短篇小说 》 狐 Fox   》 狐 Fox      野上彌生子 Nogami Mi Son      Fox 　　萩岡伸一想到養狐，完全是一件偶然的事。 　　年底得了一場感冒，使大學時代得的肺炎轉成真的肺病了。為了徹底療養兩三年，他毫不留戀地辭掉三菱銀行的差事，一到五月，就領着妻子芳子到北輕井澤他的朋友佐佐木的這座小山莊來。從高等學校時代起，他就喜歡山。他原想跟佐佐木一同進英文係，可是傢裏硬要他讀了經濟，所以在學校的時候就常常曠課，把兩三本書塞進背囊去遊山玩水。自從關到銀行帶有鐵絲網的窗格子中間以後，他對那時候山地姍姍來遲的春天的美麗、靜謐和爽心悅目，就更感到了強烈的鄉愁。 　　離開東京之前，夫妻之間有過這樣的談話。 　　“我想就當是進了療養院，在那兒呆它一個相當時期。你要是沒有這種决心，開頭就不必跟着去。” 　　“决心是有的呀。” 　　“那兒跟下輕井澤可完全不一樣。一過夏天，連一個人影也役有啦。尤其是天一冷，到了過鼕季節，從十一月到現在這個時候，遍地是雪，跟社會上是隔絶的。受得了嗎?” 　　“不管受得了受不了，反正沒有別的辦法。” 　　回答的時候，她的嘴唇微微顫動，一對黑黑的大眼睛裏浮出了兩顆淚珠。象草上的露水積在葉尖上似的，淚珠圓圓地沾在睫毛上，一眨眼，就順着俊俏筆直的鼻梁滾落下來，散了。 　　萩岡也沉默起來，一個勁兒地劃點煙用的火柴。在這次的計劃裏，除了有必要進行早期療養以外，他還暗暗感到一種浪漫蒂剋的歡欣，他故意嚮妻子說得那麽誇張，也是這種心情的流露，可是眼淚把話頭又拉回到麻煩的現實上來，卻使他感到有點不快了：幾年前成了寡婦、脾氣變得更壞、但表面上還裝得親切鄭重的繼母；繼母的獨生女——有點跛腳、錯過了婚期、一點也不機伶的妹妹；成了她們冷淡、輕侮目標的妻子。芳子原是一位朋友傢裏的使女，萩岡自從不顧周圍的反對跟她結婚以來，雖然還跟傢人住在一起，可是他跟妻子住的是朝着一條小鬍同、以前常常租給外國大使館人員的洋式房子。而繼母和妹妹則住在毗連在一起的日本式房子裏，那還是父親特地從名古屋請來工頭和木匠修建的，雖然不甚宏壯、但式樣卻很考究。她們仍舊照着父親在世時的方式和習慣過着日子。這次到北輕井澤去轉地療養，也是要使這種分居在地理上離得更遠一些。比起現在的忍氣吞聲來，芳子是寧願忍受山居的寂寥和不便的。繼母可以給妹妹找一個合適的入贅女婿，讓他來照顧傢。那末自己照料家庭的責任也可以解脫了，銀行的差事也辭退了，又何苦而且又有什麽必要留在令人厭煩的東京呢！萩岡的這種態度，在他的寡婦繼母看來，同丈夫從官界轉入實業界的活躍情形兩相對照，就認為是沒有出息，是退縮，而且認為這是結婚鑄成的錯誤。如果是合適的姻緣，妻子絶不會讓丈夫幹出這種沒分曉的事：為了那樣一點病，就把三菱的差事扔掉，跑出東京去。首先是說出去不好聽，而且也沒法跟人去說。這種憤懣，落到每天總得從所謂裏院到前面露一回面的芳子頭上，對她來說，是很難忍受的。如果不是當海軍將官的叔父樺積極支持他們，兩個人甚至連普通的婚禮都不能舉行。萩岡故意避開父親留下的設備完善的葉山別墅，而去藉了路程遠幾倍又不方便的朋友的山莊，也是由於這個緣故。大地震的時候芳子在日本橋①失去了父母，以後寄居在牛込區伯母傢裏，在貧窮中長大，好不容易纔上了女子職業學校，在學校旅行的時候纔第一次坐上火車。沒有萩岡自己怎樣活下去，在她是不堪設想的。儘管如此，倘是平常時候這樣離開東京，她也許會更感到凄涼呢！ 　　①日本橋詩日本東京都內的中心地帶，金融商業的中樞。 　　總之，他們就這樣到這裏來了。表面上總說是轉地療養。忽然又變成了養狐，正象開頭說的，這完全出於偶然。這個念頭是第一次領着芳子去看養狐場的時候引起來的。養狐場在車站的那一面，萩岡每次到山裏來總要到那裏轉一轉。“這次我跟內人是抱着跟大傢一起在這兒落戶的心情來的，請多關照。病嘛，不過是跑出東京的口實罷了，所以我想過些時候種點馬鈴薯什麽的，就當莊稼人啦。也算是晴耕雨讀吧。” 　　聽萩岡這麽一說，養狐場主人平瀨就勸他養狐，說：“晴耕雨讀?莊稼活也不是那麽容易幹的呀。這兒到五月中旬纔剛剛能下種，九月末就開始下霜，忙忙碌碌，費挺大的勁也收不到什麽東西。還是養養狐狸比種莊稼好哇。開頭養它一對兩對，先小規模幹着，別管有利無利，可相當有意思呢！跟活的東西打交道，早晨天一亮就得起來，還得一板一眼地侍弄它。身體弱的人，幹這種活對健康也大有好處呢！” 　　“這倒是個好主意。可是我這樣子也不象能夠養狐啊。不過，當銀行行員，我也不曾有什麽自信來着。” 　　萩岡仰着臉，領子上露出腺病質的長脖子和突出的喉結，笑了。語氣雖然是自嘲的，但那調子在東京卻很少能夠聽到，爽朗而又活潑。平瀨斟第二遍濃茶的時候，又說衹要想幹就沒有什麽問題，仍舊繼續談養狐的事。 　　“養別的玩意兒也一樣，養狐，你愛惜它，這就是最大的秘訣。實際上，你一弄上手，也自然會産生一種親愛之情。我嘛，照我老婆說，愛狐狸比愛傢裏人還厲害哪！” 　　他的老婆阿浪，正在屋子的一角跟芳子聊天。屋子不是洋式的，地面卻是洋灰鋪的，為的是夏天從下輕井澤來的外國客人可以穿着鞋就走進來，墻上還糊了廉價的糊墻紙。屋子的一角擺着佈置成櫥窗似的玻璃櫃，阿浪站在玻璃櫃前面，指着擺在裏面的銀狐圍脖、手籠、坎肩，說它們如何如何便宜，比起三越來，價錢衹有—半。這是一個肩寬腰粗，四十歲上下的女人，圓圓的肉厚的臉上，象這個高原居民常有的那樣，也有一些紫外綫曬出來的深紅色斑點，粗手大腳，身強力壯，象個蠻女人。站在一旁，穿了一件洋衫的芳子，雖然個子差不多，長得也還豐滿，相形之下卻顯得分外纖細瘦弱了。特別是頭髮半白，後背微駝、骨架很小的平瀨，在阿浪面前，竟不象丈夫，倒象是父親。阿浪是續弦，看去跟丈夫相差二十多歲。平瀨的兩個兒子都已遠走高飛，據說，他們說傢裏的狐狸，指的就是這個後娘。但萩岡相信，正象有人說平瀨是騙子，而他也有待人很好的地方一樣，這位內掌櫃也不一定就象人們說的那樣不好。從自己和繼母的關係一想，他反而不願意把這個女人想象得很壞。在萩岡的感情裏，這種成分是很多的。實際上，他經常以一種反省的心情去回味少年時代以來的辛酸，從來沒有憎恨過，反抗過，跟芳子結婚的事情，算是僅有的一次例外。涕 　　玻璃櫃上面的老式挂鐘，這時候用一種有氣無力的聲音打了十點。 　　聽了最後一響，平瀨跟老婆打了一聲招呼，吩咐說，趁他領客人去飼養場的時候，作點玉米團子。一面說，一面從椅子上站起來，把客人領到後院去了．正面是地板稍稍離開地面架起來的小屋，前面有兩坪左右的空地，這就是一對狐狸的傢和運動場。這樣一個單元、一個單元櫛比相連，中間用鐵絲網隔了開來，外面又有一道鐵絲網圍成的墻，就形成一個長方形的部落。地方雖然不大，但在空蕩蕩的田壠和枯黃的草地中間，還可以看到為二十兒對狐狸建立的幾所這種沒有頂棚，光有鐵絲網四框的傢。田壠裏，早播的豌豆剛剛鑽出嫩芽，草地上拴着山羊，狐捨點綴其間，看去宛如日本畫的圖捲。這裏還有一所樣式格別的建築物，這就是梯級很高的塔一樣的監視塔，從這上面可以一眼望見這一片狐捨。狐狸，不在小屋裏的，就在各自隔了開來的運動場上曬太陽。聽見走近的人聲，它們警戒地回過頭來，有的把毛茸茸的長尾巴一甩，轉身逃進小屋，有的竪起尖耳朵，用銀灰色的吊梢眼角凝神看你一會，然後把視綫一轉，又沒事兒似地把尖鼻子貼着鐵絲網趴下去了。也有的照舊擺動着尾巴，不停地慢慢走動。毛色，據說所謂銀孤的特點，一根根看去，尖上是黑的，中間純白，貼着皮膚的根上是灰的；整個看去就象下了一層霜，瑩潔的白色紋路越多，越算是優良品種，作成圍脖，價錢也高。還有白毛集中在尾巴尖，形成一團白球的，據說更加珍貴。但在這裏卻沒有看到。飼料是充分的，陳雜糧之外還有魚類，照料也很周到，所以光滑的毛色，在高原五月充沛的陽光底下閃閃發亮，在一處鐵絲網旁邊，一株小梨樹正在盛開，枝頭滿是白花，看去就象一幅印象派油畫似的。 　　“真好看，並不那麽讓人害怕呢！” 　　芳子從來沒有這麽就近地仔仔細細看過一匹狐狸，現在孩子似地滿有興致地一面看一面走。她的話裏，對於在童話裏或在其他地方名聲都不很好的這種獸類，有着一種同情。 　　“害怕的是狐狸啊。太太！”不等旁邊的芳子的丈夫開口，走在前面的平瀨先插了嘴，“都說狐狸陰險，猜疑心強，那是因為狐狸總在提防着，對人有種恐懼心。這點，也可以說是機伶，掌握這種習性來擺弄它，再沒有比它更無害的動物了。” 　　“狐狸會給您立座銅像呢！” 　　“哈哈哈。可是沒有這樣一點同情心，那就照料不好呀。太太看樣子也很喜歡活玩意兒吧?” 　　“在這點上內人跟您是同道。狗啦，貓啦，小鳥啦，什麽都想養。耗子把廚房糟蹋得很厲害，可是拌耗子藥，她也下不了手。在愛好動物這點上，說不定你還超過平瀨先生呢！” 　　“小耗子出溜出溜的，也挺可愛嘛！” 　　“性情溫柔的太太們總是這樣的。你看吧，世界上討厭活玩意兒的女人，就沒有好人嘛。” 　　於是平瀨又勸他們養狐，說，太太這樣，那就有一個最好的助手了。 　　阿浪拿來作得幹幹淨掙的玉米團子和剛擠的山羊奶，萩岡和芳子算是提前吃了一頓午飯，然後回傢了。 　　“怎麽樣，養狐嗎?” 　　“嗬！不管怎麽喜歡動物吧，可是說到養狐……” 　　“要是真幹起來，東京傢裏的人會暈過去的。” 　　“他們會以為你發瘋啦！” 　　“肺病和瘋子！對他們來說，那就更丟了體面。” 　　“咱們不是說過不要想東京的事嗎?” 　　她覺得有點纍，靠在藤椅子上，把兩道彎彎長眉底下微微有些發青的眼瞼眯縫起來，自言自語似地說：“多麽安靜，多麽舒服啊！你總說山啊，山啊，到這裏來纔真正知道它的好處。來之前，我多少有點擔心，以為太靜，太寂寞啦，會不會使人不安。同樣的靜，這兒的靜也不同呢。在東京傢裏，在雖你有什麽會，很晚很晚還不回來的時候，周圍的那種寂靜，真叫人害怕，可是這兒就沒關係，越是寂靜，越覺得愉快。” 　　“沒有雜念和野心，心地淳樸的人，誰都會這樣。本來人就是在這種大自然中間開始生活的，喜愛大自然，這是對於幾千年，幾萬年以前的生活的愛的復活。” 　　“這種道理我不懂，可是每天早晨起來，打開窗子，我總要跟淺間山說一聲您早。因為，好象山也跟我問候呢！” 　　“不光是山，咱們對於那兒的羊，森林裏的樹，溪流的岩石和水，也會覺得早晨晚上都要跟它們寒喧呢。一切都會教人感到是有靈魂的。衹有這樣，才能使生活跟大自然完全融為一體。你等着看吧。大自然會變得更美，更豐富，使任何人的心情都不能不變成這樣。再過一些日子，山石榴就會把這個高原裝點得一片通紅，落葉鬆會變得翠緑，連馨草也開了花，布𠔌鳥和黃鶯也會唱起來。你想看的開在地面上的鈴蘭，那時候它們也會開山白色的嬌羞的花朵來。” 　　“真叫人高興啊！”芳子象個孩子似的，用活潑潑的調子說。 　　進了六月，山地雖說春遲，也完全是春日景象了。上個月，雖然櫻花、梨花開了，可是一大早淺間山上還常常蓋着一層薄雪，現在衹是山腰窪處還有一個地方留着殘鼕的痕跡，柔軟的紫灰顔色一天天地濃了。斜對面山窪處的殘雪，山腳下村子裏的人們管它叫作“一根蔥白”，等到它一明顯地露出來，那就是說春意已深，不必害怕下霜，可以安心播種了。高原一帶的草包逐漸轉青，也是在這個時候。先是嚮陽的道旁小草，在根上冒出一點緑芽。正象在玻璃瓶的水裏滴了兩三滴藍墨水，已經不是白水了，但也不能說是帶了顔色，看去衹是這樣一丁點的變化，可是一天天枯敗的葉子變緑了，不知不覺問就變得草色青青照眼明了。從丘陵的斜坡到叢林的中間地帶，葉子枯槁成茶褐色和灰色、糾結成一團團、被雪壓得倒伏了的很高的茅草和雜草，這時候也帶着緑意遒勁地站起來了。村子裏的女人和孩子們沙沙作響地撥開這些雜草來采蘑菇。那是凹成杯形、味道很美的灰褐色的蘑菇。接着又是采薇菜啦，采蕨菜啦，挖土當歸啦，采紫萼啦，從這裏開頭，這些山上的野菜，就成了村子裏的人們青黃不接的時候的寶貴食物。因為十一月下到窖裏的青菜快吃光了，而指望從地裏收下鮮萊，還要等到八月。萩岡和芳子常常到附近一片朝南的斜坡上去。她提着籃子去采蕨菜，萩岡就用裝在衣袋裏帶來胸小鏟子去挖土當歸。那種土當歸根部呈紅紫色，看去鮮豔悅目，昧道也極清香。土當歸蘸豆醬和油烹蕨菜，對於萩岡，從過去常常遊山的時候起就有很大魅力。 　　“東京送來的蔫蔫巴巴的蔬菜，根本算不得青菜。” 　　“說這種話，可對不住特意送來的母親啊!” 　　“可是她們會說，跑到那種鬼地方去，連青菜也得從傢裏送去呢。” 　　“反正這裏聽不到，沒關係。” 　　“你到山裏來，完全變得什麽也不在乎了。” 　　“所以這陣子胖起來啦，真討厭。可是你也完全變樣啦。” 　　“過於健康啦，把我給拉到中國去，那可不妙。所以健康的恢復也是慢着點的好。” 　　“一想到這點，芳子就覺得使她那麽擔心的丈夫的病弱，倒是值得感激的；而且她還會想起，結婚時給了他們那麽大支持的叔父，他的獨生子，作為普通士兵，剛剛開拔出去，就在上海戰鬥中陣亡了的事。不過，一個多月的山居生活帶給萩岡的變化是很顯著的。身上，臉上都長了肉。他喜歡讀書，也畫畫油畫，最初從山巒寫生開始，常常也畫出一些帶有業餘愛好者的樸肅感的好作品，現在這些都更紮下了根。穿一件藍絨綫衫，吹着口哨，朝着陽臺翩然跳下的動作，也有了從前所沒有的輕快的彈性。芳子呢，有生以來第一次在這種地方舒舒暢暢地生活，同樣的影響，在她身上就表現得更顯著了。不僅象她自己說的，發胖了，而且山上的陽光，把她那有點象混血兒的前額和筆直的鼻梁也曬成了小麥色。在東京，臉上即使濃濃地擦了胭脂，也會立刻透出原有的白皙來，現在臉上卻總帶有一種巴旦杏似的紅潤。因為怕熱，白天穿的薄絨綫衫也是短袖的，所以兩衹胳膊曬出了一道分明的綫，裸露着的兩手，直到指尖也都比臉曬得更黑，衹是掌心還紅中透白，顯得軟綿綿的。芳子把兩衹手抱在胸前，把視綫落到裙子底下也是裸露着的那一雙苗條但似乎又有點變得粗壯了的小腿上，說：“我快變成養狐場內掌櫃似的啦。” 　　她指的是養狐場平瀨的老婆阿浪，變成她那樣子，是芳子最害怕的。她覺得曬得那麽黑，變成不好看的鄉下人了，就有點不好童思，卻不知道這更增加了她的美。萩岡常常用不同於從前的眼光，定睛看着曬得黑黑的妻子。本來，他對芳子的愛戀，其中就摻雜了很多對於這個不幸、貧窮、純真而又溫雅的孤兒的憐憫。也可以說，他那顆從小就渴求母愛的孤獨的心，是在同樣孤獨的心裏找到了歸宿。因此，他的愛是清澈、踏實的，雖然強烈，但卻幹靜，即使燃燒起來，也不狂暴。在痰裏混有血絲、接連發高燒的時候，他也是比自己的死更多地想到死後怎樣能夠使她幸福。雖然沒有明說，可是他嚮當時恰好從軍艦上回來了的叔父和佐佐木托付過這一切。一想到雖然結婚生活短得有如過眼雲煙，但畢竟從卑賤、輕衊和窮睏中救出了一個可憐的女人，他就覺得似乎也可以安然瞑目了。可是近來萩岡的心情卻有些不同。他想，如果病再反復，瀕於死亡，他不會甘心丟下妻子就那麽死去的。當然，叔父和佐佐木會想辦法使她跟繼母和妹妹不發生什麽大的麻煩交涉，面能夠優裕地生活下去。可是這並不能保證使她當一輩子寡婦。相反的，很有海軍軍人那種放得開的想法的叔父，倒是很可能勸她再婚。那末，就會出現一個不知從哪裏來的男人，占有她那溫柔、誠實和獻身的精神，甚至連僅僅是自己和她之間的秘密的、那些可愛的舉動、耳邊的私語，也都統統奪去，而不能領略它們的價值，自己果真非要從九泉之下看着這種情況不可嗎?萩岡突然把象牙筷子啪的一聲撂到飯桌上了。 　　“啊，怎麽啦?” 　　“生的！設法吃！” 　　“對不起。我的並不生呀！” 　　芳子真地吃了驚，把自己碟子裏的????烤的小鱒魚遞過去。萩岡發脾氣，其實並不是因為魚烤得熟還是不熟，而是因為忽然想到那個莫須有的男人也可能和她這樣對坐吃飯。 　　“成啦，成啦！” 　　他馬上後悔了，又嚮那條實際上並不是烤得那樣半生不熟的小鱒魚伸出了筷子。 　　有一次，萩岡說芳子對前來送信的年輕的郵差表現得太親熱，又厲聲厲色地大發了一頓脾氣。郵差是從相隔二裏來地附近村子裏的郵局來的，每次他們來，招待一杯現成的茶水，既是當地的習慣，也是請他們順便捎走信件、明信片之類的酬答。這天，還請他帶去一個小包，所以茶水之外，她又添了一大片用自己發的面烤得很好的面包。這並不是第一次，為什麽今天會惹出這麽大的責難，她想不通。芳子一直不知道丈夫的嫉妒。萩岡也由於自尊心而羞於把它說出口。可是在這之後他表現的熱情和愛撫卻是那樣強烈，使妻子吃驚，也使她領悟到這是丈夫在乞求饒恕，於是她又禁不住高興、微笑，而忘卻了眼淚。丈夫的愛沒有減弱，而是更加深了，一想到這是身體好起來的證明，她就感到渾身充滿了一種更大的歡欣。 　　一天夜裏，萩岡告白了一切。芳子聽了，趴在丈夫胸脯上抽抽噎噎地哭起來，恨他、責備他為什麽把那樣可怕的想象悶在心裏，而不告訴自己。她甚至象母親似地數落了他，說他這陣子身體壯實多了，根本就沒有必要想什麽病啦、死啦這類多餘的事情。又發誓說，她不管什麽時候都會跟他一道死，沒有他，自己是活不下去的。這類誓言一般都是絶對不能遵守的，不過萩岡覺得，她似乎都能照行。正象讓她跟到山裏來就來了一樣，如果說一道死吧，現在她也一定會毫不躊躇地準備去死。最近自己難以控製的莫名其妙的嫉妒衝動，雖然同過去已經一刀兩斷，可是由於將來怎麽辦也還沒有定見而感到的六神無主，對於以“事變”名義已經難於蒙混下去的戰爭所引起的一切外界的紛擾，他的憎惡和不快，以及由此産生的虛無感，還有一想到病一旦痊愈又會被拉去打仗而産生的絶望，這一切都使萩岡覺得，病即使看去仿佛一點點好了起來，也决難完全恢復健康，因此他甚至時常感到死對他是一種輕鬆的誘惑。不過，衹有這個秘密他卻沒嚮芳子透露過。用這種故意裝出來的快活，有一次他講了一個故事。 　　“有這樣一個很有意思的故事。不是日本的。是西歐的，可是也是希臘遠古時代的故事。從頭說，話太長了。總之是在一個村子裏住着一對篤信神祗的老夫妻，他們在神仙遇到睏難的時候幫過神仙的忙。為了報答他們，神仙說他們想要什麽就會使他們得到什麽。於是老頭就提出了一個願望，他說：我們從年輕的時候起就在一塊兒和和美美地過日子，現在年紀老了，快到死的時候了，我們希望，不要讓我先死把老伴留在後面，也不要讓我留下，給老伴料理可悲的後事，但願能夠讓我們倆同日同時同刻死去。你看，老頭想的不是很妙嗎?” 　　“真照着說的那樣作到了嗎?” 　　“當然嘍，對方是神仙嘛。從那個時候起，老頭和老婆就當了神前的侍者，可是，他們已經老邁得幹不了什麽活了。有一天傍晚，他們倆正在前面院子裏眺望周圍的美麗的湖水，老頭的身子忽然長出樹葉來了。老婆大吃一驚，可是她的身子也開始變成樹了。眼看着兩個人全身都蓋滿了樹葉，腳變成了樹根，身子變成了樹幹，兩衹手變成了樹枝。可是臉暫時還沒有變成樹梢，兩個人面對着面，說：‘老婆子，再見吧，咱們嚮神仙求的願，現在到來啦。真是值得感謝啊！’‘再見吧，老爺子！’兩個人互相告了別，這時候嫩緑的樹葉把他們的口封上了。老頭變成了一棵挺拔的櫧樹，老婆變成了一棵優美的菩提樹，從此就天長地久地並排站在湖邊上了。怎麽樣，故事很美吧?”芳子點點頭，感動得說不出話來，眼裏含了一泡淚。她開始想，如果他們也能得到這種幸福，將變成什麽樹?落葉鬆?樅樹?還是現在正在開着花朵的洋槐、山藤?這以後的幾天，這種選擇就成了芳子的愉快的想象。 　　“我一定變樸樹。’ 　　“我可不喜歡那種樹。” 　　芳子知道雨天穿的木屐的跟是用這種木頭作的以後，她對這種有着繁茂的長出大橢圓形的葉子的樹就有點輕衊。所以萩岡故意笑着這樣說，逗她玩。象未開化的野人把山頂的岩石當作祖先，把雷劈的雄勁的大樹奉為神明似的，用這樣的感情來談論這樣的話，在這裏聽來卻很自然，富於真實感。 　　就在這前後，養狐場的平瀨提着一籃子雞蛋拜訪他們來了。雞蛋是他們訂下的，平常不是他們去串門的時候順便取回來，就是讓阿浪給送來，今天平瀨親自駕臨，那是因為另有事情要來商量。 　　“正好有一個賣主，下個决心怎麽樣?” 　　剛在大廳裏的藤椅上坐下他就開口了，是問他們要不要買下旁邊的一個養狐場。 　　“以前大概跟您提過，那是前橋的一個財主一半當作消遣搞起來的，狐捨雖然很小，連五對、六對也養不下，可是帶有一幢別墅式的小洋房，對您可太合適了。而且地皮也在三千坪開外，說是三萬就要出手，那可象白給似的哪！” 　　“幹麽要那麽急着賣?” 　　“這一帶，有—個時候養狐場搞起了二十來傢，現在都是這個樣子。跟中國的糾紛，現在也變成真刀真槍的大仗了，交稅剩下的錢，全都得買什麽國債，這時候還談得上什麽銀狐圍脖！大概人同此心，一下子就都泄勁啦。現在建築物雖然都還在，可是還有狐狸的也就剩下兩三傢了。在這個時候，勸您養狐，好象很矛盾，可是您也不是想在這上面撈一把，比幹莊稼活，對您合適，的確對健康也很有好處。如果您不願意養狐，光衝那幢房子，買下來也管保不會吃虧。” 　　“有狐狸嗎?” 　　“還有三對。您不願意要，我留下也可以。反正我這輩子跟狐狸算是結下了不解之緣，衹要不死，就準備幹下去。哈哈哈哈。” 　　平瀨露出煙油子熏得焦黃的齙牙，張開大嘴，呵呵地笑了。他一直坐到吃午飯，萩岡不得不奉陪聽他從頭講述他的所謂不解之緣——這是他半生的閱歷，同時也是日本養狐業的歷史。 　　平瀨在樺太島開始養狐，是在大正四年，地方是從豐原町還要往北走二裏多地的一個荒村。村子原來的俄國名字叫作諾亞列剋桑德羅夫斯剋，那時候已經按日本式叫作小沼村了。不過七十幾戶人傢中，還有四戶俄國人。周圍是一片荒漠的濕草地，到處都有小河和沼澤。村名就是因此而得的。 　　草地上有很多狐狸。有一種十字狐，從頭頂到尾巴尖順着脊梁有一道黑色毛紋，同從脖子到肩下的同樣顔色的毛紋恰好交成一個十字。電有三毛狐和赤狐。太陽一出來，就照得炙人，可是沼澤上又常常騰起一片霧靄，這對於狐狸的生息是最好的條件。 　　第二年，用赤狐和三毛狐雜交，生了五衹仔狐，其中三衹是十字狐，兩衹卻出乎意外地是銀狐。平瀨說，這就是日本最初的銀狐。不久，他又搬到北海道去，在大沼湖畔開始了大規模的養狐事業。因為在樺太島，買一張修狐捨的鐵絲網也要出很貴的運費，剝下狐皮出賣，也是靠近東京一點的地方更方便，所以替他出資的一傢漁業公司也希望他這樣作。到後來因為看到國際避暑地輕井澤外國人的購買力很高，大有生意可作，又從那裏搬到輕井澤來，這中間他在大沼湖畔整整幹了十四年。對於這一段往事，他有着很深的懷念。嚮當局大肆運動，終於成功地從美國的愛德華太子島羅傑斯養狐場第一次輸入了外國的純種銀狐，也就是那時候的事。 　　“那正是寺內內閣的時候，駐美大使是金子先生。當時社會上有種空氣，認為狐狸這玩意兒何必要從外國輸入！可是大使先生幫了很多忙，替我買回了十對。在船上死了三對，剩下七對算是太太平平到了日本。一對一千圓，在那時候，可是相當可觀的一筆錢哩！我特意從北海道進京，又到橫濱去接這批狐狸，一想到自己就要親手侍弄這些過去光是看到過照片的外國優良種，就性急得什麽似的，老想着早看一眼，再加上擔心能不能把它們太平無事地帶到北海道，那真是夜裏連覺也睡不踏實哪！” 　　他一口氣地說下去，就象談論昨天的事情似地，滿懷着激動和喜悅。他的話裏，有一種迷了心竅的人的無思慮的美，儘管有些自我吹噓，聽起來也不那麽令人反感。萩岡和芳子麻利地擺上午飯，跟他一同吃着，一面頗有同感地聽他講話。以前雖然零零碎碎聽到過一些，可是這樣詳細的原委今天還是第一次聽到。“今天可太麻煩太太啦！西餐這玩意兒，我們還不大知道是什麽味道呢！”平瀨把大塊的面包拋進嘴裏，稱贊肉烤得可口，又說有機會要請他們嘗嘗狐肉。 　　“啊呀，狐肉能吃嗎?” 　　“現在不行，秋後上膘的時候很好吃。” 　　“有膻味吧?” 　　“大傢都擔心這點，可是沒什麽。聽說京京肉很缺，今年過年的時候給一位相好的朋友傢裏送去兩衹，他們很高興，寄來很大一筆錢，簡直把我嚇了一跳，說是如果還可以賣給他們狐肉，送多少去都行。我老婆一看這倒不錯，就說，狐皮也不如以前值錢了，花那麽多工夫和飼料合不來，還不如殺了賣肉，不幹養狐這樁買賣，專門養雞的上算，你說，過樣我還有什麽好說的?我當時就說，我是靠狐狸起傢的，不管賠錢賺錢，這輩子算是跟狐狸泡上了，你要是不願意，可以滾出去。哈哈哈哈。” 　　平瀨又張開大嘴，發出了尖聲的幹笑。他仿佛忘了，說出養狐業正在衰敗的這些內情，會給被勸誘新買養狐場的對方帶來什麽影響。這在萩岡聽來，倒也很有意思，萩岡總算幹過兩三年銀行差事，知道平瀨特意跑來告訴他這件事，不會光是出於親切，可是到底平瀨好到什麽程度，又狡猾到什麽程度，他卻摸不準。而且，就算他那番養狐的經歷是那樣吧，可是他在年輕的時候是怎麽跑到樺太島去的?如果說他還有兩個不着邊的兒子，那末現在的阿浪之外，當然還有一房前妻，這房前妻如今在哪裏呢?他跟阿浪不僅看去象是父女，實際上年齡也相差十五六歲，兩個人又是怎樣到一塊的?他在哪兒出生，又是怎樣對這種特殊營生發生了興趣的?這一切萩岡全不知道。最後一個問題是很容易打聽出來的。衹要問一下府上是哪裏，就會引出其他很多有關出身的話來。可是萩岡一嚮是極不願意幹預別人生活的，所以連這樣的話也沒有問。 　　第二天早晨，萩岡說：“今天到養狐場去看看吧！” 　　看他的神情就象考慮了一夜似的。 　　“真想買嗎?” 　　“人傢特意跑來告訴了一回，反正先去看看再說。” 　　兩個人到了那裏，恭候多時的平瀨馬上帶他們去了。那所出售的養狐場，隔着一塊已經種好的馬鈴薯地和一片雞捨，緊挨着平瀨的地皮，甚至等於就在平瀨的地皮以內，另一面是一片白樺樹和抱樹的林子，中間有一眼小泉水，潺潺流成小溪，旁邊長了一片茂盛的芹菜。 　　“啊，帶了籃子來可多好。” 　　芳子穿了一雙白帆布鞋，跟在丈夫後面，輕快地跳過小溪。如果不是萩岡緊着催她：“喂，那些事情以後再說！”她蹲在水邊真不想走開呢。 　　“對了，這眼泉水，昨天我沒跟您說。這可是個寶貝哪！” 　　平瀨一面在前面走着，一面回過頭來說，這一帶的井，都打在從淺間山上傾斜下來的砂礫地層上，常常不出水。可是這眼小泉水卻從不涸竭，在嚴鼕積雪之下，也不斷涌出，而且水是微溫的。 　　“這麽說，雪有幾尺深?平瀨先生！滑雪我們總是到丸沼和鹿澤去，這一帶光是路過。” 　　“大概是淺間山的關係吧，雪還不到一尺深。可是，冷勁跟樺太島差不多，這也是適合於養狐的好條件。所以說，你們要想在這兒過年，不作充分準備是過不去的。那幢房子過鼕的設備很齊全，光憑這點，我想您買下來也不吃虧。” 　　三個人已經走近那幢房子了。那是一幢箱子似的洋房，外面塗的乳白色粉灰已經褪落，前面的草坪也是一片荒蕪，半路上不見了的小溪，又彎成緩緩的弓形出現在這裏。可是這並沒有增添什麽庭園情趣。房子內部也很粗俗，簡陋，有十鋪席、八鋪席和六鋪席的三個房間，還有比較寬敞的廚房和浴室。現在藉住的佐佐木的衹有兩個房間的山莊，最不方便的就是沒有洗澡設備。光是到這兒過夏的人們，可以到附近俱樂部去，那兒有把溫泉的微溫的水燒熱來用的公共浴場。那兒也是山莊村的一種社交場所，所以一般傢裏都沒有洗澡沒備。 　　“實在想洗的時候，就在背囊裏裝上毛巾和肥皂到草津溫泉去。” 　　感到洗澡不方便的時候，有一次萩岡這樣說，倒把芳子逗樂了。用不着到草津去，那是因為這兒的高原氣候乾燥而又清爽，每天用熱水擦一遍，也就不那麽想泡在澡盆裏了，而且一個星期總有什麽事情要到平漱傢裏去一次，衹要說一下，主人們就會替他們燒澡水的。可是這也衹是在季節好的時候，天氣一冷，那就要另作打算。出於同樣的原因，所以一看到廚房和六鋪席的吃飯間當中的堂屋裏有一個鐵板製的大爐子，萩岡就叫了起來；“嗬，這玩意兒可不錯。” 　　爐子是橢圓形的，上面有大小兩個爐眼，大的可以坐飯鍋，小的可以放煎鍋和水壺，既可以做飯，又可以取暖，很方便。這個高原村的常住戶，就象俄國農傢都有一個茶炊一樣，每傢都有這樣一個爐子。從十一月起就進入漫長的鼕季，那時候它就成了必不可少的重要傢當，人們整天燒着爐子，甚至會把鐵板燒得發白。 　　平瀨傢裏，現在做飯也還用這種爐子。有時候到他傢去洗澡，下半晌忽然遇到冷雨，平瀨就把他們領到爐子旁邊，說：“再在這兒暖和一下吧！” 　　他嚮爐子裏再扔進一根劈柴去，那曬得幹幹的木柴馬上就在餘燼裏燃起火苗。爐子發出呼呼的響聲，放在小爐眼上的水壺滾開起來。於是茶也沏來了。不僅方便，而且也很樸素，正象是山居之傢的東西，所以萩岡喜歡這種爐子並不下於喜歡東京傢裏那個英國式的暖爐，他很想最近就弄到一個。 　　“這在這一帶，都是請三裏開外一個村子的鐵匠給做的，那個鐵匠掌櫃的，手藝很好，可就是太懶，今年請他做，能夠當年做出來的時候簡直就沒有，糟糕透啦。你現在請他做，是啊，明年鼕天也用不上呢！” 　　聽他那口氣，仿佛是說光憑爐子，這幢房子也值得買，可是他到底沒好意思明說出來。 　　養狐場在後面。鐵絲網圈成的狐捨，高高的監視塔，設備和配置都同旁邊平瀨傢裏的完全一樣，衹是小一些，象是後者的一個模型。裏面沒有狐狸。房主搬走的時候，把狐狸托付給平瀨照管了。 　　平瀨打算回報昨天的人情，招待他們吃午飯，他倆謝絶了。這不光是因為客氣，而是因為今天早晨芳子看到從下輕井澤送來的面包已經吃光，就象往常一樣自己用發酵粉發了一盆面，她怕面發得太厲害變酸，所以他們馬上就回來了。 　　“不必每次每次都讓面包房給送來，能在傢裏自己烤就好啦。可是光靠普通的烤爐還不成。” 　　“這回咱們就做一個真正的面包烤爐。你來幹做面包的買賣，我來幹養狐的買賣，怎麽樣?”萩岡帶着愉快的笑臉，露出潔白的牙齒說。接着馬上又一本正經，頗有感慨地加了一句：“還是有一門什麽職業的好。” 　　芳子不懂為什麽他忽然說起這個來。可是她還沒來得及問，卻禁不住叫了起來：“啊呀，窗子開啦！” 　　前面已經可以看到他們那幢座落在半山坡，圍在一片小白樺樹中間的小山莊了。出來的時候，照着這一帶不大介意的辦法，沒有鎖門，可是門窗都是關得好好的，怎麽窗子裏卻露出了淡紅色的窗簾?兩個人順着緩緩的坡路跑了上去。還沒到門口，聽到腳步聲的佐佐木，就從窗子裏探出他那胖胖的結實的上半身來了。 　　“是你呀，可嚇了我們一跳。” 　　“我們以為進來賊了呢。您來得真好。” 　　“散步的時間真長啊。讓特意從東京來的客人等上兩個鐘頭，也有點那個吧！” 　　“啊，等了這麽久嗎?” 　　芳子說，那末就讓她美美地招待一頓午飯，於是跑到廚房去了。萩岡把藤椅拉近這位久別的朋友身邊，說：“今天可不是什麽散步。是為了一件重要事情出去的，這可能成為我生活上的轉機。” 　　“哦，這倒新鮮！”因為對方笑嘻嘻地故意把話說得很誇張，所以佐佐木也用同樣的語調問道：“大概不會是報名當報道員，想到中國去看看打仗吧?” 　　“那太平凡了！” 　　萩岡把平瀨跟他說的養狐場的事告訴了這位朋友，佐佐木似乎真地感到很驚奇，嘴上緊緊地叼着煙捲兒，沉默了一會兒，從鼻子裏噴出長長的一道煙來。 　　“買下來，真想養狐嗎?”’ 　　“我想養養看也不妨。” 　　“這可是異想天開。真能象養狐場掌櫃的說的那麽簡單嗎?就算侍弄狐狸對健康有益吧，買飼料，搜羅飼料，特別在現在這個時候，也不是那麽容易的呀。” 　　“這些事，平瀨說，他都可以一道代辦。” 　　“就算這樣，可是聽你的話，好象是為了那幢房子的浴室和爐子，還有那眼小泉水，纔想買養狐場，纔想養狐。三千坪地皮，在這一帶照野地的價錢還值不上東京的十坪。對手是那種對手，馬馬虎虎的，可要上個大當哩！” 　　“你說是上狐狸的當，還是掌櫃的當?” 　　“都一徉，全是鬼東西！” 　　“我可不那樣想。” 　　萩岡為平瀨作了一通辯護，把他從樺太島以來半生從事養狐的經歷敘述了一遍，說對於他這種一貫的熱情，是可以好好稱許一番的。萩岡認為，這次平瀨為養狐場的事情奔走，想拿一大筆傭錢，當然不在話下，可是在現在這樣的時局底下，事業正在逐漸衰落，想多拉一個夥伴的心情也不是假的，而且還有很大成分是出於對於初次準備在這裏過鼕的人們的親切。　　“反正對什麽兒你都不會往壞處想。” 　　佐佐木把兩衹手放到後腦勺上，胳膊肘嚮左右支開，呵呵地笑了。他那一頭亂發，與其說象個英文教師，不如說更象個藝術京。他很知道不會把人往壞處想，這點正是這個朋友最善良的地方。那點錢在萩岡來說，開張支票也就解决了。那末試試看也好。能夠想到幹這種營生，也是健康有所恢復的證明。這使佐佐木感到很高興。最後他也一變而為鼓勵，勁頭十足地說：“要幹就要大大地發展。當日本的銀狐王，不是也滿有意思嗎?聽說，荷蘭有靠鬱金香發傢的，有靠黃油發傢的，同樣是暴發戶，我覺得卻好聽些。可是銀狐王，那是他們不能比的。我這碗英文教師的飯也快吃不成了，到時候我也來當你的助手。怎麽說呢，現在這年頭，搞外國的彎彎宇，除了德文和意大利文以外，可都吃不開啦。” 　　“在這一點上，這裏可是另有天地。而且我也不是起不了床的病人，所以還是有一門職業的好。”萩岡回答道。他的話和他的語調都和回來的時候在半路上跟妻子說的一樣。並且也同那時候一樣，沒有再多說什麽，可是他覺得，如果開始一種單純的，有規律的生活，最近那種莫名其妙的嫉妒和自己朦朧地感到的死的誘惑，也許可以得到剋服。 　　午飯的時候，一瓶珍藏的法國葡萄商，再加上啤酒，使得佐佐木更加興奮了。他現在正在搞日本古典作品的英譯，今天是到住在下輕井澤的一位英國顧問那兒請教，順便到這裏來的，所以還得趁三點半的電車趕回去。“來看一看，放心啦！沒想到你們過得這麽好，芳子，明年來的時候，會送給我一條萩岡養狐場出品的銀狐圍脖吧?” 　　“那要請您買纔成。請您給太太買一條作為紀念。”芳子跟他們一道無拘無束地吃着，她輕易不開玩笑，可是這次卻作了這樣一個戲謔的回答。“可是，佐佐木先生，我們養狐的事還沒有决定呀！” 　　“决定了！” 　　“哦！” 　　佐佐木的語氣比丈夫來得還果斷，芳子簡直摸不着頭腦，她剛叉起一塊油煎馬鈴薯，要送到口邊去，卻在半道上把叉子停下了。其實萩岡直到那時候，也還沒有下定决心。可是這一瞬間的這一句話，卻把一切决定了。佐佐木用那帶有醉意、已經微紅的眼皮底下一雙淘氣孩子似的眼睛，不住地打量他們夫婦，開口說：“這麽說，你們知道嗎?養狐場全都有的那高塔似的建築物是幹什麽的?” 　　“是監視塔吧。” 　　“這還用說。可是監視什麽呢?” 　　“不讓狐狸跑掉呀！” 　　一聽到這個回答，佐佐木就把上半身嚮後仰過去，哈哈大笑起來，他嚮被笑得發愣的兩個人解釋說，目的並不那麽簡單，那監視塔是為了在一月到三月的狐狸交尾期，察看哪一隻狐狸完成了任務，哪一隻沒有完成的。 　　“要想生出毛色好的小狐狸，就得給懷孕的牝狐特別好吃的東西，就是為了這個。這是兩三年前，我去參觀的時候，聽掌櫃的說的。他沒有跟你們說嗎？” 　　“沒聽他說。” 　　“你倒無所謂，讓芳子感到幻滅，能出手的東西他也賣不掉了，掌櫃的大概怕這個，所以纔沒有跟你們說。不管你怎樣替他辯護，他也是一隻老狐狸。” 　　“那個渾名是內掌櫃的呀！” 　　“都一樣，一對狐狸！” 　　軟弱的人有時反而堅強。結婚時也是這樣，樸直溫順的萩岡，一旦下了决心，就會變成百折不回的倔強的人。這一次，也按照這個路數，連嚴鼕一二月，在高塔上監視狐狸交尾這種傻裏傻氣的苦差事，也沒有使他躊躇。他把應該交的款子灑灑脫脫地全交了。也沒有跟東京的繼母商量，衹是通知了一聲。但是給叔父樺卻寫了一封詳細的信，不過這也是在决定以後。叔父的信，一般的事情總是由嬸母代筆，這次卻意外地親筆寫了回信來。 　　 　　拜復：聞健康已漸次恢復，不勝欣慰。養狐亦美事也。佐佐木君所謂提防上當，忠告之情誠然可感，但上狐狸之當亦屬有限也。理今世上爾虞我詐，騙局大為流行，實令人煩惱。愚叔近日將再作水虎①，行前甚想得一面晤之機，惟恐難以如願耳。珍重健康，千萬千萬。芳子處請代問候。 　　 　　這封信發出後的第五天才寄到山莊。萩岡後來知道，那時候叔父已經作為當時沒有明確公佈的某戰艦的艦長，出海去了。 　　還沒有到夏天，萩岡就搬到養狐場去了。佐佐木藉給他山莊的時候，就曾經說：“我們傢裏今年想到好久沒有去過的海邊去。”可是萩岡知道，佐佐木要利用暑假做一些桌面上的工作，這個山莊對他來說是必需的，所以他不想靠了友情給人傢添麻煩。他一直想另藉一處空着的別墅，或者有合適的就買一所。急急忙忙買下養狐場，這種藏在心裏的想法也是理由之一。 　　搬傢之後，他們的生活發生了一大變化。年輕的夫婦，每天早晨五點就起床了。以前，衹要做兩個人的簡單飯食就可以了，現在芳子首先就得利用廚房裏的爐子，坐上大鍋，給從鄰居那裏接收過來的三對狐狸做飼料。按照阿浪教給的做法，把麥子，玉米和其他雜糧面跟用魚做的煎汁煮在一起，做成一種菜粥。飼料，平瀨答應完全幫忙，魚也是從老遠的直津江那邊的漁場訂好合同送到平瀨那兒，又分給他們的。 　　“我們吃，好象也很香呢！” 　　“這麽說，你想不給狐狸，自己先吃嗎?” 　　“你纔靠不住呢！” 　　鍋裏冒出香噴噴的味道，劈柴在爐子中噼噼啪啪地燃燒，兩個人在這種氣氛裏愉快地說笑。一會兒，狐狸的早飯做好了，萩岡就用小桶把它提到在這以前已經掃得幹幹淨淨的狐捨去。當他給狐狸分配早飯的時候，芳子這纔着手做他們自己的早飯。在另一個爐眼上，早飯已經燒好，所以現在要做的是菜場，和嚮湯裏窩雞蛋。比起煎荷包蛋來萩岡更喜歡窩雞蛋，比半熟稍稍硬點，而又不讓它太硬，做出這樣的窩雞蛋纔算得上有手藝。而這樣做出來的早飯，萩岡來到這裏之後，雖然不象在東京傢裏那麽沒有食欲，可是也總是照例拿拿筷子就算了。平常衹要一片面包，一杯紅茶，就可以頂到晌午而不覺得餓。但這陣子卻笑着伸出紅漆的彩碗，說：“蠢人飯量丸能吃啦！” 　　侍弄六衹狐狸，現在還不那麽費事，飼料在晚上再做一回就成，狐狸衹吃兩頓。但是，萩岡在自己能做的範圍以內，不願多麻煩平瀨，所以他們養了一隻山羊，又喂了三衹雞。山羊奶不光可以作為他們的飲料，狐狸分娩時，作為母乳的補充，對仔狐也是必要的。種馬鈴薯雖然遲了，可是聽說現在種上也不是一點收穫也得不到，所以又央了一位叫作老留的五十來歲的工人種了馬鈴薯。老留從那以後就成了長工，很精巧地造了一個山羊圈和一個雞捨。在建造的時候，萩岡卻給他當了助手。進了七月，突然變成夏天，戶外充滿了紫外綫的高原的陽光耀眼地強烈，衹是背蔭的地方有點涼意。丈夫的襯衫和工作服，每天要讓汗水打濕兩次，芳子每天都得在前面草地上的小溪裏替他洗。水很涼，手浸得時間一長，指頭尖都涼得發麻。 　　暑假以後，佐佐木第一次從鐵道那面過來拜訪的時候，那天他們也正在房子前面幹活，佐佐木一見面，第一句話就是：“完全變成行傢啦！”“真的，沒有想到你們還能幹這個。” 　　佐佐木的妻子須磨子領着她的獨生子，四歲的真兒走過來，帶着更為驚奇的神情說。萩岡和老留正在劈木柴。老留把從後面林子裏間伐下來的樹，鋸成一段一段的，萩岡再揮動長柄的斧子把它劈開。芳子穿着丈夫的一條灰色舊褲子，頭上包着白毛巾，把劈柴三四根作為一抱，送到窗下去。 　　“聽說過鼕，這樣的劈柴要有五六垛纔行。我們自己簡直什麽也於不成。你看，剛剛插手幹了這麽點閑事，就是這樣。” 　　萩岡脫下粗綫手套，伸出腫得紅紅的手掌給他們看，然後用手在嘴邊作成喇叭狀，朝着後面突然大聲喊了起來：“老留，歇一會兒，抽袋煙吧！” 　　芳子看來了稀客，把劈柴扔下就跑了過來，嚮須磨子小聲說：“聾子！” 　　“啊，怪不得！” 　　兩人相視而笑了。 　　荻窪出身的須磨子，從她那端端正正的臉型所顯示的氣質來說，也同芳子完全不同，可是這並沒有妨礙她們雙方的丈夫之間所存在的友情。正象佐佐木和萩岡由於性格相反而結合的更緊一樣，她們倆也由於彼此間的不同面互相感到吸引。 　　久別重逢的女人們，說的，問的，互相要給對方看的，有那麽多的事，一講到東京的生活漸漸苦了起來，需要更多的心機，更多的力氣，話頭就更豐富了。 　　“比方說，一合牛奶，現在用普通的辦法也弄不到手啦。你得跟牛奶鋪說盡好話，送他東西，月末算賬的時候還找不回零頭。” 　　看到山羊，須磨子忽然想起牛奶鋪內掌櫃的那突出的顴骨來。山半係在草地的木樁上，它在繩子能達到的範圍內轉來轉去，張着一對眼圈帶點淡紅色的圓圓的眼睛，對人很親熱地咩咩地叫着。真兒一直不離開那裏。萩岡和佐佐木在狐捨前面等着女人們，一個人擦着了火柴，兩個人都點上了煙。 　　“我怎麽也不願再幹銀行的差事，歸根到底，好象還是由於討厭那鐵絲網。關在那裏面，數着別人的錢。幹上一輩子真叫人忍受不了。可是現在把狐狸攆到鐵絲網裏，倒幹起侍弄它們的差事來了。我常常想，這真可笑。” 　　“瞧你這麽說，世界上無非都是一些可笑的事。中國的事不也是這樣嗎?發表什麽聲明，說是不擴大，絶不是戰爭，可是到底成了今天這個樣子。在他們欺騙和花言巧語面前，這些狐狸先生們都得夾起尾巴呢！” 　　為了加強語氣，和出於一種孩子似的淘氣心情，佐佐木彈了一下鐵絲網，原來在砂地上畏畏縮縮用斜眼看着他們的—對狐狸，慌慌張張跑進小屋去了。萩岡提起了叔父的信。 　　“他說，上狐狸的當，算不了什麽呢！” 　　“千真萬確。大概你叔叔他們，對於政府，或者不如說軍部，怎樣在欺騙人民的個中底細知道的詳細。” 　　“我想，越是知道底細，心情越不好過。站在他那個立場，雖然說不出口，可是我知道叔叔對於現在日本進行的戰爭是絶對反對的。” 　　“與其說是你叔叔反對，不如說海軍本身反對。在這方面，陸軍那幫傢夥，全都是不知深淺的誇大妄想狂。所以沒法治。” 　　“到底會變成什麽局面?我這裏，報紙也要晚五天才能看到。” 　　“歐洲也是危機臨頭。駐德國大使亨德遜①正在倫敦、柏林之間往來奔波，好象在設法阻止，可是希特勒用他的老手段出其不意地來一下子，那就什麽都完蛋了。歐洲着起火來，美國也不會坐視。那就是再來一場世界大戰。” 　　“人類是多麽愚蠢！從上次的戰爭裏應該得到足夠的教訓了，可是還沒過四分之一世紀……” 　　“帶頭點火的可確實是日本，這真可怕。現在很多人陶醉於戰爭景氣，還感不到它的嚴重性。可是我相信，一定有一天日本要流出和我們使中國流出的同樣多的血。有時候，我是宿命論者，同時就我個人來說，我絶不願意在這場戰爭裏拿起武器來。為了不讓他們把我拉出去打仗，不管怎樣狡猾的事，怎樣沒出息的事，我都肯幹。在這點上，你是有本錢的！” 　　“我替你去吧！” 　　“反正在這裏可以大聲說這種話，光是這點就很難得。若是東京，馬上就會有人說：“跟我到署裏去。” 　　佐佐木扔掉煙蒂，隔着一片嫩緑的白樺樹，嚮還在山羊那兒不想挪動的真兒和女人們那邊看了一眼。仿佛他的小兒子也是聾子似的，大聲喊道：“喂，真兒，這兒有好玩意兒呀！快來！有好玩的狐狸哪！” 　　從那天以後，不到五個星期，希特勒就侵入波蘭，挑起了歐戰。第三年鼕季的十二月八日，日本突然襲擊珍珠灣，使又爆發了太平洋戰爭。地球不得不再一次用鮮血來經歷它誕生時代的洪水。人類的睿智和它所創造的一切都沉沒在洪水般的鮮血裏，猶如衹有白晝和黑夜一樣，現在也僅僅有兩件事——殺戮和被殺戮。這就是生活，就是哲學，就是藝術，就是事業。 　　在這樣的年代，總算堅持了養狐工作的萩岡，可以說是挪亞方舟式的奇跡般的幸運。同時，他們把一切東西都極力堆在一處的那種雜亂無章的鼕日生活，也真和那方舟一模一樣。 　　狐狸不需要什麽特殊的防寒設備，但是山羊卻需要。所以就把挨着廚房的、為它堆積了足夠吃到明春的草料的倉庫隔了開來，把它安置在裏面，同時又在房邊修一個給雞過鼕的小窩。聾子老留，現在也變成了寄宿的夥計。他娶過三個老婆，但三個都跑掉了，如今是無依無靠的單身漢，除非有事，平日總是石頭般沉默着，說他又聾又啞也會有人相信的。這個滿面鬍須的鄉下佬，現在已成為萩岡夫婦不可缺少的幫手了。尤其是從一月中旬起就要開始對狐狸交尾情況進行觀察，老留就更成了重要的角色。本來說好，從早晨到中午由他監視，下午由萩岡接班，但是，老留卻可以整天滿不在乎地盤腿坐在監視塔上。他仰起那張衹露出額角、圓圓的鼻子和鼻子周圍一小塊肉皮的、長滿濃須的面孔，幹脆地說：“幹麽，啥都是活兒！” 　　對於老留來說，狐狸的交尾也好，監視塔正對面白雪皚皚的淺間山的噴煙也好，都差不多，都不過是一種現象，衹要能夠隨時看到，不漏掉就成。萩岡和芳子連每天的三頓飯也和這位老留一起在堂屋裏坐在椅子上圍着爐子吃。山裏的鼕日生活是以火爐為中心團團轉的，正象地球的軌道不離開太陽一樣。不衹是老留，連那簡直把嘴都伸嚮你鼻頭來叫喚的山羊和雞，如今都是這個小天地裏的伴侶。此外，從菜窖裏多取出的馬鈴薯、捲心菜、蘿蔔之類的蔬菜，放在屋地上就會凍壞的東西，都用棉被蓋了放在身旁；一天燒到晚的劈柴也堆在伸手就能夠到的墻邊；洗過的襯衫等貼身衣服，也用繩子挂在頭頂。芳子在這塊小天地裏，為狐狸做菜粥，準備一傢人的食物，有時還替鄰傢的阿浪照着新到的婦女雜志剪裁式樣美觀的勞動褲。裁縫桌就是飯桌，也是萩岡的書桌。本來，萩岡對於居室的整頓有着潔癖，連一支鋼筆放不正也都要介意的，但在第二年的鼕天，卻也能夠泰然生活在這樣的環境裏了。當他自嘲地和平瀨談到這個問題時，再一次強調說：就因為是這樣的傢，所以才能在這裏過鼕，因此，這所房子買得很好！ 　　“東京那裏鬧疏散，所以這一帶的房價漲得很兇。就拿這所房子說吧，現在多出一倍的價錢也買不到手。據說，車站前面不到三間的破爛房子，還賣了五千圓哩。” 　　“那可真不得了！” 　　“但是，狐狸卻要玩完，因為美國是最大的主顧呀！這麽一來，經銷商也都要撒手啦。再加上統銷啦、配給啦，管理嚴格起來，越後①的魚啥時候來也不保準了。現在，您是知道的，花了不少冤枉錢，連定貨的一半也來不了。狐狸可不象山羊和雞，光靠草料和雜糧可應付不了。那樣立刻會影響毛的光澤呀!我老婆那傢夥氣勢洶洶地說什麽，連人都得勒緊褲帶的時候，還養那種淨吃貴重東西的玩意兒幹什麽！昨天，我們還吵了一架呢！” 　　平瀨每次來，都談這類的話。萩岡安慰他說，戰爭就象人的病災，熱度一退就會慢慢好起來的，不會永遠打下去，勸他不要把事情想得太絶望。 　　“您說得對。在我，這是一輩子的事業。所以我有决心：就是自己挨餓，也要想法讓狐狸吃上。到了最沒有辦法的時候，就是一對，兩對都成，也要養下去留着當種狐。說了歸齊，還是錢的問題，您用不着剝下皮來馬上去換錢，我跟您不同，這就難辦啦！” 　　“哪裏！彼此都一樣。” 　　萩岡雖是這麽說，可是去年第一次生下來的十匹仔狐，在上月剛養到八個月頭上，他就留下一半，把其餘的五匹放進平瀨的屠宰箱裏用哥羅芳①熏死，打算做成銀狐圍脖。送給人作禮物。本來，熟製毛皮的店鋪因為全力趕製軍需毛皮物件，銀狐圍脖之類的東西何時可以製成，遙遙無期，曾一度拒絶過，經平瀨用老主顧的關係纔勉強交過去的。他以愉快的心情等待着製成後，首先送給芳子，再就是送給東京的繼母和妹妹、佐佐木太太，最後的一條他想先不送給嬸母，而送給她的獨生女——嫁到廣島去的堂妹。 　　“是啊，就象您說的那樣，把戰爭當作病災，要沉住氣幹下去。跟前這種出師大捷的情況繼續下去，也就會出乎意料地很快地結束哪！”平瀨說到這裏從椅子上站起身來，彎着腰望望窗外說，“還要下場雪呀。”說着就走出屋去。他穿了一雙長統膠靴，好象把他那短小的身體的一半都裝了進去似的。外面傳來他沉重的靴子踏着凍雪的聲音；接着一聲聲狐鳴衝破了嚴鼕二月的沉寂。一進交尾期，它們那富有特徵的叫聲就變得尖厲、清澈而又高昂，帶有一種戀慕的衰切情調。所謂狐臭——在任何野獸中一聞就可以知道那是狐狸的那種濃重的氣味，這個季節也就更加強烈。去年初鼕時分的交尾期，萩岡每次走進狐捨，都要作嘔，感到暈眩。現在雖然慣了，但每次送狐食回來，也都要用肥皂洗過手臉，而且要把手指送到鼻端嗅上一嗅。 　　“我已經沾上狐臭了。” 　　“真的嗎?平瀨先生倒真有一股狐狸氣味呢！您沒聞到嗎?” 　　“他也許覺得得意哪。——戰爭弄得他生意不振，也真有點可憐哩。” 　　“他太太說，他對她說過，無論是日清戰爭和日俄戰爭，都沒打上兩年，所以這次再忍耐一年，就會結束，並且會得到大勝利的。” 　　“這個……究竟會怎樣呢……”萩岡搖搖頭。但是，他的懷疑比起後來的變化估計得還是過於樂觀了。不僅一年之後不能結束，而且從那時候起，戰爭是越打越厲害了。日本人過去雖在從事戰爭，但毋寧說並不瞭解戰爭究竟是怎麽回事。現在，他們第一次知道了：在利用無窮無盡的石油、煤炭、鋼鐵、橡膠、棉花和其他一切物質，進行有組織的赫拉剋勒斯式的生産面前，單純的精神力量的昂揚，為了進行這種鼓動而發出的空洞的喊叫、虛張聲勢和瞞哄欺騙等等，都是無濟於事的。 　　第四年的鼕天，高原的居民，加上疏散到此地來的人們，增加了將近一倍。車站前的破房子高價賣出的風言風語已成為舊話，現在，買一間墻皮褪落的四鋪半席的房間，也得出和那個數目相近的價錢。那種烤火燒飯兩用的火爐，價錢漲得更是嚇人，連用壞了扔在堆房深處的舊貨也都搜羅出來；至於用現在很難到手的洋鐵桶一剖兩個作成的新火爐，買一個就要花上四五百圓。 　　佐佐木想在秋季把妻子須磨子和真兒疏散到山莊去的時候，為了弄到一個爐子，也是首先費了很大周折的。學校雖已停課，但為監督被動員到工廠裏去的學生，他還不能離開東京。因此，他衹能先把妻子送到山裏，過年的時候到這裏看看，或是到疏散在縣內的村鎮的同類工廠辦事時，偶爾順便到傢裏瞧瞧。一傢人分散在幾處生活，這是目前的一般情況。好在別墅村裏已有疏散來的數十傢街坊，讓年輕的妻子和年幼的兒子在山裏居住，也並不那麽不放心；而且對於過鼕已有經驗的萩岡，就住在不到三十分鐘路程的鐵道那面，這也使他覺得是個依靠。婦女們在一起更增加了彼此間的親近，並且為了使真兒不至於感到悶得慌，須磨子也常常到芳子傢串門。淺間山和周圍的群山，原野，雖然已經是白茫茫一片，可是路上的雪還不到五六寸。在單人踏出的窄而淺的雪溝裏，走在前面的真兒常常把兩衹膠靴並在一起，象滑雪似地滑着走。他也喜歡用老留給做的、跟母親一樣的白樺手杖，一邊走一邊在雪地上劃出綫來。雪在波紋式的窪下去的地方，仿佛帶有淡青色。母親有時也用同樣的手杖給他畫小鳥。天空除了下雪的日子以外，經常是萬裏無雲，一片清澄。白天在溫暖的大氣之中，這樣玩着去作客，真比夏天還要愉快。 　　“這樣的東西，出門不戴它，走起路來還要出汗哪。”須磨子說着，從頭上取下防空用的厚棉頭巾。這種東西成為纍贅，其實也並不光是因為季節不久就要到三月了。在這樣偏僻的地方，河對面山腳下的村莊和車站前面的高塔上懸挂着的吊鐘，也時時發出鳴聲。發生戰爭以後更討厭收聽廣播而不裝收音機的萩岡，常常和女人們一起傾聽這當——當當的簡短的鐘聲。他懷念着不知在哪個戰艦，在哪裏的海上漂流着的叔父。東京的繼母和妹妹，在他們遷進山裏來以後，招了入贅女婿，現已在這個女婿的本傢的幫助下，疏散到奈良去了。 　　“那裏糧食不那麽缺，另外他們大概以為美國飛機不會轟炸日本的‘佛羅倫薩’。”提起傢裏疏散到奈良的事，萩岡這樣說。 　　“那末，工廠地帶的人們該是危險的啦！”須磨子馬上惦念起目前正在工廠地帶生活着的丈夫來了。 　　“一想到佐佐木先生，那麽沉着的須磨子也說，恨不得馬上回到東京去哩。” 　　“那倒是難怪的，但是，為了真兒也不能幹那種冒失的事。而且佐佐木又是那樣的人，通常的情況下，是不會出什麽差錯的。” 　　“我也是這麽說，每次見面都安慰她呢。” 　　但是，不久以後，安慰別人的人卻變成被人安慰的人了。 　　一天早晨，老留很早就來接他們，這是從未有過的事情。若問清緣由，就得在老留的耳根大喊一陣，從他遲鈍的口中掏出回答來，有這時間也就走到了。因此，須磨子什麽也沒有問，馬上就準備出發。老留在土間裏不聲不響地彎下腰去，把真兒背了起來。從他的動作可以看出芳子是等得多麽急。須磨子立刻焦灼起來，緊緊地跟定已背着真兒大踏步嚮前走着的老留，比往常早到了幾分鐘。芳子開了門說不出話來，簌簌地流着大顆的眼淚。屋子充滿了升汞水的氣味，一切都明白了。去年早春，萩岡也咯過一次血。 　　“真兒，還是去喂山羊吃草吧。哎，讓留伯伯給你拿草。” 　　須磨子巧妙地把真兒哄到堆房那邊去，衹剩兩人留在土間裏的爐邊，這不光是為了詳細地聽聽病情，而且也是為了不讓真兒一起跟到病房去。據說，病人從昨天黃昏時分連續略過四次血，現在正昏昏沉沉地睡着。第一次咯血是在和老留把狐食鍋擡到狐捨去的時候，驚惶失措跑回來的老留，真象變成了啞巴，衹用喉音發出奇怪的叫聲，一味用手指着狐捨。這表情使芳子大吃一驚，她趕忙跑去；在狐捨前面的積雪上她看到了一些猩紅的斑點。穿着藏青色絨綫衫的萩岡，把他那瘦長的身子靠在鐵絲網上，正用手帕擦嘴。看到芳子跑來，他那酷似亡母的眼角和圓潤、柔和、微帶褐色的眼睛，浮起了纖弱的微笑，那眼光，既不是悲哀，也不是驚惶，而是一種仿佛淘過氣的孩子在乞求寬恕的恭謹的凝視。直到芳子走近身邊，他也沒有改變這種眼神，好象要把芳子的姿影吸進眼睛裏似的，一個勁兒地瞅着她。 　　在裏間的病房裏，擺着從原住在下輕井澤現已回國的外國人手裏買到的床，安設着從第一次咯血買下的取暖專用的火爐。比起吃飯間、廚房兩用的，老留、山羊和雞雜居的房間來，更見整潔，好似兩傢。 　　“哦，原來是須磨子太太。” 　　頭上放着冰袋，似醒非醒、睡眼蒙朧的萩岡，似乎把背着窗子坐在—旁的她，當成了芳子。聲音雖已嘶啞，但他那睡後平靜的面龐，加上兩頰燒得微紅，看去和平日並沒有多大分別。 　　“您覺得怎樣?芳子剛剛出去取冰去啦！” 　　“頭不痛了，精神也好些了。這回可能不再發作啦。” 　　接着他的話，須磨子肯定地說：“是嘛！以後，您安靜地休養一些天就成啦。”但是在一個星期之內，仍未停止咯血。 　　這一帶本是無醫村，不，毋寧說本來是沒有需要醫生的居民和村莊的。在有了人煙以後，病人也衹好到草津、輕井澤和小諸一帶去就醫。不過，大都不去費那些事和花那種錢，而是聽任自然的淘汰，就象高原的野草隨着鼕日的到來一同枯萎一樣。後來，一位因為戰爭疏散到這裏的姓牧的醫生，開始在車站面前開業行醫。他是個有經驗的老醫生，本來在千葉有所醫院，現在已交給兒子繼續開業。他給人的印象好，對繪畫也有興趣，從去年發作的時候起就為萩岡診治，他們的交往已超過主治醫生和患者的關係，所以連現在很難找到的護士，他也硬從兒子那裏要了來。須磨子到萩岡傢裏去，常常順便住在那裏。那時候，就把真兒交給鄰居阿浪照看。狐狸早就由平瀨代為照管了。在日本到處都填不飽肚子的時候，好歹沒叫將近十對的狐狸餓死，是因為沾了萩岡的補助費的光。但魚是無論如仍也買不到手了，附近礦山上的人常常私下宰牛，靠了牛雜碎還可以勉強對付。由於平瀨總叨咕胃口大的狐狸可憐，阿浪常常跟他吵起來。 　　“噯，你這個人哪，以為現在是什麽時候?真的，美國飛機要來就來吧，轟隆一聲給狐捨來那麽一下，纔痛快昵！” 　　阿浪一發脾氣就想把燒到咕嘟咕嘟翻滾的熱鍋掀翻來代替炸彈。這天也正在氣勢洶洶吵鬧的時候，須磨子領着牧醫生進來了，說：“阿浪嫂，藉你們的裏屋用用。” 　　病人想見佐佐木，須磨子不知叫佐佐木來好，還是不來好，她擔心他們的會面會對萩岡的病起不好的影響。這樣的話當然不能在病房裏談，就是在芳子旁邊也不能談。人常常由於希望成為什麽樣子而産生錯覺，以為實際就是那個樣子。這種一般的心理，使得芳子看到萩岡漸斬停止咯血，就以為這是開始好轉的明證，把心裏的一塊大石頭放下來了。萩岡也斬釘截鐵地說：“不要擔心，我不會死，一定要好起來給你看！”對待丈夫的一切言語都從未懷疑過的芳子，這個時候，更不能認為這是謊話。不，毋寧說，她不能想象丈夫會撇下自己死去，正象在這個高原上住了一輩子的人不能想象大海一樣。 　　牧醫生並不反對叫佐佐木來，而且還主動地問“奈良那裏怎麽辦哪?” 　　“是啊……” 　　“他的心髒可是衰弱得很厲害啊。” 　　須磨子衹用力動了一下哽塞的喉頭，沒有立刻答話。病情已嚴重到這種地步，這在她也是沒有想到的。牧醫生用他那行職業的冷靜態度說，死衹不過是時間問題，而且常有空襲，火車不能正常運行，臨時通知，恐怕一時趕不到。須磨子不得不把萩岡和他繼母的關係告訴了醫生。她們忽然趕來，那就等於對病人宣告死亡。 　　“還是等佐佐木來了再說吧。” 　　“好吧。” 　　和牧先生打交道，詢問病情，一直是須磨子的事。就是在芳子光顧淌眼抹淚的時候，須磨子也能夠灑灑脫脫地處理一些事情，但是，這時候她送走牧先生之後，心神卻也不安起來。她跟醫生進行了這麽重大的事情的商談，這使她的心受到一次嚴肅的衝擊，同時想到可以藉這個機會同久別的丈夫見面，而不禁暗自感到喜悅，這又使她覺得內疚。這樣，她就更覺得蒙在鼓裏的芳子太可憐了。 　　“什麽呀，這不是沒什麽大不了的嘛。” 　　佐佐木趕來，大模大樣地坐在床邊，關於病衹說了這些話。然後，他就一個人滔滔不絶地說下去：妻給他的信走了一星期纔收到，第二天，足等了五個小時纔上去夜車——與其說是“上去”，不如說象馬鈴薯似的給“裝”進了麻袋，快到熊𠔌的時候，又響起了空襲警報，在黑暗中足足停了兩個小時，每響一次警報，東京就越發變得不象東京，不久以前，四月十三日的轟炸引起的大火，從歷史意義上說，有機會看到這種壯觀並不算壞；不好對付的是大白天就在頭頂上亂飛的戰鬥機，比起這種飛機來，B29倒顯得悠然壯觀，在春光明媚的蔚藍的天空中，伸展着長大的機翼，疾轉着的蠃旋槳好似給機體戴了一頂閃閃發光的寶冠，這一切看去是那樣勻稱，當這些銀光閃閃的機群飛來時，雖說是敵人，但是也叫人愛看，甚至會看得出神，這種力學的美，真是不亞於希臘衛城的一種新的諧調的美；等等。他用一種故意說得好聽的反話，給悲慘和災禍塗上一層色彩，照他這種說法，仿佛就象沒有什麽人傷亡一樣。 　　“但是，不管羅西法①長得多麽漂亮，魔鬼總是魔鬼。你們能夠生活在這塊土地上，處於他們的跳梁圈外，實在是幸福啊。” 　　“是啊，我是幸福的。”萩岡回聲似地答道。接着，他作出一副狡猾的笑臉，仿佛是說，你為什麽用那種謹慎小心的口氣說話，我早看穿了。他目不轉睛地瞅着對方，然後用低沉但很堅决的聲音說：“不過佐佐木，特意叫你來，並不是為了聽聽東京挨炸的新聞啊。” 　　“那末你說，象我這樣剛從東京來的人，還有什麽別的話可談呢?” 　　佐佐木故意不服輸地用同樣探索的微笑，望着躺在床上的他那瘦削蒼白、額角上散亂着漆黑頭髮的面孔。 　　“那倒是的。不過與其聽你談什麽，我倒是有話要跟你說說的。可是，你卻……” 　　“你是說我下車伊始就哇啦哇啦說了不少廢話嗎?好，那就趕快聽聽你的吧，——前言少敘。” 　　與其說這是病人和探病人之間的談話，不如說，他們象是在高中時代一起躺在宿舍裏的萬年床①上進行爭論。這當然是為了避免委靡的感傷，彼此互相故意的做作，但即使如此，萩岡還是一下把頭扭嚮墻壁了。兩個疊在一起的雪白的大洋枕頭傾斜下來，從洋枕頭的低窪處看到他那少年般的細瘦的項部，佐佐木的眼睛忽然熱起來。 　　“明天再談吧。”萩岡又一次轉過臉來說。“過一會兒又要發燒啦。明天上午來吧！” 　　“噯，好吧。” 　　“還活得到明天上午。” 　　萩岡那讓淚水沾濕了的臉上，靜靜地浮起了一絲微笑。 　　本來佐佐木想說：別說那些沒影的話！可是他把話咽回去，從椅子上站起來了。 　　第二天上午的病房，灑滿了五月初旬的清朗的陽光。陽光柔和得就跟平原早春一樣，枕邊小桌上的花瓶裏，插着蒲柳，發出銀灰色天鵝絨似的點點光澤，表示高原寂寥的鼕季已經過去，病人比昨天精神顯得更好，原來從鼻下到下頷之間形成一片微黑痕跡的鬍須也颳得幹幹淨淨，瘦削的臉龐也顯得清秀起來。 　　“今天早晨說是您要來，特意修飾了一番。”芳子一面撤去早飯的小案，一面愉快地說。佐佐木的來臨，使她天真地振作起了精神。 　　“昨天你來得太突然啦。”萩岡也面帶微笑地說。然後喚住正要走出房間的芳子：“芳子，我和佐佐木有事情要商量，你請牧先生下午再來。別讓老留去，最好還是你親自去一下，這裏暫時沒有什麽事。” 　　衹剩下兩個人了。暫時，誰也沒有先開口，後來萩岡突然問道：“今天是幾號?” 　　“九號。” 　　“那麽說，我們來到這裏到後天整整是四年了，真快！”茫然仰望着白灰頂棚的萩岡，獨語似地說。他保持着這種仰臥的姿勢，接着又說：“我已經不行啦！” 　　“咯兩三次血就得死掉，那在日本就不會有肺病啦。” 　　“你這麽說，我當然高興，不過，咱們還是不要再互相欺騙了吧。我已經有了精神準備。你昨天說我幸福的時候，我回答說，實在是幸福。那並不是假話。能夠住在這裏，在你們都在面前的時候死去，在現在這種時候，已經是超過所謂幸福啦！” 　　“這麽說，也不應該自己絶望，急於追求死呀！在任何時候，失掉生存意志，作為人來說，都是怯懦的。哪怕你單單想到芳子一個人，也不能死去呀！” 　　“你這麽說，我也很難過呀！” 　　他們面對面地談着，從萩岡的臉上簌簌地流下眼淚來，佐佐木已經不得不用自己的手帕替他揩拭了。萩岡用靜脈突起、指甲失掉色澤的雙手握住為他拭淚的手。 　　“興奮對身體不好，還是別談這些吧。” 　　“沒關係，沒關係。”萩岡堅决地表示反對，鬆開雙手，把濕漉漉的兩排睫毛闔起來，閉上眼睛，停了三四秒鐘，再睜開來時，情緒已經平復了。“芳子的事以後再慢慢談吧。一切事情都得拜托你，有必要詳細談談。不過簡單地說，我若不遇到她，我想一定會把少年時代以來的一切不幸都帶到墳墓裏去，而終究不知道所謂人生一世還有什麽愉快的事情。從這個意義說，芳子是拯救了我；我自己也想，我是被拯救的。這次我說我不會死，她也信以為真，以為我會好起來。我們不管在結婚以前還是以後，彼此都沒有說過假話，而這一次我卻完全欺騙了她。正因為如此，我撇下芳子而死，對她負的責任就比一般丈夫要重一些。” 　　“既然這麽想，那就下决心爭取活下去呀！可是你倒象是在追求着什麽而寧願愉快地死去似的。這是不能饒恕的奢侈。”， 　　“是奢侈嗎?”把下頷放在潔淨的鴨絨被的被頭上，反復咀嚼着上面的話，暫時沉默起來的萩岡點點頭，又一次開口說，“給你這麽一說，真好象一切都是這樣。在這樣的戰爭年代裏，睡在這裏養肺病也是很大的奢侈哩！” 　　“用不着把話頭連到這些問題上來嘛。” 　　“噯，讓我說下去。雖然說法不同，但我從最近，不，從去年咯血以後，也有過同樣的想法。全世界終於變成了這種樣子。歐洲，不必說它，在我們周圍的一切戰綫上，人和人都在互相殘殺。在從前的戰爭裏不直接流血的人，現在在轟炸底下也都不能幸免。傢被燒毀，變得一貧如洗，不斷挨餓，互相憎恨，互相偷盜，而我在這種時候，卻悠然躺在溫暖的床上。不咯血，不發燒的時候，也並不那麽痛苦。大傢都親切地照顧我，吃的，燒的，可以從黑市買，什麽也不缺。連警報的鐘聲，穿過高原和森林遠遠聽來，也不覺得害怕，甚至還感到有一種詩意。難道說，這種生活是可以容許的嗎?我常常懷疑。” 　　“把病人拉去打仗，不是也沒有用嗎?” 　　“不，就是得病以前也一樣。我們——這是應該用復數來說的——一直就是這樣生活過來的；別人感到睏難，我們並不覺得睏難。當然，這說的是物質方面，總之，在社會生活方面，我們因為有錢，那是占了很大便宜的。能夠從大學畢業，能夠隨便辭掉銀行差事，能夠一半當作消遣似的養狐，能夠這樣躺在床上，也都是由於同樣的理由；而我對於這些從來沒有做過任何報答，光是享受。但是，這樣的便宜事，當然不會總這麽繼續下去，到頭來不知什麽時候，一定要償還同等的代價的！” 　　“這難道能夠用病來償還嗎?” 　　按照思想的脈絡，應該說病是必須由死來接替的。雖然佐佐木故意毫無顧忌似地說話，但這種話畢竟難於出口。可是他看到萩岡那嚮上翻着的炯炯發光的眼睛。他知道他沒說出口的話，萩岡也聽懂了。但是，萩岡一點沒有表示有什麽動搖，甚至還開玩笑說：“償還的方法，因人而異，會有各式各樣的。這一點，我幹過銀行差事，知道得比你詳細。” 　　他還說，他深切地感到：不但個人或階級要作這種償還，國和國之間也要作這種償還，佐佐木自己曾經說過日本有一天必定要流出它叫中國流過的同樣多的血，也和這種想法一脈相通，意大利和德國投降了，日本不得不和全世界為敵，這一天眼看就要來到了。 　　“我從滿洲事變①剛一爆發那天起就反對戰爭，但是我卻沒有采取任何行動。可以把這解釋成為一般知識分子的卑怯。可是，抱有同樣想法的人，不是自己本人在戰爭中被打死，就是失掉親人，不管願意不願意，都被強加上某種犧牲，而我連這點也都躲過了。這還不算，戰局已可預測，將來打敗了仗以後，活着留下來的人要承受國傢的苦痛和屈辱，我卻死掉，連這種屈辱也不必嘗受，實際上這不光是奢侈，而可以說是自私了。” 　　萩岡現在用仿佛談論別人的事情的口吻和那種平靜，用朝朝暮暮縈回於心的那種韌性，自管自地說下去。 　　“假如是基督徒，一定會把我的想法歸結到上帝吧。若那樣，倒是會爽爽快快得到解脫的，可惜我又沒有信仰。當然，我活到今天也經受了很大苦惱，一直被這種苦惱折磨着。我也祈禱，我也祝告。但這衹是對於一種模糊不清的巨大力量的祈願，而不是基督徒以耶穌和聖母的名義所舉行的祈禱，也不念‘南無阿彌陀佛’。這樣看來，離開宗教傳統，野生野長的我們是不幸的。不過，也許是因為我喜歡大自然吧，我總有這樣一種想法：分解成為原子的身體，在這大自然中又將形成一種東西，而得到新生。我躺在這裏常常想各種各樣的事。我想：我也許會變成美麗的雲彩飄浮在這高原的天空，也許會變成落葉鬆的嫩芽，或者變成紫色的茂密的竜膽草，再不就變成溪流中的一滴水。你說，是這樣吧？” 　　萩岡擡起眼睛來仿佛徵求同意，然後又把眼光移到枕畔的蒲柳上，莞爾一笑：“這花明年也許就是我哩。” 　　佐佐木雖然怕他話說得太多，但又不想打斷他。因為佐佐木知道，他談得這樣愉快，和他那種轉生的幻想，的確是適合於他這樣熱愛大自然的人的宗教，同時也是沒有拿筆寫過一行的他的最後的詩篇。 　　“我從前和芳子談過希臘神話裏的菲勒蒙和包喀斯的故事。我說最好我們死的時候也變成一種什麽樹，同時同刻死去。這是在那以前就有過的誓言。我在咯血以前，曾經有一個時期相當健康，甚至我自己都很驚異，但反而産生了死的預感，對於芳子也感到一種從來有過的嫉妒心。我死了也不想把芳子撇下。但是，目前的心情卻完全變了。我把生長在日本橋的中心地帶的她，帶到這樣的地方來。在東京傢裏，她光是受氣，而在這裏又是護理病人。再要她一道跟着死，光是這麽想，也就夠罪過的了。我解除和芳子定的誓言。可是這種話不大可能當面和她談，所以就先拜托你啦。請你在我死後……” 　　一提到妻子的名字，眼裏就浮出了淚水，他雖抽緊鼻子，咬着上唇，極力想忍住，可是眼淚卻嘩嘩地流了下來，從上邊眼睛流出的淚水流過鼻梁，跟下邊貼近枕頭的眼睛流出的淚水匯合在一起了。萩岡把半邊臉浸在熱淚裏，提出了具體的托付，東京的傢目前還沒有遭到意外，但早晚要被燒掉，很難在那裏舉行葬禮。希望芳子在舉行葬禮以前繼續留在這裏照樣生活下去。這是遺囑的第一點，請佐佐木轉達。假如說，不是一般情人之間的單純的熱情誓言，而是在夫婦之間有過那麽嚴肅的山盟海誓，那末這項遺囑無疑就是解除那盟誓的極其自然的話了。佐佐木已經率直地承擔下來，要他放心。 　　“謝謝。因為有這件事要拜托你，所以纔想快點見到你。我可是太幸福了。你和須磨子待我都那麽親切，芳子又是那麽善良的女人。請你們和待我一樣，也親切地待她吧。本來這樣的事情是用不着跟你們說的。——奈良那兒，我也想和她們言歸於好。雖說並沒有吵什麽架，總之，不管繼母和妹妹采取什麽態度，我跟她們一般見識是不好的。我要嚮她們賠禮，請她們親切地對待芳子。仔細想來，當了不是親生的孩子的母親也是很深的緣分呢。我們本來應該真誠相見、和睦相處啊。這麽一想，我遇見芳子，也同樣是一種緣分，也可以說是命運，也可以說是叫人捉摸不透的事。和你們處的這麽親近，我覺得的確也是叫人捉摸不透的事。對於這塊土地，對於鄰居平瀨夫婦，對於老留，我覺得也都是如此。我不到別處而偏偏到此地來，成為他們的鄰居，或者主人，開始養狐，這也是奇怪的緣分。就是這群狐狸，從這種意義來說，我比先前更覺得它們可愛了。三號狐捨裏的懷了孕，大概是前天，平瀨來時說，再過一星期就要生了。若能夠看到仔狐平安無事地生下來，我再死去，那我可高興啦！” 　　萩岡最後的小小願望實現了，他又活了兩個多月，在戰爭結束的兩個星期前死去了。六月初繼母和妹妹從奈良繞道中央綫到這裏來過一次，講了些名古屋附近遭到機槍掃射的可怕景象之後，便回去了。這次甚至沒有來得及通知她們。作為親屬前來參加葬禮的衹有疏散到下輕井澤的兩三個人，他們不過是出出面罷了，佐佐木在臨終之前趕來，一切事情都委托給他了。這地方沒有火葬場。棺木在黃昏時分由平瀨、老留和車站前面打過交道的人以及腳夫們擡到山腳下村子頭上盛開着苦菜花和桔梗花的窪地上，人們挖了一個坑，把棺木跨放在坑口上，上面擺了三袋木炭，坑裏裝滿圓木柴，最後，用沾水的草席蓋好。這就是他們安排的火葬儀式。本來是應該由喪主點火的，但也得由佐佐木來代點了。女人被趕了回去，就連佐佐木自己看到焚屍堆罩在一片濃煙裏之後，也讓別人給勸回去了。這是當地的規矩。他和牧先生一起往回走，道路兩旁是茂密的很深的野草，路窄得兩個人不能並行，露水冰涼，蟲聲唧唧，山野已是秋天了。沒有月亮，但是星光閃閃，淡葡萄色的天空中，浮現着朦朧的淺間山影。夜裏開花的百合科麝香萱，斑斑點點，從一片片茂密的野草中高高地伸出頭來。這種美麗得仿佛帶點妖氣的花，為這山霧彌漫的靜寂的夜色增加了微白的夢幻般的氣氛。佐佐木知道萩岡非常喜愛這種花。空氣中飄來一陣陣淡淡的煙味，他扭回頭去張望，已經看不見火光了，感慨地對走在前面的牧先生說：“這纔是名副其實的野地送葬哪，對萩岡說來這是很合適的葬禮呢。” 　　芳子沒有發生大傢所擔心的事情。本來擔心她會哭得死去活來，可是竟沒有怎麽哭，衹是呆呆地傻了似地沉默着，須磨子不來強拉她，連飯也不想吃。即使在戰爭結束的廣播傳遍每一個角落，人們相見，無不談論這個問題的時候，她也完全無動於衷，好象把有過戰爭的事也忘了。但是，她不想跟着丈夫死去，並不是忘記了誓言，也不是不誠實，更不是遵照丈夫的遺囑，要在這裏守着遺骨，直到能夠在東京舉行正式葬禮的時候。丈夫的死，猶如巨雷殛樹，給了她沉重的打擊，四肢軀體雖然還是老樣子，但內部的重要部分卻象斷了保險絲的機器一樣，已經光剩下一個空架子了，就象用科學辦法裝配起來的機械人不能說復雜的言語一樣，芳子也衹能說些“是”、“不”等短語。從本質上看，可以說她是恪守誓言跟着丈夫一起死去了；因為剩下來的衹是一具從生理上說沒有發生變化的行屍罷了。 　　“情形有點不好呀，芳子不會發生意外嗎?昨天，她在寢室窗前站了一天呢。” 　　“那也難怪，可是精神病比肺病還棘手哩。” 　　佐佐木夫婦甚至私下裏談到這類話了。 　　東京的住宅，在五月十五日空襲中燒毀了。住在奈良的繼母還照舊留在那裏。萩岡用他那銀行傢似的細心為芳子作了詳細的安排，這一切全都委托給佐佐木了。但是在戰後動蕩不定的情況下，這些需要進行麻煩交涉的事情，並不是那麽容易辦的。因此，佐佐木便期待着萩岡的叔父樺中將歸來。目前，衹知道他因為負傷正在臺灣的醫院中進行療養，本以為他不會很快回來的，但不到二月樺中將就回來了，並且突然來到山中。 　　“啊，我還以為是哪一位哪！” 　　從裏面打開門的須磨子，吃了一驚，用同樣的語調嚮屋裏喊道：“芳子，芳子，叔叔來啦！” 　　近來的芳子好似臥床數年，好不容易保住性命的病人，瘦削得身子又細又長，她把腳尖張開，邁着踉蹌的步子走出來，用深陷下去的又黑又圓的眼睛，茫然望着失去左臂的叔父由須磨子幫着在脫靴子的背影。身量同萩岡差不多，面孔長得也很相象的叔父，吃力地走進裏屋，低頭望着她說:“哦，阿芳，伸一也遭到了不幸啊！” 　　久久未曾聽到過的愛稱，無異於丈夫的呼喚。她不回答，也不問候，便蹣跚地撲到叔父穿着他不常穿的西服的胸前，放出在萩岡臨終時也沒有過的大聲號啕痛哭起來。 　　“這是怎麽啦，這是怎麽啦，要堅強些！” 　　芳子止不住哭，也不想離開叔父。一直凍結在內心裏的一切悲凄的感情，仿佛在這一瞬間都變成了眼淚。叔父衹好象哄小孩一般，和須磨子一起把久久嗚咽不已的芳子拉到裏屋去。 　　從這天趕，芳子的生活慢慢地復蘇了。這位在廣島的原子彈轟炸中失去妻子和女兒一傢人，本人又和自己的軍服一起成為社會上的廢物，孤獨的天涯淪落人的老中將，也在這裏找到了新的生活。 　　好不容易回到自己山莊去的須磨子，時常前來看望他們。叔父接下了萩岡生前的工作，芳子也象伺侯萩岡一樣，體貼地伺候着叔父，鄰人平瀨也如開始養狐時教給萩岡一樣，教給老人。六十三歲的老中將，順從地服從一切指導，就象新水兵從刷洗甲板開始鍛煉起一樣。他把狐狸又接回來了。 　　叔父穿着萩岡幹活時穿的舊褲子，上身穿着芳子為了消毒重新織過的絨綫衫，用那衹還能自由活動的右手提了裝着狐食的洋鐵桶，搖晃着左邊的沒有手臂的空衣袖，在狐捨裏走動着。在他身上已經絲毫也看不到昔日的面影了。他也絶口不提過去的事情。同樣遇到戰災，被燒了房子的佐佐木，現在自己一個人寄居在東京一位朋友傢裏。佐佐木前來拜望這個老中將的時候，他也衹說了一句：“真是一切都對不住大傢……”往下就不談了。“不過，佐佐木先生，我能夠在這裏養狐，也是沾了伸一的光。幹麽，啥都是活兒！” 　　叔父說着老留說過的同樣的話。這場敗仗，把將軍和鄉下人結成了夥伴。 　　在密特威①海戰中，他從艦橋下被炸得彈下來，但沒有死去，保住了性命。現在來到這樣的山裏，接下沒活到自己的一半年齡的侄兒撇下的養狐事業，他默默地服從着這不可思議的命運。正象芳子是活着的行屍一樣，他也不過是機場上被炸毀的戰鬥機，或是衹剩下紅銹斑斑的鋼骨殘骸的軍需工廠。衹是當他跟耳朵全聾了的老留喊話時仍然用的是昔日喊號令的聲音。 　　“這可是什麽都有用處啊！”他獨自一個哈哈地笑着。 　　鄰人平瀨能夠象對待堂兄弟似地對待昔日的樺中將，這很使他得意。同時，由於美軍進駐日本，估計銀狐也將暢銷，這也使他很高興。他把跟萩岡談過的、從樺太島以來苦心經營養狐的經過，又和這位老中將談了一遍。樺掐滅了配給的煙捲，接着吸起當地人們吸的土當歸和蓼草的碎葉，溫順地聽着。他說，當年他作為一個年輕的武官駐在美國的時候，聽說過金子駐美大使幫忙最初從美國輸入銀狐的事。平瀨聽了，不由得肅然起敬了。 　　“是嘛，這麽說閣下對於狐狸也不是完全沒有緣分的嘍。” 　　從那以後，平瀨就常常用‘閣下”來稱呼樺。每次聽到，樺總是攔阻說，千萬不要再用這個稱呼。平瀨的老婆阿浪，也大為反對：“噯，你這個人哪，現在連皇上都跟咱們一樣啦，還管樺先生叫什麽閣下，真夠戧！儘管你拍馬屁，他可不是萩岡那樣的少爺，再想藉一個大錢，也辦不到啦！” 　　鼕天來到，過了年，又進入狐狸的交尾期。叫春的公狐狸，從早到晚，直到深夜，衝破零下二十度的嚴寒，不停地叫喚。監視工作，仍照原樣，上午是老留，下午是樺。為了換班，樺都是請芳子給他早些開午飯，吃完就立刻走出屋子，從監視塔下朝上面的老留，用喊號令的聲音叫道：“老留，下來吧！” 　　滿臉鬍須的老留慢騰騰地走下來，他就咚咚地踏響扶梯攀登上去，戰艦生活鍛煉的這種動作，真象年輕人一樣敏捷。為了便於監視，監視塔上的窗子安得很低，三鋪席的小屋子也顯得頗為敞亮。當地的人們象空氣一般隨便使用的木炭在火爐上堆成一座小山，着得通紅。吊鈎上挂着水壺，裏面的水已經滾開。樺在沏茶之前，先點上煙，透過玻璃窗挨個兒註視着眼下的狐捨，長長地吐出一口煙。狐狸，無論出現在朝陽的沙地上，或是躲在狐捨的小屋中，公狐狸總是纏在母狐狸的毛茸茸的尾巴後面，熱情地叫着。尖厲的狐鳴，從積雪高原轉嚮周圍遠遠的群山。樺好象在艦橋上監視敵艦一般，審慎而又悠然地註視着眼前這些動物的親昵的姿態。 　　 　　(1946年9月) 　　劉仲平、李芒譯 　　Gang Shen Yang thought Hagi Fox, is a casual thing entirely. 　　At the end got a cold, so college was turned into pneumonia lung disease really was. In order to complete convalescence in 2023, he had no nostalgia to quit the job Mitsubishi Bank, one in May, led his wife to Karuizawa Fangzi to the north of his friends to Sasaki's this small Hill. From the higher age, he liked mountain. He originally wanted to join into the English Department Sasaki, but the family insisted he read the economy, when so often absent from school, the two or three books into the backpack to travel. Since the wire off to the bank's window lattice with the middle, he then mountain late in the spring of beauty, quiet and cool heart pleasing to the eye, even felt a strong nostalgia. 　　Before leaving Tokyo, between husband and wife had this conversation. 　　"I would like to enter a nursing home as is, where it spent a considerable period. You will not be such a determination, at the beginning do not have to go along." 　　"Yes, some determination." 　　"There now with Karuizawa completely different. One summer, even a figure is also served with friends. Tianyi particularly cold, to the winter season, from November to now this time, snow everywhere, with the community is isolated. stand it? " 　　"No matter bear can not stand, anyway, there is no other way." 　　Answer, her lips quivering, a pair of black eyes in the surface of the tear or two. Like dew on the grass plot on the tip like, tears round to stick in the eyelashes, the blink of an eye to the nose straight down the handsome rolled down, scattered. 　　Hagi is also silent Gang up, a trial of strength with a lighter draw matches. In this program, in addition to the need for early convalescence, he has also felt a secret joy of romantic Mystic, put it to his wife that he deliberately exaggerated, is that the outpouring of feeling, but the tears and back to the Buddist up to the reality of the trouble, made him feel a bit unpleasant: the widowed a few years ago, his temper became worse, but the surface still pretend to be friendly solemn stepmother; stepmother's daughter - a bit lame, missed the wedding, is not quick-witted sister; become their cold, lightly humiliated goals wife. Fangzi was originally a friend of the family servant, Hagi the surrounding hills despite the opposition since her marriage, although the family was kind enough to live with, but he and his wife lived in a small alley toward the past, often leased to foreign ambassadors Western-style house museum staff. The stepmother and sister were living together in Japanese-style house adjacent to it or the father specially invited from Nagoya, construction foreman and carpenter, though not quite Hongzhuang, but the style is very elegant. They are still the way according to my father was alive and habits through life. The Karuizawa north to take a turn to recuperate, but also to make such a separation is geographically farther away from some. Compared to swallow now, the Fangzi would rather endure the loneliness and inconvenience Mountain. Stepmother can find my sister married into a suitable son, let him take care of home. Then their responsibility to take care of the family can also be freed, also dismissed the bank job, and why bother and what is necessary to stay in Tokyo boring too! Gang Hagi This attitude seems in his widow stepmother, with her husband from the official sector into an active case of two businessmen in contrast to that is not sterile, is back, and think this is wrong cast of marriage. If it is the right of marriage, the wife will never let her husband have done this not be known to do: to do a little sick, put Mitsubishi's job to throw away, ran out of Tokyo to go. The first is that out did not sound, but also can not tell people to say. This anger, somehow fell from the so-called in a day hospital revealed a return to the front surface of the Fangzi head, for her, it is difficult to endure. If not, when the uncle of Admiral Cheng actively support them, and even two weddings are not held in common. Hagi Gang intentionally avoiding his father left the leaf-equipped Hills, try to walk away several times by a friend of the Villa and inconvenient, but also for this reason. When a major earthquake in Japan Bridge ① Fangzi lost their parents, after staying at home aunt Ushigome area, grew up in poverty, the hard-won on the women's vocational school, while traveling in the school the first time get the train. Kang himself how to live without Hagi, in her are unimaginable. However, if this is the normal time to leave Tokyo, and she may feel even more miserable too! 　　① Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan within the poetry center, financial and commercial hub. 　　In short, they like to come here. The total surface is transferred to recuperate. Suddenly, he is a fox raising, just as at the beginning of that, it completely by accident. This idea was first raised fox farm led Fangzi time to see cause to the. Fox Field in support of that side of the station, Hagi Gang to the mountains to the total time to get there take a turn. "This time I told my wife was holding together with everyone in the mood to _set_tle down here, and like him to care. Sick thing, but ran out of ammunition fills in Tokyo, so I thought some time to grow some potatoes or something, to When the farmer friends. can be read fine rain farming it. " 　　Hagi Gang said such a hearing, Yang Ping _Set_o fox farm owner advised him to keep Fox, said: "The clear reading of farming rain? Harvest live is not so easy to dry Yeah. Just here to be planting in mid-May, late September began to frost, busy, the big cost is also not receive anything fresh. Or Yang Yang crops Sure than fox. keep it at the beginning of a pair of two pairs, first with small-scale dry, do not benefit non-profit management, it can be very interesting! dealing with living things, have to up the morning at dawn, have beds the things by the book to it. physically weak people, do such activities on health is also good for it! " 　　"That would be a good idea. But I do not like to raise this way Fox ah. However, when the bank teller, I do not what self-confidence had come forward." 　　Gang Yang Zhelian Hagi, showing adenosis quality collar neck and prominent Adam's apple long, smiling. Although it is self-deprecating tone, but tone is rarely heard in Tokyo, hearty, lively. Ping _Set_o pour over the tea the second time, and that wanted to do for as long as there is no problem, still continue to support Fox talk about things. 　　"Keep other stuff too, keep Fox, you cherish it, this is the biggest secret. In fact, as you get to use, will naturally produce a feeling dear. I Well, according to my wife that love fox also worse than the love of family on! " 　　A wave of his wife, is a corner of the room to chat with Fangzi. The house is not a Western-style, and shop floor is cement for the summer from Karuizawa to under the foreign guests can wear shoes, go in, the wall is also a cheap wallpaper paste. Them the layout of the room into the corner of the window like a glass case, standing in a glass case in front of Ah Long, pointed collar placed on the inside of the silver fox, hand cage, waistcoat, and said how they how cheap, compared with three increasingly, the price is only - half. This is a shoulder a large waist, four-year-old woman up and down, round, plump face, as often as residents of this plateau, there are some UV drying out of the dark red spots, thick arms and legs, strong body and strong, like a pretty woman. Standing, wearing a Western shirt Fangzi, although sub-similar, look a lot still full, but made it very delicate thin by comparison of the. In particular, half-white hair, back slightly bent, a small flat skeleton _Set_o, wave front in Afghanistan, not here with as her husband, inverted image is the father. A wave is a second wife, watching her husband to talk to a difference of more than twenty years. Ping _Set_o's two sons have flown, it is said, they said the fox family, refers to the stepmother. But Hagi Gang believe that just as some people say flat _Set_o is a liar, and he is one good place to be, like, this is not necessarily within the dispensers as bad as people say. The relationship between themselves and stepmother from a thought, but he did not want to imagine that this woman is very bad. Gang of emotions in Hagi, this ingredient are many. In fact, he often went in a mood to reflect on the bitter aftertaste since childhood, never hated, resisted, with Fangzi marriage thing, be the only one exception. Tears 　　Glass case above the old wall clock, this time in a feeble voice played ten. 　　After listening to the last ring, flat with his wife beat _Set_o say hello, and said, while he was leading when the guests to the farm for corn dumpling point. Said, as he rose from his chair, received the guests went to the backyard. The front rack up the floor a little hut off the ground, in front of the open space of about two-floor, which is a pair of fox home and playground. Such a unit, connected to a crowded cell, separated by barbed wire across the open, have a barbed wire surrounded the outside wall to form a rectangle of the tribe. Where not much, but in the empty brown grass fields and the middle ridge, you can see the fox, for the twenty children that there is no established several roof, the light has four wire frame home. Ridge in the field, drilled just bud early sowing of peas, grass tied to the goat, fox homes dotted the drawing looked like a Japanese paper. There are also other buildings of a grid pattern, which is the same as cascade high tower watch tower, from above, saw that a fox can be a house. Fox, not a small house, in their movement across the field open to the sun. Heard the sound of approaching people, warning them to look back and a long bushy tail, and some to toss, turn and fled into the hut, and some pointed ears erect, with silver-gray eyes shoot your breath to see you hanging for a while, and then line of sight, changing the tip of the nose all right Side to get on the ground close to the wire. Swinging the tail and some business as usual, kept moving around slowly. Coat, said the characteristics of the so-called silver alone, one by one, looked sharp on a black, middle white, close to the root of the skin is gray; the whole looked like under a layer of frost, the white lines more Yingjie , the more regarded as fine varieties, made collar, the price is high. Concentrated in the tip of the tail also white hair, white ball into a ball shape, and is said to be more valuable. But here they do not see. Feed is adequate, Chen grains than there are fish, care is also very good, so smooth coat, plenty of sunshine in May under the plateau shiny, in a barbed wire next to a small pear trees are blooming, the branch head full of white flowers, looking like an impressionist painting-like. 　　"It looks beautiful, is not so scary too!" 　　Fangzi never been so near to carefully read a fox, now wildly over the child with great spirit to go side to side. Her words, for the fairy tale or not a very good reputation in other parts of this beast, with a kind of sympathy. 　　"Afraid of a fox ah. Wife!" Ranging from opening next to Fangzi husband, walking in front of the flat _Set_o first burst in, "said the fox sinister, suspicious of strong heart, it is because Fox always wary of were a kind of Fear. This can also be said to be quick-witted, to master the habit to play with it, There is nothing more harmless animal in it. " 　　"Block statue of a fox will give you stand it!" 　　"Ha ha ha. But no such sympathy, it is not good care ah. Wife seems very like the live stuff, right?" 　　"At this point my wife is a fellow with you. Dog friends, cats, birds matter, what wants to keep. Rat badly ruined the kitchen, but mixed with rat poison, she could not do it. In love animals, this point, perhaps more than you do, Mr Ping _Set_o! " 　　"Little mouse Chuliuchuliu, and also very cute thing!" 　　"Temperament gentle ladies always the case. You see, the world hates women living thing, there is no good thing." 　　So Ping _Set_o and persuade them to support Fox, said his wife, then there are the best assistant. 　　A wave was used as a clean, dry corn dumplings and earned just squeeze the milk of goats, Hagi Gang and Fang Zi be a meal to eat lunch early, and went home. 　　"How, Fox raised you?" 　　"Oh! No matter how you like animals, but Fox said support ... ..." 　　"If really dry up, the Tokyo family will faint." 　　"They will think you are mad to!" 　　"Lung disease and mad! For them, it would be more lost dignity." 　　"Let's not say things you do not want to Tokyo?" 　　She felt a little tired, leaning on a cane chair, Zhang Mei under the two slightly curved blue in the eyelids screwed some up himself Side, said: "How still, how comfortable ah! You always said Hill, ah, Hill ah, come here to really know its benefits. came, I was somewhat worried that too quiet, lonely you, will not un_set_tling. the same quiet, quiet are different here yet. in Tokyo home In what though you will, do not come back late late, around the kind of silence, really scary, but here on the matter, the more quiet, more pleasant feel. " 　　"No distracting thoughts and ambitions, honest heart, who will be the case. Had people just start in the middle of nature in this life, love nature, this is for thousands of years, tens of thousands of years ago the love of the resurrection of life." 　　"The reason I do not know, but every morning, open the window, I always say keep up Asama Good morning. Because the mountains seem to greet it with me!" 　　"Not only is the mountain, where we for the sheep, forest trees, streams, rocks and water, will also feel the morning every night, chatted with them yet. Everything will teach people to feel that there is a soul. The only way to make fully integrated with the nature of life. You wait and see. nature will become more beautiful, more rich, so that any person can not but feel like this. In another few days, the mountain plateau of pomegranate will put this decorated in a red, green larch will become even Xin grass in bloom, will sing the cuckoo and the oriole. you want to see the opening of the lily of the valley on the ground, then they will shy white mountains flowers. " 　　"'m Really glad ah!" Fangzi like a child-like, with a lively splash of tone said. 　　Into June, although mountain spring, late spring scene was entirely. Last month, although the cherry, pear opened, but the early morning light between the hills covered with a thin layer of snow often, there is now only one place at a mountainside depression signs keep till winter, soft Zihui color day by day to the concentrated. Snow across the valley at the ramp foot of the mountain people of the village called it as "a light blue", until it is exposed to one apparently, that means spring is deep, without fear of frost, sow can feel at ease. Idiot along the plateau gradually turning green, is also at this time. First, along the sunny grass, a little green shoots emerge in the root. Just as the water drops in the glass two or three drops of blue ink, is not white water, but can not be said with the color, looked just like a little bit of change, but day by day decaying leaves turn green, Q unknowingly becomes clear grass green photo eye. From the slopes of hills in the jungle in the middle, the leaves withered into a dark brown and gray, tangled into a ball group, is the high weight of the snow had thatched lodging and weeds, this time also with green Emotion to stand up. Village women and children to sweep away these weeds rustling to mushrooms. Into a cup that is concave, beautiful brown and mushroom flavor. Plucking and vegetables, then again, mining bracken you, digging Angelica Rights, adopted purple calyx, the view from here at the beginning, these wild mountains, the village has become when people lean valuable food. November down to the cellar because of the vegetables eaten quickly, and expect to accept fresh from the ground, the more we have to wait until August. Hagi frequently to the nearby hills and Fangzi a south-facing slopes up. She went to adopt a basket fern, Hagi Gang to bring in his pockets loaded with a small shovel to dig Angelica chest. The kind of reddish purple soil angelica root, looked bright looking, ignorant of the Road is also very fragrant. Soil angelica oil cooking fern dipped in miso and, for Hagi Gang, from the time used to travel from the mountains there is a great charm. 　　"Tokyo Baba sent listless listless vegetables, root vegetables lot of money." 　　"Say such things, can not live deliberately sent the mother ah!" 　　"But they will say, go somewhere that ghosts, and even vegetables have to send it from home." 　　"Anyway, here heard, it does not matter." 　　"You come to the mountains, do not care what becomes a full." 　　"So it was time to fat to get going, really annoying. But you have completely changed appearance Rights." 　　"Too healthy you, drag me to go to China, it can be good. So health Wait recovery is a good point." 　　"The thought of this, Fangzi felt so worried about her husband's sick, actually deserves gratitude; and she will be remembered, marriage gave them so much support for the uncle, his only son, as ordinary soldiers, just launching the out to killed in action in Shanghai to do the fighting. However, more than a month of mountain life changes brought Gang Hagi is significant. body, his face all over his flesh. He likes reading, but also painting oil paintings, original Start painting from the mountains, and often draw some amateur enthusiasts with a sense of good works Su Park, and now these are more took root. wearing a blue sweater, whistling, jumping lightly towards the balcony action, has also been used to light does not have the flexibility. Fangzi it, For the first time in such a place to live extends the Chang Chang, the same effect on her was more notable for the performance. not only as she said, fat it, and the mountain of the sun, a bit like the half-breed her forehead and straight nose are tan colored wheat. In Tokyo, even if the thick face to wipe the rouge, would immediately disclosed to the original white, Now with an almond-like faces are always rosy. because the span during the day is to wear short-sleeved thin sweater, so the two arms of drying out a distinct line of bare hands, until the fingers are also darker than tanned face, but also red in the palm through the white, soft look. Fangzi the two hugs in the chest, fell on the line of sight is naked under the skirt a pair of slim, but that seems a little bit to become thick the calf, said: "I quickly became friends keep fox-like floor dispensers. " 　　She was referring to raise fox farm wife Ah Long Flat Nose into her appearance, is Fangzi most afraid of. She felt so tanned into the country people look good, and think a little bad boy, but not know it adds to her beauty. Hagi is different from the past often used Gang vision, gaze looked tanned wife. Originally, he Fangzi of love, which to a lot of doping for the unfortunate, poor, innocent orphan who gracious mercy. Can also be said that he grew up craving motherly love sinking, lonely heart, lonely hearts in the same found a home. Thus, his love is clear, practical, although intense, but dry static, even burn, not violent. In sputum mixed with bloodshot eyes, the time series of high fever, he was more than he thought after the death of death how to make her happy. Although not say, but he was just back from a ship's uncle and Sasaki had entrusted it all. Although the thought of a short married life was like a thing of the past, but after all, from the lowly, stigma and poverty in the rescue of a poor woman, he seems to think that you can safely rest in peace by. But lately the mood Gang Hagi was somehow different. He thought, and then repeated if the sick, dying, he would not so willing to leave his wife to die. Of course, the uncle and Sasaki will try to make her stepmother and sister does not occur with any major trouble negotiations, face to affluent to live. But this does not guarantee that her life as a widow. On the contrary, very relaxed when the idea of the kind of naval servicemen's uncle, is actually very likely to persuade her to remarry. Then, there will come an unknown man, possession of her gentle, honest and dedication, even just a secret between himself and her, those lovely move, ear whisper, also all away, and can not appreciate their value, their really have to look at this situation from heaven is not it? Hagi Gang suddenly snapped the ivory chopsticks to leave on the table. 　　"Ah, how is it?" 　　"Students! Trying to eat!" 　　"I'm sorry. I do not raw it!" 　　Fangzi really scared to eat, to own a small dish of salt baked trout delivery in the past. Hagi Gang angry, in fact, because the fish is not cooked or roasted unfamiliar, but because the man suddenly thought of that unwarranted, and she may be sitting down to dinner. 　　"Into the matter, as it!" 　　He immediately regretted it, also the piece is actually not as half-baked roasted trout out of small chopsticks. 　　One night, Hagi Gang confession everything. Fangzi listened, lying on the breast Chouchouyeye husband crying, hate him, blaming him why he thought the terrible nausea that in mind, rather than telling myself. She even scolded him like a mother Side, said he was more sturdy body this time around, there is no need for thinking ill, died of these extra things. And vowed that no matter what she is going to be together with him dead, without him, he is not live. Such vows are generally absolutely can not abide, but Hagi Gang that she seems to be able to license the line. Just as she told to come and the mountains, like, if a go die, now she will not hesitate to prepare to die. Recent somehow difficult to control their impulse to jealousy, though has a clean break with the past, but how to do because the future has not yet felt the Liushenwuzhu stereotypes, for the "Incident" has been difficult to muddle down the name of the war caused by all the tumult of the outside world His hatred and unhappiness, and the resulting sense of nothingness, there is a disease once thought of recovery will be pulled to fight the despair arising from all this that Hagi Gang feel sick a little bit better even looked up as if , also must difficult to fully recover, so he often felt even on his death is an easy temptation. However, only the secret He was not disclosed to the Fangzi. Fitted out with such deliberate happy, he once told a story. 　　"True as that done according to it?" 　　"Of course, the other is a god thing. Since that time, the old man and wife as God before the waiter, but they have aged too can not do anything live. One evening, they both are in front of the yard overlooking the surrounding beauty the lake, the old man's body suddenly grow leaves come. wife surprise, but her body began to become a tree. seeing two people are covered with leaves the body, feet turned into roots, trunk body becomes , two hands into a tree. but does not yet face into the tree, two people face to face, and said: 'old woman, goodbye, let's vow to the gods demand, and now to come. really deserves thanks ah !''Good-bye, Father! 'two men took leave of each other, this time the green leaves of their mouth sealed. old man, tall and straight into a tree, Castanopsis, his wife turned into a beautiful banyan tree Since then, standing side by side for ever and ever on the lake. how about, the story is beautiful, right? "Fangzi nodded, moved to speak, the eyes of a bubble with tears. She began to think that if they can get this kind of happiness, what will become the tree? Larch? Fir tree? Or acacia flowers is now open, Shanteng? The next few days, this choice becomes Fangzi the pleasant thought. 　　"I must change hackberry. ' 　　"I do not like the kind of tree." 　　Fangzi know to wear clogs with rain is made with this wood, she has a lush for such a large oval-shaped leaves grow trees to a little contempt. Therefore, deliberate smile Hagi Gang said, make her play. As uncivilized savages the top of the rock as their ancestors, to the crisp, taut lightning gods like the trees, with such feelings to talk about the case, where the sound is very natural and full of realism. 　　On this front, the raising of farm fox carrying a basket of eggs in the flat _Set_o visit them here. Eggs that they laid down, usually not when they had stepped back to take the way, is to let the A wave to sent, personally, your visit today, Ping _Set_o, it is because otherwise things I want to discuss. 　　"Just a vendor, the next determined how?" 　　Rattan chair in the hall just sat down on his mouth, is to ask them to not buy next to a support fox field. 　　"In the past around with you mentioned, it is a rich man half of the front axle to engage together as a pastime, fox house, though small, with five pairs, six pairs also raised high, but with a small villa-style house, on the You can be too appropriate. and also three thousand ping away land, said to be thirty thousand will come forth, like that which can be white to like! " 　　"Gan Meyao then hurry to sell?" 　　"This band has - a time to keep fox farm to house twenty-huh, and now are like this. Disputes with China, and now has become a shooting big battle, and taxes the rest of the money, What all have to buy government bonds, this time also talk about what the Silver Fox collar! about Rentongcixin, and it would have discouraged friends. Now the building, even though there still, but there's also the remaining two or three foxes the. At this time, urge you to support Fox, seems very contradictory, but you do not want to reap some profit in it, than dry crops, live, on your right, health is also very good indeed. If you do not want to raise Fox, light red house, buy it also will not lose out with conviction. " 　　"There is a fox it?" 　　"There are three pairs. You do not want to, I can leave. Anyway, I be in this life and forged a bond with the fox, just die, ready to go on. Ha ha ha ha." 　　Ping _Set_o SEEDS Xunde brown smoke revealed the buck teeth, big mouth, Hehedexiao the. He has sat down for lunch, Hagi had to fight to listen to his Gang talk about his so-called bond from the beginning - this is his half the experience, but also the history of Japanese industry, support Fox. 　　Ping _Set_o started to raise in the Sakhalin Island fox is four years in a large, local town but also from the Fengyuan north two miles and more of a Deserted Village. The original name of the village called Noah lek Sand Russia Khabarovsk, time has been called by Japanese small marsh village. However, seven more than a dozen families, there are four Russians. Surrounded by a desert of wet grassland, rivers and swamps everywhere. Is therefore derived from the name of the village. 　　There are many foxes on the grass. There is a cross fox, from head to tail tip of hair along the spine with a black pattern, from the neck to the shoulder with the same color under the hair just to pay into a cross pattern. CLP fox and red fox San Mao. The sun came out to illuminate the Sunburn people, but they often Jumping on a swamp mist, this is the best for the fox's interest-bearing conditions. 　　"That is the Temple when the Cabinet, Ambassador of gold sir. At that time the community kind of air, that why the fox from the foreign country for this stuff! But, Mr. Ambassador, helped a lot of busy, for I bought a dozen pairs. three pairs of on board died, and the remaining seven pairs of flat to be his wife in Japan. one-thousand round, at the time, but a considerable sum of money miles! I deliberately from Hokkaido to Beijing, went to Yokohama to pick up these Fox, a thought I will personally tends the past, just seen pictures of these foreign good species, similar to what sexual anxious, thinking about the early look, coupled with fear can not put them to the Hokkaido area Taipingwushi , then it can not sleep at night feel at ease with what! " 　　He went on breathlessly, as wildly about what happened yesterday, full of excitement and joy. His words, there is a man obsessed minds of the non-United States, although some self-praise, it sounds not so offensive. Hagi Gang and Fang Zi deftly put lunch with him eating with one hand, felt similarly to hear him. Although previously heard some bits and pieces, but this whole story in detail is the first time I heard today. "Too much trouble today, Mrs. it! Western this stuff, we do not know what that smell great too!" Ping _Set_o chunk of bread thrown into the mouth, praised the delicious roasted meat, and that the opportunity to ask them to try Fox taste of meat. 　　"Oh, fox meat you eat it?" 　　"Not now, after the autumn when the good to eat on the fat." 　　"There is smell it?" 　　"We are worried about this, but nothing. I heard the meat was scarce Jingjing, the Chinese New Year this year, when a good friend of a friend's house to send two, they are happy, sent a large sum of money, just scared me the jump, said that if Fox can sell them meat, how much to send to do. My wife saw it a good one, he said, before the fox is not as valuable, and spend so much effort and feed do not come together, not as killed meat, quit buying it raised fox, specialized chicken get on, you say, what I have to say about it? I would say, I was started by the fox, regardless of losing money to make money, in this life be with the fox Paoshang way, if you do not want to, you can get out. ha ha ha ha. " 　　Ping _Set_o again opened his mouth, sent a shrill hollow laugh. He seems to forget, say industry is the decline of Fox raising these facts, would be to induce care to buy a new fox the impact of the other field. This sounds Hagi Gang, the idea is very interesting, Hagi Gang bank job finally done in 2023, came to know the level _Set_o told him it deliberately, not just for warm, but in the end to what a good level _Set_o level, and cunning to what extent, he Mo Buzhun. Moreover, even if the experience of his remarks is that Fox raised it, but when he was young went to Sakhalin Island, is how to go? If he has two sons have no relation, then the A wave is outside the Of course there is a house wife, this room where his ex-wife now? He now looked like Ah Long is not only father and daughter, in fact, a difference of age of fifteen-year-old, how is two people to a piece of that? where he was born, How is a living place for this particular interest? all Hagi Gang all do not know. The last question is easy to find out out. Just ask your family where it will lead to many of the origins of other words. But Hagi has always been very reluctant to intervene in Gang lives of others, so even so did not ask. 　　The next morning, Hagi Gang said: "The fox farm today to keep a look!" 　　Like to see him look like the night to consider. 　　"Really want to buy it?" 　　"They specifically came to tell for a while, anyway, go take a look to say." 　　Two people there, waiting for a long time flat _Set_o'll take them away. Fox was raised by the sale of the field, separated by a good piece of potato species and has been a chicken coop, _Set_o of the land next to flat, or even equal to the level of land within _Set_o, the other side and hold a piece of white birch trees woods, the middle of a small spring, meanders into the creeks, lush next to a long piece of celery. 　　"Ah, with a basket to be good." 　　Fangzi wearing a pair of white sail cloth shoes, with her husband behind, lightly jump over the stream. If it is not tight with Hagi Gang urged her: "Hey, those things later date!" She really did not want to walk away then squatting at the waterside. 　　"Yes, this eye spring, and yesterday I did not tell you. This is what a baby!" 　　_Set_o walked in front of one side flat, side look back and say, well this band are playing in the hills sloping down from the shallow gravel between the strata, and often no water. But this spring but never dry eyes are small, dry, under the snow in the winter, but also continue to gush, and the water is lukewarm. 　　"So, snow several feet deep? Ping, Mr. _Set_o! Skiing we always to go pills Ze marsh and deer, just passing through this area." 　　"It was probably the relationship Asama it, snow is less than a foot deep. However, the cold fresh island with birch too similar to Fox this is good for raising conditions. So, you want to be here New Year, without adequate preparation is make life difficult. the house for the winter is very well equipped, even with this, I want you to buy it do not suffer losses. " 　　"Really want to wash when in backpack fitted with towels and soap to Kusatsu Onsen to go." 　　Was taking a bath at an inconvenient time, there is a Gang said Hagi, kept the Fangzi amused. Kusatsu do not need to go, it is because the dry climate of the plateau here, but cool, wipe with hot water every day, would not be much like a bubble in the bathtub, and a week there is always something you want to go home, Shu Ping time, just say what, people will help them burn the main bath water. But this is only good in the season when the weather cold, it would have to make other plans. For the same reason, the sight of the kitchen and dining-room seats six shops which the court system of the house has a large iron stove, Hagi Gang called up; "Oh, this stuff can be good." 　　Stove is oval, above the size of a stove eyes, large cooking pots can sit, you can put a small frying pan and kettle, either cooking, but also heating, very convenient. Households in the village often the plateau, as the Russian peasant has a samovar, every family has such a stove. From November to enter the long winter, when it became an indispensable belongings, people burning stove all day, even Teppanyaki will be white. 　　Ping _Set_o home and now have also used this stove for cooking. Sometimes a bath to his home, the next long while suddenly encounter rain, Ping _Set_o put them beside the stove received, said: "re-warm about it here!" 　　He then threw a firewood stove to go, that sun Dry wood immediately in the kindled fire in the embers. Furnace whirring noise issue, on the small kettle boiling on the stove eye up. So tea is brewed here. Not only convenient, but also very simple, just what is the Mountain House, so Hagi Gang like the stove and no less than like Tokyo that British-style heaters home, he would like to get one recently. 　　"It's in this area are invited to a village three miles away to do the blacksmith, the blacksmith dispensers, craft very well, but just too lazy to ask him to do this can be done out of the year when there are virtually no, awful friends. you ask him to do it, ah, next year the winter it would not open it! " 　　Listening to his tone, as if that alone stove, the house is worth buying, but he did not the nerve to say so out in the end. 　　Keep fox farm in the back. Wire loop into the Fox house, high watch tower, equipment and configuration _Set_o home with the next exactly the same level, only a small number, like the latter a model. There is no fox. When homeowners move out, the fox _Set_o entrusted to the care of the flat. 　　Ping _Set_o intend to return the favor yesterday, entertain them to lunch, They declined. Not only because polite, but because the next morning Fangzi saw in Karuizawa sent from the bread has been eaten to use baking powder as usual, made a pot of their own face, her hair is so intense fear of sour face , so they'll be back. 　　"Do not have time to sent each time the bakery can bake it at home Jiuhaola. But do not rely on the ordinary into the oven." 　　"This time we will go do a real bread oven. You come to the sale of dry bread, I'll do support the sale of Fox, how?" Hagi Gang with a pleasant smile, his white teeth said. Then they immediately serious, quite emotion added: "What is still a good career." 　　Fangzi not understand why he suddenly talking about this to. But before she could ask, but could not help but exclaimed: "Oh, the window open it!" 　　They can already be seen in front of that big hill is located in the half, around the middle of a small piece of white birch Villa had. Came out, according to this approach with a small mind, there is no lock, but the windows and doors are shut properly, how to actually reveal a pink window curtains? Two people ran down the hill slowly up . Not to the door, heard footsteps Sasaki, from the window of his house unearthed strong upper body fat come. 　　"Yes you, can startled us." 　　"We thought it came a thief. You come good." 　　"Walking time is really long ah. Let specifically from Tokyo to the guests wait two hours, but also a bit that it!" 　　"Ah, wait so long?" 　　Fang Zi said, then let her admirably to serve a lunch, then went into the kitchen. Hagi rattan chair closer to the hills to her friends after a long absence, said: "Today is not what a walk. Is an important thing to go out, this may be my turn for the better life." 　　"Well, what do you fresh!" Because the other side smiling all very deliberately exaggerated, so Sasaki used the same tone asked: "probably not apply when the reporters to think of war in China to see it?" 　　"It is so simple!" 　　Hagi Gang told him the level of support _Set_o Fox Field told a friend, Sasaki seemed really surprised, Yan Juaner dangling from his lips tightly, silent child, long from nose spray a smoke. 　　"Buy down, really want to keep fox it?" ' 　　"I think Yang Yang may also wish to see." 　　"This is wishful thinking. Really like the fox farm raised, said the treasurer's that simple? Health benefits even if it tends the fox, to buy feed, collecting fodder, especially at this time, it is not so easy ah." 　　"These things, Ping _Set_o, said he can one agent." 　　"Even so, but listen to you, as if the bathroom to the house and the stove, there is a small spring that eye only want to buy fox farm raised, only want to keep a fox. Thousand flat land, according to the wild in this area value not on price but also in Tokyo ten pings. opponents are the kind of opponent, so-so, you had better big when the miles on! " 　　"You say it is on fox when, or dispensers if?" 　　"Is a walk back and forth, all hell!" 　　"I do not think that way." 　　Gang-Ping _Set_o Hagi made a pass defended him from engaging in Sakhalin Island, half-raised foxes since described the experience again, that this has always been his passion for, it can take credit for some of the. Hagi Gang believes that raising the level for the fox farm _Set_o things around, went to get a large commission of money, of course, goes without saying, but under the current situation in the now, business is gradually fading, a partner in the mood to Dora is not false, but also a great ingredient for preparing for the first time people in the warm winter here. "Anyway, you will not be on what children think the worse." 　　"At this point, here, but another world. And I do not get out of bed for patients, they still have a good career." Hagi Gang replied. His words and his tone is and come back in half the same way with the wife. And also with the same time, not say anything, but he felt that if the start of a simple, regular life, the kind of inexplicable recent hazy feel envy and the death of his temptation, and perhaps can be overcome. 　　Lunch, a bottle of grape collection of French business, coupled with the beer, making Sasaki even more excited. He is now engaged in the Translation of Japanese classical works, and today is living next to Karuizawa, a British consultant to ask where, by the way here, so have to take advantage of the tram back to half past three. "To look at, Relax! Did not think you go so well, Fangzi next year comes, will give me a raise Hagi Gang produced the silver fox farm fox collar, right?" 　　"Well, before you buy into. To invite you to buy a wife as a souvenir." Fangzi freely eating together with them, she is not joking easily, but this time they made such a joke answer. "But, Mr. Sasaki, the things we do not support Fox decided it!" 　　"Determined!" 　　"Oh!" 　　Sasaki's tone more than her husband is also decisive, Fangzi simply scratching their heads, she had just crossed a fried potatoes, to go to the mouth, but in the fork stopped halfway. In fact, until the time Hagi Gang, has not yet determined. But the moment of this sentence, yet all decided. Sasaki with that with a drunk, under the eyes have reddish eyes like a pair of naughty children, could not help looking at the couple, he said: "So, you know? Support fox farm buildings are all like some of that tower is doing? " 　　"Is the watch tower it." 　　"That goes without saying. But watch what?" 　　"Yeah let the fox run away!" 　　On hearing this answer, Sasaki took over the upper body to the back, with a laugh, he was smiling in a daze to the two people who explain that the purpose is not so simple, that is to monitor the tower in January to March fox mating period, to see which of the fox completed the task, which just not completed. 　　"To give birth to good little fox coat, you have a pregnant female fox is especially good thing, is to this. This is a couple of years ago, when I went to visit, listen to the treasurer said. He did not with you say that? " 　　"Heard, he said." 　　"You're down does not matter, so Fangzi disillusioned and can not sell something that he shot, the treasurer's probably afraid of this, so it did not say to you. No matter how you defend him, he is an old fox." 　　"That nickname is the treasurer of course!" 　　"Are the same, a pair of fox!" 　　Sometimes weak but strong. Marriage, too, Puzhi Hagi gentle hills, once made up his mind, it will become tough and focused, stubborn people. This time, also in accordance with the large ones, and even winter January and February, in the tower to monitor fox mating the drudgery of such a silly, nor that he hesitated. He should pay is exhausted Sasa Tuotuo to full pay. Tokyo's stepmother has not discussed with the only notice a cry. But Cheng has written to his uncle's letter a detailed, but this is a decision later. Uncle's letter, the general things always were written by the aunt, this is a reply to accidentally offended. 　　Thanks re: Wen health has been gradually restored, very pleased. Fox also raised the good things too. Jun Sasaki, beware of the so-called fooled, the advice can be a sense of true feeling, but when the fox is also limited and the. Management present on the intrigues, and very popular scam is really annoying. Uncle Yu Hu recently Jiangzai for water ①, and even want to get side of the line before meeting with the machine, fear of the ear is difficult to do so. Treasure health, never, never. Fangzi Department Please regards. 　　This letter was sent days after the issue of the fifth Villa. Hagi Gang later learned, when his uncle did not have as clear of a ship's captain announced, went to sea. 　　Not to the summer, Hagi Okazaki moved to support fox farm go. Sasaki Villa lend him the time, once said: "We thought for a long time at home this year have not been to the beach to go." But Hagi Gang know, Sasaki to take advantage of the summer to do some work on the desktop, this Villa is necessary for him , so he did not want to give people trouble by the friendship. He has been another of a empty house, or have the right to buy a. Fox hurriedly bought the support field, this is one of the reasons the idea of keeping everything. 　　Move, their lives a big change. Young couple, every morning, to get up. Previously, as long as two people to do simple meals can be had, now Fangzi must first use the kitchen stove, get a big pot, received from a neighbor came to the three to do the fox feed. A wave to teach in accordance with the practice of the wheat, corn and other grains with the surface of fish cooked with Jianzhi to do, to make a Cai Yu. Feed, Ping _Set_o promised full help, the fish is straight from the Jin River all the way over there to let the contracts for fisheries _Set_o level there, and distributed to them. 　　"We eat, seems to have very fragrant too!" 　　"So, you want to not give the fox that he eat it?" 　　"You did not rely on it!" 　　After the summer, Sasaki for the first time that side from the railway came to visit when the front of the house that day and they're working, Sasaki a meeting, the first sentence is: "have turned into connoisseurs it!" "Really, did not think you still capable this. " 　　Sasaki's wife led to her only son to be mill, year-old child came true, with even more surprised look said. Hagi Gang and the old left are split firewood. Always leaves the woods from behind the trees thinned down, sawn section by section, Hagi long-handled ax Gang and then swing it to split. Fangzi wearing a gray old husband's pants, his head wrapped in white towels, the firewood thirty-four as a hold, to windows down. 　　"I heard the winter, to have five or six such firewood pile Caixing. Almost nothing of our own in no time. You see, just did such a point of big deal to intervene, that is it." 　　Hagi Gang off thick gloves, red swollen hands out to them to see, and then hand made horn in his mouth, toward the back suddenly shouted out: "old left, break for a while and have a smoke it ! " 　　Fangzi view of the occasional visitors, dropped the firewood ran over, whispered to be the mill: "deaf!" 　　"Ah, no wonder!" 　　They had to smile. 　　Ogikubo origin shall be mill, from her end of the line straight and the face is shown in temperament, but also with the Fangzi completely different, but this did not prevent their mutual friendship that exist between husband. Sasaki and Hagi just as the character of the opposite hills and tighter integration, as they both also due to the difference between surface are attracted to each other. 　　Long-awaited reunion of the women, said, asking each other to give each other to see, there are so many things, life in Tokyo talked about getting a hard up and need more effort, more strength, more Buddist enriched. 　　"For example, a combined milk, now with the general approach also can not get hand friends. You gotta do good things, said the milk shop, send him things, the end also brought back a fraction of the time afterwards." 　　See the goats, the milk shop to be within the mill suddenly remembered that the treasurer to highlight cheekbones. Hill's stake in the grass half-lines, it can be achieved in the context of the rope and turn, Zhang with a pair of pink eye socket a little round eyes, bleating of people are intimately cried. Child has never really left there. Hagi Gang and Sasaki homes in the Fox waiting in front of women, a man kindled a match, both of them lit a cigarette. 　　"I also do not want to press on how the bank job, in the final analysis, if still hate it as barbed wire. Shut in there, counting other people's money.'m Really dry on my life can not stand. But now the thrust to the wire fox where beds the back and began to come to their job. I often think this is ridiculous. " 　　"How you say that the world is nothing but some silly things. China do not like this? What made a statement that is not expanding, not war, but in the end become like this today. In their deception and rhetoric before, these foxes had Jiaqiweiba it gentlemen! " 　　In order to strengthen the tone and mood for a naughty child-like, Sasaki playing a bit barbed wire, the original timid in the sand on the floor with squinted at them - on Fox, panic ran into the house go. Hagi Gangti a letter from the uncle. 　　"He said, when the fox, do nothing!" 　　"True. About your uncle who, for the government, military or rather, how to deceive the people were in the bottom line to know more." 　　"I think the more we know the bottom line, and I feel more uncomfortable. Standing of his position, although not say, but I know that uncle for now Japan is absolutely against the war." 　　"Your uncle is not so much opposed, but rather that the Navy itself against it. In this regard, the Army those guys, all I do not know the depth of the delusions of grandeur. So there is no rule of law." 　　"What will become of the situation in the end? Me, the newspaper also five days later to see." 　　"Europe is imminent crisis. ① Henderson ambassador to Germany in London, Berlin, back and forth between the exchanges, as if trying to stop, but Hitler used his old means to all of a sudden surprise, then everything is finished. Europe was fire, the United States will not sit idly by. That is again a world war. " 　　"What a stupid man! From the last war in the lessons should be enough, but not over a quarter century ... ..." 　　"Ignition can indeed take the lead in Japan, this is terrible. Many people revel in the war economy, but also a sense of the seriousness of it not. However, I believe, will one day be out of Japan and China, we make the same amount of outflow blood. Sometimes I fatalist, but for me personally, I am not willing to take up arms in this war. In order to keep them pulled me out of war, whatever crafty things, how unpromising thing, I work hard. At this point, you have a capital in! " 　　"I go for you!" 　　"Anyway, where you can say such things out loud, just this is very rare. If Tokyo, immediately people would say:" go with me to the Department. " 　　Sasaki throw away cigarette butts, separated by a green, white birch, the goat is still there do not want to move to real children and women over there looked at. As though his son is deaf like, shouted: "Hey, I really children, here are a good thing ah! Come on! Have fun where the fox!" 　　Ever since that day, less than five weeks, Hitler invaded Poland and provoked the war in Europe. Third in the winter of December, the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Bay, the Pacific War broke out. May no longer be a planet to experience it with their blood the birth times of flood. Creation of human wisdom and everything it sank in the flood of blood, the same as if only the day and night, are now only two things - to kill and be killed. This is life, that is, philosophy is art, is the cause. 　　In this era, and finally adhere to the maintenance work Hagi Fox Gang, can be said to Noah's Ark-like miraculous luck. Meanwhile, all the things they are strongly stacked in a winter kind of chaotic life, but also true and that the ark exactly the same. 　　For the old left, the fox mating Ye Hao, watch tower opposite the snow-capped mountain Asama smoke, it is all about, are nothing but a phenomenon, so long as at any time to see, do not miss to become . Hagi Gang and Fang Zi with three meals a day and also to stay with the old house sitting in a chair in the hall around the stove to eat. Winter mountains stove as the center of life is lost in a fog, and just as the Earth's orbit does not leave the sun. Not only the old remain, and even then that would stretch your nose to mouth are called upon to goats and chickens, and now is a partner in this little world. In addition, multi-out from the vegetable cellar where potatoes, cabbage, radish like vegetable, on the house on the ground will freeze things, are built on the side with the quilt; day burn in wood are piled in late able to reach out to the wall; washed shirts and other personal clothing, but also with a rope hanging in the head. Fangzi in this little world, as do the fox Cai Yu, preparing food for the family, sometimes for the neighbor's A wave of women according to New magazine style beautiful work cut pants. Tailor the table is the table, but also Hagi Gang's desk. Originally, Hagi Gang for the consolidation of the room has got a little older, and even put a pen has to be mind errors, but in the second year of winter, but also be able to calmly live in such an environment. _Set_o when he joked to peace on this issue, once again stressed that: just because this is home, so to spend the winter here, so buy the house very well! 　　"Downtown Tokyo, where the evacuation, so the prices rise with a very fierce. Take this house Well, now more than double the price can not buy hand. It is said that between the front of the station less than three dilapidated house and sold five thousand miles round. " 　　"That can be really incredible!" 　　"But have to finish off the fox, because the United States is the largest clients of it! Way, dealers also have to wash friends. Coupled with the marketing you, friends rationing, strict management and together, the more fish Shashi Hou to post ① Guarantee does not. Now, you know, spent a lot of time and money, and even half orders also can not. fox s not like goats and chickens, hay and grains alone can not cope. that will immediately affect the hair's luster Yeah! my wife what that guy said aggressive, even when people have to tighten their belts, but also raise the kind of thing to eat the expensive stuff to do! Yesterday, we had a fight it! " 　　_Set_o on each level, all talk about something like that. Hagi Gangan comfort, he said, war is like the sick disaster, the heat will slowly get better for a refund, and will not fight always, advised him not to make things like too desperate. 　　"You're right. In me, this is a lifelong career. So I have determined: that is their hunger, but also the idea to eat the fox. To the most when there is no way that a pair, two pairs are into, but also continue to support Fox keep when the species. say go together, or a question of money, you do not need to take off the skin to immediately go to cash, I told you different, and this difficult it! " 　　"Where! Each other are the same." 　　"I have a stained body odor." 　　"Really? Mr Ping _Set_o There was a indeed a fox smell it! Did not you smell it?" 　　"He may feel proud of what. - War sluggish confused his business, but also really a bit pathetic miles." 　　"His wife said he told her, whether Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War, no marked two years, so be patient this year, will end, and will get a big win." 　　"This ... ... ... ... what would happen then," Hagi Gang shook his head. However, he doubts the change than was estimated to be still too optimistic. After only one year is not over, and from then on, war is a strike it much. Although the Japanese in the past engaged in war, but rather, do not understand how it was wars. Now, the first time they knew: the use of endless oil, coal, steel, rubber, cotton and all other substances, the organized production of Hercules-style in front of the spiritual power of a simple high-spirited, in order to carry out this kinds of agitation empty issued cry, bluff and deception hiding coax, etc., are of no avail. 　　Fourth year of winter, the residents of the plateau, together with the evacuation of people to come here, an increase of nearly doubled. The broken front of the station house of the baseless rumor sell high has become old, now, buy a plaster shop faded down the four half-seat room, and that number have come to similar price. Roast the kind of dual-use stoves for cooking, the price is up more scary, once a bad throw deep in the junk room in the heap are also collecting them; As it is difficult to use iron hand of the ocean made for a profile of two new Furnaces, will take four or five hundred to buy a round. 　　Sasaki want to be the mill in the autumn his wife and children evacuated to the Hill in real time, in order to get a stove, but also spent a lot of twists and turns of the first. Although the school closed, but were mobilized to monitor the students go to the factory, he can not leave Tokyo. Therefore, he could only first wife to the mountains, look here, when the New Year, or to the evacuation of towns and villages in the county acted to similar plants, and occasionally look at the way to the house. Scattered in several family life, which is currently in general. Fortunately, the village has been evacuated to house dozens of residents, so the young wife and young son live in the mountains, it does not then do not worry; and has experience in the winter Hagi Gang to live in less than three ten minutes walk of the railway that side, which made him feel that it is a dependent. Women with more added each other close, and in order to really feel Mende Huang Bu Zhiyu children, are often required to Fangzi mill house to house. Asama Mountain and surrounding mountains, fields, despite its vast expanse, but the road is less than five inches of snow. In the single to take a narrow shallow ditch the snow, walk in front of the real children, and often two boots together, like skiing Side slip moving. He also likes the old left to do the same with my mother birch cane, walked to draw lines in the snow. Snow lying down in the corrugated-style place, as if with a pale blue. Mother sometimes used the same stick to his painting birds. In addition to the days of snow outside of the sky, often cloudless, a piece of the clear. In the warm atmosphere during the day, so playing to the guests, really enjoyable than summer. 　　"There is not so short of food, while they probably do not think that U.S. aircraft bombed Japan's 'Florence'." Bring something home to evacuate to Nara, Hagi Gang said. 　　"Then, people in the factory area is dangerous it!" Shall immediately thinks of the mill from the living area being the husband of the factory here. 　　"I was Mr. Sasaki, the mill also said to be calm, can not wait to return to Tokyo to miles." 　　"That is quite surprising, but children are not able to really do the kind of bold. And people like that Sasaki is usually the case, is not out of any error." 　　"I said so, each time it met all comfort her." 　　However, soon after the comfort of others who have become the person who was comforted. 　　"Real children, or to feed the goats eat it. Hey, you get to keep the grass uncle." 　　Mill to be really clever to coax children into the reactor room to the side, only two remain in the soil in the fireside room, it not only to hear in detail the disease, but also to keep true to the ward with children with go. It is said that the patients from yesterday evening, skip the fourth consecutive blood, now groggy and fell asleep. Hemoptysis is the first to stay in and the old fox carried the fox lay down fresh pot when the panic-stricken old running back to stay, the truth becomes a mute, only makes strange guttural sounds, blindly pointing Fox homes. This expression makes Fangzi surprise, she quickly ran; in the Fox house, she saw the snow in front of some scarlet spots. Hagi wearing a navy blue sweater of the hills, his long, thin body against the fence, being with a handkerchief Cazui. See Fang Zi ran exactly like the weep of his eyes and rounded, soft, brown eyes microstrip, float a delicate smile, that vision, neither sorrow, nor be dismayed, but a panned gas if children begging for forgiveness respectful gaze. Approached until the Fangzi side, he did not change the look, as if to Fangzi the Ziying like sucked into the eye, looked at her a trial of strength. 　　In the back room of the ward, arrayed from the origin in the next Karuizawa hands of foreigners are now bought back the bed, install the bought from the first heating hemoptysis special stove. Compared to the dining-room, kitchen, dual-use, the old left, goats and chickens live together in the room, the even more clean, like two. 　　"Oh, the original mill is to be his wife." 　　Head placed ice packs, like awake, sleepy hazy's Hagi hills, carrying the window seems to sit - next to her, as the Fangzi. Although voice hoarse, but his calm face after sleep, with reddish cheeks burned, and on weekdays, and looked not much different. 　　"How do you think? Fangzi just take out the ice went!" 　　"Head does not hurt, and spirit better. This time may no longer attack friends." 　　Then his words, to be sure the mill, said: "is it! The future, you quiet rest for some days to become friends." But in a week, not to stop hemoptysis. 　　This area of the village is no doctors, no, rather, did not need medical residents and villages. With densely in the future, patients had to Kusatsu, Karuizawa area and small all go to a doctor. However, most do not charge those kind of things and spend money, but letting nature eliminated the plateau as the weeds with withered with the coming of winter the same. Later, because of the war to evacuate to a name here, animal husbandry, doctors began to practice medicine in front of the station. He is an experienced old doctor, had been the hospital in Chiba, now over to his son to continue opening. He gives the impression of good, also interested in painting, from the time of attack since last year, for the diagnosis and treatment of Hagi Gang, and their exchanges have over the relationship between doctor and patient, so it is difficult to find even the nurses, he also hard from his son There has to be. Hagi Gang mill to be going home, and often the way there. At that time, really put the children to look after a neighbor Ah Long. Fox took care of long ago by the flat of the _Set_o. Everywhere in Japan, when the fill not the belly, at any rate did not call the nearly starved to death for the fox, because the dip of the Gang of subsidies Hagi light. But the fish still can not buy no matter if your hands, often near the mine on private slaughtering, by the offal of bovine animals can also be reluctant to deal with. The level of total babbling _Set_o fox poor appetite, Ah Long often fought together. 　　"Look, what this person you think that now is when? True, the U.S. plane to come and bar, to a roar then click to Fox House, Nick was happy!" 　　A wave of a temper, just want to burn the wok Gulp thrown instead of rolling bombs. This day is also when the menacing noise, animal husbandry, to be led doctors came in the mill, said: "Ah Long daughter-in through your back room with use." 　　Sasaki, animal husbandry and doctors do not oppose the call came, but also take the initiative to ask "how to do what, where Nara?" 　　"Yes ... ah ..." 　　"His weak heart, but very powerful ah." 　　Only the force required to move a little mill choking throat, did not immediately reply. To the point where the disease has seriously, which she also did not expect. Animal husbandry and medical professional with his calm attitude of the line said, death is only a matter of time, and often air, rail can not operate normally, short notice, probably could not get one o'clock. Hagi had to be the mill, and his stepmother relationship Gang told a doctor. They came suddenly, it would mean that the patient declared dead. 　　"Or other Sasaki came to say it." 　　"Okay." 　　Mr. and animal husbandry to deal with, asking about her condition, has been required to mill things. Mobility is in the eye Ma Lei Fang Zi patronize the time required to Sasa Tuotuo mill can handle something, but this time she was away, Mr., animal husbandry, the mind but also uneasy. She told the doctor to discuss such important things, which made her heart was a serious shock, but I thought I could take this opportunity to meet with her husband after a long absence, but can not help but secretly feel the joy, which in turn made her feel guilty. In this way, she even kept in the dark Fangzi feel too sorry for. 　　"What is it, this is not no big deal thing." 　　Sasaki came, sat in a big bed, on the disease said only these words. Then he went on a monologue: a letter to his wife for a week to go before receiving the next day, enough to wait five hours up the night train - not so much a "go", rather like a potato similar to the "loaded" into the sacks, the time is coming Kumagai, and air raid sirens sounded, a full stop in the dark for two hours, every sound a warning, become more and more like Tokyo to Tokyo, long ago , April 13 bombing of the fires, from a historical sense, have the opportunity to see this spectacular and not bad; difficult to deal with is the big day for flying fighter jets overhead, compared to that airplanes, B29 spectacular leisurely look back, in the bright blue spring sky, wings outstretched grew up, Jizhuan the propeller as if to a body wearing a glittering crown, it all looked that way symmetrical When the fleet flying when shiny silver, although the enemy, but Could it be like to watch, or even see God, this mechanical beauty of the Acropolis of Greece is really as much as a new harmonization of the United States ; and so on. He deliberately put it in a nice irony, to the misery and evil coated colors, according to this argument that he, as if no casualties as the same. 　　"But, no matter how beautiful Rossi Law ① grow, the devil is always the devil. You can live in this land, in their jumping out of the loop, it is happy ah." 　　"Yes ah, I'm happy." Hagi Side Gang echo replied. Then he made a sly smile, as if to say, why do you use that tone of cautious words, I had seen through. He looked at each other intently, and then in a low but very firm voice, said: "But Sasaki, specifically tell you to come, not to hear the news ah bombed Tokyo." 　　"Then you say, just like me who come to Tokyo, what other things to talk about it?" 　　Sasaki deliberately admit defeat to explore with the same smile, lying in bed looking at his thin pale, scattered with black hair on the forehead of the face. 　　"That is quite the. But instead of listening to you talk about, I'd have something to tell you about the. But you're ... ..." 　　"You mean that I get off at the beginning of a lot of nonsense Walawala? The good, then up to hear with you, - Preface less Syria." 　　Rather than the patient and probing conversation between the patient, rather, they are like high school together in the years lying in bed dorm ① on the controversy. This of course is to avoid the sentimental dejected, contrived on purpose to each other, but even so, or what looked away to the hills Hagi walls. Two oceans white stacked tilted down pillows, pillow from the low-lying at the ocean to see his thin boy-like items in the Ministry of Sasaki's eyes suddenly heated up. 　　"Talk about it tomorrow." Hagi Gang again dictates. "After a while again fever friends. Come tomorrow morning!" 　　"Look, all right." 　　"Still alive by tomorrow morning." 　　Hagi Gang That made tears wetted his face, quietly floated a smile. 　　Sasaki had to say: Do not say that no shadow of it! But he refrained back, stood up from his chair. 　　Ward the following morning, bathed in the clear atmosphere of the sun in May Chuxun. Soft spring sun was just as plain as a small bedside table a vase, stuck Pu Liu, issued a shiny silver-gray velvet, like a little bit of that loneliness of the winter the plateau is over, the spirit of the patient appears to be better than yesterday, the original from the nose down to the chin between the traces of a micro-black beard clean shaven, thin face also appears handsome up. 　　"Said this morning that you want to come, specially modified a lot." Fangzi side of the case removed a small breakfast, one side says happily. Sasaki's coming, so she played a naive spirit cheer. 　　"You come as a surprise yesterday, friends." Hagi Gang also said with a smile. And then going out of the room Fangzi Huanzhu: "Fangzi, Sasaki I have something to discuss, and you can come back the afternoon, Mr. grazing. Do not let the old left to go, you better go and look, there being nothing." 　　Only two people. Meanwhile, no one to speak first, then suddenly asked Hagi Gang: "the date today?" 　　"九号." 　　"So, we come to a full four years to the day after tomorrow, and really fast!" Dazed look up to the roof of the Hagi lime hills, soliloquy Side said. He maintained that the supine position, and then added: "I have not!" 　　"Blood would have died two or three times slightly, it would not have lung disease in Japan, friends." 　　"You say, I am of course happy, but we still do not deceive each other, right then. I already have a mental preparation. I'm happy you said yesterday, I said, it is happiness. That is not lies. To live here, in front of you all the time in the die, in a time like this, is already more than the so-called happiness it! " 　　"So, should not their despair, anxious pursuit of Siya! At any time, lose the will to survive as a people, is cowardly. Even if you just think of Fangzi a person can not die ah!" 　　"You say, I'm sorry too it!" 　　They talked face to face, the face from Hagi Gang tears Susu, the Sasaki has had his own handkerchief for wiping out. Hagi Gang used intravenous protruding nails lost both hands the color of his hands wiping away his tears. 　　"Excitement of poor health, or not talk about them now." 　　"Since the thought, then determined to fight to live it! But you inverted image in the pursuit of something like they would rather die happy. This is not the luxury of forgiveness.", 　　"Is too much to ask?" To clean the duvet on the chin is the head, chew the above case, the temporary silence up Hagi Gang nodded, and again he said, "you say this, if true Everything is so. In this war, the sleep is great here, the luxury of raising lung miles! " 　　"Do not the thread of her conversation with these issues come up citizenship." 　　"The patient got me to fight, not no use you?" 　　"No, that is, before the same disease. We - that is, it should be used in the plural - and has been living over that way; people find it difficult, we do not feel that difficult. Of course, this is material that, in short, in social life, because we are rich, it is accounted for a large cheap. to graduate from college, can casually quit his bank job, as a pastime like to keep half of Fox, this can be in bed, are also For the same reason; and I have never done anything for them in return, just enjoy. However, such a cheap thing, of course, not always to be like this, in the end do not know when, we must pay the same price! " 　　"Is not able to pay you sick?" 　　In accordance with the ideological context, it should be said that disease is a must to replace the dead. Although wildly recklessly Sasaki deliberately speak, but such things, after all, difficult to export. Hagi, but he saw the eagle turned over the hills that light up the eyes. He knew he did not say exports, Hagi Gang is also understood. However, Hagi Gang said that what does not waver, and even joked: "reimbursement method, vary, there will be various. This point, I worked as bank job, know more than you." 　　He also said he deeply felt: not only the individual or class to make such reimbursement, but also between States and the States to make such repayment, Sasaki said he had been out in Japan one day, it must ask the Chinese to flow through the same amount of blood, and the idea of a clock is also connected, Italy and Germany surrendered, the Japanese have enemies and the world, this day was about to come. 　　"I just ① from the Manchurian Incident broke out against the war since the day, but I did not take any action. Can be interpreted as a general knowledge of these molecules Beiqie. But, have the same idea, not his own in the war killed, is losing their loved ones, whether willing or not, have been strong with a sacrifice, and I also survived even this. than that, the war situation has been predictable in the future after the defeat of the battle, stay alive countries who have to bear the pain and humiliation, I was dead, and even do not have to taste that humiliation, in fact, this is not just a luxury, but can be said to be selfish. " 　　Hagi Gang talk about other people now use things like tone and the kind of calm, with day and night linger in the heart of the kind of toughness, self-management self to go on. 　　Hagi Gang consent raised his eyes to like, and then look to move again on the pillow of the Pu Liu, smiled: "Maybe next year, this flower is my miles." 　　Sasaki While saying he was too much afraid, but do not want to interrupt him. Sasaki know because he talked so happy, and his fantasy that reincarnation is indeed for him to love nature religious people, but also not written a line of his pen in the last verses. 　　"Thank you. Because of this thing to please you, so just want to hurry up to meet you. I'm so happy. You have to wait for me to be nice mill, Fang Zi is so good woman. Please you and be like me, be kind to her. did not need such a thing is said with you. - Nara there, I would also like them to bury the hatchet. though what is not noisy planes, in short, no matter what attitude stepmother and sister I usually experience with them is not good. I would like them to apologize, please treat them kindly Fangzi. But thinking, not a biological child when the mother of fate it is deep. We should have faith each other, live in harmony ah. so I thought, I met Fangzi, too, is a fate, it can be said that fate, it can be said a man at unpredictable things. and your office so close, I think really is not fathom Jiaoren through things. for the land, neighbors Ping _Set_o for his wife, for the old left, I think it is true. I'm not somewhere else but had to come here, as neighbors, or master, began to raise fox, which is strange fate. is a group of foxes, in this sense, I think they are cute even more than previously. 三号 homes in Fox's pregnant, probably the day before yesterday, Ping _Set_o to said another one week to be born. If Fox can see Tsai was born without incident, I would die, then I can be happy it! " 　　Hagi Gang little desire to achieve the final, and he lived more than two months, in the end of the war two weeks ago and died. Stepmother and sister in early June from central line to Nara Bypass here once, near Nagoya, were told some terrible images of machine gun fire after they go back. This time not even had time to notice them. Relatives to attend the funeral as the only evacuation to the next two or three people in Karuizawa, they just come out fills out, Sasaki came before the death, all things entrusted to him. This place is no crematorium. Coffins in the evening, by the level _Set_o, the old left and those who dealt in front of the station and the porters who carried to the foot of the mountain and the village head in full bloom Ku Caihua Bucket Big depressions, people dug a hole, the cross on the coffin Hang Hau, the top placed three bags of charcoal, into a pit full of round wood, and finally, cover with water on the mat. This is their arrangements for the cremation ceremony. Were supposed to lose the primary by the ignition, but also have to represent from the point of Sasaki. Women were driven back, and even burned his body Sasaki they saw smoke inside in a heap after the cover, but also to persuade others to give back. This is the local rules. He walked back with Mr. and animal husbandry, roads deep in the weeds is a dense, narrow roads and people can not have two parallel, cold dew, Chong Sheng Haw, is the fall of the mountain. There was no moon, but the stars shining, the sky light grape color, emerge with the hazy shadow Asama. Night blooming lily musk Xuan, speckled, lush patches of grass from the high to head out. This may seem a little Yaoqi beautiful flower, for this mountain fog filled the night silence increased microalbuminuria dreamy atmosphere. Hagi Gang Sasaki know very fond of this flower. Faint air waves of smoke floated, he twisted back to look around, have not see the fire, the emotion of walking in front of the animal husbandry, said: "This is what truly wild funeral, to say that Gang of Hagi it is appropriate funeral. " 　　Fangzi did not happen we are worried about things. Have been worried that she will cry very tough battle, but he did not how to cry, just staring wildly silly silent, not to be strong to pull her mill, even the rice does not want to eat. Even in the end of the war spread to every corner of the broadcast, people meet, talk about it all the time, she is completely indifferent, as if the matter had also forgotten the war. However, she did not want her husband dead, not forgotten the oath, nor is it dishonest, but not follow her husband's will, to abandon the remains here until the official funeral will be held in Tokyo time. Her husband's death, like thunder lightning tree, gave her a heavy blow to the body limbs, although the same, but the interior is like an important part of the machine, like a broken fuse, leaving a basket case has been light, and as scientific way up the robot assembly of complex words can not say the same Fangzi can only say "yes", "no" and other phrases. In essence, you can abide by the oath that she is dead along with her husband; because only one remaining from that there is no physical change Xingshi Bale. 　　"Yes the situation a bit bad, Fangzi not happen accident? Yesterday, her bedroom window one day it stops." 　　"It is no surprise, but also mentally tough than the lung miles." 　　Sasaki couple even privately about these any more. 　　Tokyo house, in the May 15 raid in the burned. The stepmother also lived in Nara as usual there. Hagi Gang careful with his banker-like detailed arrangements for the Fangzi that all that was entrusted to Sasaki. But the volatile situation after the war, these problems need to negotiate things, not so easy to run. Therefore, we look forward to Hagi Sasaki uncle Gang Hua will return. Currently, only know that he is wounded because of the convalescent hospital in Taiwan, the thought that he would not come back soon, but will not be back in February birch, and suddenly Daoshan Zhong. 　　"Ah, I thought what a what!" 　　Open the door from the inside to be mill, taken aback, in the same tone to the room shouted: "Fang Zi, Fang Zi, uncle coming!" 　　Recent Fangzi like bed a few years, finally to save the lives of patients, thin body was thin and long, her toe open, walked out of staggering pace, with deep down in the dark round eyes, a loss uncle lost his left arm looked at by the mill to be helped off the boots in the back. Hagi is almost the same stature Gang, face looks very much like the uncle, with difficulty into the back room, looking down at her, said: "Oh, Fang, Shinichi have suffered ah!" 　　Long time never heard of the term of endearment, no different from her husband's call. She did not answer or greeting, then stumbled uncle flew to wearing the suit he does not wear the chest, dying Gang released in Hagi had not burst into loud tears. 　　"This is how you, how is this matter, to be strong and more!" 　　Fangzi not stop crying, do not want to leave his uncle. Been frozen, including the heart, the feelings of all the sorrows, as if in this moment turned into tears. Uncle just like coaxing general, and with the long time required to mill the Fangzi endless sobbing pulled back room to go. 　　From this day to catch, Fangzi life slowly revived. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima who lost his wife and daughter, family, and I also own uniforms and with a social waste, lonely old people will be reduced horizon, but also find a new life. 　　Villa finally going to be back to his mill, often came to see them. Hagi Gang took over his uncle's work during his lifetime, Fangzi also the same as the CI Hou Gang Hagi, kindly wait on his uncle, Ping _Set_o neighbors have started to raise foxes as Hagi Gang taught the same time, teach the elderly. Sixty-year-old veteran will, obedience, obedience to all the guidance, as a new start exercising sailors from the deck from the same brush. He put the fox and then come back. 　　Said the old left his uncle said the same thing. This defeat, the generals and the country people formed a partnership. 　　Intervet ① in the dense sea battle, he was blown from the bomb under the bridge down, but not dead, alive. Now come to this mountain, took over half did not live to his nephew left for raising the age of Fox Business, he quietly submit to the fate of this incredible. Just as Fang Zi Xing Shi is alive, he is nothing but fighter planes bombed the airport, or only red rust-stained steel wreckage of the munitions factory. But when he and the old deaf ears all the time is still left with a loudspeaker shouting orders to the old sound. 　　"This is what has useful ah!" He laughed alone ha ha. 　　Ping _Set_o to treat neighbors as wildly cousins will treat the old birch, which made him very proud. Meanwhile, the U.S. military stationed in Japan, is estimated Silver Fox will also be sold, which made him very happy. He talked with Hagi Gang, from the island of Sakhalin after a fox has been painstakingly raised, again and again about the old will. Hua Crushed out his cigarette ration, followed by suction aspiration of the soil local people from Angelica and crushed leaves of Polygonum grass, gentle listening. He said that when he was stationed as a young military officer in the U.S., heard the first gold from the United States Ambassador to enter the Silver Fox to help things. Ping _Set_o heard, could not help but awe of. 　　"Yes Well, you say the fox is not completely for the fate of myself." 　　Since then, Ping _Set_o to often use 'you "to refer to Cheng. Every time I hear, Betula always block that, do not use this name. Ping _Set_o's wife, Ah Long, also greatly opposed to:" Look, you What this person, now the emperor, like we are related to you, Mr. Hua also control what your name really unbearable! Despite the flattering you, he is not like Hagi Gang Master, and then would like to take a lot of money, it can not do it! " 　　Winter came, over the years, and entered the fox mating period. Jiaochun public fox, from morning till night, until the middle of the night, breaking twenty degrees below zero cold, constantly call him. Surveillance, after the names as it is, morning, leaving the old, the afternoon is birch. To shift, Hua Fang Zi to him earlier are invited to open for lunch, eating out of the house immediately, from the watch tower above the old to stay under the DPRK, with shouting orders to the voice cried: "the old left, and come on down!" 　　(September 1946) 　　Liu Zhongping, Li Mang translation 请欣赏:  请给我换一个看看！  拜托，快把噪音停掉！我读累了，想听点音乐或者请来支歌曲！

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