miyazawa, the earthgod

7/23/2019 Miyazawa, The Earthgod

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THE EARTHGOD AND THE FOX

BY KENJI MIYAZAWA

*

On the northern edge of a stretch of open land the ground rose in a

slight hillock !he hillock "as co#ered entirel$ "ith spike%eared grass&

and right in the 'iddle of it stood a single& (eautiful fe'ale (irch tree

!he tree "as not actuall$ #er$ (ig& (ut her trunk glea'ed a

gloss$ (lack and her (ranches spread out gracefull$ In Ma$ her pale

)o"ers "ere like clouds& "hile in autu'n she shed lea#es of gold and

cri'son and 'an$ other colors

All the (irds& fro' (irds of passage such as the cuckoo and the

shrike right do"n to the tin$ "ren and the "hite%e$e& "ould co'e to

perch in the tree But if a $oung ha"k or so'e other large (ird "as

there& the s'aller (irds "ould sp$ hi' fro' afar and refuse to go

an$"here near

!he tree had t"o friends One "as the earthgod& "ho li#ed in the

'iddle of a 'arsh$ hollo" a(out #e hundred paces a"a$& and the

other "as a (ro"n fo+& "ho al"a$s appeared fro' so'e"here in the

southern part of the plain

Of the t"o of the' it "as the fo+& perhaps& that the (irch tree

preferred !he earthgod& in spite of his i'posing na'e& "as too "ild&

"ith hair hanging unke'pt like a (undle of ragged cotton thread&

(loodshot e$es& and clothes that dangled a(out hi' like (its of

sea"eed ,e al"a$s "ent (arefoot& and his nails "ere long and (lack

!he fo+& on the other hand& "as #er$ rened and al'ost ne#er 'ade

people angr$ or o-ended

!he onl$ thing "as that& if $ou co'pared the' reall$ carefull$&

the earthgod "as honest& "hereas the fo+ "as& perhaps& .ust a (itdishonest

*

It "as an e#ening at the (eginning of su''er !he (irch tree

"as co#ered "ith soft ne" lea#es& "hich lled the air around the' "ith



a delightful fragrance !he Milk$ Wa$ stretched "hitish across the sk$&

and the stars "ere "inking and (linking and s"itching the'sel#es on

and o- all o#er the r'a'ent

On such a night& then& the fo+ ca'e to pa$ the (irch tree a #isit&(ringing "ith hi' a (ook of poetr$ ,e "as "earing a dark (lue suit

fresh fro' the tailor/s& and his light (ro"n leather shoes s0ueaked

slightl$ as he "alked

1What a peaceful night&2 he said

1Oh& $es32 (reathed the (irch tree

14o $ou see 5corpio cra"ling across the sk$ o#er there6 In

ancient 7hine& $ou kno"& the$ used to call the (ig red star in the

constellation the 89ire 5tar/2

1Would that (e the sa'e as Mars62

14ear 'e& no Not Mars Mars is a planet !his one is a real star2

1!hen "hat/s the di-erence (et"een a planet and a star62

1Wh$& a planet can/t shine ($ itself In other "ords& it has to

ha#e light fro' so'e"here else (efore it can (e seen A star is the

kind that shines ($ itself !he sun& no"& is a star& of course It looks (ig

and da::ling to us& (ut if $ou sa" it fro' #er$ far a"a$& it "ould onl$

look like a s'all star& .ust the sa'e as all the others2

1;ood hea#ens3 5o the sun is onl$ one of the stars& is it6 !hen I

suppose the sk$ 'ust ha#e an a"ful lot of suns < no& stars < oh& sill$

'e& suns& of course2

!he fo+ s'iled 'agnani'ousl$ 1You 'ight put it like that&2 he

said

1I "onder "h$ so'e stars are red& and so'e $ello"& and so'e

green62

!he fo+ s'iled 'agnani'ousl$ again and folded his ar'sgrandl$ across his chest !he (ook of poetr$ under his ar' dangled

perilousl$& (ut so'eho" stopped .ust short of falling

1Well& $ou see&2 he said& 1at rst all the stars "ere like (ig& )u-$

clouds !here are still lots of the' like that in the sk$ !here are so'e

in Andro'eda& so'e in Orion& and so'e in the ,unting 4ogs 5o'e of



the' are spiral%shaped and so'e are in rings the shape of shes/

'ouths2

1I/d lo#e to see the' so'eti'e 5tars the shape of shes/

'ouths < ho" splendid32

1Oh& the$ are& I can tell $ou I sa" the' at the o(ser#ator$2

1M$ "ord3 I/d lo#e to see the' '$self2

1I/ll sho" $ou the' As a 'atter of fact& I/#e a telescope on

order fro' ;er'an$ It/ll (e here so'eti'e (efore ne+t spring& so I/ll

let $ou ha#e a look as soon as it co'es2

!he fo+ had spoken "ithout thinking& (ut the #er$ ne+t 'o'ent

he "as sa$ing to hi'self& 1Oh dear& if I ha#en/t gone and told '$ onl$

friend another ( again But I onl$ said it to please her& I reall$ didn/t'ean an$ har' ($ it =ater on& I/ll tell her the truth2

!he fo+ "as 0uiet for a "hile& occupied "ith such thoughts& (ut

the (irch tree "as too delighted to notice

1I/' so happ$32 she said 1You/re al"a$s so kind to 'e2

1Oh& 0uite&2 said the fo+ rather de.ectedl$ 1You kno" I/d do

an$thing for $ou Would $ou care to read this (ook of poetr$& ($ the

"a$6 It/s ($ a 'an called ,eine It/s onl$ a translation& of course& (ut

it/s not at all (ad2

1Oh3 Ma$ I reall$ (orro" it62

1B$ all 'eans !ake as long as $ou like o#er it > Well& I 'ust sa$

good($e no" 4ear 'e& though& I feel there/s so'ething I forgot to

sa$2

1Yes& a(out the color of the stars2

1Ah& of course3 But let/s lea#e that until ne+t ti'e& shall "e6 I

'ustn/t o#ersta$ '$ "elco'e2

1Oh& that doesn/t 'atter2

1An$"a$& I/ll (e co'ing again soon ;ood($e to $ou& then I/ll

lea#e the (ook "ith $ou ;ood($e2

!he fo+ set o- (riskl$ ho'e"ard And the (irch tree& her lea#es

rustling in a south "ind that sprang up .ust then& took up the (ook of



#erse and turned the pages in the light of the faint glo" fro' the Milk$

Wa$ and the stars that dotted the sk$ !he (ook contained 1=orelei2

and 'an$ other (eautiful poe's ($ ,eine& and the (irch tree read on

and on through the night Not until past three& "hen !aurus "as

alread$ (eginning to cli'( in the east a(o#e the plain& did she (egin toget e#en slightl$ dro"s$

4a"n (roke& and the sun rose in the hea#ens !he de" glittered

on the grass& and the )o"ers (loo'ed "ith all their 'ight 5lo"l$&

slo"l$& fro' the northeast& (athed in 'orning sunlight as though he

had poured 'olten copper all o#er hi'self& ca'e the earthgod ,e

"alked slo"l$& 0uite slo"l$& "ith his ar's folded so(erl$ across his

chest

5o'eho"& the (irch tree felt rather put out& (ut e#en so she

shi''ered her (right green lea#es in the earthgod/s direction as he

ca'e& so that her shado" "ent )utter& )utter "here it fell on the grass

!he earthgod ca'e up 0uietl$ and stopped in front of her

1;ood 'orning to $ou& Birch !ree2

1;ood 'orning2

14/$ou kno"& Birch !ree& there are lots of things I don/t

understand "hen I co'e to think a(out the' We don/t reall$ kno"

#er$ 'uch& do "e62

1What kind of things62

1Well& there/s grass& for instance Wh$ should it (e green& "hen

it co'es out of dark (ro"n soil6 And then there are the $ello" and

"hite )o"ers It/s all (e$ond 'e2

1Mightn/t it (e that the seeds of the grass ha#e green or "hite

inside the' alread$62 said the (irch tree

1Yes Yes& I suppose that/s possi(le&2 he said 1But e#en so& it/s

(e$ond 'e !ake the toadstools in autu'n& no" !he$ co'e straight

out of the earth "ithout an$ seeds or an$thing And the$ co'e up in

red and $ello" and all kinds of colors I .ust don/t understand it32

1,o" "ould it (e if $ou asked Mr 9o+62 said the (irch tree& "ho

"as still too e+cited a(out last night/s talk to kno" an$ (etter



!he earthgod/s face changed color a(ruptl$& and he clenched his

sts

1What/s that6 9o+6 What/s the fo+ (een sa$ing62

1Oh&2 said the (irch tree in a faltering #oice& 1he didn/t sa$

an$thing& reall$ It "as .ust that I thought he 'ight kno"2

1And "hat 'akes $ou think a fo+ has got an$thing to teach a

god& eh62

B$ no" the (irch tree "as so unner#ed that she could onl$

0ui#er and 0ui#er !he earthgod paced a(out "ith his ar's folded o#er

his chest& grinding his teeth loudl$ all the "hile E#en the grass

shi#ered "ith fear "here#er his .et%(lack shado" fell on it

1!hat fo+ is a (light on the face of the earth32 he said 1Not a"ord of truth in hi' 5er#ile& co"ardl$& and terri(l$ en#ious into the

(argain3 And hi' .ust ani'al32

1It "ill soon (e ti'e for the $earl$ festi#al at $our shrine& "on/t

it62 said the (irch tree& regaining her co'posure at last

!he earthgod/s e+pression softened slightl$

1!hat/s right&2 he said 1!oda$/s the third of the 'onth& so there

are onl$ si+ da$s to go2

But then he thought for a "hile and suddenl$ (urst out again

1,u'an (eings& though& are a useless lot3 !he$ don/t (ring a

single o-ering for '$ festi#al no"ada$s Wh$& the ne+t one that sets

foot in '$ territor$& I/ll drag do"n to the (otto' of the s"a'p for his

pains32

,e stood there gnashing his teeth noisil$ !he (irch tree&

alar'ed at nding that her atte'pts to soothe hi' had had .ust the

opposite e-ect again& "as past doing an$thing e+cept )uttering her

lea#es in the (ree:e 9or a "hile the earthgod strode a(out grinding his

teeth& his ar's folded high across his chest and his "hole (od$see'ing to (la:e as the sunlight poured do"n on hi' But the 'ore he

thought a(out it& the crosser he see'ed to get In the end he could

(ear it no longer and "ith a great ho"l stor'ed o- ho'e to his hollo"

*



!he place "here the earthgod li#ed "as a dank and chill$

s"a'p gro"n all o#er "ith 'oss& clo#er& stu'p$ reeds& and here and

there a thistle or a short& dreadfull$ t"isted "illo" tree !here "ere

sogg$ places "here the "ater seeped through in rust$ patches You

onl$ had to look at it to tell it "as all 'udd$ and so'eho" frightening

On a patch like a s'all island right in the 'iddle of it stood the

earthgod/s shrine& "hich "as a(out si+ feet high and 'ade of logs

Back on this island& the earthgod stretched hi'self out full

length on the ground (eside his shrine and scratched long and hard at

his dark& scragg$ legs

Just then he noticed a (ird )$ing through the sk$ right a(o#e his

head& so he sat up straight and shouted 15hoo32 !he (ird "o((led in

alar' and for a 'o'ent see'ed a(out to fall& then )ed into the

distance& graduall$ losing height as it "ent& as though its "ings "ere

paral$:ed

!he earthgod ga#e a little laugh and "as getting to his feet

"hen he happened to glance to"ard the hillock& not far a"a$& "here

the (irch tree gre" And instantl$ his rage returned? his face turned

pale& his (od$ "ent as sti- as a poker& and he (egan tearing at his "ild

head of hair

A solitar$ "oodcutter on his "a$ to "ork on Mt Mitsu'ori ca'e

up fro' the south of the hollo"& striding along the narro" path that

skirted its edge ,e see'ed to kno" all a(out the earthgod& for e#er$

no" and then he glanced an+iousl$ in the direction of the shrine But

he could not& of course& see an$(od$ there

When the earthgod caught sight of the "oodcutter& he )ushed

"ith pleasure ,e stretched his ar' out to"ard hi'& then grasped his

o"n "rist "ith his other hand and 'ade as though to pull it (ack And&

strange to sa$& the "oodcutter& "ho thought he "as still "alking along

the path& found hi'self graduall$ 'o#ing deeper and deeper into the

hollo" ,e 0uickened his pace in alar'& his face turned pale& his 'outh

opened& and he (egan to gasp

5lo"l$ the earthgod t"isted his "rist And as he did so& the

"oodcutter slo"l$ (egan to turn in circles At this& he gre" 'ore and

'ore alar'ed& until nall$ he "as going round and round on the sa'e

spot& panting desperatel$ all the "hile ,is one idea see'ed to (e to

get out of the hollo" as 0uickl$ as he could& (ut for all his e-orts he



sta$ed& circling& "here he "as In the end he (egan to so( and& )inging

up his ar's& (roke into a run

!his see'ed to delight the earthgod ,E .ust grinned and

"atched "ithout getting up fro' the ground& until (efore long the"oodcutter "ho ($ no" "as gidd$ and e+hausted& collapsed in the

"ater !hen the earthgod got slo"l$ to his feet With long strides he

s0uelched his "a$ to "here the "oodcutter la$ and& picking hi' up&

)ung hi' o#er onto the grass$ ground !he "oodcutter landed in the

grass "ith a thud ,e groaned once and stirred& (ut still did not co'e

to

!he earthgod laughed loudl$ ,is laughter rose up into the sk$ in

great '$sterious "a#es @eaching the sk$& the sound (ounced (ack

do"n again to the place "here the (irch tree stood !he (irch tree

turned suddenl$ so pale that the sunlight shone green through herlea#es& and she (egan to 0ui#er franticall$

!he earthgod tore at his hair "ith (oth hands 1It/s all (ecause of

the fo+ that I feel so 'isera(le&2 he told hi'self 1Or rather& the (irch

tree No& the fo+ and the (irch tree !hat/s "h$ I su-er so 'uch If onl$

I didn/t 'ind a(out the tree& I/d 'ind e#en less a(out the fo+ I 'a$ (e

no(od$ 'uch& (ut I am a god after all& and it/s disgraceful that I should

ha#e to (other '$self a(out a 'ere fo+ But the a"ful thing is& I do

Wh$ don/t I forger all a(out the (irch tree& then6 Because I can/t ,o"

splendid it "as this 'orning "hen she "ent pale and tre'(led3 I "as

"rong to (ull$ a "retched hu'an (eing .ust to "ork o- '$ te'per& (utit can/t (e helped No one can tell "hat so'e(od$/ll do "hen he gets

reall$ cross2

5o dreadfull$ sad did he feel that he (eat at the air in despair

Another (ird ca'e )$ing through the sk$& (ut this ti'e the earthgod

.ust "atched it go in silence

9ro' far& far a"a$ ca'e the sound of ca#alr$ at their

'aneu#ers& "ith a crackling of ri)e re like the salt (eing thro"n on

)a'es 9ro' the sk$& the (lue light poured do"n in "a#es !his 'ust

ha#e done the "oodcutter good& for he ca'e to& sat up ti'idl$& andpeered a(out hi' !he ne+t 'o'ent he "as up and running like an

arro" shot fro' a (o" A"a$ he ran in the direction of Mt Mistu'ori

Watching hi'& the earthgod ga#e a great laugh again Again his

laughter soared up to the (lue sk$ and hurtled (ack do"n to the (irch



tree (elo" Again the tree/s lea#es "ent pale and tre'(led delicatel$&

so delicatel$ that $ou "ould scarcel$ ha#e noticed

!he earthgod "alked ai'lessl$ round and round his shrine till

nall$& "hen he see'ed to feel 'ore settled& he suddenl$ dartedinside

*

It "as a 'ist$ night in August !he earthgod "as terri(l$ lonel$

and so dreadfull$ cross that he left his shrine on an i'pulse and

started "alking Al'ost (efore he reali:ed it& his feet "ere taking hi'

to"ard the (irch tree ,e couldn/t sa$ "h$& (ut "hene#er he thought of

her& his heart see'ed to turn o#er and he felt intolera(l$ sad

No"ada$s he "as so 'uch easier in his 'ind than (efore& and he had

done his (est not to think a(out either the fo+ or the (irch tree But& tr$

as he 'ight& the$ kept co'ing into his head E#er$ da$ he "ould tell

hi'self o#er and o#er again& 1You/re a god& after all What can a 'ere

(irch tree 'ean to $ou62 But still he felt a"full$ sad !he 'e'or$ of

the fo+& in particular& hurt till it see'ed his "hole (od$ "as on re

Wrapped in his o"n thoughts& the earthgod dre" nearer and

nearer the (irch tree 9inall$ it da"ned on hi' 0uite clearl$ that he "as

on his "a$ to see her& and his heart (egan to dance for .o$ It had (een

a long ti'e 5he 'ight "ell ha#e 'issed hi' If fact& the 'ore he

thought a(out it the surer he felt it "as so If this reall$ "as the case&

then he "as #er$ sorr$ he had neglected her ,is heart danced as hestrode on through the grass But (efore long his stride faltered and he

stopped dead a great (lue "a#e of sadness had suddenl$ "ashed o#er

hi' !he fo+ "as there (efore hi' It "as 0uite dark ($ no"& (ut he

could hear the fo+/s #oice co'ing through the 'ist& "hich "as glo"ing

in the #ague light of the 'oon

1Wh$& of course&2 he "as sa$ing& 1.ust (ecause so'ething

agrees "ith the la"s of s$''etr$ is not to sa$ that it is (eautiful

!hat/s nothing 'ore than a dead (eaut$2

1,o" right $ou are&2 ca'e the (irch tree/s soft #oice

1!rue (eaut$ is not so'ething rigid and fossili:ed eople talk of

o(ser#ing the la"s of s$''etr$& (ut it/s enough so long as the spirit of

s$''etr$ is present2



1Oh& $es& I/' sure it is&2 ca'e the (irch tree/s gentle #oice

again

But no" the earthgod felt as though red )a'es "ere licking his

"hole (od$ ,is (reath ca'e out in short gasps& and he reall$ thoughthe couldn/t (ear it an$ longer 1What are $ou so 'isera(le a(out62 he

asked hi'self crossl$ 1What is this& after all& (ut a (it of talk (et"een a

(irch tree and a fo+ out in the open countr$6 You call $ourself a god& to

let things like this upset $ou62

But the fo+ "as talking again?

15o all (ooks on art touch on this aspect2

14o $ou ha#e 'an$ (ooks on art& then62 asked the (irch tree

1Oh& not such an enor'ous nu'(er I suppose I ha#e 'ost ofthe' in English& ;er'an& and Japanese !here/s a ne" one in Italian&

(ut it hasn/t co'e $et2

1What a ne li(rar$ it 'ust (e32

1No& no& .ust a fe" scattered #olu'es& reall$ And (esides& I use

the place for '$ studies too& so it/s rather a 'ess& "hat "ith a

'icroscope in one corner and the =ondon Times l$ing o#er there& and a

'ar(le (ust of 7aesar here>2

1Oh& (ut it sounds "onderful3 @eall$ "onderful32

!here "as a little sni- fro' the fo+ that 'ight ha#e (een either

'odest$ or pride& then e#er$thing "as 0uiet for a "hile

B$ no" the earthgod "as 0uite (eside hi'self 9ro' "hat the

fo+ said& it see'ed the fo+ "as actuall$ 'ore i'pressi#e than he "as

hi'self ,e could no longer console hi'self "ith the thought that he

"as a god if nothing else It "as frightful ,e felt like rushing o#er and

tearing the fo+ in t"o ,e told hi'self that one should ne#er e#en think

such things But then& "hat "as he to do6 ,adn/t he let the fo+ get the

(etter of hi'6 ,e clutched at his (reast in distress

1,as the telescope $ou once 'entioned co'e $et62 started the

(irch tree again

1!he telescope I 'entioned6 Oh& no& it hasn/t arri#ed $et I keep

e+pecting it& (ut the shipping routes are terri(l$ (us$ As soon as it



co'es& I/ll (ring it along for $ou to see I reall$ 'ust sho" $ou the rings

around 5aturn& for one thing !he$/re so (eautiful2

At this& the earthgod clapped his hands o#er his ear and )ed

a"a$ to"ard the north ,e had suddenl$ felt frightened at the thoughtof "hat he 'ight do if he sta$ed there an$ longer

,e ran on and on in a straight line When he nall$ collapsed out

of (reath& he found hi'self at the foot of Mt Mitsu'ori

,e rolled a(out in the grass& tearing at his hair !hen he (egan

to cr$ in a loud #oice !he sound rose up into the sk$& "here it echoed

like thunder out of season and 'ade itself heard all o#er the plain ,e

"ept and "ept until da"n& "hen& tired out& he nall$ "andered

#acantl$ (ack to his shrine

*

!i'e passed& and autu'n ca'e at last !he (irch tree "as still

green& (ut on the grass round a(out golden ears had alread$ for'ed

and "ere glinting in the (ree:e& and here and there the (erries of lilies

of the #alle$ sho"ed ripe and red

One transparent& golden autu'n da$ found the earthgod in the

#er$ (est of te'pers All the unpleasant things he had (een feeling

since the su''er see'ed so'eho" to ha#e dissol#ed into a kind of

'ist that ho#ered in onl$ the #aguest rings o#er his head !he odd&

cross%grained streak in hi' had 0uite disappeared& too ,e felt that ifthe (irch tree "anted to talk to the fo+& "ell& she could& and that if the

t"o of the' en.o$ed chatting together& it "as a #er$ good thing for

the' (oth ,e "ould let the (irch tree kno" ho" he felt toda$ With a

light heart and his head full of such thoughts& the earthgod set o- to

#isit her

!he (irch tree sa" hi' co'ing in the distance and& as usual&

tre'(led an+iousl$ as she "aited for hi' to arri#e

!he earthgod ca'e up and greeted her cheerfull$

1;ood 'orning& Birch !ree A lo#el$ da$ "e/re ha#ing32

1;ood 'orning& Earthgod Yes& lo#el$& isn/t it62

1What a (lessing the sun is& to (e sure3 !here he is up there& red

in the spring& "hite in the su''er& and $ello" in the autu'n And



"hen he turns $ello" in the autu'n& the grapes turn purple Ah& a

(lessing indeed32

1,o" true2

14/$ou kno"& toda$ I feel 'uch (etter I/#e had all sorts of trials

since the su''er& (ut this 'orning at last so'ething suddenl$ lifted

fro' '$ 'ind2

!he (irch tree "anted to repl$& (ut for so'e reason a great

"eight see'ed to (e (earing do"n on her& and she re'ained silent

1!he "a$ I feel no"& I/d "illingl$ die for an$(od$ I/d e#en take

the place of a "or' if it had to die and didn/t "ant to2 ,e ga:ed far o-

into the (lue sk$ as he spoke& his e$es dark and splendid

Again the (irch tree "anted to repl$& (ut again so'ething hea#$see'ed to "eigh her do"n& and she (arel$ 'anaged to sigh

It "as then that the fo+ appeared

When the fo+ sa" the earthgod there& he started and turned

pale But he could hardl$ go (ack& so& tre'(ling slightl$& he "ent right

up to "here the (irch tree stood

1;ood 'orning& Birch !ree&2 said the fo+ 1I (elie#e that/s the

earthgod I see there& isn/t it62 ,e "as "earing his light (ro"n leather

shoes and a (ro"n raincoat and "as still in his su''er hat

1Yes& I/' the earthgod =o#el$ "eather& isn/t it62 ,e spoke

"ithout a shado" on his 'ind

1I 'ust apologi:e for co'ing "hen $ou ha#e a #isitor&2 said the

fo+ to the (irch tree& his face pale "ith .ealous$ 1,ere/s the (ook I

pro'ised $ou the other da$ Oh& and I/ll sho" $ou the telescope one

e#ening "hen the sk$/s clear ;ood($e2

1Oh& thank $ou >&2 (egan the (irch tree& (ut the fo+ had alread$

set o- to"ard ho'e "ithout so 'uch as a nod to the other #isitor !he

(irch tree (lanched and (egan to 0ui#er again

9or a "hile& the earthgod ga:ed (lankl$ at the fo+/s retreating

for' !hen he caught a sudden glint of sunlight on the fo+/s (ro"n

leather shoes a'idst the grass& and he ca'e to hi'self "ith a start

!he ne+t 'o'ent& so'ething see'ed to click in his (rain !he fo+ "as

'arching steadil$ into the distance& s"aggering al'ost deantl$ as he



"ent !he earthgod (egan to seethe "ith rage ,is face turned a

dreadful dark color ,e/d sho" hi' "hat "as "hat& that fo+ "ith his art

(ooks and his telescopes3

,e "as up and after hi' in a )ash !he (irch tree/s (ranches(egan to shake all at once in a panic 5ensing so'ething "rong& the

fo+ hi'self glanced around casuall$& onl$ to see the earthgod& (lack all

o#er& rushing after hi' like a hurricane O- "ent the fo+ like the "ind&

his face "hite and his 'outh t"isted "ith fear

!o the earthgod& the grass a(out hi' see'ed to (e (urning like

"hite re E#en the (right (lue sk$ had suddenl$ (eco'e a $a"ning

(lack pit "ith cri'son )a'es (urning and roaring in its depths

!he$ ran snorting and panting like t"o rail"a$ trains !he fo+

ran as in a drea'& and all the "hile part of his (rain kept sa$ing& 1!his

is the end !his is the end !elescope !elescope !elescope2

A s'all hu''ock of (are earth la$ ahead !he fo+ dashed

around it so as to get to the round hole at its (ase ,e ducked his

head& and "as di#ing into the hole& he (ack legs )icking up as he "ent&

"hen the earthgod nall$ pounced on hi' fro' (ehind !he ne+t

'o'ent he la$ all t"isted& "ith his head drooping o#er the earthgod/s

hand and his lips puckered as though s'iling slightl$

!he earthgod )ung the fo+ do"n on the ground and sta'ped on

his soft& $ielding (od$ four or #e ti'es !he he plunged into the fo+/s

hole It "as 0uite (are and dark& though the red cla$ of the )oor had

(een trodden do"n hard and neat

!he earthgod "ent outside again& feeling rather strange& "ith his

'outh all slack and crooked !hen he tried putting a hand inside the

pocket of the fo+/s raincoat as he la$ there li'p and lifeless !he

pocket contained t"o (ro"n (urrs& the kind fo+es co'( their fur "ith

9ro' the earthgod/s open 'outh ca'e the 'ost e+traordinar$ sound&

and he (urst into tears

!he tears fell like rain on the fo+& and the fo+ la$ there dead&

"ith his head lolling li'per and li'per and the faintest of s'iles on his

face

miyazawa, the earthgod

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