The Love of a Silver Fox: Folk Tales from Seki CIty

by Darvin Babiuk

PART FOUR: UNTIL THE WISTERIA PETALS FALL

  Carving images of Buddha the whole way, Enku and Tatsukichi continued walking along the road to Seki. Tatsukichi had grown since they'd first met and had no trouble keeping pace with Enku. Whenever he thought of finding his mother, it grew even quicker. But even though Enku's hair had gone almost completely white, he was as strong as ever.

  "I've walked all over Japan," he told Tatsu. "When I was young, I even made it as far as Hokkaido. Well, what did you think of Senkouji Temple? They took good care of us in Hida, didn't they? It's thanks to them that you've gotten so big."

  "Yes. Thanks to them and thanks to you."

  "Maybe," said Enku, waving a hand in dismissal. "Tatsukichi, we're going to Seki, where you were born. You'll be able to find your mother on your own. It's been so long. I wonder what became of Mirokuji temple. "

  By nightfall, they'd gotten as far as Mirokuji Temple. It was dilapidated and run down, but they stayed the night and cleaned it as much as they could. But you need money to fix a temple so Enku took Tatsukichi and left for Seki, chanting sutras on the way to earn money and rice for their meals. On the way, he started to think out loud.

  "I've been carving Buddhas and walking all over Japan in search of wisdom since I was a kid. It's been a good life. I've got nothing to regret. I wonder if there's a good place around here. I'd like to find a place for nyuujyou."

  They kept walking, until they came to a big wisteria tree near the town of Ikejiri and Enku's legs stopped with a start. The Nagara River was flowing gently nearby and the wisteria were blooming in profusion. Looking out over the river, Enku spoke to Tatsukichi.

  "Tatsukichi. Listen to me. Nyuujyou. This is the place. I'll do it here. But you'll have to help me."

  "Nyuujyou?" said Tatsukichi, looking a little dazed. "What's that?"

  "A religious practice. You bury yourself in the ground to pray. Sooner or later your body turns into soil, then water, and just flows away. You become earth and water so you live forever."

  "What? You're going to bury yourself? Alive?"

  "That's right. I want you to dig a big hole for me under that wisteria tree."

  "No, I won't do it!" said Tatsukichi. "Not that. I'll be all alone again."

  "There, there, Tatsu. Don't fret. It's alright. You're young, so you don't know what I'm saying. After you get older and wiser you'll understand. Come on, dig me a hole."

  Reluctantly, Tatsu began to dig the hole.

  "So long as the wisteria's flowers are blooming. I'll be living down in that hole. When they're finished, I'll die. It might be a while. I want you to get a length of bamboo so we can talk to each other," Enku said, wandering off somewhere. Just about the time the hole was finished, he came back with a big new wooden tub.

  "Tatsukichi. I want you to put this tub in the hole, then I'll go inside and you cover it with dirt."

  "What!" thought Tatsukichi, but he buried his tears and began praying as he did what Enku said.

  "Nanman dabutsu, nanman dabutsu." Tears flowing from his eyes, he filled in the hole with trembling hands. In no time, the tub was covered with dirt. When he finished, the earth was wet with Tatsukichi's tears.

  The next day, he put his ear to the bamboo tube and listened.

  "Gyatei, gyatei . . . " he could hear Enku's voice coming from the hole. He was reciting the sutras. The next day it was the same, and the next. Then, one day, the wisteria petals fell and Enku's voice was gone. He went over to the side of the pond and faced the Nagara River.

  "Eeenkkuuuu! Mooo-theer!" he cried, sitting there day after day.

  ***THE END***