CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLI
1937
THE BROKEN WING
RABLE
Ito Bajisama station-
on the island of Oshima in
scratched
enliye
his head
he wrote in his little
neatly and with
tempted suicides, none; the
of which
Tokyo at an early and immediate
On Oshima is the Mihariyama, mighty
of volcanoes, with the devil's gas and sulphur brewing in its bottomless gulf.
Ever since a young couple frus- trated in love had declared their dissatisfaction with the world and had forsaken hu- manity with good taste and the formal poem of farewell, Mihari had been thronged with imitators. The Government had undertaken to stop the wave of one way-tic- ket buyers to Oshima, and had placed Fajisama there to stop them
Every morning at four he arose
the dot, ate carefully and with appetite the morning rice and small loaves that Kiyoko had left for him. Then he buckled, or his sword of authority and march- ed forth to the docks of the steamship company, where he sta- tioned his round shortress near the clicking turnstiles and con-
Short Story
templated with cunning eyes the faces of those bound for a holi. day to Mihari.
When he first came to the is- land a year before, the forebod- ing aspect of the place troubled him.
On his first ascent, when Faji- sama scaled the crater and peer- ed over at the great pit yawning before him, bottomless and ap- parently filled with devils which flung poison clouds of vapour about him in pungent, stifling clouds, his heart trembled. beast had temperament.
The
At the dock entrance, Fajisama scanned the crowd swiftly. Holi- day makers mostly that old man carrying a bag and munching not he no one goes to his death eating sweetmeats. Fajisama's mind selected each face from the crowd and weighed it carefully, looking for tell-tale traces of a bowed head, a hysterical langh, a surreptitions glance. A boy, and girl hand in hand hurried through furtively..
Ohayo I beg respectful par- He bowed low from the waist. "Chief of Police Ito Fan- You are, perhaps, bound
for Mahari?””
The girl bowed her head The man his face set with pur-
sama used the interval to crowd once more. Apologetic
Your honourab
haps disapprove of your mar- riage?”
"How did you know ? -
“Ah, it is my work to know. And is it not true, also that you were about to leave the earth by way of Mihari?”
Both hung their heads acknowledgment
be
"I thought so. Young fools
chattered reprovingly.
leave the earth in vexation over a silly problem. I myself will write to your esteemed parents and ar- range permission for your be trothal
It was the young woman who spoke this time in a tearful voice. We are grateful, she said. “Our first-born shall be blessed with your name."
"Good," said Fajisama. "Now back to your parents and to life. Ah, how this hole would be filled with dead were my presence else- where. Excuse me, please," he said hurriedly, but if I am not mistaken there is a young man walking towards the crater bear- ing & look that has grown fami- liar to me. Goodbye." He hurried off his body waddling with the un- dulation of his steps.
"Young man?” he called Young man, one moment please." The young man paused uncer-
By Ivan Sandrof
tainly, then turned round. He was dressed in expensive clothes and carried a book To Fajisama this was sufficient
"Where are you going?” he in- quired politely.
"To the crater”-Curtly: “What affair is it of yours?”
"None honourable one. I was but inquiring. I was on my way to Mihari-myself. I was lonely
and unhappy” He shot a quick look at the other "Misery often walks best with guests,
“Come along, then, old one. We shall die together."
"They walked along the path winding towards the crater. Above them dark smoke pushed
"Choose," Fafisama urged, as it triumphant and honourable career
sullenly towards the sky, envious of a small cloud's whiteness.
You are, doubtless, from Tokyo, from one of the best families," Fajisama offered
The other kept a stubborn silence.
to
the pomb
The young man's
ction soon
changed instantly and grew animated with inter have done, old one hing great, of course
He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Fajisama.
Fajisama adjusted his glasses and read slowly from the poem
"He mingles with the high
ones,
My mighty Sovereign Lord, and with intensely yearning
heart
They
thing or other, MATZEE'S ha
autumn arrivals
art
oblivion
I follow hea "Excellent!" he said glance of adu companions est of poets.
"It is really returned the done better”
"Indeed ma
It
modesty Fhave
with both ears,
no
tinue to inhabit the es
Fajisama's eyes wax
The ignorant fools! To- such poetry as yours. It speaks for itself. With an intelligent publisher, which you will, no doubt, soon find you will go far." He paused as they stood before
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the early bird catches
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created ollywood for
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MAIZEE'S