羅生門 Rashomon (第2/9頁)

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Afteraloudftofsneezinghegotuslowly.TheeveningchillofKyotomadehimlongforthewarmthofabrazier.Thewindintheeveningduskhowledthroughthecolumnsofthegate.Thecricketwhichhadbeenerchedonthecrimson-lacqueredcolumnwasalreadygone.

Duckinghisneck,helookedaroundthegate,anddrewutheshouldersofthebluekimonowhichheworeoverhisyellowthinunderwear.Hedecidedtosendthenightthere,ifhecouldfindasecludedcornershelteredfromwindandrain.Hefoundabroadlacqueredstairwayleadingtothetoweroverthegate.Noonewouldbethere,excetthedead,iftherewereany.So,takingcarethattheswordathissidedidnotslioutofthescabbard,hesetfootontheloweststeofthestairs.

Afewsecondslater,halfwayuthestairs,hesawamovementabove.Holdinghisbreathandhuddlingcat-likeinthemiddleofthebroadstairsleadingtothetower,hewatchedandwaited.Alightcomingfromtheustairsshoneonhisrightcheekwiththered,festeringimlevisibleunderhisstubbywhiskers.Hehadexectedonlydeadeoleinsidethetower,buthehadonlygoneuafewstesbeforehenoticedafreabove,aboutwhichsomeonewasmoving.Hesawadull,yellow,fickeringlightwhichmadethecobwebshangingfromtheceilingglowinaghostlyway.WhatsortofersonwouldbemakingalightintheRashomon……andinastorm?Theunknown,theevilterrifedhim.

Asquietlyasalizard,theservantcretutothetoofthesteestairs.Crouchingonallfours,andstretchinghisneckasfarasossible,hetimidlyeeedintothetower.

Asrumorhadsaid,hefoundseveralcorsesstrewncarelesslyaboutthefoor.Sincetheglowofthelightwasfeeble,hecouldnotcountthenumber.Hecouldonlyseethatsomewerenakedandothersclothed.Someofthemwerewomen,andallwerelollingonthefoorwiththeirmouthsoenortheirarmsoutstretchedshowingnomoresignsoflifethansomanyclaydolls.Onewoulddoubtthattheyhadeverbeenalive,soeternallysilenttheywere.Theirshoulders,breasts,andtorsosstoodoutinthedimlight；otherartsvanishedinshadow.Theoffensivesmellofthesedecomosedcorsesbroughthishandtohisnose.

Thenextmomenthishanddroedandhestared.Hecaughtsightofaghoulishformbentoveracorse.Itseemedtobeanoldwoman,gaunt,gray-haired,anddeliriousinaearance.Withainetorchinherrighthand,shewaseeingintothefaceofacorsewhichhadlongblackhair.

Seizedmorewithhorrorthancuriosity,heevenforgottobreatheforatime.Hefeltthehairofhisheadandbodystandonend.Ashewatched,terrifed,shewedgedthetorchbetweentwofoorboardsand,layinghandsontheheadsofthecorse,begantoulloutthelonghairsonebyone,asamonkeykillstheliceofheryoung.Thehaircameoutsmoothlywiththemovementofherhands.

Asthehaircameout,fearfadedfromhisheart,andhishatredtowardtheoldwomanmounted.Itgrewbeyondhatred,becomingaconsumingantiathyagainstallevil.Atthisinstantifanyonehadbroughtuthethequestionofwhetherhewouldstarvetodeathorbecomeathief-thequestionwhichhadoccurredtohimalittlewhileago-hewouldnothavehesitatedtochoosedeath.Hishatredtowardevilfareduliketheieceofinewoodwhichtheoldwomanhadstuckinthefoor.

Hedidnotknowwhysheulledoutthehairofthedead.Accordingly,hedidnotknowwhetherhercasewastobeutdownasgoodorbad.Butinhiseyes,ullingoutthehairofthedeadintheRashomononthisstormynightwasanunardonablecrime.Ofcourseitneverenteredhismindthatalittlewhileagohehadthoughtofbecomingathief.

Then,summoningstrengthintohislegs,herosefromthestairsandstrode,handonsword,rightinfrontoftheoldcreature.Thehagturned,terrorinhereyes,andsrangufromthefoor,trembling.Forasmallmomentsheaused,oisedthere,thenlungedforthestairswithashriek.