16
Eminent Authors of Japan
- loved you madly, even killing my rival under the cover of darkness. Of course you will call me a coward!
- Gohei.—What are you but a coward!
- Tomo.—If you will listen to me, I will explain. Please bear with me a little. On the night that I assaulted and killed Iori I manged to escape from Hiroshima under cover of darkness. When I had found a safe place to rest, I sat down and thought over my deed, and I realised that my fate forever afterwards would be full of hopeless uncertainty, that I must wander about for years trying to escape detection. And then the wish came to my mind that I might surrender myself after I had had one more short glance at you, madam. I knew that you would avenge your husband, and that you would follow me. I even guessed that you would journey through the villages and ports of this empire until you would meet me face to face. This decision to see you once more made me cunning, so I resolved to follow you secretly until I had seen you again. The day after I had committed the murder of your husband, I disguised myself, and again entered the city of Hiroshima, and there I remained in hiding until you started on your journey.
- Okuni.—You killed my husband, and now admit that you committed such a treacherous and cunning deed as to follow me, when you knew that I was hunting for you … Oh, I hate you!
