Kabanata Kabanata 8 · On my way back from the fishing to which I was invited by Red Sh

orcupine. When the latter wanted me

to get out of Ikagin’s house on sham pretexts, I regarded him a

decidedly unpleasant fellow. But as Porcupine, at the teachers’

meeting, contrary to my expectation, stood firmly for punishing the

students to the fullest extent of the school regulations, I thought it

queer. When I heard from the old lady about Porcupine volunteering

himself for the sake of Hubbard Squash to stop Red Shirt meddling with

the Madonna, I clapped my hands and hoorayed for him. Judging by these

facts, I began to wonder if the wrong-doer might be not Porcupine, but

Red Shirt the crooked one. He instilled into my head some flimsy

hearsay plausibly and in a roundabout-way. At this juncture I saw Red

Shirt taking a walk with the Madonna on the levy of the Nozeri river,

and I decided that Red Shirt may be a scoundrel. I am not sure of his

being really scoundrel at heart, but at any rate he is not a good

fellow. He is a fellow with a double face. A man deserves no confidence

unless he is as straight as the bamboo. One may fight a straight

fellow, and feel satisfied. We cannot lose sight of the fact that Red

Shirt or his kind who is kind, gentle, refined, and takes pride in his

pipe had to be looked sharp, for I could not be too careful in getting

into a scrap with the fellow of this type. I may fight, but I would not

get square games like the wrestling matches at the Wrestling

Amphitheatre in Tokyo. Come to think of it, Porcupine who turned

against me and startled the whole teachers’ room over the amount of one

sen and a half is far more like a man. When he stared at me with owlish

eyes at the teachers’ meeting, I branded him as a spiteful guy, but as

I consider the matter now, he is better than the feline voice of Red

Shirt. To tell the truth, I tried to get reconciled with Porcupine, and

after the meeting, spoke a word or two to him, but he shut up like a

clam and kept glaring at me. So I became sore, and let it go at that.

Porcupine has not spoken to me since. The one sen and a half which I

paid him back upon the desk, is still there, well covered with dust. I

could not touch it, nor would Porcupine take it. This one sen and a

half has become a barrier between us two. We two were cursed with this

one sen and a half. Later indeed I got sick of its sight that I hated

to see it.

While Porcupine and I were thus estranged, Red Shirt and I continued

friendly relations and associated together. On the day following my

accidental meeting with him near the Nozeri river, for instance, Red

Shirt came to my desk as soon as he came to the school, and asked me

how I liked the new boarding house. He said we would go together for

fishing Russian literature again, and talked on many things. I felt a

bit piqued, and said, “I saw you twice last night,” and he answered,

“Yes, at the station. Do you go there at that time every day? Isn’t it

late?” I startled him with the remark; “I met you on the levy of the

Nozeri river too, didn’t I?” and he replied, “No, I didn’t go in that

direction. I returned right after my bath.”

What is the use of trying to keep it dark. Didn’t we meet actually face

to face? He tells too many lies. If one can hold the job of a head

teacher and act in this fashion, I should be able to run the position

of Chancellor of a university. From this time on, my confidence in Red

Shirt became still less. I talk with Red Shirt whom I do not trust, and

I keep silent with Porcupine whom I respect. Funny things do happen in

this world.

One day Red Shirt asked me to come over to his house as he had

something to tell me, and much as I missed the trip to the hot springs,

I started for his house at about 4 o’clock. Red Shirt is single, but in

keeping with the dignity of a head teacher, he gave up the boarding

house life long ago, and lives in a fine house. The house rent, I

understood, was nine yen and fifty sen. The front entrance was so

attractive that I thought if one can live in such a splendid house at

nine yen and a half in the country, it would be a good game to call

Kiyo from Tokyo and make her heart glad. The younger brother of Red

Shirt answered my bell. This brother gets his lessons on algebra and

mathematics from me at the school. He stands no show in his school

work, and being a “migratory bird” is more wicked than the native boys.

I met Red Shirt. Smoking the same old unsavory amber pipe, he said

something to the following effect:

“Since you’ve been with us, our work has been more satisfactory than it

was under your predecessor, and the principal is very glad to have got

the right person in the right place. I wish you to work as hard as you

can, for the school is depending upon you.”

“Well, is that so. I don’t think I can work any harder than now…….”

“What you’re doing now is enough. Only don’t forget what I told you the

other day.”

“Meaning that one who helps me find a boarding house is dangerous?”

“If you state it so baldly, there is no meaning to it……. But that’s all

right,…… I believe you understand the spirit of my advice. And if you

keep on in the way you’re going to-day …… We have not been blind …… we

might offer you a better treatment later on if we can manage it.”

“In salary? I don’t care about the salary, though the more the better.”

“And fortunately there is going to be one teacher transferred,……

however, I can’t guarantee, of course, until I talk it over with the

principal …… and we might give you something out of his salary.”

“Thank you. Who is going to be transferred?”

“I think I may tell you now; ’tis going to be announced soon. Koga is

the man.”

“But isn’t Koga-san a native of this town?”

“Yes, he is. But there are some circumstances …… and it is partly by

his own preference.”

“Where is he going?”

“To Nobeoka in Hiuga province. As the place is so far away, he is going

there with his salary raised a grade higher.”

“Is some one coming to take his place?”

“His successor is almost decided upon.”

“Well, that’s fine, though I’m not very anxious to have my salary

raised.”

“I’m going to talk to the principal about that anyway. And, we may have

to ask you to work more some time later …… and the principal appears to

be of the same opinion……. I want you to go[I] ahead with that in your

mind.”

“Going to increase my working hours?”

“No. The working hours may be reduced……”

“The working hours shortened and yet work more? Sounds funny.”

“It does sound funny …… I can’t say definitely just yet …… it means

that we may have to ask you to assume more responsibility.”

I could not make out what he meant. To assume more responsibility

might mean my appointment to the senior instructor of mathematics, but

Porcupine is the senior instructor and there is no danger of his

resigning. Besides, he is so very popular among the students that his

transfer or discharge would be inadvisable. Red Shirt always misses

the point. And though he did not get to the point, the object of my

visit was ended. We talked a while on sundry matters, Red Shirt

proposing a farewell dinner party for Hubbard Squash, asking me if I

drink liquor and praising Hubbard Squash as an amiable gentleman, etc.

Finally he changed the topic and asked me if I take an interest in

“haiku.”[8] Here is where I beat it, I thought, and, saying “No, I

don’t, good by,” hastily left the house. The “haiku” should be a

diversion of Baseo[9] or the boss of a barbershop. It would not do for

the teacher of mathematics to rave over the old wooden bucket and the

morning glory.[10]

[Footnote 8: The 17-syllable poem.]

[Footnote 9: A famous composer of the poem.]

[Footnote 10: There is a well-known 17-syllable poem describing the

scene of morning glories entwining around the wooden bucket.]

I returned home and thought it over. Here is a man whose mental process

defies a layman’s understanding. He is going to court hardships in a

strange part of the country in preference of his home and the school

where he is working,—both of which should satisfy most anybody,—because

he is tired of them. That may be all right if the strange place happens

to be a lively metropolis where electric cars run,—but of all places,

why Nobeoka in Hiuga province? This town here has a good steamship

connection, yet I became sick of it and longed for home before one

month had passed. Nobeoka is situated in the heart of a most

mountainous country. According to Red Shirt, one has to make an all-day

ride in a wagonette to Miyazaki, after he had left the vessel, and from

Miyazaki another all-day ride in a rikisha to Nobeoka. Its name alone

does not commend itself as civilized. It sounds like a town inhabited

by men and monkeys in equal numbers. However sage-like Hubbard Squash

might be I thought he would not become a friend of monkeys of his own

choice. What a curious slant!

Just then the old lady brought in my supper—“Sweet potatoes again?” I

asked, and she said, “No, Sir, it is tofu to-night.” They are about the

same thing.

“Say, I understand Koga-san is going to Nobeoka.”

“Isn’t it too bad?”

“Too bad? But it can’t be helped if he goes there by his own

preference.”

“Going there by his own preference? Who, Sir?”

“Who? Why, he! Isn’t Professor Koga going there by his own choice?”

“That’s wrong Mr. Wright, Sir.”

“Ha, Mr. Wright, is it? But Red Shirt told me so just now. If that’s

wrong Mr. Wright, then Red Shirt is blustering Mr. Bluff.”

“What the head-teacher says is believable, but so Koga-san does not

wish to go.”

“Our old lady is impartial, and that is good. Well, what’s the matter?”

“The mother of Koga-san was here this morning, and told me all the

circumstances.”

“Told you what circumstances?”

“Since the father of Koga-san died, they have not been quite well off

as we might have supposed, and the mother asked the principal if his

salary could not be raised a little as Koga-san has been in service for

four years. See?”

“Well?”

“The principal said that he would consider the matter, and she felt

satisfied and expected the announcement of the increase before long.

She hoped for its coming this month or next. Then the principal called

Koga-san to his office one day and said that he was sorry but the

school was short of money and could not raise his salary. But he said

there is an opening in Nobeoka which would give him five yen extra a

month and he thought that would suit his purpose, and the principal had

made all arrangements and told Koga-san he had better go…….”

“That wasn’t a friendly talk but a command. Wasn’t it?”

“Yes, Sir, Koga-san told the principal that he liked to stay here

better at the old salary than go elsewhere on an increased salary,

because he has his own house and is living with his mother. But the

matter has all been settled, and his successor already appointed and it

couldn’t be helped, said the principal.”

“Hum, that’s a jolly good trick, I should say. Then Koga-san has no

liking to go there? No wonder I thought it strange. We would have to go

a long way to find any blockhead to do a job in such a mountain village

and get acquainted with monkeys for five yen extra.”

“What is a blockhead, Sir?”

“Well, let go at that. It was all the scheme of Red Shirt. Deucedly

underhand scheme, I declare. It was a stab from behind. And he means to

raise my salary by that; that’s not right. I wouldn’t take that raise.

Let’s see if he can raise it.”

“Is your salary going to be raised, Sir?”

“Yes, they said they would raise mine, but I’m thinking of refusing

it.”

“Why do you refuse?”

“Why or no why, it’s going to be refused. Say, Red Shirt is a fool; he

is a coward.”

“He may be a coward, but if he raises your salary, it would be best for

you to make no fuss, but accept it. One is apt to get grouchy when

young, but will always repent when he is grown up and thinks that it

was pity he hadn’t been a little more patient. Take an old woman’s

advice for once, and if Red Shirt-san says he will raise your salary,

just take it with thanks.”

“It’s none of business of you old people.”

The old lady withdrew in silence. The old man is heard singing “utai”

in the off-key voice. “Utai,” I think, is a stunt which purposely makes

a whole show a hard nut to crack by giving to it difficult tunes,

whereas one could better understand it by reading it. I cannot fathom

what is in the mind of the old man who groans over it every night

untired. But I’m not in a position to be fooling with “utai.” Red Shirt

said he would have my salary raised, and though I did not care much

about it, I accepted it because there was no use of leaving the money

lying around. But I cannot, for the love of Mike, be so inconsiderate

as to skin the salary of a fellow teacher who is being transferred

against his will. What in thunder do they mean by sending him away so

far as Nobeoka when the fellow prefers to remain in his old position?

Even Dazai-no-Gonnosutsu did not have to go farther than about Hakata;

even Matagoro Kawai [11] stopped at Sagara. I shall not feel satisfied

unless I see Red Shirt and tell him I refuse the raise.

[Footnote 11: The persons in exile, well-known in Japanese history.]

I dressed again and went to his house. The same younger brother of Red

Shirt again answered the bell, and looked at me with eyes which plainly

said, “You here again?” I will come twice or thrice or as many times as

I want to if there is business. I might rouse them out of their beds at

midnight;—it is possible, who knows. Don’t mistake me for one coming to

coax the head teacher. I was here to give back my salary. The younger

brother said that there is a visitor just now, and I told him the front

door will do; won’t take more than a minute, and he went in. Looking

about my feet, I found a pair of thin, matted wooden clogs, and I heard

some one in the house saying, “Now we’re banzai.” I noticed that the

visitor was Clown. Nobody but Clown could make such a squeaking voice

and wear such clogs as are worn by cheap actors.

After a while Red Shirt appeared at the door with a lamp in his hand,

and said, “Come in; it’s no other than Mr. Yoshikawa.”

“This is good enough,” I said, “it won’t take long.” I looked at his

face which was the color of a boiled lobster. He seemed to have been

drinking with Clown.

“You told me that you would raise my salary, but I’ve changed my mind,

and have come here to decline the offer.”

Red Shirt, thrusting out the lamp forward, and intently staring at me,

was unable to answer at the moment. He appeared blank. Did he think it

strange that here was one fellow, only one in the world, who does not

want his salary raised, or was he taken aback that I should come back

so soon even if I wished to decline it, or was it both combined, he

stood there silent with his mouth in a queer shape.

“I accepted your offer because I understood that Mr. Koga was being

transferred by his own preference…….”

“Mr. Koga is really going to be transferred by his own preference.”

“No, Sir. He would like to stay here. He doesn’t mind his present

salary if he can stay.”

“Have you heard it from Mr. Koga himself?”

“No, not from him.”

“Then, from who?”

“The old lady in my boarding house told me what she heard from the

mother of Mr. Koga.”

“Then the old woman in your boarding house told you so?”

“Well, that’s about the size of it.”

“Excuse me, but I think you are wrong. According to what you say, it

seems as if you believe what the old woman in the boarding house tells

you, but would not believe what your head teacher tells you. Am I right

to understand it that way?”

I was stuck. A Bachelor of Arts is confoundedly good in oratorical

combat. He gets hold of unexpected point, and pushes the other

backward. My father used to tell me that I am too careless and no good,

and now indeed I look that way. I ran out of the house on the moment’s

impulse when I heard the story from the old lady, and in fact I had not

heard the story from either Hubbard Squash or his mother. In

consequence, when I was challenged in this Bachelor-of-Arts fashion, it

was a bit difficult to defend myself.

I could not defend his frontal attack, but I had already declared in my

mind a lack of confidence on Red Shirt. The old lady in the boarding

house may be tight and a grabber, I do not doubt it, but she is a woman

who tells no lie. She is not double faced like Red Shirt. I was

helpless, so I answered.

“What you say might be right,—anyway, I decline the raise.”

“That’s still funnier. I thought your coming here now was because you

had found a certain reason for which you could not accept the raise.

Then it is hard to understand to see you still insisting on declining

the raise in spite of the reason having been eradicated by my

explanation.”

“It may be hard to understand, but anyway I don’t want it.”

“If you don’t like it so much, I wouldn’t force it on you. But if you

change your mind within two or three hours with no particular reason,

it would affect your credit in future.”

“I don’t care if it does affect it.”

“That can’t be. Nothing is more important than credit for us.

Supposing, the boss of the boarding house…….”

“Not the boss, but the old lady.”

“Makes no difference,—suppose what the old woman in the boarding house

told you was true, the raise of your salary is not to be had by

reducing the income of Mr. Koga, is it? Mr. Koga is going to Nobeoka;

his successor is coming. He comes on a salary a little less than that

of Mr. Koga, and we propose to add the surplus money to your salary,

and you need not be shy. Mr. Koga will be promoted; the successor is to

start on less pay, and if you could be raised, I think everything be

satisfactory to all concerned. If you don’t like it, that’s all right,

but suppose you think it over once more at home?”

My brain is not of the best stuff, and if another fellow flourishes his

eloquence like this, I usually think, “Well, perhaps I was wrong,” and

consider myself defeated, but not so to-night. From the time I came to

this town I felt prejudiced against Red Shirt. Once I had thought of

him in a different light, taking him for a fellow kind-hearted and

feminished. His kindness, however, began to look like anything but

kindness, and as a result, I have been getting sick of him. So no

matter how he might glory himself in logical grandiloquence, or how he

might attempt to out-talk me in a head-teacher-style, I don’t care a

snap. One who shines in argument is not necessarily a good fellow,

while the other who is out-talked is not necessarily a bad fellow,

either. Red Shirt is very, very reasonable as far as his reasoning

goes, but however graceful he may appear, he cannot win my respect. If

money, authority or reasoning can command admiration, loansharks,

police officers or college professors should be liked best by all. I

cannot be moved in the least by the logic by so insignificant a fellow

as the head teacher of a middle school. Man works by preference, not by

logic.

“What you say is right, but I have begun to dislike the raise, so I

decline. It will be the same if I think it over. Good by.” And I left

the house of Red Shirt. The solitary milky way hung high in the sky.

CHAPTER 9. When I went to the school, in the morning of the day the farewell

dinner party was to be held, Porcupine suddenly spoke to me;

“The other day I asked you to