncle, but the pronunciation had degenerated to Hiden sama. He was an excellent swimmer, gymnast and runner. He was a hero among the children.

      Ayako insisted on walking. She wanted to make the leaving as casual as possible. A servant carried Shuichi’s furoshiki and the children ran and chatted.

      â€˜A nice day. Where are you going, Shu dansama as well?’ Villagers stopped and asked.

      â€˜We are visiting the Shirais. My brother is coming home from Tokyo,’ Ayako replied politely.

      When Ayako had come to Shobei’s study to say goodbye, both of them made light of the leave-taking.

      â€˜Give Shirai oji-isama and obahsama my regards, and all of you, be good. I will come and see you soon,’ Shobei said to the four children.

      Although his study was built away from the main house and he had seldom heard the children before, the quietness was oppressive.

      â€˜What I have done is best for Ayako and the children.’ He rested his chin in the cup of his hands and looked at the garden. ‘The Shirais’ sons are wonderful company for Shuichi. He needs boys around him. And Ayako ... I could not bear watching a beautiful young woman living day after day, lonely and quiet, just waiting for her children to grow up. I don’t think she would want to re-marry even if she was advised to take another husband. She is thinking of Shintaro all the time. Every corner of this house reminds her of the days she has been happy with him.’

      â€˜Yes, I have done the right thing. The Shirais are a lively family, Kei san will not let Ayako dwell on memories. Ayako will eventually regain her cheerful self that Shintaro loved so much. We all did ...’

      Shobei stayed in his study all day.

5

       Spring

      In the spring, lots of snakes came out from between the stones of the walls surrounding the Shirais’ house. Haruko and Sachiko were collecting cast-off snake skins which were like lace. It was six months since they had returned to their grandparents’ house with their mother.

      â€˜Good afternoon, girls,’ a tall black figure said. The two girls looked at each other and ran away from him to the back of the house.

      â€˜Where is Hiden sama?’

      Shige’s husband stopped cutting wood and, resting his hands on the handle of the axe, told them, ‘He was with Shu dansama in the garden.’ The two boys were target shooting with handmade bows and arrows. The girls ran to them.

      â€˜Hiden sama, Shu-chan.’

      Hideto ignored them. Shuichi copied everything that Hideto did.

      â€˜Listen,’ Haruko said, panting, and Sachiko giggled. ‘The crow has come.’

      â€˜Oh, no.’ Hideto stopped shooting and looked at the girls.

      â€˜I have an idea,’ Haruko said. ‘Let’s all run away to the woods and hide. Are you coming, Hiden sama?’

      If they were going to the woods, they needed Hideto to protect them from snakes, village boys and all sorts of dangers.

      The crow was a nickname the children had given to Rev. Kondo because of his long black robe. He came every Wednesday afternoon from a nearby town to perform Christian services at the Shirais’. Everybody at home including the servants was expected to attend. Shobei had ordered an organ for Ayako from Tokyo and a former schoolmistress, came and played it.

      Not only was the service boring for the children, but Rev. Kondo had an unnaturally long face. When his jaw was pulled down to sing a hymn, the girls and young maids