Tayama Katai and His Novel Entitled Futon/Futon/Chapter 7
VII
In January of the next year, Tokio was away on geographical business to the banks of the Tone River that formed the border of the upper region of Musashi. As he had been there from the end of the preceding year, he was worried about things at home--especially Yoshiko; however, he could not neglect his official business to return home. On the second day of the New Year he made a hurried trip to Tokyo. At that time he found his wife and Yoshiko anxiously nursing his second son who had a toothache. Asking his wife how Yoshiko's love affair was going, he heard that their infatuation for each other had further intensified. Tokio also heard that Tanaka could not find a means of living, and not even able to return to his lodgings, he had slept on an all-night streetcar on New Year's eve; his wife had quarreled with Yoshiko after giving her oblique warning that these two lovers were seeing each other too frequently; and various other things. He was very annoyed. Tokio slept at home that night, returning the next day to the banks of the Tone River.
It was the night of January fifth. The dimly-ringed moon in the vast sky was reflected on the central surface of the river which broke its glistening light into pieces. Tokio was cogitating over the contents of a letter from Yoshiko that was spread out on the desk, which had been delivered to him a short time ago by a maid at the inn.
Dear Sensei:I am truly sorry. All my life I will never forget my obligation for your sympathetic understanding of my troubles, and even now when I think of your many kindnesses, I am moved to tears.
My parents are reacting as expected. In spite of what you told them, they are old-fashioned bigots, unwilling to understand our desires. I appealed to them with tears but still they would not grant our marriage. Reading my mother's letter I could not help but cry, but I do wish she was able, even a little, to understand my feelings. Now I fully realize how tormenting love can be. Sensei, I have made up my mind. Just as the Bible says a woman should forsake her parents and follow her husband, I intend to follow Tanaka.
Tanaka has yet to find a means to make a living. His savings have already been used up, and he had a wretched existence in the closing days of last year. I cannot endure standing idly by and watching his discomfort. Even if I do not receive any assistance from my parents, Tanaka and I will try to live in this world as far as it is possible by ourselves. I am truly sorry to cause you so much worry. It is natural for you to worry about me as my guardian. However, regardless of your efforts on our behalf and your explanations to my parents back home about our desires, the reaction of my parents was only one of senseless anger, and it is really inhuman of them to take no heed of our feelings; I do not care even if I am disowned. Although my parents criticize us as if we are depraved and say we have scarcely reached marriageable age, but how could our love be such a frivolous affair? Besides, they say that I should take my family status into account, but I hope you will agree with me that I am not such an old-fashioned woman as to select a husband for my parents' convenience. Sensei, my mind is made up. Yesterday, at Ueno Library I saw an advertisement for a woman apprentice, and I am going to apply for the position. I believe if we work hard we will not starve to death. As I have been staying in your house under these conditions I have given you and your wife a lot of worry for which I am truly sorry. Sensei, please forgive me for my decision.
Respectfully yours,
Respectfully yours,Yoshiko
At last the power of love had pressed them down into indulgences. Tokio felt that he could not afford to let things stand as they were. He thought of his position as a "cordial guardian," which attitude he had taken in order to win Yoshiko's favors. The chief purpose of the letter which he had sent to her father in Bitchū was to do all he could to protect their love and persuade her father to grant Yoshiko and Tanaka's wishes. Tokio knew that Yoshiko's parents would never consent to her desires. He had hoped that his suggestion would be flatly rejected by her parents. As he expected, her parents were still dead set against Tokio's suggestion. They even said that if she did not obey their orders they would disinherit her. This meant that the two lovers had received a just reward due to them. Tokio defended Yoshiko with all his might, saying that their love was not for indecent purposes, and asked one of her parents to be sure to come up to Tokyo to solve this problem. However, her parents back home rejected his request saying it would be of no use to come up to Tokyo--that Tokio who was supervising Yoshiko had a fixed opinion in the young couple's favor, and that they could never personally permit this marriage.
Tokio deliberated about the letter sent to him by Yoshiko.
By this time, the situation of the two lovers had become precarious. Tokio sensed that there were a large number of alarming elements in the bold words which indicated Yoshiko's desire to leave his supervision and live with Tanaka. Nay, he thought they might have already gone one step further. On the other hand, he became furious by her decision to disregard his whole-hearted efforts and good will on her behalf and he thought it was best to let her have her own way since she was ungrateful and senseless. Trying to calm his emotions, Tokio took a walk along a bank of the Tone River under a dimly-shining moon. Even though it was winter, it was rather warm when the moon had rings around it; the peaceful glow of lights was shining through the windows of the houses under the bank. A thin layer of mist hung over the river; from time to time, one could hear the creaking sound of oars of a passing boat. Some one from downstream calling "Ahoy!" could be heard. The sound of wheels echoed when passing over the bridge, then once more all was silent. Walking along the bank, Tokio reflected on many things. He felt the sense of homesickness more keenly than any thoughts about Yoshiko's trouble. The pains of living which men and women over thirty-five to thirty-six years of age experience most frequently--worry about their work, and sexual dissatisfaction—-all these lay heavily upon his mind with tremendous pressure. Yoshiko was both flower and nourishment for his humdrum daily life. Through her bewitching power, flowers bloomed in Tokio's heart which had been like a barren wilderness; and a rusted bell was again on the verge of ringing. Because of Yoshiko Tokio had been instilled with the vigor to again start life. After that, to be obliged to return to his previous lonely and wretched daily life! Hot tears, which were hotter and more profound than discontent or jealousy poured down his cheeks.
He worried seriously about Yoshiko's love affair and her subsequent life. He compared their ennui, weariness, and callousness, after living together, with his own experiences. And, he sympathized with woman's pitiful situation having submitted to a man's will. A pessimistic view of life for the dark mystery hidden in the inner-most depth of nature suddenly assailed Tokio.
Tokio had an urgent desire to find a just solution to their problem. It struck him that his behavior until now had been very unnatural and insincere. That night, Tokio wrote a serious letter to Yoshiko's parents in the Bitchū mountains describing in detail how Yoshiko and Tanaka were getting along and enclosed her recent letter to him. In concluding the letter he wrote:
The time has finally arrived for all of us--you as father, I as teacher, and the young ones—-to seriously discuss this problem face to face. You have your own opinion as a father, Yoshiko on her part has her right to freedom, and I have my own opinion as her teacher. I am sorry to intrude on your precious time, but I do hope that you will be able to come up to Tokyo.
Tokio put the letters into an envelope addressing it to Mr. Heizō Yokoyama, Niimi-Chō, Bitchū Prefecture. He laid it down by his side intently gazing at the envelope. He felt that this letter held her future. With a determined mind he called a maid and handed it to her for mailing.
Tokio imagined how the letter in one or two days would be delivered to her father in the Bitchū mountains. This was a small country village entirely encircled by mountains; a large white walled building stood at the center of the village; when a mailman delivered the letter, a man working in the shop received it and took the letter to his master in a back room. The master [Yoshiko's father], who was tall and had a mastache, read the letter--the moment of decision drew nearer by the minute.