The Golden Country by Shusaku Endo Read Free Book Online Page A

and Norosaku leave the room
    FERREIRA (bringing out the painting of Christ): Lord, how long must I go on with this painful pretense? Why must these innocent ones suffer tomorrow under the whips of the persecutors? In spite of all, your face remains so silent and unperturbed. Too silent, too unperturbed. At the river of boiling water, in the death-colored streets of India, I tried to come at least one step closer to your face. But at this moment what I want to see is not your serene face, but your suffering face—your face lined with fear and disfigured with sweat and blood. "And now Christ was in an agony and prayed still more earnestly; his sweat fell to the ground like thick drops of blood."
With the painting of Christ in his hands, he walks staggeringly offstage. The sound of a creaking door, Hatsu silently enters.
    HATSU (looking about): Norosaku.
Norosaku follows her onstage.
    HATSU: Do you understand, Norosaku? You want to eat your fill, don't you? You want to have enough millet and dried fish, don't you?
    NOROSAKU: Father said I should spend the day thinking about what I'd eat.
    HATSU: Then, Norosaku, listen carefully to what I tell you. I can't bear to see Yuki's tear-stained face. Can you go to Nagasaki by yourself?
    NOROSAKU: I'll go. I'll go.
    HATSU: You know my cousin Tome who works in the candle shop, don't you? Will you go to her and tell her that I've a favor to ask of her and that she should meet me secretly at Ienontsuji. Don't forget the place— Ienontsuji. Do you have it? You want to eat your fill of millet and dried fish, don't you?
    CURTAIN

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ACT TWO SCENE TWO
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The scene is the Bureau of Investigation. It is evening. Tomonaga Sakuemon is sitting alone. Gennosuke enters.
    GENNOSUKE: Please wait a moment, sir. Inoue-dono will be in shortly.
    TOMONAGA: He sent word that he had something special to talk over with me. You don't happen to know what it is, do you?
    GENNOSUKE: No, I have no idea.
    TOMONAGA (pointing to an hourglass): That's a most unusual piece, isn't it?
    GENNOSUKE: It's an hourglass given to Inoue-dono by the Dutch traders in Dejima.
Gennosuke bows and prepares to retire.
    TOMONAGA: Gennosuke.
    GENNOSUKE: Yes.
    TOMONAGA: You've really made good.
    GENNOSUKE: Thank you, sir. But why do you say this now? You've been observing me all along.
    TOMONAGA: The old days suddenly came to mind. Your mother must be happy at your success.
    GENNOSUKE: You've all helped me to achieve it.
    TOMONAGA: Gennosuke, success is very important for a samurai. But there is something else of importance-virtue. Just as a woman, a samurai too must have a virtuous heart. Don't forget that.
    GENNOSUKE: No, sir, I won't.
Gennosuke retires. Tomonaga sits with his eyes fixed on the floor, deep in thought. Hirata enters from the garden.
    HIRATA: Oh, it's you.
    TOMONAGA: Hirata-dono.
    HIRATA: Have you seen Inoue yet?
    TOMONAGA: No. What does he want to see me about?
    HIRATA (feigning ignorance): Could it be about your daughter again?
Gennosuke, who has just entered with tea, perks up his ears.
    TOMONAGA: But we declined the proposal on the last occasion.
    HIRATA: This is a different matter.... She's as pretty as a flower. No wonder that Lord Omura is taken with her.
    TOMONAGA: Lord Omura?
    HIRATA: What, haven't you heard?
    TOMONAGA: I've heard nothing.
    HIRATA: Then I shouldn't be telling you this since Inoue hasn't said anything to you yet... but I'm very envious of you.
    TOMONAGA: What's this all about?
    HIRATA: Very well, I'll tell you. But promise not to let on to Inoue that I said anything. He'd be furious with me.
    TOMONAGA: I promise.
    HIRATA: You know, I think, that one of the chief samurai of the Omura clan, Omura Ietada, came here secretly the other day.
    TOMONAGA: Yes. I was formerly a retainer of the Omuras, so I came to pay my respects.
    HIRATA (keeping Tomonaga in suspense): That's a very unusual clock isn't it? It's an hourglass sent over by the Dutch traders.
    TOMONAGA: Hirata ...
    HIRATA: One of the chief