Page:Anthology of Japanese Literature.pdf/127

Rh head to foot. What should he do? He was still undecided, when suddenly she burst out into a cold sweat. She seemed to be losing consciousness. “Do not fear, Sir,” said Ukon, “all her life she has been subject to these nightmare fits.” He remembered now how tired she had seemed in the morning and how she had lain with her eyes turned upwards as though in pain. “I will go myself and wake someone,” he said; “I am tired of clapping with only echoes to answer me. Do not leave her!” and drawing Ukon toward the bed he went in the direction of the main western door. But when he opened it, he found that the lamp in the cross-wing had also gone out. A wind had risen. The few attendants he had brought with him were already in bed. There was indeed only the steward’s son (the young man who had once been Genji’s bodyservant), and the one young courtier who had attended him on all his visits. They answered when he called and sprang to their feet. “Come with a candle,” he said to the steward’s son, “and tell my man to get his bow and keep on twanging the string as loud as he can. I wonder anyone should sleep so soundly in such a deserted place. What has happened to Koremitsu?” “He waited for some time, but as you seemed to have no need of him, he went home, saying he would be back at daybreak.”

Genji’s man had been an Imperial Bowman, and making a tremendous din with his bow he strode toward the steward’s lodge crying “Fire, fire” at the top of his voice. The twanging of the bow reminded Genji of the palace. The roll call of night courtiers must be over; the Bowman’s roll call must be actually going on. It was not so very late.

He groped his way back into the room. She was lying just as he had left her, with Ukon face downward beside her. “What are you doing there?” he cried. “Have you gone mad with fright? You have heard no doubt that in such lonely places as this fox-spirits sometimes try to cast a spell upon men. But, dear people, you need not fear. I have come back, and will not let such creatures harm you.” And so saying he dragged Ukon from the bed. “Oh, Sir,” she said, “I felt so queer and frightened that I fell flat down upon my face; and what my poor lady must be going through I dare not think.”