More Portmanteau Plays Part 7

[_They leave. Obaa-San turns to the tree. The Gaki enters, strangely agitated._

THE GAKI

Obaa-San, for so they called you, tell me--did you say you'd go to the lowest h.e.l.ls if you might know the touch of your own child?

OBAA-SAN

Forever--could I but fill this emptiness in my mother-heart.

THE GAKI

Would you really pay?

OBAA-SAN

Yes, yes. But why do you ask?--Who are you?

THE GAKI

I am a stranger bound for Kyushu.

OBAA-SAN

Why do you, too, make sport of me?

THE GAKI

Go you into your house and come not till I call.

[_Obaa-San obeys under a strange compulsion._

THE TREE

Hai! Hai! Hai

THE GAKI

You can not feed me now. That cry was the wind amongst your branches. Come.

I bid you come to life, to human form.

THE TREE

I do not wish to come.

THE GAKI

I bid you come!

[_When he touches the trunk of the tree, Aoyagi steps forth. She is small.

Her little body is swathed in brown and from her arms hang long sleeves like the branches of the weeping willow. At first she shrinks. Then freedom takes hold on her and she opens her arms wide._

THE GAKI

You are free.

AOYAGI

Free!

THE GAKI

As free as one in life. You are bound to the tree as one might be bound to his body in a dream--but you may wander as one wanders in a dream--free until the waking--then when the tree suffers, you shall suffer. Though you be leagues away, you shall suffer.--But first you shall dream.--Now you are to be the daughter of Obaa-San.

AOYAGI

Oi!

THE GAKI

Do not call yet.--You are to wed the first young man who pa.s.ses here and you are to follow him.

AOYAGI

But--Obaa-San?

THE GAKI

She shall feed me with her new-made misery.

AOYAGI

No--no--she loved me so!

THE GAKI

She shall feed me. You will be happy.

[_He disappears._

AOYAGI

Free! And happy!

[_The Gaki's voice is heard calling Obaa-San. She comes in and looks about.

At last her old tired eyes see Aoyagi. For a moment they face each other._

AOYAGI

Hai.