The Sorceress' Revolt
Author: Toriumi Jinzō
Translator: Ainikki the Archivist
Ko Biji's Story
Part Three: Ko Biji
After about a month, Tanshi was able to stand and walk with the help of his pewter staff. This was the result of Ko Biji's careful nursing. He went out into the forest around the hut with Ko Biji under a crisp autumn blue sky. The mountain forest wore its brightest colors, and the peace all around made Hakūn-do Cave seem like nothing but a terrifying dream.
Tanshi turned his sights on Mount Yunmeng, but it wasn't visible from here. Another peak blocked the mountain from his sight.
En Kō must be the guardian of the Heavenly Book. He said that he would kill anyone who entered Hakūn-do Cave. Did someone else order him to do that? En Kō is... some kind of monster. An ancient monster. How old is he? He said that he struck down a servant of the First Emperor, thirteen hundred years ago...
En Kō had called the Heavenly Book "Iwakagami." That was what he'd said. The First Emperor had heard rumors of the book and sent people to retrieve it. Hakūn-do Cave was a real place; Tanshi was still getting used to that idea.
Ko Biji ran through the trees, carrying a long wooden stick. Her movements were smooth and precise; Tanshi found it difficult not to stare. Ko Biji's educated speech meant that she must have spent some time in the cities, but that was difficult to imagine as she ran hither and yon all over the mountain, clearly enjoying herself. She had a wealth of knowledge about the mountain's edible plants and medicines.
I've never seen a person run like this... but the fox near Chō Kin's home moved like that, Tanshi thought.
Wielding her wooden stick, Ko Biji chased a hare out of a bush. The stick flew from her hands and impaled the hare straight through.
Tanshi stood there, stunned.
*** One day, when Tanshi was able to walk freely without relying on a cane, the two went down to the valley to catch fish. The setting sun shone brightly behind the mountain, casting its edges in a golden glow. Ko Biji cooked their fish over a fire.
Tanshi wasn't very used to eating fish, but he was getting used to the smell. Fish was good for his recovery, and he ate it without complaint.
Tanshi rolled up the sleeves of his robe, went into the water, and stretched out his hands. The cool water felt good on his overheated skin. When he felt movement about his hands, he pulled. "I caught one! It's... a carp!" Tanshi called out.
Ko Biji heard him call out and rushed to the side of the river, half-hidden in the shadows of sunset. She was naked, running at top speed.
"Ah!" Tanshi closed his eyes. He'd never seen Ko Biji naked before. He could hear her moving, but did not open his eyes.
He couldn't stay blind forever. Tanshi opened his eyes and turned around in a circle. Ko Biji was nowhere to be found. "Where did she go?"
When he turned around again, Ko Biji was waving at him from a bamboo grove. He couldn't see her clearly, but she was still at least half-naked. She laughed.
Tanshi wasn't very used to eating fish, but he was getting used to the smell. Fish was good for his recovery, and he ate it without complaint.
Tanshi rolled up the sleeves of his robe, went into the water, and stretched out his hands. The cool water felt good on his overheated skin. When he felt movement about his hands, he pulled.
No comments:
Post a Comment