I breezed past the gates like a large bird and set my sights on the Yellow River. I was silver cutting through the sky.
“I’m opening up now. Just hold on… What? Your brother’s with you too?”
My old friend’s voice was accompanied by the sound of heavy feet. I could hear my friend running around frantically, picking things up inside. This went on for what I thought was a long time before, finally, the rough wooden door was pulled open.
There was a small round hole in the door, and my brother informed us that, given his small stature, he could surely slip through. He then demonstrated that he could and laughed.
It was the custom of the takezoku to have nobler houses further inland on the mountain, which meant that here, close to the river, was where the takezoku of low birth gathered. The small square house stank of livestock, but I liked coming to this area anyway.
We stepped in through the front door. The floor inside was made of the same earth as outside. Several people were still asleep, tucked away in blackout fabric suspended by old, frayed ropes stretching down from the ceiling. My friend welcomed us with a vessel of water buffalo blood taken that very night. Fresh and delicious. My brother was surprised, but he quickly gave his thanks politely and began to lap it up in a refined manner.
The back door led to the river and was set up so that you could come and go on a small boat. They had a large ship they were building, almost overly enthusiastically, anchored on the shore. And it appeared to be very nearly finished. When I asked what on earth it was for, I was told, “It’s just a pleasure boat! Although this one lets you go a little farther to have your fun.”
Thinking this suspicious, I stared at the ship.
“But what on earth is going on?” my friend said loudly, as if to distract me. “I mean, you never come over this early!”
“Oh, my second brother’s such a worrywart. He’s afraid of the situation outside, so he told me to go take a look. He won’t go himself, you know.”
“Ha ha! I guess you are always prowling around like this, though.” My friend suddenly lowered his voice. “Oh, outside. You mean not us, but those people, yeah? So like, that, we’re also, like you lot…”
Perhaps awakened by the sounds of our conversation, young men and woman began to drop down from the hammocks above us. Their slender naked bodies were exposed in the faint light of the oil lamp for a moment before they quickly pulled capes around themselves. They set shining hats on their heads before joining the seated circle one after another.
As they passed around a chipped vessel filled to the brim with water buffalo blood, they scrambled to be the first to share their own opinions and thoughts.
“It’s been a month already. And the outlanders just keep on coming, right?”
“They’re not villagers. They don’t look like farmers.”
“One of them gave me this red book. It’s poetry. At first, they didn’t see the takezoku as enemies, you know? And this girl said it’d be bad for her to have a book of poetry, so she gave it to me. She told me so many stories. It was fun. She said she was a university student from Beijing.”
“Beijing? University? What’s that?” I asked.
“At any rate, they’re not like the people who’ve always lived on the mountain. They think differently, they act differently. And they really don’t trust the takezoku. So they’re out there like that, every night.”
“It’s like they’re keeping watch on us,” another said.
“So, like, I heard they have a plan to attack us,” my friend said. “Well, I mean, we’re the stronger ones, though. I wonder what they’re going to do.”
“They threw rocks at me before.”
“Ah ha ha! Even though you’re stronger than some rock!”
“But it’s gotten harder to live on this mountain, you know?”
“Mm.”
“Yeah.”
And they gradually fell quiet. The sounds of breathing and fabric rustling echoed inside the hut. It was a strange silence. Like it was hiding something.
The burbling of the river was refreshing. I sighed along with it and brought the vessel to my lips when it came around to me again. Passed it to my brother. He had a strange look on his face as he glanced around at the assembled lowborn youths, but then perhaps understanding something in the silence, he began to ask questions about how to raise and prepare water buffalo. His innocent voice, free of any ill will, eased the tension in the room, and everyone started enthusiastically explaining the ins and outs of raising livestock.
Outside, the current of the river abruptly quickened and slackened over and over. Each time, the half-built boat rocked back and forth and thumped against the bank.
“Still, it’s a large boat, hmm?” I looked back as we were about to leave. “Big enough for livestock even.”
“Ha ha ha! The animals’d run around too much! And they’re probably too big anyway! I mean, it’s just a pleasure craft.”
Even as he laughed, my friend averted his eyes seemingly apologetically for some reason. What on earth was that about? Then the boat made another large clunking noise.
The road home.
I flew past the castle gates once more. There were slightly fewer humans with torches. Some had grown tired and had settled themselves on the ground.
“But, you know, it’s scary, Sis,” my younger brother said, looking down on them. “ ’Cause we don’t know why they’re out here like this.”
“Mm.”
“I wonder why they hate us? I mean, we haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Where there is knowledge, there is not fear!” I said.
“Huh?”
“That means if we knew who those people were and what they were thinking, they wouldn’t be scary anymore.”
“Oh. Honestly, Sis, talking fancy again… What’re we gonna do?”
“I think we should ask Father. I mean, he knows more than we do.”
“What?!” My brother was surprised. “Father is so scary!”
“He is not! He might be imposing, but he’s a person of reason. Which is exactly why he’s able to rule the takezoku. His governance classes are also fascinating. If we ask him, he should answer us.”
“You go ahead then.” He clung to me tightly. And his tiny body was shaking! Was he really so afraid of Father?
“Yup! C’mon, tardiness is strictly forbidden! We have to get to class!”
“Ugh! You’re so serious. I mean, you could skip out sometimes like our sisters, you know.”
“Hey! What did you just say?”
“N-nothing!”
Grinning at each other, we descended rapidly, flaring into a ball of frozen orange and blue flame, and charged into the castle hall. Everyone else had already left, and the countless silver ropes dangling from the ceiling twisted and shook in the wind we blew up.
We made our way down the twisting and winding hallways to a small room deep in the castle where our father taught us governance. The air was silent and chilled. Countless flames flickered in countless candlestands attached to the walls, each one a different shape. The candles were all different sizes and colors, too. Red flames greeted us.
We took the seats at the very back among the low floor desks arranged in the room. Soon enough, our brothers and sisters came flying in from the hallway, laughing and chatting. They settled in gracefully at their desks in front of us and then stopped moving entirely, as if they were posing for a painting.
The candles flickered slightly. No doubt this was how it had been since time immemorial, the children of the royal family coming together in this way. Snowflakes wandered in on the night wind that blew in from outside.
And then my second brother looked back, his neck practically creaking, and raised his eyebrows. So? How was it outside? I started to answer—So, all right—when the magnificent door, featuring a
depiction of a bamboo grove awash in moonlight, opened without a sound, and in came our father. I hurriedly closed my mouth. The six children of the royal family fell prostrate as one and welcomed the king.
“Now, then.” My forehead firmly pressed against the floor, I heard my father’s low voice above me. A sonorous voice with no hint of emotion. This was the voice of a king! “We’ll begin tonight’s lesson!”
I slowly lifted my head, unconsciously trembling. The children of the royal family each took a writing brush in hand. I looked up at the king with quiet admiration and fear.
Because the takezoku did not visibly age, at first glance he appeared to be the same age as his children. He was even slightly shorter than my older brothers. Thick eyebrows, large eyes and nose. He was wrapped in the heavy silver fabric that was the mark of the king, and standing on one leg, he slowly lowered himself to the ground, with one knee raised. The eyes he turned on us were cold and solemn. He had that particularly frightening look of someone who had borne a heavy responsibility for many years, a face which permitted absolutely no emotion.
But before he became king, he was a regular little boy. Cheerful, thoughtful, you know? I’d heard the takezoku commoners say with long sighs, but I couldn’t believe it. The aura of intensity hanging around my father was simply too much that of a king.
Now then, the lesson. Again tonight, it was long and abstruse. My older sisters were quick to grumble, forthright in admitting they didn’t understand a thing. My older brothers tried their hardest, but halfway through, they got lost. I was the only one who managed to somehow grasp the theory and ask what were apparently appropriate questions. While also helping my little brother next to me with quiet hints and explanations.
When the lesson was finally over, everyone let out exhalations of relief. And then my father began to call my older brothers and sisters before him one by one.
He turned first to my eldest brother. “You are the one who will inherit my place,” he announced, his voice low and serious. “This means you will be the next king. All of this will be on your shoulders. Be strong!”
My eldest brother’s face shone. “Yes, Father!” he replied, proudly.
“Dismissed!”
“Yes, sir!”
My second brother, then my sisters followed, and then finally child number five was called up. Me. My heart was filled with both anticipation and anxiety as I wondered what on earth he would say to me. I timidly lifted my head to see him looking down on me with unexpectedly severe eyes for some reason.
“You.”
“Y-yes…”
“You are a very smart child. Which is why you must support your eldest brother. He will be king and may need it.”
Aah, he’d complimented me! I was delighted. “Yes, Father!” I said, my eyes sparkling, like my eldest brother’s had earlier.
“But when he does not need it, you must not raise your head!”
“What?”
“Knowing one’s place is also a kind of intelligence!”
“Y…y-y-yes, sir…”
“Dismissed!”
Prostrated deeply before him, I forced myself not to cry and then stood and stepped back. I felt like the others were staring at me after witnessing this, grinning at me getting carried away just because I had some brains in my head. I was embarrassed. Was I an arrogant little sister? I could hear my older sisters whispering to each other What did that mean just now? Huh? It’s too difficult, I don’t know. I heard my little brother being called upon and was surprised. Even the little one was getting a warning today.
Dejected, I returned to my seat. The flames of the candles flickered two, three times in the wind, and it felt like the air in the room shook.
“Outside? I see.” Father nodded slowly. “So you lot are concerned as well.”
Even though I’d just been told not to butt in, I couldn’t stop the question from slipping out of my mouth. But my second brother praised me with his eyes—Nice work, little sister. Thanks for asking—so I looked up at Father expectantly. My eldest brother feigned ignorance of the whole affair. And my sisters just exchanged uneasy glances.
Father looked around at his children briefly. “I’ve been thinking quite a lot about that situation. I’ve had meeting after meeting with my ministers. Now I suppose you’re all frightened, then?”
“Those people? They’re not the least bit frightening!” my second brother countered, and then looked around helplessly at our older brother and sisters.
“This is because of the Cultural Revolution.” A cold smile rose up on Father’s lips.
“Huh? The Cultural Revolution?” I blurted. My little brother next to me shuddered.
Father turned to me and slowly nodded before turning back to my eldest brother. “The Chinese government has changed. Academics and students from the cities are being sent to farming villages. The humans filling up the village at the foot of the mountain are some of these, apparently. The human government never ceases to interfere with us!”
“Oh, so then…” I remembered what one of my friends had said before about the book from the Beijing university student and nodded in understanding.
“What we should fear is their nature.” Father narrowed his eyes suddenly. “Unlike the simple villagers who’ve been here since olden times, these ones, when they learn of the takezoku, only feel mistrust toward us. They have not a drop of reverence. They shun us, saying we are ‘premodern relics’ that must not exist!”
“B-but—” My eldest sister leaned forward. “They’ll surely be gone soon! Th-the mountain will be peaceful for us once again. Our beloved, wonderful mountain life!” she said in a shrill, nervous voice, like she was praying for it to be true. My eldest brother nodded in agreement—Right, of course it will.
Our father’s face grew stern, and he shook his head. “One who would be king must not embrace baseless optimism,” he intoned, solemnly. “I teach you that every night! First of all, according to one theory, it will likely be quite some time before they return to their cities.”
My eldest brother held his tongue.
“But then, Father. What are we to…?” my second sister asked tearily, pressing her hands together.
Father furrowed his brow. “We must assume the situation will continue and consider how we will respond.”
“Respond?” Once more, I was unconsciously leaning forward. When he turned piercing eyes on me, I thought, Ah, I’ve done it now. I butted in again. I hurried to prostrate myself once more. I sensed a wry smile from my father, so I looked up timidly, and he ordered me with the palm of his hand to sit up, it was fine. With relief, I took up my previous posture. But I clamped my mouth shut tightly so I wouldn’t make any more noise.
“Actually, you see.” Father looked at the faces of his children. “There’s a proposal to move. Deeper into the mountains. Into the darkness.”
“What?”
“This site was originally selected, as it was fairly deep in the mountains. I suppose it can’t be helped.”
“Father, you mean…?”
“Into the mountains! In the darkness still untouched by human hands, we will build a new castle, rebuild our houses, add to our livestock, and create a new settlement! The number of humans carrying torches only increases each night. This is the era we live in! These are the days we see ahead now. However, we must not be too hasty. We’ll likely make the announcement in a few days.”
“S-so suddenly?”
My older brothers and sisters looked at each other, baffled. The flames of the candles shimmered. I could read nothing on my father’s face. His silver crown glittered above it.
Into the mountains? Move deeper? The takezoku?
“And that is why,” my father said, rebuking my eldest brother once again, “you must be strong. Stronger than anyone else.”
My eldest brother’s face stiffened, and
he nodded. A little of the youth that had been there until moments ago disappeared, and his face suddenly seemed grown-up, as though he had awakened to his responsibility.
The flames of the candles flickered again.
“About your friends.”
“Y-yes?”
Our father stopped me after we’d flown out into the hallway and were about to go back to our rooms. I dropped awkwardly to the floor, ending up on all fours. Embarrassed, I stood up, my cheeks red.
“Friends? Um, oh! By the river? Oh! Yes. I just went and looked in on them earlier.”
“They built a boat, yes?”
I recalled the boat and nodded. Yes, a rather magnificent ship for a pleasure craft. One that looked like it could hold plenty of livestock. What on earth was it?
Father suddenly grinned. A grin followed by a flash of something very unkingly and strangely boyish. “It seems some of the commoners are beginning to see that the takezoku will move into the mountains. Some among them are thinking of other routes.”
“Other routes?” I looked up at my father and cried out, “Oh!” The king of the takezoku was examining the idea of moving the tribe into the mountains. And young people were building a boat at the same time for some reason. What if…
Father took on his very kingly stern expression again. “In meetings with my ministers, another idea was proposed. Besides climbing up into the mountains,” he said, in a solemn, quiet voice.
“Another idea?”
“We could go down the river and out to sea, go to a different land, a different country. Personally, I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but most ministers were against it. And it doesn’t seem too practical to emigrate when there are so many of us. I made an executive decision as king and rejected the proposal.”
“…I see.”
“However, if some enterprising citizens were to come up with the same idea and start building a boat on their own, that would be very interesting.”
“What?” I was stunned. “So then you’re saying you won’t stop them? You won’t punish them? I mean, they might be building a secret ship to go down the mountain on their own, to emigrate. Father? Of all people, I should think you, our fearsome king… You can’t possibly! Oh! E-excuse me! I just—” The words had just slipped out.
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