The Golden Country by Shusaku Endo Read Free Book Online

of Jesus on its sails.
    HATSU: Well done. Someday, Norosaku, you'll be able to go out to meet the Pope's ship, coming straight from the country called Rome, on its sails the name of Mary. And there'll be many Fathers aboard.
    NOROSAKU: On that day I'll greet the Fathers. Then they'll ask me, "Norosaku, will you have something to eat?" and I'll answer, "I will." And they'll ask me again, "Norosaku, would you like to have some sake to drink?" and I'll answer, "I would."
    HATSU: That's right.
Kasuke, Mokichi, and Ferreira enter.
    KASUKE, MOKICHI: Good-by Father.
They exit.
    HATSU (looking steadily at Ferreira): What will happen to us? ... No, no, nothing will happen. I was just telling Norosaku that in a short time we'd all go out to welcome the Pope's ship bringing over many new Fathers.
    FERREIRA: Yes, yes. There's nothing to worry about. The Lord will see that everything works out for the best.
    NOROSAKU: And that ship will take us to the temple of Paradise.
We're on our way, we're on our way,
    We're on our way to the temple of Paradise.
    The temple of Paradise is far away,
    The temple of Paradise is far away,
    But we're on our way, we're on our way,
    We're on our way to the temple of Paradise.
Father, what kind of place is Paradise?
    FERREIRA (gently): Paradise, Norosaku? It's a place where all of the present sadness and pain will have completely disappeared, where we'll enjoy ourselves completely with God.
    NOROSAKU: Then I'll be able to eat as much as I like, won't I? All the millet and dried fish I can eat. And Santa Maria will serve me.
    FERREIRA: Yes, Santa Maria will gladly serve you. It's a place where gentleness of heart will overflow like golden light. Like spring in my native Portugal.
    YUKI: Father, tell us about your country.
    NOROSAKU (with emphasis): In your country, Father, can everybody eat until they're filled?
    FERREIRA: My country? My country is Japan. I came across the far seas to become a Japanese. I'll never return again to Portugal. It's now just the country where my past is buried. Still, when I close my eyes like this, I see before me the white walls of the city. In spring the windows are all bright with red roses and the sun sparkles on the sea. When the noon Angelus drifts quietly between the rows of houses, the young girls come to a halt and make the sign of the cross.
    YUKI: Father, tell us how you left your country and came to Japan.
    FERREIRA: It took me four years to get here. I first passed along the southern coast of the hot continent called Africa. It was two years before I reached Goa in India. Many times the ship had to stop at neighboring ports because of storms or epidemics, or for lack of water. Many of the sailors died in the course of the journey. It took another year to get to Macao, and still another from Macao to Japan. Finally I reached the port of Hirado.
    YUKI: Father, why did you leave your native land? I've heard that you left behind a mother and sister.
    FERREIRA: I came because I had a dream of Japan as the golden country. I didn't dream of buried gold as did the Portuguese merchants. No, no, rather I think of Japan as the golden country where the teachings of Christ can really take root.
    YUKI: It seems to me, Father, that it is your country that is the golden country.
    FERREIRA: Distant objects always seem beautiful. What is beyond reach always attracts. That is why one's memories are always beautiful.
    NOROSAKU: That's true. That's true.
    YUKI (as if dreaming): What is beyond reach always attracts! Maybe that's why he seems so attractive.
    HATSU (trying to cover up for Yuki's slip): Are you speaking of Christ?
    YUKI: I wonder if he holds it against me.
    HATSU: Why should Christ hold anything against you?
    NOROSAKU: Yes, yes.
    FERREIRA: Now please leave me alone for a time. Yuki, Norosaku, there's nothing to worry about. Norosaku can dream about the meal that awaits him and Yuki can imagine the country I left behind. And so you will spend the day pleasantly.
Yuki, Hatsu,