Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things

Ghost Stories original: "Kwaidan" (怪談)

Hōïchi was too startled, for the moment, to respond; and the voice called again, in a tone of harsh command—

"Hōïchi!"

"Yes!" original: "Hai!" answered the blind man, frightened by the threat in the voice. "I am blind! I cannot know who calls!"

"There is nothing to fear," the stranger exclaimed, speaking more gently. "I am staying near this temple and have been sent to you with a message. My current lord, a person of exceedingly high rank, is now staying in Akamagaséki the modern-day city of Shimonoseki with many noble attendants. He wished to view the scene of the Battle of Dan-no-ura a famous naval battle in 1185 where the Taira clan was defeated, and today he visited that place. Having heard of your skill in reciting the story of the battle, he now desires to hear your performance. So, you will take your biwa a four-stringed Japanese lute and come with me at once to the house where the noble assembly original: "august assembly" is waiting."

In those times, the order of a samurai a member of the Japanese warrior caste was not to be lightly disobeyed. Hōïchi put on his sandals, took his biwa, and went away with the stranger, who guided him skillfully but obliged him to walk very fast. The hand that guided him felt like iron, and the clank of the warrior's stride proved him to be fully armed—likely some palace guard on duty. Hōïchi's first alarm was over; he began to imagine him-